The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, Christopher Marlowe [new ebook reader .txt] 📗

Mephistopheles.67 Duke Believe me, Master Doctor, this merriment hath much pleased me. Faustus My gracious lord, I am glad it contents you so well.⁠—But it may be, madam, you take no delight in this. I have heard that great-bellied women do long for some dainties or other: what is it, madam? tell me, and you shall have it. Duchess Thanks, good Master Doctor; and for I see your courteous intent to pleasure me, I will not hide from you the thing my heart desires; and were it now summer, as it is January and the dead time of the winter, I would desire no better meat than a dish of ripe grapes. Faustus Alas, madam, that’s nothing! Mephistopheles, begone. Exit Mephistopheles. Were it a greater thing than this, so it would content you, you should have it. Re-enter Mephistopheles with grapes. Here they be, madam; wilt please you taste on them? Duke Believe me, Master Doctor, this makes me wonder above the rest, that being in the dead time of winter, and in the month of January, how you should come by these grapes. Faustus 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 India, Saba, and farther countries in the East; and by means of a swift spirit that I have I had them brought hither, as you see.⁠—How do you like them, madam; be they good? Duchess Believe me, Master Doctor, they be the best grapes that e’er I tasted in my life before. Faustus I am glad they content you so, madam. Duke Come, madam, let us in, where you must well reward this learned man for the great kindness he hath showed to you. Duchess And so I will, my lord; and, whilst I live, rest beholding68 for this courtesy. Faustus I humbly thank your grace. Duke Come, Master Doctor, follow us and receive your reward. Exeunt. Scene XIII Enter Wagner.69 Wagner

I think my master shortly means to die,
For he hath given to me all his goods:
And yet, methinks, if that death were so near,
He would not banquet, and carouse and swill
Amongst the students, as even now he doth,
Who are at supper with such belly-cheer
As Wagner ne’er beheld in all his life.
See where they come! belike the feast is ended.

Exit. Scene XIV Enter Faustus with two or three Scholars, and Mephistopheles. First Scholar

Master Doctor Faustus, since our conference about fair ladies, which was the beautifulest in all the world, we have determined with ourselves that Helen of Greece was the admirablest lady that ever lived: therefore, Master Doctor, if you will do us that favour, as to let us see that peerless dame of Greece, whom all the world admires for majesty, we should think ourselves much beholding unto you.

Faustus

Gentlemen,
For that I know your friendship is unfeigned,
And Faustus’ custom is not to deny
The just requests of those that wish him well,
You shall behold that peerless dame of Greece,
No otherways for pomp and majesty
Than when Sir Paris crossed the seas with her,
And brought the spoils to rich Dardania.
Be silent, then, for danger is in words.

Music sounds, and Helen passeth over the stage. Second Scholar

Too simple is my wit to tell her praise,
Whom all the world admires for majesty.

Third Scholar

No marvel though the angry Greeks pursued
With ten years’ war the rape of such a queen,
Whose heavenly beauty passeth all compare.

First Scholar

Since we have seen the pride of Nature’s works,
And only paragon of excellence,
Let us depart; and for this glorious deed
Happy and blest be Faustus evermore!

Faustus Gentlemen, farewell⁠—the same I wish to you. Exeunt Scholars. Enter an Old Man. Old Man

Ah, Doctor Faustus, that I might prevail
To guide thy steps unto the way of life,
By which sweet path thou may’st attain the goal
That shall conduct thee to celestial rest!
Break heart, drop blood, and mingle it with tears,
Tears falling from repentant heaviness
Of thy most vile and loathsome filthiness,
The stench whereof corrupts the inward soul
With such flagitious crimes of heinous sin
As no commiseration may expel,
But mercy, Faustus, of thy Saviour sweet,
Whose blood alone must wash away thy guilt.

Faustus

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 almost come!”
And Faustus now will come to do the right.
Mephistopheles gives him a dagger.

Old Man

Ah, stay, good Faustus, stay thy desperate steps!
I see an angel hovers o’er thy head,
And, with a vial full of precious grace,
Offers to pour the same into thy soul:
Then call for mercy, and avoid despair.

Faustus

Ah, my sweet friend, I feel
Thy words to comfort my distressed soul!
Leave me a while to ponder on my sins.

Old Man

I go, sweet Faustus, but with heavy cheer,
Fearing the ruin of thy hopeless soul.

Exit. Faustus

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?

Mephistopheles

Thou traitor, Faustus, I arrest thy soul
For disobedience to my sovereign lord;
Revolt, or I’ll in piecemeal tear thy flesh.

Faustus

Sweet Mephistopheles, entreat thy lord
To pardon my unjust presumption.
And with my blood again I will confirm
My former vow I made to Lucifer.

Mephistopheles

Do it, then, quickly, with unfeigned heart,
Lest greater danger do attend thy drift.

Faustus stabs his arm and writes on a paper with his blood.70 Faustus

Torment, sweet friend, that base and crooked age,
That durst dissuade me from thy Lucifer,
With greatest torments that our hell affords.

Mephistopheles

His faith is great: I cannot touch his soul;
But what I may afflict his body with
I will attempt, which is but little worth.

Faustus

One thing, good servant, let me crave of thee,
To glut the longing of my heart’s desire⁠—
That I might have unto my paramour
That