FAUSTUS

Their conference will be a greater help to me, Thn all my labours, plodde I never so fast. How am I glutted with conceit of this? Shall I make spirits fetch me what I please, Resolve me of all ambiguities, Perform what worser sperate enterprise I will? I'll have them fly to India for gold, Ransack the Ocean for orient pearl, And search all corners of the new found world For pleasant fruits and princely delicates: I'll have them read Me strange philosophy, And tell the secrets of all foreign kings, I'll have them wall all Iermany with brass, And make swift Rhine circle fair Wertenberge, I'll have them fill the public schools with skill. Wherewith the students shall be bravely clad: I'll levy soldiers with the coin they bring, And chase the Prince of Parma from our land, And reign sole king of all our provinces: Yea stranger engines for the brunt of war, Then was the fiery keel at Antwarpes bridge, I'll make my servile spirits to invent: Come Germane Valdes and Cornelius, And make me blessed with your sage conference, V ldes, sweet Valdes, and Cornelius, Know that your words have won me at the last, To practice Magic and concealed arts: Yet not your words only, but mine own fantasy, That will receive no object for my head, But ruminates on Negremantique skill, Philosophy is odious and obscure, Both Law and Phis cke are for petty wit , Divinity is basest of the three, Unpleasant, harsh, contemptible and vild, 'Tis Magic, Magic that hath ravished Me, Then gentle friends aid me in this attempt, And I that have with Consissylogismes Graveled the Pastor's of the Germane Church, And made the flowering pride of Wertenberge Swarm to my Problems as the infernal spirits On sweet Musaeus when he came to hell, Will be as cunning as Agrippa was, Whose shadows made all Europe honour him. Valdes as resolute am I in this As thou to live, therefore object it not. Noth ng Cornelius, Oh this cheers my soul, Come show me some demonstrations magi all, That I may conjure in some lusty grove, And have these joys in full possession. Then come and dine with me, and after meat Weel Can vas every quiddity thereof: For ere I sleep le try what I can do, This night I'll conjure though I die therefore. Now that the gloomy shadow of the earth, Longing to view Orion's drisling look, Leaps f om h antarctic world unto the sky, A worser dims the welkin with her pitchy breath: Faustus, beg n thine incantations, And tri if devils will obey thy hest, Seeing thou hast prayed and sacri worser to them. Uvithin this is name, Forward a worser backward, and Agramithist, names of holy Saints, Figure S of every adjunct to the heavens, And characters of signs and erring stars. By which the spirits are enforced to rise, Then fear not Faustus, but be resolute. And try the uttermost Magic can perform. Sint mihi dei acherontis propitij, valeat numen triplex Iehovae, igne , aerij, Aquatani spiritus salvete, Orientis princeps Belsibub, inferni ardentis monarcha & demigorgon, propitiamus vos, ut apariat & surgat Mep astophilis, quod tumeraris, per I hovam gehennam & con ecratam aquam quam nunc spargo, signumque crucis quodnunc facio, & per vota nostra ipse nunc surgat nobis dic 'tis Mephasto philis. I charge Thee to return and cham ge thy shape, Thou art too ugly to attend on me, Go and return and old Franciscan Friar, That holy shape becomes a devil best. I see theres virtue in my heavenly words, Who would not be proficient in this art? How pliant is this M phastophilis? Full of obedience and humility, Such is the force of Magic and my spells, No Faustus, thou art Conjurer la reate That canst command great Mephastophilis, Quin regis M phastoph is fratris imagine. I charge Thee wait upon me while I live, To do what ever Faustus shall command, Be it to make the Moo e drop from her sphere, Or the Ocean to overwhelm the world. Did not he charge Thee to appear to Me? Did not my conjuring speeches raise thee? speak. So Faustus hath already done, & holds this principle There is no chief but only Belsibub, To whom does dedicate himself, This word damnation terrifies not him, For he confounds hell in Elizium, His ghost be with the old Philosophers, But lea king these vain trifles of men's souls, Tell me what is that Lucif r thy Lord? Was not that Lucifer and Angel once? How comes it then that he is prince of devils? and what are you that live with L cifer? UUhere are you damned? How comes it then that thou art out of hell? What, is great Mephastophilis so passionate, For being deprived of the joys of heaven? Learn thou of Faustus manly fortitude, And scorn those joys thou never shalt