Mark Scrivener Poetry Blog No 95 Next Three Scenes from Faust- Street, Garden, A Little Summer House

THE NEXT THREE SCENES FROM FAUST- STREET, GARDEN, A LITTLE SUMMER HOUSE

In these three scenes we have in a brief poetic form the development of the love affair between Faust and Margaret. Like Romeo and Juliet this love will lead to tragedy.

In my experience "translation" is much more of a creative art than is often recognised. This is especially so with verse and even more so with rhyming verse. It is necessary to try to "re-create" the original into something that works in a similar way in your own language. To illustrate this I am going to take a small section of the original (a speech by Margaret) and translate it "mechanically" using Google Translate.

Here is the original-

Ich war bestürzt, mir war das nie geschehn;

Es konnte niemand von mir Übels sagen.

Ach, dacht ich, hat er in deinem Betragen

Was Freches, Unanständiges gesehn?

Es schien ihn gleich nur anzuwandeln,

Mit dieser Dirne gradehin zu handeln.

Gesteh ich's doch! Ich wußte nicht, was sich

Zu Eurem Vorteil hier zu regen gleich begonnte;

Allein gewiß, ich war recht bös auf mich,

Daß ich auf Euch nicht böser werden konnte.

And here is the version from Google Translate

I was shocked, I was never to happen;
Nobody could tell me of evil.
Ah, I thought, he's in your behavior
What Naughty, seen indecent?
It seemed to him at once only to convert,
This prostitute to act gradehin.
I confess it yet! I did not know what is
To your advantage here to stir begonnte equal;
But certainly, I was quite angry with me,
That I could not be angry at you.

Here is the version I created.

I was upset. It never happened here before.

No one could ever say bad things of me.

“Oh,” I thought, “ has he seen something free,

Not modest, in my bearing?” Even more,

He seemed on sudden urge to sense

He’d straight off strike a bargain with this wench.

Let me confess! I didn’t know, what else

Was stirred to your advantage. I just knew

That I was angry with myself

That I could not be angrier with you.

was upset. It never happened here before.

No one could ever say bad things of me.

“Oh,” I thought, “ has he seen something free,

Not modest, in my bearing?” Even more,

He seemed on sudden urge to sense

Faust and Margaret in the garden, Mephisto and the neighbor at the background, drawn by August von Kreling in Wolfgang von Goethe Faust, published in Munich, 1874.

STREET

FAUST, MEPHISTOPHELES

FAUST

What gives? Some progress? Is it soon?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Ah, bravo! Are you found aflame!

Soon Gretchen shall be your sweet gain.

Tonight you’ll see her in Frau Martha’s room:

That woman’s just ideal it seems

To spin out pimp and gypsy schemes.

FAUST

That’s good.

MEPHISTOPHELES

One thing is wanted of us too.

FAUST

Well, all good deeds must get their due.

MEPHISTOPHELES

We’ve first to set down, legally attesting,

That her dear husband’s limbs are resting

In Padua, outstretched in holy ground.

FAUST

Oh, brilliant!So first we have to journey there.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Sancta Simplicitus! No need for that, dear clown,

Just testify without a care.

FAUST

This plan is through if you've no better ideas spare.

MEPHISTOPHELES

O saintly man! once more the holy crown!

Is this the first occasion in life’s course

You’ve trumpeted false testimony?

On God, the world, what moves it all, were you not phoney;

Was man, what reigns in heart and head, not all baloney,

Infused with definitions of the greatest force?

With brazen brow and bold-set breast?

If deep within you venture to the true,

You’ll surely straight away admit you knew

As much of them as Schwerdtlein’s place of rest.

FAUST

You are and stay a sophist and a liar!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yes, if you probe no deeper in the mire.

Tomorrow, so sincere and brave,

Won’t you fool Gretchen, poor, young dove,

And swear she has your soul’s deep love?

FAUST

True from my heart.

MEPHISTOPHELES

That’s well and good.

What springs from faith and love’s eternal spell,

That once and overall-mighty impulse, would

That come straight from the heart as well?

