The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus
Christopher Marlowe, 1604.
Dramatis
Personae
Dr. Faustus
Wagner
Good Angel
Sins
Alexander
his Paramour
Prologue
Enter Chorus[1].
Not marching now in fields of Thrasimene,
Where Mars[2] did mate◦ the
Carthaginians, join with
Nor sporting in the dalliance of love,
In courts of Kings where state◦ is overturned, political power
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◦, applause
And speak for Faustus in his infancy.
Now is he borne, his parents base of stock,
In Germany, within a town called Rhodes:
Of riper years to Wertenberg[3] he went,
Whereas◦ his kinsmen chiefly brought him up; where
So soon he profits in divinity,
The fruitful plot of scholarism graced,
That shortly he was graced with doctor's name,[4]
Excelling all, whose sweet delight disputes[5]
In heavenly matters of theology,
'Til swollen with cunning◦ of a self conceit, knowledge
His waxen wings did mount above his reach,
And, melting, heavens conspired his overthrow;[6]
For falling to a devilish exercise,
And glutted more with learning's golden gifts,
He surfeits upon cursed necromancy◦. Black majic
Nothing so sweet as magic is to him
Which he prefers before his chiefest bliss.[7]
And this the man[8] that in his study sits. Exit.
Scene 1
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,[9]
Yet level◦ at the end of every art, aim
And live and die in Aristotle's works.
Sweet Analytics 'tis thou has ravished me:
Bene disserere est finis logicis.[10]
Is, to dispute well, Logic's chiefest end?
Affords this Art no greater miracle?
Then read no more, thou has attained the end;
A greater subject fitteth Faustus' wit◦. intellect
Bid Oncaymaeon farewell; Galen[11] come:
Seeing, Ubi
desinit philosophus, ibi incipit medicus,[12]
Be a physician Faustus, heap up gold,
And be eternis'd for some wondrous cure.
Summum bonum medicinae sanitas:[13]
The end of physic◦ is our bodies health. medicine
Why, Faustus, has thou not attained that end?
Is not thy common talk sound
aphorisms?[14]
Are not thy bills◦ hung up as monuments, prescriptions
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?[15]
Si una eademque res legatur duobus,
Alter rem alter valorem rei, etc.[16]
A pretty case of paltry legacies:
Exhaereditari filium non potest pater nisi, etc.[17]
Such is the subject of the institute
And universal body of the Church.
His study fits a mercenary drudge,
Who aims at nothing but external trash,
The devil and illiberal for me :
When all is done, divinity is best;
Jerome's Bible,[18] Faustus, view it well:
Stipendium peccati mors est. Ha! Stipendium, etc.[19]
The reward of sin is death: that's hard.
Si peccasse negamus, fallimur, & nulla est in nobis
veritas.:[20]
If we say that we have no sin,
We deceive our selves, 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,:[21]
What will be, shall be? Divinity, adieu.
These Metaphysics◦ of Magicians, basic principles
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?[22]
All things that move between the quiet◦ poles unmoving
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.
Wagner
I will sir. Exit.
Faustus
Their conference will be a greater help to me,
Than all my labours, plod I ne'er so fast.
Enter the Good Angel and the Evil Angel.
Good. Angel
O Faustus, lay that damned book aside,
And gaze not on it, lest it tempt thy soul,
And heap Gods heavy wrath upon thy head,
Read, read the scriptures, that is blasphemy.
Evil Angel
Go forward, Faustus, in that famous art,
Wherein all nature's treasury is contained:
Be thou on earth as Jove[23] is in the sky,
Lord and commander of these elements. Exeunt.
Faustus
How am I glutted with conceit◦ of this? filled with the idea
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[24] 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 faire Wittenberg;
I'll have them fill the public schools[25] with silk,
Wherewith the students shall be bravely◦ clad; splendidly
I'll levy soldiers with the coin they bring,
And chase the Prince of Parma[26] from our land,
And reign sole king of all our provinces;
Yea, stranger engines for the brunt of war,
Then was the fiery keel at Antwarpe's bridge,[27]
I'll make my servile spirits to invent.
Come, German
Valdes and Cornelius,
And make me blest with your sage conference.
Valdes,sweet Valdes, and Cornelius,
Enter 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[28] 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 ravished Mephistophilis,
Then, gentle friends, aide me in this attempt.
And I that have with concise syllogisms
Gravell'd◦ the pastors of the German church, confounded
And made the flowering pride of Wertenberg
Swarm to my problems,[29] as the infernal spirits,
On sweet Musoeus when he came to hell,
Will be as cunning as Agrippa was,
Whose shadows made all Europe honor him.[30]
Valdes
Faustus, these books thy wit and our experience
Shall make all nations to canonize us:
As Indian Moors[31] 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 Almaine rutters◦ with their horsemen's staves, German horsemen
Or Lapland giants trotting by our sides;
Sometimes like women, or unwedded maids,
Shadowing◦ more beauty in their airy brows, harboring
Than in their white breasts of the queen of love,
For Venice shall they drag huge Argoces,
And from America the golden fleece,
That yearly stuffs old Philips◦ treasury, Phillip II, king of Spain
If learned Faustus will be resolute.
Faustus
Valdes as resolute am I in this
As thou to live; therefore object it not.[32]
Cornelius
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, languages/expert
Hath all the principles magic doth require.
Then doubt not, (Faustus, but to be renowned,
And more frequented for this mystery◦, craft
Then heretofore the Delphian Oracle.[33]
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. massive
Then tell me, Faustus, what shall we three want?
