The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Dr. Faustus (B Text)


Act: 3 Scene: 1<< <>>>
Enter Faustus and Mephistophilis.
Having now my good Mephistophilis,
Passed with delight the stately town of Trier,
Environed round with airy mountain tops,
With walls of flint and deep entrenched lakes,
Not to be won by any conquering prince.
From Paris next, costing the realm of France,
We saw the river Main fall into Rhine,
Whose banks are set with groves of fruitful vines.
Then up to Naples, rich Campania,
Whose buildings fair and gorgeous to the eye,
The streets straight forth, and paled with finest brick.
There saw we learned Maro's golden tomb,
The way he cut an English mile in length,
Through a rock of stone in one night's space.
From thence to Venice, Padua, and the east,
In one of which a sumptuous temple stands,
That threats the stars with her aspiring top,
Whose frame is paved with sundry coloured stones,
And roofed aloft with curious work in gold.
Thus hitherto hath Faustus spent his time.
But tell me now, what resting place is this?
Hast thou, as erst I did command,
Conducted me within the walls of Rome?
I have my Faustus, and for proof thereof,
This is the goodly palace of the Pope,
And cause we are no common guests,
I choose his privy chamber for our use.
I hope his Holiness will bid us welcome.
All's one, for we'll be bold with his venison.
But now, my Faustus, that thou may'st perceive,
What Rome contains for to delight thine eyes.
Know that this city stands upon seven hills,
That underprop the ground-work of the same.
Just through the midst runs flowing Tiber's stream
With winding banks that cut it in two parts
Over the which two stately Bridges lean,
That make safe passage, to each part of Rome.
Upon the Bridge called Ponto Angelo,
Erected is a castle passing strong,
Where thou shalt see such store of ordinance,
As that the double cannons forged of brass,
Do watch the number of the days contained,
Within the compass of one complete year.
Beside the gates and high pyramids,
That Julius Caesar brought from Africa.
Now by the kingdoms of infernal rule,
Of Styx, of 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
Nay stay, my Faustus; I know you'd see the Pope
And take some part of holy Peter's feast,
The which this day with high solemnity,
This day is held through Rome and Italy,
In honour of the Pope's triumphant victory.
Sweet Mephistophilis, thou pleasest me.
Whilst I am here on earth, let me be cloyed
With all things that delight the heart of man.
My four and twenty years of liberty
I'll spend in pleasure and in dalliance,
That Faustus' name, whilst this bright frame doth stand,
May be admired through the furthest land.
'Tis well said, Faustus. Come, then, stand by me
And thou shalt see them come immediately.
Nay, stay my gentle Mephistophilis,
And grant me my request, and then I go.
Thou know'st within the compass of eight days,
We viewed the face of heaven of earth and hell.
So high our dragons soared into the air,
That looking down the earth appeared to me,
No bigger than my hand in quantity.
There did we view the kingdoms of the world,
And what might please mine eye, I there beheld.
Then in this show let me an actor be,
That this proud Pope may Faustus' cunning see.
Let it be so, my Faustus, but first stay
And view their triumphs as they pass this way.
And then devise what best contents thy mind,
By coming in thine art to cross the Pope,
Or dash the pride of this solemnity,
To make his monks and abbots stand like apes,
And point like antiques at his triple crown:
To beat the beads about the friars' pates,
Or clap huge horns, upon the cardinals' heads,
Or any villainy thou can'st devise,
And I'll perform it, Faustus. Hark, they come:
This day shall make thee be admired in Rome.
Enter the Cardinals and Bishops, some bearing crosiers, some the pillars, Monks and Friars, singing their procession. Then the Pope, and Raymond, King of Hunga- ry, with Bruno led in chaines.
Cast down our footstool.
Saxon Bruno stoop,
Whilst on thy back his Holiness ascends
Saint Peter's chair and state pontifical.
Proud Lucifer, that state belongs to me.
But thus I fall to Peter, not to thee.
To me and Peter, shalt thou groveling lie,
And crouch before the papal dignity.
Sound trumpets then, for thus SaintPeter's heir,
From Bruno's back, ascends Saint Peter's chair.
A flourish while he ascends.
