Part 75

FAUST

What weave they there round the raven-stone?

MEPHISTOPHELES

I know not what they are brewing and doing.

FAUST

Soaring up, sweeping down, bowing and bending!

MEPHISTOPHELES

A witches’-guild.

FAUST

They scatter, devote and doom!

MEPHISTOPHELES

On! on!

XXV

DUNGEON

FAUST

(with a bunch of keys and a lamp, before an iron door)

A shudder, long unfelt, comes o’er me; Mankind’s collected woe o’erwhelms me, here. She dwells within the dark, damp walls before me, And all her crime was a delusion dear! What! I delay to free her? I dread, once again to see her? On! my shrinking but lingers Death more near.

(He grasps the lock: the sound of singing is heard inside.)

My mother, the harlot, Who put me to death; My father, the varlet, Who eaten me hath! Little sister, so good, Laid my bones in the wood, In the damp moss and clay: Then was I a beautiful bird o’ the wood; Fly away! Fly away!

FAUST (unlocking)

She does not dream her lover listens near; That he the rattling chain, the rustling straw, can hear.

(He enters.)

MARGARET (hiding herself on the pallet) Woe! woe! They come. O death of bitterness!

FAUST (whispering) Hush! hush! The hour is come that frees thee.

MARGARET (throwing herself before him) Art thou a man, then pity my distress!

FAUST Thy cries will wake the guards, and they will seize thee! (He takes hold of the fetters to unlock them.)

MARGARET (on her knees)

Who, headsman! unto thee such power Over me could give? Thou’rt come for me at midnight-hour: Have mercy on me, let me live! Is’t not soon enough when morning chime has run?