40 And double cannons, framed of carvèd brass,
As match the days within one complete year,
Besides the gates and high pyramides
Which Julius Caesar brought from Africa.
FAUSTUS
Now, by the kingdoms of infernal rule,
Of Styx, Acheron, and the fiery lake
Of ever-burning Phlegethon, I swear
That I do long to see the monuments
And situation of bright splendent Rome.
Come, therefore, let’s away!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Nay, Faustus, stay. I know you’d fain see the Pope
50 And take some part of holy Peter’s feast,
Where thou shalt see a troupe of bald-pate friars
Whose summum bonum is in belly cheer.
FAUSTUS
Well, I am content to compass then some sport,
And by their folly make us merriment.
Then charm me that I may be invisible, to do what I please unseen of any whilst I stay in Rome.
MEPHISTOPHELES So, Faustus, now 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 My lord of Lorraine, will’t please you draw near?
60
FAUSTUS Fall to, and the devil choke you an you spare.
POPE How now, who’s that which spake? Friars, look about.
FRIAR Here’s nobody, if it like your holiness.
POPE [presenting a dish] My lord, here is a dainty dish was sent me from the bishop of Milan.
FAUSTUS I thank you, sir. (Snatch it)
POPE How now, who’s that which snatched the meat from me?
Will no man look? My lord, this dish was sent me from the cardinal of Florence.
FAUSTUS [snatching the dish] You say true. I’ll ha’t.
70
POPE What, again? My lord, I’ll drink to your grace.
FAUSTUS [snatching the cup] I’ll pledge your grace.
LORRAINE My lord, it may be some ghost, newly crept out of purgatory, come to beg a pardon of your holiness.
POPE It may be so. Friars, prepare a dirge to lay the fury of this ghost. Once again, my lord, fall to.
The POPE crosseth himself.
FAUSTUS
What, are you crossing of yourself?
Well, use that trick no more, I would advise you.
[The POPE] cross [es himself] again.
Well, there’s a second time. Aware the third,
80 I give you fair warning.
[The POPE] cross [es himself] again, and FAUSTUS hits him a box of the ear, and they all [except FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHELES] run away.
Come on, Mephistopheles, what shall we do?
MEPHISTOPHELES Nay, I know not. We shall be cursed with bell, book, and candle.
FAUSTUS
How? Bell, book, and candle, candle, book, and bell,
Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell.
Anon you shall hear a hog grunt, a calf bleat, and an ass bray,
Because it is Saint Peter’s holy day.
Enter all the FRIARS to sing the dirge.
FRIAR
Come, brethren, let’s about our business with good devotion.
[The FRIARS] sing this.
Cursèd be he that stole away his holiness’ meat from the table.
90 Maledicat Dominus.
Cursèd be he that struck his holiness a blow on the face.
Maledicat Dominus.
Cursèd be he that took Friar Sandelo a blow on the pate.
Maledicat Dominus.
Cursèd be he that disturbeth our holy dirge.
Maledicat Dominus.
Cursèd be he that took away his holiness’ wine.
Maledicat Dominus.
Et omnes sancti. Amen.
[FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHELES] beat the FRIARS, and fling fireworks among them, and so exeunt.
[Scene 9]
Enter ROBIN [with a conjuring book] and RAFE with a silver goblet.
ROBIN Come, Rafe, did not I tell thee we were for ever made by this Doctor Faustus’ book? Ecce signum! Here’s a simple purchase for horse-keepers. Our horses shall eat no hay as long as this lasts.
Enter the VINTNER.
RAFE But Robin, here comes the vintner.
ROBIN Hush, I’ll gull him supernaturally. Drawer, I hope all is paid. God be with you. Come, Rafe.
[They start to leave.]
VINTNER [to ROBIN] Soft, sir, a word with you. I must yet have a goblet paid from you ere you go.
ROBIN I, a goblet? Rafe, I, a goblet? I scorn you, and you are
10 but a etc. I, a goblet? Search me.
VINTNER I mean so, sir, with your favour.
[The VINTNER searches ROBIN.]
