Christopher Marlowe

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus


Source text for this digital edition:
Marlowe, Christopher. The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (A-Text). [1604]. Edited by David Bevington and Eric Rasmussen for the EMOTHE collection. Valencia: ARTELOPE - EMOTHE Universitat de València, 2012.
Digital text editor for EMOTHE:
  • Bautista Boned, Luis (Artelope)

[ Characters in the play

Faustus
Mephistopheles
Wagner
Valdes
Cornelius
Good Angel
Evil Angel
First Scholar
Second Scholar
Robin The Clown
Lucifer
Rafe
Pride
Covetousness
Wrath
Envy
Gluttony
Sloth
Lechery
Chorus
Pope
Friar
Cardinal of Lorraine
Vintner
Duke [of Vanholt]
Duchess [of Vanholt]
Horse-corser
Emperor
Knight
Old Man

[Prologue]

Chorus
1
Enter CHORUS.
Not marching now in fields of Trasimene
2
Where Mars did mate the Carthaginians,
3
Nor sporting in the dalliance of love
4
In courts of kings where state is overturned,
5
Nor in the pomp of proud audacious deeds
6
Intends our muse to daunt his heavenly verse.
7
Only this, gentlemen: we must perform
8
The form of Faustus' fortunes, good or bad.
9
To patient judgements we appeal our plaud,
10
And speak for Faustus in his infancy.
11
Now is he born, his parents base of stock,
12
In Germany, within a town called Rhode.
13
Of riper years to Wittenberg he went,
14
Whereas his kinsmen chiefly brought him up.
15
So soon he profits in divinity,
16
The fruitful plot of scholarism graced,
17
That shortly he was graced with doctor's name,
18
Excelling all whose sweet delight disputes
19
In heavenly matters of theology;
20
Till, swoll'n with cunning of a self-conceit,
21
His waxen wings did mount above his reach,
22
And melting heavens conspired his overthrow.
23
For, falling to a devilish exercise,
24
And glutted more with learning's golden gifts,
25
He surfeits upon cursèd necromancy;
26
Nothing so sweet as magic is to him,
27
Which he prefers before his chiefest bliss.
28
And this the man that in his study sits.

Exit.

[I.i]

Enter FAUSTUS in his study.

Faustus
1
Settle thy studies, Faustus, and begin
2
To sound the depth of that thou wilt profess.
3
Having commenced, be a divine in show,
4
Yet level at the end of every art,
5
And live and die in Aristotle's works.
6
Sweet Analytics, 'tis thou hast ravished me!
[He reads.]
7
Bene disserere est finis logices.
8
Is to dispute well logic's chiefest end?
9
Affords this art no greater miracle?
10
Then read no more; thou hast attained the end.
11
A greater subject fitteth Faustus' wit.
12
Bid On kai me on farewell. Galen, come!
13
Seeing ubi desinit philosophus, ibi incipit medicus,
14
Be a physician, Faustus. Heap up gold,
15
And be eternised for some wondrous cure.
[He reads.]
16
Summum bonum medicinae sanitas:
17
The end of physic is our body's health.
18
Why Faustus, hast thou not attained that end?
19
Is not thy common talk sound aphorisms?
20
Are not thy bills hung up as monuments,
21
Whereby whole cities have escaped the plague
22
And thousand desp'rate maladies been eased?
23
Yet art thou still but Faustus, and a man.
24
Wouldst thou make man to live eternally,
25
Or, being dead, raise them to life again,
26
Then this profession were to be esteemed.
27
Physic, farewell! Where is Justinian?
[He reads.]
28
Si una eademque res legatur duobus,
29
Alter rem, alter valorem rei, etc.
30
A pretty case of paltry legacies!
[He reads.]
31
Exhaereditare filium non potest pater nisi—
32
Such is the subject of the Institute
33
And universal body of the Church.
34
His study fits a mercenary drudge
35
Who aims at nothing but external trash—
36
Too servile and illiberal for me.
37
When all is done, divinity is best.
38
Jerome's Bible, Faustus, view it well.
[He reads.]
39
Stipendium peccati mors est. Ha!
40
Stipendium, etc.
41
The reward of sin is death. That's hard.
[He reads.]
42
Si peccasse negamus, fallimur
43
Et nulla est in nobis veritas.
44
If we say that we have no sin,
45
We deceive ourselves, and there's no truth in us.
46
Why then belike we must sin,
47
And so consequently die.
48
Ay, we must die an everlasting death.
49
What doctrine call you this? Che serà, serà,
50
What will be, shall be? Divinity, adieu!
[He picks up a book of magic.]
51
These metaphysics of magicians
52
And necromantic books are heavenly,
53
Lines, circles, signs, letters, and characters—
54
Ay, these are those that Faustus most desires.
55
Oh, what a world of profit and delight,
56
Of power, of honour, of omnipotence
57
Is promised to the studious artisan!
58
All things that move between the quiet poles
59
Shall be at my command. Emperors and kings
60
Are but obeyed in their several provinces,
61
Nor can they raise the wind or rend the clouds;
62
But his dominion that exceeds in this
63
Stretcheth as far as doth the mind of man.
64
A sound magician is a mighty god.
65
Here, Faustus, try thy brains to gain a deity.
66
Wagner!
Enter WAGNER
Commend me to my dearest friends,
67
The German Valdes and Cornelius.
68
Request them earnestly to visit me.

Wagner
69
I will, sir.

Exit.

Faustus
70
Their conference will be a greater help to me
71
Than all my labours, plod I ne'er so fast.

Enter the GOOD ANGEL and the EVIL ANGEL

Good Angel
72
O Faustus, lay that damnèd book aside
73
And gaze not on it, lest it tempt thy soul
74
And heap God's heavy wrath upon thy head!
75
Read, read the Scriptures. That is blasphemy.

Evil Angel
76
Go forward, Faustus, in that famous art
77
Wherein all nature's treasury is contained.
78
Be thou on earth as Jove is in the sky,
79
Lord and commander of these elements.

Exeunt [ANGELS].

Faustus
80
How am I glutted with conceit of this!
81
Shall I make spirits fetch me what I please,
82
Resolve me of all ambiguities,
83
Perform what desperate enterprise I will?
84
I'll have them fly to India for gold,
85
Ransack the ocean for orient pearl,
86
And search all corners of the new-found world
87
For pleasant fruits and princely delicates.
88
I'll have them read me strange philosophy
89
And tell the secrets of all foreign kings.
90
I'll have them wall all Germany with brass
91
And make swift Rhine circle fair Wittenberg.
92
I'll have them fill the public schools with silk,
93
Wherewith the students shall be bravely clad.
94
I'll levy soldiers with the coin they bring
95
And chase the Prince of Parma from our land,
96
And reign sole king of all our provinces;
97
Yea, stranger engines for the brunt of war
98
Than was the fiery keel at Antwerp's bridge
99
I'll make my servile spirits to invent.
100
Come, German Valdes and Cornelius,
101
And make me blest with your sage conference!
Enter VALDES and CORNELIUS.
102
Valdes, sweet Valdes, and Cornelius,
103
Know that your words have won me at the last
104
To practise magic and concealèd arts.
105
Yet not your words only, but mine own fantasy,
106
That will receive no object, for my head
107
But ruminates on necromantic skill.
108
Philosophy is odious and obscure;
109
Both law and physic are for petty wits;
110
Divinity is basest of the three,
111
Unpleasant, harsh, contemptible, and vile.
112
'Tis magic, magic that hath ravished me.
113
Then, gentle friends, aid me in this attempt,
114
And I, that have with concise syllogisms
115
Gravelled the pastors of the German Church
116
And made the flow'ring pride of Wittenberg
117
Swarm to my problems as the infernal spirits
118
On sweet Musaeus when he came to hell,
119
Will be as cunning as Agrippa was,
120
Whose shadows made all Europe honour him.

Valdes
121
Faustus, these books, thy wit, and our experience
122
Shall make all nations to canonise us.
123
As Indian Moors obey their Spanish lords,
124
So shall the subjects of every element
125
Be always serviceable to us three.
126
Like lions shall they guard us when we please,
127
Like Almaine rutters with their horsemen's staves,
128
Or Lapland giants, trotting by our sides;
129
Sometimes like women, or unwedded maids,
130
Shadowing more beauty in their airy brows
131
Than in the white breasts of the Queen of Love.
132
From Venice shall they drag huge argosies,
133
And from America the golden fleece
134
That yearly stuffs old Philip's treasury,
135
If learnèd Faustus will be resolute.

Faustus
136
Valdes, as resolute am I in this
137
As thou to live. Therefore object it not.

Cornelius
138
The miracles that magic will perform
139
Will make thee vow to study nothing else.
140
He that is grounded in astrology,
141
Enriched with tongues, well seen in minerals,
142
Hath all the principles magic doth require.
143
Then doubt not, Faustus, but to be renowned
144
And more frequented for this mystery
145
Than heretofore the Delphian oracle.
146
The spirits tell me they can dry the sea
147
And fetch the treasure of all foreign wrecks—
148
Ay, all the wealth that our forefathers hid
149
Within the massy entrails of the earth.
150
Then tell me, Faustus, what shall we three want?

Faustus
151
Nothing, Cornelius. Oh, this cheers my soul!
152
Come, show me some demonstrations magical,
153
That I may conjure in some lusty grove
154
And have these joys in full possession.

Valdes
155
Then haste thee to some solitary grove,
156
And bear wise Bacon's and Albanus' works,
157
The Hebrew Psalter, and New Testament;
158
And whatsoever else is requisite
159
We will inform thee ere our conference cease.

Cornelius
160
Valdes, first let him know the words of art,
161
And then, all other ceremonies learned,
162
Faustus may try his cunning by himself.

