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Scene V
Scene V
Faustus [discovered] in his Study
Faust. Now, Faustus, must Thou needs be damn`d, and canst thou not be
sav`d" What boots it then to think of God or Heaven? Away with such vain
fancies, and despair: Despair in God, and trust in Belzebub. Now go not
backward: no, Faustus, be resolute. Why waverest thou? O, something soundeth
in mine ears "Abjure this magic, turn to God again!" Ay, and Faustus will turn
to God again. To God? - He loves thee not - The God thou serv`st is thine own
appetite, Wherein is fix`d the love of Belzebub; To him I`ll build an altar
and a church, And offer lukewarm blood of new - born babes.
Enter Good Angel and Evil Angel
G. Ang. Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art.
Faust. Contrition, prayer, repentance! What of them?
G. Ang. O, they are means to bring thee unto Heaven.
E. Ang. Rather, illusions, fruits of lunacy, That makes men foolish that
do trust them most.
G. Ang. Sweet Faustus, think of Heaven, and heavenly things.
E. Ang. No, Faustus, think of honour and of wealth.
[Exeunt Angels.
Faust. Of wealth! What the signiory of Embden^1 shall be mine. When
Mephistophilis shall stand by me, What God can hurt thee, Faustus? Thou art
safe; Cast no more doubts. Come, Mephistophilis, And bring glad tidings from
great Lucifer; - Is`t not midnight? Come, Mephistophilis; Veni, veni,
Mephistophile!
[Footnote 1: Emden, near the mouth of the river Ems, was an important
commercial town in Elizabethan times.]
Enter Mephistophilis
Now tell me, what says Lucifer thy lord?
Meph. That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives, So he will buy my
service with his soul.
Faust. Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee.
Meph. But, Faustus, thou must bequeath it solemnly, And write a deed of
gift with thine own blood, For that security craves great Lucifer. If thou
deny it, I will back to hell.
Faust. Stay, Mephistophilis! and tell me what good Will my soul do thy
lord.
Meph. Enlarge his kingdom.
Faust. Is that the reason why he tempts us thus?
Meph. Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.^2
[Footnote 2: "Misery loves company."]
Faust. Why, have you any pain that torture others?
Meph. As great as have the human 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 than thou hast wit to ask.
Faust. Ay, Mephistophilis, I give it thee.
Meph. Then, Faustus, stab thine arm courageously. And bind thy soul that
at some certain day Great Lucifer may claim it as his own; And then be thou as
great as Lucifer.
Faust. [stabbing his arm.] Lo, Mephistophilis, for love of thee, I cut
mine arm, and with my proper blood Assure my soul to be great Lucifer`s, Chief
lord and regent of perpetual night! View here the blood that trickles from
mine arm. And let it be propitious for my wish.
Meph. But, Faustus, thou must Write it in manner of a deed of gift.
Faust. Ay, so I will. [Writes.] But, Mephistophilis, My blood congeals,
and I can write no more.
Meph. I`ll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight.
Exit.
Faust. 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 stay`d. Why should`st thou not? Is not
thy soul thine own? Then write again. Faustus gives to thee his soul.
Re - enter Mephistophilis with a chafer of coals
Meph. Here`s fire. Come, Faustus, set it on.
Faust. So now the blood begins to clear again; Now will I make an end
immediately. [Writes.]
Meph. O what will not I do to obtain his soul.
[Aside.]
Faust. Consummatum est:^3 this bill is ended, And Faustus hath bequeath`d
his soul to Lucifer - But what is this inscription on mine arm? Homo, fuge!^4
Whither should I fly? If unto God, he`ll throw me down to hell. My senses are
deceiv`d; here`s nothing writ: - I see it plain; here in this place is writ
Homo, fuge! Yet shall not Faustus fly.
[Footnote 3: "It is finished."]
[Footnote 4: "Man, fly!"]
Meph. I`ll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind.
[Exit.
Re - enter [Mephistophilis] with Devils, giving crowns and rich apparel
to Faustus, dance, and depart
Faust. Speak Mephistophilis, what means this show?
Meph. Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind withal, And to show thee
what magic can perform.
Faust. But may I raise up spirits when I please?
Meph. Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these.
Faust. 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.
Meph. Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer To effect all promises between
us made.
Faust. Then hear me read them: 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]. Fourthly, that he shall be
in his chamber or house invisible. Lastly, that he shall appear to the said
John Faustus, at all times, and in what form or shape soever he pleases. I,
John Faustus, of Wittenberg, 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 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.
Meph. Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?
Faust. Ay, take it, and the Devil give thee good on`t.
Meph. Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt.
Faust. First will I question with thee about hell. Tell me where is the
place that men call hell?
Meph. Under the Heaven.
Faust. Ay, but whereabout?
Meph. Within the bowels of these elements, Where we are tortur`d and
remain for ever; Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscrib`d In one self place;
for where we are is hell, And where hell is there must we ever be: And, to
conclude, when all the world dissolves, And every creature shall be purified,
All places shall be hell that is not Heaven.
Faust. Come, I think hell`s a fable.
Meph. Ay, think so still, till experience change thy mind.
Faust. Why, think`st thou then that Faustus shall be damn`d?
Meph. Ay, of necessity, for here`s the scroll Wherein thou hast given thy
soul to Lucifer.
Faust. Ay, and body too; but what of that? Think`st thou that Faustus is
so fond^5 to imagine That, after this life, there is any pain? Tush; these are
trifles, and mere old wives` tales.
[Footnote 5: Foolish.]
Meph. But, Faustus, I am an instance to prove the contrary, For I am
damned, and am now in hell.
Faust. How! now in hell! Nay, an this be hell, I`ll willingly be damn`d
here; What? walking, disputing, &c.? But, leaving off this, let me have a
wife, The fairest maid in Germany; For I am wanton and lascivious, And cannot
live without a wife.
Meph. How - a wife? I prithee, Faustus, talk not of a wife.
Faust. Nay, sweet Mephistophilis, fetch me one, for I will have one.
Meph. 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 dressed like a woman, with
fireworks
Meph. Tell me, Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?
Faust. A plague on her for a hot whore!
Meph. Tut, Faustus, Marriage is but a ceremonial toy; And if thou lovest
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, Be she as chaste as was Penelope, As wise as Saba,^6 or as beautiful As
was bright Lucifer before his fall. Here, take this book peruse it thoroughly:
[Footnote 6: The Queen of Sheba.]
[Gives a book.]
The iterating^7 of these lines brings gold;
The framing of this circle on the ground
Brings whirlwinds, tempests, thunder and lightning;
Pronounce this thrice devoutly to thyself,
And men in armour shall appear to thee,
Ready to execute what thou desir`st.
[Footnote 7: Repeating.]
Faust. 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.
Meph. Here they are, in this book.
Turns to them.
Faust. 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.
Meph. Here they are too.
Turns to them.
Faust. 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.
Meph. Here they be.
Faust. O, thou art deceived.
Meph. Tut, I warrant thee.
Turns to them.
Exeunt.
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