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Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, Clarke, Harry, and Taylor, Bayard
THE NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE
MARTHA (solus)
God forgive my husband, yet he Hasn’t done his duty by me! Off in the world he went straightway,— Left me lie in the straw where I lay. And, truly, I did naught to fret him: God knows I loved, and can’t forget him!
(She weeps.)
Perhaps he’s even dead! Ah, woe!— Had I a certificate to show!
MARGARET (comes)
Dame Martha!
MARTHA
Margaret! what’s happened thee?
MARGARET
I scarce can stand, my knees are trembling! I find a box, the first resembling, Within my press! Of ebony,— And things, all splendid to behold, And richer far than were the old.
MARTHA
You mustn’t tell it to your mother! ’Twould go to the priest, as did the other.
MARGARET
Ah, look and see—just look and see!
MARTHA (adorning her)
O, what a blessed luck for thee!
MARGARET
But, ah! in the streets I dare not bear them, Nor in the church be seen to wear them.
MARTHA
Yet thou canst often this way wander, And secretly the jewels don, Walk up and down an hour, before the mirror yonder,— We’ll have our private joy thereon. And then a chance will come, a holiday, When, piece by piece, can one the things abroad display, A chain at first, then other ornament: Thy mother will not see, and stories we’ll invent.
MARGARET
Whoever could have brought me things so precious? That something’s wrong, I feel suspicious.
(A knock)
Good Heaven! My mother can that have been?
MARTHA (peeping through the blind)
’Tis some strange gentleman.—Come in!
(MEPHISTOPHELES enters.)
MEPHISTOPHELES
That I so boldly introduce me, I beg you, ladies, to excuse me.
(Steps back reverently, on seeing MARGARET.)
For Martha Schwerdtlein I’d inquire!
MARTHA
I’m she: what does the gentleman desire?
MEPHISTOPHELES (aside to her)
It is enough that you are she: You’ve a visitor of high degree. Pardon the freedom I have ta’en,— Will after noon return again.
MARTHA (aloud)
Of all things in the world! Just hear— He takes thee for a lady, dear!
MARGARET
I am a creature young and poor: The gentleman’s too kind, I’m sure. The jewels don’t belong to me.