The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus

Christian Beck

12 The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus

Cast of Charcters

THE POPE

CARDINAL OF LORRAIN

THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY

DUKE OF VANHOLT

FAUSTUS

VALDES, friend to FAUSTUS

CORNELIUS, friend to FAUSTUS

WAGNER, servant to FAUSTUS

Clown

ROBIN

RALPH

Vintner

Horse-courser

A Knight

An Old Man

Scholars, Friars, and Attendants

DUCHESS OF VANHOLT

LUCIFER

BELZEBUB

MEPHISTOPHILIS

Good Angel

Evil Angel

The Seven Deadly Sins

Devils

Spirits in the shapes of ALEXANDER THE
GREAT of his Paramour, and of HELEN

Chorus

[Enter Chorus]

CHORUS

Not marching now in fields of Thrasimene,

Where Mars did mate the Carthaginians;

Nor sporting in the dalliance of love ;

In courts of kings where state is overturn’d;

Nor in the pomp of proud audacious deeds,

Intends our Muse to vaunt his heavenly verse:

Only this, gentlemen,— we must perform

The form of Faustus’ fortunes, good or bad:

To patient judgments we appeal our plaud,

And speak for Faustus in his infancy.

Now is he born, his parents base of stock,

In Germany, within a town call’d Rhodes :

Of riper years, to Wittenberg he went.

Whereas his kinsmen chiefly brought him up.

So soon he profits in divinity,

The fruitful plot of scholarism grac’d,

That shortly he was grac’d with doctor’s name,

Excelling all whose sweet delight disputes

In heavenly matters of theology;

Till swoln with cunning, of a self-conceit,

His waxen wings did mount above his reach,

And, melting, heavens conspir’d his overthrow;

For, falling to a devilish exercise,

And glutted now with learning’s golden gifts,

He surfeits upon cursed necromancy;

Nothing so sweet as magic is to him.

Which he prefers before his chiefest bliss:

And this the man that in his study sits.

[Exit]

Scene I. Faustus’s study

FAUSTUS discovered

FAUST.

Settle thy studies, Faustus, and begin

To sound the depth of that thou wilt profess:

Having commenc’d, be a divine in shew,

Yet level at the end of every art,

And live and die in Aristotle’s works.

Sweet Analytics, ’tis thou hast ravish’d me!

Bene disserere est finis logices.

Is, to dispute well, logic’s chiefest end ?

Affords this art no greater miracle?

Then read no more; thou hast attain’d that end:

A greater subject fitteth Faustus’ wit:

Bid Economy farewell, and Galen come,

Seeing, Ubi desinit philosophus, ibi incipit medicus:

Be a physician, Faustus; heap up gold,

And be eterniz’d for some wondrous cure:

Summum bonum medicinae sanitas,

The end of physic is our body’s health.

Why, Faustus, hast thou not attain’d that end?

Is not thy common talk found aphorisms?

Are not thy bills hung up as monuments,

Whereby whole cities have escap’d the plague,

And thousand desperate maladies been eas’d?

Yet art thou still but Faustus, and a man.

Couldst thou make men to live eternally,

Or, being dead, raise them to life again,

Then this profession were to be esteem’d.

Physic, farewell! Where is Justinian? [Reads.

Si una eademque res legatur, duobus, alter rem, alter -valorem

ret, etc.

A pretty case of paltry legacies! [Reads

Exhaereditare JUium non potest pater, nisi, etc.

Such is the subject of the institute,

And universal body of the law:

His study fits a mercenary drudge.

Who aims at nothing but external trash;

Too servile and illiberal for me.

When all is done, divinity is best:

Jerome’s Bible, Faustus; view it well. [Reads.

Stipendium peccati mors est. Ha! Stipendium, etc.

The reward of sin is death: that’s hard. [Reads.

Si peccasse negamus, fallimur, et nulla est in nobis -Veritas;

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and

there ‘s no truth in us.

Why, then, belike we must sin, and so consequently die:

Ay, we must die an everlasting death.

What doctrine call you this, Che sera, sera,

What will be, shall be? Divinity, adieu!

These metaphysics of magicians,

And necromantic books are heavenly;

Lines, circles, scenes, letters, and characters;

Ay, these are those that Faustus most desires.

O, what a world of profit and delight.

Of power, of honour, of omnipotence.

Is promis’d to the studious artizan!

All things that move between the quiet poles

Shall be at my command: emperors and kings

Are but obeyed in their several provinces.

Nor can they raise the wind, or rend the clouds;

But his dominion that exceeds in this,

Stretcheth as far as doth the mind of man;

A sound magician is a mighty god:

Here, Faustus, tire thy brains to gain a deity.

[Enter Wagner]

Wagner, commend me to my dearest friends,

The German Valdes and Cornelius;

Request tliem earnestly to visit me.

WAG.

I will, sir.

[Exit]

FAUST.

Their conference will be a greater help to me

Than all my labours, plod I ne’er so fast.

Enter Good Angel and Evil Angel.

G. ANG.

O, Faustus, lay that damned book aside,

And gaze not on it, lest it tempt thy soul,

And heap God’s heavy wrath upon thy head!

Read, read the Scriptures :—that is blasphemy,

E. ANG.

Go forward, Faustus, in that famous art

Wherein all Nature’s treasure is contain’d:

Be thou on earth as Jove is in the sky,

Lord and commander of these elements.

[Exeunt Angels]

FAUST.

How am I glutted with conceit of this!

Shall I make spirits fetch me what I please,

Resolve me of all ambiguities,

Perform what desperate enterprise I will ?

I’ll have them fly to India for gold,

Ransack the ocean for orient pearl.

And search all corners of the new-found world

For pleasant fruits and princely delicates;

I’ll have them read me strange philosophy,

And tell the secrets of all foreign kings;

I’ll have them wall all Germany with brass,

And make swift Rhine circle fair Wittenberg;

I’ll have them fill the public schools with silk,

Wherewith the students shall be bravely clad;

I’ll levy soldiers with the coin they bring,

And chase the Prince of Parma from our land,

And reign sole king of all our provinces;

Yea, stranger engines for the brunt of war,

Than was the fiery keel at Antwerp’s bridge,

I’ll make my servile spirits to invent.

[Enter VALlDES and CORNELIUS]

Come, German Valdes, and Cornelius,

And make me blest with your sage conference.

Valdes, sweet Valdes, and Cornelius,

Know that your words have won me at the last

To practise magic and concealed arts:

Yet not your words only, but mine own fantasy,

That will receive no object; for my head

But ruminates on necromantic skill.

Philosophy is odious and obscure;

Both law and physic are for petty wits;

Divinity is basest of the three,

Unpleasant, harsh, contemptible, and vile:

‘Tis magic, magic, that hath ravish’d me.

Then, gentle friends, aid me in this attempt;

And I, that have with concise syllogisms

Gravell’d the pastors of the German church,

And made the flowering pride of Wittenberg

Swarm to my problems, as the infernal spirits

On sweet Musaeus when he came to hell,

Will be as cunning as Agrippa was,

Whose shadows made all Europe honour him.

VALD.

Faustus, these books, thy wit, and our experience.

Shall make all nations to canonize us.

As Indian Moors obey their Spanish lords,

So shall the subjects of every element

Be always serviceable to us three;

Like lions shall they guard us when we please;

Like Almain rutters with their horsemen’s staves,

Or Lapland giants, trotting by our sides;

Sometimes like women, or unwedded maids,

Shadowing more beauty in their airy brows

Than have the white breasts of the queen of love:

rom Venice shall they drag huge argosies,

And from America the golden fleece

That yearly stuffs old Philip’s treasury;

If learned Faustus will be resolute.

FAUST.

Valdes, as resolute am I in this

As thou to live: therefore object it not.

CORN.

The miracles that magic will perform

Will make thee vow to study nothing else.

He that is grounded in astrology,

Enrich’d with tongues, well seen in minerals,

Hath all the principles magic doth require:

Then doubt not, Faustus, but to be renowm’d,

And more frequented for this mystery

Than heretofore the Delphian oracle.

The spirits tell me they can dry the sea.

And fetch the treasure of all foreign wrecks,

Ay, all the wealth that our forefathers hid

Within the massy entrails of the earth:

Then tell me, Faustus, what shall we three want?

FAUST.

Nothing, Cornelius. O, this cheers my soul!

Come, shew me some demonstrations magical,

That I may conjure in some lusty grove,

And have these joys in full possession.

VALD.

Then haste thee to some solitary grove.

And bear wise Bacon’s and Albanus’ works.

The Hebrew Psalter, and New Testament;

And whatsoever else is requisite

We will inform thee ere our conference cease.

CORN.

Valdes, first let him know the words of art;

And then, all other ceremonies learn’d,

Faustus may try his cunning by himself.

VALD.

First I’ll instruct thee in the rudiments,

And then wilt thou be perfecter than I.