Valdes
163
First I'll instruct thee in the rudiments,
164
And then wilt thou be perfecter than I.

Faustus
165
Then come and dine with me, and after meat
166
We'll canvass every quiddity thereof,
167
For ere I sleep I'll try what I can do.
168
This night I'll conjure, though I die therefore.

Exeunt.

[I.ii]

Enter two SCHOLARS.

First Scholar
1I wonder what's become of Faustus, that 2was wont to make our schools ring with 'sic probo'.

Second Scholar
3That shall we know, for see, here comes 4his boy.

Enter WAGNER, [carrying wine].

First Scholar
5How now, sirrah, where's thy master?

Wagner
6God in heaven knows.

Second Scholar
7Why, dost not thou know?

Wagner
8Yes, I know, but that follows not.

First Scholar
9Go to, sirrah! Leave your jesting, and 10tell us where he is.

Wagner
11That follows not necessarily by force of 12argument that you, being licentiate, should stand 13upon't. Therefore, acknowledge your error, and be 14attentive.

Second Scholar
15Why, didst thou not say thou knew'st?

Wagner
16Have you any witness on't?

First Scholar
17Yes, sirrah, I heard you.

Wagner
18Ask my fellow if I be a thief.

Second Scholar
19Well, you will not tell us.

Wagner
20Yes, sir, I will tell you. Yet if you were 21not dunces, you would never ask me such a 22question. For is not he corpus naturale? And is 23not that mobile? Then, wherefore should you ask 24me such a question? But that I am by nature 25phlegmatic, slow to wrath, and prone to lechery 26—to love, I would say—it were not for you to 27come within forty foot of the place of execution, 28although I do not doubt to see you both hanged 29the next sessions. Thus, having triumphed over 30you, I will set my countenance like a precisian 31and begin to speak thus: Truly, my dear brethren, 32my master is within at dinner with Valdes and 33Cornelius, as this wine, if it could speak, it 34would inform your worships. And so the Lord 35bless you, preserve you, and keep you, my dear 36brethren, my dear brethren.

Exit.

First Scholar
37Nay, then, I fear he is fall'n into that 38damned art for which they two are infamous through 39the world.

Second Scholar
40Were he a stranger, and not allied to me, 41yet should I grieve for him. But come, let us go 42and inform the Rector, and see if he, by his grave 43counsel, can reclaim him.

First Scholar
44Oh, but I fear me nothing can reclaim him.

Second Scholar
45Yet let us try what we can do.

Exeunt.

[I.iii]

Enter FAUSTUS to conjure.

Faustus
1
Now that the gloomy shadow of the earth,
2
Longing to view Orion's drizzling look,
3
Leaps from th'Antarctic world unto the sky
4
And dims the welkin with her pitchy breath,
5
Faustus, begin thine incantations,
6
And try if devils will obey thy hest,
[He draws a circle.]
7
Seeing thou hast prayed and sacrificed to them.
8
Within this circle is Jehovah's name,
9
Forward and backward anagrammatised,
10
The breviated names of holy saints,
11
Figures of every adjunct to the heavens,
12
And characters of signs and erring stars,
13
By which the spirits are enforced to rise.
14
Then fear not, Faustus, but be resolute,
15
And try the uttermost magic can perform.
16Sint mihi dei Acherontis propitii! Valeat 17numen triplex Jehovae! Ignei, aerii, aquatici, 18terreni, spiritus, salvete! Orientis princeps 19Lucifer, Beelzebub, inferni ardentis monarcha, et 20Demogorgon, propitiamus vos, ut appareat et 21surgat Mephistopheles. Quid tu moraris? Per 22Jehovam, Gehennam, et consecratam aquam quam nunc 23spargo, signumque crucis quod nunc facio, et 24per vota nostra, ipse nunc surgat nobis 25dicatus Mephistopheles!
[Faustus sprinkles holy water and makes a sign of the cross.]
Enter a Devil [MEPHISTOPHELES].
26
I charge thee to return and change thy shape.
27
Thou art too ugly to attend on me.
28
Go, and return an old Franciscan friar;
29
That holy shape becomes a devil best.
Exit Devil [MEPHISTOPHELES].
30
I see there's virtue in my heavenly words.
31
Who would not be proficient in this art?
32
How pliant is this Mephistopheles,
33
Full of obedience and humility!
34
Such is the force of magic and my spells.
35
Now, Faustus, thou art conjurer laureate,
36
That canst command great Mephistopheles.
37
Quin redis, Mephistopheles, fratris imagine!

Enter MEPHISTOPHELES [disguised as a friar].

Mephistopheles
38
Now, Faustus, what wouldst thou have me do?

Faustus
39
I charge thee wait upon me whilst I live,
40
To do whatever Faustus shall command,
41
Be it to make the moon drop from her sphere
42
Or the ocean to overwhelm the world.

Mephistopheles
43
I am a servant to great Lucifer
44
And may not follow thee without his leave.
45
No more than he commands must we perform.

Faustus
46
Did not he charge thee to appear to me?

Mephistopheles
47
No, I came now hither of mine own accord.

Faustus
48
Did not my conjuring speeches raise thee? Speak.

Mephistopheles
49
That was the cause, but yet per accidens.
50
For when we hear one rack the name of God,
51
Abjure the Scriptures and his Saviour Christ,
52
We fly in hope to get his glorious soul,
53
Nor will we come unless he use such means
54
Whereby he is in danger to be damned.
55
Therefore, the shortest cut for conjuring
56
Is stoutly to abjure the Trinity
57
And pray devoutly to the prince of hell.

Faustus
58
So Faustus hath
59
Already done, and holds this principle:
60
There is no chief but only Beelzebub,
61
To whom Faustus doth dedicate himself.
62
This word 'damnation' terrifies not him,
63
For he confounds hell in Elysium.
64
His ghost be with the old philosophers!
65
But leaving these vain trifles of mens' souls,
66
Tell me what is that Lucifer thy lord?

Mephistopheles
67
Arch-regent and commander of all spirits.

Faustus
68
Was not that Lucifer an angel once?

Mephistopheles
69
Yes, Faustus, and most dearly loved of God.

Faustus
70
How comes it then that he is prince of devils?

Mephistopheles
71
Oh, by aspiring pride and insolence,
72
For which God threw him from the face of heaven.

Faustus
73
And what are you that live with Lucifer?

Mephistopheles
74
Unhappy spirits that fell with Lucifer,
75
Conspired against our God with Lucifer,
76
And are for ever damned with Lucifer.

Faustus
77
Where are you damned?

Mephistopheles
78
In hell.

Faustus
79
How comes it then that thou are out of hell?

Mephistopheles
80
Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it.
81
Think'st thou that I, who saw the face of God
82
And tasted the eternal joys of heaven,
83
Am not tormented with ten thousand hells
84
In being deprived of everlasting bliss?
85
O Faustus, leave these frivolous demands,
86
Which strike a terror to my fainting soul!

Faustus
87
What, is great Mephistopheles so passionate
88
For being deprivèd of the joys of heaven?
89
Learn thou of Faustus manly fortitude,
90
And scorn those joys thou never shalt possess.
91
Go bear these tidings to great Lucifer:
92
Seeing Faustus hath incurred eternal death
93
By desp'rate thoughts against Jove's deity,
94
Say he surrenders up to him his soul,
95
So he will spare him four-and-twenty years,
96
Letting him live in all voluptuousness,
97
Having thee ever to attend on me,
98
To give me whatsoever I shall ask,
99
To tell me whatsoever I demand,
100
To slay mine enemies and aid my friends
101
And always be obedient to my will.
102
Go and return to mighty Lucifer,
103
And meet me in my study at midnight,
104
And then resolve me of thy master's mind.

Mephistopheles
105
I will, Faustus.

Exit.

Faustus
106
Had I as many souls as there be stars,
107
I'd give them all for Mephistopheles.
108
By him I'll be great emperor of the world
109
And make a bridge through the moving air
110
To pass the ocean with a band of men;
111
I'll join the hills that bind the Afric shore
112
And make that land continent to Spain,
113
And both contributory to my crown.
114
The Emp'ror shall not live but by my leave,
115
Nor any potentate of Germany.
116
Now that I have obtained what I desire,
117
I'll live in speculation of this art
118
Till Mephistopheles return again.

Exit.

[I.iv]

Enter WAGNER and [ROBIN,] the CLOWN.

Wagner
1Sirrah boy, come hither.

Robin
2How, 'boy'? Swounds, 'boy'! I hope you have 3seen many boys with such pickedevants as I have. 4'Boy', quotha?

Wagner
5Tell me, sirrah, hast thou any comings in?

Robin
6Ay, and goings out too, you may see else.

Wagner
7Alas, poor slave, see how poverty jesteth in his 8nakedness! The villain is bare and out of service, 9and so hungry that I know he would give his soul to 10the devil for a shoulder of mutton, though it were 11blood raw.

Robin
12How? My soul to the devil for a shoulder of mutton, 13though 'twere blood raw? Not so, good friend. By'r Lady, 14I had need have it well roasted, and good sauce to it, 15if I pay so dear.

Wagner
16Well, wilt thou serve me, and I'll make thee go 17like Qui mihi discipulus?

Robin
18How, in verse?

Wagner
19No, sirrah, in beaten silk and stavesacre.

Robin
20How, how, knave's acre? [Aside.] Aye, I thought 21 that was all the land his father left him. [To Wagner] 22Do ye hear? I would be sorry to rob you 23of your living.

Wagner
24Sirrah, I say in stavesacre.

Robin
25Oho, oho, 'stavesacre'! Why then, belike, if 26I were your man, I should be full of vermin.