Faustus
Nothing, Cornelius; O this cheers my soul.
Come show me some demonstrations magical,
That I may conjure in some lusty◦ grove, flourishing/beautiful
And have these joys in full possession.
Valdes
Then haste thee to some solitary grove,
And bear wise Bacon's and Albanus'[34]
works, The Hebrew Psalter, and New
Testament,
And whatsoever else is requisite
We will inform thee ere our conference cease.
Cornelius
Valdes, first let him know the words of art;
And then, all other ceremonies learned,
Faustus may try his cunning by himself.
Valdes
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 canvas every quiddity◦ thereof, essential feature
For ere I sleep I'll try what I can do;
This night I'll conjure◦ though I die therefore. call up spirits
Exeunt.
Scene 2
1. Scholar
I wonder what's become of Faustus, that was
wont to make our schools ring with, sic probo.[35]
That shall we know, for see here comes his boy.[36]
Enter Wagner.
How now sirrah, where's thy master?
God in heaven knows.
Why, dost not thou know?
Yes, I know, but that follows not.
Go to,sirrah! leave your jesting, and tell us where
he is.
That follows not necessary by force of argument,
that you being licentiate[37] should stand upon't,
therefore
acknowledge your error, and be attentive.
Why, did'st thou not say thou knew'st?
Have you any witness on't?
Yes ,sirrah, I heard you.
Ask my fellow if I be a thief.
Well, you will not tell us?
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 naturale, and is not
that mobile,[38] then wherefore should
you ask me such a question? But that I am by nature phlegmatic,[39]
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,[40] although I do not doubt
to see you
both hang'd the next sessions. Thus having triumphed over
you, I will set my countenance like a precision,[41] 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 worships, and so the Lord
bless you, preserve you, and keep you my dear brethren,
my dear brethren.
Exit.
Nay,then, I fear he has fallen into that damned art, for
which they two are infamous through the world.
Were he a stranger, and not allied to me, yet should
I grieve for him. But come let us go and inform the Rector,[42]
and see if he by his grave counsel can reclaim him.
O, but I fear me nothing can reclaim him.
Yet let us try what we can do.
Scene 3
Enter Faustus to conjure.
Faustus
Now that the gloomy shadow of the earth,
Longing to view Orion's drizzling look,[43]
Leaps from th'antarctic world unto the sky,
And dims the welkin◦ with her pitchy breath: sky
Faustus, begin thine incantations,
And try if devils will obey thy hest,
Seeing thou hast prayed and sacrificed to them.
Within this circle[44] is Jehovah's name,
Forward and backward, anagrammatis'd,
The breviated names of holy Saints,
Figures of every adjunct to the heavens,
And characters of signs and erring stars,[45]
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
triplex Jehovae! Ignei,
aeriI, aquatani spiritus, salvete! Orientis princeps Beelzebub, inferni
ardentis monarcha & Demigorgon, propitiamus vos, ut appareat &
surgat Mephistophilis. Quid tu moraris? Per Jehovam, Gehennam, &
consecratam aquam quam nunc spargo, signumque crusis quod nunc
facio, & per vota nostra, ipse nunc surgat nobis dicatus Mephistophilis!
philis.[46]
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; power
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.
Now Faustus, thou art conjurer
laureate
That canst command great Mephistophilis,
Quin regis Mephistophilis fratris imagine.[47]
Enter Mephistophilis.
Mephistophilis
Now, Faustus, what would'st thou have me do?
Faustus
I charge thee wait upon me whilst I live,
To do what ever Faustus shall command,
Be it to make the Moon drop from her sphere,
Or the Ocean to overwhelm the world.
Mephistophilis
I am a servant to great Lucifer,
And may not follow thee without his leave,
No more than he commands must we perform.
Faustus
Did not he charge thee to appear to me?
Mephistophilis
No, I came now hither of mine own accord.
Faustus
Did not my conjuring speeches raise thee? Speak.
Mephistophilis
That was the cause, but yet per accident,[48]
For when we hear one rack[49] 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.
Faustus
So Faustus hath already done, & holds this principle:
There is no chief but only Beelzebub,
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.[50]
But, leaving these vain trifles of men's souls,
Tell me what is that Lucifer thy Lord?
Mephistophilis
Arch-regent and commander of all spirits.
Faustus
Was not that Lucifer an Angel once?
Mephistophilis
Yes, Faustus, and most dearly lov'd of God.
Faustus
How comes it then that he is Prince of devils?
Mephistophilis
O, by aspiring pride and insolence,
For which God threw him from the face of heaven.
Faustus
And what are you that live with Lucifer?
Mephistophilis
Unhappy spirits that fell with Lucifer,
Conspired against our God with Lucifer,
And are for ever damned with Lucifer.
Faustus
How comes it then that thou art out of hell?
Mephistophilis
Why this is hell, nor am I out of it.
Thinkst 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?[51]
O Faustus, leave these frivolous demands,
Which strike a terror to my fainting soul.
Faustus
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 shall 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 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 aide 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.[52]
Mephistophilis
I will, Faustus.
Exit.
Faustus
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 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[53] 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, contemplation
'Til Mephistophilis return again. Exit.
Scene 4
Enter Wagner and the Clown.[54]
Wagner
Sirrah, boy, come hither.
How, boy? Swowns boy! I hope you have seen ma-
ny boys with such pickadevaunts as I have. Boy, quotha?[55]
Tell me, sirrah, hast thou any comings in?[56]
Ay, and goings out too, you may see else.[57]
Alas poor slave. See how poverty jesteth in his nakedness.