Then come and dine with me, and, after meat,

We’ll canvass every quiddity thereof;

For, ere I sleep, I’ll try what I can do :

This night I’ll conjure, though I die therefore.

[Exeunt]

Scene II Before Faustus’s house

[Enter Two Scholars]

FIRST SCHOL.

I wonder what ‘s become of Faustus, that

was wont to make our schools ring with sic probo.

SEC. SCHOL.

That shall we know; for see, here comes his boy.

[Enter Wagner]

FIRST SCHOL.

How now, sirrah ! where ‘s thy master?

WAG.

God in heaven knows.

SEC. SCHOL.

Why, dost not thou know ?

WAG.

Yes, I know; but that follows not.

FIRST SCHOL.

Go to, sirrah! leave your jesting, and tell

us where he is.

WAG.

That follows not necessary by force of argument,

that you, being licentiates, should stand upon’t: therefore

acknowledge your error, and be attentive.

SEC. SCHOL.

Why, didst thou not say thou knewest ?

WAG.

Have you any witness on ‘t ?

FIRST SCHOL.

Yes, sirrah, I heard you.

WAG.

Ask my fellow if I be a thief.

SEC. SCHOL.

Well, you will not tell us?

WAG.

Yes, sir, I will tell you: yet, if you were not

dunces, you would never ask me such a question; for is

not he corpus naturalel and is not that mobile} then where-

fore should you ask me such a question ? But that I am by

nature phlegmatic, slow to wrath, it were not for you to

come within forty foot of the place of execution, although

I do not doubt to see you both hanged the next sessions.

Thus having triumphed over you, I will set my counten-

ance like a precisian, and begin to speak thus:—Truly, my

dear brethren, my master is within at dinner, with Valdes

and Cornelius, as this wine, if it could speak, it would inform

vyour worships: and so, the Lord bless you, preserve you, and

keep you, my dear brethren, my dear brethren!

[Exit]

FIRST SCHOL.

Nay, then, I fear he is fallen into that

damned art for which they two are infamous through the

world.

SEC. SCHOL.

Were he a stranger, and not allied to me, yet

should I grieve for him. But, come, let us go and inform

the Rector, and see if he by his grave counsel can reclaim

him.

FIRST SCHOL.

O, but I fear me nothing can reclaim him!

SEC. SCHOL.

Yet let us try what we can do.

[Exeunt]

Scene III. A grove

[Enter FAUSTUS to conjure]

FAUST.

Now that the gloomy shadow of the earth,

Longing to view Orion’s drizzling look.

Leaps from th’ antarctic world unto the sky,

And dims the welkin with her pitchy breath,

Faustus, begin thine incantations,

And try if devils will obey thy hest.

Seeing thou hast pray’d and sacrific’d to them.

Within this circle is Jehovah’s name.

Forward and backward anagrammatiz’d,

The breviated names of holy saints,

Figures of every adjunct to the heavens,

And characters of signs and erring stars.

By which the spirits are enforc’d to rise:

Then fear not, Faustus, but be resolute.

And try the uttermost magic can perform.—

Sint mihi dei Acherontis propitii! Valeat numen triplex Jehovae!

Ignei, aerii, aquatani spiritus, sal’vete! Orientis princeps Bel-

tebub, inferni ardentis monarcha, et Demogorgon, propitiamus

vos, ut apparent et surgat Mephistophilis, quod tumeraris: per

Jehovam, Gehennam, et consecrata, aquam quam nunc spargo,

signumque crucis quod nunc facio, et per vota nostra, ipse nunc

surgat nobis dicatus Mephistophilis!

[Enter Mephistophilis]

I charge thee to return, and change thy shape;

Thou art too ugly to attend on me:

Go, and return an old Franciscan friar;

That holy shape becomes a devil best.

[Exit Mephistophilis]

I see there ‘s virtue in my heavenly words:

Who would not be proficient in this art?

How pliant is this Mephistophilis,

Full of obedience and humility !

Such is the force of magic and my spells:

No, Faustus, thou art conjuror laureat.

That canst command great Mephistophilis:

Quin regis Mephistophilis fratris imagine.

[ Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS like a Franciscan friar]

MEPH.

Now, Faustus, what wouldst thou have me do?

FAUST.

I charge thee wait upon me whilst I live,

To do whatever Faustus shall command,

Be it to make the moon drop from her sphere,

Or th’ ocean to overwhelm the world.

MEPH.

I am a servant to great Lucifer,

And may not follow thee without his leave:

No more than he commands must we perform.

FAUST.

Did not he charge thee to appear to me?

MEPH.

No, I came hither of mine own accord.

FAUST.

Did not my conjuring speeches raise thee? speak.

MEPH.

That was the cause, but yet per accidens ;

For, when we hear one rack the name of God,

Abjure the Scriptures and his Saviour Christ,

We fly, in hope to get his glorious soul;

Nor will we come, unless he use such means

Whereby he is in danger to be damn’d.

Therefore the shortest cut for conjuring

Is stoutly to abjure the Trinity,

And pray devoutly to the prince of hell.

FAUST.

So Faustus hath

Already done; and holds this principle.

There is no chief but only Belzebub;

To whom Faustus doth dedicate himself.

This word ‘damnation’ terrifies not him,

For he confounds hell in Elysium:

His ghost be with the old philosophers!

But, leaving these vain trifles of men’s souls.

Tell me what is that Lucifer thy lord?

MEPH.

Arch-regent and commander of all spirits.

FAUST.

Was not that Lucifer an angel once ?

MEPH.

Yes, Faustus, and most dearly lov’d of God.

FAUST.

How comes it, then, that he is prince of devils?

MEPH.

O, by aspiring pride and insolence;

For which God threw him from the face of heaven.

FAUST.

And what are you that live with Lucifer?

MEPH.

Unhappy spirits that fell with Lucifer,

Conspir’d against our God with Lucifer,

And are for ever damn’d with Lucifer.

FAUST.

Where are you damn’d?

MEPH.

In hell.

FAUST.

How comes it, then, that thou art out of hell?

MEPH.

Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it:

Think’st thou that I, who saw the face of God,

And tasted the eternal joys of heaven,

Am not tormented with ten thousand hells,

In being depriv’d of everlasting bliss?

O, Faustus, leave these frivolous demands,

Which strike a terror to my fainting soul!

FAUST.

What, is great Mephistophilis so passionate

For being deprived of the joys of heaven?

Learn thou of Faustus manly fortitude,

And scorn those joys thou never shalt possess.

Go bear these tidings to great Lucifer:

Seeing Faustus hath incurr’d eternal death

By desperate thoughts against Jove’s deity,

Say, he surrenders up to him his soul.

So he will spare him four and twenty years,

Letting him live in all voluptuousness;

Having thee ever to attend on me,

To give me whatsoever I shall ask,

To tell me whatsoever I demand,

To slay mine enemies, and aid my friends,

And always be obedient to my will.

Go and return to mighty Lucifer,

And meet me in my study at midnight,

And then resolve me of thy master’s mind.

MEPH.

I will, Faustus.

[Exit]

FAUST.

Had I as many souls as there be stars,

I’d give them all for Mephistophilis.

By him I’ll be great emperor of the world,

And make a bridge thorough the moving air,

To pass the ocean with a band of men ;

I’ll join the hills that bind the Afric shore.

And make that country continent to Spain,

And both contributory to my crown:

The Emperor shall not live but by my leave,

Nor any potentate of Germany.

Now that I have obtain’d what I desir’d,

I’ll live in speculation of this art,

Till Mephistophilis return again.

Scene IV A street

[Enter Wagner and Clown]

WAG.

Sirrah boy, come hither.

CLOWN

How, boy! swowns, boy! I hope you have seen

many boys with such pickadevaunts as I have: boy, quotha!

WAG.

Tell me, sirrah, hast thou any comings in?

CLOWN

Ay, and goings out too; but you may see else.

WAG.

Alas, poor slave! see how poverty jesteth in his

nakedness! the villain is bare and out of service, and so

hungry, that I know he would give his soul to the devil

for a shoulder of mutton, though it were blood-raw.

CLOWN

How! my soul to the devil for a shoulder of

mutton, though ’twere blood-raw! not so, good friend:

by’r lady, I had need have it well roasted, and good sauce

to it, if I pay so dear.

WAG.

Well, wilt thou serve me, and I’ll make thee

go likeQui mi hi discipulus?

CLOWN

How, in verse?

WAG.

No, sirrah ; in beaten silk and staves-acre.

CLOWN

How, how, knaves-acre! ay, I thought that was

all the land his father left him. Do ye hear? I would be

sorry to rob you of your living.

WAG.

Sirrah, I say in staves-acre.

CLOWN

Oho, oho, staves-acre! why, then, belike, if I

were your man, I should be full of vermin.

WAG.

So thou shalt, whether thou beest with me or no.

But, sirrah, leave your jesting, and bind yourself presently

unto me for seven years, or I’ll turn all the lice about thee

into familiars, and they shall tear thee in pieces.