ROBIN How say you now?
VINTNER I must say somewhat to your fellow – you, sir.
RAFE Me, sir? Me, sir? Search your fill.
[He passes the goblet to ROBIN; the VINTNER searches RAFE.]
Now, sir, you may be ashamed to burden honest men with a matter of truth.
VINTNER Well, t’one of you hath this goblet about you.
ROBIN You lie, drawer, ’tis afore me. Sirrah, you, I’ll teach ye
to impeach honest men. Stand by. I’ll scour you for a goblet.
20 Stand aside, you had best, I charge you in the name of
Beelzebub.
[He passes the goblet to RAFE.]
Look to the goblet, Rafe.
VINTNER What mean you, sirrah?
ROBIN I’ll tell you what I mean. (He reads.)
‘Sanctobulorum Periphrasticon!’ Nay, I’ll tickle you, vintner.
Look to the goblet, Rafe. ‘Polypragmos Belseborams framanto pacostiphos tostu Mephistopheles!’ etc.
Enter MEPHISTOPHELES, [who] sets squibs at their backs; they run about. [Exit MEPHISTOPHELES.]
VINTNER O, nomine Domine! What mean’st thou, Robin? Thou
30 hast no goblet.
Enter to them MEPHISTOPHELES.
RAFE Peccatum peccatorum! Here’s thy goblet, good vintner.
ROBIN Misericordia pro nobis! What shall we do? Good devil, forgive me now, I’ll never rob thy library more.
MEPHISTOPHELES Vanish, villains! Th’one like an ape, another like a bear, the third an ass, for doing this enterprise.
[Exit VINTNER.]
Monarch of hell, under whose black survey
Great potentates do kneel with awful fear,
Upon whose altars thousand souls do lie,
How am I vexèd with these villains’ charms!
40 From Constantinople am I hither come
Only for pleasure of these damnèd slaves.
ROBIN How, from Constantinople? You have had a great journey. Will you take sixpence in your purse to pay for your supper and be gone?
MEPHISTOPHELES Well, villains, for your presumption I transform thee [to ROBIN] into an ape and thee [to RAFE] into a dog. And so, begone!
Exit [MEPHISTOPHELES].
ROBIN How, into an ape? That’s brave. I’ll have fine sport with the boys; I’ll get nuts and apples enow.
50 RAFE And I must be a dog.
ROBIN I’faith, thy head will never be out of the pottage pot.
Exeunt.
[Chorus 3]
Enter CHORUS.
CHORUS
When Faustus had with pleasure ta’en the view
Of rarest things and royal courts of kings,
He stayed his course and so returnèd home,
Where such as bear his absence but with grief –
I mean his friends and nearest companions –
Did gratulate his safety with kind words.
And in their conference of what befell,
Touching his journey through the world and air,
They put forth questions of astrology,
Which Faustus answered with such learnèd skill
10 As they admir
ed and wondered at his wit.
Now is his fame spread forth in every land;
Amongst the rest the emperor is one,
Carolus the Fifth, at whose palace now
Faustus is feasted ’mongst his noblemen.
What there he did in trial of his art
I leave untold, your eyes shall see performed.
Exit.
[Scene 10]
Enter EMPEROR [OF GERMANY], FAUSTUS, [MEPHISTOPHELES,] and a KNIGHT, with ATTENDANTS.
EMPEROR Master Doctor Faustus, I have heard strange report
of thy knowledge in the black art – how that none in my
empire, nor in the whole world, can compare with thee for
the rare effects of magic. They say thou hast a familiar spirit by
whom thou canst accomplish what thou list. This, therefore, is
my request: that thou let me see some proof of thy skill, that
mine eyes may be witnesses to confirm what mine ears have
heard reported; and here I swear to thee, by the honour of
mine imperial crown, that whatever thou dost, thou shalt be
10 no ways prejudiced or endamaged.
KNIGHT (aside) I’faith, he looks much like a conjurer.
