The Tragicall History of Doctor Faustus
By Christopher Marlowe

Transcription, correction, editorial commentary, and markup by Text Creation Partnership and Students and Staff at the University of Virginia
     

Sources

London : Printed by V. S[immes] for Thomas Bushell, 1604.The texts we have of Christopher Marlowe's play The Tragicall History of Doctor Faustus were printed years after the play's first production somewhere between 1589 and 1594, and probably only approximate the play as Marlowe wrote it. For one thing, Marlowe died in 1593, so not only did he have no opportunity to guarantee that the printed texts were reliable (and most authors in this period did not worry too much about that anyway), but the intervening years probably meant that the play had gotten altered at least somewhat in the course of years of performance in ways that we cannot retrace. Two distinct versions of the play exist: an edition published in 1604, that exists in a single copy now at the Bodleian Library at Oxford University, which is usually referred to as the "A" text, and another, longer edition, published in 1616, known as the "B" text. Scholars have gone back and forth over the decades arguing about which one better reflects Marlowe's original version. But we'll never really know for sure. It is also possible, even likely, for example, that some of the additional material that appears in the B text (mostly adding more comedy and slapstick humor), was added by other writers. It's also possible that the A text, which is short by the standard of most plays of the period, is a cut down version of the play. Our edition follows the A text, which was digitized by the Text Creation Partnership. The printed text that the TCP was working from is printed in gothic-style black letter, which was getting a little old fashioned even in 1604. For this Literature in Context edition, we've left the original spelling largely intact, since it helps guide pronunciation, which is slightly different from modern English, but not hard to figure out, particularly if the reader says the words out loud. The spelling is inconsistent throughout the play, which is typical of this period, when people did not care all that much about consistent spelling. We have brought the letters "u" and "v" to conform to modern usage; the black letter most frequently reverses them. Finally, we have spelled out the names of speakers in full, to make the text more reader-friendly.

Editorial Statements

Research informing these annotations draws on publicly-accessible resources, with links provided where possible. Annotations have also included common knowledge, defined as information that can be found in multiple reliable sources. If you notice an error in these annotations, please contact lic.open.anthology@gmail.com.

Original spelling and capitalization is retained, though the long s has been silently modernized and ligatured forms are not encoded.

Hyphenation has not been retained, except where necessary for the sense of the word.

Page breaks have been retained. Catchwords, signatures, and running headers have not.

Materials have been transcribed from and checked against first editions, where possible. See the Sources section for more information.

Citation

Marlowe, Christopher. The Tragicall history of Doctor Faustus, Printed by V. S[immes] for Thomas Bushell, 1604. . Literature in Context: An Open Anthology. http://anthologydev.lib.virginia.edu/work/Marlowe/marlowe-faustus. Accessed: 2024-04-28T23:03:50.67Z

Linked Data: Places related to this work.

THE
TRAGICALL
History of D. Faustus.
As it hath bene Acted by the Right
Honorable the Earle of Nottingham his servants.
Written by Ch. Marl.
 LONDON
Printed by V. S. for Thomas Bushell. 1604. The tragicall Historie
of Doctor Faustus. Enter
Chorus.
Not marching now in fields of Thracimene, Where Mars did mate the Carthaginians,Nor sporting in the dalliance of love,In courts of Kings where state is overturnd,Nor in the pompe of prowd audacious deedes,Intends our Muse to daunt his heavenly verse:Onely this (Gentlemen) we must performe,The forme of Faustus fortunes good or bad.To patient Judgements we appeale our plaude,And speake for Faustus in his infancie:Now is he borne, his parents base of stocke,In Germany, within a towne calld Rhodes: Of riper yéeres to Wertenberg he went,Whereas his kinsmen chiefly brought him up,So soone hée profites in Divinitie,The fruitfull plot of Scholerisme grac't,That shortly he was grac't with Doctors name,Excelling all, whose swéete delight disputesIn heauenly matters of Theologie, Till swolne with cunning of a selfe conceit,His waxen wings did mount above his reach,And melting heavens conspirde his overthrow.For falling to a divelish exercise,And glutted more with learnings golden gifts, He surffets upon cursed Negromancy, Nothing so sweete as magicke is to himWhich he preferres before his chiefest blisse,And this the man that in his study sits.
Exit. Enter Faustus in his Study.
Faustus
Settle thy studies Faustus, and beginneTo sound the deapth of that thou wilt professe:Having commencde, be a Divine in shew,Yet levell at the end of every Art,And live and die in Aristotles workes:Sweete Anulatikes tis thou hast ravisht me, Bene disserere est finis logicis. Is, to dispute well, Logickes chiefest endAffoords this Art no greater myracle:Then reade no more, thou hast attaind the end:A greater subject fitteth Faustus wit,Bid Oncaymaeon farewell, Galen come:Séeing, vbi desinit philosophus, ibi incipit medicus. Be a physition Faustus, heape up golde,And be eternizde for some wondrous cure, Summum bonum medicinae sanitas, The end of physicke is our bodies health:Why Faustus, hast thou not attaind that end?Is not thy common talke sound Aphorismes?Are not thy billes hung up as monuments,Whereby whole Citties have escapt the plague,And thousand desprate maladies béene easde,Yet art thou still but Faustus, and a man.Wouldst thou make man to live eternally?Or being dead, raise them to life againe?Then this profession were to be estéemd.Physicke farewell, where is Justinian? Si une eademqu res legatus duobus, Aiter rem alter valorem rei, &c.A pretty case of paltry legacies: Ex heriditari filiu nisi poest pater nisi: Such is the subiect of the institute And universall body of the Church: This study fittes a mercenary drudge,Who aimes at nothing but externall trash,The devill and illiberall for me:When all is done, Divinitie is best. Jeromes Bible, Faustus, view it well. Stipendium peccati mors est: ha, Stipendium, &c. The reward of sinne is death: thats hard. Si peccasse negamus, fallimur, & nulla est in nobis veritas. If we say that we haVe no sinne,We deceive our selves, and theres no truth in us.Why then belike we must sinne,And so consequently die.I, we must die an everlasting death:What doctrine call you this, Che sera, sera, What wil be, shall be? Divinitie, adieu,These Metaphisickes of Magicians,And Negromantike bookes are heavenlyLines, circles, sceanes, letters and characters:I, these are those that Faustus most desires.O what a world of profit and delight,Of power, of honor, of omnipotenceIs promised to the studious Artizan?All things that moove betweene the quiet polesShalbe at my commaund, Emperours and Kings,Are but obeyd in their severall provinces:Nor can they raise the winde, or rend the cloudes:But his dominion that excéedes in this,Stretcheth as farre as doth the minde of man.A sound Magician is a mighty god:Héere Faustus trie thy braines to gaine a deitie. Wagner, commend me to my deerest friends,The Germaine Valde, and Corneliu, Request them earnestly to visite me.
Wagner
I wil sir.
exit.
Faustus
Their conference will be a greater help to me, Than all my labours, plodde I nere so fast.
Enter the good Angell and the evill Angell.
Good Angell
O Faustus, lay that damned booke aside,And gaze not on it, lest it tempt thy soule,And heape Gods heavy wrath upon thy head,Reade, reade the scriptures, that is blasphemy.
Evill Angell
Go forward Faustus in that famous art,Wherein all natures treasury is containd:Be thou on earth as Ioue is in the skie,Lord and commaunder of these Elements.
Exeunt.
Faustus
How am I glutted with conceit of this?Shall I make spirits fetch me what I please,Resolve me of all ambiguities,Performe what desperate enterprise I will?Ile have them flye to India for gold,Ransacke the Ocean for orient pearle,And search all corners of the new found worldFor pleasant fruites and princely delicates:Ile have them reade mée straunge philosophie,And tell the secrets of all forraine kings,Ile have them wall all Iermany with brasse,And make swift Rhine circle faire Wertenberge, Ile have them fill the publike schooles with skill.Wherewith the students shalbe bravely clad:Ile levy souldiers with the coyne they bring,And chase the Prince of Parma from our land,And raigne sole king of all our provinces:Yea stranger engines for the brunt of warre,Then was the fiery kéele at Antwarpes bridge,Ile make my servile spirits to invent:Come Germaine Valdes and Cornelius, And make me blest with your sage conference, Valdes, swéete Valdes, and Cornelius, Know that your words have woon me at the last, To practise Magicke and concealed arts:Yet not your words onely, but mine owne fantasie,That will receive no obiect for my head,But ruminates on Negremantique skill,Philosophy is odious and obscure,Both Law and Phisicke are for pettie wits,Divinitie is basest of the thrée,Unpleasant, harsh, contemptible and vilde,Tis Magicke, Magicke that hath ravisht mée,Then gentle friends ayde me in this attempt,And I that have with ConsissylogismesGraveld the Pastors of the Germaine Church,And made the flowring pride of Wertenberge Swarme to my Problemes as the infernall spiritsOn swéet Musaeus when he came to hell,Will be as cunning as Agrippa was,Whose shadowes made all Europe honor him.