CLOWN

Do you hear, sir? you may save that labour;

they are too familiar with me already: swowns, they are

as bold with my flesh as if they had paid for their

meat and drink.

WAG.

Well, do you hear, sirrah ? hold, tnke these

guilders. [Gi’ves money.

CLOWN

Gridirons, what be they?

WAG.

Why, French crowns.

CLOWN

Mass, but for the name of French crowns, a man

were as good have as many English counters. And what

should I do with these ?

WAG.

Why, now, sirrah, thou art at an hour’s warning,

whensoever or wheresoever the devil shall fetch thee.

CLOWN

No, no; here, take your gridirons again.

WAG.

Truly, I’ll none of them.

CLOWN

Truly, but you shall.

WAG.

Bear witness I gave them him.

CLOWN

Bear witness I give them you again.

WAG.

Well, I will cause two devils presently to fetch thee

away.—Baliol and Belcher!

CLOWN

Let your Baliol and your Belcher come here,

and I’ll knock them, they were never so knocked

since they were devils: say I should kill one of them,

what would folks say? ‘Do ye see yonder tall fellow in the

round slop? he has killed the devil.’ So I should be called

Kill-devil all the parish over.

[Enter two Devils ; and theClown runs up and down crying.]

WAG.

Baliol and Belcher,—spirits, away ! Exeunt Devils.

CLOWN

What, are they gone? a vengeance on them!

they have vile long nails. There was a he-devil and a she-

devil: I’ll tell you how you shall know them; all he-devils

has horns, and all she-devils has cloven feet.

WAG.

Well, sirrah, follow me.

CLOWN

But, do you hear? if I should serve you, would

you teach me to raise up Banios and Belcheos ?

WAG.

I will teach thee to turn thyself to any thing, to

a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or a rat, or any thing.

CLOWN

How! a Christian fellow to a

dog, or a cat, a mouse, or a rat! no, no, sir; if you turn me into any

thing, let it be in the likeness of a little pretty frisking flea,

that I may be here and there and everywhere.

WAG.

Well, sirrah, come.

CLOWN

But, do you hear, Wagner?

WAG.

How!—Baliol and Belcher!

CLOWN

O Lord, I pray, sir, let Banio and Belcher go

sleep.

WAG.

Villain, call me Master Wagner, and let thy left

eye be diametarily fixed upon my right heel, with quasi

vestigias nostras insistere.

[Exit]

CLOWN

God forgive me, he speaks Dutch fustian. Well,

I’ll follow him; I’ll serve him, that’s flat.

[Exit]

Scene V Faustus’s study

FAUSTUS discovered

FAUST.

Now, Faustus, must

Thou needs be damn’d, and canst thou not be sav’d:

What boots it, then, to think of God or heaven?

Away with such vain fancies, and despair;

Despair in God, and trust in Belzebub:

Now go not backward; no, Faustus, be resolute:

Why waver’st thou? O, something soundeth in mine ears,

‘Abjure this magic, turn to God again!

Ay, and Faustus will turn to God again.

To God ? he loves thee not;

The god thou serv’st is thine own appetite,

Wherein is fix’d the love of Belzebub:

To him I’ll build an altar and a church.

And offer lukewarm blood of new-born babes.

[Enter Good Angel and Evil Angel]

G. ANG.

Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art.

FAUST.

Contrition, prayer, repentance—what of them ?

G. ANG.

O, they are means to bring thee unto heaven!

E. ANG.

Rather illusions, fruits of lunacy.

That makes men foolish that do trust them most.

G. ANG.

Sweet Faustus, think of heaven and heavenly things.

E. ANG.

No, Faustus; think of honour and of wealth.

[Exeunt Angels]

FAUST.

Of wealth!

Why, the signiory of Embden shall be mine.

When Mephistophilis shall stand by me,

What god can hurt thee, Faustus? thou art safe:

Cast no more doubts.—Gome, Mephistophilis,

And bring glad tidings from great Lucifer;—

Is ‘t not midnight ?—come, Mephistophilis,

Veni, veni, Mephistophile!

[Enter Mephistophilis]

Now tell me what says Lucifer, thy lord?

MEPH.

That I shall wait on Faustus while he lives,

So he will buy my service with his soul.

FAUST.

Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee.

MEPH.

But, Faustus, thou must bequeath it solemnly.

And write a deed of gift with thine own blood;

For that security craves great Lucifer.

If thou deny it, I will back to hell.

FAUST.

Stay, Mephistophilis, and tell me, what good

Will my soul do thy lord?

MEPH.

Enlarge his kingdom.

FAUST.

Is that the reason why he tempts us thus?

MEPH.

Solamen miseris socios hahuisse doloris.

FAUST.

Why, have you any pain that torture others?

MEPH.

As great as have the human souls of men.

But tell me, Faustus, shall I have thy soul?

And I will be thy slave, and wait on thee.

And give thee more than thou hast wit to ask.

FAUST.

Ay, Mephistophilis, I give it thee.

MEPH.

Then, Faustus, stab thine arm courageously.

And bind thy soul, that at some certain day

Great Lucifer may claim it as his own;

And then be thou as great as Lucifer.

FAUST.

[Stabbing his arm] Lo, Mephistophilis, for love of

thee, I cut mine arm, and with my proper blood

Assure my soul to be great Lucifer’s,

Chief lord and regent of perpetual night!

View here the blood that trickles from mine arm,

And let it be propitious for my wish.

MEPH.

But, Faustus, thou must

Write it in manner of a deed of gift.

FAUST.

Ay, so I will [Writes]. But, Mephistophilis,

My blood congeals, and I can write no more.

MEPH.

I’ll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight.

[Exit. Faust]

What might the staying of my blood portend ?

Is it unwilling I should write this bill?

Why streams it not, that I may write afresh?

Faiistus gi’ves to thee his soul: ah, there it stay’d!

Why shouldst thou not? is not thy soul thine own?

Then write again,

Faustus gi’ves to thee his soul.

[Re-enter Mephistophilis with a chafer of coals]

MEPH.

Here ‘s fire; come, Faustus, set it on.

FAUST.

So, now the blood begins to clear again;

Now will I make an end immediately. [Writes.

MEPH.

O, what will not I do to obtain his soul ? [Aside.

FAUST.

Consummatum est; this bill is ended,

And Faustus hath bequeath’d his soul to Lucifer.

But what is this inscription on mine arm ?

Homo,fuge : whither should I fly ?

If unto God, he’ll throw me down to hell.

My senses are deceiv’d; here ‘s nothing writ:—

I see it plain; here in this place is writ,

Homo, fuge: yet shall not Faustus fly.

MEPH.

I’ll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind.

[Aside, and then exit.

[Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with Devils, who give crowns and

rich apparel to FAUSTUS, dance, and then depart]

FAUST.

Speak, Mephistophilis, what means this show?

MEPH.

Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind withal.

And to shew thee what magic can perform.

FAUST.

But may I raise up spirits when I please ?

MEPH.

Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these.

FAUST.

Then there ‘s enough for a thousand souls.

Here, Mephistophilis, receive this scroll,

A deed of gift of body and of soul:

But yet conditionally that thou perform

All articles prescrib’d between us both.

MEPH.

Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer

To effect all promises between us made!

FAUST.

Then hear me read them. [Reads]

On these conditions following. First, that Faustus may be a

spirit in form and substance. Secondly, that Mephistophilis

shall be his servant, and at his command. Thirdly, that

Mephistophilis shall do for him, and bring him whatsoever

[he desires]. Fourthly, that he shall be in his chamber or

house invisible. Lastly, that he shall appear to the said John

austus, at all times, in what form or shape soever he please.

I, John Faustus, of Wittenberg, Doctor, by these presents,

do give both body and soul to Lucifer prince of the east, and his

minister Mephistophilis; and furthermore grant unto them,

twenty four years being expired, the articles above written in-

violate, full powver to fetch or carry the said John Faustus,

body and soul, flesh, blood, or goods, into their habitation

wheresoever. By me, JOHN FAUSTUS.

MEPH.

Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?

FAUST.

Ay, take it, and the devil give thee good on ‘t!

MEPH.

Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt.

FAUST.

First will I question with thee about hell.

Tell me, where is the place that men call hell?

MEPH.

Under the heavens

.

FAUST.

Ay, but whereabout?

MEPH.

Within the bowels of these elements.

Where we are tortur’d and remain for ever:

Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscrib’d

In one self place; for where we are is hell,

And where hell is, there must we ever be:

And, to conclude, when all the world dissolves,

And every creature shall be purified.

All places shall be hell that are not heaven.

FAUST.

Come, I think hell’s a fable.

MEPH.

Ay, think so still, till experience change thy mind.

FAUST.

Why, think’st thou, then, that Faustus shall be damn’d ?

MEPH.

Ay, of necessity, for here ‘s the scroll

Wherein thou hast given thy soul to Lucifer.

FAUST.

Ay, and body too: but what of that?

Think’st thou that Faustus is so fond to imagine

That, after this Hfe, there is any pain?

