Margaret. Quick! Quick! Save thy poor child! Away, away! Keep the path Up the stream, Across the bridge, To the left hand, Where the plank stands, In the pond, Seize it, quick! It rises up, It kicks! it lives! O save it, save it! Faust. Only bethink thee! One step more, and thou art free. Margaret. Would we were past that mountain gray! There sits my mother on a stone-- I feel a hand that pulls me back As cold as clay! There sits my mother on a stone; Her head sways heavily; She winks not, she nods not, her head she may not raise. She slept so long, she never more may wake. She slept that we might our enjoyment take. O these were happy days! Faust. Here words and prayers will only make things worse; Come! come; or I must hale thee hence by force. Margaret. Let me alone! lay no rough hands on me! Nor with such murderous clutches seize me! Thou know'st I have done everything to please thee. Faust. The day dawns. Come, my Gretchen, follow me! Margaret. Day! yes, it is day! the Judgment-day breaks in! My marriage-day it should have been! Let no one know thou wert before with Margaret. Woe to my wreath! 'Tis done! oh, pain! We will meet again; But not at the dance. The thronging crowds advance With bated breath; No word is spoken; The squares, the streets, Cannot contain them all. The bell doth call, The staff is broken, They bind me with cords, they drag me away, And on the bloody block me lay; And every trembling eye doth quake At the blade that is brandished o'er my neck. Mute lies the world as the grave! Faust. O had I ne'er been born! Mephistopheles. [_appearing from without_] Up! or no help can save! Profitless whining, whimpering, and prating! Meanwhile my eager steeds are waiting, Snuffing the scent of the morning air. Margaret. What's that from the floor uprising there? 'Tis he! 'Tis he! O send his hateful face Away! What seeks he in this holy place? He comes for me! Faust. No! thou shalt live. Margaret. Judgment of God! to thee my soul I give. Mephistopheles. [_to_ /Faust/] Come, come! else will I leave you to your fate! Margaret. Thine am I, Father! O shut not the gate Of mercy on me! Ye angels! ye most holy Spirits! now Encamp around me! and protect me now! Henry, I tremble when I think on thee. Mephistopheles. She is judged! Voice. [_from above_] Is saved! Mephistopheles. [_to_ /Faust/] Hither to me! Voice. [_from within, dying away_] Henry! Henry! [The End] FOOTNOTES. Introduction [i1] _De Dæmonibus, Ficini, Aldus; and Horst, Zauber-Bibliothek_, vi. p. 72. [i2] _Giordano Bruno de Monade, numero et figura, apud Horst, Z. B._ iii. p. 70.