Western European stream·Works of Goethe·Faust (Parts I and II)·Faust I (1808)·Scene XIX — Night (Valentine's Death)

STREET BEFORE MARGARET'S DOOR.

VALENTINE 38 (a soldier, Marcaret's brother).

HEN I have sat at some carouse, Where each to each his brag allows, And many a comrade praised to me His pink of girls right lustily, With brimming glass that spilled the toast, And elbows planted as in boast: I sat in unconcerned repose, And heard the swagger as it rose. And stroking then my beard, Id say, Smiling, the bumper in my hand: "Each well enough in her own way, But is there one in all the land Like sister Margaret, good as gold, — One that to her can a candle hold?"

236faust.
Cling! clang! " Here's to her!" went around The board: " He speaks the truth!" cried some; "In her the flower o' the sex is found!" _ And all the swaggerers were dumb. And now! —I could tear my hair with vexation, And dash out my brains in desperation ! With turned-up nose each scamp may face me, With sneers and stinging taunts disgrace me, And, like a bankrupt debtor sitting, A chance-dropped word may set me sweating! Yet, though I thresh them all together, I cannot call them liars, either. But what comes sneaking, there, to view? If I mistake not, there are two. If he's one, let me at him drive! He shall not leave the spot alive. Faust. MEPHISTOPHELES. Faust. How from the window of the sacristy Upward th' eternal lamp sends forth a glimmer, That, lessening side-wards, fainter grows and dimmer, Scene XLX. Till darkness closes from the sky! The shadows thus within my bosom gather. MEPHISTOPHELES. I'm like a sentimental tom-cat, rather, That round the tall fire-ladders sweeps, And stealthy, then, along the coping creeps: Quite virtuous, withal, I come, A little thievish and a little frolicsome. I feel in every limb the presage Forerunning the grand Walpurgis-Night: Day after to-morrow brings its message, And one keeps watch then with delight. Faust. Meanwhile, may not the treasure risen be, Which there, behind, I glimmering see? MEPHISTOPHELES. Shalt soon experience the pleasure, To lift the kettle with its treasure. I lately gave therein a squint — Saw splendid lion-dollars in 't.1"9

238Faust.
Faust. Not even a jewel, not a ring, To deck therewith my darling girl? MEPHISTOPHELES. I saw, among the rest, a thing That seemed to be a chain of pearl. Faust. That 's well, indeed! For painful is it To bring no gift when her I visit. MEPHISTOPHELES, Thou shouldst not find it so annoying, Without return to be enjoying. Now, while the sky leads forth its starry throng, Thou 'It hear a masterpiece, no work completer : I 'll sing her, first, a moral song, The surer, afterwards, to cheat her. (Sings to the cither.) What dost thou here™ In daybreak clear, Scene XLX. 239 Kathrina dear, Before thy lover's door? Beware! the blade Lets in a maid, That out a maid Departeth nevermore! The coaxing shun Of such an one! When once 't is done Good-night to thee, poor thing! Love's time is brief : Unto no thief Be warm and lief, But with the wedding-ring ! VALENTINE (comes forward ). Whom wilt thou lure? God's-element! Rat-catching piper, thou ! — perdition!™ To the Devil, first, the instrument! To the Devil, then, the curst musician ! MEPHISTOPHELES. The cither's smashed! For nothing more 't is fitting.

240Faust.
VALENTINE. There 's yet a skull I must be splitting! MepHISTOPHELES (0 Faust). Sir Doctor, don't retreat, I pray ! Stand by: Ill lead, if you 'Il but tarry: Out with your spit, without delay ! ' You 've but to lunge, and I will parry. VALENTINE. Then parry that! MEPHISTOPHELES. Why not? 't is light. VALENTINE. That, too! ~ MEPHISTOPHELES. Of course. VALENTINE. I think the Devil must fight ! How is it, then? my hand 's already lame. Scene XLX. 241 MepHIsTOPHELEs (to Faust). Thrust home! VALENTINE (falls). O God! MEPHISTOPHELES. Now is the lubber tame! But come, away! "T is time for us to fly; For there arises now a murderous cry. With the police 't were easy to compound it, But here the penal court will sift and sound it. [Exit with Faust. Martua (at the window). Come out! come out! Marcaret (at the window). Quick, bring a light! Martua (as above). They swear and storm, they yell and fight! PEOPLE. Here lies one dead already — see!

242Faust.
Martua (coming from the house). The murderers, whither have they run? MarcaretT (coming out). Who lies here? PEOPLE. *T is thy mother's son! MARGARET. Almighty God! what misery ! VALENTINE. I'm dying! That is quickly said, And quicker yet 't is done. Why howl, you women there? Instead, Come here and listen, every one! (All gather around him.) ~ My Margaret, see! still young thou art, But not the least bit shrewd or smart, Thy business thus to slight: So this advice I bid thee heed — Now that thou art a whore indeed, Why, be one then, outright! Scene XLX. MaRGARET. My brother! God! such words to me? VALENTINE. In this game let our Lord God be! What 's done's already done, alas! What follows it, must come to pass. With one begin'st thou secretly, Then soon will others come to thee, And when a dozen thee have known, Thou 'rt also free to all the town. When Shame is born and first appears, She is in secret brought to light, And then they draw the veil of night Over her head and ears; Her life, in fact, they 're loath to spare her. But let her growth and strength display, She walks abroad unveiled by day, Yet is not grown a whit the fairer. .The uglier she is to sight, The more she seeks the day's broad light. The time I verily can discern When all the honest folk will turn

244Faust.
From thee, thou jade! and seek protection, As from a corpse that breeds infection. Thy guilty heart shall then dismay thee, When they but look thee in the face: — Shalt not in a golden chain array thee, Nor at the altar take thy place! Shalt not, in lace and ribbons flowing, Make merry when the dance is going! But in some corner, woe betide thee! Among the beggars and cripples hide thee ; And so, though even God forgive, On earth a damned existence live! MarTHA. Commend your soul to God for pardon, That you your heart with slander harden! VALENTINE. Thou pimp most infamous, be still ! Could I thy withered body kill, *T would bring, for all my sinful pleasure, Forgiveness in the richest measure. MarRGARET. My brother! This is Hell's own pain! Scene XLX. VALENTINE. I tell thee, from thy tears refrain! When thou from: honor didst depart It stabbed me to the very heart. Now through the slumber of the grave I go to God as a soldier brave. (Dies.)

246faust.
XX. CATHEDRAL." SERVICE, ORGAN AND ANTHEM.

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