Tush, these are trifles and mere old wives’ tales.

MEPH.

But, Faustus, I am an instance to prove the contrary;

For I am damn’d, and now in hell.

FAUST.

How ! now in hell! Nay, an this be hell,

I’ll willingly be damn’d here:

What! walking, disputing, etc.

But, leaving off this, let me have a wife,

The fairest maid in Germany.

MEPH.

How! a wife! I prithee, Faustus, talk not of a wife.

FAUST.

Nay, sweet Mephistophilis, fetch me one; for I

will have one.

MEPH.

Well, thou wilt have one ?

Sit there till I come:

I’ll fetch thee a wife in the devil’s name.

[Exit]

[Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with a Devil drest like a Woman,

with Fire-works]

MEPH.

Tell me, Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?

FAUST.

A plague on her !

MEPH.

Tut, Faustus,

Marriage is but a ceremonial toy;

If thou lovest me, think no more of it.

She whom thine eye shall like, thy heart shall have,

Be she as chaste as was Penelope,

As wise as Saba, or as beautiful

As was bright Lucifer before his fall.

Hold, take this book, peruse it thoroughly: [Gi’ves book.

The iterating of these lines brings gold;

The framing of this circle on the ground

Brings whirlwinds, tempests, thunder, and lightning;

Pronounce this thrice devoutly to thyself,

And men in armour shall appear to thee,

Ready to execute what thou desir’st.

FAUST.

Thanks, Mephistophilis; yet fain would I have a

book wherein I might behold all spells and incantations,

that I might raise up spirits when I please.

MEPH.

Here they are in this book. [Turns to them.

FAUST.

Now would I have a book where I might see all

characters and planets of the heavens, that I might know

their motions and dispositions.

MEPH.

Here they are too. [Turns to them.

FAUST.

Nay, let me have one book more,—and then I

have done,—wherein I might see all plants, herbs, and trees,

that grow upon the earth.

MEPH.

Here they be.

FAUST.

O, thou art deceived.

MEPH.

Tut, I warrant thee. [Turns to them.

Scene VI. In the house of Faustus

FAUST.

When I behold the heavens, then I repent.

And curse thee, wicked Mephistophilis,

Because thou hast depriv’d me of those joys.

MEPH.

Why, Faustus,

Thinkest thou heaven is such a glorious thing?

I tell thee, ’tis not half so fair as thou,

Or any man that breathes on earth.

FAUST.

How prov’st thou that ?

MEPH.

‘Twas made for man, therefore is man more

excellent.

FAUST.

If it were made for man, ’twas made for me :

I will renounce this magic and repent.

[Enter Good Angel and Evil Angel]

G. ANG.

Faustus, repent; yet God will pity thee.

E. ANG.

Thou art a spirit; God cannot pity thee.

FAUST.

Who buzzeth in mine ears I am a spirit?

Be I a devil, yet God may pity me;

Ay, God will pity me, if I repent.

E. ANG.

Ay, but Faustus never shall repent.

[Exeunt Angels]

FAUST.

My heart’s so hardened, I cannot repent:

Scarce can I name salvation, faith, or heaven,

But fearful echoes thunder in mine ears,

‘ Faustus, thou art damn’d!’ then swords, and knives,

Poison, guns, halters, and envenom’d steel

Are laid before me to despatch myself;

And long ere this I should have slain myself,

Had not sweet pleasure conquer’d deep despair.

Have not I made blind Homer sing to me

Of Alexander’s love and Oenon’s death ?

And hath not he, that built the walls of Thebes

With ravishing sound of his melodious harp,

Made music with my Mephistophilis ?

Why should I die, then, or basely despair?

I am resolv’d; Faustus shall ne’er repent.

— Come, Mephistophilis, let us dispute again,

And argue of divine astrology.

Tell me, are there many heavens above the moon

Are all celestial bodies but one globe,

As is the substance of this centric earth ?

MEPH.

As are the elements, such are the spheres,

Mutually folded in each other’s orb,

And, Faustus,

All jointly move upon one axletree.

Whose terminine is term’d the world’s wide pole;

Nor are the names of Saturn, Mars, or Jupiter

Feign’d, but are erring stars.

Faust, But, tell me, have they all one motion, both situ et tempore

MEPH.

All jointly move from east to west in twenty-four

hours upon the poles of the world; but differ in their mo-

tion upon the poles of the zodiac.

FAUST.

Tush,

These slender trifles Wagner can decide:

Hath Mephistophilis no greater skill?

Who knows not the double motion of the planets?

The first is finish’d in a natural day;

The second thus: as Saturn in thirty years;

Jupiter in twelve; Mars in four; the Sun, Venus, and Mercury in a year;

the Moon in twenty-eight days.

Tush, these are freshmen’s suppositions.

But, tell me, hath every sphere a dominion or intelligentia ?

MEPH.

Ay.

FAUST.

How many heavens or spheres are there?

MEPH.

Nine; the seven planets, the firmament, and the empyreal heaven.

FAUST.

Well, resolve me in this question: why have we

not conjunctions, oppositions, aspects, eclipses, all at one

time, but in some years we have more, in some less?

MEPH.

Per inaequalem motum respectu totius.

FAUST.

Well, 1 am answered. Tell me who made the

world ?

MEPH.

I will not.

FAUST.

Sweet Mephistophilis, tell me.

MEPH.

Move me not, for I will not tell thee.-

FAUST.

Villain, have I not bound thee to tell me any

thing ?

MEPH.

Ay, that is not against our kingdom; but this is.

Think thou on hell, Faustus, for thou art damned.

G. ANG.

Think, Faustus, upon God that made the world.

MEPH.

Remember this.

FAUST.

Ay, go, accursed spirit, to ugly hell!

Tis thou hast damn’d distressed Faustus’ soul.

Is ‘t not too late ?

E. ANG.

Too late.

G. ANG.

Never too late, if Faustus can repent.

E. ANG.

If thou repent, devils shall tear thee in pieces.

G. ANG.

Repent, and they shall never raze thy skin.

FAUST.

Ay, Christ, my Saviour, Seek to save distressed Faustus’ soul!

LUC.

Christ cannot save thy soul, for he is just:

There ‘s none but I have interest in the same.

FAUST.

O, who art thou that look’st so terrible ?

LUC.

I am Lucifer, And this is my companion-prince in hell.

FAUST.

O, Faustus, they are come to fetch away thy soul!

LUC.

“We come to tell thee thou dost injure us;

Thou talk’st of Christ, contrary to thy promise:

Thou shouldst not think of God: think of the devil.

And of his dam too.

FAUST.

Nor will I henceforth: pardon me in this,

And Faustus vows never to look to heaven,

Never to name God, or to pray to him,

To burn his Scriptures, slay his ministers.

And make my spirits pull his churches down.

LUC.

Do so, and we will highly gratify thee.

Faustus, we are come from hell to shew thee some pastime:

sit down, and thou shalt see all the Seven Deadly Sins ap-

pear in their proper shapes.

FAUST.

That sight will be as pleasing unto me,

As Paradise was to Adam, the first day

Of his creation.

LUC.

Talk not of Paradise nor creation ; but mark this

show: talk of the devil, and nothing else.—Gome away!

Now, Faustus, examine them of their several names

and dispositions.

FAUST.

What art thou, the first?

PRIDE

I am Pride. I disdain to have any parents.

I am like Ovid’s flea; I can creep into every corner; some-

times, like a perriwig, I sit upon a wench’s brow; or, like

a fan of feathers, I kiss her lips. But, fie, what a scent

is here! I’ll not speak another word, except the ground

were perfumed, and covered with cloth of arras.

FAUST.

What art thou, the second?

COVET

I am Covetousness; and, might I have my wish,

I would desire that this house and all the people in it were

turned to gold, that I might lock you up in my good chest,

O my sweet gold!

FAUST.

What art thou, the third?

WRATH

I am Wrath. I had neither father nor mother:

I leapt out of a lion’s mouth when I was scarce half-an-

hour old; and ever since I have run up and down the

world with this case of rapiers, wounding myself when I

had nobody to fight withal. I was born in hell; and look

to it, for some of you shall be my father.

FAUST.

What art thou, the fourth?

ENVY

I am Envy, born of a chimney-sweeper and an

oyster-wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books

were burnt. I am lean with seeing others eat. O, that

there would come a famine through all the world, that all

might die, and I live alone! then thou shouldst see how fat

I would be. But must thou sit, and I stand? come down,

with a vengeance!

FAUST.

Away, envious rascal!—What art thou, the fifth ?

GLUT

Who I, sir? I am Gluttony. My parents are all

dead, and the devil a penny they have left me, but a bare

pension, and that is thirty meals a-day and ten bevers,—

a small trifle to suffice nature. O, I come of a royal

parentage ! my grandfather was a Gammon of Bacon, my

grandmother a Hogshead of Claret-wine; my godfathers

were these, Peter Pickle-herring and Martin Martlemas-

beef; O, but my godmother, she was a jolly gentlewoman,

and well beloved in every good town and city; her name was

Mistress Margery March-beer. Now, Faustus, thou hast

heard all my progeny; wilt thou bid me to supper?

