Quick! thy delay but brings her death more nigh.
[He seizes the lock. Singing heard from within.
My mother, the wanton,
That choked my breath![n16]
My father, the villain,
That dined on my death!
My sister dear,
In the cool green shade
My bones she laid;
Then was I a glad little bird in the May;
Fly away! fly away!
Faust. [opening the door]
She dreams not that her loved one is so near,
The clinking chains and rustling straw to hear.
Margaret. [hiding herself on the bed]
Woe, woe! they come.—To bitter death they call.
Faust. [softly]
Hush! hush! I come to free thee from their thrall!
Margaret. [throwing herself at his feet]
Art thou a man? feel for my hapless plight.
Faust.
Thy cries will wake the watchers of the night!
[He takes hold of the chains to unloose them.
Margaret. [on her knees]
Who gave thee, hangman, such a power
To drag me from my cell at midnight hour?
Have pity on me! Be not so harsh!—so rough!
Surely to-morrow morn is soon enough. [She stands up.]
So young, so very young, am I,
And must already die!
Once I was lovely too—’twas this that caused my fall.
Near was the friend, but far from me to-day;
Torn lies the wreath, the flowers are scattered all.
Oh tear me not so forcibly away!
Spare me! what have I done to injure thee?
Oh hear my prayer! for once compassion show!—
’Tis the first time I ever looked on thee.
Faust.
That I should live to see such depth of woe!
Margaret.
Thou hast me now completely in thy might.
Only first give me time to suckle my sweet child.
I hugged it the whole weary night;
They took’t from me in very spite;
And now they say I murdered the sweet child,
And never more shall I be glad again.
They sing songs on me, too!
A wicked thing to do!
’Tis the refrain
Of a grim old melody:
