Marlowe, Christopher
The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.
The Works of Christopher Marlowe. C. F. Tucker Brooke, ed. 1604 edition. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1910
1588-1593
MarFaus
Enter chorus.
Chor. not marching now in fields of trasimene,
Where mars did mate the carthaginians,
Nor sporting in the dalliance of love,
In courts of kings where state is overturned,
Nor in the pomp of proud audacious deeds,
Intends our muse to daunt 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 called 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 graced,
That shortly he was graced with doctor's name,
Excelling all, whose sweet delight disputes
In heavenly matters of theology,
Till swoll'n with cunning, of a self-conceit,
His waxen wings did mount above his reach,
And melting heavens conspired 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.
Enter Faustus in his study.
Faustus. settle thy studies Faustus, and begin
To sound the depth of that thou wilt profess.
Having commenced, be a divine in show
Yet level at the end of every art
And live and die in aristotle's works.
Sweet analytics, 'tis thou hast ravished me,
Bene disserere est finis logicis.
Is to dispute well logic's chiefest end?
Affords this art no greater miracle?
A greater subject fitteth Faustus' wit!
Bid on-kai-me-on farewell, galen come.
Seeing, ubi desinit philosophus, ibi incipit medicus.
Be a physician, Faustus, heap up gold,
And be eternized for some wondrous cure.
Summum bonum medicinae sanitas.
The end of physic is our bodys' health.
Why, Faustus, hast thou not attained that end?
Is not thy common talk sound aphorisms?
Are not thy bills hung up as monuments,
Whereby whole cities have escaped the plague,
And thousand desperate maladies been eased?
Yet art thou still but Faustus, and a man.
Wouldst thou make man to live eternally?
Or being dead, raise them to life again?
Then this profession were to be esteemed.
Physic, farewell, where is justinian?
Si una eademque res legatur duobus,
Alter rem, alter valorem rei, etc.
A pretty case of paltry legacies!
Exhereditari filium non potest pater nisi...
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.
Stipendium peccati mors est. ha! stipendium, etc.
The reward of sin is death. that's hard.
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 honor, of omnipotence
Is promised to the studious artisan?
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, try thy brains to gain a deity.
(enter wagner.
Wagner, commend me to my dearest friends,
The german valdes, and cornelius;
Request them earnestly to visit me.
Wag. i will, sir. (exit.
Fau. their conference will be a greater help to me
Than all my labors, plod i ne'er so fast.
Enter the good angel and the evil angel.
Good-a. 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.
Evil-an. go forward, Faustus, in that famous art
Wherein all nature's treasury is contained.
Be thou on earth as jove is in the sky,
Lord and commander of these elements. (exeunt.
Fau. 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.
And make me blest with your sage conference.
(enter valdes and cornelius.
Valdes, sweet valdes, and cornelius,
Know that your words have won me at the last
To practice 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 vild.
'tis magic, magic that hath ravished me.
Then, gentle friends, aid me in this attempt,
And i, that have with concise syllogisms
Gravelled 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 honor 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.
From 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.
Fau. 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,
Enriched with tongues, well seen in minerals,
Hath all the principles magic doth require.
Then doubt not (Faustus) but to be renowned
And more frequented for this mystery
The spirits tell me they can dry the sea
And fetch the treasure of all foreign wracks,
Ay, all the wealth that our forefathers hid
Within the massy entrails of the earth.
Then tell me, Faustus, what shall we three want?
Fau. nothing, cornelius. o, this cheers my soul!
Come show me some demonstrations magical,
That i may conjure in some lusty grove
And have these joys in full possession.
Val. 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.
Cor. valdes, first let him known the words of art,
And then, all other ceremonies learned,
Faustus may try his cunning by himself.
Val. first i'll instruct thee in the rudiments,
And then wilt thou be perfecter than i.
Faustus. 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.
Enter two scholars.
1.sch. i wonder what's become of Faustus, that was
Wont to make our schools ring with sic probo.
2.sch. that shall we know, for see here comes his boy.
Enter wagner.
U.sch. how now, sirrah, where's thy master?
Wag. god in heaven knows.
