The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Dr. Faustus (B Text)

Act: 4 Scene: 2<< <>>>
A sennet. Charles the German Emperor, Bruno Saxony, Faustus, Mephistophilis, Frede- rick, Martino, and Atten- dants.
Emperor
Wonder of men, renowned magician,
Thrice-learned Faustus, welcome to our court
This deed of thine in setting Bruno free
From his and our professed enemy
Shall add more excellence unto thine art,
Than if by powerful necromantic spells,
Thou could'st command the world's obedience,
Forever be beloved of Carolus.
And if this Bruno thou hast late redeemed
In peace possess the triple diadem,
And sit in Peter's chair, despite of chance,
Thou shalt be famous through all Italy,
And honoured of the German Emperor.
Faustus
These gracious words, most royal Carolus,
Shall make poor Faustus to his utmost power,
Both love and serve the German Emperor,
And lay his life at holy Bruno's feet.
For proof whereof, if so your Grace be pleased,
The Doctor stands prepared, by power of art,
To cast his magic charms that shall pierce through
The ebon' gates of ever-burning hell,
And hail the stubborn Furies from their caves
To compass whatsoe'er your grace commands.
Benvolio
Blood, he speaks terribly, but for all that, I do not
greatly believe him; he looks as like conjuror as the Pope to a coster-
monger.
Emperor
Then, Faustus, as thou late did'st promise us
We would behold that famous conquerour,
Great Alexander, and his paramour,
In their true shapes and state majestical,
That we may wonder at their excellence.
Faustus
Your majesty shall see them presently.
Mephistophilis, away.
And with a solemn noise of trumpets sound,
Present before this royal Emperor,
Great Alexander and his beauteous paramour.
Mephistophilis
Faustus, I will.
Benvolio
Well, Master Doctor, an your devils come not away
quickly, have me asleep presently. Zounds, I could
eat my anger to think I have been such an ass
all this stand gaping after the devil's governor, and
can see nothing.
Faustus
I'll make you feel something anon, if my art fail me not.
My Lord, I must forewarn your majesty
That when my spirits present the royal shapes
Of Alexander and his paramour,
Your grace demand no questions of the King,
But in dumb silence let them come and go.
Emperor
Be it as Faustus please; we are content.
Benvolio
Ay, ay, and I am content too, and thou bring Alex-
ander and his paramour before the Emperor. I'll be Acte-
on, and turn myself to a stag.
Faustus
And I'll play Diana, and send you the horns pre- sently.
Sennet. Enter at one the Emperor Alexander, at the other Darius. They meet. Darius is thrown down; Alexan- der kills him, takes off his crown, and offering to go out, his paramour meets him. He embraceth her and sets Darius' crown upon her head, and com- ming back both salute the Emperor, who, leaving his state, offers to em- brace them, which Faustus seeing, suddenly stays him. Then, trum- pets cease and music sounds.
Faustus
My gracious lord, you do forget yourself;
These are but shadows, not substantial.
Emperor
O, pardon me, my thoughts are so ravished
With sight of this renowned Emperor,
That in mine arms I would have compassed him.
But, Faustus, since I may not speak to them,
To satisfy my longing thoughts at full,
Let me this tell thee: I have heard it said
That this fair lady, whil'st she lived on earth,
Had on her neck a little wart or mole.
How may I prove that saying to be true?
Faustus
Your Majesty may boldly go and see.
Emperor
Faustus, I see it plain,
And in this sight thou better pleasest me
Than if I gained another monarchy.
Faustus
Away, be gone. Exit Show.
See, see, my gracious lord, what strange beast is yon, that
thrusts his head out at window.
Emperor.
O, wondrous sight. See, Duke of Saxony,
Two spreading horns most strangely fastened
Upon the head of young Benvolio.
Saxony
What, is he asleep? Or dead?
Faustus
He sleeps, my lord, but dreams not of his horns.
Emperor
This sport is excellent. We'll call and wake him.
What ho, Benvolio!
Benvolio
A plague upon you! Let me sleep a while.
Emperor
I blame thee not to sleep much, having such a head
of thine own.
Saxony
Look up, Benvolio, 'tis the Emperor calls.
Benvolio
The Emperor? Where? O, zounds, my head.
Emperor
Nay, and thy horns hold; no matter for thy
head, for that's armed sufficiently.
Faustus
Why, how now, sir Knight? What, hanged by the
horns? This most horrible! Fie, fie, pull in your head for shame;
let not all the world wonder at you.
Benvolio
Zounds, Doctor, is this your villainy?
Faustus
O, say not so, sir. The Doctor has no skill,
No art, no cunning, to present these lords,
Or bring before this royal Emperor
The mighty monarch, warlike Alexander.
If Faustus do it, you are straight resolved
In bold Acteon's shape to turn a stag.
And therefore, my lord, so please your majesty,
I'll raise a kennel of hounds shall hunt him so
As all his footmanship shall scarce prevail
To keep his carcass from their bloody fangs.
Ho, Belimote, Argiron, Asterote.
Benvolio
Hold, hold! Zounds, he'll raise up a kennel of devils,
I think anon. Good, my lord, entreat for me. 'Sblood, I am
never able to endure these torments.
Emperor
Then good Master Doctor,
Let me entreat you to remove his horns;
He has done penance now sufficiently.
Faustus
My gracious Lord, not so much for injury done to
me, as to delight your majesty with some mirth hath Faustus
justly requited this injurious knight, which being all I de-
sire, I am content to remove his horns. Mephistophilis,
transform him, and hereafter, sir, look you speak well of
scholars.
Benvolio
Speak well of ye? 'Sblood, and scholars be such
cuckold-makers to clap horns of honest men's heads o'this
order; I'll ne'er trust smooth faces and small ruffs more. But,
an I be not revenged for this, would I might be turned to a
gaping oyster and drink nothing but salt water.
Emperor
Come, Faustus, while the Emperor lives,
In recompense of this thy high desert,
Thou shalt command the state of Germany,
And live beloved of mighty Carolus. Exeunt omnes.
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