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第15部分

faust-第15部分

小说: faust 字数: 每页4000字

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   I am; in truth; of humble blood The gentleman is far too good Nor gems nor
   trinkets are my own。

   Mephistopheles

   Oh 'tis not the mere ornaments alone; Her glance and mien far more betray。
   Rejoiced I am that I may stay。

   Martha

   Your business; Sir? I long to know 

   Mephistopheles

   Would I could happier tidings show! I trust mine errand you'll not let me rue;
   Your husband's dead; and greeteth you。

   Martha

   Is dead? True heart! Oh misery! My husband dead! Oh; I shall die!

   Margaret

   Alas! good Martha! don't despair!

     Mephistopheles

   Now listen to the sad affair!

   Margaret

   I for this cause should fear to love。 The loss my certain death would prove。

   Mephistopheles

   Joy still must sorrow; sorrow joy attend。

   Martha

   Proceed; and tell the story of his end!

   Mephistopheles

   At Padua; in St。 Anthony's; In holy ground his body lies; Quiet and cool his
   place of rest; With pious ceremonials blest。

   Martha

   And had you naught besides to bring?

   Mephistopheles

     Oh yes! one grave and solemn prayer; Let them for him three hundred masses
   sing! But in my pockets; I have nothing there。

   Martha

   No trinket! no love … token did he send! What every journeyman safe in his
   pouch will hoard There for remembrance fondly stored; And rather hungers;
   rather begs than spend!

   Mephistopheles

   Madam; in truth; it grieves me sore; But he his gold not lavishly hath spent。
   His failings too he deeply did repent; Ay! and his evil plight bewail'd still more。

   Margaret

   Alas! That men should thus be doomed to woe! I for his soul will many a
   requiem pray。

   Mephistopheles

   A husband you deserve this very day; A child so worthy to be loved。

   Margaret

   Ah no; That time hath not yet come for me。

   Mephistopheles

   If not a spouse; a gallant let it be。 Among heaven's choicest gifts; I place; So
   sweet a darling to embrace。

     Margaret

   Our land doth no such usage know。

   Mephistopheles

   Usage or not; it happens so。

   Martha

   Go on; I pray!

   Mephistopheles

   I stood by his bedside。 Something less foul it was than dung; 'Twas straw half
   rotten; yet; he as a Christian died。 And sorely hath remorse his conscience
   wrung。 〃Wretch that I was;〃 quoth he; with parting breath; 〃So to forsake my
   business and my wife! Ah! the remembrance is my death; Could I but have
   her pardon in this life!〃 

   Martha (weeping)

   Dear soul! I've long forgiven him; indeed!

   Mephistopheles

   〃Though she; God knows; was more to blame than I。〃

   Martha

     He lied! What; on the brink of death to lie!

   Mephistopheles

   If I am skill'd the countenance to read; He doubtless fabled as he parted
   hence。 〃No time had I to gape; or take my ease;〃 he said; 〃First to get
   children; and then get them bread; And bread; too; in the very widest sense;
   Nor could I eat in peace even my proper share。〃

   Martha

   What; all my truth; my love forgotten quite? My weary drudgery by day and
   night!

   Mephistopheles

   Not so! He thought of you with tender care。 Quoth he: 〃Heaven knows how
   fervently I prayed; For wife and children when from Malta bound; The prayer
   hath heaven with favour crowned; We took a Turkish vessel which conveyed
   Rich store of treasure for the Sultan's court; It's own reward our gallant action
   brought; The captur'd prize was shared among the crew And of the treasure I
   received my due。〃

   Martha

   How? Where? The treasure hath he buried; pray?

   Mephistopheles

   Where the four winds have blown it; who can say? In Naples as he stroll'd; a
   stranger there; A comely maid took pity on my friend; And gave such tokens
   of her love and care; That he retained them to his blessed end。

   Martha

   Scoundrel! to rob his children of their bread! And all this misery; this bitter
   need; Could not his course of recklessness impede!

     Mephistopheles

   Well; he hath paid the forfeit; and is dead。 Now were I in your place; my
   counsel hear; My weeds I'd wear for one chaste year; And for another lover
   meanwhile would look out。

   Martha

   Alas; I might search far and near; Not quickly should I find another like my
   first! There could not be a fonder fool than mine; Only he loved too well
   aboard to roam; Loved foreign women too; and foreign wine; And loved
   besides the dice accurs'd。

   Mephistopheles

   All had gone swimmingly; no doubt; Had he but given you at home; On his
   side; just as wide a range。 Upon such terms; to you I swear; Myself with you
   would gladly rings exchange!

   Martha

   The gentleman is surely pleas'd to jest!

   Mephistopheles (aside)

   Now to be off in time; were best! She'd make the very devil marry her。

   (To Margaret。)

   How fares it with your heart?

   Margaret

     How mean you; Sir?

   Mephistopheles (aside)

   The sweet young innocent!