2.sch. why, dost not thou know?
Wag. yes, i know, but that follows not.
1.sch. go to, sirrah! leave your jesting, and tell
Us where he is.
Wag. that follows not necessary by force of argument,
That you being licentiate should stand upon't, there-
Fore acknowledge your error and be attentive.
2.sch. why, didst thou not say thou knew'st?
Wag. have you any witness on't?
1.sch. yes, sirrah, i heard you.
Wag. ask my fellow if i be a thief.
2.sch. well, you will not tell us?
Dunces you would never ask me such a question, for is
Not he corpus naturale, and is not that mobile? then
Wherefore should you ask me such a question? but that
I am by nature phlegmatic, slow to wrath, and prone to
Lechery (to love i would say), 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 countenance 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 your wor-
Ships. and so, the lord bless you, preserve you, and
Keep you, my dear brethren, my dear brethren. (exit.
1.sch. nay, then i fear he is fall'n into that damned
Art, for which they two are infamous through the
World.
2.sch. 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.
1.sch. o, but i fear me nothing can reclaim him.
2.sch. yet let us try what we can do. (exeunt.
Enter Faustus to conjure.
Fau. 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 prayed and sacrificed to them.
Within this circle is jehovah's name,
Forward and backward anagrammatized,
Th' abbreviated names of holy saints,
Figures of every adjunct to the heavens,
And characters of signs and erring stars,
By which the spirits are enforced to rise.
Then fear not, Faustus, but be resolute,
And try the uttermost magic can perform.
Sint mihi dei acherontis propitii, valeat numen tri-
Orientis princeps beelzebub, inferni ardentis monarcha
Et demigorgon, propitiamus vos, ut appareat et surgat
Mephistophilis. quid tu moraris? per jehovam,
Gehennam et consecratam aquam quam nunc spargo,
Signumque crucis quod nunc facio, et per vota nostra
Ipse nunc surgat nobis dicatus mephistophilis.
(enter a devil.
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 devil.
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 conjurer laureate
That canst command great mephistophilis.
Quin redis mephistophilis fratris imagine.
Enter mephistophilis.
Me. now, Faustus, what wouldst thou have me do?
Fau. 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 the ocean to overwhelm the world.
Me. i am a servant to great lucifer
And may not follow thee without his leave.
No more than he commands must we perform.
Fau. did not he charge thee to appear to me?
Me. no, i came now hither of mine own accord.
Fau. did not my conjuring speeches raise thee?
Speak!
Me. that was the cause, but yet per accidens,
For when we hear one rack the name of god,
Abjure the scriptures and his savior 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 damned.
Therefore the shortest cut for conjuring
Is stoutly to abjure the trinity
And pray devoutly to the prince of hell.
Fau. so Faustus hath
Already done, and holds this principle:
There is no chief but only beelzebub,
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?
Me. arch regent and commander of all spirits.
Fau. was not that lucifer an angel once?
Me. yes, Faustus, and most dearly loved of god.
F&u. how comes it then that he is prince of devils?
Me. o, by aspiring pride and insolence,
For which god threw him from the face of heaven.
Fau. and what are you that live with lucifer?
Me. unhappy spirits that fell with lucifer,
Conspired against our god with lucifer,
And are forever damned with lucifer.
Faust. where are you damned?
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 deprived 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 those tidings to great lucifer:
Seeing Faustus hath incurred eternal death
By desperate thoughts against jove's deity,
Say he surrenders up to him his soul,
So he will spare him 24 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,
By him i'll be great emperor of the world,
And make a bridge through 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 land 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 obtained what i desire,
I'll live in speculation of this art
Till mephistophilis return again.
Enter wagner and the clown.
Wag. sirrah boy, come hither.
Clo. how, boy? zounds boy, i hope your have seen
Many boys with such pickadevants as i have. boy,
Quotha?
Wag. tell me, sirrah, hast thou any comings in?
Clo. ay, and goings out too, 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.
Clo. 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
Like: qui mihi discipulus?
Clo. how, in verse?
Wag. no, sirrah, in beaten silk and stavesacre.
Clo. how, how, knave's 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 stavesacre.