The villain is bare, and out of service,[58] and so hungry,
that I know he would glue his soul to the Devil for a
shoulder of mutton, though it were blood raw.
How, my soul to the devil for a shoulder of mutton though
'twere blood raw? Not so, good friend. By'r Lady,[59]
I had need have it well roasted, and
good sauce to it, if I pay so
dear.
Well, wilt thou serve me, and I'll make thee go like
Qui mihi discipulus?[60]
How, in verse?
No, sirrah, in beaten silk and stavesacre.[61]
How, how, Knaves acre?[62] 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.
Sirrah, I say in stavesacre.
Oho! Oho! Staves acre! Why, then, belike, if I were
your man, I should be full of vermin.
So thou shalt, whether thou beest with me, or no.
But sirrah, leave your jesting, and bind your self presently
unto me for seven years, or I'll turn all the lice about thee
into familiars,[63]
and they shall tear thee in pieces.
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 my meat and drink.
Well, do you hear sirrah? Hold, take these guilders.[64]
Gridirons! what be they?
Why, french crowns.[65]
Mass, but for the name of french crowns, a man
were as good have as many English counters,[66] and what
should I do with these?
Why, now, sirrah, thou art at an hour's warning,
whensoever or wheresoever the devil shall fetch thee.
No, no. Here, take your gridirons again.
Truly I'll none of them.
Truly but you shall.
Bear witness I gave them him.
Bear witness I give them you again.
Well, I will cause two devils presently to fetch
thee away Baliol[67]
and Belcher.
Let your Baliol and your Belcher come here, and I'll
knock[68] 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,[69] 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.
Baliol and Belcher, spirits away!
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 clefts and cloven feet.
Well, sirrah, follow me.
But do you hear? If I should serve you, would you
teach me to raise up Banios and Belcheos?
I will teach thee to turn thy self to anything, to
a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or a rat, or any thing.
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 pre-
tie wenches plackets; I'll be amongst them, i'faith.[70]
Well, sirrah, come.
But, do you hear, Wagner?
How! Baliol and Belcher.
O Lord, I pray sir, let Banio and Belcher go sleep.
Villain, call me Master Wagner, and let thy left
eye be diametrically fixed upon my right heel, with quasi vesti-
gias nostras insistere.[71] Exit.
God forgive me, he speaks Dutch fustian.[72] Well,
I'll follow him, I'll serve him, that's flat. Exit.
Scene 5
Enter Faustus in his Study.
Faustus
Now, Faustus, must thou needs be damned,
And canst thou not be saved?
What boots◦ it then to think of God or heaven? avails
Away with such vain fancies and despair:
Despair in God, and trust in Beelzebub.
Now go not backward: no, Faustus, be resolute.
Why waverest 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 fixed the love of Beelzebub;
To him I'll build an altar and a church,
And offer luke warm blood of new borne babes.
Enter Good Angel, and Evil Angel.
Good Angel
Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art.
Faustus
Contrition, prayer, repentance: what of them?
Good Angel
O, they are means to bring thee unto heaven.
Evil Angel
Rather illusions, fruits of lunacy,
That makes men foolish that do trust them most.
Good Angel
Sweet Faustus ,think of heaven, and heavenly
things.
Evil Angel
No, Faustus, think of honor and wealth.
Faustus
Of wealth, Exeunt.Angels
Why the signiory of Emden[73] 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,
Veni, veni, Mephastophile![74]
Enter Mephistophilis.
Now tell, what says Lucifer thy Lord?
Mephistophilis
That I shall wait on Faustus whilst I live,
So he will buy my service with his soul.
Faustus
Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee.
Mephistophilis
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 fuel.
Faustus
Stay, Mephistophilis, and tell me, what good will
my soul do thy Lord?
Mephistophilis
Enlarge his kingdom.
Faustus
Is that the reason he tempts us thus?
Mephistophilis
Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.[75]
Faustus
Have you any pain that tortures others?
Mephistophilis
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.
Faustus
Ay, Mephistophilis, I give it thee.
Mephistophilis
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.
Faustus
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.
Mephistophilis
But, Faustus, thou must write it in manner of a
deed of gift.
Faustus
Ay, so I will, but Mephistophilis my blood congeals
and I can write no more.
Mephistophilis
I'll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight. Exit.
Faustus
What might the staying of my blood portend?
Is it unwilling I should write this bill◦? contract
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.
Enter Mephistophilis with a chafer◦ of coals.
a portable grate
Mephistophilis
Here's fire. Come, Faustus, set it on.
Faustus
So now the blood begins to clear again;
Now will I make an end immediately.
Mephistophilis
O, what will not I do to obtain his soul?
Faustus
Consummatum est:[76] 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? O man, 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.
Mephistophilis
I'll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind.
Exit.
Enter Mephistophilis with devils, giving crowns and rich apparel to
Faustus, and dance, and then depart.
Faustus
Speak, Mephistophilis, what means this show?
Mephistophilis
Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind withal,
And to show thee what magic can perform.
Faustus
But may I raise up spirits when I please?
Mephistophilis
Ay, Faustus, and do greater things then these.
Faustus
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.
Mephistophilis
Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer
To effect all promises between us made.
Faustus
Then hear me read them. On these conditions following:
First, that Faustus may be a spirit[77] 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.
Fourthly, that he shall be in his chamber or house in-
visible.