FAUST.

No, I’ll see thee hanged; thou wilt eat up all my victuals.

GLUT

Then the devil choke thee!

FAUST.

Choke thyself, glutton !—What art thou, the sixth ?

SLOTH

I am Sloth. I was born on a sunny bank, where

I have lain ever since; and you have done me great injury

to bring me from thence: let me be carried thither again

by Gluttony and Lechery. I’ll not speak another word for

a king’s ransom.

FAUST.

What are you. Mistress Minx, the seventh and last ?

LECHERY

Lechery. Who, I, sir ? The first letter of my name begins

with L.

LUC.

Away, to hell, to hell!

[Exeunt the Sins]

Now, Faustus, how dost thou like this?

FAUST.

O, this feeds my soul!

LUC.

Tut, Faustus, in hell is all manner of delight.

FAUST.

O, might I see hell, and return again,

How happy were I then!

LUC.

Thou shalt; I will send for thee at midnight.

FAUST.

In meantime take this book; peruse it throughly,

FAUST.

And thou shalt turn thyself into what shape thou wilt.

FAUST.

Great thanks, mighty Lucifer!

FAUST.

This will I keep as chary as my life.

LUC.

Farewell, Faustus, and think on the devil.

FAUST.

Farewell, great Lucifer. Come, Mephistophilis.

[Exeunt omnes]

[Enter Chorus]

CHORUS

Learned Faustus,

To know the secrets of astronomy

Graven in the book of Jove’s high firmament.

Did mount himself to scale Olympus’ top.

Being seated in a chariot burning bright,

Drawn by the strength of yoky dragons’ necks.

He now is gone to prove cosmography,

And, as I guess, will first arrive at Rome,

To see the Pope and manner of his court,

And take some part of holy Peter’s feast,

That to this day is highly solemniz’d.

SCENE VII To see the Pope and manner of his court

[Enter FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS]

FAUST.

Having now, my good Mephistophilis,

Pass’d with delight the stately town of Trier,

Environ’d round with airy mountain-tops./

With walls of flint, and deep-entrenched lakes,

Not to be won by any conquering prince;

From Paris next, coasting the realm of France,

We saw the river Maine fall into Rhine,

Whose banks are set with groves of fruitful vines;

Then up to Naples, rich Campania,

Whose buildings fair and gorgeous to the eye,

The streets straight forth, and pav’d with finest brick,

Quarter the town in four equivalents ;

There saw we learned Maro’s golden tomb,

The way he cut, an English mile in length.

Thorough a rock of stone, in one night’s space;

From thence to Venice, Padua, and the rest.

In one of which a sumptuous temple stands.

That threats the stars with her aspiring top.

Thus hitherto hath Faustus spent his time:

But tell me now what resting-place is this ?

Hast thou, as erst I did command,

Conducted me within the walls of Rome ?

MEPH.

Faustus, I have ; and, because we will not be un-

provided, I have taken up his Holiness’ privy-chamber for

our use.

FAUST.

I hope his Holiness will bid us welcome.

MEPH.

Tut, ’tis no matter, man ; we’ll be bold with his

good cheer.

And now, my Faustus, that thou may’st perceive

What Rome containeth to delight thee with,

Know that this city stands upon seven hills

That underprop the groundwork of the same:

Just through the midst runs flowing Tiber’s stream,

With winding banks that cut it in two parts;

Over the which four stately bridges lean,

That make safe passage to each part of Rome:

Upon the bridge call’d Ponte Angelo

Erected is a castle passing strong,

Within whose walls such store of ordnance are,

And double cannons fram’d of carved brass,

As match the days within one c6mplete year;

Besides the gates, and high pyramides.

Which Julius Caesar brought from Africa.

FAUST.

Now, by the kingdoms of infernal rule,

Of Styx, of Acheron, and the fiery lake

Of ever-burning Phlegethon, I swear

That I do long to see the mountains

And situation of bright-splendent Rome:

Come, therefore, let’s away.

MEPH.

Nay, Faustus, stay: I know you’d fain see the

Pope,

And take some part of holy Peter’s feast,

Where thou shalt see a troop of bald-pate friars,

Whose summum honum is in belly-cheer.

FAUST.

Well, I’m content to compass then some sport,

And by their folly make us merriment.

Then charm me, that I

May be invisible, to do what I please,

Unseen by any whilst I stay in Rome.

MEPH.

So, Faustus ; now

Do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discern’d.

[Sound a Sonnet. Enter the POPE and the CARDINAL OF

LORRAIN to the banquet, with Friars attending]

POPE

My Lord of Lorrain, will’t please you draw near?

FAUST.

Fall to, and the devil choke you, an you spare !

POPE

How now ! who ‘s that which spake ?—Friars, look about.

FIRST FRIAR

Here ‘s nobody, if it like your Holiness.

POPE

My lord, here is a dainty dish was sent me from the Bishop of Milan.

FAUST.

I thank you, sir. [Snatches the dish.

POPE

How now! who’s that which snatched the meat

from me? will no man look?—My lord, this dish was sent

me from the Cardinal of Florence.

FAUST.

ou say true ; I ’11 ha ‘t. [Snatches the dish.

POPE

What, again ?—My lord, I’ll drink to your grace.

FAUST.

I’ll pledge your grace. [Snatches the cup.

C. OF LOR.

My lord, it may be some ghost, newly crept out

of Purgatory, come to beg a pardon of your Holiness.

POPE

It may be so.—Friars, prepare a dirge to lay the

fury of this ghost.—Once again, my lord, fall to.

FAUST.

What, are you crossing of yourself?

Well, use that trick no more, I would advise you.

Well, there ‘s the second time.

Aware the third; I give you fair warning.

Come on, Mephistophilis; what shall we do ?

MEPH.

Nay, I know not: we shall be cursed with bell,

book, and candle.

FAUST.

How! bell, book, and candle,—candle, book, and

bell,—

Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell!

Anon you shall hear a hog grunt, a calf bleat, and an ass

bray,

Because it is Saint Peter’s holiday.

FIRST FRIAR

Come, brethren, let’s about our business

with good devotion.

Cursed be he that stole away his Holiness meat from the

table! maledicat Dominus!

Cursed be he that struck his Holiness a blow on the face!

maledicat Dominus !

Cursed be he that took Friar Sandelo a blow on the pate!

maledicat Dominus!

Cursed be he that disturbeth our holy dirge! maledicat

Dominus!

Cursed be he that took avoay his Holiness wine! maledicat

Dominus!

[MEPHISTOPHILIS and FAUSTUS beat the Friars,
and fling fire-works among them ; and so exeunt]
[Enter Chorus]

CHORUS

When Faustus had with pleasure ta’en the view

Of rarest things, and royal courts of kings,

He stay’d his course, and so returned home;

Where such as bear his absence but with grief,

I mean his friends and near’st companions,

Did gratulate his safety with kind words,

And in their conference of what befell,

Touching his journey through the world and air,

They put forth questions of astrology.

Which Faustus answer’d with such learned skill

As they admir’d and wonder’d at his wit.

Now is his fame spread forth in every land:

Amongst the rest the Emperor is one,

Carolus the Fifth, at whose palace now

Faustus is feasted ‘mongst his noblemen.

What there he did, in trial of his art,

I leave untold; your eyes shall see[‘t] performed.

Scene VIII Near an inn.

[Enter ROBIN tbe Ostler, with a book in his hand]

ROBIN

O, this is admirable! here I ha’ stolen one

of Doctor Faustus’ conjuring-books, and, i’faith, I mean

to search some circles for my own use.

RALPH

Robin, prithee, come away ; there’s a gentleman

tarries to have his horse, and he would have his things

rubbed and made clean: he keeps such a chafing with my

mistress about it; and she has sent me to look thee out;

prithee, come away.

ROBIN

Robin. Keep out, keep out, or else you are blown up,

you are dismembered, Ralph : keep out, for I am about a

roaring piece of work.

RALPH

Come, what doest thou with that same book ?

thou canst not read ?

ROBIN

Yes, my master and mistress shall find that I can

read.

RALPH

Why, Robin, what book is that?

ROBIN

What book ! why, the most intolerable book for

conjuring that e’er was invented by any brimstone devil.

RALPH

Canst thou conjure with it?

ROBIN

I can do all these things easily with it; first, I

can make thee drunk with ippocras at any tabern in Europe

for nothing; that’s one of my conjuring works.

RALPH

Our Master Parson says that ‘s nothing.

ROBIN

True, Ralph : and more, Ralph, if thou hast any

mind to Nan Spit, our kitchenmaid,

RALPH

O, brave, Robin! shall I have Nan Spit? On

that condition I’ll feed thy devil with horse-bread as long

as he lives, of free cost.