Clo. oho, oho, stavesacre! 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.
Clo. do you hear, sir? you may save that labor, they
As bold with my flesh as if they had paid for my meat
And drink.
Wag. well, do you hear, sirrah? hold, take these
Guilders.
Clo. gridirons, what be they?
Wag. why french crowns.
Clo. 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 hours warning
Whensoever or wheresoever the devil shall fetch thee.
Clo. no, no. here, take your gridirons again.
Wag. truly, i'll none of them.
Clo. truly, but you shall.
Wag. bear witness i gave them him.
Clo. bear witness i give them you again.
Wag. well, i will cause two devils presently to
Fetch thee away. baliol and belcher!
Clo. let your balio 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 the clown runs up
And down crying.
Wag. baliol and belcher, spirits away. (exeunt.
Clow. what, are they gone? a vengeance on them,
They have vild long nails. there was a he devil and a
She devil. i'll tell you how you shall know them:
All he devils have horns, and all she devils have
Clefts and cloven feet.
Wag. well, sirrah, follow me.
Clo. 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 anything,
To a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or a rat, or anything.
Clo. 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 every-
Where. o, i'll tickle the pretty wenches' plackets,
Wag. well, sirrah, come.
Clo. but do you hear, wagner?
Wag. how, baliol and belcher.
Clo. o lord, i pray sir, let banio and belcher go sleep.
Wag. villain, call me master wagner, and let thy left
Eye be diametrally fixed upon my right heel, with:
Quasi vestigias nostras insistere. (exit.
Clo. god forgive me, he speaks dutch fustian.
Well, i'll follow him, i'll serve him, that's flat.
(exit.
Enter Faustus in his study.
Faust. now Faustus, must thou needs be damned?
And canst thou not be saved?
What boots it then to think of god or heaven?
Away with such vain fancies, and despair;
Despair in god, and trust in beelzebub.
Now go not backward 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 servest is thine own appetite,
Wherein is fixed the love of beelzebub.
To him i'll build an altar and a church,
And offer lukewarm blood of newborn babes.
Enter good angel and evil.
Good-ang. sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art.
Faust. contrition, prayer, repentance? what of them?
Good-ang. o, they are means to bring thee unto heaven.
Bad-ang. rather illusions, fruits of lunacy,
That make men foolish that do trust them most.
Good-ang. sweet Faustus, think of heaven and heavenly
Things.
Bad-ang. no Faustus; think of honor and wealth.
(exeunt.
Faust. of wealth?
Why, the signory of emden shall be mine.
When mephistophilis shall stand by me,
What god can hurt thee, Faustus, thou art safe.
Cast no more doubts. come, mephistophilis
And bring glad tidings from great lucifer.
Is't not midnight? come, mephistophilis.
Now tell what saith 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 he tempts us thus?
Meph. solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.
Faust. have you any pain that tortures 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'll give it thee.
Meph. then 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. 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. 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?
'Faustus gives to thee his soul.' ah, there it
Stayed.
Why shouldst thou not? is not thy soul thine own?
Then write again: 'Faustus gives to thee his soul.
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.
Meph. o, what will not i do to obtain his soul?
Faust. consummatum est; this bill is ended,
And Faustus hath bequeathed 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 deceived; 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.
(exit.
Enter with devils, giving crowns and rich apparel
To Faustus and they dance and then depart.
Faust. speak mephistophilis. what means this show?
Meph. nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind withal
And to show 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 prescribed between us both.
Meph. Faustus, i swear by hell and lucifer
To effect all promises between us made.
Faust. then hear me read them. on these conditions
Following:
First, that Faustus may be a spirit in form and sub-
Stance;
Secondly, that mephistophilis shall be his servant,
And at his command;
Thirdly, that mephistophilis shall do for him, and
Bring him whatsoever;
Fourthly, that he shall be in his chamber or house
Invisible;
Lastly, that he shall appear to the said john
Faustus 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,
And furthermore grant unto them that 24
Years being expired, the articles above written
Inviolate, full power 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 where about?
Meph. within the bowels of these elements,
Where we are tortured and remain forever.
Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscribed
In one self place, for where we are is hell,
And where hell is, 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
Damned?
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 life 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 damned, and am now in hell.
Faust. how? now in hell? nay, and this be hell,
I'll willingly be damned here. what walking, disput-
Ing, etc. but leaving off this, let me have a wife,
The fairest maid in germany, for i am wanton and
Lascivious, and cannot live without a wife.
Meph. how, a wife? i prithee, Faustus, talk not of a
Wife.
Faust. nay, sweet mephistophilis, fetch me one, for
I will have one.
I'll fetch thee a wife in the devil's name. (exit.
Enter with a devil dressed like a woman,
With fireworks.
Meph. tell, Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?
Faust. a plague on her for a hot whore.
Meph. tut, Faustus,
Marriage is but a ceremonial toy,
If thou lovest me, think no more of it.
I'll cull thee out the fairest courtesans,
And bring them every morning to thy bed.
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.
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 armor 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 incanta-
Tions, that i might raise up spirits when i please.
Meph. here they are in this book. (there turn 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. (turn 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. (turn to them.
Faust. when i behold the heavens, then i repent,
And curse thee wicked mephistophilis,
Because thou hast deprived me of those joys.
Meph. why, Faustus,
Think'st 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 provest thou that?
Meph. it was made for man, therefore is man more ex-
Faust. if it were made for man, 'twas made for me.
I will renounce this magic and repent.
Enter good angel, and evil angel.
Good-ang. Faustus, repent, yet god will pity thee.
Evil-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.
Evil-ang. ay, but Faustus never shall repent.
(exeunt.
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 damned.' then swords and knives,
Poison, guns, halters, and envenomed steel
Are laid before me to dispatch myself.
And long ere this i should have slain myself,
Had not sweet pleasure conquered deep despair.
Have not i made blind homer sing to me
Of alexander's love and enon'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 resolved, 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 others orb.
And, Faustus,
All jointly move upon one axletree,
Whose terminus is termed the world's wide pole;
Nor are the names of saturn, mars, or jupiter
Feigned, 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 24 hours
Upon the poles of the world, but differ in their
Motion upon the poles of the zodiac.
Faust. tush, these slender trifles wagner can decide.
Who knows not the double motion of the planets?
The first is finished in a natural day.
The second thus, as saturn in 30 years, jupiter in 12,
Mars in 4, the sun, venus, and mercury in a year, the
Moon in 28 days. tush, these are freshmen's supposi-
Tions. 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, i 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.
Faust. think, Faustus, upon god that made the world.
Meph. remember this.
Faust. ay, go accursed spirit to ugly hell.
'tis thou hast damned distressed Faustus' soul.
Is't not too late?
Enter good angel and evil.
Evil-ang. too late.
Good-ang. never too late, if Faustus can repent.
Evil-ang. if thou repent, devils shall tear thee in
Pieces.
Good-ang. repent, and they shall never raze thy skin.
(exeunt.
Faust. ah, christ, my savior,
Seek to save distressed Faustus' soul.
Enter lucifer, beelzebub, and mephistophilis.
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.
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 show thee some pas-
Time. sit down, and thou shalt see all the seven
Deadly sins appear 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.
Come away!
(enter the seven deadly sins.
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 to ovid's flea, i can creep into every corner of
A wench. sometimes like a periwig i sit upon her
Brow, or like a fan of feathers, i kiss her lips.
Indeed i do, what do i not? 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?
Cov. i am covetousness, begotten of an old churl, in
An old leathern bag, 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 leaped 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
Faust. what art thou, the fourth?
Envy. i am envy, begotten 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 30 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 begotten 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. who i, sir? i am one that loves an inch of raw
Mutton better than an ell of fried stockfish, and the
First letter of my name begins with lechery.
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.
Happy were i then!
Luc. thou shalt. i will send for thee at midnight. in
Meantime take this book, peruse it thoroughly, and
Thou shalt turn thyself into what shape thou wilt.
Faust. great thanks, mighty lucifer,
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 wagner solus.
Wag. 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 yoked 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 solemnized. (exit wagner.