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 Wertenberg, Doctor, by these presents,[78]
do give both body and soul to Lucifer
prince of the East, and his
minister Mephistophilis, and furthermore grant unto them
that 24. years being expired,the the articles above written in-
violate, full power to fetch or carry the said John Faustus body
and soul, flesh, blood, or goods, into their habitation where-
soever. By
me John Faustus.'
Mephistophilis
Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?
Faustus
Ay, take it, and the devil give thee good on't.
Mephistophilis
Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt.
Faustus
First will I question with thee about hell;
Tell me, where is the place that men call hell?
Mephistophilis
Under the heavens.
Mephistophilis
Within the bowels of these elements,
Where we are tortured and remain for ever,
Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscribed
In one self place; for where we are is hell,
And where hell is, theremust we ever be:
And to conclude, when all the world dissolves,
And every creature shall be purified,
All places shall be hell that is not heaven.
Faustus
Come, I think hell's a fable.
Mephistophilis
Ay, think so still, 'til experience change thy mind.
Faustus
Why? Think'st thou then that Faustus shall bee damned?
Mephistophilis
Ay, of necessity, for here's the scroll,
Wherein thou hast given thy soul to Lucifer.
Faustus
Ay, and body too, but what of that?
Think'st thou that Faustus is so fond◦, foolish
To imagine, that after this life there is any pain?
Tush; these are trifles and mere old wives tales.
Mephistophilis
But, Faustus, I am an instance to prove the contrary
For I am damned, and am now in hell.
How! Now in hell? Nay and this be hell, I'll willingly be
damned here; what? walking, disputing, etc.? But
leaving off this, let me have a wife, the fairest maid in Ger-
many, for I am wanton and lascivious, and cannot live liue
without a wife.
How, a wife? I prithee, Faustus, talk not of a wife.[79]
Nay, sweet Mephistophilis, fetch me one, for I will
have one.
Well, thou wilt have one. Sit there 'til I come; I'll
fetch thee a wife in the devil's name.
Enter
Mephistophilis with a devil dressed like a woman,
with fire works.
Mephistophilis
Tell, Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?
A plague on her for a hot whore!
Tut, Faustus, marriage is but a ceremonial toy; if
thou lovest me, think 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
As was bright Lucifer before his fall.
Hold, take this book, peruse it thoroughly:
The iterating◦ of these lines brings gold; repeating
The framing◦ of this circle on the ground, drawing
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.
Faustus
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.
Here they are in this book. There turns to them.
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.
Here they are too. Turns to them
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.
Here they be.
O, thou art deceived.
Tut, I warrant thee. Turns to them. Exeunt.
Faustus
When I behold the heavens, then I repent
And curse thee wicked Mephistophilis,
Because thou hast deprived me of those joys.
Mephistophilis
Why, Faustus,
Thinkst thou heaven is such a glorious
thing?
I tell thee tis not half so faire as thou,
Or any man that breathes on earth.
Faustus
How provest thou that?
It was made for man; therefore is man more excellent.
Faustus
If it were made for man, 'twas made for me.
I will renounce this magic, and repent.
Enter Good Angel, and Evil Angel.
Good Angel
Faustus, repent; Yet◦, God will pity thee. still
Evil Angel
Thou art a spirit◦; God cannot pity thee evil spirit, devil
Faustus
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 Angel
Ay, but Faustus never shall repent. Exeunt.
Faustus
My heart's so hardened[81] 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 ropes for hanging
Are laid before me to dispatch my self,
And long ere this I should have slain my self,
Had not sweet pleasure conquered deep despair.
Have not I made blind Homer sing to me,
Of Alexander's[82] love, and Oenon's death,
And hath not he that built the walls of Thebes,
With ravishing sound of his melodious harp,[83]
Made music with my Mephistophilis?
Why should I die then, or basely
despair?
I am resolved: Faustus shall never 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?[84]
Mephistophilis
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 termed the world's wide pole, end
Nor are the names of Saturn, Mars, or Jupiter
Fained, but are erring stars.[85]
Faustus
But tell me, have they all one motion? Both situ & tempore?[86]
All jointly move from East to West in four. and twenty hours
upon the poles of the world, but differ in their motion upon
the poles of the zodiac.[87]
Tush, these slender trifles Wagner can decide;
Hath Mephistophilis no greater skill?
Who knows not the double motion of the planets?
The first is finished 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?[88]
Ay.
How many heavens or spheres are there?
Nine, the seven planets, the firmament, and the
imperial heaven.[89]
Well, resolve me in this question: Why have we
not conjunctions, oppositions,[90] aspects, eclipses, all at
one
time, but in some years we have more, in some less?
Per inaequalem motum respectu totius.[91]
Well, I am answered. Tell me who made the world?
I will not.
Sweet Mephistophilis, tell me.
Move◦ me not, for I will not tell thee. anger
Villain, have I not bound thee to tell me any thing?
I, that is not against our kingdom, but this is.
Think thou on hell, Faustus, for thou art damned.
Think Faustus upon God that made the world.
Remember this. Exit.
Faustus
Ay, go accursed spirit to ugly hell,
'Tis thou hast damned distressed Faustus' soul.
Is't not too late?
Enter Good Angel and Evil Angel.
Evil Angel
Too late.
Never too late, if Faustus can repent.
If thou repent, devils shall tear thee in pieces.
Repent, and they shall never raze◦ thy skin. Exeunt Angels tear
Ah, Christ my Savior, seek to save distressed
Enter Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Mephistophilis.
Lucifer
Christ cannot save thy soul, for he is just;
There's none but I have interest in the same.