FAUST

Stop that! It will!- For when I feel

True feelings forming, for the storming

I seek for names, find none quite real,

Then through the world I seek with every sense

And grasp for highest words and hence

This glow, this glow with which I flame,

Call endless, eternal, as a name-

Is this a devilish play of lies?

MEPHISTOPHELES

I am still right!

FAUST

Hear me! Mark this thing-

I beg of you to spare my lungs-

Whoever holds he’s right and has a tongue

Can seem to win.

But come, I’ve had enough of noise. I'll just

Admit you’re right, but mainly for I must.

GARDEN

MARGARET ON FAUST’S ARM. MARTHA WITH MEPHISTOPHELES WALKING UP AND DOWN

MARGARET

I feel you shield me and downplay

Your true thoughts, causing me to blush.

A traveller is used to doing such-

Takes what he finds in some good way.

I know too well that such a travelled one

Won't be amused by my poor speech for long.

FAUST

A glance from you, a word, is worth

More than all wisdom of this earth.

HE KISSES HER HAND

MARGARET

Don’t put yourself out now! How could you kiss my hand?

It is so ugly- rough and thick!

What work I’ve done with it! You understand

My mother’s ways are just so strict.

THEY PASS

MARTHA

And you, good sir, you always see new faces?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Ah, trade and duty keep one on the go!

I’m deeply pained to leave so many places;

Yet I just cannot stay, you know.

MARTHA

Yes, in the rush of youth it’s fine

To roam around the world, so free and brave,

And yet there comes that evil time-

Alone, a bachelor, you’re creeping towards the grave,

That’s never good for anyone.

MEPHISTOPHELES

With dread I see it far, far on.

MARTHA

And so, good sir, take heed now while there’s time.

THEY PASS

MARGARET

Yes! out of sight is out of mind!

You wear politeness with great ease;

But often you’d find friends who please

With bright views that leave me behind.

FAUST

O best! believe me, what’s called bright is often more

Conceit and narrowness of mind.

MARGARET

How so?

FAUST

Oh, open, innocent natures never know

Their own true sacred worth! You may be sure

The highest gifts, like meekness, modesty,

That flow from giving, love-filled natures do-

MARGARET

Just think on me when you’ve some moments free,

I shall have time enough to think of you.

FAUST

You’re often then alone?

MARGARET

Though ours is but a little home

I’ve much to get done on my own.

We have no maid, so I must cook and sweep and knit

And sew and run from dawn to dusk.

My mother thinks that all things must

Be made so accurate.

Not that she really needs to skimp so much. In fact,

Our reach is wider than many of our kind.

My father left a fair amount behind,

A little house and garden close to town.

I lead a rather quiet life. My brother-

He is a soldier now.

My little sister died.

She took much loving care, I often sighed.

Yet I would gladly bear that burden over,

I loved that child so much.

FAUST

An angel, if like you.

MARGARET

I brought her up; she really loved me too.

My father’s death was just before her birth;

My mother looked not long for earth

As she lay there in misery;

But she grew better, as the time went, gradually.

She couldn’t think, in her poor health,

Of nursing the poor mite herself;

And so I brought her up alone,

With water and milk; she grew my own.

And in her arms, and on my lap,

She smiled, she squirmed…and she grew up.

FAUST

You surely knew the purest happiness.

MARGARET

But surely also many hours of stress.

At night her cradle stood by me,

Right by my bed and if she stirred but slightly

I woke, for she

Might need to drink and be laid by me lightly,

And if not quiet, up in the gloom,

To skip her gently up and down the room;

Yet early I’d be at the wash and soon

Off to the market, then at the stove I’d stay…

And always tomorrow like today.

Such living, good sir, isn’t always blessed

With cheer- but food tastes good, and so does rest.

THEY PASS BY

MARTHA

And yet poor women still are badly off:

A bachelor's not likely to be swayed.

MEPHISTOPHELES

It would but take one like yourself

To lead me into better ways.

MARTHA

Be frank, good sir, you’re yet to find that one?

Your heart’s not bound to somewhere in the sun?

MEPHISTOPHELES

Your own hearth and a splendid wife

Are pearls and gold- if the saying’s right.

MARTHA

You’ve never had the leaning though, I mean.

