(FAUST looks wildly around.) Art thou grasping after the thunder? Well that it is not given to you wretched mortals! To dash to pieces one who replies to you in all innocence that is just the tyrant's way of venting himself in perplexities. FAUST. Bring me thither! She shall be free! MEPHISTOPHEles. And the danger to which you expose yourself! Know, the guilt of blood, from your hand, still lies upon the town. Avenging spirits hover over the place of the slain, and lie in wait for the returning murderer. FAUST. That, too, from thee? Murder and death of a world upon thee, monster! Conduct me thither, I say, and free her! MEPHISTOPHELES. I will conduct thee, and what I can, hear! Have 1 all power in heaven and upon earth? I will cloud the gaoler's senses; do you possess yourself of the keys, and bear her off with human hand. I will watch! magic horses will be ready, I will bear you off. much I can do. Up and away! FAUST. The This NIGHT. OPEN PLAIN. FAUST and MEPHISTOPHELES rushing along upon black horses. FAUST. What are they working — those about the Ravenstone yonder? 157 MEPHISTOPHELES. -Can't tell what they 're cooking and making. DUNGEON. (With a bunch of keys and a lamp, before an iron wicket A tremor, long unfelt, seizes me; the concentrated misery of mankind fastens on me. Here, behind these damp walls, is her dwelling-place, and her crime was a good delusion! 158 Thou hesitatest to go to her! Thou fearest to see her again! On! thy irresolution lingers death hitherwards. (He takes hold of the lock. Singing within.) My mother, the whore,159 That killed me! My father, the rogue, That ate me up! My little sister Picked up the bones At a cool place! There I became a beautiful little wood-bird. Fly away! fly away! FAUST (opening the lock.) She has no presentiment that her lover is listening, hears the chains clank, the straw rustle. (He enters.) MARGARET (hiding her face in the bed of straw.) Woe! woe! They come. Bitter death' FAUST (Softly.) Hush! hush! I come to free thee. MARGARET (throwing herself before him.) If thou art human, feel for my wretchedness. FAUST. You will wake the guard by your cries! (He takes hold of the chains to unlock them.) MARGARET (on her knees.) Who has given you, headsman, this power over me? You come for me whilst it is yet midnight. Be merci. ful, and let me live. Is not to-morrow morning soon enough? (She stands up.) I ain yet so young, so young! and am to die already! I was fair, too, and that was my undoing! 160 My truelove was near- he is now far away. Torn lies my garland, scattered the flowers. Don't take hold of me so roughly! Spare me! What have I done to you? Let me not implore in vain! I never saw you before in all my life, you know! FAUST. Can I endure this misery! MARGARET. I am now entirely in thy power. Only let me first give suck to the child. I pressed it this whole night to my heart. They took it away to vex me, and now say I killed it. And I shall never be happy again. They sing songs upon me! It is wicked of the people. An old tale ends so. - who bids them apply it? FAUST throws himself on the ground. A lover lies at thy feet, to unloose the bonds of wretchedness. MARGARET throws herself by his side. Ay, let us kneel to invoke the saints. See under these steps, under the threshold, hell is seething! The Evil One, with fearful fury, is making a din. FAUST (passionately.) Margaret! Margaret ! MARGARET (listening.) That was my true-love's voice. The chains fall off.) I am free! Nobody his neck! lie on his He stood upon the (She springs up. Where is he? I heard him call. shall hinder me. I will fly to bosom! He called Margaret ! threshold. In the midst, through the howling and clattering of hell, through the grim, devilish scoffing, I knew the sweet, the loving tone again. 'Tis I. FAUST. MARGARET. 'Tis thou! Ah, say so once again! 1 am (Clasping him.) 'Tis he. 'Tis he! Whither is all my wretchedness? Whither the agony of the dungeon? - the chains? 'Tis thou! Thou comest to save me. saved! There again already is the street, where I saw thee for the first time; and the cheerful garden where I and Martha waited for thee. |