"  My  child,"  she  said,  "  ill-gotten  good

Ensnares  the  soul,  consumes  the  blood.
Before  the  Mother  of  God  we  11  lay  it ;

With  heavenly  manna  she  '11  repay  it ! ""»

But  Margaret  thought,  with  sour  grimace,

"  A  gift-horse  is  not  out  of  place,

And,  truly  !  godless  cannot  be

The  one  who  brought  such  things  to  me."

A  parson  came,  by  the  mother  bidden :

He  saw,  at  once,  where  the  game  was  hidden,

And  viewed  it  with  a  favor  stealthy.
He  spake  :  "  That  is  the  proper  view,  —

Who  overcometh,  winneth  too.
The  Holy  Church  has  a  stomach  healthy :

Hath  eaten  many  a  land  as  forfeit.
And  never  yet  complained  of  surfeit :

The  Church  alone,  beyond  all  question.
Has  for  ill-gotten  goods  the  right  digestion."

FAUST.
A  general  practice  is  the  same,
Which  Jew  and  King  may  also  claim.
MEPHISTOPHELES.
Then  bagged  the  spangles,  chains,  and  rings,
As  if  but  toadstools  were  the  things.
And  thanked  no  less,  and  thanked  no  more
Than  if  a  sack  of  nuts  he  bore,  —
Promised  them  fullest  heavenly  pay,
And  deeply  edified  were  they.
And  Margaret  ?


SCENE  IX.
FAUST.
125


MEPHISTOPHELES.
Sits  unrestful  still,
And  knows  not  what  she  should,  or  will ;
Thinks  on  the  jewels,  day  and  night,
But  more  on  him  who  gave  her  such  delight

FAUST.
The  darling's  sorrow  gives  me  pain.
Get  thou  a  set  for  her  again !
The  first  was  not  a  great  display.
MEPHISTOPHELES.
O  yes,  the  gentleman  finds  it  all  child's-play !      i,

FAUST.
Fix  and  arrange  it  to  my  will ;
And  on  her  neighbor  try  thy  skill !
Don't  be  a  Devil  stiif  as  paste,
But  get  fresh  jewels  to  her  taste !

MEPHISTOPHELES.
