Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE TRAGICAL HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS, by CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE TRAGICAL HISTORY OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Not marching in the fields of trasimene
Last Line: "perpetuum.""—bullen."
Subject(s): Faust


DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

THE POPE.
CARDINAL of LORRAIN.
EMPEROR of GERMANY.
DUKE of VANHOLT.
FAUSTUS.
VALDES, Friends to FAUSTUS.
CORNELIUS,
WAGNER, Servant to FAUSTUS.
Clown.
ROBIN.
RALPH.
Vintner, Horse-Courser, Knight, Old Man, Scholars, Friars, and Attendants.

DUCHESS of VANHOLT.

LUCIFER.
BELZEBUB.
MEPHISTOPHILIS.
Good Angel.
Evil Angel.
The Seven Deadly Sins.
Devils.
Spirits in the shape of ALEXANDER THE GREAT, of his Paramour, and of HELEN of
TROY.

Chorus.

Enter CHORUS.

CHORUS. Not marching now in fields of Trasymene,
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 vaunt his heavenly verse:
Only this, gentlemen,—we must perform
The form of Faustus' fortunes, good or bad;
To patient judgments we appeal our plaud,
And speak for Faustus in his infancy.
Now is he born, his parents base of stock,
In Germany, within a town called Rhodes;
Of riper years to Wertenberg he went,
Whereas his kinsmen^1^ 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 swollen with cunning^2^ 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 cursèd necromancy.
Nothing so sweet as magic is to him,
Which he prefers before his chiefest bliss.
And this the man that in his study sits! [Exit.

SCENE I.

FAUSTUS discovered in his Study.^3^

FAUST. 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 has ravished me, [Reads.
Bene disserere est finis logices.
Is to dispute well logic's chiefest end?
Affords this art no greater miracle?
Then read no more, thou hast attained the end;
A greater subject fitteth Faustus' wit:
Bid on cai me on^4^ farewell; Galen come,
Seeing Ubi desinit Philosophus ibi incipit Medicus;
Be a physician, Faustus, heap up gold,
And be eternised for some wondrous cure. [Reads.
Summum bonum medicine sanitas,
The end of physic is our body's health.
Why, Faustus, has thou not attained that end?
Is not thy common talk found Aphorisms?^5^
Are not thy bills^6^ 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.
Couldst thou make men to live eternally,
Or, being dead, raise them to life again,
Then this profession were to be esteemed.
Physic, farewell.—Where is Justinian? [Reads.
Si una eademque res legatur duobus, alter rem, alter valorem rei, &c.
A pretty case of paltry legacies! [Reads.
Ex hœreditare filium non potest pater nisi, &c.
Such is the subject of the Institute
And universal Body of the Law.
This study fits a mercenary drudge,
Who aims at nothing but external trash;
Too servile and illiberal for me.
When all is done divinity is best;
Jerome's Bible, Faustus, view it well. [Reads.
Stipendium peccati mors est. Ha! Stipendium, &c.
The reward of sin is death. That's hard. [Reads.
Si peccasse negamus fallimur et nulla est in nobis veritas.
If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and there's no truth in
us.
Why then, belike we must sin, and so consequently die.
Ay, we must die and everlasting death.
What doctrine call you this, Che sera sera,
What will be shall be? Divinity, adieu!
These metaphysics of magicians
And necromantic books are heavenly:
Lines, circles, scenes, letters, and characters:
Ay, these are those that Faustus most desires.
O what a world of profit and delight,
Of power, of honour, of omnipotence
Is promised to the studious artisan!
All things that move between the quiet poles
Shall be at my command: emperors and kings
Are but obeyèd in their several provinces,
Nor can they raise the wind or rend the clouds;
But his dominion that exceeds in this
Stretcheth as far as doth the mind of man,
A sound magician is a mighty god:
Here, Faustus, tire thy brains to gain a deity.
Wagner!

Enter WAGNER.

Commend me to my dearest friends,
The German Valdes and Cornelius;
Request them earnestly to visit me.
Wag. I will, sir. [Exit.
Faust. Their conference will be a greater help to me
Than all my labours, plod I ne'er so fast.

Enter Good Angel and Evil Angel.

G. Ang. O Faustus! lay that damnèd book aside,
And gaze not on it lest it tempt thy soul,
And heap God's heavy wrath upon thy head.
Read, read the Scriptures: that is blasphemy.
E. Ang. Go forward, Faustus, in that famous art,
Wherein all Nature's treasure is contained:
Be thou on earth as Jove is in the sky,
Lord and commander of these elements.
[Exeunt Angels.
Faust. How am I glutted with conceit of this!
Shall I make spirits fetch me what I please,
Resolve me of all ambiguities,
Perform what desperate enterprise I will?
I'll have them fly to India for gold,
Ransack the ocean for orient pearl,
And search all corners of the new-found world
For pleasant fruits and princely delicates;
I'll have them read me strange philosophy
And tell the secrets of all foreign kings;
I'll have them wall all Germany with brass,
And make swift Rhine circle fair Wertenberg,
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 the provinces;
Yea, stranger engines for the brunt of war
Than was the fiery keel at Antwerp's bridge,
I'll make my servile spirits to invent.

Enter VALDES and CORNELIUS.

Come, German Valdes and Cornelius,
And make me blest with your sage conference.
Valdes, sweet Valdes, and Cornelius,
Know that your words have won me at the last
To practise magic and concealèd arts:
Yet not your words only, but mine own fantasy
That will receive no object, for my head
But ruminates on necromantic skill.
Philosophy is odious and obscure,
Both law and physic are for petty wits;
Divinity is basest of the three,
Unpleasant, harsh, contemptible, and vile:
'Tis magic, magic that hath 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 Wertenberg
Swarm to my problems, as the infernal spirits
On sweet Musæus, when he came to hell,
Will be as cunning as Agrippa was,
Whose shadow made all Europe honour him.
Vald. Faustus, these books, thy wit, and our experience
Shall make all nations to canònise us.
As Indian Moors obey their Spanish lords,
So shall the spirits 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 learnèd Faustus will be resolute.
Faust. Valdes, as resolute am I in this
As thou to live; therefore object it not.
Corn. The miracles that magic will perform
Will make thee vow to study nothing else.
He that is grounded in astrology,
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
Than heretofore the Delphian Oracle.
The spirits tell me they can dry the sea,
And fetch the treasure of all foreign wrecks,
Ay, all the wealth that our forefathers hid
Within the massy entrails of the earth;
Then tell me, Faustus, what shall we three want?
Faust. Nothing, Cornelius! O this cheers my soul!
Come show me some demonstrations magical,
That I may conjure in some bushy grove,
And have these joys in full possession.
Vald. Then haste thee to some solitary grove,
And bear wise Bacon's and Albanus' works,
The Hebrew Psalter and New Testament;
And whatsoever else is requisite
We will inform thee ere our conference cease.
Corn. Valdes, first let him know the words of art;
And then, all other ceremonies learned,
Faustus may try his cunning by himself.
Vald. First I'll instruct thee in the rudiments,
And then wilt thou be perfecter than I.
Faust. Then come and dine with me, and after meat,
We'll canvas every quiddity thereof;
For ere I sleep I'll try what I can do:
This night I'll conjure tho' I die therefore. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter two Scholars.

