“Faust” by Charles Gounod libretto (English)

Contents: Cast; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four; Act Five

ACT TWO

The fair
One of the town gates. On the left an inn with the sign of Bacchus sitting astride a barrel Burghers, students and soldiers are enjoying themselves.

FIRST STUDENTS
Wine or beer,
Beer or wine,
May my glass
Ever be full!
Unashamedly,
Glass after glass,
A drunkard
Drinks everything!

WAGNER
Youthful addict
Of the barrel
Nought but water
Must be barred from it!
May your glory,
Your heart's desire
Be to drink
Now and forever!

FIRST STUDENTS
Youthful addict, etc.
They toast and drink

SOLDIERS
Girls or fortresses,
It's all one, by God!
Old citadels and young mistresses
Are fair game for us!
Whoever is clever
And unscrupulous enough,
Forces them to surrender
And pay a ransom!

BURGHERS
On Sundays and holidays
I like to talk of war and battles,
While distant peoples
Are cracking each other's pates.
I go and sit on the banks
Which overlook the stream
And watch the boats float past
As I empty my glass!

YOUNG GIRLS
Look at these bold fellows

Coming over there;
We must not be too cruel,
Let's walk slower.

SECOND STUDENTS
Look at their impudent miens
And victorious looks!
Friends, we must he on our guard
And hold fast to our hearts!

MATRONS
Look at those gentlemen
Rushing after these hussies!
Aren't we just as fine as they,
Not to say much handsomer?

YOUNG GIRLS
They would like to bewitch,
But they try in vain.
We have nothing to fear
From your wrath.
A lowering brow
Merely grows redder!
Should a lad want me,
I take him at his word.
One must surely trust
All your fine speeches!
Should a lad, etc.

MATRONS
You want to bewitch,
It's plain to see.
What a fine notion!
Be as shameless
As they are tasteless.
One must be a fool,
I do declare,
To pride oneself
On such suitors.
One must be a fool, etc.

BURGHERS
Come, neighbour, let us empty
A glass of wine.
My wife scolds
About everything.
She must always be right.
My wife scolds, etc.

SECOND STUDENTS
Let us see this thing

Through to the end.
See how cross they are,
See how they behave
Their brows are lowering,
They have good taste!
Let us wager I am accepted
At the very first word.
Let us wager, etc.

FIRST STUDENTS
Hooray for wine!
Wine or beer,
Beer or wine,
May my glass
Ever be full!
Unashamedly,
Glass after glass,
A drunkard,
Drinks everything!
Youthful addict
Of the barrel,
Nought but water
Must be barred from it!
May your glory,
Your heart's desire,
Be to drink
Now and forever!

SOLDIERS
Hurray for war,
This godly calling!
No proud beauties for us!
We know how to please them
In the twinkling of an eye!
Let's go about our task,
With neither fear nor shame,
Let's attack on all sides!
From that firm precept
A soldier excludes
No woman nor castle,
And basking in glory
He celebrates victory
To the sound of the drums.
From that firm precept, etc.

VALENTIN
walks in at the back, a small medal in his hand
O holy medal,
Which my sister gave me,
On the day of battle
Remain on my heart

To ward off Death!

WAGNER
Ah! Here is Valentin, looking for us no doubt!

VALENTIN
A last glass, gentlemen, and we must be off!

WAGNER
What is wrong with you?
What regrets sadden our leave?taking?

VALENTIN
Like you, I am going away for a long time;
Marguerite stays behind and to look after
My mother is no longer alive!

SIEBEL
More than one faithful friend
Will take your place at her side!
VALENTIN
pressing his hand
Thank you!

SIEBEL
You can rely on me!

STUDENTS
Rely on us too!

VALENTIN
Before I leave this town,
My forefathers' native place,
To you, Lord and King of Heaven,
Do I entrust my sister.
I beg you to defend her
From every peril,
My beloved sister.
Freed from this harrowing thought,
I shall seek glory in the enemy's ranks,
The first, the bravest, in the thick of the fray,
I shall go and fight for my country.
And if God should call me to his side,
I shall faithfully watch over you,
O Marguerite.
Before I leave, etc.
O King of Heaven, hear my prayer
And defend Marguerite,
O King of Heaven.

WAGNER

Come now, friends, discard these idle fears!
No tears must be mixed with this good wine!
A drink, a toast and a merry ditty
To cheer us up!

STUDENTS
A drink, a toast and a merry ditty
To cheer us up!

WAGNER
mounting on a stool
A rat, more cowardly than brave,
More repellent than handsome,
Lived deep down in a cellar,
Underneath an old barrel.
A cat...

MEPHISTOPHELES
appearing suddenly
I beg your pardon!

WAGNER
Eh?

MEPHISTOPHELES
I crave that you will allow me to take a place
In your midst.
First, your friend must finish his song!
I promise you several in my own style!

WAGNER
stepping down
One is quite enough, provided it is good!

MEPHISTOPHELES
I shall try my hardest not to bore anyone!
The golden calf is still standing,
His might
Is celebrated
From one end of the world to the other!
Nations and kings mix together
To hail the infamous idol
And to the sinister clink of coins
They whirl in a frenzied ring
Round and round his pedestal!
And Satan leads the dance!

ALL
And Satan leads the dance!

MEPHISTOPHELES

The golden calf triumphs over the gods;
Basking in
His preposterous glory
The base monster insults Heaven!
He looks down, ? O strange madness! ?
On the human race at his feet
Sallying forth, sword in hand,
Through blood and filth,
Where the burning metal is shining!
And Satan leads the dance!

