And Gretchen!

MEPHISTOPHELES

In unquiet mood
Knows neither what she would or should;
The trinkets night and day thinks o’er;
On him who brought them, dwells still more.

FAUST

The darling’s sorrow grieves me, bring
Another set without delay! 
The first, methinks, was no great thing.

MEPHISTOPHELES

All’s to my gentleman child’s play!

FAUST

Plan all things to achieve my end! 
Engage the attention of her friend! 
No milk-and-water devil be,
And bring fresh jewels instantly!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Ay, sir!  Most gladly I’ll obey.

[FAUST exit.]

MEPHISTOPHELES

Your doting love-sick fool, with ease,
Merely his lady-love to please,
Sun, moon, and stars in sport would puff away.

[Exit.]

THE NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE

MARTHA (alone)

God pardon my dear husband, he
Doth not in truth act well by me! 
Forth in the world abroad to roam,
And leave me on the straw at home. 
And yet his will I ne’er did thwart,
God knows, I lov’d him from my heart.

[She weeps.]

Perchance he’s dead!—­oh wretched state!—­
Had I but a certificate!

(MARGARET comes.)

MARGARET

Dame Martha!

MARTHA

 Gretchen?

MARGARET

Only think! 
My knees beneath me well-nigh sink! 
Within my press I’ve found today
Another case, of ebony. 
And things—­magnificent they are,
More costly than the first, by far.

MARTHA

You must not name it to your mother! 
It would to shrift, just like the other.

MARGARET

Nay look at them! now only see!

MARTHA (dresses her up)

Thou happy creature!

MARGARET

Woe is me! 
Them in the street I cannot wear,
Or in the church, or anywhere.

MARTHA

Come often over here to me,
The gems put on quite privately;
And then before the mirror walk an hour or so,
Thus we shall have our pleasure too. 
Then suitable occasions we must seize,
As at a feast, to show them by degrees: 
A chain at first, pearl ear-drops then,—­your mother
Won’t see them, or we’ll coin some tale or other.