1st Schol. I wonder what's become of Faustus that was wont to make our

schools ring with sic probo?
2nd Schol. That shall we know, for see here comes his boy.

Enter WAGNER.

1st Schol. How now, sirrah! Where's thy master?
Wag. God in heaven knows!
2nd Schol. Why, dost not thou know?
Wag. Yes, I know. But that follows not.
1st Schol. Go to, sirrah! leave your jesting, and tell us where he
is.
Wag. That follows not necessary by force of argument, that you, being
licentiates, should stand upon: therefore acknowledge your error and be
attentive.
2nd Schol. Why, didst thou not say thou knewest?
Wag. Have you any witness on't?
1st Schol. Yes, sirrah, I heard you.
Wag. Ask my fellows if I be a thief.
2nd Schol. Well, you will not tell us?
Wag. Yes, sir, I will tell you; yet if you were not dunces, you would
never ask me such a question; for is not he corpus 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 feet 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, would inform your
worships; and so the Lord bless you, preserve you, and keep you, my dear
brethren, my dear brethren. [Exit.
1st Schol. Nay, then, I fear he has fallen into that damned Art, for
which they two are infamous through the world.
2nd Schol. Were he a stranger, and not allied to me, yet should I
grieve for him. But come, let us go and inform the Rector, and see if he by
his
grave counsel can reclaim him.
1st Schol. O, but I fear me nothing can reclaim him.
2nd Schol. Yet let us try what we can do. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Enter FAUSTUS to conjure.

Faust. Now that the gloomy shadow of the earth
Longing to view Orion's drizzling look,
Leaps from the 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 anagrammatised,
The breviated names of holy saints,
Figures of every adjunet 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 triplex Jehovæ!
Ignei, aerii, aquatani spiritus, salvete! Orientis princeps Belzebub, inferni
ardentis monarcha, et Demogorgon, 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 MEPHISTOPHILIS.

I charge thee to return and change thy shape;
Thou art too ugly to attend on me.
Go, and return an old Franciscan friar;
That holy shape becomes a devil best. [Exit MEPHIS.
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:
Now Faustus, thou art conjuror laureat,
That canst command great Mephistophilis:
Quin regis Mephistophilis fratris imagine.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS like a Franciscan Friar.

Meph. Now, Faustus, what would'st thou have me to do?
Faust. I charge thee wait upon me whilst I live,
To do whatever Faustus shall command,
Be it to make the moon drop from her sphere,
Or the ocean to overwhelm the world.
Meph. I am a servant to great Lucifer,
And may not follow thee without his leave
No more than he commands must we perform.
Faust. Did not he charge thee to appear to me?
Meph. No, I came hither of mine own accord.
Faust. Did not my conjuring speeches raise thee? Speak.
Meph. That was the cause, but yet per accidens;
For when we hear one rack the name of God,
Abjure the Scriptures and his Saviour Christ,
We fly in hope to get his glorious soul;
Nor will we come, unless he use such means
Whereby he is in danger to be damned:
Therefore the shortest cut for conjuring
Is stoutly to abjure the Trinity,
And pray devoutly to the Prince of Hell.
Faust. So Faustus hath
Already done; and holds this principle,
There is no chief but only Belzebub,
To whom Faustus doth dedicate himself.
This word "damnation" terrifies not him,
For he confounds hell in Elysium;
His ghost be with the old philosophers!
But, leaving these vain trifles of men's souls,
Tell me what is that Lucifer thy lord?
Meph. Arch-regent and commander of all spirits.
Faust. Was not that Lucifer an angel once?
Meph. Yes, Faustus, and most dearly loved of God.
Faust. How comes it then that he is Prince of devils?
Meph. O, by aspiring pride and insolence;
For which God threw him from the face of Heaven.
Faust. And what are you that live with Lucifer?
Meph. Unhappy spirits that fell with Lucifer,
Conspired against our God with Lucifer,
And are for ever 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 deprivèd of the joys of Heaven?
Learn thou of Faustus manly fortitude,
And scorn those joys thou never shalt possess.
Go bear these tidings to great Lucifer:
Seeing Faustus hath 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 aid my friends,
And always be obedient to my will.
Go and return to mighty Lucifer,
And meet me in my study at midnight,
And then resolve me of thy master's mind.
Meph. I will, Faustus. [Exit.
Faust. Had I as many souls as there be stars,
I'd give them all for Mephistophilis.
By him I'll be great Emperor of the world,
And make a bridge thorough the moving air,
To pass the ocean with a band of men:
I'll join the hills that bind the Afric shore,
And make that country continent to Spain,
And both contributory to my crown.
The Emperor shall not live but by my leave,
Nor any potentate of Germany.
Now that I have obtained what I desire,
I'll live in speculation of this art
Till Mephistophilis return again. [Exit.

SCENE IV.

Enter WAGNER and Clown.