ROBIN

No more, sweet Ralph ; let’s go and make clean

our boots, which lie foul upon our hands, and then to our

conjuring in the devil’s name,

[Exeunt]

Scene IX. The same

ROBIN

Come, Ralph: did I not tell thee, we were for

ever made by this Doctor Faustus’ book ? ecce, signum!

here’s a simple purchase for horse-keepers: our horses shall

eat no hay as long as this lasts.

RALPH

But, Robin, here comes the Vintner.

ROBIN

Hush ! I’ll igull him supernaturally.

Drawer, I hope all is paid; God be with you !—Come,

RALPH

VIN.

Soft, sir; a word with you. I must yet have a goblet

paid from you, ere you go.

ROBIN

I a goblet, Ralph, I a goblet!—I scorn you; and

you are but a, etc. I a goblet! search me.

VIN.

I mean so, sir, with your favour. [Searches Robin.

ROBIN

How say you now ?

VIN.

I must say somewhat to your fellow.—You, sir!

RALPH

Me, sir! me, sir! search your fill.

[Vintner searches him.]

Now, sir, you may be ashamed to

burden honest men with a matter of truth.

VIN.

Well, tone of you hath this goblet about you.

RALPH

You lie, drawer, ’tis afore me [Aside].—Sirrah

you, I’ll teach you to impeach honest men ;—stand by;—

I’ll scour you for a goblet;—stand aside you had best, I

charge you in the name of Belzebub.—Look to the goblet,

Ralph [Aside to Ralph].

VIN.

What mean you, sirrah?

ROBIN

I’ll tell you what I mean. [Reads from a book]

Sanctobulorum Periphrasticon—nay, I’ll tickle you. Vintner.—

Look to the goblet, Ralph [Aside to Rklvu].— [Reads] Poly-

pragmas Belseborams framanto pacostipbos tostii, Mephistophilis,

etc.

exit. They run about.

VIN.

O, nomine Domini! what meanest thou, Robin ?

thou hast no goblet.

RALPH

Peccatum peccatorum! —Here’s thy goblet, good

Vintner.

ROBIN

Misericordia pro nobis! what shall I do? Good

devil, forgive me now, and I’ll never rob thy library more.

MEPH.

Monarch of hell, under whose black survey

Great potentates do kneel with awful fear,

Upon whose altars thousand souls do lie.

How am I vexed with these villains’ charms!

From Constantinople am I hither come.

Only for pleasure of these damned slaves.

ROBIN

How, from Constantinople! you have had a great

journey: will you take sixpence in your purse to pay for

your supper, and be gone ?

MEPH.

Well, villains, for your presumption, I transform

thee into an ape, and thee into a dog; and so be gone. [Exit.

ROBIN

How, into an ape! that’s brave: I’ll have fine

sport with the boys; I’ll get nuts and apples enow.

RALPH

And I must be a dog.

ROBIN

V faith, thy head will never be out of the pottage-

pot. [Exeunt.

Scene X. The Emperor’s Court at Innsbruck

[Enter EMPEROR, FAUSTUS, and a Knight, with Attendants, among whom MEPHISTOPHILIS.]

EMP.

Master Doctor Faustus, I have heard strange re-

port of thy knowledge in the black art, how that none in

my empire nor in the whole world can compare with thee

for the rare effects of magic: they say thou hast a familiar

spirit, by whom thou canst accomplish what thou list. This,

therefore, is my request, that thou let me see some proof

of thy skill, that mine eyes may be witnesses to confirm

what mine ears have heard reported : and here I swear to

thee, by the honour of mine imperial crown, that, whatever

thou doest, thou shalt be no ways prejudiced or endamaged.

KNIGHT

I’faith, he looks much like a conjurer. [Aside.

FAUST.

My gracious sovereign, though I must confess

myself far inferior to the report men have published, and

nothing answerable to the honour of your imperial majesty,

yet, for that love and duty binds me thereunto, I am con-

tent to do whatsoever your majesty shall command me.

EMP.

Then, Doctor Faustus, mark what I shall say.

As I was sometime solitary set

Within my closet, sundry thoughts arose

About the honour of mine ancestors,

How they had won by prowess such exploits,

Got such riches, subdu’d so many kingdoms,

As we that do succeed, or they that shall

Hereafter possess our throne, shall

(I fear me) ne’er attain to that degree

Of high renown and great authority:

Amongst which kings is Alexander the Great,

Chief spectacle of the world’s pre-eminence.

The bright shining of whose glorious acts

Lightens the world with his reflecting beams,

As when I hear but motion made of him,

It grieves my soul I never saw the man :

If, therefore, thou, by cunning of thine art.

Canst raise this man from hollow vaults below,

Where lies entomb’d this famous conqueror,

And bring with him his beauteous paramour.

Both in their right shapes, gesture, and attire

They us’d to wear during their time of life,

Thou shalt both satisfy my just desire,

And give me cause to praise thee whilst I live.

FAUST.

My gracious lord, I am ready to accomplish your

request, so far forth as by art and power of my spirit I

am able to perform.

KNIGHT

I’ faith, that’s just nothing at all. [Aside.

FAUST.

But, if it Hke your grace, it is not in my ability

to present before your eyes the true substantial bodies of

those deceased princes, which long since are consumed to

dust.

KNIGHT

Ay, marry. Master Doctor, now there’s a sign

of grace in you, when you will confess the truth. [Aside.

FAUST.

But such spirits as can lively resemble Alexander

and his paramour shall appear before your grace, in that

manner that they both lived in, in their most flourishing

estate; which I doubt not shall sufficiently content your

imperial majesty.

EMP.

Go to. Master Doctor; let me see them presently.

KNIGHT

Do you hear. Master Doctor? you bring Alex-

ander and his paramour before the Emperor!

FAUST.

How then, sir ?

KNIGHT

I’ faith, that’s as true as Diana turned me to a

stag.

FAUST.

No, sir; but, when Actaeon died, he left the horns

for you.—Mephistophilis, be gone. [Exit Mephistophilis.

KNIGHT

Nay, an you go to conjuring, I’ll be gone. [Exit.

FAUST.

I’ll meet with you anon for interrupting me so.—

Here they are, my gracious lord.

EMP.

Master Doctor, I heard this lady, while she lived,

had a wart or mole in her neck : how shall I know whether it

be so or no ?

FAUST.

Your highness may boldly go and see.

EMP.

Sure, these are no spirits, but the true substantial

bodies of those two deceased princes. [Execunt Spirits.

FAUST.

Will’t please your highness now to send for

the knight that was so pleasant with me here of late ?

EMP.

One of you call him forth. [Exit Attendant.

How now, sir knight! Feel on thy head.

KNIGHT

Thou damned wretch and execrable dog,

Bred in the concave of some monstrous rock.

How dar’st thou thus abuse a gentleman?

Villain, I say, undo what thou hast done!

FAUST.

O, not so fast, sir! there ‘s no haste :but, good,

are you remembered how you crossed me in my conference

with the Emperor? I think I have met with you for it.

EMP.

Good Master Doctor, at my entreaty release him:

he hath done penance sufficient.

FAUST.

My gracious lord, not so much for the injury he

offered me here in your presence, as to delight you with

some mirth, hath Faustus worthily requited this injurious

knight; which being all I desire, I am content to release

him of his horns:—and, sir knight, hereafter speak well of

scholars.—Mephistophilis, transform him straight. [MEPHIS-

TOPHILIS removes the horns.]- Now, my good lord, having

done my duty, I humbly take my leave.

EMP.

Farewell, Master Doctor: yet, ere you go,

Expect from me a bounteous reward.

Scene XI. A green; afterwards the house of Faustus.

FAUST.

Now, Mephistophilis, the restless course

That time doth run with calm and silent foot,

Shortening my days and thread of vital life.

Galls for the payment of my latest years:

Therefore, sweet Mephistophilis, let us

Make haste to Wittenberg.

MEPH.

What, will you go on horse-back or on foot?

FAUST.

Nay, till I’m past this fair and pleasant green,

I’ll walk on foot.

[Enter a Horse-courser.]

HORSE-C.

I have been all this day seeking one Master

Fustian: mass, see where he is!—God save you, Master

Doctor!

FAUST.

What, horse-courser ! you are well met.

HORSE-C.

Do you hear, sir? I have brought you forty

dollars for your horse.

FAUST.

I cannot sell hhn so. If thou likest him for fifty,

take him.

HORSE-C.

Alas, sir, I have no more!—I pray you speak

for me.

MEPH.

I pray you, let him have him: he is an honest

fellow, and he has a great charge, neither wife nor child.

FAUST.

Well, come, give me your money [Horse-courser

gives Faustus the money] : my boy will deliver him to you.

But I must tell you one thing before you have him; ride him

not into the water, at any hand.

HORSE-C.

Why, sir, will he not drink of all waters?

FAUST.

O, yes, he will drink of all waters; but ride him

not into the water: ride him over hedge or ditch, or where

thou wilt, but not into the water.

HORSE-C.