Enter Faustus and mephistophilis.
Faust. having now, my good mephistophilis,
Passed with delight the stately town of trier,
Environed 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 paved 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,
Through 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
Meph. Faustus, i have, and because we will not be
Unprovided, 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 mayst 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 called ponte angelo
Erected is a castle passing strong
Within whose walls such store of ordnance are
And double cannons framed of carved brass,
As match the days within one complete year;
Besides, the gates and high pyramides
Which julius caesar brought from africa.
Faust. now by the kingdoms of infernal rule,
Of styx, acheron, and the fiery lake
Of ever-burning phlegethon i swear
That i do long to see the monuments
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 baldpate friars
Whose summum bonum is in bellycheer.
Faust. well, i am content to compass them some sport
And by their folly make us merriment.
Then charm me that i may be invisible to do what i
Please,
Unseen of any whilst i stay in rome.
Meph. so, Faustus, now
Do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discerned.
Sound a sennet. enter the pope and the
Cardinal of lorain to the banquet,
With friars attending.
Pope. my lord of lorain, wilt please you draw near.
Faust. fall to, and the devil choke you and you spare.
Pope. how now, who's that which spake? friars, look
Fri. 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. (snatch it.
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. you say true, i'll hav't.
Pope. what, again? my lord, i'll drink to your grace.
Fuast. i'll pledge your grace.
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.
The pope crosseth himself.
Faust. what, are you crossing of yourself?
Well, use that trick no more, i would advise you.
(cross again.
Well, there's the second time, aware the third.
I give you fair warning.
Cross again and Faustus hits him a box of
The ear and they all run away.
Faust. come on, mephistophilis, what shall we do?
Meph. nay, i know not. we shall be curst 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 st. peter's holy day.
Enter all the friars to sing the dirge.
Friar. come, brethren, let's about our business with
Good devotion.
Sing this. cursed be he that stole away his
Holiness' meat from the table. maledicat
Dominus.
Cursed be he that strook his holiness a
Blow on the face. maledicat dominus.
Cursed be he that took friar sandelo a
Blow on the pate. maledicat, etc.
Cursed be he that disturbeth our holy dirge.
Maledicat, etc.
Cursed be he that took away his holiness'
Wine. maledicat dominus.
Beat the friars and fling fireworks among
Them, and so exeunt.
Enter chorus.
Chor. when Faustus had with pleasure ta'en the view
Of rarest things and royal courts of kings,
He stayed his course and so returned home,
Where such as bear his absence but with grief,
I mean his friends and nearest 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 answered with such learned skill
As they admired and wondered 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 performed.
Enter robin, the hostler, with a book in his hand.
Robin. o, this is admirable! here i have stol'n one of
Doctor Faustus' conjuring books and, i' faith, i mean
To search some circles for my own use. now will i
Make all the maidens in our parish dance at my
Pleasure stark naked before me and so, by that means,
I shall see more than e'er i felt or saw yet.
(enter rafe calling robin.
Rafe. robin, prithee, come away, there's a gentleman
Tarrys 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. keep out, keep out, or else you are blown up,
Your are dismembered, rafe. keep out, for i am about
A roaring piece of work.
Rafe. come, what dost thou with that same book
Thou canst not read?
Robin. yes, my master and mistress shall find that
I can read, he for his forehead, she for her private
Study. she's born to bear with me or else my art
Fails.
Robin. what book? why the most intolerable book for
Conjuring that e'er was invented by any brimstone
Devil.
Rafe. canst thou conjure with it?
Robin. i can do all these things easily with it. first,
I can make thee drunk with hippocras at any tavern in
Europe for nothing. that's one of my conjuring works.
Rafe. our master parson says that's nothing.
Robin. true, rafe, and more , rafe, if thou hast any
Mind to nan spit, our kitchen maid, then turn her and
Wind her to thy own use, as often as thou wilt, and at
Midnight.
Rafe. o brave, robin, shall i have nan spit, and to mine
Own use? on that condition i'll feed thy devil with
Horse bread as long as he lives, of free cost.
Robin. no more, sweet rafe, 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.
Enter robin and rafe with a silver goblet.