Wag. Sirrah, boy, come hither.
Clown. How, boy! Swowns, boy! I hope you have seen many boys with
such
pickadevaunts as I have; boy, quotha!
Wag. Tell me, sirrah, hast thou any comings in?
Clown. Ay, and goings out too. 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 'twere blood-raw.
Clown. How? My soul to the Devil for a shoulder of mutton, though
'twere blood-raw! Not so, good friend. By'r Lady, I had need have it well
roasted and good sauce to it, if I pay so dear.
Wag. Well, wilt thou serve us, and I'll make thee go like Qui mihi
discipulus?
Clown. How, in verse?
Wag. No, sirrah; in beaten silk and stavesacre.
Clown. How, how, Knave's acre! I, I thought that was all the land his
father left him. Do you hear? I would be sorry to rob you of your living.
Wag. Sirrah, I say in stavesacre.
Clown. 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.
Clown. Do you hear, sir? You may save that labour: they are too
familiar with me already: swowns! they are as bold with my flesh as if
they had
paid for their meat and drink.
Wag. Well, do you hear, sirrah? Hold, take these guilders. [Gives
money.
Clown. Gridirons! what be they?
Wag. Why, French crowns.
Clown. Mass, but in the name of French crowns, a man were as
good have
as many English counters. And what should I do with these?
Wag. Why, now, sirrah, thou art at an hour's warning, whensoever and
wheresoever the Devil shall fetch thee.
Clown. No, no. Here, take your gridirons again.
Wag. Truly I'll none of them.
Clown. Truly but you shall.
Wag. Bear witness I gave them him.
Clown. Bear witness I give them you again.
Wag. Well, I will cause two devils presently to fetch thee
away—Baliol and Belcher.
Clown. Let your Baliol and your Belcher come here, and I'll
knock them,
they were never so knocked since they were devils! Say I should kill one of
them, what would folks say? "Do you 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: the Clown runs up and down crying.

Wag. Balioland Belcher! Spirits, away! [Exeunt Devils.
Clown. What, are they gone? A vengeance on them, they have vile long
nails! There was a he-devil, and a she-devil! I'll tell you how you shall know
them; all he-devils has horns, and all she-devils has clifts and cloven feet.
Wag. Well, sirrah, follow me.
Clown. But, do you hear—if I should serve you, would you teach
me
to raise up Banios and Belcheos?
Wag. I will teach thee to turn thyself to anything; to a dog, or a
cat,
or a mouse, or a rat, or anything.
Clown. How! a Christian fellow to a dog or a cat, a mouse or a
rat! No,
no, sir. If you turn me into anything, let it be in the likeness of a little
pretty frisking flea, that I may be here and there and everywhere. Oh, I'll
tickle the pretty wenches' plackets; I'll be amongst them, i' faith.
Wag. Well, sirrah, come.
Clown. But, do you hear, Wagner?
Wag. How! Baliol and Belcher!
Clown. O Lord! I pray, sir, let Banio and Belcher go sleep.
Wag. Villain—call me Master Wagner, and let thy left eye be
diametarily fixed upon my right heel, with quasi vestigius nostris
insistere. [Exit.
Clown. God forgive me, he speaks Dutch fustian. Well, I'll
follow him:
I'll serve him, that's flat. [Exit.

SCENE V.

FAUSTUS discovered 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 Belzebub;
Now go not backward: no, Faustus, be resolute:
Why waver'st thou? O, something soundeth in mine ears
"Abjure this magic, turn to god again!"
Ay, and Faustus will turn to god again.
To God?_____He loves thee not—
The God thou serv'st is thine own appetite,
Wherein is fixed the love of Belzebub;
To him I'll build an altar and a church,
And offer lukewarm blood of new-born babes.

Enter Good Angel and Evil Angel.

G. Ang. Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art.
Faust. Contrition, prayer, repentance! What of them?
G. Ang. O, they are means to bring thee unto Heaven.
E. Ang. Rather, illusions—fruits of lunacy,
That makes men foolish that do trust them most.
G. Ang. Sweet Faustus, think of Heaven, and heavenly things.
E. Ang. No, Faustus, think of honour and of wealth.
[Exeunt Angels.
Faust. Of wealth!
Why the signiory of Embden shall be mine.
When Mephistophilis shall stand by me,
What God can hurt thee? Faustus, thou art safe:
Cast no more doubts. Come, Mephistophilis,
And bring glad tidings from great Lucifer;—
Is't not midnight? Come, Mephistophilis;
Veni, veni, Mephistophile!

Enter MEPHISTOPHILIS.

Now tell me, what says Lucifer thy lord?
Meph. That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives,
So he will buy my service with his soul.
Faust. Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee.
Meph. But, Faustus, thou must bequeath it solemnly,
And write a deed of gift with thine own blood,
For that security craves great Lucifer.
If thou deny it, I will back to hell.
Faust. Stay, Mephistophilis! and tell me what good
Will my soul do thy lord.
Meph. Enlarge his kingdom.
Faust. Is that the reason why he tempts us thus?
Meph. Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.
Faust. Why, 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 give it thee.
Meph. Then, Faustus, stab thine arm courageously,
And bind thy soul that at some certain day
Great Lucifer may claim it as his own;
and then be thou as great as Lucifer.
Faust. [stabbing his arm]. Lo, Mephistophilis, for love of thee,
I cut mine arm, and with my proper blood
Assure my soul to be great Lucifer's,
Chief lord and regent of perpetual night!
View here the blood that trickles from mine arm,
And let it be propitious for my wish.
Meph. But, Faustus, thou must
Write it in manner of a deed of gift
Faust. Ay, so I will. [Writes.] But, Mephistophilis,
My blood congeals, and I can write no more.
Meph. I'll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight.
[Exit.
Faust. What might the staying of my blood portend?
Is it unwilling I should write this bill?
Why streams it not that I may write afresh?
Faustus gives to thee his soul. Ah, there it stayed.
Why should'st thou not? Is not thy soul thine own?
Then write again, Faustus gives to thee his soul.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with a chafer of coals.

Meph. Here's fire. Come, Faustus, set it on.
Faust. So now the blood begins to clear again;
Now will I make an end immediately. [Writes.
Meph. O what will not I do to obtain his soul. [Aside.
Faust. Consummatum est: this bill is ended,
And Faustus hath 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.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with Devils, who give crowns and rich
apparel
to FAUSTUS, dance, and 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 substance. Secondly, that
Mephistophilis shall be his servant, and at his command. Thirdly, shall do for
him and bring him whatsoever he desires. Fourthly, that he shall be in his
chamber or house invisible. Lastly, that he shall appear to the said John
Faustus, at all times, and in what form or shape soever he pleases. I, John
Faustus, of Wertenberg, Doctor, by these presents do give both body and soul
to
Lucifer, Prince of the East, and his minister, Mephistophilis: and furthermore
grant unto them, that twenty-four 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, Joh
n
Faustus.