Well, sir.—Now am I made man for ever: I’ll

not leave my horse for forty: if he had but the quality of

hey-ding-ding, hey-ding-ding, I’d make a brave living on

him: he has a buttock as slick as an eel [Jside]. —Well, God

b’wi’ye sir: your boy will deliver him me: but, hark you,

sir; if my horse be sick or ill at ease, you’ll tell me what

it is?

FAUST.

Away, you villain! what, dost think I am a horse-

doctor ? [Exit Horse-courser.

What art thou, Faustus, but a man condemn’d to die?

Thy fatal time doth draw to final end;

Despair doth drive distrust into my thoughts:

Confound these passions with a quiet sleep:

Tush, Christ did call the thief upon the Cross;

Then rest thee, Faustus, quiet in conceit.

[Sleeps in his chair]

[Re-enter Horse-courser, all wet, crying.]

HORSE-C.

. Alas, alas! Doctor Fustian, quoth a? mass,

Doctor Lopus was never such a doctor: has given me a

purgation, has purged me of forty dollars; I shall never see

them more. But yet, like an ass as I was, I would not be

ruled by him, for he bade me I should ride him into no

water: now I, thinking my horse had had some rare quality

that he would not have had me known of, I, like a venturous

youth, rid him into the deep pond at the town’s end. I

was no sooner in the middle of the pond, but my horse

vanished away, and I sat upon a bottle of hay, never so

near drowning in my life. But I’ll seek out my doctor,

and have my forty dollars again, or I’ll make it the dearest

horse!—O, yonder is his snipper-snapper.—Do you hear?

you, heypass, where ‘s your master ?

MEPH.

Why, sir, what would you ? you cannot speak with

him.

HORSE-C.

But I will speak with him.

MEPH.

Why, he ‘s fast asleep: come some other time.

HORSE-C.

I’ll speak with him now, or I’ll break his glass-

windows about his ears.

MEPH.

I tell thee, he has not slept this eight nights.

HORSE-C.

An he have not slept this eight weeks, I’ll speak

with him.

MEPH.

See, where he is, fast asleep.

HORSE-C.

Ay, this is he.—God save you, Master Doctor,

Master Doctor, Master Doctor Fustian! forty dollars, forty

dollars for a bottle of hay!

MEPH.

Why, thou seest he hears thee not.

HORSE-C.

So-ho, ho ! so-ho, ho ! [Hollas hi bis ear.] No,

will you not wake? I’ll make you wake ere I go. [Pulls

FAUSTUS by the leg, and pulls it away.] Alas, I am undone !

what shall I do ?

FAUST.

O, my leg, my leg!—Help, Mephistophilis! call

the officers !—My leg, my leg !

MEPH.

Come, villain, to the constable.

HORSE-C.

O Lord, sir, let me go, and I’ll give you forty

dollars more!

MEPH.

Where be they ?

HORSE-C.

I have none about me: come to my ostry, and

I’ll give them you.

MEPH.

Be gone quickly. [Horse-courser runs away.

FAUST.

What, is he gone ? farewell he! Faustus has his

leg again, and the Horse-courser, I take it, a bottle of hay

for his labour: well, this trick shall cost him forty dollars

more.

[Enter Wagner]

How now, Wagner! what’s the news with thee ?

WAG.

Sir, the Duke of Vanholt doth earnestly entreat

your company.

FAUST.

The Duke of Vanholt! an honourable gentleman,

to whom I must be no niggard of my cunning.—Gome,

Mephistophilis, let’s away to him. [Exeunt.

Scene XII. The court of the Duke of Vanholt.

[Enter the DUKE OF VANHOLT, the DUCHESS, andFAUSTUS]

DUKE

Believe me. Master Doctor, this merriment hath

much pleased me.

FAUST.

My gracious lord, I am glad it contents you so

well.—But it may be, madam, you take no delight in this.

I have heard that women do long for some dainties or other:

what is it, madam ? tell me and you shall have it.

DUCHESS

Thanks, good Master Doctor: and, for I see

your courteous intent to pleasure me, I will not hide from

you the thing my heart desires; and, were it now summer,

as it is January and the dead time of the winter, I would

desire no better meat than a dish of ripe grapes.

FAUST.

Alas, madam, that’s nothing !—Mephistophilis, be

gone. [Exit MEPHISTOPHILIS] Were it a greater thing

than this, so it would content you, you should have it.

[Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with grapes.]

Here they be, madam: will’t please you taste on them ?

DUKE

Believe me, Master Doctor, this makes me wonder

above the rest, that being in the dead time of winter and in

the month of January, how you should come by these grapes.

FAUST.

If it like your grace, the year is divided into two

circles over the whole world, that, when it is here winter

with us, in the contrary circle it is summer with them, as

in India, Saba, and farther countries in the east; and by

means of a swift spirit that I have, I had them brought

hither, as you see.—How do you like them, madam? be

they good?

DUCHESS

Believe me, Master Doctor, they be the best

grapes that e’er I tasted in my life before.

FAUST.

I am glad they content you so, madam.

DUKE

Come, madam, let us in, where you must well

reward this learned man for the great kindness he hath

shewed to you.

DUCHESS

And so I will, my lord; and, whilst I live, rest

beholding for this courtesy.

FAUST.

I humbly thank your grace.

DUKE

Come, Master Doctor, follow us, and receive your reward. [Exeunt.

Scene XIII. A room in the house of Faustus.

[Enter Wagner]

WAG.

I think my master means to die shortly,

For he hath given to me all his goods:

And yet, methinketh, if that death were near.

He would not banquet, and carouse, and swill

Amongst the students, as even now he doth,

Who are at supper with such belly-cheer

As Wagner ne’er beheld in all his life.

See, where they come! belike the feast is ended. [Exit.

[ Enter FAUSTUS with two or three Scholars,

and MEPHISTOPHILIS]

FIRST SCHOL.

Master Doctor Faustus, since our conference

about fair ladies, which was the beaiitifulest in all the world,

we have determined with ourselves that Helen of Greece

was the admirablest lady that ever lived: therefore. Master

Doctor, if you will do us that favour, as to let us see that

peerless dame of Greece, whom all the world admires for

majesty, we should think ourselves much beholding unto

you.

FAUST.

Gentlemen,

For that I know your friendship is unfeign’d,

And Faustus’ custom is not to deny

The just requests of those that wish him well,

You shall behold that peerless dame of Greece,

No otherways for pomp and majesty

Than when Sir Paris cross’d the seas with her,

And brought the spoils to rich Dardania.

Be silent, then, for danger is in words.

[Music sounds, and HELEN passeih over the stage.

SEC. SCHOL.

Too simple is my wit to tell her praise.

Whom all the world admires for majesty.

Third Schol. No marvel though the angry Greeks pursu’d

With ten years’ war the rape of such a queen,

Whose heavenly beauty passeth all compare.

FIRST SCHOL.

Since we have seen the pride of Nature’s

works,

And only paragon of excellence,

Let us depart; and for this glorious deed

Happy and blest be Faustus evermore!

FAUST.

Gentlemen, farewell: the same I wish to you.

[Exeunt Scholars]

[Enter an Old Man]

OLD MAN

Ah, Doctor Faustus, that I might prevail

To guide thy steps unto the way of life.

By which sweet path thou may’st attain the goal

That shall conduct thee to celestial rest!

Break heart, drop blood, and mingle it with tears,

Tears falling from repentant heaviness

Of thy most vile and loathsome filthiness,

The stench whereof corrupts the inward soul

With such flagitious crimes of heinous sin

As no commiseration may expel,

But mercy, Faustus, of thy Saviour sweet.

Whose blood alone must wash away thy guilt.

FAUST.

Where art thou, Faustus ? wretch, what hast

thou done ?

Damn’d art thou, Faustus, damn’d; despair and die!

Hell calls for right, and with a roaring voice

Says, ‘Faustus, come; thine hour is almost come;’

And Faustus now will come to do thee right.

[MEPHISTOPHILIS gives him a dagger.]

OLD MAN

Ah, stay, good Faustus, stay thy desperate

steps! I see an angel hovers o’er thy head.

And, with a vial full of precious grace,

Offers to pour the same into thy soul:

Then call for mercy, and avoid despair.

FAUST.

Ah, my sweet friend, I feel

Thy words to comfort my distressed soul!

Leave me a while to ponder on my sins.

OLD MAN

I go, sweet Faustus; but with heavy cheer.

Fearing the ruin of thy hopeless soul. [Exit.

FAUST.

Accursed Faustus, where is mercy now?

I do repent; and yet I do despair:

Hell strives with grace for conquest in my breast:

What shall I do to shun the snares of death?

MEPH.

Thou traitor, Faustus, I arrest thy soul

For disobedience to my sovereign lord:

Revolt, or I’ll in piece-meal tear thy flesh.

FAUST.

Sweet Mephistophilis, entreat thy lord

To pardon my unjust presumption,

And with my blood again I will confirm

My former vow I made to Lucifer.

