“Faust” – Act 3

ACT THREE

Scene One

Introduction Marguerite’s garden (At the back a wall with a small door in it, on the right a cottage.) Siebel (alone) Confess to her for me, give her my wishes, flowers who bloomed at her side, tell her she is lovely and that night and day my heart pines for love of her! Reveal to her soul the secret of my flame! Let it breathe out with you sweetest fragrances... (He picks a flower.) Withered!... Alas, this God-forsaken wizard has cast a spell on me! I cannot touch a flower but it withers! What if I dipped my hand in holy water? (He dips his hand in a holy-water font hanging on the wall.)

This is where Marguerite comes to pray every evening! Now, quickly, let’s see! (He picks a few flowers.) Do they wither? (looking at his flowers) No! Satan, I laugh at you! It is you that I trust, speak for me! May she be acquainted with the passion she has roused and of which my troubled heart has not breathed a word. If love alarms her, may the flower know how to drop on her mouth a gentle kiss. (He wanders away.)

Scene Two

(Faust and Mephistopheles come in cautiously.) Faust This is the place? Mephistopheles Follow me. Faust What are you looking at? Mephistopheles Siebel, your rival. Faust Siebel? Mephistopheles Hush! Here he comes! (He and Faust hide in a thicket as Siebel returns clutching a posy.) Siebel Isn’t my posy lovely? Mephistopheles (aside) Lovely! Siebel Victory! Tomorrow she shall know the whole tale and if there is a wish to know my heart’s secret, a kiss will tell her all. Mephistopheles (aside) Seducer! (Siebel ties his posy to the cottage door and leaves.)

Scene Three

Mephistopheles Wait for me here, dear doctor. To keep your pupil’s flowers company I shall fetch you a treasure even more wonderful and splendid than those she sees in her dreams! Faust Leave me alone! Mephistopheles I obey. Pray, wait for me here. (Exit.)

Scene Four

Faust What unknown emotion now fills me? I feel that my whole being is in the grip of love. O Marguerite, here I am at your feet! Hail, chaste and pure dwelling where one can feel the presence of an innocent and holy soul. What wealth in this very poverty! What bliss in this humble cottage! O Nature, this is where you created her beauty! This is where the maid grew up beneath your wing, grew up under your gaze! Here, too, breathing into her soul, you lovingly turned this angel of heaven into a fresh-blooming woman. This is the place... yes... here it is! Hail, chaste and pure dwelling, etc.

Scene Five

(Mephistopheles returns with a casket.) Mephistopheles Watch out! here she comes! If the posy proves stronger than the casket, I shall willingly relinquish my power. Faust Let’s flee! I never want to see her again! Mephistopheles Why this sudden scruple? (He places the casket on the threshold of the cottage.) On the threshold of the door, the casket is now laid. Come! My hopes are high! (He drags Faust away into the garden. Marguerite walks in.)

Scene Six

Marguerite I should dearly like to know who this young man was, whether he is a noble lord and what his name is. “There once was a king of Thule who, faithful unto the grave, kept in memory of his lady-love a vessel of chiselled gold...” (She interrupts her song.) It seemed to me that he was most handsome. (She resumes her song.) “There was not a lovelier treasure! He used it on great occasions and every time he drank from it his eyes would fill with tears! When he felt Death approaching, lying on his cold bed, in order to raise it to his lips his hand made a supreme effort!” (Again she interrupts her song.) I hardly knew what to say and at first I blushed bright red. (She resumes her song.) “And then, in his lady’s honour, he drank for the last time; the vessel shook in his grasp and gently he gave up the ghost!” None but great lords possess such a resolute mien together with such gentleness! Come now! Think of it no more! Dear Valentin, if God heeds me, I shall see you again! Here I am quite alone! (She suddenly sees the posy.) A posy? From Siebel, no doubt. Poor lad! (Her eyes fall on the casket.) What is this I see? Whence could this rich casket have come? I dare not touch it and yet... Here is the key, I think. What if I opened it? My hand shakes. Why? It is not wrong to open it, I imagine. (She opens the casket.) O goodness! What a lot of jewels! Is this some bewitching dream which dazzles me, or am I really awake? (She places the open casket on a chair and kneels in front of it.)