Meph. Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?
Faust. Ay, take it, and the Devil give thee good on't
Meph. Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt.
Faust. First will I question with thee about hell.
Tell me where is the place that men call hell?
Meph. Under the Heavens.
Faust. Ay, but whereabout?
Meph. Within the bowels of these elements,
Where we are 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 there must we ever be:
And, to conclude, when all the world dissolves,
And every creature shall be purified,
All places shall be hell that is 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 more old wives' tales.
Meph. But, Faustus, I am an instance to prove the contrary,
For I am damnèd, and am now in hell.
Faust. How! now in hell?
Nay, an this be hell. I'll willingly be damned here;
What? walking, disputing, &c.?
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.
Meph. Well—thou wilt have one. Sit there till I come: I'll fetch
thee a wife in the Devil's name. [Exit.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with a Devil dressed like a woman, with
fireworks.

Meph. Tell me, 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;
And 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.
Here, take this book, peruse it thoroughly: [Gives a book.
The iterating of these lines brings gold;
The framing of this circle on the ground
Brings whirlwinds, tempests, thunder and lightning;
Pronounce this thrice devoutly to thyself,
And men in armour shall appear to thee,
Ready to execute what thou desir'st.
Faust. Thanks, Mephistophilis; yet fain would I have a book wherein I
might behold all spells and incantations, that I might raise up spirits when I
please.
Meph. Here they are, in this book. [Turns to them.
Faust. Now would I have a book where I might see all characters and
planets of the heavens, that I might know their motions and dispositions.
Meph. Here they are too. [Turns to them.
Faust. Nay, let me have one book more,—and then I have
done,—wherein I might see all plants, herbs, and trees that grow upon the
earth.
Meph. Here they be.
Faust. O, thou art deceived.
Meph. Tut, I warrant thee. [Turns to them. Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

Enter FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS.

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,
Thinkest thou Heaven is such a glorious thing?
I tell thee 'tis not half so fair as thou,
Or any man that breathes on earth.
Faust. How prov'st thou that?
Meph. 'Twas made for man, therefore is man more excellent.
Faust. If it were made for man, 'twas made for me; I will renounce
this
magic and repent.

Enter Good Angel and Evil Angel.

G. Ang. Faustus, repent; yet God will pity thee.
E. Ang. Thou art a spirit; God can not pity thee.
Faust. Who buzzeth in mine ears I am a spirit?
Be I a devil, yet God may pity me;
Ay, God will pity me if I repent.
E. Ang. Ay, but Faustus never shall repent.
[Exeunt Angels.
Faust. My heart's so hardened I cannot repent.
Scarce can I name salvation, faith, or heaven,
But fearful echoes thunder in mine ears
"Faustus, thou art damned!" Then swords and knives,
Poison, gun, halters, and envenomed steel
Are laid before me to despatch 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 Œnon'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 other's orb,
And, Faustus,
All jointly move upon one axletree
Whose terminine 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 twenty-four 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;
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?
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 inæqualem 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 anything?
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. [Exit.
Faust. Ay, go, accursèd spirit, to ugly hell.
'Tis thou hast damned distressèd Faustus' soul.
Is't not too late?

Re-enter Good Angel and Evil Angel.

E. Ang. Too late.
G. Ang. Never too late, if Faustus can repent.
E. Ang. If thou repent, devils shall tear thee in pieces.
G. Ang. Repent, and they shall never raze thy skin.
[Exeunt Angels.
Faust. Ah, Christ my Saviour,
Seek to save distressèd Faustus' soul!

Enter LUCIFER, BELZEBUB, and MEPHISTOPHILIS.

Luc. Christ cannot save thy soul, for he is just;
There's none bat I have interest in the same.
Faust. O, who art thou that look'st so terrible?
Luc. I am Lucifer,
And this is my companion-prince in hell.
Faust. O Faustus! they are come to fetch away thy soul!
Luc. We come to tell thee thou dost injure us;
Thou talk'st of Christ contrary to thy promise;
Thou should'st not think of God: think of the Devil.
Faust. Nor will I henceforth: pardon me in this,
And Faustus vews 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 pastime: 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?
Covet. 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 leapt out of a
lion's mouth when I was scarce half an hour old; and ever since I have run up
and down the world with this case of rapiers, wounding myself when I had nobody

to fight withal. I was born in hell; and look to it, for some of you shall be
my
father.
Faust. What art thou—the fourth?
Envy. I am Envy, 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!
Faust. Away, envious rascal! What art thou—the fifth?
Glut. Who, I, sir? I am Gluttony. My parents are all dead, and the
devil a penny they have left me, but a bare pension, and that is thirty meals a

day and ten bevers—a small trifle to suffice nature. O, I come of a royal
parentage! My grandfather was a Gammon of Bacon, my grandmother was a Hogshead
of Claret-wine; my godfathers were these, Peter Pickleherring, 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! Who 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?
Lech. 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 L.
Luc. Away to hell, to hell! Now, Faustus, how dost thou like this?
[Exeunt the Sins.
Faust. O, this feeds my soul!
Luc. Tut, Faustus, in hell in all manner of delight.
Faust. O might I see hell, and return again,
How happy were I then!
Luc. Thou shalt; I will send for thee at midnight.
In meantime take this book; peruse it throughly,
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!
[Exeunt LUCIFER and BELZEBUB. Come,
Mephistophilis.
[Exeunt.

Enter CHORUS.

CHORUS. Learned Faustus,
To know the secrets of astronomy,
Graven in the book of Jove's high firmament,
Did mount himself to scale Olympus' top,
Being seated in a chariot burning bright,
Drawn by the strength of yoky dragons' necks.
He now is gone to prove cosmography,
And, as I guess, will first arrive at Rome,
To see the Pope and manner of his court,
And take some part of holy Peter's feast,
That to this day is highly solemnised. [Exit.

SCENE VII.

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 entrenchèd 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 learnèd Maro's golden tomb,

Did mount him up to scale Olympus' top;
Where, sitting in a chariot burning bright,
Drawn by the strength of yokèd dragons' necks,
He views the clouds, the planets, and the stars,
The tropic zones, and quarters of the sky,
From the bright circle of the hornèd moon
Even to the height of Primum Mobile;
And, whirling round with this circumference,
Within the concave compass of the pole,
From east to west his dragons swiftly glide,
And in eight days did bring him home again.
Not long he stayed within his quiet house,
To rest his bones after his weary toil;
But new exploits do hale him out again:
And, mounted then upon a dragon's back,
That with his wings did part the subtle air,
He now is gone to prove cosmography,
That measures coasts and kingdoms of the earth;
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,
The which this day is highly solemnised. [Exit.