Wagner
27So thou shalt, whether thou beest with me or no. 28But sirrah, leave your jesting, and bind yourself 29presently unto me for seven years, or I'll turn all 30the lice about thee into familiars, and they shall 31tear thee in pieces.

Robin
32Do you hear, sir? You may save that labour. They 33are too familiar with me already. 'Swounds, they are 34as bold with my flesh as if they had paid for my 35meat and drink.

Wagner
36Well, do you hear, sirrah? Hold, take these 37guilders.

[Offering money.]

Robin
38Gridirons? What be they?

Wagner
39Why, French crowns.

Robin
40Mass, but for the name of French crowns a man were 41as good have as many English counters. And what 42should I do with these?

Wagner
43Why now, sirrah, thou art at an hour's warning 44whensoever or wheresoever the devil shall fetch thee.

Robin
45No, no, here, take your gridirons again.

[He attempts to return the money.]

Wagner
46Truly, I'll none of them.

Robin
47Truly, but you shall.

Wagner
48 [To the audience.] Bear witness I gave them him.

Robin
49Bear witness I give them you again.

Wagner
50Well, I will cause two devils presently to fetch 51thee away.—Balioll and Belcher!

Robin
52Let your Balio and your Belcher come here and 53I'll knock them. They were never so knocked since 54they were devils. Say I should kill one of them, what 55would folks say? 'Do ye see yonder tall fellow in 56the round slop? He has killed the devil.' So I should 57be called 'Kill devil' all the parish over.

Enter two Devils, and [Robin] the Clown runs up and down crying.

Wagner
58Balioll and Belcher! Spirits, away!

Exeunt [Devils].

Robin
59What, are they gone? A vengeance on them! They 60have vile long nails. There was a he devil and a 61she devil. I'll tell you how you shall know them: all 62he devils has horns, and all she devils has clefts and 63cloven feet.

Wagner
64Well, sirrah, follow me.

Robin
65But do you hear? If I should serve you, would you 66teach me to raise up Banios and Belcheos?

Wagner
67I will teach thee to turn thyself to anything, 68to a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or a rat, or anything.

Robin
69How? A Christian fellow to a dog or a cat, a mouse 70or a rat? No, no, sir. If you turn me into anything, 71let it be in the likeness of a little, pretty, frisking 72flea, that I may be here and there and everywhere. Oh, 73I'll tickle the pretty wenches' plackets! I'll be amongst 74them, i'faith!

Wagner
75Well, sirrah, come.

Robin
76But do you hear, Wagner?

Wagner
77How?—Balioll and Belcher!

Robin
78Oh, Lord, I pray sir, let Banio and Belcher go sleep.

Wagner
79Villain, call me Master Wagner, and let thy left 80eye be diametarily fixed upon my right heel, with 81quasi vestigiis nostris insistere.

Exit.

Robin
82God forgive me, he speaks Dutch fustian. Well, I'll 83follow him, I'll serve him, that's flat.

Exit.

[II.i]

Enter FAUSTUS in his study.

Faustus
1
Now, Faustus, must thou needs be damned,
2
And canst thou not be saved.
3
What boots it then to think of God or heaven?
4
Away with such vain fancies and despair!
5
Despair in God and trust in Beelzebub.
6
Now go not backward. No, Faustus, be resolute.
7
Why waverest thou? Oh, something soundeth in mine ears:
8
'Abjure this magic, turn to God again!'
9
Ay, and Faustus will turn to God again.
10
To God? He loves thee not.
11
The god thou servest is thine own appetite,
12
Wherein is fixed the love of Beelzebub.
13
To him I'll build an altar and a church,
14
And offer lukewarm blood of new-born babes.

Enter GOOD ANGEL and EVIL [ANGEL].

Good Angel
15
Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art.

Faustus
16
Contrition, prayer, repentance—what of them?

Good Angel
17
Oh, they are means to bring thee unto heaven.

Evil Angel
18
Rather illusions, fruits of lunacy,
19
That makes men foolish that do trust them most.

Good Angel
20
Sweet Faustus, think of heaven and heavenly things.

Evil Angel
21
No, Faustus, think of honour and wealth.

Exeunt [ANGELS].

Faustus
22
Of wealth?
23
Why, the seigniory of Emden shall be mine.
24
When Mephistopheles shall stand by me,
25
What god can hurt thee, Faustus? Thou art safe;
26
Cast no more doubts. Come, Mephistopheles,
27
And bring glad tidings from great Lucifer.
28
Is't not midnight? Come, Mephistopheles!
29
Veni, veni, Mephistophile!
Enter MEPHISTOPHELES
30
Now tell, what says Lucifer thy lord?

Mephistopheles
31
That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives,
32
So he will buy my service with his soul.

Faustus
33
Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee.

Mephistopheles
34
But, Faustus, thou must bequeath it solemnly
35
And write a deed of gift with thine own blood,
36
For that security craves great Lucifer.
37
If thou deny it, I will back to hell.

Faustus
38
Stay, Mephistopheles, and tell me, what good
39
will my soul do thy lord?

Mephistopheles
40
Enlarge his kingdom.

Faustus
41
Is that the reason he tempts us thus?

Mephistopheles
42
Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.

Faustus
43
Have you any pain, that tortures others?

Mephistopheles
44
As great as have the human souls of men.
45
But tell me, Faustus, shall I have thy soul?
46
And I will be thy slave, and wait on thee,
47
And give thee more than thou hast wit to ask.

Faustus
48
Ay, Mephistopheles, I give it thee.

Mephistopheles
49
Then stab thine arm courageously,
50
And bind thy soul that at some certain day
51
Great Lucifer may claim it as his own,
52
And then be thou as great as Lucifer.

Faustus
53 [Cutting his arm.] Lo, Mephistopheles, for love of thee
54
I cut mine arm, and with my proper blood
55
Assure my soul to be great Lucifer's,
56
Chief lord and regent of perpetual night.
57
View here the blood that trickles from mine arm,
58
And let it be propitious for my wish.

Mephistopheles
59But Faustus, thou must write it in manner 60of a deed of gift.

Faustus
61
Ay, so I will.
[He writes.]
But Mephistopheles,
62
My blood congeals, and I can write no more.

Mephistopheles
63
I'll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight.

Exit.

Faustus
64
What might the staying of my blood portend?
65
Is it unwilling I should write this bill?
66
Why streams it not, that I may write afresh?
67
'Faustus gives to thee his soul'—ah, there it stayed!
68
Why shouldst thou not? Is not thy soul thine own?
69
Then write again: 'Faustus gives to thee his soul.'

Enter MEPHISTOPHELES with a chafer of coals.

Mephistopheles
70
Here's fire. Come Faustus, set it on.

Faustus
71
So; now the blood begins to clear again,
72
Now will I make an end immediately. [He writes.]

Mephistopheles
73
[Aside.]
Oh, what will not I do to obtain his soul?

Faustus
74
Consummatum est. This bill is ended,
75
And Faustus hath bequeathed his soul to Lucifer.
76
But what is this inscription on mine arm?
77
'Homo, fuge!' Whither should I fly?
78
If unto God, he'll throw thee down to hell.—
79
My senses are deceived; here's nothing writ.—
80
I see it plain. Here in this place is writ
81
'Homo, fuge!' Yet shall not Faustus fly.

Mephistopheles
82
[Aside.]
I'll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind.

Exit.
Enter [MEPHISTOPHELES] with Devils, giving crowns and rich apparel to Faustus, and dance and then depart.

Faustus
83
Speak, What means this show?

Mephistopheles
84
Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind withal
85
And to show thee what magic can perform.

Faustus
86
But may I raise up spirits when I please?

Mephistopheles
87
Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these.

Faustus
88
Then there's enough for a thousand souls.
89
Here, Mephistopheles, receive this scroll,
90
A deed of gift of body and of soul—
91
But yet conditionally that thou perform
92
All articles prescribed between us both.

Mephistopheles
93
Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer
94
To effect all promises between us made.

Faustus
95
Then hear me read them.
96'On these conditions following: 97First, that Faustus may be a spirit in form and 98substance. 99Secondly, that Mephistopheles shall be his servant, 100and at his command. 101Thirdly, that Mephistopheles shall do for him and 102bring him whatsoever. 103Fourthly, that he shall be in his chamber or house 104invisible. 105Lastly, that he shall appear to the said John Faustus 106at all times in what form or shape soever he 107please. 108I, John Faustus of Wittenberg, Doctor, by these presents 109do give both body and soul to Lucifer, Prince of 110the East, and his minister Mephistopheles; and 111furthermore grant unto them that four-and-twenty years 112being expired, the articles above written inviolate, 113full power to fetch or carry the said John Faustus, 114body and soul, flesh, blood, or goods, into their 115habitation wheresoever. 116By me, John Faustus'

Mephistopheles
117Speak, Faustus, Do you deliver this as your 118deed?

Faustus
119 [Giving the deed.] Ay. Take it, and the devil 120give thee good on't.

Mephistopheles
121
Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt.

Faustus
122
First will I question with thee about hell.
123
Tell me, where is the place that men call hell?

Mephistopheles
124
Under the heavens.

Faustus
Ay, but whereabout?

Mephistopheles
125
Within the bowels of these elements,
126
Where we are tortured and remain for ever.
127
Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscribed
128
In one self place, for where we are is hell,
129
And where hell is must we ever be.
130
And, to conclude, when all the world dissolves,
131
And every creature shall be purified,
132
All places shall be hell that is not heaven.

Faustus
133
Come, I think hell's a fable.

Mephistopheles
134
Ay, think so still, till experience change thy mind.

Faustus
135
Why, think'st thou then that Faustus shall be damned?

Mephistopheles
136
Ay, of necessity, for here's the scroll
137
Wherein thou hast given thy soul to Lucifer.