Faustus
O, who art thou that look'st so terrible?
Lucifer
I am Lucifer, and this is my companion prince in
hell.
O,Faustus! They are come to fetch away thy soul.
We come to tell thee thou dost injure us;
Thou talkst of Christ, contrary to thy promise.
Thou shouldst not think of God: think of the devil,
And of his dame[92]
too.
Faustus
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.
Lucifer
Do so, and we will highly gratify thee.
Faustus, we are come from hell to show thee some pastime.
Sit down, and thou shalt see all the Seven Deadly Sins[93]
appear in their proper shapes.
That sight will be as pleasing unto me, as paradise
was to Adam, the first day of his creation.
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.
What art thou, the first??
I am Pride. I disdain to have any parents. I am
like to Ovid's flea.[94] 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.[95]
What art thou, the second?
I am Covetousness, begotten of an old churl, in
an old leather 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!
What art thou, the third?
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 my self, when I had no
body to fight withal. I was borne in hell, and look to it, for
some of you shall be my father.
What art thou, the fourth?
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 should'st see how fat I
would be. But must thou sit and I stand? Come down with
a vengeance.
Away envious rascal. What art thou, the fifth?
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,[96] a small
trifle to suffice nature. O, I come of a royal parentage! My
grandfather was a gammon[97] of bacon, my grandmother
a
hogs head of Claret-wine. My godfathers were, these: Pe-
ter Pickle-herring, and Martin, Martlemas-beef.[98]
O, but my godmother, she was a jolly gentlewoman, and
welbeloved in every good town and
City; her name was mistress
Margery March-beer.[99] Now, Faustus, thou hast
heard all my
progeny,[100]
wilt thou bid me to supper?
No, I'll see thee hanged; thou wilt eat up all my
victuals.
Then the devil choke thee.
Choke thyself, glutton! What art thou, the sixth?
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 other
word for a king's ransom.
What are you Mistress Minks, the seventh
and last?
Who, I, sir? I am one that loves an inch of raw
Mutton better then an ell of fried, stock-fish,[101]
and the first letter of my name begins
with lechery.
Away, to hell, to hell. Exeunt the Sins.
Now, Faustus, how dost thou like this?
O, this feeds my soul.
Tut, Faustus, in hell is all manner of delight.
O, might I see hell, and return again, how happy
were I then.
Thou shalt; I will send for thee at midnight. In mean
time take this book, peruse it thoroughly, and thou shalt turn
thyself into what shape thou wilt.
Great thanks, mighty Lucifer. This will I keep as chary[102]
as my life.
Farewell, Faustus, and think on the devil.
Farewell, great Lucifer. Come Mephistophilis.
Scene 6
Enter Robin the ostler[103] with a book in his hand.
Robin
O this is admirable! Here I h’ stolen one of Doctor Faustus’
conjuring books, and I’faith I mean to search some circles[104]
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 ere I felt or saw yet.
Enter Rafe calling Robin
Rafe
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[105] 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, you are dismembered,
Rafe. Keep out, for I am about a roaring[106] 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,[107] she for her private study. She’s born to bear with
me,[108] or else my art fails.
Rafe
Why Robin, what book is that?
Robin
What book? Why the most intolerable[109] book for conjuring
that ere 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 ‘ipocrase[110] 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 horsebread as long as he
lives, of free cost.[111]
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.
Chorus 2
Enter Wagner solus.
Wagner
Learned Faustus,
To know the secrets of astronomy,
Graven in the book of Jove's high firmament,
Did mount himself to scale Olympus[112] top,
Being seated in a chariot burning bright,
Drawn by the strength of yoked dragons' necks.
He now is gone to prove cosmography,[113]
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,[114]
That to this day is highly solemnized. Exit Wagner
Scene 7
Enter Faustus and Mephistophilis.
Faustus
Having now, my good Mephistophilis,
Past with delight the stately town of Trier,[115]
Environed round with airy mountain tops,
With walls of flint, and deep entrenched lakes◦, moats
Not to be won by any conquering prince,
From Paris next coasting◦ the realm of France, traversing
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 faire 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[116] golden tomb,
The way◦ he cut an English mile in length, tunnel
Thorough a rock of stone in one night's space.
From thence to Venice, Padua, and the rest,
In midst of which a sumptuous temple◦ stands, St. Marks in Venice
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, earlier
Conducted me within the walls of Rome?
Mephistophilis
Faustus, I have, and because we will not be
unprovided, I have taken up his Holiness'
I hope his Holiness will bid us welcome.
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.
Over the which four stately bridges lean,
That makes safe passage to each part of Rome.
Upon the bridge called Ponto Angelo,
Erected is a castle passing strong,[117]
Within whose walls such store of ordinance are,
And double canons, framed of carved brass,
As match the days within one complete year,
Besides the gates and high pyramids◦, obelisks
Which Julius Caesar brought from Africa.
Faustus
Now by the kingdoms of infernal rule,
Of Styx, Acheron, and the fiery lake
Of ever-burning Phlegiton[118] I swear,
That I do long to see the monuments
And situation of bright splendent Rome.
Come therefore, let's away.
Mephistophilis
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 troupe of bald-pate friars,
Whose summum bonum[119]
is in belly-cheer.
Faustus
Well, I am content, to compass[120] then 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.
So, Faustus, now do what thou wilt, thou shalt not
be discerned.
Sound a sennet.[121] Enter the Pope and the
Cardinal of Lorrain
to the banquet, with Friars attending.