FAUSTUS My gracious sovereign, though I must confess myself far inferior to the report men have published, and nothing answerable to the honour of your imperial majesty, yet, for that love and duty binds me thereunto, I am content to do whatsoever your majesty shall command me.
EMPEROR
Then, Doctor Faustus, mark what I shall say.
As I was sometime solitary set
Within my closet, sundry thoughts arose
20 About the honour of mine ancestors,
How they had won by prowess such exploits,
Got such riches, subdued so many kingdoms
As we that do succeed or they that shall
Hereafter possess our throne shall,
I fear me, never attain to that degree
Of high renown and great authority.
Amongst which kings is Alexander the Great,
Chief spectacle of the world’s pre-eminence,
The bright shining of whose glorious acts
30 Lightens the world with his reflecting beams,
As when I hear but motion made of him,
It grieves my soul I never saw the man.
If, therefore, thou by cunning of thine art
Canst raise this man from hollow vaults below
Where lies entombed this famous conqueror,
And bring with him his beauteous paramour,
Both in their right shapes, gesture, and attire
They used to wear during their time of life,
Thou shalt both satisfy my just desire
40 And give me cause to praise thee whilst I live.
FAUSTUS My gracious lord, I am ready to accomplish your request, so far forth as by art and power of my spirit I am able to perform.
KNIGHT (aside) I’faith, that’s just nothing at all.
FAUSTUS But if it like your grace, it is not in my ability to present before your eyes the true substantial bodies of those two deceased princes, which long since are consumed to dust.
KNIGHT (aside) Ay, marry, Master Doctor, now there’s a sign of grace in you, when you will confess the truth.
FAUSTUS But such spirits as can lively resemble Alexander and
50 his paramour shall appear before your grace in that manner
that they best lived in, in their most flourishing estate, which
I doubt not shall sufficiently content your imperial majesty.
EMPEROR Go to, Master Doctor. Let me see them presently.
KNIGHT Do you hear, Master Doctor? You bring Alexander and his paramour before the emperor?
FAUSTUS How then, sir?
KNIGHT I’faith, that’s as true as Diana turned me to a stag.
FAUSTUS No, sir, but when Actaeon died, he left the horns for you.
60
[Aside to MEPHISTOPHELES] Mephistopheles, begone!
Exit MEPHISTOPHELES.
KNIGHT Nay, an you go to conjuring, I’ll be gone.
Exit KNIGHT.
FAUSTUS [aside] I’ll meet with you anon for interrupting me so.
Here they are, my gracious lord.
Enter MEPHISTOPHELES with ALEXANDER and his PARAMOUR.
EMPEROR Master Doctor, I heard this lady while she lived had a wart or mole in her neck. How shall I know whether it be so or no?
FAUSTUS Your highness may boldly go and see.
[The EMPEROR examines them, and then] exeunt ALEXANDER [and his PARAMOUR].
EMPEROR Sure these are no spirits, but the true substantial bodies of those two deceased princes.
70
FAUSTUS Will’t please your highness now to send for the knight that was so pleasant with me here of late?
EMPEROR One of you call him forth.
[An ATTENDANT leaves to summon the KNIGHT.]
Enter the KNIGHT with a pair of horns on his head.
How now, sir knight? Why, I had thought thou hadst been
a bachelor, but now I see thou hast a wife, that not only
gives thee horns, but makes thee wear them. Feel on thy
head.
KNIGHT [to FAUSTUS]
Thou damnèd wretch and execrable dog,
Bred in the concave of some monstrous rock,
80 How dar’st thou thus abuse a gentleman?
Villain, I say, undo what thou hast done.
FAUSTUS
O, not so fast, sir. There’s no haste but good.
Are you remembered how you crossed me in my conference
with the emperor? I think I have met with you for it.
EMPEROR Good Master Doctor, at my entreaty release him. He hath done penance sufficient.
FAUSTUS My gracious lord, not so much for the injury he
offered me here in your presence, as to delight you with some
mirth, hath Faustus worthily requited this injurious knight;
90 which being all I desire, I am content to release him of
his horns; and, sir knight, hereafter speak well of scholars.