Robin. come, rafe, did not i tell thee we were forever
Made by this doctor Faustus' book? ecce signum,
Here's a simple purchase for horsekeepers: our horses
Shall eat no hay as long as this lasts.
Enter the vintner.
Rafe. but, robin, here comes the vintner.
Robin. hush, i'll gull him supernaturally. drawer, i
Hope all is payed. god be with you. come, rafe.
Vintn. soft, sir, a word with you. i must yet have
A goblet paid from you, ere you go.
Robin. i a goblet, rafe, i a goblet? i scorn you and
You are but a etc. i a goblet? search me!
Vintn. i mean so, sir, with your favor.
Robin. how say you now?
Vintn. i must say somewhat to your fellow. you, sir!
Rafe. me sir, me sir? search your fill.
Now, sir, you may be ashamed to burden honest men with
A matter of truth.
Vintn. well, th' one of you hath this goblet about you.
Robin. you lie, drawer. 'tis afore me. sirrah you,
Scour you for a goblet, stand aside you had best, i
Charge you in the name of beelzebub. look to the
Goblet, rafe.
Vintn. what mean you, sirrah?
Robin. i'll tell you what i mean. (he reads.
Sanctobulorum periphrasticon. nay, i'll tickle you,
Vintner. look to the goblet, rafe. polypragmos
Belseborams framanto pacostiphos tostu mephistophilis,
Etc.
Enter mephistophilis, sets squibs at their backs.
They run about.
Vintn. o nomine domine, what mean'st thou, robin?
Thou hast no goblet.
Rafe. 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.
Enter to them mephistophilis.
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.
Rafe. and i must be a dog.
Robin. i' faith, thy head will never be out of the
Pottage pot. (exeunt.
Enter emperor, Faustus, and a knight, with
Attendants.
Em. master doctor Faustus, i have heard strange report
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
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 re-
Ported, and here i swear to thee, by the honor of mine
Imperial crown, that whatever thou dost, 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 honor of your imperial
Majesty, yet for that love and duty bind me thereunto,
I am content to do whatsoever your majesty shall com-
Mand me.
Em. then, doctor Faustus, mark what i shall say.
As i was sometime solitary set
Within my closet, sundry thoughts arose
About the honor of mine ancestors:
How they had won by prowess such exploits,
Got such riches, subdued so many kingdoms,
As we that do succeed, or they that shall
Hereafter possess our throne, shall
(i fear me) never attain to that degree
Of high renown and great authority
Amongst which kings is alexander the great,
Chief spectacle of the world's preeminence,
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 entombed this famous conqueror,
And bring with him his beauteous paramour,
Both in their right shapes, gesture and attire
They used 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.
Faustus. but if it like your grace it is not in my
Ability to present before your eyes the true substan-
Tial bodies of those two 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 best lived in, in their most
Flourishing estate which i doubt not shall sufficient-
Ly content your imperial majesty.
Em. go to, master doctor, let me see them presently.
Knight. do you hear, master doctor? you bring alexander
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, and you go to conjuring, i'll be gone.
(exit knight.
Faust. i'll meet with you anon for interrupting me so.
Here they are, my gracious lord.
Enter mephistophilis with alexander and his
Paramour.
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.
(exit alexander.
Emp. sure, these are no spirits but the true substantial
Bodies of those two deceased princes.
Faust. wilt 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.
Enter the knight with a pair of horns on his head.
Emp. how now, sir knight? why, i had thought thou
Hadst been a bachelor, but now i see thou hast a wife
Them. 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 con-
Tent to release him of his horns. and, sir knight,
Hereafter speak well of scholars. mephistophilis,
Transform him straight. 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. (exit emperor.
Faust. now, mephistophilis, the restless course
That time doth run with calm and silent foot,
Short'ning my days and thread of vital life,
Calls for the payment of my latest years.
Therefore, sweet mephistophilis, let us
Make haste to wittenberg.
Meph. what, will you go on horseback or on foot?
Faust. nay, till i am past this fair and pleasant green
I'll walk on foot.
Enter a horsecorser.