MEPH.

Do it, then, quickly, with unfeigned heart,

Lest greater danger do attend thy drift.

[FAUSTUS stabs his arm, and writes on a paper with his blood]

FAUST.

Torment, sweet friend, that base and crooked

age,

That durst dissuade me from thy Lucifer,

With greatest torments that our hell affords.

MEPH.

His faith is great; I cannot touch his soul;

But what I may afflict his body with

I will attempt, which is but little worth

FAUST.

One thing, good servant, let me crave of thee,

To glut the longing of my heart’s desire,—

That I might have unto my paramour

That heavenly Helen which I saw of late,

Whose sweet embracings may extinguish clean

These thoughts that do dissuade me from my vow,

And keep mine oath I made to Lucifer.

MEPH.

Faustus, this, or what else thou shalt desire,

Shall be perform’d in twinkling of an eye.

[ Re-enter HELEN]

FAUST.

Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships.

And burnt the topless towers of Ilium ?—

Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.— [Kisses ber.

Her lips suck forth my soul: see where it flees!—

Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.

Here will I dwell, for heaven is in these lips,

And all is dross that is not Helena.

I will be Paris, and for love of thee.

Instead of Troy, shall Wittenberg be sack’d;

And I will combat with weak Menelaus,

And wear thy colours on my plumed crest;

Yes, I will wound Achilles in the heel.

And then return to Helen for a kiss.

O, thou art fairer than the evening air

Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars;

Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter

When he appear’d to hapless Semele;

More lovely than the monarch of the sky In wanton

Arethusa’s azur’d arms;

And none but thou shalt be my paramour! [Exeunt.

[Enter the Old Man.]

OLD MAN

Accursed Faustus, miserable man,

That from thy soul exclud’st the grace of heaven,

And fly’st the throne of his tribunal-scat!

[Enter Devils]

Satan begins to sift me with his pride:

As in this furnace God shall try my faith,

My faith, vile hell, shall triumph over thee.

Ambitious fiends, see how the heavens smile

At your repulse, and laugh your state to scorn !

Hence, hell! for hence I fly unto my God.

[Exeunt, — on one side Devils, on the other Old Man.]

Scene XIV The same.

[Enter FAUSTUS, with Scholars]

FAUST.

Ah, gentlemen!

FIRST SCHOL.

What ails Faustus ?

FAUST.

Ah, my sweet chamber-fellow, had I lived with

thee, then had I lived still! but now I die eternally. Look,

comes he not ? comes he not ?

SEC. SCHOL.

What means Faustus ?

THIRD SCHOL.

Belike he is grown into some sickness by

being over-solitary.

FIRST SCHOL.

If it be so, we’ll have physicians to cure him.—

‘Tis but a surfeit; never fear, man.

FAUST.

A surfeit of deadly sin, that hath damned both

body and soul.

SEC. SCHOL.

Yet, Faustus, look up to heaven; remember

God’s mercies are infinite.

FAUST.

But Faustus’ offence can ne’er be pardoned: the

serpent that tempted Eve may be saved, but not Faustus.

Ah, gentlemen, hear me with patience, and tremble not at my

speeches! Though my heart pants and quivers to remember

that I have been a student here these thirty years, O, would

I had never seen Wittenberg, never read book! and what

wonders I have done, all Germany can witness, yea, all the

world; for which Faustus hath lost both Germany and the

world, yea, heaven itself, heaven, the seat of God, the throne

of the blessed, the kingdom of joy; and must remain in hell

for ever, hell, ah, hell, for ever! Sweet friends, what shall

become of Faustus, being in hell for ever?

THIRD SCHOL.

Yet, Faustus, call on God.

FAUST.

On God, whom Faustus hath abjured! on God,

whom Faustus hath blasphemed! Ah, my God, I would

weep! but the devil draws in my tears. Gush forth blood,

instead of tears! yea, life and soul—O, he stays my tongue!

I would lift up my hands; but see, they hold them, they hold

them!

ALL

Who, Faustus?

FAUST.

Lucifer and Mephistophilis. Ah, gentlemen, I gave

them my soul for my cunning!

ALL

God forbid!

FAUST.

God forbade it, indeed; but Faustus hath done it:

for vain pleasure of twenty-four years hath Faustus lost

eternal joy and felicity. I writ them a bill with mine own

blood: the date is expired; the time will

come, and he will fetch me.

FIRST SCHOL.

Why did not Faustus tell us of this before,

that divines might have prayed for thee ?

FAUST.

Oft have I thought to have done so; but the devil

threatened to tear me in pieces, if I named God, to fetch

both body and soul, if I once gave ear to divinity: and

now ’tis too late. Gentlemen, away, lest you perish with

me.

SEC. SCHOL.

O, what shall we do to save Faustus ?

FAUST.

Talk not of me, but save yourselves, and depart.

THIRD SCHOL.

God will strengthen me; I will stay with

Faustus.

FIRST SCHOL.

empt not God, sweet friend; but let us into

the next room, and there pray for him.

FAUST.

Ay, pray for me, pray for me; and what noise

soever ye hear, come not unto me, for nothing can rescue

me.

SEC. SCHOL.

Pray thou, and we will pray that God may

have mercy upon thee.

FAUST.

Gentlemen, farewell: if I live till morning, I’ll

visit you; if not, Faustus is gone to hell.

ALL

Faustus, farewell.

FAUST.

Ah, Faustus, Now hast thou but one bare hour to live,

And then thou must be damn’d perpetually!

Stand still, you ever-moving spheres of heaven,

That time may cease, and midnight never come;

Fair Nature’s eye, rise, rise again, and make

Perpetual day; or let this hour be but

A year, a month, a week, a natural day.

That Faustus may repent and save his soul!

O lente, lente currite, noctis equi!

The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike,

The devil will come, and Faustus must be damn’d.

O, I’ll leap up to my God!—Who pulls me down?—

See, see, where Christ’s blood streams in the firmament!

One drop would save my soul, half a drop : ah, my Christ!—

Ah, rend not my heart for naming of my Christ!-

Yet will I call on him:

O, spare me, Lucifer!-

Where is it now? ’tis gone: and see, where God

Stretcheth out his arm, and bends his ireful brows!

Mountains and hills, come, come, and fall on me,

And hide me from the heavy wrath of God!

No, no!

Then will I headlong run into the earth:

Earth, gape! O, no, it will not harbour me!

You stars that reign’d at my nativity,

Whose influence hath allotted death and hell,

Now draw up Faustus, like a foggy mist,

Into the entrails of yon labouring clouds,

That, when you vomit forth into the air,

My limbs may issue from your smoky mouths,

So that my soul may but ascend to heaven !

Ah, half the hour is past! ’twill all be past anon.

O God,

If thou wilt not have mercy on my soul.

Yet for Christ’s sake, whose blood hath ransom’d me,

Impose some end to my incessant pain;

Let Faustus live in hell a thousand years,

A hundred thousand, and at last be sav’d!

O, no end is limited to damned souls!

Why wert thou not a creature wanting soul?

Or why is this immortal that thou hast ?

Ah, Pythagoras’ metempsychosis, were that true,

This soul should fly from me, and I be chang’d

Unto some brutish beast! all beasts are happy,

For, when they die.

Their souls are soon dissolv’d in elements;

But mine must live still to be plagu’d in hell.

Gurs’d be the parents that engender’d me!

No, Faustus, curse thyself, curse Lucifer

That hath depriv’d thee of the joys of heaven.

O, it strikes, it strikes! Now, body, turn to air,

Or Lucifer will bear thee quick to hell!

O soul, be chang’d into little water-drops.

And fall into the ocean, ne’er be found!

My God, my God, look not so fierce on me!

Adders and serpents, let me breathe a while!

Ugly hell, gape not! come not, Lucifer!

I’ll burn my books !—Ah, Mephistophilis !

[Exeunt Devils with FAUSTUS]

[Enter Chorus]

CHORUS

Cut is the branch that might have grown full

straight,

And burned is Apollo’s laurel-bough,

That sometime grew within this learned man.

Faustus is gone: regard his hellish fall,

Whose fiendful fortune may exhort the wise

Only to wonder at unlawful things,

Whose deepness doth entice such forward wits

To practise more than heavenly power petmits. [Exit.

Source:

Marlowe, Christopher. The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus. Ed. Adolphus William Ward. London: Oxford, The Clarendon press, 1878. HathiTrust. Web. 08 Dec. 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b4109083

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Cast of Charcters

Scene I. Faustus’s study

Scene II Before Faustus’s house

Scene III. A grove

Scene IV A street

Scene V Faustus’s study

Scene VI. In the house of Faustus

SCENE VII To see the Pope and manner of his court

Scene VIII Near an inn.

Scene IX. The same

Scene X. The Emperor’s Court at Innsbruck

Scene XI. A green; afterwards the house of Faustus.

Scene XII. The court of the Duke of Vanholt.

Scene XIII. A room in the house of Faustus.

Scene XIV The same.

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