The way he cut, and English mile in length,
Thorough a rock of stone in one night's space;
From thence to Venice, Padua, and the rest,
In one of which a sumptuous temple stands,
That threats the stars with her aspiring top.
Thus hitherto has Faustus spent his time:
But tell me, now, what resting-place is this?
Hast thou, as erst I did command,
Conducted me within the walls of Rome?
Meph. Faustus, I have; and because we will not be 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 may'st perceive
What Rome containeth to delight thee with,
Know that this city stands upon seven hills
That underprop the groundwork of the same:
Just through the midst runs flowing Tiber's stream,
With winding banks that cut it in two parts:
Over the which four stately bridges lean,
That make safe passage to each part of Rome:
Upon the bridge called Ponte Angelo
Erected is a castle passing strong,
Within whose walls such store of ordnance are,
And double cannons formed of carvèd brass,
As match the days within one còmplete year;
Besides the gates and high pyramides,
Which Julius Cæsar brought from Africa.
Faust. Now by the kingdoms of infernal rule,
Of Styx, of Acheron, and the fiery lake
Of ever-burning Phlegethon, I swear
That I do long to see the monuments
And situation of bright-splendent Rome:
Come therefore, let's away.
Meph. Nay, Faustus, stay; I know you'd see the Pope,
And take some part of holy Peter's feast,
Where thou shalt see a troop of bald-pate friars,
Whose summun bonum is in belly-cheer.
Faust. Well, I'm content to compass them some sport,
And by their folly make us merriment.
Then charm me, Mephistophilis, that I
May be invisible, to do what I please
Unseen of any whilst I stay in Rome.
[MEPHISTOPHILIS charms him.
Meph. So, Faustus, now
Do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discerned.

Sound a sonnet. Enter the POPE and the CARDINAL of LORRAIN to
the
banquet, with Friars attending.

Pope. My Lord of Lorrain, wilt please you draw near?
Faust. Fall to, and the devil choke you an you spare!
Pope. How now! Who's that which spake?—Friars, look about.
Ist Friar. Here's nobody, if it like your Holiness.
Pope. My lord, here is a dainty dish was sent me from the Bishop of
Milan.
Faust. I thank you, sir. [Snatches the dish.
Pope. How now! Who's that which snatched the meat from me? Will no man

look? My Lord, this dish was sent me from the Cardinal of Florence.
Faust. You say true; I'll ha't. [Snatches the dish.
Pope. What, again! My lord, I'll drink to your grace.
Faust. I'll pledge your grace. [Snatches the cup.
C. of Lor. My lord, it may be some ghost newly crept out of
purgatory,
come to beg a pardon of your Holiness.
Pope. It may be so. Friars, prepare a dirge to lay the fury of this
ghost. Once again, my lord, fall to.
[The POPE crosses himself.
Faust. What, are you crossing of yourself?
Well, use that trick no more I would advise you.
[The POPE crosses himself again.
Well, there's the second time. Aware the third,
I give you fair 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?
Meph. Nay, I know not. We shall be cursed with bell, book, and
candle.
Faust. How! bell, book, and candle,—candle, book, and bell,
Forward and backward to curse Faustus to hell!
Anon you shall hear a hog grunt, a calf bleat, an ass bray,
Because it is Saint Peter's holiday.

Re-enter the Friars to sing the Dirge.

1st Friar. 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!
Cursed be he that struck his Holiness a blow on the face! Maledicat
Dominus!
Cursed be he that took Friar Sandelo a blow on the pate! Maledicat
Dominus!
Cursed be he that disturbeth our holy dirge! Maledicat Dominus!
Cursed be he that took away his Holiness' wine! Maledicat Dominus! Et omnes
sancti! Amen!
[MEPHISTOPHILIS and FAUSTUS beat the Friars, and fling
fireworks among them: and so exeunt.

Enter CHORUS.

CHORUS. When Faustus had with pleasure ta'en the view
Of rarest things, and royal courts of kings,
He stayed his course, and so returnèd home;
Where such as bear his absence but with grief,
I mean his friends, and near'st companions,
Did gratulate his safety with kind words,
And in their conference of what befell,
Touching his journey through the world and air,
They put forth questions of Astrology,
Which Faustus answered with such learnèd 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. [Exit.

SCENE VIII.

Enter ROBIN the Ostler with a book in his hand.

Robin. O, this is admirable! here I ha' stolen one of Dr. Faustus's
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 RALPH calling ROBIN.

Ralph. Robin, prithee come away; there's a gentleman tarries to have
his horse, and he would have his things rubbed and made clean: he keeps such a
chafing with my mistress about it; and she has sent me to look thee out;
prithee
come away.
Robin. Keep out, keep out, or else you are blown up; you are
dismembered, Ralph: keep out, for I am about a roaring piece of work.
Ralph. Come, what dost thou with that same book? Thou can'st
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.
Ralph. Why, Robin, what book is that?
Robin. What book! why the most intolerable book for conjuring that
e'er
was invented by any brimstone devil.
Ralph. Can'st thou conjure with it?
Robin. I can do all these things easily with it; first, I can make the
e
drunk with ippocras at any tabern in Europe for nothing; that's one of my
conjuring works.
Ralph. Our Master Parson says that's nothing.
Robin. True, Ralph; and more, Ralph, if thou hast any mind to Nan
Spit,
our kitchenmaid, then turn her and wind her to thy own use as often as thou
wilt, and at midnight.
Ralph. O brave Robin, shall I have Nan Spit, and to mine own use? On
that condition I'd feed thy devil with horsebread as long as he lives, of free
cost.
Robin. No more, sweet Ralph: let's go and make clean our boots, which
lie foul upon our hands, and then to our conjuring in the Devil's name.
[Exeunt.

SCENE IX.

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, here's a simple purchase for
horsekeepers; our horses shall eat no hay as long as this lasts.
Ralph. But, Robin, here come the vintner.
Robin. Hush! I'll gull him supernaturally.

Enter Vintner.