Faustus
138
Ay, and body too. But what of that?
139
Think'st thou that Faustus is so fond
140
To imagine that after this life there is any pain?
141
Tush, these are trifles and mere old wives' tales.

Mephistopheles
142
But, Faustus, I am an instance to prove the contrary,
143
For I am damned and am now in hell.

Faustus
144How? Now in hell? Nay, an this be hell, 145I'll willingly be damned here. What? Walking, 146disputing, etc.? But leaving off this, let me 147have a wife, the fairest maid in Germany, for I 148am wanton and lascivious and cannot live without 149a wife.

Mephistopheles
150How, a wife? I prithee, Faustus, talk 151not of a wife.

Faustus
152Nay, sweet Mephistopheles, fetch me one, for I 153will have one.

Mephistopheles
154Well, thou wilt have one. Sit there till 155I come. I'll fetch thee a wife, in the devil's name.

[Exit.]
Enter [MEPHISTOPHELES] with a Devil dressed like a woman, with fireworks.

Mephistopheles
156
Tell, Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?

Faustus
157
A plague on her for a hot whore!

Mephistopheles
158
Tut, Faustus, marriage is but a ceremonial toy.
159
If thou lovest me, think no more of it.
[Exit Devil.]
160
I'll cull thee out the fairest courtesans
161
And bring them ev'ry morning to thy bed.
162
She whom thine eye shall like, thy heart shall have,
163
Be she as chaste as was Penelope,
164
As wise as Saba, or as beautiful
165
As was bright Lucifer before his fall.
[Presenting a book.]
166
Hold, take this book. Peruse it thoroughly.
167
The iterating of these lines brings gold;
168
The framing of this circle on the ground
169
Brings whirlwinds, tempests, thunder, and lightning.
170
Pronounce this thrice devoutly to thyself,
171
And men in armor shall appear to thee,
172
Ready to execute what thou desir'st.

Faustus
173Thanks, Mephistopheles. Yet fain would I have 174a book wherein I might behold all spells and 175incantations, that I might raise up spirits when I 176please.

Mephistopheles
177Here they are in this book.

There turn to them.

Faustus
178Now would I have a book where I might see 179all characters and planets of the heavens, that 180I might know their motions and dispositions.

Mephistopheles
181Here they are too.

Turn to them.

Faustus
182Nay, let me have one book more—and then I 183have done—wherein I might see all plants, herbs, 184and trees that grow upon the earth.

Mephistopheles
185Here they be.

Turn to them.

Faustus
186Oh, thou art deceived.

Mephistopheles
187Tut, I warrant thee.

[Exeunt.]

[II.ii]

Enter ROBIN the ostler with a book in his hand.

Robin
1Oh, this is admirable! Here I ha' stol'n one of 2Doctor Faustus's conjuring books, and, i'faith, I 3mean to search some circles for my own use. Now 4will I make all the maidens in our parish dance at 5my pleasure stark naked before me, and so by that 6means I shall see more than e'er I felt or saw yet.

Enter RAFE, calling ROBIN

Rafe
7Robin, prithee, come away. There's a gentleman 8tarries to have his horse, and he would have his 9things rubbed and made clean; he keeps such a 10chafing with my mistress about it, and she has 11sent me to look thee out. Prithee, come away.

Robin
12Keep out, keep out, or else you are blown up, 13you are dismembered, Rafe! Keep out, for I am 14about a roaring piece of work.

Rafe
15Come, what dost thou with that same book? Thou 16canst not read.

Robin
17Yes, my master and mistress shall find that I 18can read—he for his forehead, she for her private 19study. She's born to bear with me, or else my art 20fails.

Rafe
21Why, Robin, what book is that?

Robin
22What book? Why the most intolerable book for 23conjuring that e'er was invented by any brimstone 24devil.

Rafe
25Canst thou conjure with it?

Robin
26I can do all these things easily with it: first, 27I can make thee drunk with hippocras at any tavern 28in Europe for nothing. That's one of my conjuring 29works.

Rafe
30Our Master Parson says that's nothing.

Robin
31True, Rafe; and more, Rafe, if thou hast any mind 32to Nan Spit, our kitchen maid, then turn her and 33wind her to thy own use as often as thou wilt, 34and at midnight.

Rafe
35O brave Robin! Shall I have Nan Spit, and to mine 36own use? On that condition I'll feed thy devil 37with horse-bread as long as he lives, of free cost.

Robin
38No more, sweet Rafe. Let's go and make clean 39our boots, which lie foul upon our hands, and then 40to our conjuring, in the devil's name.

Exeunt.

[II.iii.]

[Enter FAUSTUS in his study, and MEPHISTOPHELES]

Faustus
1
When I behold the heavens, then I repent
2
And curse thee, wicked Mephistopheles,
3
Because thou hast deprived me of those joys.

Mephistopheles
4
Why Faustus,
5
Think'st thou heaven is such a glorious thing?
6
I tell thee, 'tis not half so fair as thou
7
Or any man that breathes on earth.

Faustus
8
How provest thou that?

Mephistopheles
9
It was made for man; therefore is man more excellent.

Faustus
10
If it were made for man, 'twas made for me.
11
I will renounce this magic and repent.

Enter GOOD ANGEL and EVIL ANGEL.

Good Angel
12
Faustus, repent yet, God will pity thee.

Evil Angel
13
Thou art a spirit. God cannot pity thee.

Faustus
14
Who buzzeth in mine ears I am a spirit?
15
Be I a devil, yet God may pity me;
16
Ay, God will pity me if I repent.

Evil Angel
17
Ay, but Faustus never shall repent.

Exeunt [ANGELS].

Faustus
18
My heart's so hardened I cannot repent.
19
Scarce can I name salvation, faith, or heaven
20
But fearful echoes thunder in mine ears:
21
'Faustus, thou art damned!' Then swords and knives,
22
Poison, guns, halters, and envenomed steel
23
Are laid before me to dispatch myself;
24
And long ere this I should have slain myself
25
Had not sweet pleasure conquered deep despair.
26
Have not I made blind Homer sing to me
27
Of Alexander's love and Oenone's death?
28
And hath not he that built the walls of Thebes
29
With ravishing sound of his melodious harp
30
Made music with my Mephistopheles?
31
Why should I die, then, or basely despair?
32
I am resolved Faustus shall ne'er repent.
33
Come, Mephistopheles, let us dispute again
34
And argue of divine astrology.
35
Tell me, are there many heavens above the moon?
36
Are all celestial bodies but one globe,
37
As is the substance of this centric earth?

Mephistopheles
38
As are the elements, such are the spheres,
39
Mutually folded in each others' orb;
40
And, Faustus, all jointly move upon one axletree,
41
Whose terminè is termed the world's wide pole.
42
Nor are the names of Saturn, Mars, or Jupiter
43
Feigned, but are erring stars.

Faustus
44But tell me, have they all one motion, both 45situ et tempore?

Mephistopheles
46All jointly move from east to west in 47four-and-twenty hours upon the poles of the world, but 48differ in their motion upon the poles of the zodiac.

Faustus
49
Tush, these slender trifles Wagner can decide.
50
Hath Mephistopheles no greater skill?
51
Who knows not the double motion of the planets?
52
The first is finished in a natural day,
53
The second thus, as Saturn in thirty years,
54Jupiter in twelve, Mars in four, the Sun, Venus, and Mercury 55in a year, the moon in twenty-eight days. Tush, these 56are freshmen's suppositions. But tell me, hath every 57sphere a dominion or intelligentia?

Mephistopheles
58Ay.

Faustus
59How many heavens or spheres are there?

Mephistopheles
60Nine: the seven planets, the firmament, 61and the empyreal heaven.

Faustus
62Well, resolve me in this question: why have we 63not conjunctions, oppositions, aspects, eclipses 64all at one time, but in some years we have more, 65in some less?

Mephistopheles
66Per inaequalem motum respectu totius.

Faustus
67Well, I am answered. Tell me who made the world.

Mephistopheles
68I will not.

Faustus
69Sweet Mephistopheles, tell me.

Mephistopheles
70Move me not, for I will not tell thee.

Faustus
71Villain, have I not bound thee to tell me anything?

Mephistopheles
72Ay, that is not against our kingdom, but this is. 73Think thou on hell, Faustus, for thou art damned.

Faustus
74Think, Faustus, upon God, that made the world.

Mephistopheles
75Remember this.

Exit.

Faustus
76
Ay, go, accursèd spirit, to ugly hell!
77
'Tis thou hast damned distressèd Faustus' soul.
78
Is't not too late?

Enter GOOD ANGEL and EVIL [ANGEL].

Evil Angel
79
Too late.

Good Angel
80
Never too late, if Faustus can repent.

Evil Angel
81
If thou repent, devils shall tear thee in pieces.

Good Angel
82
Repent, and they shall never raze thy skin.

Exeunt [ANGELS].

Faustus
83
Ah, Christ, my Saviour,
84
Seek to save distressèd Faustus' soul!

Enter LUCIFER, BEELZEBUB, and MEPHISTOPHELES.

Lucifer
85
Christ cannot save thy soul, for he is just.
86
There's none but I have int'rest in the same.

Faustus
87
Oh, who art thou that look'st so terrible?

Lucifer
88
I am Lucifer,
89
And this is my companion prince in hell.

Faustus
90
O Faustus, they are come to fetch away thy soul!

Lucifer
91
We come to tell thee thou dost injure us.
92
Thou talk'st of Christ, contrary to thy promise.
93
Thou shouldst not think of God. Think of the devil,
94
And of his dame, too.

Faustus
95
Nor will I henceforth. Pardon me in this,
96
And Faustus vows never to look to heaven,
97
Never to name God or to pray to him,
98
To burn his Scriptures, slay his ministers,
99
And make my spirits pull his churches down.

Lucifer
100Do so, and we will highly gratify thee. 101Faustus, we are come from hell to show thee some 102pastime. Sit down, and thou shalt see all the 103Seven Deadly Sins appear in their proper shapes.

Faustus
104That sight will be as pleasing unto me as 105paradise was to Adam the first day of his creation.

Lucifer
106Talk not of paradise nor creation, but mark 107this show. Talk of the devil, and nothing else.— [Calling offstage.] 108Come away! [Faustus sits.] Enter the SEVEN DEADLY SINS. 109Now, Faustus, examine them of their several names 110and dispositions.

Faustus
111What art thou, the first?

Pride
112I am Pride. I disdain to have any parents. I 113am like to Ovid's flea: I can creep into every corner 114of a wench. Sometimes like a periwig I sit upon her 115brow, or like a fan of feathers I kiss her lips. 116Indeed I do—what do I not? But fie, what a scent is 117here! I'll not speak another word except the ground 118were perfumed and covered with cloth of arras.

Faustus
119What art thou, the second?

Covetousness
120I am Covetousness, begotten of an old churl 121in an old leathern bag; and might I have my wish, I 122would desire that this house and all the people in it 123were turned to gold, that I might lock you up in my 124good chest. O my sweet gold!

Faustus
125What art thou, the third?

Wrath
126I am Wrath. I had neither father nor mother. I leaped 127out of a lion's mouth when I was scarce half an hour old, 128and ever since I have run up and down the world with this 129case of rapiers, wounding myself when I had nobody to 130fight withal. I was born in hell, and look to it, for 131some of you shall be my father.

Faustus
132What art thou, the fourth?

Envy
133I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an oyster- 134wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books 135were burnt. I am lean with seeing others eat. Oh, 136that there would come a famine through all the world, 137that all might die, and I live alone! Then thou 138shouldst see how fat I would be. But must thou sit 139and I stand? Come down, with a vengeance!

Faustus
140Away, envious rascal!—What are thou, the fifth?

Gluttony
141Who, I, sir? I am Gluttony. My parents are all 142dead, and the devil a penny they have left me but a bare 143pension, and that is thirty meals a day, and ten bevers— 144a small trifle to suffice nature. Oh, I come of a royal 145parentage. My grandfather was a gammon of bacon, my 146grandmother a hogshead of claret wine. My godfathers 147were these: Peter Pickle-herring and Martin Martlemas- 148beef. Oh, but my godmother, she was a jolly gentlewoman, 149and well beloved in every good town and city; her name 150was Mistress Margery March-beer. Now, Faustus, thou 151hast heard all my progeny, wilt thou bid me to supper?

Faustus
152No, I'll see thee hanged. Thou wilt eat up all 153my victuals.

Gluttony
154Then the devil choke thee!

Faustus
155Choke thyself, glutton!—What art thou, the sixth?

Sloth
156I am Sloth. I was begotton on a sunny bank, where I 157have lain ever since, and you have done me great injury 158to bring me from thence. Let me be carried thither 159again by Gluttony and Lechery. I'll not speak another 160word for a king's ransom.

Faustus
161What are you, Mistress Minx, the seventh and last?

Lechery
162Who, I, sir? I am one that loves an inch of raw 163mutton better than an ell of fried stockfish, and the 164first letter of my name begins with Lechery.

Lucifer
165Away, to hell, to hell! Exeunt the SINS. 166Now, Faustus, how dost thou like this?

Faustus
167Oh, this feeds my soul!

Lucifer
168Tut, Faustus, in hell is all manner of delight.

Faustus
169Oh, might I see hell and return again, how happy 170were I then!

Lucifer
171Thou shalt. I will send for thee at midnight. [Presenting a book.] 172In meantime, take this book. Peruse 173it throughly, and thou shalt turn thyself into what 174shape thou wilt.

Faustus
175 [Taking the book.] Great thanks, mighty Lucifer.
176
This will I keep as chary as my life.

Lucifer
177
Farewell, Faustus, and think on the devil.

Faustus
178
Farewell, great Lucifer. Come, Mephistopheles.

Exeunt omnes, [different ways].

[III.Chorus]

Enter WAGNER solus.

Wagner
1
Learnèd Faustus,
2
To know the secrets of astronomy
3
Graven in the book of Jove's high firmament,
4
Did mount himself to scale Olympus' top,
5
Being seated in a chariot burning bright
6
Drawn by the strength of yoky dragons' necks.
7
He now is gone to prove cosmography,
8
And, as I guess, will first arrive at Rome
9
To see the Pope and manner of his court
10
And take some part of holy Peter's feast
11
That to this day is highly solemnised.

Exit WAGNER.

[III.i]

Enter FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHELES

Faustus
1
Having now, my good Mephistopheles,
2
Passed with delight the stately town of Trier,
3
Environed round with airy mountaintops,
4
With walls of flint and deep intrenchèd lakes,
5
Not to be won by any conquering prince;
6
From Paris next, coasting the realm of France,
7
We saw the river Maine fall into Rhine,
8
Whose banks are set with groves of fruitful vines.
9
Then up to Naples, rich Campania,
10
Whose buildings, fair and gorgeous to the eye,
11
The streets straight forth and paved with finest brick,
12
Quarters the town in four equivalents.
13
There saw we learnèd Maro's golden tomb,
14
The way he cut an English mile in length
15
Thorough a rock of stone in one night's space.
16
From thence to Venice, Padua, and the rest,
17
In midst of which a sumptuous temple stands
18
That threats the stars with her aspiring top.
19
Thus hitherto hath Faustus spent his time.
20
But tell me now, what resting place is this?
21
Hast thou, as erst I did command,
22
Conducted me within the walls of Rome?

Mephistopheles
23Faustus, I have. And because we will not 24be unprovided, I have taken up his Holiness's privy 25chamber for our use.

Faustus
26I hope his Holiness will bid us welcome.

Mephistopheles
27Tut, 'tis no matter, man. We'll be bold 28with his good cheer.
29
And now, my Faustus, that thou mayst perceive
30
What Rome containeth to delight thee with,
31
Know that this city stands upon seven hills
32
That underprops the groundwork of the same.
33
Just through the midst runs flowing Tiber's stream,
34
With winding banks that cut it in two parts,
35
Over the which four stately bridges lean,
36
That makes safe passage to each part of Rome.
37
Upon the bridge called Ponte Angelo
38
Erected is a castle passing strong,
39
Within whose walls such store of ordnance are,
40
And double cannons, framed of carvèd brass,
41
As match the days within one complete year—
42
Besides the gates and high pyramides
43
Which Julius Caesar brought from Africa.

Faustus
44
Now, by the kingdoms of infernal rule,
45
Of Styx, Acheron, and the fiery lake
46
Of ever-burning Phlegethon, I swear
47
That I do long to see the monuments
48
And situation of bright splendent Rome.
49
Come, therefore, let's away!

Mephistopheles
50
Nay, Faustus, stay. I know you'd fain see the Pope
51
And take some part of holy Peter's feast,
52
Where thou shalt see a troupe of bald-pate friars
53
Whose summum bonum is in belly cheer.

Faustus
54
Well, I am content to compass then some sport,
55
And by their folly make us merriment.
56Then charm me that I may be invisible, to do what I 57please unseen of any whilst I stay in Rome.

Mephistopheles
58 [Placing a robe on Faustus] So, Faustus, 59now do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discerned.

Sound a sennet. Enter the POPE and the CARDINAL OF LORRAINE to the banquet, with FRIARS attending.

Pope
60My lord of Lorraine, will't please you draw near?

Faustus
61Fall to, and the devil choke you an you spare.

Pope
62How now, who's that which spake? Friars, look about.

Friar
63Here's nobody, if it like your Holiness.

Pope
64My lord, here is a dainty dish was sent me from the 65Bishop of Milan.

[He presents a dish.]

Faustus
66I thank you, sir. Snatch it.

Pope
67How now, who's that which snatched the meat from me? 68Will no man look?— My lord, this dish was sent me from 69the Cardinal of Florence.

Faustus
70 [Snatching the dish.] You say true. I'll ha't.

Pope
71What again?— My lord, I'll drink to your Grace.

Faustus
72 [Snatching the cup.] I'll pledge your Grace.

Lorraine
73My lord, it may be some ghost, newly crept out 74of purgatory, come to beg a pardon of your Holiness.

Pope
75It may be so. Friars, prepare a dirge to lay the 76fury of this ghost. Once again, my lord, fall to.

The Pope crosseth himself.

Faustus
77
What, are you crossing of yourself?
78
Well, use that trick no more, I would advise you.
[The Pope] cross[es himself] again.
79Well, there's a second time. Aware the third, 80I give you fair warning. [The Pope] cross[es himself] again, and Faustus hits him a box of the ear, and they all run away. 81Come on, Mephistopheles. What shall we do?

Mephistopheles
82Nay, I know not. We shall be cursed with 83bell, book, and candle.

Faustus
84
How? Bell, book, and candle, candle, book, and bell,
85
Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell.
86
Anon you shall hear a hog grunt, a calf bleat,
87
and an ass bray,
88
Because it is Saint Peter's holy day.

Enter all the FRIARS to sing the dirge

Friar
89Come, brethren, let's about our business with 90good devotion. The Friars sing this: 91Cursèd be he that stole away his Holiness's meat from 92the table.
93
Maledicat Dominus!
94
Cursèd be he that struck his Holiness a blow on the face.
95
Maledicat Dominus!
96
Cursèd be he that took Friar Sandelo a blow on the pate.
97
Maledicat Dominus!
98
Cursèd be he that disturbeth our holy dirge.
99
Maledicat Dominus!
100
Cursèd be he that took away his Holiness's wine.
101
Maledicat Dominus!
102
Et omnes sancti. Amen.

FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHELES beat the FRIARS, and fling fireworks among them, and so exeunt.

[III.ii]

Enter ROBIN [with a conjuring book] and RAFE with a silver goblet.

Robin
1Come, Rafe, did not I tell thee we were for ever 2made by this Doctor Faustus's book? Ecce signum! 3Here's a simple purchase for horse-keepers. Our 4horses shall eat no hay as long as this lasts.

Enter the VINTNER.

Rafe
5But Robin, here comes the Vintner.

Robin
6Hush, I'll gull him supernaturally.—Drawer, I 7hope all is paid. God be with you. Come, Rafe.

[They start to go.]

Vintner
8 [To Robin] Soft, sir, a word with you. I must yet 9have a goblet paid from you ere you go.

Robin
10I, a goblet? Rafe, I, a goblet? I scorn you, and 11you are but a etc. I, a goblet? Search me.

Vintner
12I mean so, sir, with your favour.

[The Vintner searches Robin.]

Robin
13How say you now?

Vintner
14I must say somewhat to your fellow—you, sir.

Rafe
15Me, sir? Me, sir? Search your fill. [He gives the goblet to Robin; then the Vintner searches Rafe] 16Now, sir, you may be ashamed to burden honest men 17with a matter of truth.

Vintner
18Well, t'one of you hath this goblet about you.

Robin
19You lie, drawer, 'tis afore me. Sirrah, you, I'll 20teach ye to impeach honest men. Stand by. I'll 21scour you for a goblet. Stand aside, you had best, 22I charge you in the name of Beelzebub. [Tossing the goblet to Rafe] 23Look to the goblet, Rafe.

Vintner
24What me an you, sirrah?

Robin
25I'll tell you what I mean. [He reads.] 26Sanctobulorum Periphrasticon! Nay, I'll tickle you, 27Vintner. Look to the goblet, Rafe. Polypragmos 28Belseborams framanto pacostiphos tostu 29Mephistopheles! etc.

Enter to them MEPHISTOPHELES
[Exit the VINTNER, running.]

Mephistopheles
30
Monarch of hell, under whose black survey
31
Great potentates do kneel with awful fear,
32
Upon whose altars thousand souls do lie,
33
How am I vexèd with these villains' charms!
34
From Constantinople am I hither come
35
Only for pleasure of these damnèd slaves.

Robin
36How, from Constantinople? You have had a great 37journey. Will you take sixpence in your purse to 38pay for your supper and be gone?

Mephistopheles
39Well, villains, for your presumption 40I transform thee 41 [To Robin.] into an ape and thee 42 [To Rafe] into a dog. And so, begone!

[Exit.]

Robin
43How, into an ape? That's brave. I'll have fine 44sport with the boys; I'll get nuts and apples enough.

Rafe
45And I must be a dog.

Robin
46I'faith, thy head will never be out of the pottage 47pot.

[Exeunt.]

[IV.Chorus]

Enter CHORUS.

Chorus
1
When Faustus had with pleasure ta'en the view
2
Of rarest things and royal courts of kings,
3
He stayed his course and so returnèd home,
4
Where such as bear his absence but with grief—
5
I mean his friends and nearest companions—
6
Did gratulate his safety with kind words.
7
And in their conference of what befell,
8
Touching his journey through the world and air,
9
They put forth questions of astrology,
10
Which Faustus answered with such learnèd skill
11
As they admired and wondered at his wit.
12
Now is his fame spread forth in every land.
13
Amongst the rest the Emperor is one,
14
Carolus the Fifth, at whose palace now
15
Faustus is feasted 'mongst his noblemen.
16
What there he did in trial of his art
17
I leave untold, your eyes shall see performed.

[Exit.]

[IV.i]

Enter EMPEROR, FAUSTUS, [MEPHISTOPHELES,] and a KNIGHT, with Attendants.

Emperor
1Master Doctor Faustus, I have heard strange report 2of thy knowledge in the black art—how that none in my 3empire, nor in the whole world, can compare with thee 4for the rare effects of magic. They say thou hast a 5familiar spirit by whom thou canst accomplish what 6thou list. This, therefore, is my request: that thou 7let me see some proof of thy skill, that mine eyes may 8be witnesses to confirm what mine ears have heard reported. 9And here I swear to thee, by the honour of mine imperial 10crown, that whatever thou dost, thou shalt be no ways 11prejudiced or endamaged.

Knight
12(Aside.) I’faith, he looks much like a conjurer.

Faustus
13My gracious sovereign, though I must confess 14myself far inferior to the report men have published, 15and nothing answerable to the honour of your Imperial 16Majesty, yet, for that love and duty binds me thereunto, 17I am content to do whatsoever your Majesty shall 18command me.

Emperor
19
Then, Doctor Faustus, mark what I shall say.
20
As I was sometime solitary set
21
Within my closet, sundry thoughts arose
22
About the honour of mine ancestors—
23
How they had won by prowess such exploits,
24
Got such riches, subdued so many kingdoms
25
As we that do succeed or they that shall
26
Hereafter possess our throne shall,
27
I fear me, never attain to that degree
28
Of high renown and great authority.
29
Amongst which kings is Alexander the Great,
30
Chief spectacle of the world's preeminence,
31
The bright shining of whose glorious acts
32
Lightens the world with his reflecting beams—
33
As when I hear but motion made of him,
34
It grieves my soul I never saw the man.
35
If, therefore, thou by cunning of thine art
36
Canst raise this man from hollow vaults below
37
Where lies entombed this famous conqueror,
38
And bring with him his beauteous paramour,
39
Both in their right shapes, gesture, and attire
40
They used to wear during their time of life,
41
Thou shalt both satisfy my just desire
42
And give me cause to praise thee whilst I live.

Faustus
43My gracious lord, I am ready to accomplish your 44request, so far forth as by art and power of my spirit 45I am able to perform.

Knight
46(Aside.) I'faith, that's just nothing at all.

Faustus
47But if it like your Grace, it is not in my ability 48to present before your eyes the true substantial bodies 49of those two deceased princes, which long since are 50consumed to dust.

Knight
51(Aside.) Ay, marry, Master Doctor, now there's 52 a sign of grace in you, when you will confess the truth.

Faustus
53But such spirits as can lively resemble Alexander 54and his paramour shall appear before your Grace in that 55manner that they best lived in, in their most 56flourishing estate—which I doubt not shall 57sufficiently content your imperial Majesty.

Emperor
58Go to, Master Doctor. Let me see them presently.

Knight
59Do you hear, Master Doctor? You bring Alexander 60and his paramour before the Emperor?

Faustus
61How then, sir?

Knight
62I'faith, that's as true as Diana turned me to a stag.

Faustus
63No, sir, but when Actaeon died, he left the horns 64for you. [Aside to Mephistopheles] Mephistopheles, begone!

Exit MEPHISTOPHELES.

Knight
65Nay, an you go to conjuring, I'll be gone.

Exit KNIGHT.

Faustus
66[Aside.] I'll meet with you anon for interrupting 67 me so.—Here they are, my gracious lord.

Enter MEPHISTOPHELES with ALEXANDER and his PARAMOUR.

Emperor
68Master Doctor, I heard this lady while she lived 69had a wart or mole in her neck. How shall I know 70whether it be so or no?

Faustus
71Your Highness may boldly go and see.

[The Emperor makes an inspection, and then] Exit ALEXANDER [and his PARAMOUR].

Emperor
72Sure these are no spirits, but the true substantial 73bodies of those two deceased princes.

Faustus
74Will't please your Highness now to send for the 75knight that was so pleasant with me here of late?

Emperor
76One of you call him forth. [An Attendant goes to summon the Knight] Enter the KNIGHT with a pair of horns on his head. 77How now, sir knight? Why, I had thought thou hadst 78been a bachelor, but now I see thou hast a wife, that 79not only gives thee horns but makes thee wear them. 80Feel on thy head.

Knight
81
[To Faustus]
Thou damnèd wretch and execrable dog,
82
Bred in the concave of some monstrous rock,
83
How dar'st thou thus abuse a gentleman?
84
Villain, I say, undo what thou hast done.

Faustus
85Oh, not so fast, sir. There's no haste but good. 86Are you remembered how you crossed me in my conference 87with the Emperor? I think I have met with you for it.

Emperor
88Good Master Doctor, at my entreaty release him. 89He hath done penance sufficient.

Faustus
90My gracious lord, not so much for the injury he 91offered me here in your presence as to delight you 92with some mirth hath Faustus worthily requited this 93injurious knight; which being all I desire, I am 94content to release him of his horns.—And, sir knight, 95hereafter speak well of scholars. 96[Aside to Mephistopheles] Mephistopheles, transform him straight. [The horns are removed.] 97Now, my good lord, having done 98my duty, I humbly take my leave.

Emperor
99
Farewell, Master Doctor. Yet, ere you go,
100
Expect from me a bounteous reward.

Exeunt EMPEROR, [KNIGHT, and Attendants].

Faustus
101
Now, Mephistopheles, the restless course
102
That time doth run with calm and silent foot,
103
Short'ning my days and thread of vital life,
104
Calls for the payment of my latest years.
105
Therefore, sweet Mephistopheles, let us make haste
106
To Wittenberg.

Mephistopheles
107
What, will you go on horseback or on foot?

Faustus
108
Nay, till I am past this fair and pleasant green,
109
I'll walk on foot.

Enter a HORSE-CORSER

Horse-corser
110I have been all this day seeking one Master 111Fustian. Mass, see where he is.—God save you, Master 112Doctor.

Faustus
113What, Horse-corser! You are well met.

Horse-corser
114 [Offering money.] Do you hear, sir? I have 115brought you forty dollars for your horse.

Faustus
116I cannot sell him so. If thou lik'st him for 117fifty, take him.

Horse-corser
118Alas, sir, I have no more. 119 [To Mephistopheles.] I pray you, speak for me.

Mephistopheles
120 [To Faustus.] I pray you, let him have him. 121He is an honest fellow, and he has a great charge, neither 122wife nor child.

Faustus
123Well, come, give me your money. [He takes the money.] 124My boy will deliver him to you. But I must tell you 125one thing before you have him: ride him not into the 126water, at any hand.

Horse-corser
127Why, sir, will he not drink of all waters?

Faustus
128Oh, yes, he will drink of all waters, but ride him 129not into the water. Ride him over hedge, or ditch, or 130where thou wilt, but not into the water.

Horse-corser
131Well, sir. [Aside.] Now am I a made man 132 for ever. I'll not leave my horse for forty. If he 133 had but the quality of hey, ding, ding, hey, ding, ding, 134 I'd make a brave living on him; he has a buttock as 135 slick as an eel. [To Faustus] Well, goodbye, 136sir. Your boy will deliver him me? But hark ye, 137sir: if my horse be sick or ill at ease, if I bring 138his water to you, you'll tell me what it is?

Faustus
139Away, you villain! What, dost think I am a 140horse-doctor?
Exit HORSE-CORSER.
141
What art thou, Faustus, but a man condemned to die?
142
Thy fatal time doth draw to final end.
143
Despair doth drive distrust unto my thoughts.
144
Confound these passions with a quiet sleep.
145
Tush! Christ did call the thief upon the cross;
146
Then rest thee, Faustus, quiet in conceit.

Sleep in his chair.
Enter HORSE-CORSER all wet, crying.

Horse-corser
147Alas, alas! 'Doctor' Fustian, quotha! 148Mass, Doctor Lopus was never such a doctor. H'as given 149me a purgation, h'as purged me of forty dollars. I 150shall never see them more. But yet, like an ass as I was, 151I would not be ruled by him, for he bade me I should 152ride him into no water. Now I, thinking my horse had 153had some rare quality that he would not have had me 154known of, I, like a venturous youth, rid him into the 155deep pond at the town's end. I was no sooner in the 156middle of the pond but my horse vanished away and I 157sat upon a bottle of hay, never so near drowning in my 158life. But I'll seek out my doctor and have my forty 159dollars again, or I'll make it the dearest horse! Oh, 160yonder is his snipper-snapper.—Do you hear? You, 161hey-pass, where's your master?

Mephistopheles
162Why, sir, what would you? You cannot speak 163with him.

Horse-corser
164But I will speak with him.

Mephistopheles
165Why, he's fast asleep. Come some other 166time.

Horse-corser
167I'll speak with him now, or I'll break his 168glass windows about his ears.

Mephistopheles
169I tell thee he has not slept this eight 170nights.

Horse-corser
171An he have not slept this eight weeks, 172I'll speak with him.

Mephistopheles
173See where he is, fast asleep.

Horse-corser
174Ay, this is he.—God save ye, Master Doctor. 175Master Doctor, Master Doctor Fustian! Forty dollars, 176forty dollars for a bottle of hay!

Mephistopheles
177Why, thou seest he hears thee not.

Horse-corser
178 [Holler in his ear.] So-ho, ho! So-ho, ho! 179No, will you not wake? I'll make you wake ere I go. Pull him by the leg, and pull it away. 180Alas, I am undone! What shall I do?

Faustus
181O my leg, my leg! Help, Mephistopheles! Call the 182officers! My leg, my leg!

Mephistopheles
183 [Seizing the Horse-corser.] Come, villain, to 184the constable.

Horse-corser
185O Lord, sir, let me go, and I'll give you 186forty dollars more.

Mephistopheles
187Where be they?

Horse-corser
188I have none about me. Come to my hostry, 189and I'll give them you.

Mephistopheles
190Begone, quickly.

HORSE-CORSER runs away.

Faustus
191What, is he gone? Farewell, he! Faustus has his 192leg again, and the Horse-corser, I take it, a bottle 193of hay for his labour. Well, this trick shall cost him 194forty dollars more. Enter WAGNER. 195How now, Wagner, what's the news with thee?

Wagner
196Sir, the Duke of Vanholt doth earnestly entreat 197your company.

Faustus
198The Duke of Vanholt! An honourable gentleman, to 199whom I must be no niggard of my cunning. Come, 200Mephistopheles, let's away to him.

Exeunt.

[IV.ii]

[Enter FAUSTUS with MEPHISTOPHELES] Enter to them the DUKE [OF VANHOLT] and the [pregnant] DUCHESS. The DUKE speaks.

Duke
1Believe me, Master Doctor, this merriment hath much 2pleased me.

Faustus
3My gracious lord, I am glad it contents you so well.— 4But it may be, madam, you take no delight in this. I 5have heard that great-bellied women do long for some 6dainties or other. What is it, madam? Tell me, and 7you shall have it.

Duchess
8Thanks, good Master Doctor. And, for I see your 9courteous intent to pleasure me, I will not hide 10from you the thing my heart desires. And were it now 11summer, as it is January and the dead time of the 12winter, I would desire no better meat than a dish of 13ripe grapes.

Faustus
14Alas, madam, that's nothing. 15[Aside to Mephistopheles] Mephistopheles, begone! Exit MEPHISTOPHELES. 16Were it a greater thing than this, so it would content 17you, you should have it. Enter MEPHISTOPHELES with the grapes. 18Here they be, madam. Will't please you taste on them?

[The Duchess tastes the grapes.]

Duke
19Believe me, Master Doctor, this makes me wonder above 20the rest, that, being in the dead time of winter and 21in the month of January, how you should come by these 22grapes.

Faustus
23If it like your Grace, the year is divided into 24two circles over the whole world, that when it is here 25winter with us, in the contrary circle it is summer 26with them, as in India, Saba, and farther countries in 27the East; and by means of a swift spirit that I have, 28I had them brought hither, as ye see.—How do you like 29them, madam? Be they good?

Duchess
30Believe me, Master Doctor, they be the best 31grapes that e'er I tasted in my life before.

Faustus
32
I am glad they content you so, madam.

Duke
33
Come, madam, let us in,
34
Where you must well reward this learnèd man
35
For the great kindness he hath showed to you.

Duchess
36
And so I will, my lord, and whilst I live
37
Rest beholding for this courtesy.

Faustus
38
I humbly thank your Grace.

Duke
39
Come, Master Doctor, follow us and receive your reward.

Exeunt.

[V.i]

Enter WAGNER solus.

Wagner
1
I think my master means to die shortly,
2
For he hath given to me all his goods.
3
And yet methinks if that death were near
4
He would not banquet and carouse and swill
5
Amongst the students, as even now he doth,
6
Who are at supper with such belly-cheer
7
As Wagner ne'er beheld in all his life.
8
See where they come. Belike the feast is ended.

[Exit.]
Enter FAUSTUS with two or three SCHOLARS [and MEPHISTOPHELES].

First Scholar
9Master Doctor Faustus, since our conference 10about fair ladies—which was the beautifullest in 11all the world—we have determined with ourselves that 12Helen of Greece was the admirablest lady that ever 13lived. Therefore, Master Doctor, if you will do us 14that favour as to let us see that peerless dame of 15Greece, whom all the world admires for majesty, we 16should think ourselves much beholding unto you.

Faustus
17
Gentlemen,
18
For that I know your friendship is unfeigned,
19
And Faustus' custom is not to deny
20
The just requests of those that wish him well,
21
You shall behold that peerless dame of Greece
22
No otherways for pomp and majesty
23
Than when Sir Paris crossed the seas with her
24
And brought the spoils to rich Dardania.
25
Be silent then, for danger is in words.

[MEPHISTOPHELES goes to the door.]
Music sounds. [MEPHISTOPHELES returns,] and HELEN passeth over the stage.

Second Scholar
26
Too simple is my wit to tell her praise,
27
Whom all the world admires for majesty.

Third Scholar
28
No marvel though the angry Greeks pursued
29
With ten years' war the rape of such a queen,
30
Whose heavenly beauty passeth all compare.

First Scholar
31
Since we have seen the pride of nature's works
32
And only paragon of excellence,
Enter an OLD MAN.
33
Let us depart; and for this glorious deed
34
Happy and blest be Faustus evermore.

Faustus
35
Gentlemen, farewell. The same I wish to you.

Exeunt SCHOLARS.

Old Man
36
Ah, Doctor Faustus, that I might prevail
37
To guide thy steps unto the way of life,
38
By which sweet path thou mayest attain the goal
39
That shall conduct thee to celestial rest!
40
Break heart, drop blood, and mingle it with tears—
41
Tears falling from repentant heaviness
42
Of thy most vile and loathsome filthiness,
43
The stench whereof corrupts the inward soul
44
With such flagitious crimes of heinous sins
45
As no commiseration may expel
46
But mercy, Faustus, of thy Saviour sweet,
47
Whose blood alone must wash away thy guilt.

Faustus
48
Where art thou, Faustus? Wretch, what hast thou done?
49
Damned art thou, Faustus, damned! Despair and die!
50
Hell calls for right, and with a roaring voice
51
Says, 'Faustus, come! Thine hour is come.'
Mephistopheles gives him a dagger.
52
And Faustus will come to do thee right.

[Faustus prepares to stab himself.]

Old Man
53
Ah, stay, good Faustus, stay thy desperate steps!
54
I see an angel hovers o'er thy head,
55
And with a vial full of precious grace
56
Offers to pour the same into thy soul.
57
Then call for mercy and avoid despair.

Faustus
58
Ah, my sweet friend, I feel thy words
59
To comfort my distressèd soul.
60
Leave me a while to ponder on my sins.

Old Man
61
I go, sweet Faustus, but with heavy cheer,
62
Fearing the ruin of thy hopeless soul.

[Exit.]

Faustus
63
Accursèd Faustus, where is mercy now?
64
I do repent, and yet I do despair.
65
Hell strives with grace for conquest in my breast.
66
What shall I do to shun the snares of death?

Mephistopheles
67
Thou traitor, Faustus, I arrest thy soul
68
For disobedience to my sovereign lord.
69
Revolt, or I'll in piecemeal tear thy flesh.

Faustus
70
Sweet Mephistopheles, entreat thy lord
71
To pardon my unjust presumption,
72
And with my blood again I will confirm
73
My former vow I made to Lucifer.

Mephistopheles
74
Do it then quickly, with unfeignèd heart,
75
Lest greater danger do attend thy drift.

[Faustus cuts his arm and writes with his blood.]

Faustus
76
Torment, sweet friend, that base and crooked age
77
That durst dissuade me from thy Lucifer,
78
With greatest torments that our hell affords.

Mephistopheles
79
His faith is great. I cannot touch his soul.
80
But what I may afflict his body with
81
I will attempt, which is but little worth.

Faustus
82
One thing, good servant, let me crave of thee
83
To glut the longing of my heart's desire:
84
That I might have unto my paramour
85
That heavenly Helen which I saw of late,
86
Whose sweet embracings may extinguish clean
87
These thoughts that do dissuade me from my vow,
88
And keep mine oath I made to Lucifer.

Mephistopheles
89
Faustus, this, or what else thou shalt desire,
90
Shall be performed in twinkling of an eye.

Enter HELEN [brought in by MEPHISTOPHELES].

Faustus
91
Was this the face that launched a thousand ships
92
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?
93
Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss.
[They kiss.]
94
Her lips sucks forth my soul. See where it flies!
95
Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.
[They kiss again.]
96
Here will I dwell, for heaven be in these lips,
97
And all is dross that is not Helena.
Enter OLD MAN.
98
I will be Paris, and for love of thee
99
Instead of Troy shall Wittenberg be sacked,
100
And I will combat with weak Menelaus,
101
And wear thy colours on my plumèd crest.
102
Yea, I will wound Achilles in the heel
103
And then return to Helen for a kiss.
104
Oh, thou art fairer than the evening air,
105
Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars.
106
Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter
107
When he appeared to hapless Semele,
108
More lovely than the monarch of the sky
109
In wanton Arethusa's azured arms;
110
And none but thou shalt be my paramour.

Exeunt [FAUSTUS and HELEN].

Old Man
111
Accursèd Faustus, miserable man,
112
That from thy soul exclud'st the grace of heaven
113
And fliest the throne of His tribunal seat!
Enter the Devils. [They menace the Old Man.]
114
Satan begins to sift me with his Pride.
115
As in this furnace God shall try my faith,
116
My faith, vile hell, shall triumph over thee.
117
Ambitious fiends, see how the heavens smiles
118
At your repulse and laughs your state to scorn!
119
Hence, hell! For hence I fly unto my God.

Exeunt [different ways].

[V.ii]

Enter FAUSTUS with the SCHOLARS.

Faustus
1Ah, gentlemen!

First Scholar
2What ails Faustus?

Faustus
3Ah, my sweet chamber-fellow! Had I lived with 4thee, then had I lived still, but now I die eternally. 5Look, comes he not? Comes he not?

Second Scholar
6What means Faustus?

Third Scholar
7Belike he is grown into some sickness by 8being over-solitary.

First Scholar
9If it be so, we'll have physicians to cure 10him. [To Faustus.] 'Tis but a surfeit. Never fear, man.

Faustus
11A surfeit of deadly sin that hath damned both 12body and soul.

Second Scholar
13Yet, Faustus, look up to heaven. Remember 14God's mercies are infinite.

Faustus
15But Faustus's offence can ne'er be pardoned. The 16serpent that tempted Eve may be saved, but not Faustus. 17Ah, gentlemen, hear me with patience, and tremble not 18at my speeches. Though my heart pants and quivers to 19remember that I have been a student here these thirty 20years, oh, would I had never seen Wittenberg, never read 21book! And what wonders I have done, all Germany can 22witness, yea, all the world, for which Faustus hath 23lost both Germany and the world, yea, heaven itself— 24heaven, the seat of God, the throne of the blessed, 25the kingdom of joy—and must remain in hell for ever. 26Hell, ah, hell for ever! Sweet friends, what shall 27become of Faustus, being in hell for ever?

Third Scholar
28Yet, Faustus, call on God.

Faustus
29On God, whom Faustus hath abjured? On God, whom 30Faustus hath blasphemed? Ah, my God, I would weep, 31but the devil draws in my tears. Gush forth blood 32instead of tears, yea, life and soul. Oh, he stays 33my tongue! I would lift up my hands, but see, they 34hold them, they hold them.

All
35Who, Faustus?

Faustus
36Lucifer and Mephistopheles. Ah, gentlemen! I 37gave them my soul for my cunning.

All
38God forbid!

Faustus
39God forbade it indeed, but Faustus hath done it. 40For vain pleasure of four-and-twenty years hath Faustus 41lost eternal joy and felicity. I writ them a bill with 42mine own blood. The date is expired, the time will come, 43and he will fetch me.

First Scholar
44Why did not Faustus tell us of this before, 45that divines might have prayed for thee?

Faustus
46Oft have I thought to have done so, but the devil 47threatened to tear me in pieces if I named God, to 48fetch both body and soul if I once gave ear to divinity. 49And now 'tis too late. Gentlemen, away, lest you 50perish with me.

Second Scholar
51Oh, what shall we do to save Faustus?

Faustus
52Talk not of me, but save yourselves and depart.

Third Scholar
53God will strengthen me. I will stay with 54Faustus.

First Scholar
55 [To the Third Scholar.] Tempt not God, sweet 56friend, but let us into the next room and there pray 57for him.

Faustus
58Ay, pray for me, pray for me! And what noise 59soever ye hear, come not unto me, for nothing can 60rescue me.

Second Scholar
61Pray thou, and we will pray that God may 62have mercy upon thee.

Faustus
63Gentlemen, farewell. If I live till morning, 64I'll visit you; if not, Faustus is gone to hell.

All
65Faustus, farewell.

Exeunt SCHOLARS.
The clock strikes eleven.

Faustus
66
Ah, Faustus,
67
Now hast thou but one bare hour to live,
68
And then thou must be damned perpetually.
69
Stand still, you ever-moving spheres of heaven,
70
That time may cease and midnight never come!
71
Fair nature's eye, rise, rise again, and make
72
Perpetual day; or let this hour be but
73
A year, a month, a week, a natural day,
74
That Faustus may repent and save his soul!
75
O lente, lente currite noctis equi!
76
The stars move still; time runs; the clock will strike;
77
The devil will come, and Faustus must be damned.
78
Oh, I'll leap up to my God! Who pulls me down?
79
See, see where Christ's blood streams in the firmament!
80
One drop would save my soul, half a drop. Ah, my Christ!
81
Ah, rend not my heart for naming of my Christ!
82
Yet will I call on him. Oh, spare me, Lucifer!
83
Where is it now? 'Tis gone; and see where God
84
Stretcheth out his arm and bends his ireful brows!
85
Mountains and hills, come, come and fall on me,
86
And hide me from the heavy wrath of God!
87
No, no!
88
Then will I headlong run into the earth.
89
Earth, gape! Oh, no, it will not harbour me.
90
You stars that reigned at my nativity,
91
Whose influence hath allotted death and hell,
92
Now draw up Faustus like a foggy mist
93
Into the entrails of yon labouring cloud,
94
That when you vomit forth into the air,
95
My limbs may issue from your smoky mouths,
96
So that my soul may but ascend to heaven.
The watch strikes.
97
Ah, half the hour is past!
98
'Twill all be past anon.
99
O God,
100
If thou wilt not have mercy on my soul,
101
Yet for Christ's sake, whose blood hath ransomed me,
102
Impose some end to my incessant pain.
103
Let Faustus live in hell a thousand years,
104
A hundred thousand, and at last be saved.
105
Oh, no end is limited to damnèd souls.
106
Why wert thou not a creature wanting soul?
107
Or why is this immortal that thou hast?
108
Ah, Pythagoras' metempsychosis, were that true,
109
This soul should fly from me and I be changed
110
Unto some brutish beast.
111
All beasts are happy, for, when they die,
112
Their souls are soon dissolved in elements;
113
But mine must live still to be plagued in hell.
114
Curst be the parents that engendered me!
115
No, Faustus, curse thyself. Curse Lucifer
116
That hath deprived thee of the joys of heaven.
The clock striketh twelve.
117
Oh, it strikes, it strikes! Now, body, turn to air,
118
Or Lucifer will bear thee quick to hell.
Thunder and lightning.
119
O soul, be changed into little waterdrops,
120
And fall into the ocean, ne'er be found!
121
My God, my God, look not so fierce on me!
Enter [LUCIFER, MEPHISTOPHELES, and other] Devils.
122
Adders and serpents, let me breathe a while!
123
Ugly hell, gape not. Come not, Lucifer!
124
I'll burn my books. Ah, Mephistopheles!

[The Devils] exeunt with him.

[Epilogue]
Enter CHORUS.

Chorus
125
Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight,
126
And burnèd is Apollo's laurel bough
127
That sometime grew within this learnèd man.
128
Faustus is gone. Regard his hellish fall,
129
Whose fiendful fortune may exhort the wise
130
Only to wonder at unlawful things,
131
Whose deepness doth entice such forward wits
132
To practise more than heavenly power permits.

[Exit.]
Terminat hora diem; terminat author opus.