_Gret._ Hush! hush! I will not suffer thee to utter treason Against my lord. I am but his handmaiden, Yet I am jealous of my master’s honour As of his love. _Faus._ Ah, Gretchen, if his honour Were trusty as his love, thy jealousy Might slumber unto death! _Gret._ (_anxiously_). But tell me, Faustus, When first thou camest to me in the vision, Hadst thou then loved? _Faus._ (_sighing_). Ay, Gretchen, verily! _Gret._ With all thy heart? _Faus._ Alas, with all my heart! _Gret._ (_sadly_). Would Heaven that I had been the first! _Faus._ Amen! _Gret._ And when she learnt that thou hadst love for me, Did her heart break? _Faus._ Nay, nay--her love had died A year before. She fled from me, and I, In a mad frenzy, born of shattered hopes, Gave up the world, and sought forgetfulness In the cold cloisters of a monastery. For twelve long months, twelve weary, weary months, I strove to keep my ill-considered vows, Till, wearying of the sacrilegious lie, I broke my bonds, and cast my priesthood from me. _Gret._ (_aghast_). Faustus! thou art a priest? No, no! no, no! My senses cheat me, or thou mockest me! _Faus._ If the mere letter of a reckless vow Could make me priest, I was a priest indeed. If vows cast off and scattered to the wind Can free me from my priesthood, I am free. _Gret._ (_dazed_). Thou art a priest! and vowed to Heaven! (_Suddenly._) Why then--! Oh, God preserve me! I am lost indeed! Oh, grace of Heaven, have mercy on me now! Oh, take me hence! oh, free me from my life! What have I done! (_Crossing and falling at foot of cross, and clinging to it._) Oh, Heaven, pity me! I knew it not! thou knowest I knew it not! _Faus._ (_kneeling over her_). Gretchen, in Heaven’s eyes I am no priest-- Apostate, if thou wilt; but still no priest. If there be power in boundless love to heal The wound that I have opened in thy heart, That boundless love is thine. _Gret._ (_clinging to cross, and shrinking from him_). Thou art a priest; Thou hast a Bride--thy Church! Thy vows are plighted, And thou hast cheated her! Away! away! Lose not a moment--get thee hence to her-- Upon thy knees confess thy faithlessness, That she may take thee to her heart again! Be brave--go thou from my unhallowed arms Back to the heavenly Bride from whom thou camest! _Faus._ Gretchen, be merciful--have pity on me-- Think of our love--I know thou lovest me. Think of the shame that must await thee here, If thou art left, unfriended and alone, To bear the burden I have placed on thee!