My Lord of Lorraine, wilt please you draw near.
Fall to, and the devil choke you and[122] you spare.
How now! Who's that which spoke? Friars, look
about.
Here's nobody if it like[123] your Holiness.
My Lord, here is a dainty dish was sent me from
the Bishop of Milan.
I thank you sir. Snatches it.
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.
You say true; I'll ha't.
What again? My Lord, I'll drink to your grace.
I'll pledge your grace.
My Lord, it may be some ghost newly crept out of
purgatory, come to beg a pardon of your Holiness.
It may be so. Friars, prepare a dirge[124] to lay the fury
of this ghost. Once again, my lord, fall to.
The Pope crosseth himself.
What, are you crossing of your self?
Well, use that trick no more, I would advise you.
The Pope
crosseshimself again.
Faustus
Well, there's the second time, aware the third,
I give you faire warning.
The Pope crosses himself again, and Faustus hits him a
box of the ear;
and they all run away.
Come on, Mephistophilis, what shall we do?
Nay, I know not. We shall be cursed with bell, book,
and candle.[125]
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 holy day.
Enter all the Friars to sing the Dirge.
Come, brethren, let's about our business with good
devotion.
They sing.
Cursed be he that stole away his Holiness' meat
from the table. Maledicat Dominus.[126]
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, Dominusc.
Cursed be he that disturbeth our holy Dirge.
Maledicat, Dominusc.
Cursed be he that took away his Holiness' wine.
Maledicat Dominus.
Et omnes sancti.[127]
Amen.
Faustus and
Mephistophilis beat the Friars, and fling fireworks among
them; and so exeunt.
Scene 8
Enter Robin and Ralph with a silver goblet.
Robin
Come, Ralph, did not I tell thee, we were for ever
made by this doctor Faustus' book? Ecce signum,[128]
here's a simple purchase for horse-keepers: our horses
shall eat no hay as long as this lasts.
Enter the Vintner.
But Robin, here comes the vintner.
Hush, I'll gull him supernaturally. Drawer,[129]
I hope all is paid; God be with you. Come, Ralph.
Soft, sir, a word with you. I must yet have a goblet
paid from you ere you go.
I, a goblet, Ralph; I, a goblet? I scorn you, and you
are but a &c.[130] I, a goblet? Search me.
I mean so, sir, with your favor. Searches
Robin.
How say you now?
I must say somewhat to your fellow. You, sir.
Me, sir. Me, sir. Search your fill. Now, sir, you may be
ashamed to burden honest men with a matter of truth.
Well, tone of you hath this goblet about you.
You lie, Drawer; 'tis afore me. Sirrah you, I'll teach ye
to impeach honest: men; To Rafe stand, by; To the Vinter I'll scour you
for a goblet. Stand aside you had best, I charge you in the name of
Beelzebub – look to the goblet , Ralph.
What mean you, sirrah?
I'll tell you what I mean. He reads
from a book.
Sanctobulorum Periphrasticon: : Nay, I'll tickle you, Vintner.
Aside to Ralph. Lookto the goblet , Ralph.Polypragmos
Belseborams framanto
pacostiphos tostu, Mephistophilis, &c.[131]
Enter Mephistophilis, sets squibs[132] at their backs [and then
exit];
they run about.
O nomine Domini,[133] what mean'st thou,
Robin? Thou
hast no goblet.
Peccatum peccatorum.[134] Here's thy goblet, good Vintner.
Misericordia pro nobis.[135] What shall I do? Good
devil,
forgive me now, and I'll never rob thy library more.
Enter to them Mephistophilis.
Vanish villains, th'one like an ape, another like like
a bear, the third an ass, for doing this enterprise. Exit
Vinter.
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 six pence in your purse to pay for your
supper, and be gone?
Well villains, for your presumption, I transform
thee into an ape, and thee into a dog, and so be gone. Exit.
How, into an ape? That's brave.[136] I'll have fine sport
with the boys. I'll get nuts and apples enough.
And I must be a dog. Exeunt.
I'faith thy head will never be out of the pottage[137] pot.
Chorus 3
Enter Chorus.[138]
Chorus
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,[139] 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 perform'd. Exit.
Scene 9
Enter Emperor, Faustus, and a Knight,
with attendants.
Emperor
Master Doctor Faustus, I have heard strange re-
port of thy knowledge in the blacke 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
honor of mine imperial crown, that whatever thou doest,
thou shalt be no ways prejudiced or endamaged.
I'faith he looks much like a conjuror. Aside
Faustus
My gracious sovereign, though I must confess
myself far inferior to the report men have published, and, and
nothing answerable to the honor 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.
Then, Doctor Faustus, mark what I shall say. As
I was sometime solitary set, within my closet,[140] sundry
thoughts arose, about the honour 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, mention
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 conquerour,
And bring with him his beauteous paramour,[141]
Both in their right shapes, gesture, and attire
They used to wear during their life,
Thou shalt both satisfy my just desire,
And give me cause to praise thee whilst I live.
Faustus
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.
I'faith that's just nothing at all. Aside.
Faustus
But if it like your Grace, it is not in my ability to
present before your eyes, the true substantial bodies of those
two deceased princes, which long since are consumed to dust.
Ay, marry,[142] Master Doctor, now there's
a sign of grace
in you, when you will confess the truth. Aside.
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 sufficiently content your imperial
majesty.
Go to, Master Doctor, let me see them presently.[143]
Do you hear, Master Doctor? You bring Alexander and his paramour before the Emperor?
