Me a little to the side,

But at distance not too wide!

And my child at my right breast.-
These, and none else with us shall rest!
Me on thy loving side to press,
That was a heaven of blessedness!
But now, I cannot do it more;

I feel as I must force my love to thee,

And thou didst coldly fling me back from thee; And yet 'tis thou!-as good, as loving as before. FAUST.-'Tis I, even I, come, sweet love, come! MARGARET.-Out there?

FAUST.-Into the open air.

MARGARET.

If the grave be there,

And death there waits, then come!

Hence to my eternal home,

Not a step more.

Thou leav'st me now?-would I might go with thee? FAUST.-Thou canst, if thou but wilt. I have unbarred the

door.

MARGARET.—I may not go; no hope for me remains ;

They watch me close-my home is with my chains.
It is so sad to beg from door to door;

A guilty thing from human loves outcast,
A homeless earth to wander o'er;

And they are sure to find me out at last.
FAUST.-I will protect thee.

MARGARET.-Quick! Quick!

Save thy poor child!
Away, away!

Keep the path
Up the stream,
Across the bridge,
To the left hand,

Where the plank stands,
In the pond,

Seize it, quick!

It rises up,
It kicks! it lives!

O save it, save it!

FAUST.-Only bethink thee!

One step more, and thou art free.

MARGARET.-Would we were past that mountain gray!

There sits my mother on a stone

I feel a hand that pulls me back

As cold as clay!

There sits my mother on a stone;
Her head sways heavily;

She winks not, she nods not, her head she may not raise.

She slept so long, she never more may wake.

She slept that we might our enjoyment take.

O these were happy days!

FAUST.-Here words and prayers will only make things worse;
Come! come; or I must hale thee hence by force.
MARGARET.-Let me alone! lay no rough hands on me!
Nor with such murderous clutches seize me!

FAUST.-Thou know'st I have done everything to please thee.
The day dawns. Come, my Gretchen, follow me!

MARGARET.-Day! yes, it is day! the Judgment-day breaks in! My marriage-day it should have been!

Let no one know thou wert before with Margaret.

Woe to my wreath!

'Tis done! oh, pain!

We will meet again;

But not at the dance.

The thronging crowds advance

With bated breath;

No word is spoken;

The squares, the streets,

Cannot contain them all.

The bell doth call,

The staff is broken,

They bind me with cords, they drag me away,

And on the bloody block me lay;

And every trembling eye doth quake

At the blade that is brandished o'er my neck.
Mute lies the world as the grave!

FAUST.-O had I ne'er been born!

MEPHISTOPHELES [appearing from without].—Up! or no help can save!

Profitless whining, whimpering, and prating!
Meanwhile my eager steeds are waiting,

Snuffing the scent of the morning air.

MARGARET.-What's that from the floor uprising there?
'Tis he! 'Tis he! O send his hateful face
Away! What seeks he in this holy place?
He comes for me!

FAUST.-No! thou shalt live.

MARGARET.-Judgment of God! to thee my soul I give. MEPHISTOPHELES [to Faust].-Come, come! else will I leave you to your fate!

MARGARET.-Thine am I, Father! O shut not the gate

Of mercy on me!

Ye angels! ye most holy Spirits! now
Encamp around me! and protect me now!
Henry, I tremble when I think on thee.
MEPHISTOPHELES.-She is judged!
VOICE [from above].—Is saved!

MEPHISTOPHELES [to Faust].-Hither to me!

VOICE [from within, dying away].-Henry! Henry!

THE RIVALS

BY

RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN

DRAMATIS PERSONE

SIR ANTHONY ABSOLUTE.
CAPTAIN ABsolute.

FAULKLAND.

ACRES.

SIR LUCIUS O'TRIGGER,

FAG.

DAVID.

THOMAS.

MRS. MALAPROP.

LYDIA LANGUISH.

JULIA.

LUCY.

Maid, Boy, Servants.

The scene is at Bath, England,