The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus Part 4

[Writes.]

MEPHIST. O, what will not I do to obtain his soul?

[Aside.]

FAUSTUS. Consummatum est; this bill is ended, And Faustus hath bequeath'd his soul to Lucifer.

But what is this inscription[86] on mine arm?

h.o.m.o, fuge: whither should I fly?

If unto G.o.d, he'll throw me[87] down to h.e.l.l.

My senses are deceiv'd; here's nothing writ:-- I see it plain; here in this place is writ, h.o.m.o, fuge: yet shall not Faustus fly.

MEPHIST. I'll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind.

[Aside, and then exit.]

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with DEVILS, who give crowns and rich apparel to FAUSTUS, dance, and then depart.

FAUSTUS. Speak, Mephistophilis, what means this show?

MEPHIST. Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind withal, And to shew thee what magic can perform.

FAUSTUS. But may I raise up spirits when I please?

MEPHIST. Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these.

FAUSTUS. Then there's enough for a thousand souls.

Here, Mephistophilis, receive this scroll, A deed of gift of body and of soul: But yet conditionally that thou perform All articles prescrib'd between us both.

MEPHIST. Faustus, I swear by h.e.l.l and Lucifer To effect all promises between us made!

FAUSTUS. Then hear me read them. [Reads] ON THESE CONDITIONS FOLLOWING. FIRST, THAT FAUSTUS MAY BE A SPIRIT IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE. SECONDLY, THAT MEPHISTOPHILIS SHALL BE HIS SERVANT, AND AT HIS COMMAND. THIRDLY, THAT MEPHISTOPHILIS SHALL DO FOR HIM, AND BRING HIM WHATSOEVER HE DESIRES.[88] FOURTHLY, THAT HE SHALL BE IN HIS CHAMBER OR HOUSE INVISIBLE. LASTLY, THAT HE SHALL APPEAR TO THE SAID JOHN FAUSTUS, AT ALL TIMES, IN WHAT FORM OR SHAPE SOEVER HE PLEASE. I, JOHN FAUSTUS, OF WERTENBERG, DOCTOR, BY THESE PRESENTS, DO GIVE BOTH BODY AND SOUL TO LUCIFER PRINCE OF THE EAST, AND HIS MINISTER MEPHISTOPHILIS; AND FURTHERMORE GRANT UNTO THEM, THAT,[89] TWENTY-FOUR YEARS BEING EXPIRED, THE ARTICLES ABOVE-WRITTEN INVIOLATE, FULL POWER TO FETCH OR CARRY THE SAID JOHN FAUSTUS, BODY AND SOUL, FLESH, BLOOD, OR GOODS, INTO THEIR HABITATION WHERESOEVER. BY ME, JOHN FAUSTUS.

MEPHIST. Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?

FAUSTUS. Ay, take it, and the devil give thee good on't!

MEPHIST. Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt.

FAUSTUS. First will I question with thee about h.e.l.l.

Tell me, where is the place that men call h.e.l.l?

MEPHIST. Under the heavens.

FAUSTUS. Ay, but whereabout?

MEPHIST. Within the bowels of these[90] elements, Where we are tortur'd and remain for ever: h.e.l.l hath no limits, nor is circ.u.mscrib'd In one self place; for where we are is h.e.l.l, And where h.e.l.l is, there[91] must we ever be: And, to conclude, when all the world dissolves, And every creature shall be purified, All places shall be h.e.l.l that are[92] not heaven.

FAUSTUS. Come, I think h.e.l.l's a fable.

MEPHIST. Ay, think so still, till experience change thy mind.

FAUSTUS. Why, think'st thou, then, that Faustus shall be d.a.m.n'd?

MEPHIST. Ay, of necessity, for here's the scroll Wherein thou hast given thy soul to Lucifer.

FAUSTUS. Ay, and body too: but what of that?

Think'st thou that Faustus is so fond[93] to imagine That, after this life, there is any pain?

Tush, these are trifles and mere old wives' tales.

MEPHIST. But, Faustus, I am an instance to prove the contrary, For I am d.a.m.n'd, and am now in h.e.l.l.

FAUSTUS. How! now in h.e.l.l!

Nay, an this be h.e.l.l, I'll willingly be d.a.m.n'd here: What! walking, disputing, &c.[94]

But, leaving off this, let me have a wife,[95]

The fairest maid in Germany; For I am wanton and lascivious, And cannot live without a wife.

MEPHIST. How! a wife!

I prithee, Faustus, talk not of a wife.

FAUSTUS. Nay, sweet Mephistophilis, fetch me one, for I will have one.

MEPHIST. Well, thou wilt have one? Sit there till I come: I'll fetch thee a wife in the devil's name.

[Exit.]

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with a DEVIL drest like a WOMAN, with fire-works.

MEPHIST. Tell me,[96] Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?

FAUSTUS. A plague on her for a hot wh.o.r.e!

MEPHIST. Tut, Faustus, Marriage is but a ceremonial toy; If thou lovest me, think no[97] more of it.

I'll cull thee out the fairest courtezans, And bring them every morning to thy bed: She whom thine eye shall like, thy heart shall have, Be she as chaste as was Penelope, As wise as Saba,[98] or as beautiful As was bright Lucifer before his fall.

Hold, take this book, peruse it thoroughly: [Gives book.]

The iterating[99] of these lines brings gold; The framing of this circle on the ground Brings whirlwinds, tempests, thunder, and lightning; p.r.o.nounce this thrice devoutly to thyself, And men in armour shall appear to thee, Ready to execute what thou desir'st.

FAUSTUS. Thanks, Mephistophilis: yet fain would I have a book wherein I might behold all spells and incantations, that I might raise up spirits when I please.

MEPHIST. Here they are in this book.

[Turns to them.]

FAUSTUS. Now would I have a book where I might see all characters and planets of the heavens, that I might know their motions and dispositions.

MEPHIST. Here they are too.

[Turns to them.]

FAUSTUS. Nay, let me have one book more,--and then I have done,-- wherein I might see all plants, herbs, and trees, that grow upon the earth.

MEPHIST. Here they be.

FAUSTUS. O, thou art deceived.