Valdes
Faustus these bookes thy wit and our experienceShall make all nations to canonize vs,As Indian Moores obey their Spanish Lords,So shall the subiects of every elementBe alwaies serviceable to us thrée,Like Lyons shall they guard us when we please,Like Almaine Rutters with their horsemens staues,Or Lapland Gyants trotting by our sides,Sometimes like women, or unwedded maides,Shadowing more beautie in their ayrie browes,Then in their white breasts of the queene of Love:For Venice shall they dregge huge Argoces,And from America the golden fléece,That yearely stuffes olde Philips treasuryIf learned Faustus will be resolute.
Faustus
Valdes as resolute am I in thisAs thou to live, therefore obiect it not.
Cornelius
The myracles that Magicke will performe,Will make thée vow to studie nothing else,He that is grounded in Astrologie, Inricht with tongues well séene minerals,Hath all the principles Magicke doth require,Then doubt not (Faustus) but to be renownd,And more frequented for this mystery,Then heretofore the Dolphian Oracle.The spirits tell me they can drie the sea,And fetch the treasure of all forraine wrackes,I, all the wealth that our forefathers hidWithin the massie entrails of the earth.Then tell me Faustus, what shal we three want?
Faustus
Nothing Cornelius, O this cheares my soule,Come shewe me some demonstrations magicall,That I may coniure in some lustie grove,And have these ioyes in full possession.
Valdes
Then haste thée to some solitary grove,And beare wise Bacons and Albanus workes,The Hebrew Psalter, and new Testament,And whatsoever else is requisitWee will enforme thée ere our conference cease.
Cornelius
Valdes, first let him know the words of art,And then all other ceremonies learnd, Faustus may trie his cunning by himselfe.
Valdes
First Ile instruct thee in the rudiments,And then wilt thou be perfecter then I.
Faustus
Then come and dyne with me, and after meateWéele canvas euery quidditie thereof:For ere I sleepe Ile trie what I can do,This night Ile coniure though I die therefore.
Exeunt. Enter two Schollers.
1 Sch.
I wonder whats become of Faustus, that waswont to make our schooles ring with, sic probo.
2 Sch.
That shall we know, for see here comes his boy.
Enter Wagner.
1. Sch.
How now sirra, wheres thy maister?
Wagner
God in heaven knowes.
2.
Why, dost not thou know?
Wagner
Yes I know, but that followes not.
1.
Go too sirra, leave your ieasting, and tell us where hée is.
Wagner
That follows not necessary by force of argument, that you being licentiate should stand upon't, therefore acknowledge your error, and be attentive.
2.
Why, didst thou not say thou knewst?
Wagner
Haue you any witnesse on't?
1.
Yes sirra, I heard you.
Wagner
Aske my fellow if I be a thiefe.
2.
Well, you will not tell vs.
Wag.
Yes sir, I will tell you, yet if you were not dunces you would never aske me such a question, for is not he corpus naturale, and is not that mobile, then wherefore should you aske me such a question: but that I am by nature flegmaticke, slowe to wrath, and prone to leachery, (to love I would say) it were not for you to come within fortie foote of the place of execution, although I do not doubt to sée you both hang'd the next Sessions. Thus having triumpht over you, I will set my countnance like a precisian, and begin to speake thus: truly my deare brethren, my maister is within at dinner with Valdes and Cornelius, as this wine if it could speake, it would enforme your worships, and so the Lord blesse you, preserve you, and kéepe you my deare brethren, my deare brethren.
1.
Nay then I feare he is falne into that damned art, for which they two are infamous through the world.
2.
Were he a stranger, and not alied to me, yet should I grieve for him: but come let us go and informe the Rector, and sée if hée by his grave counsaile can reclaime him.
1.
O but I feare me nothing can reclaime him.
2.
Yet let vs trie what we can do.
Exeunt. Enter Faustus to coniure.
Faustus
Now that the gloomy shadow of the earth,Longing to view Orions drisling looke, Leapes from th'antartike world vnto the skie,And dimmes the welkin with her pitchy breath: Faustus, begin thine incantations,And trie if divels will obey thy hest,Séeing thou hast prayde and sacrific'd to them.Within this circle is Jehovah's name,Forward and backward, and Agramithist,Th'abbreviated names of holy Saints,Figures of euery adjunct to the heavens,And characters of signes and erring starres.By which the spirits are inforst to rise,Then feare not Faustus, but be resolute.And trie the vttermost Magicke can performe.Sint mihi dei acherontis propitij, valeat numen triplex Iehouae, ignei,aerij, Aquatani spiritus saluete, Orientis princeps Belsibub, inferni ardentis monarcha & demigorgon, propitiamus vos, vt apariat & surgat Mephastophilis, quòd tumeraris, per Ichouam gehennam & consecratam aquam quam nunc spargo, signúmque crucis quodnunc facio, & per vota nostra ipse nunc surgat nobis dicitis Mephastophilis.I charge thée to returne and change thy shape,Thou art too ugly to attend on me,Goe and returne an old Franciscan Frier,That holy shape becomes a divell best.I see theres vertue in my heauenly words,Who would not be proficient in this art?How pliant is this Mephastophilis? Full of obedience and humilitie,Such is the force of Magicke and my spels,No Faustus, thou art Coniurer laureateThat canst commaund great Mephastophilis, Quin regis Mephastophilis fratris imagine.
Enter Mephostophilis.
Mephostophilis
Now Faustus, what wouldst thou have me do?
Faustus
I charge thée wait upon me whilst I liue, To do what ever Faustus shall commaund,Be it to make the Moone drop from her spheare,Or the Ocean to ouerwhelme the world.
Mephostophilis
I am a servant to great Lucifer, And may not follow thée without his leave,No more then he commaunds must we performe.
Faustus
Did not he charge thée to appeare to me?
Mephistophilis.
No, I came now hither of mine owne accord.
Faustus
Did not my coniuring spéeches raise thee? speake.
Mephistophilis.
That was the cause, but yet per accident,For when we heare one racke the name of God,Abiure the scriptures, and his Saviour Christ,Wée flye, in hope to get his glorious soule,Nor will we come, unlesse he use such meanesWhereby he is in danger to be damnd:Therefore the shortest cut for coniuringIs stoutly to abiure the Trinitie,And pray devoutly to the prince of hell.
Faustus
So Faustus hath already done, & holds this principleThere is no chiefe but onely Belsibub, To whom Faustus doth dedicate himselfe,This word damnation terrifies not him,For he confounds hell in Elizium, His ghost be with the olde Philosophers,But leaving these vaine trifles of mens soules,Tell me what is that Lucifer
Mephistophilis.
Arch-regent and commaunder of all spirits.
Faustus
Was not that Lucifer an Angell once?
Mephistophilis.
Yes Faustus, and most dearely lov'd of God.
Faustus
How comes it then that he is prince of divels?
Mephistophilis.
O by aspiring pride and insolence,For which God threw him from the face of heaven.
Faustus
and what are you that liue with Lucifer?
Mephistophilis.
Unhappy spirits that fell with Lucifer, Conspir'd against our God with Lucifer, And are for everdamnd with Lucifer.
Faustus
Where are you damn'd?
Mephistophilis.
In hell.
Faustus
How comes it then that thou art out of hel?
MMephistophilis.
Why this is hel, nor am I out of it:Thinkst thou that I who saw the face of God,And tasted the eternal ioyes of heaven,Am not tormented with ten thousand hels,In being depriv'd of euerlasting blisse:O Faustus, leave these frivolous demaunds,which strike a terror to my fainting soule.
Faustus
What, is great Mephastophilis so passionate,For being deprivd of the ioyes of heaven?Learne thou of Faustus manly fortitude,And scorne those ioyes thou never shalt possesse.Go beare those tidings to great Lucifer, Séeing Faustus hath incurrd eternall death,By desprate thoughts against Ioues deitie:Say, he surrenders up to him his soule,So he will spare him 24. yéeres,Letting him live in al voluptuousnesse,Having thee ever to attend on me,To giue me whatsoever I shal aske,To tel me whatsoever I demaund,To slay mine enemies, and ayde my friends,And alwayes be obedient to my wil:Goe and returne to mighty Lucifer, And méete mée in my study at midnight,And then resolue me of thy maisters minde.
Mephistophilis.
I will Faustus.
Faustus
Had I as many soules as there be starres,Ide giue them al for Mephastophilis: By him Ile be great Emprour of the world,And make a bridge through the moouing ayre,To passe the Ocean with a band of men,Ile ioyne the hils that binde the Affricke shore,And make that land continent to Spaine, And both contributory to my crowne:The Emprour shal bot live but by my leave, Nor any Potentate of Germany: Now that I haue obtaind what I desire,Ile live in speculation of this Art,Til Mephastophilis returne againe.
