©Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

PRISON
229
And is to die because she was deluded-
To die for that her brain was wild and frenzied
And thou dost hesitate to go to her!
Dost fear to look upon that face again!
Onward, irresolute I-this wavering
Delays not death.
[He take8 hold at the lock.-Singing tram within.
SONG
My mother! my mother!
The wanton woman-My mother hath slain me.
My tather, inhuman, For supper hath ta'en me­
My little sister hath, one by one,
Laid together each small white bone,
, M ong almond blosslJm8 to sleep in the cool;
And I woke me a wood· bird beautiful.
Flyaway, flyaway, all the long summer-day,
Little bird at the woods, flyaway! flyaway!
FAUST (opening the wicket). She feels not that her
love is listening-
Hear the chains, as they clank, and the straw rustling.
[He enters.
MARGARET (hiding her face in the straw of her bed).
Woe! woe! they come! they come !-death,
bitter death!
FaUST (in a low voice). Hush! hush! 'tis I who come
to rescue thee!
MARGARET (rolling herself at his feet). Art thou a man?
Have pity upon me.
FAUST. Hush! hush! these screams and shrieks
"ill wake the keepers.
[H e take8 hold of the chains to unlock them.
MARGARET (throwing herself on her knee8 to him).
Savage, who gave this cruel power to thee?
It is not more than midnight now-have mercy!
Is it too long a time to wait till morn ?
[She stands up.
A.nd I am still so young-so very young!
And must I die so soon ?-and I was fair-
©Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia