[_She opens the cupboard to put in her clothes, and sees the casket._] How came the pretty casket here? no doubt I locked the press when I went out. 'Tis really strange!--Belike that it was sent A pledge for money that my mother lent. Here hangs the key; sure there can be no sin In only looking what may be within. What have we here? good heavens! see! What a display of finery! Here is a dress in which a queen Might on a gala-day be seen. I wonder how the necklace would suit me! Who may the lord of all this splendor be? [_She puts on the necklace, and looks at herself in the glass._] Were but the ear-rings mine to wear! It gives one such a different air. What boots the beauty of the poor? 'Tis very beautiful to be sure, But without riches little weighs; They praise you, but half pity while they praise. Gold is the pole, To which all point: the whole Big world hangs on gold. Alas we poor! Scene VI. _A Walk._ /Faust/ _going up and down thoughtfully; then enter_ /Mephistopheles/. Mephistopheles. By all the keen pangs of love! by all the hot blasts of hell! By all the fellest of curses, if curse there be any more fell! Faust. How now, Mephisto? what the devil's wrong? I ne'er beheld a face one half so long! Mephistopheles. But that I am a devil myself, I'd sell Both soul and body on the spot to hell! Faust. I verily believe you've got a craze! Beseems it you with such outrageous phrase, To rage like any bedlamite? Mephistopheles. Only conceive! the box of rare gewgaws For Margaret got, is in a parson's claws! The thing came to the mother's sight, Who soon suspected all was not right: The woman has got a most delicate nose, That snuffling through the prayer-book goes, And seldom scents a thing in vain, If it be holy or profane. Your jewels, she was not long in guessing, Were not like to bring a blessing. "My child," quoth she, "ill-gotten gear Ensnares the soul, consumes the blood; We'll give it to Mary-mother dear, And she will feed us with heavenly food!" Margaret looked blank--"'tis hard," thought she, "To put a gift-horse away from me; And surely godless was he never Who lodged it here, a gracious giver." The mother then brought in the priest; He quickly understood the jest, And his eyes watered at the sight. "Good dame," quoth he, "you have done right! He conquers all the world who wins A victory o'er his darling sins. The Church is a most sharp-set lady, And her stomach holds good store, Has swallowed lands on lands already, And, still unglutted, craves for more; The Church alone, my ladies dear, Can digest ill-gotten gear." Faust. That is a general fashion--Jew, And King, and Kaiser have it too.