Enter Wagner and the Clowne.
Wagner
Sirra boy, come hither.
Clowne.
How, boy? swowns boy, I hope you haue séene many boyes with such pickadevaunts as I haue. Boy quotha?
Wagner.
Tel me sirra, hast thou any commings in?
Clo.
I, and goings out too, you may sée else.
Wagner.
Alas poore slaue, sée how pouerty iesteth in his nakednesse, the vilaine is bare, and out of seruice, and so hungry, that I know he would giue his soule to the Divel for a shoulder of mutton, though it were blood rawe.
Clowne.
How, my soule to the Divel for a shoulder of mutton though twere blood rawe? not so good friend, burladie I had néede haue it wel roasted, and good sawce to it, if I pay so déere.
Wagner.
Wel, wilt thou serve me, and Ile make thée go like Qui mihi discipulus?
Clowne.
How, in verse?
Wag.
No sirra, in beaten silke and staues acre.
Clowne.
Wow, how, knaves acre? I, I thought that was al the land his father left him: Doe yee heare, I would be sorie to robbe you of your living.
Wagner.
Sirra, I say in staues acre.
Clowne.
Oho, oho, staves acre, why then belike, if I were your man, I should be ful of vermine.
Wagner
So thou shalt, whether thou bée it with me, or no: but sirra, leaue your iesting, and binde your selfe presently unto me for seaven yéeres, or Ile turne al the lice about thée into familiars, and they shal teare thée in péeces.
Clowne.
Doe you heare sir? you may save that labour, they are too familiar with me already, swowns they are as bolde with my flesh, as if they had payd for my meate and drinke.
Wagner.
Wel, do you heare sirra? holde, take these gilders.
Clowne.
Gridyrons, what be they?
Wagner.
Why french crownes.
Clowne
Mas but for the name of french crownes a man were as good haue as many english counters, and what should I do with these?
Wagner.
Why now sirra thou art at an houres warning whensoever or wheresoever the divell shall fetch thee.
Clowne.
No, no, here take your gridirons againe.
Wagner.
Truly Ile none of them.
Clowne.
Truly but you shall.
Wagner.
Beare witnesse I gave them him.
Clowne.
Beare witnesse I give them you againe.
Wagner.
Well, I will cause two divels presently to fetch thée away Baliol and Belcher.
Clowne.
Let your Baliol and your Belcher come here, and Ile knocke them, they were neuer so knockt since they were divels, say I should kill one of them. What would folkes say? do ye see yonder tall fellow in the round flop, hee has kild the divell, so I should be cald kill divell all the parish over.
Enter two diuells, and the clowne runnes vp and downe crying.
Wagner.
Baliol and Belcher, spirits away.
Exeunt.
Clowne.
What, are they gone? a vengeance on them, they haue vilde long nailes, there was a hee diuell and a shée divell, Ile tell you how you shall know them, all hee divels has hornes, and all shée diuels had clifts and clouen feete.
Wagner.
Well sirra follow me.
Clowne.
But do you hear? if I should serve you, would you teach me to raise up Banios and Belcheos?
Wagner.
I will teach thee to turne thy self to anything, to a dogge, or a catte, or a mouse or a ratte, or any thing.
Clowne.
How? a Christian fellow to a dogge or a catte, a mouse, or a ratte: no, no sir, if you turne me into any thing, let it be the likeness of a little pretie frisking flea, that I might be here and there and every where, O Ile tickle the pretty wenches plackets! Ill be amongst them i'faith.
Wagner.
Wel sirra, come.
Clowne.
But doe you heare Wagner?
Wagner.
How Balioll and Belcher.
Clowne.
O Lord I pray sir, let Banio and Belcher go sléepe.
Wagner.
Villain, call me Master Wagner, and let thy left eye be diametrically fixt upon my right heele, with Quasi vestigias nostras insistere.
Clowne
God forgive me, he speakes Dutch fustian: well, Ile folow him, Ile serve him, thats flat.
Enter Faustus in his Study.
Faustus.
Now Faustus must thou néedes be damnd,And canst thou not be saved?What bootes it then to thinke of God or heaven?Away with such vaine fancies and despaire,Despaire in God, and trust in Belsabub:Now go not backeward: no Faustus, be resolute,Why wacverest thou? O something soundeth in mine eares:Abjure this Magicke, turne to God againe,I and Faustus wil turne to God againe.To God? he loves thee not,The god thou servest is thine owne appetite,Wherein is fixt the love of Belsabub,To him Ile build an altare and a church,And offer luke warme blood of new borne babes.
Enter good Angell, and Evill.
Good Angel
Swéet Faustus, leave that execrable art.
Faustus.
Contrition, prayer, repentance: what of them?
Good Angel
O they are meanes to bring thée unto heaven.
Evill Angel
Rather illusions fruites of lunacy,That makes men foolish that do trust them most.
Good Angel
Swéet Faustus thinke of heaven, and heauenly things.
Euill Angel
No Faustus, thinke of honor and wealth.
Faustus.
Of wealth,Why the signory of Emden shalbe mine,when Mephatophilus shal stand by me, What God can hurt thée Faustus? thou art safe,Cast no more doubts, come Mephastophilus, And bring glad tidings from great Lucifer: Ist not midnight? come Mephastophilus, Veni veni MephastophileNow tel, what sayes Lucifer thy Lord?
Mephistophilis
That I shal waite on Faustus whilst I live,So he wil buy my service with his soule.
Faustus
Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thée.
Mephistophilis
But Faustus, thou must bequeathe it solemnely,And write a déede of gift with thine owne blood,For that security craves great Lucifer: If thou deny it, I wil backe to hel.
Faustus
Stay Mephastophilus, and tel me, what good wil my soule do thy Lord?
Mephistophilis
Inlarge his kingdome.
Faustus
Is that the reason he tempts us thus?
Mephistophilis
Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.
Faustus
Haue you any paine that tortures others?
Mephistophilis
As great as have the humane soules of men:But tel me Faustus, shal I have thy soule,And I wil be thy slave, and waite on thée,And giue thée more than thou hast wit to aske.
Faustus
I Mephastophilus, I give it thée.
Mephistophilis
Then stabbe thine arme couragiously,And binde thy soule, that at some certaine dayGreat Lucifer may claime it as his owne,And then be thou as great as Lucifer.
Faustus
Loe Mephastophilus, for love of thée,I cut mine arme, and with my proper bloodAssure my soule to be great Lucifers, Chiefe Lord and regent of perpetual night,Vuew heere the blood that trickles from mine arme,And let it be propitious for my wish.
Mephistophilis
But Faustus, thou must write it in manner of a déede of gift.
Faustus.
I so I will, but Mephastophilis my bloud conieales and I can write no more.
Mephistophilis
Ile fetch thée fier to dissolve it straight.
Faustus.
What might the staying of my bloud portend?Is it unwilling I should write this bill?Why streames it not, that I may write afresh?Faustus gives to thee his soule: ah there it stayde,Why shouldst thou not? is not thy soule thine owne?Then write againe, Faustus gives to thée his soule.
Enter Mephastophilis with a chafer of coles.
Mephistophilis
Heres fier, come Faustus, set it on.
Faustus.
So now the bloud begins to cleare againe,Now will I make an ende immediately.
Mephistophilis
O what will not I do to obtaine his soule?
Faustus
Consummatum est, this Bill is ended,And Faustus hath bequeath'd his soule to Lucifer. But what is this inscription on mine arme? Homo fuge, whither should I flie?If vnto God hée'le throwe thée downe to hell,My sences are deceiu'd, here's nothing writ,I sée it plaine, here in this place is writ, Homo fuge, yet shall not Faustus flye.
Mephistophilis
Ile fetch him somewhat to delight his minde.
Enter with divels, giving crownes and rich apparell to Faustus, and daunce, and then depart.
Faustus
Speake Mephastophilis, what meanes this shewe?
Mephistophilis
Nothing Faustus, but to delight thy minde withall,And to shewe thee what Magicke can performe.
Faustus
But may I raise up spirits when I please?
Mephistophilis
I Faustus, and do greater things then these.
Faustus.
Then theres inough for a thousand soules,Here Mephastophilis receive this scrowle,A déede of gift of body and of soule:But yet conditionally, that thou performeAll articles prescrib'd betwéene vs both.
Mephistophilis
Faustus, I sweare by hel and Lucifer To effect all promises betweene vs made.
Faustus.
Then heare me reade them: on these conditions following.First, that Faustus may be a spirit in forme and substance.Secondly, that Mephastophilis shall be his servant, and at his commaund.Thirdly, that Mephastophilis shall do for him, and bring him whatsoever.Fourthly, that hee shall be in his chamber or house invisible.Lastly, that hee shall appeare to the said Iohn Faustus at all times, in what forme or shape soever he please.I Iohn Faustus of Wertenberge, Doctor, by these presents, do give both body and soule to Lucifer prince of the East, and his minister Mephastophilis, and furthermore graunt vnto them, that 24. yeares being expired, the articles aboue written inviolate, full power to fetch or carry the said Iohn Faustus body and soule, flesh, bloud, or goods, into their habitation wheresoever.
By me Iohn Faustus.
Mephistophilis.
Speake Faustus, do you deliver this as your déede?
Faustus
I, take it, and the divell giue thee good on 't.
Mephisophilis.
Now Faustus aske what thou wilt.
Faustus.
First will I question with thée about hell,Tel me, where is the place that men call hell?
Mephistophilis.
Under the heavens.
Faustus.
I, but where about?
Mephistophilis.
Within the bowels of these elements,Where we are tortur'd and remaine for euer,Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscrib'dIn one selfe place, for where we are is hell,And where hell is, must we ever be:And to conclude, when all the world dissolves,And euery creature shalbe purified,All places shall be hell that is not heaven.
Faustus.
Come, I thinke hell's a fable.
Mephistophilis.
I, thinke so still, till experience change thy minde.
Faustus
Why? thinkst thou then that Faustus shall bée damn'd?
Mephistophilis.
I of necessitie, for here's the scrowle,Wherein thou hast giuen thy soule to Lucifer.
Faustus.
I, and body too, but what of that?Thinkst thou that Faustus is so sond,To imagine, that after this life there is any paine?Tush these are trifles and méere olde wives tales.
Mephistophilis.
But Faustus I am an instance to prove the contrary For I am damnd, and am now in hell.
Faustus.
How? now in hell? nay and this be hell, Ile willingly be damnd here: what walking, disputing, &c. But leauing off this, let me haue a wife, the fairest maid in Germany, for I am wanton and lascivious, and can not live without a wife.
Mephistophilis.
How, a wife? I prithée Faustus talke not of a wife.
Faustus.
Nay sweete Mephastophilis fetch me one, for I will haue one.
Mephistophilis.
Well thou wilt haue one, sit there till I come, Ile fetch thée a wife in the divels name.
Enter with a divell drest like a woman, with fier workes.
Mephistophilis.
Tel Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?
Faustus
A plague on her for a hote whore.
Mephistophilis.
Tut Faustus, marriage is but a ceremoniall toy, if thou lovest me, thinke more of it.Ile cull thée out the fairest curtezans,And bring them eu'ry morning to thy bed,She whome thine eie shall like, thy heart shal have,Be she as chaste as was Penelope, As wise as Saba, or as beautifulAs was bright Lucifer before his fall.Hold, take this booke, peruse it thorowly,The iterating of these lines brings golde, The framing of this circle on the ground,Brings whirlewindes, tempests, thunder and lightning.Pronounce this thrice deuoutly to thy selfe,And men in armour shal appeare to thee,Ready to execute what thou desirst.
Faustus
Thankes Mephastophilus, yet faine would I have a booke wherein I might beholde al spels and incantations, that I might raise up spirits when I please.
Mephistophilis.
Here they are in this booke.
There turne to them
Faustus.
Now would I haue a booke where I might sée al characters and planets of the heavens, that I might knowe their motions and dispositions.
Mephistophilis.
Héere they are too. Turne to them
Faustus
Nay let me have one booke more, and then I haue done, wherein I might sée al plants, hearbes and trées that grow upon the earth.
Mephistophilis.
Here they be.
Faustus
O thou art deceived.
Mephistophilis.
Tut I warrant thée.
Turne to them
Faustus
When I behold the heavens, then I repent,And curse thée wicked Mephastophilus, Because thou hast depriv'd me of those ioyes.
Mephistophilis.
Why Faustus,Thinkst thou heaven is such a glorious thing?I tel thée tis not halfe so faire as thou,Or any man that breathes on earth.
Faustus.
How proovest thou that?
Mephistophilis.
It was made for man, therefore is man more excellent.
Faustus.
If it were made for man, twas made for me:I wil renounce this magicke, and repent.
Enter good Angel, and evill Angel.
Good Angell.
Faustus, repent yet, God wil pitty thée.
evill Angell.
Thou art a spirite, God cannot pitty thée.
Faustus.
Who buzzeth in mine eares I am a spirite?Be I a divel, yet God may pitty me,I God wil pitty me, if I repent.
euill Angell
I but Faustus neuver shal repent.
exeunt
Faustus
My hearts so hardned I cannot repent,Scarse can I name saluation, faith, or heaven,But feareful ecchoes thunders in mine eares,Faustus, thou art damn'd, then swordes and knives,Poyson, gunnes, halters, and invenomd stéeleAre layde before me to dispatch my selfe,And long ere this I should have slaine my selfe,Had not swéete pleasure conquerd déepe dispaire.Have not I made blinde Homer sing to me,Of Alexanders love, and Enons death,And hath not he that built the walles of Thebes, With ravishing sound of his melodious harpMade musicke with my Mephastophilis, Why should I dye then, or basely dispaire?I am resolv'd Faustus shal nere repent,Come Mephastophilis, let vs dispute againe,And argue of divine Astrologie, Tel me, are there many heavens above the Moone?Are all celestiall bodies but one globe,As is the substance of this centricke earth?
Mephistophilus.
As are the elements, such are the spheares,Mutually folded in each others orbe,And Faustus all iointly move upon one axletrée,Whose terminine is tearmd the worlds wide pole,Nor are the names of Saturne, Mars, or Iupiter Faind, but are erring starres.
Faustus.
But tell me, have they all one motion? both situ & tempore.
Mephistophilus.
All ioyntly moue from East to West in 24. houres upon the poles of the world, but differ in their motion upon the poles of the Zodiake.
Faustus.
Tush, these slender trifles Wagner can decide,Hath Mephastophilus no greater skill?Who knowes not the double motion of the plannets?The first is straight in a naturall day,The second thus, as Saturne in 30. yeares, Iupiter in 12. Mars in 4. the Sunne, Venus, and Mercury in a yeare: the Moone in 28. dayes. Tush these are fresh mens suppositions, but tell me, hath every spheare a dominion or Intelligentia?
Mephistophilus.
I.
Faustus.
How many heavens or spheares are there?
Mephistophilus.
Nine, the seven planets, the firmament, and the imperiall hea\ven.
Faustus.
Well, resolve me in this question, why have wée not coniunctions, oppositions, aspects, eclipsis, all at one time, but in some yeares we have more, in some lesse?
Mephistophilus.
Per inaequalem motum respectu totius.
Faustus.
Well, I am answered, tell me who made the world?
Mephistophilus.
I will not.
Faustus.
Sweete Mephastophilus tell me.
Mephistophilus
Moue me not, for I will not tell thée.
Faustus.
Villaine, haue I not bound thée to tel me any thing?
MMephistophilus.
I, that is not against our kingdome, but this is,Thinke thou on hell Faustus, for thou art damnd.
Mephistophilus
Thinke Faustus upon God that made the world.
Mephistophilus
Remember this.
Faustus.
I, goe accursed spirit to ugly hell,Tis thou hast damned distressed Faustus soule:Ist not too late?
Enter good Angell and evill.
evill Anegll.
Too late.
good Angell.
Never too late, if Faustus can repent.
evill Angell.
If thou repent diuels shall teare thee in péeces.
good Agell.
Repent, & they shal neuer race thy skin.
Exeunt.
Faustuss.
Ah Christ my Sauiour, seeke to save distressed Faustus soule.
Enter Lucifer, Belsabub, and Mephastophilus.
Lucifer.
Christ cannot save thy soule, for he is iust,Theres none but I have intrest in the same.
Faustus:
O who art thou that lookst so terrible?
Lucifer.
I am Lucifer, and this is my companion Prince in hel.
Faustus.
O Faustus, they are come to fetch away thy soule.
Lucifer
we come to tell thée thou dost iniure vs,Thou talkst of Christ, contrary to thy promiseThou shouldst not thinke of God, thinke of the devil,And of his dam too.
Faustus
Nor will I henceforth: pardon me in this,And Faustus vowes never to looke so heauen,Never to name God, or to pray to him,To burne his Scriptures, slay his Ministers,And make my spirites pull his churches downe.
Lucifer
Do so, and we will highly gratifie thee:Faustus, we are come from hel to shew thée some pastime: sit downe, and thou shalt see al the seaven deadly sinnes appeare in their proper shapes.
Faustus
That sight will be as pleasing unto me, as paradise was to Adam, the first day of his creation.
Lucifer
Talke not of paradise, nor creation, but marke this shew, talke of the divel, and nothing else: come away.Now Faustus, examine them of their several names and dispositions.