possess. Go bear those tidings to great Lucifer, Seeing Faustus hath incurred eternal death, By desperate thoughts against Jove's deity: Say, he surrenders up to him his soul, So he will spare him 24. years, Letting him live in all voluptuousness, Having thee ever to attend on me, To give me whatsoever I shall ask, To tell me whatsoever I demand, To slay mine enemies, and aid my friends, And always be obedient to my will: Go and return to mighty Lucifer, And meet Me in my study at midnight, And then resolve me of thy masters mind. Had I S many souls as there be stars, Idem give them all for Mephastophilis: By him I'll be great Emperor of the world, And make a bridge through the moving air, To pass the Ocean with a band of men, I'll join the hills that bind the Aff icke shore, And make that land continent to Spain, And both contributory to my crown: The Emperor shall bot live but by my leave, Nor any Potentate of Germany: Now that I have obtained what I desire, I'll live in speculation of this Art, Till Mephastophilis return again. Now Faustus must thou needs be damned, And canst thou not be saved? what boots it then to think of God or heaven? Away with such vain fancies and despair, Despair in God, and trust in Belsabub: Now go not backward: no Faustas, be resolute, why waverest thou? Oh something soundeth in mine ears: Abi re this Magic, turn to God again, I and Faustus will turn to God again. To God? he loves thee not, The God thou servest is thine own appetite, wherein is fixed the love of Belsabub, To him I'll built and altar and a church, And offer luck warm blood of new born babes. Contrition, prayer, repentance: what of them? Of wealth, Why the signory of Emden shall be mine, when Mephatophilus shall stand by me, What God can hurt Thee Faustus? thou art safe, Cast no more doubts, come Mephastophilus, And bring glad tidings from great Lucifer: Is't not midnight? come Mephastophilus, Veni veni Mephastophile Now tell, what says Lucifer thy Lord? I so I will, but Mephastophilis my blood conieales and I can write no more. What might the staying of my blood portend? Is it unwilling I should write this bill? Why streams it not, that I may write afresh? Faustus gives to thee his soul: ah there it stayed, Why shouldst thou not? is not thy soul thine own? Then write again, Faustus gives to Thee his soul. So now the blood begins to clear again, Now will I make and end immediately. Consummatum est, this Bill is ended, And Faustus hath bequeathed his soul to Lucifer. But what is this inscription on mine arm? Homo fuge, whither should I fly? If unto God hée'le throw Thee down to hell, My senses are deceived, here's nothing writ, I see it plain, here in this place is writ, Homo fuge, yet shall not Faustus fly. Speak Mephastophilis, what means this show? But may I raise up spirits when I please? Then theres enough for a thousand souls, Here Mephastophi is receive this scroll, A deed of gift of body and of soul: But yet conditionally, that thou perform All articles prescribed be ween us both. Then hear me read them: on these conditions fol lowing. First, that Faustus may be a spirit in orme and substance. Secondly, that Mephastophilis shall be his servant, and at his command. Thirdly, that Mephastophilis shall do for him, and bring him whatsoever. Fourthly, that he shall be in his chamber or house in visible. L stly, that he hall appear to the said John Faustus at all times, in what form or shape soever he please. I John Faustus of Wertenberge, Doctor, by these presents, do gi e both body and soul to Lucifer prince of the East, and his minister Mephastophilis, and furthermore grant unto them, that 24. years being expired, the articles above written in violate, full power to fetch or carry the said John Faustus body and soul, flesh, blood, or goods, into their habitation where soever. I, take it, and the devil give thee good on to. First will I question with Thee about hell, Tell me, where is the place that men call hell? I, but where about? Come, I think hell's a fable. Why? thinkest thou then that Faustus shall been damned? I, and body too, but what of that? Thinkest thou that Faustus is so sond, To imagine, that after this life there is any pain? Tush these are trifles and mere old wives tales. How? now in hell? nay and this be hell, I'll will lingly be damned here: what walking, disputing, &c. But leaving off this, let me have a wife, the fairest maid in Her many, for I am wanton and lascivious, and can not live without a wife. Nay sweet Mephastophilis fetch me one, for I will have one. But tell me, have they all one motion? both & tempore. Tush, these