Scene II
Interior of a Church.
Marguerite, then Mephistopheles.
(Women enter the church and cross the stage. Marguerite enters after them, and kneels.)
Mar. O heaven!
Permit thy lowly handmaiden
To prostrate herself before thine altar.
Mep. No, thou shalt not pray!
Spirits of evil, haste ye at my call,
And drive this woman hence!
Cho. of Demons. Marguerite!
Mar. Who calls me?
Cho. Marguerite!
Mar. I tremble!—oh, heaven!
My last hour is surely nigh!
(The tomb opens and discloses Mephistopheles, who bends over to Marguerite’s ear.)
Mep. Remember the glorious days
When an angel’s wings
Protected thy young heart.
To church thou camest then to worship,
Nor hadst thou then sinned ’gainst heaven.
Thy prayers then issued
From an unstained heart
And on the wings of faith
Did rise to the Creator.
Hear’st thou their call?
’Tis hell that summons thee!
Hell claims thee for its own!
Eternal pain, and woe, and tribulation,
Will be thy portion!
Mar. Heaven! what voice is this
That in the shade doth speak to me?
What mysterious tones are these!
Religious Cho. When the last day shall have come,
The cross in heaven shall shine forth,
This world to dust shall crumble.
Mar. Ah me! more fearful still becomes their song.
Mep. No pardon hath heaven left for thee!
For thee e’en heaven hath no more light!
Religious Cho. What shall we say unto high heav’n?
Who shall protection find
When innocence such persecution meets?
Mar. A heavy weight my breast o’erpowers,—
I can no longer breathe!
Mep. Nights of love, farewell!
Ye days of joy, adieu!
Lost, lost for aye art thou!
Mar. and Cho.
Heav’n! hear thou the prayer
Of a sad, broken heart!
A bright ray send thou
From the starry sphere
Her anguish to allay!
Mep. Marguerite, lost, lost art thou!
Mar. Ah!
(He disappears.)