Faustus
What art thou? the first.
Pride
I am Pride, I disdaine to have any parents, I am like to Ovids flea, I can créepe into every corner of a wench, sometimes like a periwig, I sit upon her brow, or like a fan of feathers, I kisse her lippes, indéede I doe, what doe I not? but fie, what a scent is here? Ile not speake an other worde, except the ground were perfumde and couered with cloth of arras.
Faustus
What art thou? the second.
Covetousness.
I am Covetousnes, begotten of an olde churle, in an olde leatherne bag: and might I haue my wish, I would desire, that this house, and all the people in it were turnd to golde, that I might locke you uppe in my good chest, O my sweete golde
Faustus.
What art thou? the third.
Wrath
I am Wrath, I had neither father nor mother, I leapt out of a lions mouth, when I was scarce half an houre olde, and ever since I haue runne up and downe the worlde, with this case of rapiers wounding my selfe, when I had no body to fight withal: I was borne in hel, and looke to it, for some of you shalbe my father.
Faustus
what art thou? the fourth.
Envy
I am Envy, begotten of a Chimney-swéeper, and an Oyster wife, I cannot reade, and therefore wish al bookes were burnt: I am leane with séeing others eate, O that there would come a famine through all the worlde, that all might die, and I liue alone, then thou shouldst see how fatt I would be: but must thou sit and I stand? come downe with a vengeance.
Faustus.
Away envious rascall: what art thou? the fift.
Gluttony.
who I sir, I am Gluttony, my parents are al dead, and the divel a peny they have left me, but a bare pention, and that is 30. meales a day, and tenne beavers, a small triflle to suffice nature, O I come of a royall parentage, my grandfather was a gammon of bacon, my grandmother a hogs head of Claret-wine: My godfathers were these, Peter Pickle-herring, and Martin-Martlemas biefe, O but my godmother she was a iolly gentlewoman, and welbeloved in euery good towne and Citie, her name was mistresse Margery March-béere: now Faustus, thou hast heard all my Progeny, wilt thou bid me to supper?
Faustus
No, Ile sée thée hanged, thou wilt eate up all my victualls.
Gluttony.
Then the divell choake thée.
Faustus.
Choake thy selfe glutton: what art thou? the sixt.
Sloath.
I am sloath, I was begotten on a sunny banke, where I haue laine ever since, and you have done me great iniury to bring me from thence, let me be carried thither againe by Gluttony and Leachery, Ile not speake an other word for a Kings ransome.
Faustus.
What are you mistresse minkes? the seaventh and last.
Lechery
Who I sir? I am one that loves an inch of raw Mutton better then an ell of frid stock-fish, and the first letter of my name beginnes with leachery.Away, to hel, to hel.
exeunt the sinnes.
Lucifer.
Now Faustus, how dost thou like this?
Faustus
O this feedes my soule.
Lucifer.
But Faustus, in hel is al manner of delight.
Faustus.
O might I sée hel, and returne againe, how happy were I then?
Lucifer
Thou shalt, I wil send for thée at midnight, in mean time take this booke, peruse it throwly, and thou shalt turne thy selfe into what shape thou wilt.
Faustus.
Great thankes mighty Lucifer, this wil I kéepe as chary as my life.
Lu.
Farewel Faustus, and thinke on the divel.
Faustus.
Farewel great Lucifer, come Mephastophilis.
exeunt omnes. enter Wagner solus.
Wagner.
Learned Faustus,To know the secrets of Astronomy, Graven in the booke of Iouves hie firmament,Did mount himselfe to scale Olympus top,Being seated in a chariot burning bright,Drawne by the strength of yoky dragons neckes,He now is gone to proove Cosmography, And as I guesse, wil first arive at Rome, To see the Pope, and manner of his court,And take some part of holy Peters feast,That to this day is highly solemnizd.
Enter Faustus and Mephastophilus.
Faustus.
Having now, my good Mephastophilus,Past with delight the stately towne of Trier, Invirond round with ayrie mountaine tops,With walles of flint, and déepe intrenched lakes,Not to be wonne by any conquering prince,From Paris next coasting the Realme of France,Wée sawe the river Maine fall into Rhine, Whose bankes are set with groves of fruitful vines.Then up to Naples, rich Campania, Whose buildings faire and gorgeous to the eye,The stréetes straight forth, and pau'd with finest bricke,Quarters the towne in foure equivolence.There sawe we learned Maroes golden tombe,The way he cut an English mile in length,Thorough a rocke of stone in one nights space.From thence to Venice, Padua, and the rest,In midst of which a sumptuous Temple stands,That threats the starres with her aspiring toppe.Thus hitherto hath Faustus spent his time,But tell me now, what resting place is this?Hast thou as erst I did commaund,Conducted me within the walles of Rome?
Mephistophilus.
Faustus I haue, and because we wil not be unprouided, I haue taken up his holinesse privy chamber for our use.
Faustus.
I hope his holinesse will bid us welcome.
Mephistophilus
Tut, tis no matter man, wéele be bold with his good cheare,And now my Faustus, that thou maist perceiveWhat Rome containeth to delight thée with,Know that this Citie stands upon seven hillesThat underprops the groundworke of the same,Ouer the which foure stately bridges leane,That makes safe passage to each part of Rome. Upon the bridge call'd Ponto Angelo, Erected is a Castle passing strong,Within whose walles such store of ordonance are,And double Canons, fram'd of carved brasse,As match the dayes within one compleate yeare,Besides the gates and high piramides,Which Iulius Caesar brought from Affrica.
Faustus.
Now by the kingdomes of infernall rule,Of Styx, Acheron, and the fiery lakeOf ever burning Phelegethon I sweare,That I do long to sée the monumentsAnd scituation of bright splendant Rome, Come therefore lets away.
Mephistophilus.
Nay Faustus stay, I know youd faine sée the Pope,And take some part of holy Peters feast,Where thou shalt see a troupe of bald-pate Friers,Whose summum bonum is in belly-cheare.
Faustus.
Well, I am content, to compasse then some sport,And by their folly make vs merriment,Then charme me that I may be invisible, to do what I please unseene of any whilst I stay in Rome.
Mephistophilus.
So Faustus, now do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discerned.
Sound a Sonnet, enter the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorraine to the banket, with Friers attending.
Pope
My Lord of Lorraine, wilt please you draw neare.
Faustus.
Fall too, and the divel choake you and you spare.
Pope
How now, whose that which spake? Friers looke about.
Friers.
Héere's no body, if it like your Holynesse.
Pope.
My Lord, here is a daintie dish was sent me from the Bishop of Mallaine.
Faustus.
I thanke you sir.
Snatch it.
Pope.
How now, whose that which snatcht the meate from me? will no man looke?My Lord, this dish was sent me from the Cardinall of Florence.
Faustus.
You say true, Ile hate.
Pope.
What againe? my Lord Ile drinke to your grace
Faustus.
Ile pledge your grace.
Lorraine.
My Lord, it may be some ghost newly crept out of Purgatory come to begge a pardon of your holinesse.
Pope
It may be so, Friers prepare a dirge to lay the fury of this ghost, once againe my Lord fall too.
The Pope crosseth himselfe.
Faustus.
What, are you crossing of your selfe?Well vse that tricke no more, I would advise you.
Crosse againe.
Faustus.
Well, theres the second time, aware the third,I give you faire warning.
Crosse againe, and Faustus hits him a boxe of the eare, and they all runne away.
Faustus
Come on Mephastophilis, what shall we do?
Mephistophilis
Nay I know not, we shalbe curst with bell, booke, and candle.
Faustus.
How? bell, booke, and candle, candle, booke, and bell,Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell.Anon you shal heare a hogge grunt, a calfe bleate, and an asse braye,because it is S. Peters holy day.
Enter all the Friers to sing the Dirge.
Frier.
Come brethren, lets about our businesse with good deuotion.
Cursed be hee that stole away his holinesse meate from the table. maledicat dominus.Cursed be hee that strooke his holinesse a blowe on the face. maledicat dominus.Cursed be he that tooke Frier Sandelo a blow on the pate. male, &c.Cursed be he that disturbeth our holy Dirge. male, &c.Cursed be he that tooke away his holinesse wine. maledicat dominus.Et omnes sancti. Amen.
Beate the Friers, and fling fier-workes among them, and so Exeunt. Enter
Chorus.
When Faustus had with pleasure tane the viewOf rarest things, and royal courts of kings,Hée stayde his course, and so returned home,Where such as beare his absence, but with griefe,I meane his friends and nearest companions,Did gratulate his safetie with kinde words,And in their conference of what befell,Touching his iourney through the world and ayre,They put forth questions of Astrologie, Which Faustus answerd with such learned skill,As they admirde and wondered at his wit.Now is his fame spread forth in every land,Amongst the rest the Emperour is one, Carolus the fift, at whose pallace nowFaustus is feasted mongst his noble men.What there he did in triall of his art,I leave untold, your eyes shall see performd.
