A Street.

Faust. Margaret passes over.

Faust. My fair young lady, may I dare To offer you my escort home?

Margaret. Nor lady I, good sir, nor fair, And need no guide to show me home. [Exit.

Faust. By heaven, this child is passing fair! A fairer never crossed my view; Of such a modest gentle air, Yet with a dash of pertness too, And girlish innocent conceit; Her lips so red, her cheeks so bright, Forget I could not, if I might. How she casts down her lovely eyes Deep graven in my heart it lies, And how so smartly she replied, And with a sharp turn stepped aside, It was most ravishingly sweet!

Enter Mephistopheles.

Faust. Hark! you must get the girl for me!

Mephistopheles. Which one?

Faust. She’s just gone by.

Mephistopheles. What! she? She’s only now come from confession, Where she received a full remission. I slinked close by the box, and heard The simple damsel’s every word; ’Tis a most guileless thing, that goes For very nothing to the priest. My power does not extend to those.

Faust. Yet she is fourteen years of age at least.

Mephistopheles. You speak like Jack the debauchee, Who thinks each sweet flow’r grows for me; As if his wish sufficed alone To make each priceless pearl his own: But ’tis not so; and cannot be.

Faust. My good Sir Knight of pedantry, Lay not thou down the law to me! And this, for good and all, be told, Unless, this very night, I hold The sweet young maid in my embrace, ’Tis the last time that you shall see my face.

Mephistopheles. Bethink thee!—what with here, and what with there, The thing requires no little care. Full fourteen days must first be spent, To come upon the proper scent.

Faust. Had I but seven good hours of rest, The devil’s aid I’d ne’er request, To mould this fair young creature to my bent.

Mephistopheles. You speak as if you were a Frenchman born; But though the end be good, we must not scorn The means; what boots the mere gratification? It is the best half of the recreation, When, up and down, and to and fro, The pretty doll, through every kind Of fiddle-faddle sweet flirtation, You knead out first, and dress up to your mind— As many an Italian tale can show.

Faust. I need no tricks to whet my zest.

Mephistopheles. I tell thee plainly without jest, As things stand here, we cannot win The fort by hotly rushing in; To gain fair lady’s favor, you Must boldly scheme, and gently do.

Faust. Fetch me something that breathed her air! Her home, her chamber, plant me there! A kerchief of her chaste attire! A garter of my heart’s desire!

Mephistopheles. That you may see how I would fain Do all I can to ease your pain, We shall not lose a single minute; I know her room—thou shalt enjoy thee in it.

Faust. And I shall see her?—have her?

Mephistopheles. No! She’ll be with a neighbor—better so. Meanwhile, unhindered thou may’st go, And on the hope of joys that wait thee, Within her atmosphere may’st sate thee.

Faust. Can we go now?

Mephistopheles. No; we must wait till night.

Faust. Go fetch a present for my heart’s delight. [Exit.

Mephistopheles. Presents already! good!—a lover should not loiter! I know some dainty spots of ground, Where hidden treasures can be found; I will go straight and reconnoitre. [Exit.