A STREET.
FAUST. MARGARET [passing over].
Faust. My fair young lady, will it offend her If I offer my arm and escort to lend her?
Margaret. Am neither lady, nor yet am fair! Can find my way home without any one's care. [Disengages herself and exit.]
Faust. By heavens, but then the child is fair!
I've never seen the like, I swear.
So modest is she and so pure,
And somewhat saucy, too, to be sure.
The light of the cheek, the lip's red bloom,
I shall never forget to the day of doom!
How me cast down her lovely eyes,
Deep in my soul imprinted lies;
How she spoke up, so curt and tart,
Ah, that went right to my ravished heart!
[Enter MEPHISTOPHELES.]
Faust. Hark, thou shalt find me a way to address her!
Mephistopheles. Which one?
Faust. She just went by.
Mephistopheles. What! She?
She came just now from her father confessor,
Who from all sins pronounced her free;
I stole behind her noiselessly,
'Tis an innocent thing, who, for nothing at all,
Must go to the confessional;
O'er such as she no power I hold!
Faust. But then she's over fourteen years old.