_Mar._ As for that, With all his faults, I might wed worse than he. (_Sobbing._) He was a kindly fool!
_Meph._ Forgiving soul! Angelic tolerance! Ah, were I sure That you would treat _my_ faults as leniently, I should be almost tempted to----
_Mar._ To what? Oh, sir, you’re surely jesting!
_Meph._ Not at all. (_Aside._) I’d better change the subject. This old girl Would take the very devil at his word. They’re coming back. (_Aloud._) We’ll talk of this anon-- After a year--or two--or three----
[_Exeunt together, as FAUSTUS and GRETCHEN appear at back._
_Gret._ Oh, marvellous! That thou and I--each stranger to the other-- Should thus have peopled each the other’s vision! I tremble when I think on’t.
_Faus._ Wherefore so? Was then the vision so distasteful?
_Gret._ Nay, I said not so; but that we two should dream As we have dreamt--’tis not in nature!
_Faus._ Promise That if again thou seest me in a dream Thou’lt tell me all--the part I play therein-- The words I speak to thee, and thou to me.
_Gret._ (_confused_). Perhaps. It may be so. I will not promise.
_Faus._ Tell me again--Gottfried--thou dost not love him?
_Faus._ So he be alway! There is, perchance, some other envied man To whom the flower of thine heart is given?
_Faus._ Give me thy hand-- I’ll read thy fortune, Gretchen.
_Gret._ Wonderful! Canst thou read fortunes? (_Giving her hand._)
_Faus._ Ay, indifferent well. (_Playing with her hand._)
_Faus._ (_still playing with her hand_). ’Tis a soft white hand!
_Faus._ (_recollecting himself_). True, true, thy fortune! Come. (_Looking at her palm._) Ah, Gretchen, Gretchen, be thou on thy guard! There cometh one to woo thee. Oh, beware, Take heed of him--he is no honest man!
_Faus._ Ay, in some sort, Thou knowest his smooth face, his specious tongue; But there is that within his evil heart Of which thou knowest little! Oh, my child, Beware of him! My child, beware of him!
_Gret._ Why comes this wicked man to such as I? I would not aid him in his wickedness.
_Faus._ In sad and sorrowing heart he comes to thee, That he may learn the lesson of thy life. He comes to thee in the fond, foolish hope That the pure influence of such love as thine May quell the evil angel at his side; For wicked as he is, he loveth thee, With all his poor frail heart he loveth thee!