Mark Scrivener Poetry Blog No 92 Next Two Scenes from Faust- Promenade and The Neighbour's House

NEXT TWO SCENES FROM FAUST- PROMENADE AND THE NEIGHBOUR'S HOUSE

In the next two scenes from Faust we encounter some darkly humorous elements. In the scene "Promenade" we see Mephistopheles enraged when the treasure he left is taken by the church. There is some dry satire on the morality of the medieval church and its priests. In the next scene "The Neighbour's House" we find Mephistopheles assuming his role as "The Lord of Lies" as he plays with Frau Martha's emotions over the entirely fictional version of her husband's demise in order to insinuate himself and Faust into their company.

Mephistopheles with Frau Martha and Margaret

PROMENADE

FAUST IN THOUGHT WALKING UP AND DOWN

MEPHISTOPHELES ENTERS AND GOES TO HIM

MEPHISTOPHELES

By every scorn-seared love! By all the elements of hell!

I wish I knew what’s worse to curse with it as well!

FAUST

What’s wrong? What bites so bitterly?

I’ve never seen such looks in all my life!

MEPHISTOPHELES

I’d give myself right over to the devil if…

If only the devil wasn’t me!

FAUST

Is everything upstairs still humming?

This crazy raging is most becoming.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Just think- her gift, those precious jewels I got,

A two-bit priest just took the lot!

Her mother gets to see the thing

And straight away starts shuddering.

Her sense of smell is most aware,

She’s always sniffing in a book of prayer,

One whiff of property makes it quite plain,

If something is holy or profane;

She took one sniff and found the stuff

Was not at all near blessed enough.

My child, she cries, unrighteous wealth

Ensnares the soul, dilutes the health.

To God’s own Mother let these be given,

She’ll give us joy with manna from Heaven!

Poor Margaret had her lips pressed tightly,

What of a gift horse, she thought quietly.

In truth, a giver that’s so kind

Could not be godless; wrong-inclined.

Her mother got a priest to come;

He hardly heard about our fun,

But gazed well-pleased at everything.

He said: You sensed what’s right again!

Those overcoming self will gain.

The church’s belly’s big and strong,

It’s gobbled up whole lands complete,

Yet never has too much to eat;

Thus only the church, my dears, is free

To swallow down unrighteous property.

FAUST

That practice though is nothing new;

A king or count can do it too.

MEPHISTOPHELES

He plucked up necklace, brooch and rings

As if they were some pointless things

And gave them thanks, no less or more,

Than for some bag of nuts, well-fried,

Said heaven’s great reward was sure

And they were highly edified.

FAUST

And Gretchen?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Sits full of restlessness,

Knows neither what she should or will on this,

Thinks on the gems both day and night,

Still more on him who sent that sight.

FAUST

My loved one’s trouble saddens me.
Get her new jewels immediately!
The first were not much anyway.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Oh yes, to the gentleman it’s all child’s play!

FAUST

Get on with what I say to you!
And make up to her neighbour too!
Just be a devil, don’t go to mush,
And bring some new, real-sparkling stuff!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yes, gracious lord, with all my heart.

FAUST EXITS

MEPHISTOPHELES

Such a love-struck fool would puff apart
The sun, the moon, and all the stars above,
Just as an idle pastime for his love.

HE EXITS THE NEIGHBOUR’S HOUSE

MARTHA (ALONE)

God pardon my dear husband- he

Has not done very well by me!

To see the world he slips away

And leaves me lonely in the hay.

God knows, I truly loved him so-

I didn’t get him all upset.

SHE WEEPS

Perhaps he’s dead by now- oh, no!-

If only I'd a death certificate.

MARGARET ENTERS

MARGARET

Frau Martha!

MARTHA

Gretchen dear, what’s wrong?

MARGARET

My knees are sinking under me!

I found a box of ebony

Once more in my clothes press- a throng

Of many dazzling jewels and rings,

Far richer than the other things.

MARTHA

You mustn’t tell your mother or

She’ll cart them to confession as before.

MARGARET

See these and these! Look at these too!

MARTHA (PUTTING SOME ON HER)

O, you lucky creature- you!

MARGARET

Too bad I can’t be seen with these
In street or church, or where I please.

MARTHA

Just come here often, none need know,
And try these jewels on secretly;
And stroll before the mirror for an hour or so,
We’ll have our fun in privacy;
Then some occasion comes up, some festivity,
And bit by bit you can let people see.
A small chain first, then on the ear- a pearl;
Your mother will not notice, else we’ll spin some tale.

MARGARET

And yet who could have sent the caskets here?

There’s something not quite right, I fear.

A KNOCK

Oh God! My mother- could it be her?

MARTHA ( PEEPING THROUGH THE CURTAINS)

A strange gentleman- please come in, sir!

MEPHISTOPHELES ENTERS

MEPHISTOPHELES

I’ll walk straight in, I’ll be so free,

If both the ladies pardon me.

HE STEPS BACK RESPECTFULLY FROM MARGARET

It’s with Frau Martha Schwerdtlein I’m to speak.

MARTHA

I’m here. What does the good sir seek?

MEPHISTOPHELES (SOFTLY TO HER)

It is enough I’ve met you, for I see

You have right noble company.

Forgive the freedom I’ve presumed-

I’ll come again this afternoon.

MARTHA (ALOUD)

Think, girl, of all things on this earth!

This sir thinks you of noble birth!

