Behind this dungeon's dripping wall she lies, To face the witness of thy sin. Forward, thy cowardice draws down the blow. MARGARET (within) sings. FAUST (unlocking the door). She dreams not that her lover hears the strain, MARGARET (hiding herself in the straw on which she lies). Wo, wo! they wake me! bitter fate! FAUST. Hush, hush! I come to give thee means to fly. MARGARET. Art thou a man? then be compassionate. FAUST. Soft! thou wilt wake thy jailers with that cry. [He seizes the chains to unlock them. MARGARET (on her knees). Who gave the hangman power So soon to wake and slay? Why callest thou me at midnight's hour? Oh! let me live till day! Is it not time when morn has sprung? [She stands up. And I am yet so young-so young! Have I e'er wrong'd thee? why then bind me so ? FAUST. Can I outlive this hour of wo! MARGARET. Ah! I am now within thy power; My child! I nursed it many an hour, But then they took it from me to annoy, That is the song they sing to give me pain; But never meant me before. FAUST. He whom you deem'd so far, before you lies, MARGARET. Oh! raise we to the saints our prayer! For see, beneath the stair, Beneath the door-stone swell The penal flames of hell. The evil one, In pitiless wrath, Roars for his prey. i Margaret! Margaret! FAUST (aloud). MARGARET (starting). That was his voice! [She springs up; her chains fall off.] Where is he? for I know 'twas he. None, none shall stay me; I am free! "Tis to his bosom I will fly, In his embraces I will lie. His Margaret he calls, on the threshold he stands, FAUST. 'Tis I. MARGARET. Oh, say it, say it, once again, My friend, my lover! Where is now my pain? I see the church's aisle, the street, FAUST. Haste, Margaret, haste! MARGARET. What, thou canst kiss no more! And hast so soon forgot to kiss! Why are my joys less ardent than they were? Clung to that breast, and deem'd my heaven was there, Alas! unkind, unkind! Hast thou left all thy love, Thy former love, behind? FAUST. Follow me! follow, Margaret! be not slow: MARGARET. And art thou, art thou, he for certain, say? I am; come with me. FAUST. MARGARET. Thou shalt burst my chain, And lay me in thy folding arms again. How comes it, tell me, thou canst bear my sight? Know'st thou to whom thou bring'st the means of flight? FAUST. Come, come !-I feel the morning breeze's breath. MARGARET. This hand was guilty of a mother's death! What hast thou done? Put up thy sword: FAUST. Oh Margaret! let the past be past: MARGARET. No; you must live till I shall trace For my poor mother keep the best: |