Drawer, I hope all is paid: God be with you; come, Ralph.
Vint. Soft, sir; a word with you. I must yet have a goblet paid from
you, ere you go.
Robin. I, a goblet, Ralph; I, a goblet! I scorn you, and you are but
a
&c. I, a goblet! search me.
Vint. I mean so, sir, with your favour. [Searches him.
Robin. How say you now?
Vint. I must say somewhat to your fellow. You, sir!
Ralph. Me, sir! me, sir! search your fill. [Vintner searches
him.]
Now, sir, you may be ashamed to burden honest men with a matter of truth.
Vint. Well, t'one of you hath this goblet about you.
Robin. You lie, drawer, 'tis afore me. [Aside.] Sirrah you, I'll
teach you to impeach honest men;—stand by;—I'll scour you for a
goblet!—stand aside you had best, I charge you in the name of Belzebub.
Look to the goblet, Ralph. [Aside to RALPH.
Vint. What mean you, sirrah?
Robin. I'll tell you what I mean. [Reads from a book.]
Sanctobulorum Periphrasticon—Nay, I'll tickle you, vintner. Look to
the
goblet, Ralph. [Aside to RALPH.
[Reads.] Polypragmos Belseborams framanto pacostiphos tostu,
Mephistophilis, &c.

Enter MEPHISTOPHILIS, sets squibs at their backs, and then exit.
They
run about.

Vint. O nomine Domini! what meanest thou, Robin? thou hast no
goblet.
Ralph. Peccatum peccatorum! Here's thy goblet, good vintner. [Gives
the goblet to Vintner, who exit.
Robin. Misericordia pro nobis! What shall I do? Good Devil, forgive
me
now, and I'll never rob thy library more.

Re-enter 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 vexèd with these villains' charms?
From Constantinople am I hither come
Only for pleasure of these damnèd slaves.
Robin. How from Constantinople? You have had a great journey: will
you
take sixpence in your purse to pay for your supper, and begone?
Meph. Well, villains, for your presumption, I transform thee into an
ape, and thee into a dog; and so begone.
[Exit.
Robin. How, into an ape; that's brave! I'll have fine sport with the
boys. I'll get nuts and apples enow.
Ralph. And I must be a dog.
Robin. I'faith thy head will never be out of the pottage pot.
[Exeunt.

SCENE X.

Enter EMPEROR, FAUSTUS, and a Knight with Attendants.

Emp. 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
familiar spirit, by whom thou canst accomplish what thou list. This therefore
is
my request, that thou let me see some proof of thy skill, that mine eyes may
be
witnesses to confirm what mine ears have heard reported: and here I swear to
thee by the honour of mine imperial crown, that, whatever thou doest, thou
shalt
be no ways prejudiced or endamaged.
Knight. I'faith he looks much like a conjuror. [Aside.
Faust. My gracious sovereign, though I must confess myself far
inferior
to the report men have published, and nothing answerable to the honour of your
imperial majesty, yet for that love and duty binds me thereunto, I am content
to
do whatsoever your majesty shall command me.
Emp. Then, Doctor Faustus, mark what I shall say.
As I was sometime solitary set
Within my closet, sundry thoughts arose
About the honour of mine ancestors,
How they had won by prowess such exploits,
Got such riches, subdued so many kingdoms
As we that do succeed, or they that shall
Hereafter possess our throne, shall
(I fear me) ne'er attain to that degree
Of high renown and great authority;
Amongst which kings is Alexander the Great,
Chief spectacle of the world's pre-eminence,
The bright shining of whose glorious acts
Lightens the world with his reflecting beams,
As when I hear but motion made of him
It grieves my soul I never saw the man.
If therefore thou by cunning of thine art
Canst raise this man from hollow vaults below,
Where lies 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.
Knight. I'faith that's just nothing at all. [Aside.
Faust. 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.
Knight. Ay, marry, Master Doctor, now there's a sign of grace in you,
when you will confess the truth. [Aside.
Faust. But such spirits as can lively resemble Alexander and his
paramour shall appear before your grace in that manner that they both lived
in,
in their most flourishing estate; which I doubt not shall sufficiently content
your imperial majesty.
Emp. Go to, Master Doctor, let me see them presently.
Knight. Do you hear, Master Doctor? You bring 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 Actæon died, he left the horns for you.
Mephistophilis, begone. [Exit MEPHISTO.
Knight. Nay, an you go to conjuring, I'll begone.
[Exit.
Faust. I'll meet with you anon for interrupting me so. Here they are,
my gracious lord.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with Spirits in the shape of
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.
Emp. Sure these are no spirits, but the true substantial bodies of
those two deceased princes.
[Exeunt Spirits.
Faust. Will't please your highness now to send for the
knight that was
so pleasant with me here of late?
Emp. One of you call him forth! [Exit Attendant.

Re-enter the Knight with a pair of horns on his head.

How now, sir knight! why I had thought thou had'st 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 damnèd 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!
Faust. O, not so fast, sir; there's no haste; but, good, are you
remembered how you crossed me in my conference with the
Emperor? I think I have
met with you for it.
Emp. Good Master Doctor, at my entreaty release him: he hath done
penance sufficient.
Faust. My gracious lord, not so much for the
injury he offered me here
in your presence, as to delight you with some mirth, hath Faustus worthily
requited this injurious knight: which, being all I desire, I am content to
release him of his horns: and, sir knight, hereafter
speak well of scholars. Mephistophilis, transform him straight. [MEPHISTOPHILIS

removes the horns.] Now, my good lord, having done my duty I humbly take
my
leave.
Emp. Farewell, Master Doctor; yet, ere you go,
Expect from me a bounteous reward. [Exeunt.

SCENE XI.

Enter FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS.

Faust. 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 Wertenberg.
Meph. What, will you go on horseback or on foot?
Faust. Nay, till I'm past this fair and pleasant green,
I'll walk on foot.

Enter a Horse-Courser.