Enter Robin the Ostler with a booke in his hand
Robin
O this is admirable! here I ha stolne one of doctor Faustus coniuring books, and i'faith I meane to search some circles for my owne use: now wil I make al the maidens in our parish dance at my pleasure starke naked before me, and so by that meanes I shal see more then ere I shall see more than ere I felt or saw yet.
Enter Rafe calling Robin.
Rafe
Robin, prethee come away, theres a Gentleman tarries to haue his horse, and he would have his things rubd and made cleane: he keepes such a chafing with my mistris about it, and she has sent me to looke thée out, prethée come away.
Robin
Keepe out, kéep out, or else you are blowne up, you are dismembred Rafe, kéepe out, for I am about a roaring peece of worke.
Rafe
Come, what doest thou with that same booke thou canst not reade?
Robin
Yes, my maister and mistris shal finde that I can reade, he for his forehead, she for her private study, shée's borne to beare with me, or else my Art failes.
Rafe
Why Robin what booke is that?
Robin
What booke? why the most intollerable booke for coniuring that ere was invented by any brimstone diuel.
Rafe
Canst thou coniure with it?
Robin
I can do al these things easily with it: first, I can make thée druncke with ippocrase at any taberne in Europe for nothing, thats one of my coniuring workes.
Rafe
Our maister Parson sayes thats nothing.
Robin
True Rafe, and more Rafe, if thou hast any mind to Nan Spit our kitchin maide, then turne her and wind hir to thy owne use, as often as thou wilt, and at midnight.
Rafe
O brave Robin; shal I have Nan Spit, and to mine owne vse? On that condition Ile feede thy diuel with horsebread as long as he lives, of frée cost.
Robin
No more swéete Rafe, letts goe and make cleane our bootes which lie foule vpon our handes, and then to our coniuring in the divels name.
exeunt. Enter Robin and Rafe with a silver Goblet.
Robin
Come Rafe, did not I tell thee, we were for euer made by this doctor Faustus booke? ecce signum, héeres a simple purchase for horse-kéepers, our horses shal eate no hay as long as this lasts.
enter the Vintner.
Rafe
But Robin, here comes the vintner.
Robin
Hush, Ile gul him supernaturally: Drawer, I hope al is payd, God be with you, come Rafe.
Vintner.
Soft sir, a word with you, I must yet haue a goblet payde from you ere you goe.
Robin
I a goblet Rafe, I a goblet? I scorne you: and you are but a &c. I a goblet? search me.
Vintner.
I meane so sir with your fauor.
Robin
How say you now?
Vintner
I must say somewhat to your felow, you sir.
Rafe
Me sir, me sir, search your fill: now sir, you may be ashamed to burden honest men with a matter of truth.
Vintner
Wel, tone of you hath this goblet about you.
Robin.
You lie Drawer, tis afore me: sirra you, Ile teach ye to impeach honest men: stand by, Ile scowre you for a goblet, stand aside you had best, I charge you in the name of Belzabub: looke to the goblet Rafe.
Vintner
What meane you sirra?
Robin
Ile tel you what I meane. Sanctobulorum Periphrasticon: nay Ile tickle you Uintner, looke to the goblet Rafe, Polypragmos Belebeborams framanto pacostiphos tostu Mephastophilis, &c.
Enter Mephostophilis: sets squibs at their backes: they runne about.
Vintner
O nomine Domine, what meanest thou Robin thou hast no goblet.
Rafe
Peccatum peccatorum, heeres thy goblet, good Uintner.
Robin
Misericordia pro nobis what shal I doe? good divel forgive me now, and Ile never rob thy Library more.
Enter to them Mephistophilus.
Mephistophilus.
Vanish vilaines, th one like an Ape, an other like a Beare, the third an Asse, for doing this enterprise.Monarch of hel, under whose blacke surveyGreat Potentates do kneele with awful feare,Upon whose altars thousand soules do lieHow am I vexed with these vilaines charmes?From Constantinople am I hither come,Onely for pleasure of these damned slaves.
Robin
How, from Constantinople? you have had a great iourney, wil you take sixe pence in your purse to pay for your supper, and be gone?
Mephistophilus
wel villaines, for your presumption, I transforme thée into an Ape, and thée into a Dog, and so be gone.
Robin.
How, into an Ape? thats brave, Ile have fine sport with the boyes, Ile get nuts and apples enow.
Rafe
And I must be a Dogge.
exeunt.
Robin
I faith thy head wil never be out of the potage pot.
Enter Emperour, Faustus, and a Knight, with Attendants.
Emperour.
Maister doctor Faustus, I haue heard strange report of thy knowledge in the blacke Arte, how that none in my Empire, nor in the whole world can compare with thée, for the rare effects of Magicke: they say thou hast a familiar spirit, by whome thou canst accomplish what thou list, this therefore is my request that thou let me sée some proofe of thy skil, that mine eies may be witnesses to confirme what mine eares have heard reported, and here I sweare to thée, by the honor of mine Imperial crowne, that what ever thou doest, thou shalt be no wayes preiudiced or indamaged.
Knight
I faith he lookes much like a coniurer.
Faustus.
My gratious Soveraigne, though I must confesse my selfe farre inferior to the report men have published, and nothing answerable to the honor of your Imperial maiesty, yet for that love and duety bindes me thereunto, I am content to do whatsoever your maiesty shall command me.
Emperour.
Then doctor Faustus, marke what I shall say, As I was sometime solitary set, within my Closet, sundry thoughts arose, about the honour of mine auncestors, howe they had wonne by prowesse such exploits, gote such riches, subdued so many kingdomes, as we that do succéede, or they that shal hereafter possesse our throne, shal (I feare me) neuer attaine to that degrée of high renowne and great authoritie, amongest which kings is Alexander the great, chiefe spectacle of the worldes preheminence,The bright shining of whose glorious actesLightens the world with his reflecting beames,As when I heare but motion made of him,It grieves my soule I neuer saw the man:If therefore thou, by cunning of thine Art,Canst raise this man from hollow vaults below,Where lies intombde this famous Conquerour,And bring with him his beauteous Paramour,Both in their right shapes, gesture, and attireThey used to weare during their time of life,Thou shalt both satisfie my iust desire,And give me cause to praise thée whilst I live.
Faustus
My gratious Lord, I am ready to accomplish your request, so farre forth as by art and power of my spirit I am able to performe.
Knight
Faith thats iust nothing at all.
Faustus.
But if it like your Grace, it is not in my abilitie to present before your eyes, the true substantiall bodies of those two deceased princes which long since are consumed to dust.
Knight.
I mary master doctor, now theres a signe of grace in you, when you wil confesse the trueth.
Faustus.
But such spirites as can lively resemble Alexander and his Paramour, shal appeare before your Grace, in that manner that they best liv'd in, in their most florishing estate, which I doubt not shal sufficiently content your Imperiall maiesty.
Emperour.
Go to maister Doctor, let me sée them presently.
Knight.
Do you heare maister Doctor? you bring Alexander and his paramour before the emperor?
Faustis.
How then sir?
Knight.
I faith thats as true as Diana turnd me to a stag.
Faustus:
No sir but when Acteon died, he left the hornes for you: Mephastophilis be gone.
exit Mephistophilis.
Knight.
Nay, and you go to coniuring, Ile be gone.
Faustus.
Ile méete with you anone for interrupting me so: héere they are my gratious Lord.
Enter Mephhistophiles with Alexander and his paramour.
Emperour
Maister Doctor, I heard this Lady while she liv'd had a wart or moale in her necke, how shal I know whether it be so or no?
Faustus
Your highnes may boldly go and sée.
exit Alexander
Emperour.
Sure these are no spirites, but the true substantiall bodies of those two deceased princes.
Faustus
Wilt please your highnes now to send for the knight that was so pleasant with me here of late?
Emperour
One of you call him foorth.
Enter the Knight with a paire of hornes on his head.
Emperour.
How now sir Knight? why I had thought thou hadst beene a batcheler, but now I sée thou hast a wife, that not only gives thee hornes, but makes thée weare them, feele on thy head.
Knight
Thou damned wretch, and execrable dogge,Bred in the concave of some monstrous rocke:How darst thou thus abuse a Gentleman?Uilaine I say, undo what thou hast done.
Faustus.
O not so fast sir, theres no haste but good, are you remembred how you crossed me in my conference with the emperour? I thinke I have met with you for it.
emp:
Good Maister Doctor, at my intreaty release him, he hath done penance sufficient.
Faustus
My Gratious Lord, not so much for the iniury hée offred me héere in your presence, as to delight you with some mirth, hath Faustus worthily requited this iniurious knight, which being all I desire, I am content to release him of his hornes: and sir knight, hereafter speake well of Scholers: Mephastophilis, transforme him strait. Now my good Lord hauing done my duety, I humbly take my leave.