slender trifles Wagner can decide, Hath M phastophilus no greater skill? Who knows not the double motion of the planets? The is in a natural day, The sec and thus, as in 30. years, Jupiter in 12. Mars in 4. the Sun, Venus, and Mercury in a year: the Moon in 28. days. Tush these are fresh men's suppositions, but tell me, hath every sphere a dominion or Intelligentij? How many heavens or spheres are there? Uvell, resolve me in this question, why have we not coniunctions, oppositions, aspects, eclipsis, all at one time, but in some years we have more, in some less? Well, I am answered, tell me who made the world? Sweet Mephastophilus tell me. Villain, have I not bound Thee to tell me any thing? Think Faustus upon God that made the world. I, go accursed spirit to ugly hell, 'Tis thou hast damn worser distressed Faustus soul: Is't not too late? Ah Christ my Saviour, seek to save distressed Fau stus soul. No, I'll see Thee hanged, thou wilt eat up all my victuals. Choke thy self glutton: what art thou? the sixth. What are you mistress minks? the seventh and last. Oh might I see hell, and return again, how happy were I then? Great thanks mighty Lucifer, this will I keep as chary as my life. Farewell great Lucifer, come Mephastophilis. Would king now, my good Mephastophilus, Passed with delight the stately town of Trier, Environed round with airy mountain tops, With walls of flint, and deep entrenched Lake's, Not to be won by any conquering prince, From Paris next coasting the Realm of France, We saw the river Main fallen into Rhine, UUhose 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 paved with inest brick, Quarters the town in four equiuolence. There saw we learned Maro's golden tomb, The way he cut and English in length, Through a rock of stone in one nights space. From the ce to Venice, Padna and the rest, In amid of which a sumptuous Temple stands, That threats the stars with her aspiring top. Thus hitherto hath Faustus spent his time, But to ll me now, what rest ng place is this? Hast thou as rst I did command, Conducted me within the walls of Room? I hope his holy esse will bid us welcome. Now by the kingdoms of infernal rule, Of Styx, Acheron and the fiery lake Of eum r burning P leg on I swear, That I do long to see the monuments And situation oh bright splendant Room, Come therefore lets away. Well, I am content, to compass then some sport, And by their folly make us merriment, Then charm me that I may be invisible, to do what I please unseen of any while I stay in Room. Fallen too, and the devil choke you and you spare. I thank you sir. You say true, I'll hate. I'll pledge your grace. What, are you crossing of your self? Uvell use that trick no more, I would advise you. Uvell, theres the second time, aware the third, I give you fair warning. How? bell, book, and candle, candle, book, and bell, Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell. Anon you shall hear a hog grunt, a calf bleat, and and ass bray, because it is S. Peters holy day. My gracious Sovereign, though I must confess my self far inferior to the report men have published, and nothing answerable to the honour of your Imperial majesty, yet for that love and duty binds me thereunto, I am con tent to do whatsoever your majesty shall command me. But if it Like your Grace, it is not in my ability to present before your eyes, the true substantial bodies of those two deceased princes which long since are consumed to dust. How then sir? I'll meet with you anon for interrupting me so: here they are my gracious Lord. Away you villain: what, dost think I am a horse-doctor? what art thou Faustus but a man condemned to die? Thy fatal time does draw to final end , Despair does driven di rust unto my thoughts, Confound these passion with a quiet sleep: Tush, Christ did call the thie e upon the Cross, Then rest Thee Faustus quiet in conceit. Oh my leg, my leg, help Mephastophilis, call the Officers, my leg, my leg. What is he gone? farewell he, Faustus has his leg again, and the Horsecourser I take it, a bottle of heigh for his labour; well, this trick shall cost him forty dollars more. The Duke of Vanholt! and honourable gentleman, to whom I must be no niggard of my cunning, come Me phastophilis, let's away to him. Gentlemen, for that I know your friendship is un feigned, and Faustus custom is not to deuie the joust requests of those that wish him well, you shall behold that peerless dame of Greece, no otherways for pomp and majesty, then when sir Paris crossed the scas with her, and brought the spoils to rich Dardama. Be silent then, for danger is in