NIGHT
STREET
BEFORE GRETCHEN’S DOOR
VALENTINE
(A SOLDIER, GRETCHEN’S BROTHER)
When
I’d sit at a drinking bout,
Where
many like to boast and shout,
And
my companions burst forth loudly
About
a woman’s beauty; proudly
Washed
down their praises with strong toasts-
I’d
calmly sit and hear their boasts,
My
arm propped on a bench, I knew
I’d
wait till swaggering was through.
I’d
smile and stroke my beard and then,
A
brimming glass held in my hand,
I’d
say- Yes, each to his own, my friend;
But
is there one in this whole land
Who’s
like my Gretel? It's quite plain
None
hold a candle to her flame.
Hear!
Hear! Clink! Clink! It went around;
Then
one would cry- He’s right, she’s best,
She’s
like a pearl above the rest.
Then
boasters sat without a sound.
And
now- I could tear out my hair!
Run
up the wall in my despair!
With
stabbing jeers, nose in the air,
All
rats may taunt without a care!
And
like a debtor I shall sit,
And
each chance word shall make me sweat!
And
though my fists could send them flying,
I
still could not claim they were lying.
Who’s
coming now? Who’s sneaking through?
If
I’m not wrong, now there are two.
If
it is he, I’ll have his hide.
He
shall not leave this place alive.
FAUST
MEPHISTOPHELES
FAUST
How
from the window the eternal flame
Of
Sacristy’s small lamp is flickering;
It
glimmers outwards, ever-weakening,
While
all around a pressing darkness reigns!
My
night-caught heart is just like that.
MEPHISTOPHELES
And
I feel like a slender cat
That
up a fire ladder crawls
And
strokes himself against the walls.
Yes,
here I feel quite virtuous -
A
bit of thief’s delight, a bit of randiness.
Walpurgis
night’s magnificence
Already
spooks through limb and sense.
Two
nights away its dark will break;
Yes,
then you know why you’re awake.
FAUST
But is the treasure to rise in the air
Which I see glimmering back there?
MEPHISTOPHELES
You’ll soon experience the pleasure
Of lifting up that pot of treasure.
I took a peep not long ago-
Fine silver lion-coins all aglow.
FAUST
But are no jewels there, no ring,
To decorate my darling girl?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Oh no, I noticed such a thing,
It seemed some sort of string of pearls.
FAUST
That’s good. It pains me if I go
To her without gifts, as you know.
MEPHISTOPHELES
It should not bother you to be
Enjoying something now for free.
Now that the sky glows full of stars, I’ll bring
A true art work before her hearing;
I’ll sing for her a moral thing,
More surely to entice her feeling.
SINGS TO THE ZITHER
Why stand before
Your loved one’s door,
Oh, Kathy, for
The early dawn is burning?
Let be, be done,
He’ll let you in,
A pure one,
But pure not returning.
Beware, dears- do!
When it is through,
Good night to you,
Good night, you poor, poor things!
Don’t come to grief,
Avoid belief
In any thief,
Until you wear his ring!
VALENTINE (STEPPING FORWARD)
Whom do you lure? God’s element!
You damnable ratcatcher, you!
To hell first with the instrument,
To hell then with the singer too!
MEPHISTOPHELES
The
zither is in two! There’s nothing left at all.
VALENTINE
And
now for splitting skulls as well.
MEPHISTOPHELES (TO FAUST)
Good doctor, don’t give way! Be quick!
Stay close, and follow on my lead!
So out now with your mopping stick!
I’ll parry, you thrust out with speed.
VALENTINE
So parry then!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Why not? Most civil!
VALENTINE
And that!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Delighted!
VALENTINE
Seems I
fight the devil!
What’s this? My hand’s already lame.
MEPHISTOPHELES (TO FAUST)
Thrust home!
VALENTINE (FALLING)
O no!
MEPHISTOPHELES
So now the rascal’s
tamed!
But now let’s vanish! Away at once! Let’s go!
There rise the murderous cries already. Though
With mere police I get on famously,
Blood-vengeance calls don't work for me.
MARTHA (FROM THE WINDOW)
Come out! Come out!
GRETCHEN (FROM THE WINDOW)
Quick, bring a light!
MARTHA (AS ABOVE)
They quarrel, brawl- they shout and fight.
PEOPLE
One’s dead already- see!
MARTHA (COMING OUT)
But which way did the killers run?
GRETCHEN (COMING OUT)
Who lies here?
PEOPLE
Your mother’s son.
GRETCHEN
All-mighty God! What misery!
VALENTINE
I’m dying. That’s soon said, you know;
And sooner still it’s done.
Why are those women weeping so?
Come, listen, little one!
(ALL GATHER AROUND HIM)
Dear Gretchen, look! you are still young,
Not bright enough, all said and done,
And now you’ve gone astray.
I’ll tell you this in confidence:
You’re now a whore, so there’s no sense
In hiding it away.
GRETCHEN
My brother! God! What do you mean?
VALENTINE
Leave our Lord God out of this scene!
What’s done, I'm sad to say is done,
As things will work out, so they come.
You start with one, in secrecy,
Then more will come to join the spree,
And when a dozen have been down,
You may as well have all the town.
When first one’s shame appears,
There born in secret, far from sight,
One draws the dark, dark cloak of night
Down over its rough head and ears;
You’d like to slay it instantly.
And yet it grows and it gets bigger,
In daylight shows its naked figure,
But grows no prettier to see.
The uglier its face and way
The more it seeks the light of day.
And I can see a time, I think,
When honest citizens will shrink
From you, you harlot, as from the touch
Of an infected corpse’s clutch.
And when your eyes meet theirs, the pain
Will cause your heart to faint and falter!
No more you’ll wear a golden chain!
No more stand near the holy altar!
Nor with lace collar, fine and bright,
Take pleasure at a dance at night!
In some dark corner’s grief you’ll be
With beggars and cripples for company;
And even if God pardons you,
On earth you’re damned your whole life through!
MARTHA
Command your soul to God’s good grace!
Why load such slander on your case?
VALENTINE
Could I but get you, you withered bag,
You pimping, pandering, shameless hag!
I’d hope to find forgiveness then,
In some good measure for my sins!
GRETCHEN
My brother! O hell’s agony!
VALENTINE
I say just this- let crying be!
For when you let your honour go,
You gave my heart its hardest blow.
So through death’s sleep I pass on to
My God, as soldier, brave and true.
HE DIES
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