If only I dared adorn myself, for a moment, with these ear-rings! Ah! There is a mirror at the bottom of the casket! How could one help admiring oneself? (She puts on the ear-rings and looks at herself in the mirror.) Ah! I laugh to see how lovely I look in this mirror! Is it really you, Marguerite? Answer me, answer me quickly! No, no, it is you no longer, it is no longer your face! This is the daughter of a king, to whom everyone bows as she goes past. Ah, if only he were here, if only he could see me thus! He would find me as handsome as any young lady! Let’s complete the transformation! I am longing to try on as well the bracelet and the necklace! (She puts them on, first the necklace, then the bracelet.) Gracious! It feels like a hand clasping my wrist. Ah! I laugh to see, etc.

Scene Seven

Marthe (coming in at the back) Good Lord, what do I see? How beautiful you look, my angel! How did you get this rich casket? Marguerite Alas, it must have been brought here by mistake. Marthe Not at all! These jewels are yours, my dear young lady! Yes, this is the gift of some lovelorn lord! My dear husband was never so generous!

Scene Eight

(Mephistopheles and Faust reappear.) Mephistopheles Dame Marthe Schwerlein, if you please? Marthe Who is calling me? Mephistopheles (to Marguerite) Forgive us for thus daring to intrude upon you! (to Faust in a low voice) You see how welcome the jewels were! (aloud) Dame Marthe Schwerlein? Marthe Here I am! Mephistopheles The news I bring is hardly likely to cheer you up. Your husband, ma’am, is dead and sends his greetings! Marthe Ah, good Lord! Marguerite What is it? Mephistopheles Nothing. Marthe Oh, how dreadful! What unexpected news! Marguerite (aside) In spite of myself, my heart quakes and flutters when I see him! Faust (aside) The fever of my senses is dispelled when I see her! Mephistopheles (to Marthe) Your husband, ma’am, is dead and sends his greetings! Marthe Have you brought me nothing from him? Mephistopheles Nothing! and you must punish him, by seeking this very day someone to take his place. Faust (to Marguerite) Why do you take off these jewels?

Marguerite These jewels are not mine! Please, let it be! Mephistopheles (to Marthe) Who would not be delighted to exchange wedding-rings with you? Marthe For shame! I beg your pardon? Mephistopheles Alas, how cruel Fate is! Faust (to Marguerite) Accept my arm for a while! Marguerite Desist, I beg you. Mephistopheles (to Marthe) May I have your arm? Marthe (aside) What a charming man! Mephistopheles (aside) The neighbour is somewhat too ripe! Marguerite I entreat you! Marthe What a noble bearing! Faust Gentle and pure soul! Mephistopheles She is somewhat ripe! Marthe So, you are always travelling? Mephistopheles Always! A cruel necessity, ma’am, a cruel necessity! With neither friend, kin, nor wife! Ah! Marthe You can afford to when you are still young. But later on, how sad it is, to grow old alone and selfishly! Mephistopheles I must confess that this dire thought has often made me quail!

Marthe Be sure to think about it before it is too late, my noble lord! Mephistopheles I shall think about it. Marthe Be sure you do! Faust (to Marguerite) What! Are you always alone? Marguerite My brother is a soldier, my mother is dead; then came another misfortune, my baby sister also died. Poor angel! I loved her dearly! She was my only care; what trouble, alas, what anguish! It is when our souls are thus full of them that Death comes and takes them from us! No sooner did she wake than she wanted to see me! She loved none but Marguerite! To see her again, poor darling, I should gladly go through it all again! Faust If Heaven, smiling the while, had made her anything like you, I do believe she was an angel! Marguerite Are you making fun of me? Faust No, I am admiring you. Marguerite I do not believe you and you are probably laughing at me under your breath! It is wrong of me to stay and listen to you! And yet I do listen. Faust Let me take your arm! Did not God himself set me on your way? Why then, alas, are you afraid of listening? ’Tis my heart that speaks, listen!