Horse-C. I have been all this day seeking one Master Fustian: mass, se
e
where he is! God save you, Master Doctor!
Faust. What, horse-courser! You are well met.
Horse-C. Do you hear, sir? I have brought you forty dollars for your
horse.
Faust. I cannot sell him so: if thou likest him for fifty, take him.
Horse-C. Alas, sir, I have no more.—I pray you speak for me.
Meph. I pray you let him have him: he is an honest fellow, and he has a
great charge, neither wife nor child.
Faust. Well, come, give me your money. [Horse-Courser gives
FAUSTUS
the money.] My boy will deliver him to you. But I must tell you one thing
before you have him; ride him not into the water at any hand.
Horse-C. Why, sir, will he not drink of all waters?
Faust. O yes, he will drink of all waters, but ride him not into the
water: ride him over hedge or ditch, or where thou wilt, but not into
the water.
Horse-C. Well, sir.—Now am I made man for ever: I'll
not leave my
horse for twice 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.
[Aside.] Well, God b' wi' ye, sir, your boy will deliver him me: but hark
you, sir; if my horse be sick or ill at ease, if I bring his water to you,
you'll tell me what it is.
Faust. Away, you villain; what, dost think I am a horse-doctor?
[Exit Horse-Courser.
What art thou, Faustus, but a man 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;
Then rest thee, Faustus, quiet in conceit.
[Sleeps in his chair.

Re-enter Horse-Courser, all wet, crying.

Horse-C. Alas, alas! Doctor Fustian quotha? mass, Doctor Lopus was
never
such a doctor: has given me a purgation has purged me of forty dollars; I shall

never see them more. But yet, like an ass as I was, I would not be ruled by
him,
for he bade me I should ride him into no water: now I, thinking my horse
had had
some rare quality that he would not have had me known of, I, like a venturous
youth, rid him into the deep pond at the town's end. I was no sooner in the
middle of the pond, but my horse vanished away, and I sat upon a bottle
of hay,
never so near drowning in my life. But I'll seek out my doctor, and have my
forty dollars again, or I'll make it the dearest horse!—O, yonder is his
snipper-snapper.—Do you hear? you hey-pass, where's your master?
Meph. Why, sir, what would you? You cannot speak with him.
Horse-C. But I will speak with him.
Meph. Why, he's fast asleep. Come some other time.
Horse-C. I'll speak with him now, or I'll break his glass
windows about
his ears.
Meph. I tell thee he has not slept this eight nights.
Horse-C. An he have not slept this eight weeks I'll speak with him.
Meph. See where he is, fast asleep.
Horse-C. Ay, this is he. God save you, Master Doctor, Master Doctor,
Master Doctor Fustian!—Forty dollars, forty dollars for a bottle of hay!
Meph. Why, thou seest he hears thee not.
Horse-C. So ho, ho!—so ho, ho! [Hollas in his ear.] No, will
you not wake? I'll make you wake ere I go. [Pulls FAUSTUS by the leg,
and
pulls it away.] Alas, I am undone! What shall I do?
Faust. O my leg, my leg! Help, Mephistophilis! call the officers. My
leg, my leg!
Meph. Come, villain, to the constable.
Horse-C. O lord, sir, let me go, and I'll give you forty dollars
more.
Meph. Where be they?
Horse-C. I have none about me. Come to my ostry and I'll give
them you.
Meph. Begone quickly. [Horse-Courser runs away.
Faust. What, is he gone? Farewell he! Faustus has his leg again, and
the horse-courser, I take it, a bottle of hay for his labour. Well, this trick
shall cost him forty dollars more.

Enter WAGNER.

How now, Wagner, what's the news with thee?
Wag. Sir, the Duke of Vanholt doth earnestly entreat your company.
Faust. The Duke of Vanholt! an honourable gentleman, to whom I must be
no niggard of my cunning. Come, Mephistophilis, let's away to him.
[Exeunt.

SCENE XII.

Enter the DUKE of VANHOLT, the DUCHESS, FAUSTUS, and
MEPHISTOPHILIS.

Duke. Believe me, Master Doctor, this merriment hath much pleased me.
Faust. My gracious lord, I am glad it contents you so well.—But
it
may be, madam, you take no delight in this. I have heard that great-bellied
women do long for some dainties or other: what is it, madam? tell me, and you
shall have it.
Duchess. Thanks, good Master Doctor; and for I see your courteous
intent to pleasure me, I will not hide from you the thing my heart desires;
and
were it now summer, as it is January and the dead time of the winter, I would
desire no better meat than a dish of ripe grapes.
Faust. Alas, madam, that's nothing! Mephistophilis, begone. [Exit
MEPHISTOPHILIS.] Were it a greater thing than this, so it would content you,
you
should have it.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with grapes.

Here they be, madam; wilt please you taste on them?
Duke. Believe me, Master Doctor, this makes me wonder above the rest,
that being in the dead time of winter, and in the month of January, how you
should come by these grapes.
Faust. If it like your grace, the year is divided into two circles
over
the whole world, that, when it is here winter with us, in the contrary
circle it
is summer with them, as in India, Saba, and farther countries in the East; and
by means of a swift spirit that I have I had them brought hither, as you
see.—How do you like them, madam; be they good?
Duchess. Believe me, Master Doctor, they be the best grapes that e'er
I
tasted in my life before.
Faust. I am glad they content you so, madam.
Duke. Come, madam, let us in, where you must well reward this learned
man for the great kindness he hath showed to you.
Duchess. And so I will, my lord; and, whilst I live, rest beholding
for
this courtesy.
Faust. I humbly thank your grace.
Duke. Come, Master Doctor, follow us and receive your reward.
[Exeunt.

SCENE XIII.

Enter WAGNER.

Wag. I think my master shortly means to die,
For he hath given to me all his goods:
And yet, methinks, if that death were so near,
He would not banquet, and carouse and swill
Amongst the students, as even now he doth,
Who are at supper with such belly-cheer
As Wagner ne'er beheld in all his life.
See where they come! belike the feast is ended. [Exit.

SCENE XIV.

Enter FAUSTUS, with two or three Scholars and
MEPHISTOPHILIS.

