MEPH. Here we are again, at the end of our wits!--where the common sense of you mortals loses its hold and snaps. Why dost thou make fellowship with us, if thou canst not carry it through? Wilt thou fly, and art not secure from dizziness? Did we thrust ourselves upon thee, or thou thyself upon us?
FAUST. Gnash not thy ravening teeth at me! I loathe thee! Mighty, glorious Spirit--thou who didst deign to appear to me, and knowest my heart and soul, why dost thou fetter me to this satellite of shame, who revels in evil and gluts himself on destruction?
FAUST. Save her, or woe to thee! The most terrible curse on thee for thousands of years!
MEPH. I cannot loose the bonds of the avenger--cannot undo his bolts. _Save her!_... Who was it that ruined her ... I or thou?
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!
FAUST. Thou wilt awaken the watchmen with thy cries. [_He seizes her chain to unlock it._
GRETCHEN (_kneeling_). Who has given you, heads-man, this power over me? You have come for me already at midnight. Pity me, and let me live! Is to-morrow morning not soon enough? And I am still so young--and I must die! Fair was I too, and that was my ruin. Pity me! What harm have I ever done to thee! I never saw thee before in all my life.