MARGARET

I’m only young and poor you’ll find.

Oh God! good sir, you’re far too kind

These pretty things are not my own

MEPHISTOPHELES

Oh no, it’s not the jewels alone;

You have that high-born gaze, that noble way,

I’m really pleased that I may stay.

MARTHA

Your message sir? We wait to know.

MEPHISTOPHELES

I wish I’d better tidings though!

I hope you’ll pardon me this meeting-

Your husband’s dead, and sends his greeting.

MARTHA

He’s dead! The faithful heart! Woe! Woe!

My husband’s dead! I’ll die, I know!

MARGARET

Oh please, dear woman, don’t despair!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Then hear the whole, quite sad affair!

MARGARET

I hope I’m not in love, one day,

The grief would kill me if he passed away.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Joy brings sorrow; sorrow, joy, you know.

MARTHA

So tell me of his end, I pray.

MEPHISTOPHELES

In Padua he’s down below,

Nearby St Anthony’s rich clay;

His is a spot that’s truly blessed,

An eternally cool bed of rest.

MARTHA

But have you nothing more to bring?

MEPHISTOPHELES

A great request, with weighty care,

To have three hundred masses sung for him!

But for the rest my pockets are both bare.

MARTHA

What! Not a luck piece! No jewellery!

A keepsake that some journeyman might stack

Into the bottom of his travelling sack

And rather beg or starve than lose,

MEPHISTOPHELES

Madam, I’m truly sad to bear such news.

And yet, he didn't waste his gold, not he.

He repented greatly each failing and each flaw

As well- yes, and bewailed his bad luck even more.

MARGARET

Ah, people are so luckless in this world!

I’ll send in prayer many requiems his way.

MEPHISTOPHELES

You’re worthy to be wedded right this day:

You’re such a lovable, fine girl.

MARGARET

No, that’s not possible as yet.

MEPHISTOPHELES

If not a husband, take a sweetheart- it

Is one of heaven’s greatest balms

To hold a loved one in one’s arms.

MARGARET

That’s not at all the custom here.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Well, custom or not, it happens, my dear.

MARTHA

But tell me more!

MEPHISTOPHELES

I stood next to this dying bed,

Not quite manure; on the whole

Half-rotted straw, and yet he died a Christian soul,

Aware that he’d not paid much of his bill. He said,

“How I must hate myself, now leaving life,

For having left my good trade and my wife.

The memory just makes me die.

If she’d forgive before this life is run.”

MARTHA

The poor, good man! I’ve long forgiven all he’s done.

MEPHISTOPHELES

“Although, God knows, she was far worse than I.”

MARTHA

He lied! What- lying on the brink of death!

MEPHISTOPHELES

He was delirious by his last breath

If I can just half judge events.

“I did,” he said, “ not have to gape to pass the time,

First children, then obtaining bread for them,

And bread, that’s in the widest sense,

Not one time could I eat my part of it in peace.”

MARTHA

Did he forget all of the love and faithfulness,

The drudgery the whole day through!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Not so; he had most heartfelt thoughts of you.

He said, “ I prayed, as we left Malta’s shore,

With fevour for my wife and children’s sake,

So heaven beamed upon our wake,

We took a Turkish vessel with a store

Compiled from some great Sultan’s treasury.

Our courage paid and, as was fit,

I too was given what was due to me,

My truly well-earned part of it.

MARTHA

What? Where? Perhaps he buried it somehow?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Who knows where the four winds have blown it now?

A beautiful, young woman took his arm

As he strolled round Naples with a stranger’s gaze;

She lavished on him love and loyal charm-

He felt this till his happy end of days.

MARTHA

The ratbag! Robbing child and wife!

No misery, no need or wrong,

Could hinder his most shameful life!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yes see! That’s why he’s dead and gone.

Were I at present in your place,

I’d mourn a chaste and modest year,

Then meanwhile aim for some new treasure, some new face.

MARTHA

Oh God, one like my first, I fear,

Will not be found with ease in this world’s ring.

He really could be a right fool at times,

For he was just too fond of wandering;

And foreign women, and foreign wine,

And those accursed, damned games of dice.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Now, now- that could have almost been clear-sailing,

If, for his part, he’d been as nice

And tolerant about your failings.

With such good terms, I swear to you,

Perhaps I’d swap our rings now too.

MARTHA

Oh sir, you like to play the joker’s part!

MEPHISTOPHELES (TO HIMSELF)

High time I scampered, dropped this act!

She’d even make the devil keep his pact.

(TO GRETCHEN)

And how do things stand in your heart?

MARGARET

What do you mean, good sir?

MEPHISTOPHELES (TO HIMSELF)

You good and innocent child.

(ALOUD)

Farewell, dear ladies.

MARGARET

Farewell.

MARTHA

Don’t rush off- stay awhile!

I’d like a testament to show

Where, how and when my dear passed on, was laid below.

I’ve always liked to do things properly-

The paper noting his obituary.

MEPHISTOPHELES

The witness of two lips I always known

To seal the truth. I’m not alone,

I have a fine companion who

Will swear before a judge for you.

I’ll bring him here.

MARTHA

O yes, please do!

MEPHISTOPHELES

And will this sweet girl be here too?

A fine, far-travelled lad is he-

Pays ladies every courtesy.

MARGARET

I’d blush before one of such worth.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Before no king upon this earth!

MARTHA

Behind my house within the garden, when

The evening falls, we'll meet the gentlemen.