1st Schol. Master Doctor Faustus, since our conference about fair
ladies, which was the beautifullest in all the world, we have determined with
ourselves that Helen of Greece was the admirablest lady that ever lived:
therefore, Master Doctor, if you will do us that favour, as to let us see that
peerless dame of Greece, whom all the world admires for majesty, we should
think
ourselves much beholding unto you.
Faust. Gentlemen,
For that I know your friendship is 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 otherways 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.
2nd Schol. Too simple is my wit to tell her praise,
Whom all the world admires for majesty.
2rd Schol. No marvel though the angry Greeks pursued
With ten years' war the rape of such a queen,
Whose heavenly beauty passeth all compare.
1st 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.
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 may'st attain the goal
That shall conduct thee to celestial rest!
Break heart, drop blood, and mingle it with tears,
Tears falling from repentant heaviness
Of the most vile 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 Saviour 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 almost come!"
And Faustus now will come to do the right.
[MEPHISTOPHILIS gives him a dagger.
Old Man. Ah stay, good Faustus, stay thy desperate steps!
I see an angel hovers o'er thy head,
And, with a vial full of precious grace,
Offers to pour the same into thy soul:
Then call for mercy, and avoid despair.
Faust. Ah, my sweet friend, I feel
Thy words do comfort my distressèd soul.
Leave me a while to ponder on my sins.
Old Man. I go, sweet Faustus, but with heavy cheer,
Fearing the ruin of thy hopeless soul. [Exit.
Faust. Accursèd 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 unfeignèd heart,
Lest greater danger do attend thy drift.
[FAUSTUS stabs his arm and writes on a paper with his blood.
Faust. Torment, sweet friend, that base and crookèd age,
That durst dissuade me from thy Lucifer,
With greatest torments that our hell affords.
Meph. His faith is great: I cannot touch his soul;
But what I may afflict his body with
I will attempt, which is but little worth.
Faust. One thing, good servant, let me crave of thee,
To glut the longing of my heart's desire,—
That I might have unto my paramour
That heavenly Helen, which I saw of late,
Whose sweet embracings may extinguish clean
These thoughts that do dissuade me from my vow,
And keep mine oath I made to Lucifer.
Meph. Faustus, this or what else thou shalt desire
Shall be performed in twinkling of an eye.

Re-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. [Kisses her.
Her lips suck forth my soul; see where it flies!—
Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.
Here will I dwell, for Heaven is in these lips,
And all is dross that is not Helena.
I will be Paris, and for love of thee,
Instead of Troy, shall Wertenberg be sacked:
And I will combat with weak Menelaus,
And wear thy colours on my plumèd crest:
Yea, I will wound Achilles in the heel,
And then return to Helen for a kiss.
Oh, 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.

SCENE XV.

Enter the Old Man.

Accursèd Faustus, miserable man,
That from thy soul exclud'st the grace of Heaven,
And fly'st the throne of his tribunal seat!

Enter Devils.

Satan begins to sift me with his pride:
As in this furnace God shall try my faith,
My faith, vile hell, shall triumph over thee.
Ambitious fiends! see how the heavens smile
At your repulse, and laugh your state to scorn!
Hence, hell! for hence I fly unto my God.
[Exeunt on one side Devils—on the other, Old Man.

SCENE XVI.

Enter FAUSTUS with Scholars.

Faust. Ah, gentlemen!
1st Schol. What ails Faustus?
Faust. Ah, my sweet chamber-fellow, had I lived with thee, then had I
lived still! but now I die eternally. Look, comes he not, comes he not?
2nd Schol. What means Faustus?
3rd Schol. Belike he is grown into some sickness by being over
solitary.
1st 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.
2nd Schol. Yet, Faustus, look up to Heaven: remember God's mercies are
infinite.
Faust. But Faustus' offences 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, oh, 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?
3rd 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 twenty-four years hath Faustus lost eternal joy and felicity. I
writ
them a bill with mine own blood: the date is expired; the time will come,
and he
will fetch me.
1st Schol. Why did not Faustus tell us of this before, that divines
might have prayed for thee?
Faust. Oft have I thought to have done so: but the Devil
threatened to
tear me in pieces if I named God; to fetch both body and soul if
I once gave ear
to divinity: and now 'tis too late. Gentlemen, away! lest you perish with me.
2nd Schol. Oh, what shall we do to save Faustus?
Faust. Talk not of me, but save yourselves, and depart.
3rd Schol. God will strengthen me. I will stay with Faustus.
1st 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.
2nd 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 ever-moving spheres of Heaven,
That time may cease, and midnight never come;
Fair Nature's eye, rise, rise again and make
Perpetual day; or let this hour be but
A year, a month, a week, a natural day,
That Faustus may repent and save his soul!
O lente, lente, currite noctis equi!
The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike,
The Devil will come, and Faustus must be 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: O spare me, Lucifer!—
Where is it now? 'tis gone; and see where God
Stretcheth out his arm, and bends his ireful brows!
Mountain 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 labouring clouds,
That when they vomit forth into the air,
My limbs may issue from their smoky mouths,
So that my soul may but ascend to Heaven.
[The clock strikes the half hour.
Ah, half the hour is past! 'twill all be past anon!
O God!
If thou wilt not have mercy on my soul,
Yet for Christ's sake whose blood hath 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 damnèd 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 strikes twelve.
O, it strikes, it strikes! Now, body, turn to air,
Or Lucifer will bear thee quick to hell.
[Thunder and lightning.
O soul, be changed into little water-drops,
And fall into the ocean—ne'er be found. [Enter Devils.
My God! my God! look not so fierce on me!
Adders and serpents, let me breathe awhile!
Ugly hell, gape not! come not, Lucifer!
I'll burn my books!—Ah Mephistophilis!
[Exeunt Devils with FAUSTUS.

Enter CHORUS.

CHO. Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight,
And burnèd is Apollo's laurel bough,
That sometime grew within this learnèd man.
Faustus is gone; regard his hellish fall,
Whose fiendful fortune may exhort the wise
Only to wonder at unlawful things,
Whose deepness doth entice such forward wits
To practise more than heavenly power permits. [Exit.

^FOOTNOTES^

^1^ Whereas, i.e. where. Perhaps "kinsmen" should be "kinsman;" it is
"uncle" in the prose History.

^2^ i.e. Knowledge. The word occurs throughout the play in the sense
of
knowledge or skill.

^3^ Dyce suggests that probably the Chorus, before going out, drew a
curtain, and disclosed Faustus sitting in his study.

^4^ This is Mr. Bullen's emendation. Ed. 1604 reads "Oncaymæon," by
which Marlowe meant the Aristotelian ov και μη ov
("being and not being"). The later 4tos. give (with various spelling)
"Œconomy," which is nonsense.

^5^ Maxims of medical practice.

^6^ Prescriptions by which he had worked his cures. Professor Ward thinks
the reference is rather to "the advertisements by which, as a migratory
physician, he had been in the habit of announcing his advent, and perhaps his
system of cures, and which were now 'hung up as monuments' in
perpetuum."—Bullen.






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