Doctor Faustus (Marlowe)

3.1

Enter Faustus and Mephistophilis.

Faustus

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?

Mephistophilis

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.

Faustus

I hope his Holiness will bid us welcome.

Mephistophilis

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.

Faustus

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

Mephistophilis

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.

Faustus

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.

Mephistophilis

'Tis well said, Faustus. Come, then, stand by me

And thou shalt see them come immediately.

Faustus

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.

Mephistophilis

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.

Pope.

Cast down our footstool.

Raymond

Saxon Bruno stoop,

Whilst on thy back his Holiness ascends

Saint Peter's chair and state pontifical.

Bruno

Proud Lucifer, that state belongs to me.

But thus I fall to Peter, not to thee.

Pope.

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.

1 Cardinal

We go, my Lord. Exeunt Cardinals.

Pope.

Lord Raymond.

Faustus

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.

Mephistophilis

Faustus, I go.

Faustus

Dispatch it soon.

The Pope shall curse that Faustus came to Rome.

Exit Faustus and Mephistophilis.

Bruno.

Pope Adrian, let me have some right of law;

I was elected by the Emperor.

Pope.

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.

Bruno

Pope Julius swore to princely Sigismond,

For him, and the succeeding Popes of Rome,

To hold the emperors their lawful lords.

Pope.

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.

Mephistophilis

Now tell me, Faustus, are we not fitted well?

Faustus

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.

Raymond

Behold, my Lord, the cardinals are returned.

Pope.

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?

Faustus

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.

Pope.

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.

Mephistophilis

So, so, was never devil thus blessed before.

Faustus

Away, sweet Mephistophilis, be gone.

The cardinals will be plagued for this anon. Exit. Faustus and; Mephistophilis.

Pope.

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.

3.2

A sennet while the banquet is brought in, and then enter

Faustus and Mephistophilis in their own

shapes.

Mephistophilis

Now, Faustus, come prepare thyself for mirth;

The sleepy cardinals are hard at hand,

To censure Bruno, that is posted hence,

And on a proud paced steed, as swift as thought,

Flies o'er the Alps to fruitful Germany,

There to salute the woeful Emperor.

Faustus

The Pope will curse them for their sloth today.

That slept both Bruno and his crown away.

But now, that Faustus may delight his mind,

And by their folly make some merriment,

Sweet Mephistophilis, so charm me here,

That I may walk invisible to all,

And do what e'er I please, unseen of any.

Mephistophilis

Faustus, thou shalt. Then kneel down presently.

Whil'st on thy head I lay my hand,

And charm thee with this magic wand,

First wear this girdle, then appear

Invisible to all are here.

The planets seven, the gloomy air,

Hell and the Furies' forked hair,

Pluto's blue fire, and Hecat's tree,

With magic spells so compass thee,

That no eye may thy body see.

So , Faustus, now for all their holiness,

Do what thou wilt; thou shalt not be discerned.

Faustus

Thanks, Mephistophilis. Now, Friars, take heed,

Lest Faustus make your shaven crowns to bleed.

Mephistophilis

Faustus, no more. See where the cardinals come.

Enter Pope and all the Lords. Enter the Cardinals

with a book.

Pope.

Welcome, lord cardinals. Come sit down.

Lord Raymond, take your seat; Friars attend,

And see that all things be in readiness,

As best beseems this solemn festival.

1. Cardinal

First, may it please your sacred Holiness,

To view the sentence of the reverend synod,

Concerning Bruno and the Emperor.

Pope.

What needs this question? Did I not tell you,

Tomorrow we would sit i'th'consistory,

And there determine of his punishment?

You brought us word even now, it was decreed,

That Bruno and the cursed Emperor

Were by the holy council both condemned

For loathed Lollords, and base schismatics.

Then wherefore would you have me view that book?

1. Cardinal

Your Grace mistakes; you gave us no such charge.

Raymond

Deny it not; we all are witnesses

That Bruno here was late delivered you,

With his rich triple crown to be reserved,

And put into the Church's treasury.

Both. Cardinals

By holy Paul we saw them not.

Pope.

By Peter, you shall die,

Unless you bring them forth immediately.

Hale them to prison, lade their limbs with gyves.

False prelates, for this hateful treachery,

Cursed be your souls to hellish misery.

Faustus

So, they are safe. Now, Faustus, to the feast,

The Pope had never such a frolic guest.

Pope.

Lord Archbishop of Reams, sit down with us.

Bishop

I thank your Holiness.

Faustus

Fall to, the Devil choke you an you spare.

Pope.

Who's that spoke? Friars, look about.

Lord Raymond, pray fall to; I am beholding

to the Bishop of Milan, for this so rare a present.