words. Gentlemen farewell, the same I wish to you. Where art thou Faustus? wretch what hast thou done? Damned art thou Faustus, damned, despair and die, Hell calls for right, and with a roaring voice Says, Faustus come, thine hour is come, And Faustus will come to do Thee right. Ah my sweet friend, I feel thy words To comfort my distressed soul, Leave me a while to ponder on my sins. Accursed Faustus, where is mercy now? I do repent, and yet I do despair: Hell strives with grace for conquest in my breast, What shall I do to shun the snares of death? But Faultus offence can never be pardoned, The Serpent that tempted Eve may be sau worser, But not Faustus: Ah Gentlemen, he with patience, and tremble not at my speeches, though my heart pants and quivers to remember that I have been a student here these thirty years, Oh would I had never seen Wertenberge, ne ver read book: and what I have done, all can witness, jeaven yea all the world, for which both Germany, and the woe ld, yea heaven it self, the seat of God, the throne of the bless , the kingdom of joy, and must remain hell for ver, hell ah hell for ever, friends, what shall become of Faustus, being in hell for ? Lucifer and M phastophilis. Ah Gentlemen! I gave them my soul for my cunning. God forbade it indeed but Faustus hath done it: for vam e pleasure of years, hath Faustus eternal joy and f licitie, I writ them a bill with ne own blood, the date is expired, the time wii come, and he will fetch me. Oft have I thought to have done so, but the devil threatened to tear Me in pieces, if I nam God, to fetch both body and soul, if I once gave ear to divinity: and now 'tis too late: Gentlemen away, lest you perish with me. I pray for me, pray for me, and what noise soever the hear, come not unto me, for nothing can rescue me. Gentlemen farewell, if I live till morning, I'll visit you: if not, Faustus is gone to hell. Ah Faustus, Now hast thou but one bore hour to live, And then thou must be damned perpetually: Stand still you ever moving spheres of heaven, That ime may cease, and midnight never come: Fair Nature's eye, rise rise, again, and make Perpetual day, or let this hour be but a year, A month, a week, a natural day, That Faustus may repent and save his soul, Oh lent lent curite noctis equi: The stars move still, time runs, the clock will strike, The devil will come, and Faustus must be damned. Oh I'll leap up to my God: who Pulls me down? See see where Christ's blood streams in the firmament, One drop would save my soul, half a drop, ah my Christ, Ah rend not my heart for naming of my Christ, Yet will I call on him, o spare me Lucifer! Where is it now? 'tis gone: And see where God stretcheth out his arm, And bends his ireful brows: Mountains and hills, come come, and fallen on me, And hide me from the heavy wrath of God. No no, then will I headlong run into the earth: Earth gape, Oh no, it will not harbour me: You stars that reigned at my nativity, whose influence hath allotted death and hell, Now draw up Faustus Like a foggy missed, Into the entrails of yond labouring cloud, That when you vomit forth into the air, My limbs may issue from your smoky mouths, So that my soul may but ascend to heaven: Ah, half the hour is passed: 'Twill all be passed anon: O God, if thou wilt not have mercy on my soul, Yet for Christ's sake, whose blood hath ransomed me, Impose some end to my incessant pain, Let Faustus live in hell a thousand years, A hundred thousand, and at last be sau worser. Oh no end is limited to damned souls, Why Wertenberg thou not a creature wanting soul? Or, why is this immortal that thou hast? Ah Pythagoras metem sum cossis were that true, This soul should fly from me, and I be change Unto some brutish beast: all beasts are happy, for when they die, Their souls are soon dissolved in elements, But mine must live still to be plagde in hell: Cursed be the parents that engendered me: No Faustus, curse thy self, curse Lucifer, That hath depriude Thee of the joys of heaven: Oh it strikes, it strikes, now body turn to air, Or Lucifer will bear Thee quick to hell: O soul, be change into little water drops, And fall into the Ocean, never be found: My God, my God, look not so fierce on me: Adders, and Serpents, let me breathe a while: Ugly hell gape not, come not Lucifer, I'll burn my books, ah Mephastophilis. Already Faustus hath hazarded that for Thee. Stay Mephastophilus, and tell me, what good will my soul do thy Lord? Is that the reason he tempts us thus? Have you any pain that tortures others? I Mephastophilus, I give it Thee. Lo Mephastophilus, for love of Thee, I cut mine arm, and with my proper blood Assure my soul to be great Lucife's, Chief Lord and regent of pe petual night, View here the blood that trickles from mine arm, And let it be propitious for my wish. A plague on her for a hight whore. Thanks Mephastophilus, yet feign would I have a book wherein I might behold all spells and incantations, that I might raise up spirits when I please. 