THE NEIGHBOUR’S HOUSE
MARTHA (ALONE)
God pardon my dear husband- he
Has not done very well by me!
To see the world he slips away
And leaves me lonely in the hay.
God
knows, I truly loved him so-
I didn’t get him all upset.
SHE WEEPS
Perhaps he’s dead by now- oh, no!-
If only I'd a death certificate.
MARGARET ENTERS
MARGARET
Frau Martha!
MARTHA
Gretchen dear, what’s wrong?
MARGARET
My knees are sinking under me!
I found a box of ebony
Once more in my clothes press- a throng
Of many dazzling jewels and rings,
Far richer than the other things.
MARTHA
You mustn’t tell your mother or
She’ll cart them to confession as before.
MARGARET
See these and these! Look at these too!
MARTHA (PUTTING SOME ON HER)
O, you lucky creature- you!
MARGARET
Too bad I can’t be seen with these
In street or church, or where I please.
MARTHA
Just come here often, none need know,
And try these jewels on secretly;
And stroll before the mirror for an hour or so,
We’ll have our fun in privacy;
Then some occasion comes up, some festivity,
And bit by bit you can let people see.
A small chain first, then on the ear- a pearl;
Your mother will not notice, else we’ll spin some
tale.
MARGARET
And yet who could have sent the caskets here?
There’s something not quite right, I fear.
A KNOCK
Oh God! My mother- could it be her?
MARTHA ( PEEPING THROUGH THE CURTAINS)
A strange gentleman- please come in, sir!
MEPHISTOPHELES ENTERS
MEPHISTOPHELES
I’ll walk straight in, I’ll be so free,
If both the ladies pardon me.
HE STEPS BACK RESPECTFULLY FROM MARGARET
It’s with Frau Martha Schwerdtlein I’m to speak.
MARTHA
I’m here. What does the good sir seek?
MEPHISTOPHELES (SOFTLY TO HER)
It is enough I’ve met you, for I see
You have right noble company.
Forgive the freedom I’ve presumed-
I’ll come again this afternoon.
MARTHA (ALOUD)
Think, girl, of all things on this earth!
This sir thinks you of noble birth!
MARGARET
I’m only young and poor you’ll find.
Oh God! good sir, you’re far too kind
These pretty things are not my own
MEPHISTOPHELES
Oh no, it’s not the jewels alone;
You have that high-born gaze, that noble way,
I’m really pleased that I may stay.
MARTHA
Your message sir? We wait to know.
MEPHISTOPHELES
I wish I’d better tidings though!
I hope you’ll pardon me this meeting-
Your husband’s dead, and sends his greeting.
MARTHA
He’s dead! The faithful heart! Woe! Woe!
My husband’s dead! I’ll die, I know!
MARGARET
Oh please, dear woman, don’t despair!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Then hear the whole, quite sad affair!
MARGARET
I hope I’m not in love, one day,
The grief would kill me if he passed away.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Joy brings sorrow; sorrow, joy, you know.
MARTHA
So tell me of his end, I pray.
MEPHISTOPHELES
In Padua he’s down below,
Nearby St Anthony’s rich clay;
His is a spot that’s truly blessed,
An eternally cool bed of rest.
MARTHA
But have you nothing more to bring?
MEPHISTOPHELES
A great request, with weighty care,
To have three hundred masses sung for him!
But for the rest my pockets are both bare.
MARTHA
What! Not a luck piece! No jewellery!
A keepsake that some journeyman might stack
Into the bottom of his travelling sack
And rather beg or starve than lose,
MEPHISTOPHELES
Madam, I’m truly sad to bear such news.
And yet, he didn't waste his gold, not he.
He repented greatly each failing and each flaw
As well- yes, and bewailed his bad luck even more.
MARGARET
Ah, people are so luckless in this world!
I’ll send in prayer many requiems his way.
MEPHISTOPHELES
You’re worthy to be wedded right this day:
You’re such a lovable, fine girl.
MARGARET
No, that’s not possible as yet.
MEPHISTOPHELES
If not a husband, take a sweetheart- it
Is one of heaven’s greatest balms
To hold a loved one in one’s arms.
MARGARET
That’s not at all the custom here.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Well, custom or not, it happens, my dear.
MARTHA
But tell me more!
MEPHISTOPHELES
I stood next to
this dying bed,
Not quite manure; on the whole
Half-rotted straw, and yet he died a Christian soul,
Aware that he’d not paid much of his bill. He said,
“How I must hate myself, now leaving life,
For having left my good trade and my wife.
The memory just makes me die.
If she’d forgive before this life is run.”
MARTHA
The poor, good man! I’ve long forgiven all he’s
done.
MEPHISTOPHELES
“Although, God knows, she was far worse than I.”
MARTHA
He lied! What- lying on the brink of death!
MEPHISTOPHELES
He was delirious by his last breath
If I can just half judge events.
“I did,” he said, “ not have to gape to pass the
time,
First children, then obtaining bread for them,
And bread, that’s in the widest sense,
Not one time could I eat my part of it in peace.”
MARTHA
Did he forget all of the love and faithfulness,
The drudgery the whole day through!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Not so; he had most heartfelt thoughts of you.
He said, “ I prayed, as we left Malta’s shore,
With fevour for my wife and children’s sake,
So heaven beamed upon our wake,
We took a Turkish vessel with a store
Compiled from some great Sultan’s treasury.
Our courage paid and, as was fit,
I too was given what was due to me,
My truly well-earned part of it.
MARTHA
What? Where? Perhaps he buried it somehow?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Who knows where the four winds have blown it now?
A beautiful, young woman took his arm
As he strolled round Naples with a stranger’s gaze;
She lavished on him love and loyal charm-
He felt this till his happy end of days.
MARTHA
The ratbag! Robbing child and wife!
The ratbag! Robbing child and wife!
No misery, no need or wrong,
Could hinder his most shameful life!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Yes see! That’s why he’s dead and gone.
Were I at present in your place,
I’d mourn a chaste and modest year,
Then meanwhile aim for some new treasure, some new face.
MARTHA
Oh God, one like my first, I fear,
Will not be found with ease in this world’s ring.
He really could be a right fool at times,
For he was just too fond of wandering;
And foreign women, and foreign wine,
And those accursed, damned games of dice.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Now, now- that could have almost been clear-sailing,
If, for his part, he’d been as nice
And tolerant about your failings.
With such good terms, I swear to you,
Perhaps I’d swap our rings now too.
MARTHA
Oh sir, you like to play the joker’s part!
MEPHISTOPHELES (TO HIMSELF)
High time I scampered, dropped this act!
She’d even make the devil keep his pact.
(TO GRETCHEN)
And how do things stand in your heart?
MARGARET
What do you mean, good sir?
MEPHISTOPHELES (TO HIMSELF)
You
good and innocent child.
(ALOUD)
Farewell, dear ladies.
MARGARET
Farewell.
MARTHA
Don’t
rush off- stay awhile!
I’d like a testament to show
Where, how and when my dear passed on, was laid below.
I’ve always liked to do things properly-
The paper noting his obituary.
MEPHISTOPHELES
The witness of two lips I always known
To seal the truth. I’m not alone,
I have a fine companion who
Will swear before a judge for you.
I’ll bring him here.
MARTHA
O yes, please do!
MEPHISTOPHELES
And will this sweet girl be here too?
A fine, far-travelled lad is he-
Pays ladies every courtesy.
MARGARET
I’d blush before one of such worth.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Before no king upon this earth!
MARTHA
Behind my house within the garden, when
The evening falls, we'll meet the gentlemen.
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