Faustus

I thank you sir. Snatches it

Pope.

How now! Who snatched the meat from me?

Villains, why speak you not?

My good Lord Archbishop, here's a most dainty dish,

Was sent me from a cardinal in France.

Faustus

I'll have that too.

Pope.

What Lollards do attend our Holiness,

That we receive such great indignity? Fetch me some wine.

Faustus

Ay, pray do, for Faustus is a dry.

Pope.

Lord Raymond, I drink unto your grace.

Faustus

I pledge your grace.

Pope.

My wine gone too? Ye Lubbers look about

And find the man that doth this villainy,

Or by our sanctitude you all shall die.

I pray my lords have patience at this

Troublesome banquet.

Bishop.

Please it your holiness, I think it be some ghost

crept out of Purgatory, and now is come unto your Holi-

ness for his pardon.

Pope.

It may be so.

Go then command our priests to sing a dirge,

To lay the fury of this same troublesome ghost.

Faustus

How now? Must every bit be spiced with a cross?

Nay, then, take that.

Pope.

O, I am slain; help me my lords.

O, come and help to bear my body hence.

Damned be this soul forever, for this deed.

Exeunt the Pope and his train.

Me.

Now, Faustus, what will you do now, for I can tell you

you'll be cursed with bell, book, and candle?

Faustus

Bell, book, and candle: candle, book, and bell;

Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell.

Enter the Friars with bell, book, and candle,

for the dirge.

1 Friar

Come, brethren, let's about our business with

good devotion.

Cursed be he that stole his Holiness' meat from the table.

Maledicat Dominus.

Cursed be he that struck his Holiness a blow the face.

Maledicat Dominus.

Cursed be he that struck Friar Sandelo a blow on the pate.

Maledicat Dominus.

Cursed be he that disturbeth our holy dirge.

Maledicat Dominus.

Cursed be he that took away his Holiness' wine.

Maledicat Dominus.

Beat the Friars, fling fireworks among them, them,

and exeunt. Exeunt.

3.3

Enter Clown and Dick, with a cup.

Dick.

Sirrah Robin, we were best look that your devil

can answer the stealing of this same cup, for the vintner's

boy follows us at the hard heels.

Robin

'Tis no matter; let him come. If he follow us, I'll so

conjure him, as he was never conjured in his life, I warrant

him. Let me see the cup.

Enter Vintner.

Dick.

Here 'tis. Yonder he comes. Now Robin, now or

never, show thy cunning.

Vintner

O, are you here? I am glad I have found you; you

are a couple of fine companions. Pray where's the cup you

stole from the tavern?

Robin

How, how? We steal a cup? Take heed what you say;

we look not like cup-stealers I can tell you.

Vintner

Never deny't, for I know you have it, and I'll

search you.

Robin

Search me? Ay and spare not. Hold the cup Dick.

Come, come, search me, search me.

Vintner

Come on sirrah, let me search you now.

Dick.

Ay, ay, do, do; hold the cup Robin. Ifear not your

searching; we scorn to steal your cups I can tell you.

Vintner

Never outface me for the matter, for, sure the cup is is

between you two.

Robin

Nay, there you lie; 'tis beyond us both.

Vintner.

A plague take you; I thought 'twas your knavery

to take it away. Come, give it me again.

Robin

Ay, much. When, can you tell? Dick, make me a cir-

cle, and stand close at my back, and stir not for thy life. Vint-

ner, you shall have your cup anon; say nothing, Dick. O per

se o, demogorgon. Belcher and Mephistophilis.

Enter Mephistophilis.

Mephistophilis

You princely legions of infernal rule,

How am I vexed by these villains charms?

From Constantinople have they brought me now,

Only for pleasure of these damned slaves.

Robin

By lady sir, you have had a shroud journey of it;

Will it please you to take a shoulder of mutton to supper, and

a tester in your purse, and go back again?

Dick

Ay, I pray you heartily sir, for we called you but in

jest, I promise you.

Mephistophilis

To purge the rashness of this cursed deed,

First, be thou turned to this ugly shape,

For apish deeds transformed to an ape.

Robin

O brave, an ape? I pray sir, let me have the carry-

ing of him about to show some tricks.

Mephistophilis

And so thou shalt: be thou transformed to a dog, and

carry him upon thy back. Away, be gone.

Robin

A dog? That's excellent. Let the maids look well to

their porridge-pots, for I'll into the kitchen presently. Come,

Dick, come. Exeunt the two Clowns.

Mephistophilis

Now with the flames of ever-burning fire,

I'll wing myself and forth-with fly amain

Unto my Faustus to the great Turk's court. Exit.