ALL
And Satan leads the dance!
We thank you for your song!

VALENTIN
aside
What an odd fellow!

WAGNER
handing a glass to Mephistopheles
Will you do us the honour of drinking with us?

MEPHISTOPHELES
With pleasure!
He takes Wagner's hand and studies it
Ah! This makes me grieve for you!
Do you see this line?

WAGNER
Well?

MEPHISTOPHELES
An ill-boding sign!
You will be killed in an attack!

Wagner withdraws his hand.

SIEBEL
Are you a wizard, then?

MEPHISTOPHELES
taking his hand
Just enough of a wizard
To read in your hand
That fate condemns you
Never to touch a flower again
But it withers.

SIEBEL
hastily withdrawing his hand

Me!

MEPHISTOPHELES
No more nosegays for Marguerite!

VALENTIN
My sister!
Who told you her name?

MEPHISTOPHELES
Take heed, my fine fellow,
You shall be killed by someone I know!
taking the glass from Wagner's hand
Your health!
He throws the wine away
Pshaw! Your wine is revolting!
Allow me to offer you some from my own cellar!
He raps on the barrel of the inn?sign.
Ho there, lord Bacchus, wine please!
Wine gushes from the barrel. To the students
Come nearer!
Everyone to his taste!
Let's drink the health you mentioned
But a moment ago, friends: to Marguerite!

VALENTIN
knocking the glass out of his hand
Enough of that!
Upon my life
I shall silence you here and now!

The wine from the barrel bursts into flames. Valentin and Wagner unsheathe their swords.

WAGNER
Ho there!

STUDENTS
Ho there!

MEPHISTOPHELES
Why do you quake as you threaten me?

He draws a circle round himself with his sword. Valentin tries to attack him. His sword falls to pieces.

VALENTIN
Amazing! My sword
Breaks in the air!

ALL
We cannot repulse the spells
Of hell, come to blunt our weapons!

VALENTIN
But since you can break swords ...

ALL
But since you can break swords ...

VALENTIN
Look!

ALL
Look!

VALENTIN
taking his broken sword by the blade and showing it crosswise to Mephistopheles
It is a cross which protects us from hell!

ALL
It is a cross which protects us from hell!
As he sees the cross Mephistopheles draws back. The crowd leaves the stage.

MEPHISTOPHELES
sheathing his sword
We shall meet again, friends!
Your servant!

FAUST
entering
What is wrong with you?

MEPHISTOPHELES
Nothing' Now, to the point, dear doctor,
What do you expect me to do?
What shall I begin with?

FAUST
Where is the fair girl hiding
Whom your arts showed me?
Was it mere witchcraft?

MEPHISTOPHELES
Not at all!
But her virtue defends her from us
And Heaven itself protects her!

FAUST
No matter! I want to see her!
Come! Lead me to her side
Or I shall part company with you!

MEPHISTOPHELES
Enough said! I am too keen on my new office

To let you doubt my zeal for a moment!
Let's wait! In this very spot, at this merry call,
The fair and chaste maid will come before you.

Arm in arm, students and young girls rush onto the stage. They are followed by burghers and before tbm prance fiddlers.

CHORUS
Just as the light breeze
Blows up into thick whirling clouds
The dust of the furrows,
Let the waltz carry us away!
Make the whole plain resound
With the clamour of your songs!

MEPHISTOPHELES
to Faust
See these charming lasses!
Will you not
Offer your arm
To the fairest among them?

FAUST
No, pray desist from jeering
And leave my heart to its dream!

SIEBEL
as he returns
Marguerite must walk through here!

YOUNG GIRLS
sidling up to Siebel
Must a girl invite you to dance?

SIEBEL
No, no, I have no wish to dance!

CHORUS
Just as the light breeze, etc.

Marguerite walks in.

FAUST
Here she is! This is she!

MEPHISTOPHELES
Well, then, accost her!

SIEBEL
starting towards Marguerite
Marguerite!
MEPHISTOPHELES

I beg your pardon!

SIEBEL
aside
Curse that man! Here he is again!

MEPHISTOPHELES
What, my friend, are you here?
Ah, well and truly, my friend, here you are!

FAUST
stepping up to Marguerite
My lovely young lady, will you not allow me
To offer you my arm and escort you on your way?

MARGUERITE
No thank you, sir: I am neither a lady, nor lovely,
And I really have no need for a supporting arm!

She walks past Faust and disappears.

FAUST
looking after her
By Heaven, such grace and such modesty!
O fair maid, I love you!

SIEBEL
She has gone!

MEPHISTOPHELES
to Faust
Well?

FAUST
Well, I am repulsed!

MEPHISTOPHELES
laughing
Come, dear doctor,
I see that I must
Foster your love affairs!

He and Faust go out the same way as Marguerite has gone.

YOUNG GIRLS
What is it? ...

OTHER YOUNG GIRLS
Marguerite
Who has declined this fine lord's company!

ALL
Let's waltz again! Let's waltz for ever!
Just as the light breeze
Blows up into thick whirling clouds
The dust of the furrows,
Let the waltz carry us away!
Make the whole plain resound
With the clamour of your songs!
Until they are gasping for breath,
Until they are dying,
A god drags them in his wake,
The god Pleasure!
The earth is spinning
And flying away from them!
What a noise, what bliss
In every eye!
The earth is spinning, etc.

Contents: Cast; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four; Act Five