_Meph._ I speak the simple truth. Come, take good heart. You waste your tears upon A man who priced you far below your worth. You’re young, and (pardon me) attractive still. Spend one chaste year of lonely widowhood, Then seek a better husband. _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---- _Mar._ We will! [_Exeunt together, as FAUSTUS and GRETCHEN appear at back._ _Faus._ That, Gretchen, was _my_ dream. _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? _Gret._ He is my brother, sir! _Faus._ So he be alway! There is, perchance, some other envied man To whom the flower of thine heart is given? _Gret._ Indeed, I have no lover, sir. _Faus._ None? _Gret._ None. _Faus._ Thy time will come! _Gret._ Perhaps! _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._) _Gret._ Speak, sir; I listen. _Faus._ (_still playing with her hand_). ’Tis a soft white hand! _Gret._ (_demurely_). My fortune, sir. _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! _Gret._ And do I know him, sir?