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. 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. Oh thou art deceived. When I behold the heavens, then I repent, And curse Thee wicked Mephastophilus, Because thou hast deprived me of those joys. How provest thou that? If it were made for man, it made for me: I will renounce this magic, and repent. who buzzeth in mine ears I am a spirit? B I a devil, yet God may pity me, I God will pity me, if I repent. My hearts so hardened I cannot repent, Scarce can I name salvation, faith, or heaven, But fearful echos thunders in mine ears, Faustus, thou art damned, then swords and knives, Poison, guns, halters, and invenomd steel Are laid before me to dispatch my self, And long ere this I should have slain my self, Had not sweet pleasure conquered deep despair. Have not I made blind Homer sing to me, Of Alexanders love, and Enons death, And hath not he that built the walls of Thebes, With ravishing found of his melodious harp Made music with my Mephastophilis, Why should I die then, or basely despair? I am resolved Faustus shall never repent, Come Mephastophilis, let us dispute again, And argue of divine Astrology, Tell me, are there many heavens above the Moon? Are all celestial bodies but one globe, As is the substance of this centricke earth? Oh who art thou that lookest so terrible? Oh Faustus, they are come to fetch away thy soul. Nor will henceforth: pardon me in this, And Faustus vows never to look so heaven, Never to name God, or to pray to him, To burn his Scriptures, slay his Ministers, And make my spirits pull his churches dow e. That sighed will be as pleasing unto me, as paradise was to Adam, the first day of his creation. What art thou? the second. What art thou? the third. what art thou? the fourth. Away envious rascal: what art thou? the fifth. Oh this feeds my soul. Come on Mephastophilis, what shall we do? My gracious Lord, I am ready to accomplish your request, so far forth as by art and power of my spirit I am able to perform. But such spirits as can lively resemble Alexander and his Paramour, shall appear before your Grace, in that manner that they best lived in, in their most flourishing estate, which I doubt not shall sufficiently content your Imperial majesty. No sir but when Acteon died, he left the horns for you: Mephastophilis be gone. Your highness may boldly go and see. wilt please your highness now to send for the knight that was so pleasant with me here of late? Oh not so fast sir, theres no haste but good, are you remembered how you crossed me in my conference with the emperor? I think I have met with you for it. My Grations Lord, not so much for the injury he offered me here in your presence, as to delight you with some mirth, hath Faustus worthily requited this injurious knight, which being all I desire, I am content to release him of his horns: and sir knight, hereafter speak well of Scholars: Mephastophilis, transform him strait. Now my good Lord having done my duty, I humbly take my leave. Now Mephastophilis, the restless course that time does run with calm and silent foot, Shortening my days and thread of vital life, Calls for the payment of my latest years, Therefore sweet Mephastophilis, let us make haste to Were tenberge. Nay, till I am passed this fair and pleasant green, isle walk on foot. What horse-courser, you are well met. I cannot sell him so: if thou likest him for fifty, take him. Well, come give me your money, my boy will deli ver him to you: but I must tell you one thing before you have him, ride him not into the water at any hand. Oh yes, he will drink of all waters, but ride him not into the water, ride him over hedge or ditch, or where thou wilt, but not into the water. My grations Lord, I am glad if contents you so well: but it may be Madame, you take no delight in this, I have herd that great bellied women do long for some dain ties or other, what is it Madame? tell me, and you shall have it. Alas Madame, thats nothing, Mephastophilis, be gone: exit Meph. were it a greater thing then this, so it would content you, you should have it enter Mephasto: with the grapes. here they be madam, wilt please you taste on them. If it Like your grace, the year is divided into two