MEPHISTOPHeles. Now forth at once! You must not rest. THE WITCH. Much good may the draught do you. MEPHISTOPHELES, to the WITCH. And if I can do any thing to pleasure you, you need only mention it to me at Walpurgis. THE WITCH. Here is a song! if you sing it occasionally, it will have a particular effect on you. MEPHISTOPHELES, to FAUST. Come, quick, and be guided by me, you must absolutely perspire to make the spirit work through blood and bone. I will afterwards teach you to enjoy the nobility of idleness, and you will feel ere long, with heartfelt delight, how Cupid bestirs himself and bounds hither and thither. FAUST. Let me only look another moment in the glass. That female form was too, too lovely. MEPHISTOPHELES. Nay, nay; you shall soon see the model of all womankind in flesh and blood. (aside.) With this draught in your body, you will soon see a Helen in every woman you meet. THE STREET. FAUST. (MARGARET passing by.) My pretty lady, may I take the liberty of offering you my arm and escort? MARGARET. I am neither lady, nor pretty, and can go home by myself. (She disengages herself and exit.) FAUST. By heaven, this girl is lovely! I have never seen the like of her. She is so well-behaved and virtuous, and something snappish withal. The redness of her lip, the light of her cheek-I shall never forget them all the days of my life. The manner in which she cast down her eyes is deeply stamped upon my heart; and how sharp she was-it was absolutely ravishing! MEPHISTOPHeles. What she? She came from her confessor, who absolved her from all her sins. I stole up close to the chair. It is an innocent little thing, that went for next to nothing to the confessional. Over her I have no power. FAUST. Yet she is past fourteen. MEPHISTOPHeles. You positively speak like Jack Rake, who covets every sweet flower for himself, and fancies that there is neither honour nor favour which is not to be had for the plucking. But this will not always do. FAUST. My good Mr. Sermoniser, don't plague me with your law. And, in a word, I tell you this: if the sweet young creature does not lie this very night in my arms, at midnight our league is at an end. MEPHISTOPHELES. Consider what is possible. I need a fortnight, at least, only to find an opportunity. FAUST. Had I but seven hours clear, I should not want the Devil's assistance to seduce such a child. MEPHISTOPHELEs. You talk now almost like a Frenchman; but don't fret about it, I beg. What boots it to go straight to enjoyment? The delight is not so great by far as when you have kneaded and moulded the doll on all sides with all sorts of nonsense, as many an Italian story teaches. FAUST. But I have appetite without all that. MEPHISTOPHeles. Now, seriously and without offence, I tell you once for all, that the lovely girl is not to be had in such a hurry; nothing here is to be taken by storm; we must have recourse to stratagem. FAUST. Get me something belonging to the angel. Carry me to her place of repose; get me a kerchief from her bosom, a garter of my love. MEPHISTOPHEles. That you may see my anxiety to minister to your passion,—we will not lose a moment; this very day I will conduct you to her chamber. FAUST. And shall I see her? have her? MEPHISTOPHEles. No. She will be at a neighbour's. In the mean time you, all alone, and in her atmosphere, may feast to satiety on anticipated joy. FAUST. Can we go now ? |