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The Works of Christopher Marlowe

Dr. Faustus (B Text)

Act: 3 Scene: 1

Cast down our footstool.

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.

Lord Raymond.

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 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.

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?

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.

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.