Horsc. i have been all this day seeking one master
Fustian. mass, see where he is. god save you, master
Doctor.
Faust. what, horsecorser, you are well met.
Horsec. do you hear, sir? i have brought you forty
Dollars for your horse.
Faust. i cannot sell him so. if thou lik'st him for
Fifty, take him.
Horsec. 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
Faust. well, come give me your money. my boy will deli-
Ver him to you. but i must tell you one thing before
You have him: ride him not into the water at any
Hand.
Horsec. 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.
Horsec. well, sir, now am i made man forever. 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.
Well good-bye, sir, your boy will deliver him me, but
Hark ye, sir, if my horse be sick or ill at ease, if i
Bring his water to you you'll tell me what it is?
(exit horsecorser.
Faust. away, you villain! what, dost think i am a
Horse doctor? what art thou Faustus but a man con-
Demned to die?
Thy fatal time doth draw to final end;
Despair doth drive distrust unto 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.
Enter horsecorser all wet, crying.
Horsec. alas, alas, doctor fustian, quotha, (mass, doc-
Tor lopus was never such a doctor) has given me a pur-
Gation, 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
Know 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
O, yonder is his snipper snapper! do you hear? you,
Hey, pass, where's your master?
Meph. why, sir, what would you? you cannot speak with
Him.
Horsec. but i will speak with him.
Meph. why, he's fast asleep. come some other time.
Horsec. 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.
Horsec. and he have not slept this eight weeks i'll
Speak with him.
Meph. see where he is, fast asleep.
Horsec. ay, this is he. god save ye, master doctor,
Master doctor, master doctor fustian, forty dollars,
Forty dollars for a bottle of hay.
Meph. why, thou seest he hears thee not.
Horsec. so, ho, ho! so, ho, ho! (hallow in his ear.
No, will you not wake? i'll make you wake ere i go.
(pull him by the leg and pull 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.
Horsec. o lord, sir, let me go and i'll give you forty
Dollars more.
Meph. where be they?
Horsec. i have none about me. come to my host'ry and
I'll give them you.
Meph. be gone quickly. (horsecorser runs away.
Faust. what, is he gone? farewell he, Faustus has his
Leg again and the horsecorser, i take it, a bottle of
Hay for his labor. 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 honorable gentleman, to
Whom i must be no niggard of my cunning. come,
Mephistophilis, let's away to him. (exeunt.
Enter to them the duke and the duchess;
The duke speaks.
Duke. believe me, master doctor, this merriment hath
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 great-bellied women do long
For some dainties or other. what is it, madam? tell
Me, and you shall have it.
Duch. 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 winter, i would desire no better meat than a
Dish of ripe grapes.
Faust. alas, madam, that's nothing. mephistophilis,
Be gone!
Were it a greater thing than this, so it would con-
Tent you, you should have it.
(enter mephistophilis with the grapes.
Here they be, madam. wilt please you taste on them?
Duch. 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 ye see.
How do you like them, madam, be they good?
Duch. 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 you must well
Reward this learned man for the great kindness he hath
Showed to you.
Duch. 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.
Enter wagner solus.
Wag. i think my master means to die shortly
And yet methinks, 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 bellycheer
As wagner ne'er beheld in all his life.
See where they come. belike the feast is ended .
Enter Faustus with two or three scholars.
1-schol. master doctor Faustus, since our conference
About fair ladies, which was the beautifulest 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 favor, 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 unfeigned,
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 otherwise for pomp and majesty
Than when sir paris crossed the seas with her
And brought the spoils to rich dardania.
Be silent then, for danger is in words.
Music sounds and helen passeth over
The stage.
2-schol. too simple is my wit to tell her praise
Whom all the world admires for majesty.
3-schol. no marvel, though, the angry greeks pursued
With ten years' war the rape of such a queen
Whose heavenly beauty passeth all compare.
1-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.
(enter an old man.
Faust. gentlemen, farewell, the same i wish to you.
(exeunt scholars.