Marthe You do not heed me and you are probably laughing at me under your breath! Why do you thus hasten back on your way before listening to me? Mephistopheles Do not revile me, if I must, alas, be back on my way. Need one swear that he would like to remain when he is listening to you? (It begins to grow dark.) Marguerite (to Faust) You must withdraw! Night is coming. Faust Dear love! Marguerite Leave me! (She runs away.) Faust (running after her) Ah, heartless girl, are you fleeing from me? Mephistopheles This conversation is becoming too tender! Let us sneak away! (He hides behind a tree.) Marthe (aside) How shall I manage it? (aloud) Why, he has gone away! My lord? Mephistopheles (aside) Yes! Marthe My dear Lord? (She leaves.) Mephistopheles Run after me! Phew! I do believe that this merciless old hag, by fair means or foul was determined to marry the devil! Faust (off-stage) Marguerite?

Marthe (off-stage) My dear Lord! Mephistopheles Your servant. Faust (off-stage) Marguerite? Marthe (off-stage) My dear Lord! Mephistopheles Your servant! Not a moment too soon! Beneath the dark boughs our lovers are wending their way back. ’Tis fine! I must take care not to disturb such tender effusions. O night, spread over them your dark veil! Love, make their ears deaf to untimely remorse! And you, subtly scented flowers, bloom under this accursed hand of mine and put the last touch to Marguerite’s undoing! (He vanishes as Faust and Marguerite return.)

Marguerite It is late, now. Farewell! Faust (detaining her) What? Must I plead in vain? Wait! Let your hand linger in mine! Let me gaze on your face under the pale beams through which your beauty shines, as though through a cloud, caressed by the moon. Marguerite O silence! Happiness! Unutterable mystery! Rapturous languor! I listen and I understand this solitary voice which sings inside my heart! Pray allow me. (She plucks a daisy.) Faust What is all this? Marguerite A childish game! Please, allow me!

Faust What are your lips whispering? Marguerite (plucking the daisy) He loves me! He loves me not! Loves me! Not! Loves me! Not! Loves me! Faust Yes, I believe this flower, blooming under your feet! Let your heart hear it as the voice of heaven itself! He loves you! Do you understand this sweet and sublime word? To love! To carry in our hearts a constantly renewed flame! To be forever drunk with eternal bliss! Faust and Marguerite Eternal! Faust O night of love, radiant sky, O sweet transports! Silent bliss instils heaven into both our souls! Marguerite I want to love and worship you! Speak again! I am yours! I adore you! I would die for you! Faust Marguerite! Marguerite Ah, you must leave! Faust Cruel girl! Marguerite I can hardly bear it! Faust Must I then part from you? Cruel girl! Marguerite (entreating him) Leave me! Ah, you must go, yes, at once! I tremble, alas, I am afraid! Please, do not break Marguerite’s heart! etc. Faust You want me to leave you! See how unhappy I am! Alas! Marguerite! Marguerite! You are breaking my heart! I beseech you!

Marguerite If you love me... Faust Marguerite! Marguerite By your love, by this avowal which I should not have spoken, give in to my plea, give in to my wishes! You must go, yes, etc. Faust You want me, alas, to leave you, etc. Divine purity! Chaste innocence, whose power triumphs over my will! I obey. But tomorrow... Marguerite Yes, tomorrow, as soon as day breaks! Tomorrow! For ever! Faust Just one more word! Repeat once more this sweet avowal. You love me? Marguerite (breaks free, runs to her door and turns to blow him a kiss) Farewell! (She runs into the cottage.) Faust Heavenly bliss! Ah, let’s go! Mephistopheles Madcap! Faust You were listening to us? Mephistopheles And a good thing too! You stand in sore need of some more schooling, doctor! Faust Leave me alone!

Mephistopheles Pray, just listen for a moment to what she has to tell the stars, dear master. Look! She is opening her window! (Marguerite stands at the window.) Marguerite He loves me! My heart is in turmoil! The bird is singing, the wind rustling, all the voices of Nature seem to chorus in my ear: “He loves you!” Ah, how sweet life is! Heaven smiles at me, the air intoxicates me! Does the leaf shake and flutter with pleasure and with love? Tomorrow! Ah, hurry back, dear beloved! Come! Faust (rushes to the window and grasps Marguerite’s hand) Marguerite! Marguerite Ah! Mephistopheles Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!