Emperour
Farewel maister Doctor, yet ere you goe, expect from me a bounteous reward.
Faustus
Now Mephastophilis, the restlesse course that time doth runne with calme and silent foote,Shortning my dayes and thred of vitall life,Calls for the payment of my latest yeares,Therefore swéet Mephastophilis, let vs make haste to Wertenberge.
Mephistophilis
What, wil you goe on horse backe, or on foote?
Faustus
Nay, til I am past this faire and pleasant gréene, ile walke on foote.
enter a Horse-courser
Horse-courser.
I haue béene al this day séeking one maister Fustian: masse sée where he is, God saue you maister doctor.
Faustus
What horse-courser, you are wel met.
Horse-courser.
Do you heare sir? I have brought you forty dollers for your horse.
Faustus
I cannot sel him so: if thou likst him for fifty, take him.
Horse-courser.
Alas sir, I have no more, I pray you speake for me.
Mephilistophilis
I pray you let him have him, he is an honest felow, and he has a great charge, neither wife nor childe.
Faustus.
Wel, come give me your money, my boy wil delvuer him to you: but I must tel you one thing before you have him, ride him not into the water at any hand.
Horse-courser.
Why sir, wil he not drinke of all waters?
Faustus
O yes, he wil drinke of al waters, but ride him not into the water, ride him over hedge or ditch, or where thou wilt, but not into the water.
Horse-courser.
Wel sir, Now am I made man for ever, Ile not leave my horse for fortie: if he had but the qualitie of hey ding, ding, hey, ding, ding, Ide make a brave liuing on him; hée has a buttocke as slicke as an Ele: wel god buy sir, your boy wil deliuer him me: but hark ye sir, if my horse he sick, or ill at ease, if I bring his water to you youle tel me what it is?
Faustus.
Away you villaine: what, doost thinke I am a horse-doctor? what art thou Faustus but a man condemnd to die?Thy fatall time doth drawe to finall endeDispaire doth drive distrust unto my thoughts,Confound these passions with a quiet sléepe:Tush, Christ did call the thiefe upon the Crosse,Then rest thée Faustus quiet in conceit.
Sleepe in his chaire. Enter Horsecourser all wet, crying.
Horse-courser.
Alas, alas, Doctor Fustian quoth a, mas Doctor Lopus was neuer such a Doctor, has giuen me a purgation, has purg'd me of fortie Dollers, I shall never sée them more: but yet like an asse 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 qualitie that he would not haue had me knowne of, I like a ventrous youth, rid him into the deepe pond at the townes ende, I was no sooner in the middle of the pond, but my horse vanisht away, and I sat vpon a bottle of hey, neuer so neare drowning in my life: but Ile séeke out my Doctor, and haue my fortie dollers againe, or Ile make it the dearest horse: O yonder is his snipper snapper, do you heare? you, hey, passe, where's your maister?
Mephistophilis
why sir, what would you? you cannot speake with him.
Horse-courser.
But I wil speake with him.
Mephilstophilis.
Why hée's fast asléepe, come some other time.
Horse-courser.
Ile speake with him now, or Ile breake his glasse-windowes about his eares.
Mephistophilis.
I tell thee he has not slept this eight nights.
Hors-courser.
And he have not slept this eight wéekes Ile speake with him.
Mephistophilis.
Sée where he is fast asléepe.
Horse-courser.
I, this is he, God save ye maister doctor, maister doctor, maister doctor Fustian, fortie dollers, fortie dollers for a bottle of hey.
Mephistophilis.
Why, thou seest he heares thée not.
Horse-courser.
So, ho, ho: so, ho, ho.No, will you not wake? Ile make you wake ere I goe.
Pull him by the legge, and pull it away. Alas, I am undone, what shall I do:
Faustus.
O my legge, my legge, helpe Mephastophilis, call the Officers, my legge, my legge.
Mephistophilis
Come villaine to the Constable.
Horse-courser.
O Lord sir, let me goe, and Ile give you fortie dollers more.
Mephistophilis.
Where be they?
Horse-courser.
I have none about me, come to my Oastrie and Ile give them you.
Mephistophilis.
Be gone quickly.
Horsecourser runnes away.
Faustus.
What is he gone? farwel he, Faustus has his legge againe, and the Horsecourser I take it, a bottle of hey for his labour; wel, this tricke shal cost him fortie dollers more.
Enter Wagner. How now Wagner, what's the newes with thée?
Wagner.
Sir, the Duke of Vanholt doth earnestly entreate your company.
Faustus
The Duke of Vanholt! an honourable gentleman, to whom I must be no niggard of my cunning, come Mephastophilis, let's away to him.
exeunt. Enter to them the Duke, and the Dutches, the Duke speakes.
Duke
Beléeve me maister Doctor, this merriment hath much pleased me.
Faustus.
My gratious Lord, I am glad if contents you so wel: but it may be Madame, you take no delight in this, I have heard that great bellied women do long for some dainties or other, what is it Madame? tell me, and you shal have it.
Dutchess.
Thankes, good maister doctor, And for I sée your curteous intent to pleasure me, I wil not hide from you the thing my heart desires, and were it nowe summer, as it is Ianuary, and the dead time of the winter, I would desire no better meate then a dish of ripe grapes.
Faustus
Alas Madame, thats nothing, Mephastophilis, be gone: exit Mephistophilis. were it a greater thing then this, so it would content you, you should haue it enter Mephistophilis: with the grapes. here they be madam, wilt please you taste on them.
Duke
Beléeue me master Doctor, this makes me wonder aboue the rest, that being in the dead time of winter, and in the month of Ianuary, how you shuld come by these grapes.
Fau:
If it like your grace, the yéere is divided into twoo circles ouer the whole worlde, that when it is héere winter with vs, in the contrary circle it is summer with them, as in India>, Saba, and farther countries in the East, and by means of a swift spirit that I have, I had them brought hither, as ye see, how do you like them Madame, be they good?
Dutchess.
Beléeue me Maister doctor, they be the best grapes that ere I tasted in my life before.
Faustus.
I am glad they content you so Madam.
Duke
Come Madame, let us in, where you must wel reward this learned man for the great kindnes he hath shewd to you.
Dutchess
And so I wil my Lord, and whilst I live,Rest beholding for this curtesie.
Faustus
I humbly thanke your Grace.
Duchess
Come, maister Doctor follow vs, and receive your reward.
exeunt. enter Wagner solus.
Wagner.
I thinke my maister meanes to die shortly,For he hath given to me al his goodes,And yet me thinkes, if that death were néere,He would not banquet, and carowse, and swillAmongst the Students, as even now he doth,who are at supper with such belly-cheere,As Wagner nere beheld in all his life.Sée where they come: belike the least is ended.
Enter Faustus with two or three Schollers
1. Sch.
Maister Doctor Faustus, since our conference about faire Ladies, which was the beutifulst in all the world, we have determined with our selves, that Helen of Greece was the admirablest Lady that euer lived: therefore master Doctor, if you wil do vs that fauor, as to let vs sée that péerelesse Dame of Greece, whome al the world admires for maiesty, wée should thinke our selves much beholding vnto you.
Faustis.
Gentlemen, for that I know your friendship is vnfained, and Faustus custome is not to denie the iust requests of those that wish him well, you shall behold that pearelesse dame of Greece, no otherwaies for pompe and maiestie, then when sir Paris crost the seas with her, and brought the spoiles to rich Dardama. Be silent then, for danger is in words.
Musicke sounds, and Helen passeth ouer the Stage.
2. Scholar.
Too simple is my wit to tell her praise,Whom all the world admires for maiestie.
3. Scholar.
No marvel tho the angry Greekes pursudeWith tenne yeares warre the rape of such a quéene,Whose heavenly beauty passeth all compare.
1. Since we have séene the pride of natures workes, And onely Paragon of excellence, Enter an old man. Let us depart, and for this glorious déed Happy and blest be Faustus evermore.
Faustus.
Gentlemen farwel, the same I wish to you.
Exeunt Schollers.
Old Man.
Ah Doctor Faustus, that I might prevaile,To guide thy steps vnto the way of life,By which swéete path thou maist attaine the goleThat shall conduct thée to celestial rest.Breake heart, drop bloud, and mingle it with teares,Teares falling from repentant heavinesseOf thy most vilde and loathsome filthinesse,The stench whereof corrupts the inward souleWith such flagitious crimes of hainous sinnes,As no commiseration may expel,But mercie Faustus of thy Saviour swéete,Whose bloud alone must wash away thy guilt.
Faustus.
Where art thou Faustus? wretch what hast thou done?Damnd art thou Faustus, damnd, dispaire and die,Hell calls for right, and with a roaring voyceSayes, Faustus come, thine houre is come,And Faustus will come to do thée right.