[Aside to MEPHISTOPHELES] Mephistopheles, transform him
straight. [The horns are removed.] Now, my good lord, having
done my duty, I humbly take my leave.
EMPEROR
Farewell, Master Doctor. Yet, ere you go,
Expect from me a bounteous reward.
Exeunt EMPEROR [, KNIGHT and ATTENDANTS].
FAUSTUS
Now, Mephistopheles, the restless course
That time doth run with calm and silent foot,
Short’ning my days and thread of vital life,
100 Calls for the payment of my latest years.
Therefore, sweet Mephistopheles, let us make haste
To Wittenberg.
MEPHISTOPHELES
What, will you go on horseback or on foot?
FAUSTUS
Nay, till I am past this fair and pleasant green,
I’ll walk on foot.
[Scene 11]
Enter [to them] a HORSE-COURSER.
HORSE-COURSER I have been all this day seeking one Master Fustian. Mass, see where he is. God save you, Master Doctor.
FAUSTUS What, Horse-courser! You are well met.
HORSE-COURSER [offering money] Do you hear, sir? I have brought you forty dollars for your horse.
FAUSTUS I cannot sell him so. If thou lik’st him for fifty, take him.
HORSE-COURSER Alas, sir, I have no more. [To MEPHISTOPHELES] I pray you, speak for me.
MEPHISTOPHELES [to FAUSTUS] I pray you, let him have him;
10 he is an honest fellow, and he has a great charge, neither wife
nor child.
FAUSTUS Well, come, give me your money. [He takes the money.] My boy will deliver him to you. But I must tell you one thing before you have him: ride him not into the water, at any hand.
HORSE-COURSER Why, sir, will he not drink of all waters?
FAUSTUS O, yes, he will drink of all waters. But ride him not into the water. Ride him over hedge, or ditch, or where thou wilt, but not into the water.
HORSE-COURSER Well, sir. [Aside] Now am I made man for
20 ever. I’ll not leave my horse for forty. If he had but the quality
of hey, ding, ding, hey, ding, ding, I’d make a brave living on
him; he has a buttock as slick as an eel. [To FAUSTUS] Well,
goodbye, sir. Your boy will deliver him me? But hark ye, sir,
if my horse be sick or ill at ease, if I bring his water to you,
you’ll tell me what it is?
FAUSTUS Away, you villain! What, dost think I am a horse-doctor?
Exit HORSE-COURSER.
What art thou, Faustus, but a man condemned to die?
Thy fatal time doth draw to final end.
30 Despair doth drive distrust unto my thoughts.
Confound these passions with a quiet sleep.
Tush! Christ did call the thief upon the cross;
Then rest thee, Faustus, quiet in conceit.
[FAUSTUS] sleep[s] in his chair.
Enter HORSE-COURSER all wet, crying.
HORSE-COURSER Alas, alas! ‘Doctor’ Fustian, quotha! Mass,
Doctor Lopus was never such a doctor. H’as given me a
purgation, h’as purged me of forty dollars. I shall never see
them more. But yet, like an ass as I was, I would not be ruled
by him, for he bade me I should ride him into no water. Now
40 I, thinking my horse had had some rare quality that he would
not have had me known of, I, like a venturous youth, rid him
into the deep pond at the town’s end. I was no sooner in the
middle of the pond, but my horse vanished away and I sat
upon a bottle of hay, never so near drowning in my life. But
I’ll seek out my doctor and have my forty dollars again, or I’ll
make it the dearest horse! O, yonder is his snipper-snapper.
Do you hear? You, hey-pass, where’s your master?
MEPHISTOPHELES Why, sir, what would you? You cannot speak with him.
50 HORSE-COURSER But I will speak with him.
MEPHISTOPHELES Why, he’s fast asleep. Come some other time.
HORSE-COURSER I’ll speak with him now, or I’ll break his glass windows about his ears.
MEPHISTOPHELES I tell thee he has not slept this eight nights.
HORSE-COURSER An he have not slept this eight weeks, I’ll speak with him.
The Complete Plays Page 37