The gentleman is pleased to jest.

MEPHISTOPHELES

I’ll cut away, betimes, from here: 
She’d take the Devil at his word, I fear.

(To MARGARET)

How fares the heart within your breast?

MARGARET

What means the gentleman?

MEPHISTOPHELES (aside)

  Sweet innocent, thou art!

(Aloud.)

Ladies, farewell!

MARGARET

Farewell!

MARTHA

A moment, ere we part! 
I’d like to have a legal witness,
Where, how, and when he died, to certify his fitness. 
Irregular ways I’ve always hated;
I want his death in the weekly paper stated.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yes, my good dame, a pair of witnesses
Always the truth establishes. 
I have a friend of high condition,
Who’ll also add his deposition. 
I’ll bring him here.

MARTHA

Good Sir, pray do!

MEPHISTOPHELES

And this young lady will be present, too? 
A gallant youth! has travelled far: 
Ladies with him delighted are.

MARGARET

Before him I should blush, ashamed.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Before no king that could be named!

MARTHA

Behind the house, in my garden, then,
This eve we’ll expect the gentlemen.

[Illustration]

XI

A STREET

FAUST MEPHISTOPHELES

FAUST

How is it? under way? and soon complete?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Ah, bravo!  Do I find you burning? 
Well, Margaret soon will still your yearning: 
At Neighbor Martha’s you’ll this evening meet. 
A fitter woman ne’er was made
To ply the pimp and gypsy trade!

FAUST

Tis well.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yet something is required from us.

FAUST

One service pays the other thus.

MEPHISTOPHELES

We’ve but to make a deposition valid That now her husband’s limbs, outstretched and pallid, At Padua rest, in consecrated soil.

FAUST