faust-第15部分
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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