Meph. Wilt thou grasp after a thunderbolt? 'Tis well that it was not given to you miserable mortals!...
Faust. Take me to her! She shall be free!... Take me to her, I say, and liberate her!
Meph. I will take thee to her—and do what I can do. Listen! Have I all power in heaven and on earth?—I will becloud the jailer's senses. Then do thou get possession of the keys, and lead her forth with human hand. I will keep watch.—The magic steeds will be at hand ... I will carry you off. So much lies in my power.
Night. The open country. Faust and Mephistopheles galloping past on black horses. They pass a group of witches busy round their cauldron. They reach the prison. Within is heard the voice of Gretchen singing an old plaintive ballad. Faust listens:
'She dreams not' (he says) 'that her loved one is listening, and hears her chains rattle and the straw as it rustles.'
[He unlocks the prison door and steps in.
Gretchen (crouching into her bed of straw). Woe, woe—they are coming! Bitter death!
Faust. Hush! hush! I am come to free thee.
Gretchen (grovelling before him). If thou art a man, O pity my distress!