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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Dr. Faustus (B Text)

Act: 4 Scene: 1

Benvolio

What a devil ail you two?

Benvolio

What of this?

Benvolio

Has not the Pope enough of conjuring yet?

He was upon the devil's back late enough,

And if he be so far in love with him,

I would he would post with him to Rome again.

Benvolio

Not I.

Benvolio

Ay, and I fall not asleep i'th'mean time.

Benvolio

Well, go you attend the Emperor. I am content

for this once to thrust my head out at a window, for they say,

if a man be drunk overnight, the Devil cannot hurt him in

the morning. If that be true, I have a charm in my head

shall control him as well as the conjuror, I warrant you.

Act: 4 Scene: 2

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.

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.

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.

Benvolio

A plague upon you! Let me sleep a while.

Benvolio

The Emperor? Where? O, zounds, my head.

Benvolio

Zounds, Doctor, is this your villainy?

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.

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.

Act: 4 Scene: 3

Benvolio

Away, you love me not to urge me thus,

Shall I let slip so great an injury,

When every servile groom feasts at my wrongs,

And in their rustic gambols proudly say

Benvolio's head was graced with horns to day?

O, may these eyelids never close again

Till with my sword I have that conjuror slain.

If you will aid me in this enterprise,

Then draw your weapons and be resolute.

If not, depart. Here will Benvolio die,

But Faustus' death shall quit my infamy.

Benvolio

Then, gentle Frederick, hie thee to the grove,

And place our servants and our followers

Close in an ambush there behind the trees.

By this (I know) the conjuror is near;

I saw him kneel, and kiss the Emperor's hand,

And take his leave, laden with rich rewards.

Then souldiers boldly fight. If Faustus die,

Take you the wealth; leave us the victory.

Benvolio

My head is lighter than it was by th'horns,

But yet my heart more ponderous then my head,

And pants until I see that conjuror dead.

Benvolio

Here will we stay to bide the first assault.

O, were that damned hell-hound but in place,

Thou soon should'st see me quit my foul disgrace.

Benvolio

Mine be that honour then. Now, sword, strike home.

For horns he gave, I'll have his head anon.

Benvolio

No words. This blow ends all.

Hell take his soul; his body thus must fall.

Benvolio

Break may his heart with gropes. Dear Frederick, see

Thus will I end his griefs immediately.

Benvolio

The devil's dead; the Furies now may laugh.

Benvolio

Ay, that's the head and here the body lies,

Justly rewarded for his villainies.

Benvolio

First, on his head, in quittance of my wrongs,

I'll nail huge forked horns and let them hang

Within the window where he yoked me first,

That all the world may see my just revenge.

Benvolio

We'll sell it to a chimney-sweeper. It will wear out

ten birching brooms, I warrant you.

Benvolio

We'll put out his eyes, and they shall serve for but-

tons to his lips to keep his tongue from catching cold.

Benvolio

Zounds, the devil's alive again!

Act: 4 Scene: 4

Benvolio

Here, what Frederick, ho.

Benvolio

Defend me, heaven. Shall I be haunted still?

Benvolio

My friends transformed thus. O hellish spite! Your

heads are all set with horns.

Benvolio

'Zounds, horns again!

Benvolio

What devil attends this damned magician,

That, spite of spite, our wrongs are doubled?

Benvolio

If we should follow him to work revenge,

He'd join long asses' ears to these huge horns,

And make us laughing stocks to all the world.

Benvolio

I have a castle joining near these woods,

And thither we'll repair and live obscure,

Till time shall alter this our brutish shapes.

Since black disgrace hath thus eclipsed our fame,

We'll rather die with grief, than live with shame.