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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Dr. Faustus (A Text)

Act: 2 Scene: 5<<- -

FAUSTUS discovered in his Study.

Now, Faustus, must

Thou needs be damned, and canst thou not be saved: What boots it then to think of God or Heaven?

Away with such vain fancies, and despair:

Despair in God, and trust in Belzebub;

Now go not backward: no, Faustus, be resolute:

Why waverst thou? O, something soundeth in mine

ears

Abjure this Magic, turn to God again!

Ay, and Faustus will turn to God again.

To God?—He loves thee not—

The God thou servst is thine own appetite,

Wherein is fixed the love of Belzebub;

To him I'll build an altar and a church,

And offer lukewarm blood of new-born babes.

Enter Good Angel and Evil Angel.

Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable Art.

Contrition, prayer, repentance! What of them?

O, they are means to bring thee unto Heaven.

Rather, illusions—fruits of lunacy,

That makes men foolish that do trust them most.

Sweet Faustus, think of Heaven, and heavenly

things.

No, Faustus, think of honour and of

{Exeunt Angels.

Of wealth!

Why the Signiory of Embden shall be mine.

When Mephistophilis shall stand by me,

What God can hurt thee? Faustus, thou art safe:

Cast no more doubts. Come, Mephistophilis,

And bring glad tidings from great Lucifer;—

Is't not midnight? Come, Mephistophilis;

Veni, veni, Mephistophile I

Enter MEPHISTOPHILIS.

Now tell me, what says Lucifer thy lord?

That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he

So he will buy my service with his soul.

Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee.

But, Faustus, thou must bequeath it solemnly,

And write a deed of gift with thine own blood,

For that security craves great Lucifer.

If thou deny it, I will back to Hell.

Stay, Mephistophilis! and tell me what good

Will my soul do thy lord.

Enlarge his kingdom.

Is that the reason why he tempts us thus?

Meph. Solamen miseris socios habuisse dolons.

Why, have you any pain that tortures others?

Meph, As great as have the human souls of men.

But tell me, Faustus, shall I have thy soul?

And I will be thy slave, and wait on thee,

And give thee more than thou hast wit to ask.

Faust. Ay, Mephistophilis, I give it thee.

Then, Faustus, stab thine arm courageously,

And bind thy soul that at some certain day.

Great Lucifer may claim it as his own;

And then be thou as great as Lucifer.

Faust, stabbing his arm.] Lo, Mephistophilis, for

love of thee,

I cut mine arm, and with my proper blood

Assure my soul to be great Lucifer's,

Chief lord and regent of perpetual night!

View here the blood that trickles from mine arm,

And let it be propitious for my wish.

But, Faustus, thou must

Write it in manner of a deed of gift.

Ay, so I will. [Writes^ But, Mephistophilis,

My blood congeals, and I can write no more.

I'll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight. [Exit.

What might the staying of my blood portend?

Is it unwilling I should write this bill?

Why streams it not that I may write afresh?

Faustus gives to thee his soul. Ah, there it stayed.

Why should'st thou not? Is not thy soul thine own?

Then write again, Faustus gives to thee his soul.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with a chafer of coals.

Meph. Here's fire. Come, Faustus, set it on.

So now the blood begins to clear again;

Now will I make an end immediately.

Writes.

O what will not I do to obtain his soul.

[Aside.

Faust. Consummatum est: this bill is ended,

And Faustus hath bequeathed his soul to Lucifer.

But what is this inscription on mine arm?

Homo, fuge! Whither should I fly?

If unto God, he'll throw me down to Hell

My senses are deceived; here's nothing writ:—

I see it plain; here in this place is writ

Homo, fuge! Yet shall not Faustus fly.

Meph, I'll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind.

[Exit.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with Devils, who give crowns

and rich apparel to FAUSTUS, dance, and depart.

Speak, Mephistophilis, what means this show?

Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind withal,

And to show thee what Magic can perform.

But may I raise up Spirits when I please?

Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these.

Then there's enough for a thousand souls.

