The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Dr. Faustus (B Text)

Act: 2 Scene: 1
Mephistophilis
But now thou must bequeath it solemnly,
And write a deed of gift with thine owe blood,
For that security craves Lucifer
If thou deny it I must back to hell.
Mephistophilis
Enlarge his Kingdom.
Mephistophilis
Solamen miseris, socios habuisse doloris.
Mephistophilis
As great as have the humane 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 then thou hast wit to ask.
Mephistophilis
Then Faustus stab thy arm courageously,
And bind thy soul, that at some certain day
Great Lucifer may claim it as his owe,
And then be thou as great as Lucifer
Mephistophilis
But, Faustus,
Write it in manner of a deed of gift.
Mephistophilis
I'll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight. Exit.
Mephistophilis
See, Faustus, here is fire; set it on.
Mephistophilis
What will not I do to obtain his soul?
Mephistophilis
I'll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind.
Mephistophilis
Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind,
And let thee see what magic can perform
Mephistophilis
Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these.
Mephistophilis
Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer
To effect all promises between us both.
Mephistophilis
Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?
Mephistophilis
So, now Faustus, ask me what thou wilt.
Mephistophilis
Under the heavens.
Mephistophilis
Within the bowels of these elements,
Where we are tortured, and remain forever.
Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscribed
In one self place, but where we are is hell,
And where hell is there must we ever be.
And to be short, when all the world dissolves,
And every creature shall be purified,
All places shall be hell that is not heaven.
Mephistophilis
Ay, think so still, till experience change thy mind.
Mephistophilis
Ay, of necessity, for here's the scroll
In which thou hast given thy soul to Lucifer
Mephistophilis
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?
No, these are trifles, and mere old wives tales.
Mephistophilis
But I am an instance to prove the contrary,
For I tell thee I am damned and now in hell.
Mephistophilis
Well, Faustus, thou shalt have a wife.
Mephistophilis
Now, Faustus, wilt thou have a wife?
Mephistophilis
Marriage is but a ceremonial toy,
And if thou lov'st 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,
Were she as chaste as was Penelope,
As wise as Saba, or as beautiful
As was bright Lucifer before his fall.
Here, take this book, and peruse it well.
The iterating of these lines brings gold;
The framing of this circle on the ground
Brings thunder, whirl-winds, storm and lightning.
Pronounce this thrice devoutly to thyself,
And men in harness shall appear to thee,
Ready to execute what thou command'st.
Act: 2 Scene: 2
Mephistophilis
'Twas thine owe seeking Faustus, thank thyself.
But think'st thou heaven is such a glorious thing?
I tell thee, Faustus, it is not half so fair
As thou, or any man that breath on earth.
Mephistophilis
'Twas made for man; then he's more excellent.
Mephistophilis
As are the elements, such are the heavens,
Even from the moon unto the empirial orb,
Mutually folded in each others spheres,
And jointly move upon one axle-tree,
Whose termine is termed the world's wide pole.
Nor are the names of Saturn, Mars, or Jupiter,
Fained, but are evening stars.
Mephistophilis
All move from east to west in four and
twenty hours upon the poles of the world, but differ in
their motions upon the poles of the zodiac.
Mephistophilis
Ay.
Mephistophilis
Nine, the seven planets, the firmament, and the
empyreal heaven.
Mephistophilis
No, Faustus, they be but fables.
Mephistophilis
Per inaequalem motum, respectu totius.
Mephistophilis
I will not.
Mephistophilis
Move me not, Faustus.
Mephistophilis
Ay, that is not against our kingdom.
This is. Thou art damned; think thou of hell.
Mephistophilis
Remember this Exit.