How then, sir?
I'faith that's as true as Diana turned me to a stage.
No, sir, but when Acteon died, he left the horns[144] for
you. Mephistophilis, be gone. Exit
Mephistophilis.
Nay, and[145] you go to conjuring,
I'll be gone.
Exit Knight.
I'll meet with you anon for interrupting me so.
Here they are my gracious Lord.
Enter Mephistophilis: with Alexander and his paramour.
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?
Your highness may boldly go and see. Exit Alexander.
Sure these are no spirits, but the true substantial
bodies of those two deceased princes.
Will't please your highness now to send for the knight
that was so pleasant with me here of late?
One of you call him forth. Exit Attendant.
Enter the Knight with a pair of horns on his head.
Emperor
How now, sir knight? Why I had thought thou
hadst been a bachelor, but now I see thou hast a wife, that
not only gives thee horns, but makes thee wear them, feel
on thy head.
Knight
Thou damned wretch, and execrable dog,
Bred in the concave of some monstrous rock.
How darest thou thus abuse a gentleman?
Villain, I say, undo what thou hast done.
Faustus
O, not so fast sir; there's no haste but good. Are you
remembered[146]
how you crossed me in my conference with the
Emperor? I think I have met with[147] you for it.
Good Master Doctor, at my entreaty release him;
he hath done penance sufficient.
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 stright.[148] Mephistophilis removes the horns.
Now my good Lord
having done my duty, I humbly take my leave.
Farewell, Master Doctor, yet ere you go, expect
from me a bounteous reward. Exit Emperor.
Faustus
Now, Mephistophilis, the restless course that time
doth run with calm and silent foot,
Shortening my days and thread of vital life,
Calls for the payment of my latest years.
Therefore, sweet Mephistophilis, let us make haste to
What, will you go on horse back, or on foot?
Nay, 'til I am past this faire and pleasant green, I'll
walk on foot.
Scene 10
Enter a Horse-courser.[149]
I have been all this day seeking one master Fustian:
mass,[150] see where he is. God save you, Master Doctor.
What, horse-courser; you are well met.
Do you hear sir? I have brought you forty dollars[151]
for your horse.
I cannot sell him so. If thou lik'st him for fifty, take
him.
Alas sir, I have no more; I pray you speak for
me.
I pray you let him have him; he is an honest fellow,
and he has a great charge,[152] neither wife nor child.
Well, come give me your 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.
Why sir, will he not drink of all waters?
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.
Well, sir, Now am I made man forever. I'll not
leave my horse for forty. Aside. If he had but
the quality of hey-
ding-ding, hey-ding-ding,[153] I'd make a brave living
on him;
he has a buttock so slick as an eel. Well, God b’y[154] 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[155] to you, you'll tell me
what is?
Exit Horse-courser
Away, you villain; what, dost think I am a horse-
doctor? What art thou, Faustus, but a man condemned 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,[156]
Then rest thee, Faustus, quiet in conceit◦. Sleeps in his chair. in mind
Enter Horse-courser all wet, crying.
Horse-courser
Alas, alas! Doctor Fustian, quotha? Mass, Doctor Doctor
Lopus[157]
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[158] of hey, 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[159] horse. O, yonder is his
snipper-
snapper, do you hear? You, hey-pass,[160] where's your
master?
Why sir, what would you? You cannot speak
with him.
But I will speak with him.
Why, he's fast asleep; come some other time.
I'll speak with him now, or I'll break his glass-
windows[161]
about his ears.
I tell thee he has not slept this eight nights.
And he have not slept this eight weeks I'll speak
with him.
See where he is fast asleep.
Ay, this is he; God save ye Master Doctor, Master
Doctor, Master Doctor Fustian, forty dollars, forty dollars
for a bottle of hey.
Why, thou seest he hears thee not.
So, ho, ho; so, ho, ho.[162] Hollars
in his ear.
No, will you not wake? I'll make you wake ere I go.
Pulls Faustushim by the leg, and pulls it away.
Alas, I am undone! What shall I do?
O, my leg, my leg, help Mephistophilis, call the
officers, my leg, my leg.
Come, villain, to the Constable.
O Lord sir, let me go, and I'll give you forty dollars more.
Where be they?
I have none about me. Come to my ostry,[163] and I'll
give them you.
Be gone quickly. Horse-courser runs away.
What, is he gone? Farewell he. Faustus has his leg
again, and the Horse-courser I take it, a bottle of hey for his
labour. Well, this trick shall cost him forty dollars more.
Enter Wagner.
How now, Wagner; what's the news with thee?
Sir, the Duke of Vanholt doth earnestly entreat
your company.
The Duke of Vanholt! an honourable gentleman,
to whom I must be no niggard of my cunning. Come,
Mephistophilis, let's away to him. Exeunt.
Scene 11
Faustus and Mephastophilis return to
the stage. Enter to them the
Duke of Vanholt and the Duchess; the Duke speaks.
Duke
Believe me, Master Doctor, this merriment hath
much pleased me.
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
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 then a dish of ripe grapes.
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. Enter
Mephistophilis with the grapes.
Here they be, madam; wil't please you taste
on them.
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.
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,[164]
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?
Believe me, Master Doctor, they be the best grapes
that e'er I tasted in my life before.
I am glad they content you so, madam.
Come, madam, let us in, where you must well reward
this learned man for the great kindness he hath showed
to you.
And so I will my Lord, and whilst I live,
rest beholding for this courtesy.
I humbly thank your Grace.