Old. ah, doctor Faustus, that i might prevail
To guide thy steps unto the way of life
By which sweet path thou mayst attain the goal
Break heart, drop blood, and mingle it with tears,
Tears falling from repentant heaviness
Of thy most vild and loathsome filthiness,
The stench whereof corrupts the inward soul
With such flagitious crimes of heinous sins
As no commiseration may expel,
But mercy, Faustus, of thy savior sweet
Whose blood alone must wash away thy guilt.
Faust. where art thou, Faustus? wretch, what hast thou
Done?
Damned art thou Faustus, damned, despair and die.
Hell calls for right and with a roaring voice
Says: 'Faustus, come, thine hour is come',
And Faustus will come to do thee right.
Mephistophilis gives him a dagger.
Old. 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. i go, sweet Faustus, but with heavy cheer,
Fearing the ruin of thy hopeless soul.
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 piecemeal 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.
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
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 performed in twinkling of an eye.
Enter helen.
Faust. was this the face that launched a thousand
Ships?
And burnt the topless towers of ilium?
Sweet helen, make me immortal with a kiss!
Her lips suck forth my soul, see where it flies!
Come, helen, come give me my soul again.
Here will i dwell for heaven be in these lips
And all is dross that is not helena! (enter old man.
I will be paris and for love of thee,
Instead of troy shall wittenberg be sacked.
And i will combat with weak menelaus
And wear thy colors on my plumed crest!
Yea, 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 appeared to hapless semele,
More lovely than the monarch of the sky
In wanton arethusa's azured arms,
And none but thou shalt be my paramour. (exeunt.
Old-man. accursed Faustus, miserable man
That from thy soul exclud'st the grace of heaven
And fliest the throne of his tribunal seat.
(enter the 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.
Enter Faustus with the scholars.
Faust. ah, gentlemen!
1-schol. what ails Faustus?
With thee, then had i lived still, but now i die
Eternally. look, comes he not? comes he not?
2-schol. what means Faustus?
3-schol. belike he is grown into some sickness by being
Over solitary.
1-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.
2-schol. yet, Faustus, look up to heaven. remember
God's mercies are infinite.
Faust. but Faustus' offense 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 student here
These thirty years, o would i had never seen witten-
Berg, 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 forever. hell, ah hell forever. sweet friends,
What shall become of Faustus, being in hell forever?
3-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. oh 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 24 years hath Faustus lost eter-
Nal 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.
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.
2-schol. o, what shall we do to save Faustus?
Faust. talk not of me but save yourselves and depart.
3-schol. god will strengthen me. i will stay with
Faustus.
1-schol. tempt 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.
2-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. (exeunt scholars.
The clock strikes eleven.
Faust. ah, Faustus,
Now hast thou but one bare hour to live,
And then thou must be damned perpetually.
Stand still, you evermoving 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 damned.
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. oh, spare me, lucifer!
Where is it now? 'tis gone! and see where god
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 harbor me.
You stars that reigned at my nativity,
Whose influence hath allotted death and hell,
Now draw up Faustus like a foggy mist
Into the entrails of yon laboring cloud,
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! (the watch strikes.
'twill all be past anon!
Oh god,
If thou wilt not have mercy on my soul,
Yet for christ's sake, whose blood hath ransomed me,
Impose some end to my incessant pain.
Let Faustus live in hell a thousand years,
A hundred thousand and at last be saved.
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 changed
Unto some brutish beast. all beasts are happy,
For, when they die,
Their souls are soon dissolved in elements,
But mine must live still to be plagued in hell.
Curst be the parents that engendered me!
No, Faustus, curse thyself, curse lucifer
That hath deprived thee of the joys of heaven.
(the clock striketh twelve.
O, it strikes, it strikes! now, body, turn to air
Or lucifer will bear thee quickly to hell!
(thunder and lightning.
O soul, be changed into little waterdrops
And fall into the ocean, ne'er be found!
My god, my god, look not so fierce on me.
Enter devils.
Adders, and serpents, let me breathe a while.
Ugly hell, gape not, come not, lucifer,
I'll burn my books, ah, mephistophilis!
Enter chorus.
Chor. cut is the branch that might have grown full
Straight,
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 practice more than heavenly power permits.
Terminat hora diem, terminat auctor opus.