Here, Mephistophilis, receive this scroll,

A deed of gift of Body and of Soul:

But yet conditionally that thou perform

All articles prescribed between us both.

Faustus, I swear by Hell and Lucifer

To effect all promises between us made.

Then hear me read them: On these conditions following. First, that Faustus may be a Spirit in form and substance. Secondly, that Mephistophilis shall be his servant, and at his command. Thirdly, shall do for him and bring him whatsoever he desires.

Fourthly, that he shall be in his chamber or house invisible. Lastly, that he shall appear to the said John Faustus, at all times, and in what form or shape soever he pleases. I, John Faustus, of Wertenberg, Doctor, by these presents do give both body and soul to Lucifer, Prince of the East, and his minister, Mephistophilis; and furthermore grant unto them, that twenty-four years being expired, the articles above written inviolate, full power to fetch or carry the said John Faustus, body and soul, flesh, blood, or goods, into their habitation wheresoever. By me, JOHN FAUSTUS.

Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?

Ay, take it, and the Devil give thee good on't!

Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt.

First will I question with thee about Hell.

Tell me where is the place that men call Hell?

Under the Heavens.

Ay, but whereabout?

Within the bowels of these elements,

Where we are tortured and remain for ever;

Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscribed

In one self place; for where we are is Hell,

And where Hell is there must we ever be:

And, to conclude, when all the world dissolves,

And every creature shall be purified,

All places shall be Hell that is not Heaven

Come, I think Hell's a fable.

think so still, till experience change thy mind.

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

Ay, of necessity, for here's the scroll

Wherein thou hast given thy soul to Lucifer.

Ay, and body too; but what of that?

Think'st thou that Faustus is so fond to imagine

That, after this life, there is any pain?'

Tush; these are trifles, and mere old wives' tales.

But, Faustus, I am an instance to prove the contrary,

For I am damned, and am now in Hell.

How! now in Hell?

Nay, an this be Hell, I'll willingly be damned here;

What? Ed. 1616 reads,—“What, sleeping, eating, walking, and disputing.” walking, disputing, &c.?

But, leaving off this, let me have a wife,

The fairest maid in Germany;

For I am wanton and lascivious,

And cannot live without a wife.

Well, Faustus, thou shall have a wife.

[MEPHISTOPHILIS fetches in a woman-devil,

Faust. What sight is this?

Now, Faustus, wilt thou have a wife?

Here's a hot whore, indeed! No, I'll no wife.

Marriage is but,” &c.

How — a wife?

I prithee, Faustus, talk not of a wife.

Nay, sweet Mephistophilis, fetch me one, for I will have one.

Well — thou wilt have one. Sit there till I come: I'll fetch thee a wife in the devil's name. [Exit.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with a Devil drest like a Woman, with fireworks.

Tell me, Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?

A plague on her for a hot whore!

Tut, Faustus,

Marriage is but a ceremonial toy;

And if thou lovest me, think no more of it.

I'll cull thee out the fairest courtesans,

And bring them every morning to thy bed;

She whom thine eye shall like, thy heart shall have,

Be she as chaste as was Penelope,

As wise as Saba, or as beautiful

As was bright Lucifer before his fall.

Here, take this book, peruse it thoroughly: [Gives a book.

The iterating of these lines brings gold;

The framing of this circle on the ground

Brings whirlwinds, tempests, thunder and lightning:

Pronounce this thrice devoutly to thyself,

And men in armour shall appear to thee,

Ready to execute what thou desir'st

Thanks,

This will I keep as chary as my life.

[Exeunt.”

Then begins a new scene —

(“Enter (csc) WAGNER solus.

Wag. Learned Faustus,

To know the secrets,” &c.)

which should come later.:— Mephistophilis yet fain would I have a book wherein I might behold all spells and incantations, that I might raise up spirits when I please.

Here they are, in this book.

[Turns to them.

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

Here they are too.

[Turns to them.

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

Here they be.

O, thou art deceived.

Tut, I warrant thee.

[Turns to them Exeunt.

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