Old man.
Ah stay good Faustus, stay thy desperate steps,I sée an Angell houers ore thy head,And with a violl full of precious grace,Offers to powre the same into thy soule,Then call for mercie and avoyd dispaire.
Faustus.
Ah my swéete friend, I féele thy words To comfort my distressed soule,Leave me a while to ponder on my sinnes.
Old man.
I goe swéete Faustus, but with heavy cheare, fearing the ruine of thy hopelesse soule.
Faustus.
Accursed Faustus, where is mercie now?I do repent, and yet I do dispaire:Hell strives with grace for conquest in my breast,What shal I do to shun the snares of death?
Mephistophilis
Thou traitor Faustus, I arrest thy souleFor disobedience to my soveraigne Lord,Revolt, or Ile in peece-meale teare thy flesh.
Faustus
Sweete Mephastophilis, intreate thy LordTo pardon my uniust presumption,And with my blood againe I wil confirmeMy former vow I made to Lucifer.
Mephistophilis
Do it then quickely, with unfained heart,Lest greater danger do attend thy drift.
Faustis
Torment sweete friend, that base and crooked age,That durst disswade me from thy Lucifer, With greatest torments that our hel affoords.
Mephistophilis
His faith is great, I cannot touch his soule,But what I may afflict his body with,I wil attempt, which is but little worth.
Faustus
One thing, good servant, let me crave of théeTo glut the longing of my hearts desire,That I might haue unto my paramour,That heavenly Helen which I saw of late,Whose swéete imbracings may extinguish cleaneThese thoughts that do disswade me from my vow,And kéepe mine oath I made to Lucifer.
Mephistophilis
Faustus, this, or what else thou shalt desire,Shalbe performde in twinckling of an eie.
enter Helen.
Faustus
Was this the face that launcht a thousand shippes?And burnt the toplesse Towres of Ilium? Swéete Helen, make me immortall with a kisse:Her lips suckes forth my soule, see where it flies: Come Helen, come give mée my soule againe.Here wil I dwel, for heaven be in these lips,And all is drosse that is not Helena: I wil be Paris, and for love of thée,Instéede of Troy shal Wertenberge be sackt,And I wil combate with weake Menelaus, And weare thy colours on my plumed Crest:Yea I wil wound Achillis in the héele,And then returne to Helen for a kisse.O thou art fairer then the evening aire,Clad in the beauty of a thousand starres,Brighter art thou then flaming Iupiter, When he appeard to haplesse Semele, More lovely then the monarke of the skieAnd wanton Arethuses azure armsAnd none but thou shalt be my paramour.
Exeunt.
Old man.
Accursed Faustus, miserable man,That from thy soule excludst the grace of heaven,And fliest the throne of his tribunall seate,Satan begins to sift me with his pride,As in this furnace God shal try my faith,My faith, vile hel, shal triumph over thée,Ambitious friends, sée how the heavens smile At your repulse, and laughs your state to scorn,Hence hel, for hence I flie unto my God.
Exeunt. Enter Faustus with the Schollers.
Faustus
Ah Gentlemen!
1. Scholar
What ailes Faustus?
Faustus
Ah my swéete chamber-fellow! had I lived with thée, then had I liued stil, but now I die eternally: looke, comes he not? comes he not?
2. Scholar
What meanes Faustus?
3. Scholar
Belike he is growne into some sickenesse, by being ever solitary.
1. Scholar:
If it be so, wéele have Physitians to cure him, tis but a surffit, never feare man.
Faustus:
A surffet of deadly sinne that hath damnd both body and soule.
2. Scholar.
Yet Faustus looke up to heauen, remember gods mercies are infinite.
Faustus.
But Faustus offence can nere be pardoned, The Serpent that tempted Eve may be saved, But not Faustus: Ah Gentlemen, hear with patience, and tremble not at my spéeches, though my heart pants and quivers to remember that I haue beene a student here these thirty yéeres, O would I had never séene Wertenberge, never read booke: and what wonders I have done, al Germany can witnes, yea all the world, for which Faustus hath lost both Germany, and the world, yea heaven it selfe, the seate of God, the throne of the blessed, the kingdome of ioy, and must remaine in hel for ever, hel ah hel for ever. Sweet friends, what shall become of Faustus, being in hel for ever?
3rd. Scholar.
Yet Faustus call on God.
Faustus.
On god whom Faustus hath abjured, on God, whome Faustus hath blasphemed, ah my God, I would weepe, but the divel draws in my tears. Gush forth blood instead of tears, yea, life and soule. Oh, he stayes my tongue, I would lift up my ands, theuy hold them, they hold them.
All
Who Faustus?
Faustus.
Lucifer and Mephastophilis. Ah Gentlemen! I gaue them my soule for my cunning.
All
God forbid.
Faustus.
God forbade it indéede, but Faustus hath done it: for vaine pleasure of 24 yeares, hath Faustus lost eternall ioy and felicitie, I writ them a bill with mine owne bloud, the date is expired, the time will come, and he wil fetch mee.
1 Scholar.
Why did not Faustus tel us of this before, that Diuines might haue prayed for thee?
Faustus.
Oft have I thought to have done so, but the divell threatned to teare mée in péeces, if I namde God, to fetch both body and soule, if I once gaue eare to diuinitie: and now tis too late: Gentlemen away, lest you perish with me.
2. Scholar.
O what shal we do to Faustus?
Faustus
Talke not of me, but saue your selues, and depart.
3. Scholar.
God wil strengthen me, I wil stay with Faustus.
1. Scholar.
Tempt not God, swéete friend, but let us into the next roome, and there pray for him.
Faustus.
I pray for me, pray for me, and what noyse soever yée heare, come not unto me, for nothing can rescue me.
2. Scholar.
Pray thou, and we wil pray that God may have mercy vpon thée.
Faustus.
Gentlemen farewel, if I live til morning, Ile visite you: if not, Faustus is gone to hel.
All
Faustus, farewel.
Exeunt Schollars. The clocke strikes eleauen.
Faustus.
Ah Faustus,Now hast thou but one bare hower to liue,And then thou must be damnd perpetually:Stand stil you ever mooving spheres of heauen,That time may cease, and midnight never come:Faire Natures eie, rise rise, againe, and makePerpetuall day, or let this houre be but a yeere,A moneth, a wéeke, a naturall day,That Faustus may repent and save his soule,O lente lente curite noctis equi:The starres mooue stil, time runs, the clocke wil strike,The divel wil come, and Faustus must be damnd.O Ile leape up to my God: who pulles me downe?See see where Christs blood streames in the firmament,One drop would save my soule, halfe a drop, ah my Christ,Ah rend not my heart for naming of my Christ,Yet wil I call on him, oh spare me Lucifer! Where is it now? tis gone:And see where God stretcheth out his arme,And bends his irefull browes:Mountaines and hilles, come come, and fall on me,And hide me from the heavy wrath of God.No no, then wil I headlong runne into the earth:Earth gape, O no, it wil not harbour me:You starres that raignd at my nativitie,Whose influence hath alotted death and hel,Now draw up Faustus like a foggy mist,Into the intrailes of yon labring cloude,That when you vomite foorth into the ayre,My limbes may issue from your smoaky mouthes,So that my soule may but ascend to heauen:Ah, halfe the houre is past:Twil all be past anone:Oh God, if thou wilt not have mercy on my soule,Yet for Christs sake, whose bloud hath ransomd me,Impose some end to my incessant paine,Let Faustus live in hel a thousand yeeres,A hundred thousand, and at last be saved.O no end is limited to damned soules,Why wert thou not a creature wanting soule?Or, why is this immortall that thou hast?Ah Pythagoras metem su cossis were that true,This soule should flie from me, and I be changdeUnto some brutish beast: al beasts are happy, for when they die,Their soules are soone dissolvd in elements,But mine must liue still to be plagde in hel:Curst be the parents that ingendred me:No Faustus, curse thy selfe, curse Lucifer, That hath depriude thée of the ioyes of heauen:O it strikes, it strikes, now body turne to ayre,Or Lucifer wil beare thée quicke to hel: Oh soule, be changde into little water drops,And fal into the Ocean, nere be found:My God, my God, looke not so fierce on me:Adders, and Serpents, let me breathe a while:Ugly hell gape not, come not Lucifer, Ile burne my bookes, ah Mephastophilis.
exeunt with him Enter
Chorus.
Cut is the branch that might have growne ful straight,And burned is Apolloes Laurel bough,That sometime grew within this learned man: Faustus is gone, regard his hellish fall,Whose fiendful fortune may exhort the wise,Onely to wonder at unlawful things,whose deepenesse doth intise such forward wits,To practise more than heavenly power permits.
Terminat hora diem, Terminat Author opus.

Footnotes