Thus, as the gods creep on with feet of wool,
Long ere with iron hands they punish men,
So shall our sleeping vengeance now arise,
And smite with death thy hated enterprise.
Lord cardinals of France and Padua,
Go forthwith to our holy consistory,
And read amongst the statutes decretal
What by the holy council held at Trent,
The sacred synod hath decreed for him
That doth assume the papal government,
Without election, and a true consent.
Away, and bring us word with speed.
We go, my Lord. Exeunt Cardinals.
Lord Raymond.
Go, hast thee, gentle Mephistophilis,
Follow the cardinals to the consistory,
And as they turn their superstitious books,
strike them with sloth, and drowsy idleness,
And make them sleep so sound that in their shapes,
Thyself and I may parly with this Pope,
This proud confronter of the Emperor,
And in despite of all his Holiness
Restore this Bruno to his liberty,
And bear him to the states of Germany.
Faustus, I go.
Dispatch it soon.
The Pope shall curse that Faustus came to Rome.
Exit Faustus and Mephistophilis.
Pope Adrian, let me have some right of law;
I was elected by the Emperor.
We will depose the Emperor for that deed,
And curse the people that submit to him;
Both he and thou shalt stand excommunicate,
And interdict from churches privilege,
And all society of holy men.
He grows too proud in his authority,
Lifting his lofty head above the clouds,
And like a steeple overpeers the church.
But we'll pull down his haughty insolence,
And as Pope Alexander, our progenitor,
Trod on the neck of German Frederick,
Adding this golden sentence to our praise,
That Peter's heirs should tread on emperors,
And walk upon the dreadful adder's back,
Treading the lion and the dragon down.
And fearless spurn the killing basilisk,
So will we quell that haughty schismatic,
And by authority apostolic
Depose him from his regal government.
Pope Julius swore to princely Sigismond,
For him, and the succeeding Popes of Rome,
To hold the emperors their lawful lords.
Pope Julius did abuse the Church's rites,
And therefore none of his decrees can stand.
Is not all power on earth bestowed on us?
And therefore though we would we cannot e'er.
Behold this silver belt whereto is fixed
Seven golden seales fast sealed with seven seals,
In token of our seven-fold power from heaven,
To bind or loose, lock fast, condemn, or judge,
Resign, or seale, or what so pleaseth us.
Then he and thou and all the world shall stoop,
Or be assured of our dreadful curse,
To light as heavy as the pains of hell.
Enter Faustus and Mephistophilis, like the Cardinals.
Now tell me, Faustus, are we not fitted well?
Yes, Mephistophilis, and two such cardinals
Ne'er served a holy Pope, as we shall do.
But whil'st they sleep within the consistory,
Let us salute his reverend Fatherhood.
Behold, my Lord, the cardinals are returned.
Welcome, grave Fathers, answer presently,
What have our holy council there decreed
Concerning Bruno and the Emperor,
In quittance of their late conspiracy
Against our state and papal dignity?
Most sacred patron of the Church of Rome,
By full consent of all the synod
Of priests and prelates, it is thus decreed
That Bruno, and the German Emperor
Be held as Lollords and bold schismatics,
And proud disturbers of the Church's peace.
And if that Bruno by his own assent,
Without enforcement of the German peers,
Did seek to wear the triple diadem,
And by your death to climb Saint Peter's chair,
The statutes decretal have thus decreed:
He shall be straight condemned of heresy,
And on a pile of fagots burnt to death.
It is enough. Here, take him to your charge,
And bear him straight to Ponto Angelo,
And in the strongest tower enclose him fast.
Tomorrow, sitting in our consistory,
With all our college of grave cardinals,
We will determine of his life or death.
Here, take his triple crown along with you,
And leave it in the Church's treasury.
Make haste again, my good lord cardinals,
And take our blessing apostolic.
So, so, was never devil thus blessed before.
Away, sweet Mephistophilis, be gone.
The cardinals will be plagued for this anon. Exit Faustus and Mephistophilis.
Go presently, and bring a banquet forth,
That we may solemnize Saint Peter's feast,
And with Lord Raymond, King of Hungary,
Drink to our late and happy victory. Exeunt.
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