The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Dr. Faustus (B Text)


Act: 2 Scene: 3<< <>>>
Enter the Clown.
What, Dick, look to the horses there till I come again.
I have gotten one of Doctor Faustus's conjuring books, and
now we'll have such knavery, as't passes.
Enter Dick.
What, Robin, you must come away and walk the horses.
I walk the horses, I scorned 'faith, I have other
matters in hand; let the horses walk themselves and they will.
A per se a, t. h. e the: o per se o deny orgon, gorgon. Keep
further from me, O thou illiterate and unlearned hostler.
'Snails, what hast thou got there, a book? Why thou
can'st not tell ne'er a word on't.
That thou shalt see presently. Keep out of the cir-
cle, I say, lest I send you into the ostry with a vengeance.
That's like 'faith. You had best leave your foolery,
for, an my master come, he'll conjure you 'faith.
My master conjure me? I'll tell thee what, an my
master come here, I'll clap as fair a pair of horns on's
head as e'er thou saw'st in thy life.
Thou need'st not do that, for my mistress hath done it.
Ay, there be of us here that have waded as deep in-
to matters as other men, if they were disposed to talk.
A plague take you! I thought you did not sneak
up and down after her for nothing. But I prithee tell me, in
good sadness Robin, is that a conjuring book?
Do but speak what thou'd have me to do, and I'll
do't. If thou'd dance naked, put off thy clothes, and I'll
conjure thee about presently. Or if thou'd go but to the ta-
vern with me, I'll give thee white wine, red wine, claret
wine, sack, muskadine, malmesey and whippincrust.
Hold belly hold, and we'll not pay one penny for it.
O brave, prithee let's to it presently, for I am as
dry as a dog.
Come, then, let's away. Exeunt.
Enter the Chorus.
Learned Faustus to find the secrets of Astronomy,
Graven in the book of Jove's high firmament,
Did mount him up to scale Olympus' top,
Where sitting in a chariot burning bright,
Drawn by the strength of yoked dragons' necks;
He views the clouds, the planets, and the stars,
The tropic, zones, and quarters of the sky,
From the bright circle of the horned moon,
Even to the height of Primum Mobile.
And whirling round with this circumference,
Within the concave compass of the pole,
From east to west his dragons swiftly glide,
And in eight days did bring him home again.
Not long he stayed within his quiet house,
To rest his bones after his weary toil,
But new exploits do hale him out again
And mounted then upon a dragon's back,
That with his wings did part the subtle air.
He now is gone to prove Cosmography,
That measures costs and kingdoms of the earth.
And as I guess will first arrive at Rome,
To see the Pope and manner of his court,
And take some part of holy Peter's feast,
The which this day is highly solemnized. Exit.
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