Come, Master Doctor, follow us, and receive your
reward. Exeunt.
Chorus 4
Enter Wagner, solus.
Wagner
I think my master means to die shortly,
For he hath given to me all his goods,
And yet me thinks, 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 never beheld in all his life.
See where they come. Belike the feast is ended.
Scene 12
Enter Faustus, with two or three Scholars
1. Scholars
Master Doctor Faustas, since our conference a-
bout faire ladies, which was the beautiful'st in all the world,
we have determined with our selves, that Helen of Greece
was the admirabl'st Lady that ever lived. Therefore, Master
Doctor, if you will do us that favor, as to let us see that peer-
less Dame of Greece, whom all the world admires for
majesty, we should think our selves
much beholding unto
you.
Gentlemen, for that I know your friendship is unfained,
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, then
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. Scholar
Too simple is my wit to tell her praise,
Whom all the world admires for majesty.
3. Scholar
No marvel though the angry Greeks pursued
With ten years war the rape of such a queen,
Whose heavenly beauty passeth all compare.
1. Scholar
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.
Faustus
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 maist 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 sins, villainous
As no commiseration may expel,
But mercy, Faustus, of thy Savior sweet,
Whose blood alone must wash away thy guilt.
Faustus
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.
Mephistophilis gives him a dagger.
And Faustus-- will come to do thee right.
Old Man
Ah stay, good Faustus, stay thy desperate steps.
I see an angel hovers ore 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.
Faustus
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◦, i.e. heavy heart
Fearing the ruin of thy hopeless soul. Exit.
Faustus
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?
Mephistophilis
Thou traitor, Faustus, I arrest thy soul
For disobedience to my sovereign lord.
Revolt,[165] or I'll in piece-meal
tear thy flesh.
Faustus
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.
Mephistophilis
Do it then quickly, with unfained heart,
Lest greater danger do attend thy drift◦. intent
Faustus
Torment, sweet friend, that base and crooked age,
That dar'st dissuade me from thy Lucifer,
With greatest torments that our hell affords.
Mephistophilis
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.
Faustus
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.
Mephistophilis
Faustus, this, or what else thou shalt desire,
Shall be performed in twinkling of an eye. Enter Helen.
Faustus
Was this the face that launched a thousand ships?
And burnt the topless[166] towers of Ilium◦? Troy
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 Wertenberg be sacked,
And I will combat with weak Menelaus◦, Helen’s husband
And wear thy colours on my plumed crest;
Yea, I will wound Achilles in the heel,[167]
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,[168]
More lovely then the monarch of the sky
In wanton Arethusa's azured arms,[169]
And none but thou shalt be my paramour. Exeunt Faustus and Helen.
Old man
Accursed Faustus, miserable man,
That from thy soul exclud'st the grace of heaven,
And fly'st the throne of his tribunal seat,
Enter the Devils.
Satan begins to sift me with his pride:[170]
As in this furnace God shall try my faith,
My faith, vile fuel, shall triumph over thee.
Ambitious fiends, see how the heavens smiles
At your repulse, and laughs your state◦ to scorn. royal power
Hence, hell! for hence I fly unto my God. Exeunt.
Scene 13
Enter Faustus with the Scholars.
Faustus
Ah, gentlemen !
What ails Faustus?
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?
What means Faustus?
Belike he is grown into some sickness, by
being over solitary.
If it be so, we'll have physicians to cure him;
'tis but a surfeit.[171] Never fear man.
A surfeit of deadly sin that hath damned both body
and soul.
Yet, Faustus, look up to heaven; remember God's
mercies are infinite.
But Faustus' offense can never 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 Wertenberg, 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?
Yet, Faustus, call on God.
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.
Who Faustus?
Lucifer and Mephistophilis.
Ah Gentlemen! I gave them my soul for my cunning.
God forbid.
God forbade it indeed, but Faustus hath done it.
For vain pleasure of four and twenty. years, hath Faustus lost eternal
joy and felicity. I writ them a bill with mine one blood;
the date is expired, the time will come, and he will fetch Mephistophilis.
Why did not Faustus tell us of this before, that
divines might have prayed for thee?
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.
O, what shall we do to Faustus?
Talk not of me, but save yourselves, and, depart.
God will strengthen me; I will stay with Faustus.
Tempt not God, sweet friend, but let us into the
next room, and there pray for him.
Ay, pray for me, pray for me, and what noise soever
ye hear, come not unto me, for nothing can rescue me.
Pray thou, and we will pray that God may have
mercy upon thee.
Gentlemen, farewell. If I live 'til morning, I'll visit
you, if not, Faustus is gone to hell.
Faustus, farewell. Exeunt Scholars.
The clock strikes eleven.
Faustus
Ah Faustus,
Now hast thou but one bare hour to live,
And then thou must be damned 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.[172]
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 streames in the firmament;
One drop would save my soule, 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 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 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.[173]
Ah, half the hour is past: The
watch strikes. the half hour
'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,[174] 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. always
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 quick◦ to hell. alive
Thunder and lightning.
O soul, be changed into little water drops,
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. Exeunt Devils with Faustus.
Epilogue
Enter Chorus.
Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight,
And burned is Apollo's laurel bough,[175]
That sometime grew within this learned man.
Faustus is gone; regard his hellish fall,
Whose fiendful fortune◦ may exhort the wise, devilish fate
Only to wonder at[176] unlawful things,
Whose deepness doth entice such forward wits,
To practice more than heavenly power permits. Exit.
Terminat hora diem,terminat auctor opus.[177]