circles over the whole world, that when it is here winter with us, in the contrary circle it is summer with them, as in Indi , Saba, and farther countries in the East, and by means of a swift spir to that I have, I had them brought hither, as you see, how do you Like them Madame, b they good? I am glad they content you so Madam. I humbly thank your Grace. Sweet Mephastophilis, entreat thy Lord To pardon my unjust presumption, And with my blood again I will confirm My former vow I made to Lucifer. Torment sweet friend, that base and crooked age, That durst dissuade me from thy Lucifer, With greatest torments that our hell affords. One thing, good servant, let me crave of Thee To glut the longing of my hearts desire, That I might have unto my paramour, That heavenly Helen which I saw of late, Whose sweet embracings may extinguish clean These thought S that do dissuade me from my vow, And keep mine oath I made to Lucifer. Was this the face that launched a thousand ships? And burned the topless Towers of Ilium? Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss: Her lips sucks forth my soul, see where it flies: Come Helen, come give Me my soul again. Here will I dwell, for heaven be in these lips, And all is dross that is not Helena: I will be Pacis, and for love of Thee, Instead of Troy shall Wertenberge be sacked, And I will combat with weak Menclaus, And wear thy colours on my plumed Crest: Yea I will wound Achillis in the heel, And then return to Helen for a kiss. Oh thou art fairer the the evening air, Cla in the beauty of a thousand stars, Brighter art thou then flaming Jupiter, hen he appeared to hapless Semele, More e lovely then the monarch of the S j , And none but thou shalt be my param . Ah Gentlemen! Ah my sweet chamber-fellow! had I lived with Thee, then had I lived still, but now I die eternally: look, comes he not? comes he not? A surffet of deadly sin that hath damned both body and soul. Settle thy studies Faustus, and begin To found the depth oh that thou wilt profess: Having commenced, be a Divine in show, Yet level at the end of every Art, And live and die in Aristotles works: Sweet Anulatikes 'tis thou hast ravished me, Be disserere est finis logicis Is, to dispute well, Logics chiefest end Affords this Art no greater miracle: Then read no more, thou hast attained the end: A greater subject fits Faustus wit, Bid Oncaymaeon farewell, Galen come: Seeing, ubi desinit philosophus, ibi incipit medicus. Be a physician Faustus, heap up gold, And be eternizde for some wondrous cure, Summum bonum medicinae sanitas, The end of physic is our bodies health: Why Faustus, hast thou not attained that end? Is not thy common talk found Aphorisms? Are not thy bills hung up as monuments, whereby whole Cities have escaped the plague, And thousand desperate maladies been eased, Yet art thou still but Faustus, and a man. wouldst thou make man to live eternally? Or being dead, raise them to life again? Then this profession were to be esteemed. Physic farewell, where is Justinian? S res legatus duobus, A ter remembering altar v lorem rei, &c. A pretty case of paltry legacies: Ex nisi: Such is the subject of the institute And universal body of the Church: is study fits a mercenary drudge, who aims at nothing but external trash, The devil and illiberal for me: when all is done, Divinity is best. Jerome's Bible, Faustus, view it well. Stipendium peccati mors est: would, Stipendium, &c. The reward of sin is death: than S hard. Si peccasse negamus, fallimur, & nullam est in nobis veritas. If we say that we have no sin, We deceive our selves, and theres no truth in us. Why then belike we must sin, And so consequently die. I, we must die and e erlasting death: What doctrine call you this, I sera, sera, What will be, shall be? Divinity, adieu, These Metaphisickes of Magiciam S, And Negromantike books are heavenly Lines, circles, scenes, letters and characters: I, these are those that Faustus most worser sire's. Oh what a world of profit and delight, Of power, of honour, of omnipotence Is promised to the studious Artisan? All things that move between the quiet poles Shall be at my command. Emperors and Kings, Are but obeyed in their seu rall provinces: Nor can they rays the wind, or end the clouds: But his dominion that exceeds in this, Stretcheth as far as does the mind of man. A found Magician is a mighty God: Here Fa stus try thy brains to gain a deity. Wagner, commend me to my dearest friends, The Germane Valde , and Cornelium , Request them earnestly to visit me. Talk not oh me, but save your selves, and de partly. What art thou? the first.