   (aloud)

   Ladies; farewell!

   Margaret

   Farewell!

   Martha

   But ere you leave us; quickly tell! I from a witness fain had heard; Where;
   how; and when my husband died and was interr'd。 To forms I've always been
   attached indeed; His death I fain would in the journals read。

   Mephistopheles

   Ay; madam; what two witnesses declare Is held as valid everywhere; A
   gallant friend I have; not far from here; Who will for you before the judge
   appear。 I'll bring him straight。

   Martha

   I pray you do!

     Mephistopheles

   And this young lady; we shall find her too? A noble youth; far travelled; he
   Shows to the sex all courtesy。

   Margaret

   I in his presence needs must blush for shame。

   Mephistopheles

   Not in the presence of a crowned king!

   Martha

   The garden; then; behind my house; we'll name; There we'll await you both
   this evening。

     A Street … An Evening Walk In The Garden

   Faust。 Mephistopheles

   Faust

   How is it now? How speeds it? Is't in train?

   Mephistopheles

   Bravo! I find you all aflame! Gretchen full soon your own you'll name。 This
   eve; at neighbour Martha's; her you'll meet again; The woman seems
   expressly made To drive the pimp and gipsy's trade。

   Faust

   Good!

   Mephistopheles

   But from us she something would request。

   Faust

   A favour claims return as this world goes。

     Mephistopheles

   We have on oath but duly to attest; That her dead husband's limbs;
   outstretch'd repose In holy ground at Padua。

   Faust

   Sage indeed! So I suppose we straight must journey there!

   Mephistopheles

   Sancta simplicitas! For that no need! Without much knowledge we have but
   to swear。

   Faust

   If you have nothing better to suggest; Against you plan I must at once protest。

   Mephistopheles

   Oh; holy man! methinks I have you there! In all your life say; have you ne'er
   False witness borne; until this hour? Have you of God; the world; and all it
   doth contain; Of man; and that which worketh in his heart and brain; Not
   definitions given; in words of weight and power; With front unblushing; and a
   dauntless breast? Yet; if into the depth of things you go; Touching these
   matters; it must be confess'd; As much as of Herr Schwerdtlein's death you
   know!

   Faust

   Thou art and dost remain liar and sophist too。

   Mephistopheles

     Ay; if one did not take a somewhat deeper view! To … morrow; in all honour;
   thou Poor Gretchen wilt befool; and vow Thy soul's deep love; in lover's
   fashion。

   Faust

   And from my heart。

   Mephistopheles

   All good and fair! Then deathless constancy thou'lt swear; Speak of one all
   o'ermastering passion; Will that too issue from the heart?

   Faust

   Forbear! When passion sways me; and I seek to frame Fir utterance for
   feeling; deep; intense; And for my frenzy finding no fit name; Sweep round the
   ample world with every sense; Grasp at the loftiest words to speak my flame;
   And call the glow; wherewith I burn; Quenchless; eternal; yea; eterne Is that
   of sophistry a devilish play?

   Mephistopheles

   Yet am I right!

   Faust

   Mark this; my friend; And spare my lungs; who would the right maintain; And
   hath a tongue wherewith his point to gain; Will gain it in the end。 But come; of
   gossip I am weary quite; Because I've no resource; thou'rt in the right。

     A Garden

   Margaret on Faust's arm。 Martha with Mephistopheles walking up and down

   Margaret

   I feel it; you but spare my ignorance; The gentleman to shame me stoops thus
   low。 A traveller from complaisance; Still makes the best of things; I know Too
   well; my humble prattle never can Have power to entertain so wise a man。

   Garden Scene: Garden scene with Mephistopheles; Faust; and Margaret。
   Lithograph by Eugene Delacroix。'

   Faust

   One glance; one word from thee doth charm me more; Than the world's
   wisdom or the sage's lore。

   (He kisses her hand。)

   Margaret

   Nay! trouble not yourself! A hand so coarse; So rude as mine; how can you
   kiss! What constant work at home must I not do perforce! My mother too
   exacting is。

   (They pass on。)

   Martha

     Thus; sir; unceasing travel is your lot?

   Mephistopheles

   Traffic and duty urge us! With what pain Are we compelled to leave full many
   a spot; Where yet we dare not once remain!

   Martha

   In youth's wild years; with vigour crown'd; 'Tis not amiss thus through the
   world to sweep; But ah; the evil days come round! And to a lonely grave as
   bachelor to creep; A pleasant thing has no one found。

   Mephistopheles

   The prospect fills me with dismay。

   Martha

   Therefore in time; dear sir; reflect; I pray。

   (They pass on。)

   Margaret

   Ay; out of sight is out of mind! Politeness easy is to you; Friends everywhere;
   and not a few; Wiser than I am; you will find。

   Faust

     O dearest; trust me; what doth pass for sense Full oft is self … conceit and
   bli

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