MEPHISTOPHELES

I’ve met with great politeness everywhere I’ve been.

MARTHA

I meant to ask: it’s never mattered to your heart?

MEPHISTOPHELES

With ladies one should never play the joker’s part.

MARTHA

Oh, you don’t understand!

MEPHISTOPHELES

I am most sorry! Mind,

I do know this- that you are very kind.

THEY PASS BY

FAUST

You knew me from the street before when I

Came in the garden here today?

MARGARET

You didn’t see? The way I lowered my eyes.

FAUST

And you forgive the freedom I presumed?

The impudence I showed the other day

As you came from cathedral gloom?

MARGARET

I was upset. It never happened here before.

No one could ever say bad things of me.

“Oh,” I thought, “ has he seen something free,

Not modest, in my bearing?” Even more,

He seemed on sudden urge to sense

He’d straight off strike a bargain with this wench.

Let me confess! I didn’t know, what else

Was stirred to your advantage. I just knew

That I was angry with myself

That I could not be angrier with you.

FAUST

Sweet love!

MARGARET

Just wait awhile!

SHE PLUCKS A DAISY AND PULLS THE PETALS OFF, ONE

AFTER THE OTHER

FAUST

For what? A bunch?

MARGARET

No, just a game- don’t smile.

FAUST

How?

MARGARET

Go away! You’ll laugh.

SHE PULLS OUT PETALS AND MURMURS

FAUST

What are your whispers weaving?

MARGARET (HALF AUDIBLY)

He loves me- loves me not.

FAUST

Oh, shining face of heaven.

MARGARET (CONTINUING)

Loves me- not me- loves me- not me-

(SHE PULLS OFF THE LAST LEAF WITH CHARMING JOY)

He loves me!

FAUST

Yes, my love! Let this fair flower word

Be like a godlike speech- he loves you!

So now you fully understand- he loves you!

HE CLASPS BOTH HER HANDS

MARGARET

It makes me shiver!

FAUST

Oh, do not tremble! Let this look,

This handclasp speak to you of what

Is inexpressible:

And so give over to it fully- feel

A joy that must , must be forever there!

Forever! - For its end would be despair.

Without end! Without end!

MARGARET CLASPS HIS HANDS, THEN FREES HERSELF AND RUNS AWAY. HE STANDS FOR A MOMENT THINKING, THEN FOLLOWS HER

MARTHA (COMING UP)

The night comes.

MEPHISTOPHELES

Yes, and we must be away.

MARTHA

I’d beg you make a longer stay.

But this is not much of a place, it’s true.

You’d think folk had no business at all,

Or work to do,

But spying on their neighbour’s every call.

You’re gossip’s goal, no matter what you’ve done.

How’s our fine pair?

MEPHISTOPHELES

They flew on up the path that way;

Like butterflies at play.

MARTHA

He likes her I would say.

MEPHISTOPHELES

She likes him too. Well, that’s the way things run.

A LITTLE SUMMER HOUSE

MARGARET BOUNCES IN, HIDES BEHIND THE DOOR, HOLDING HER FINGER TO HER LIPS, AND PEEPS THROUGH THE CRACK

MARGARET

He’s coming!

FAUST (ENTERING)

You tease me then depart!

Now you’re caught!

HE KISSES HER

MARGARET (EMBRACING HIM AND RETURNING THE KISS)

Best of men! I love you from my heart!

MEPHISTOPHELES KNOCKS

FAUST (STAMPING HIS FOOT)

Who’s there?

MEPHISTOPHELES

A friend!

FAUST

A beast!

MEPHISTOPHELES

Our time has truly gone.

MARTHA (ENTERING)

Yes, it is late, good sir.

FAUST

Well, may I take you home?

MARGARET

I fear my mother would- good-bye!

FAUST

Must I go then?

Good-bye!

MARTHA

Adieu!

MARGARET

Soon may we meet again!

FAUST AND MEPHISTOPHELES EXIT

MARGARET

Dear God! Oh, all that one could find

Of thoughts in such a man’s deep mind.

I stand ashamed in front of him,

Just saying yes to everything.

I am but poor, unknowing… I cannot see

Just what it is he finds in me.

SHE EXITS