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_ ACT II - SCENE II
[NOTE: ALL FOOTNOTES IN THIS PAGE ARE PLACED AT THE END OF THIS PAGE]
[Enter FAUSTUS, in his study, and MEPHISTOPHILIS.]
FAUSTUS.
When I behold the heavens, [69] then I repent,
And curse thee, wicked Mephistophilis,
Because thou hast depriv'd me of those joys.
MEPHIST.
'Twas thine [70] own seeking, Faustus; thank thyself.
But, think'st thou heaven is [71] such a glorious thing?
I tell thee, Faustus, it is not half so fair
As thou, or any man that breathes [72] on earth.
FAUSTUS.
How prov'st thou that?
MEPHIST.
'Twas made for man; then he's more excellent.
FAUSTUS.
If heaven was made for man, 'twas made for me:
I will renounce this magic and repent.
[Enter GOOD ANGEL and EVIL ANGEL.]
GOOD ANGEL.
Faustus, repent; yet God will pity thee.
EVIL ANGEL.
Thou art a spirit; God cannot pity thee.
FAUSTUS.
Who buzzeth in mine ears [73] I am a spirit?
Be I a devil, yet God may pity me;
Yea, God will pity me, if I repent.
EVIL ANGEL.
Ay, but Faustus never shall repent.
[Exeunt ANGELS.]
FAUSTUS.
My heart is harden'd, I cannot repent;
Scarce can I name salvation, faith, or heaven:
Swords, poisons, halters, and envenom'd steel
Are laid before me to despatch myself;
And long ere this I [74] should have done the deed,
Had not sweet pleasure conquer'd deep despair.
Have not I made blind Homer sing to me
Of Alexander's love and Oenon's death?
And hath not he, that built the walls of Thebes
With ravishing sound of his melodious harp,
Made music with my Mephistophilis?
Why should I die, then, or basely despair?
I am resolv'd; Faustus shall not repent.--
Come, Mephistophilis, let us dispute again,
And reason of divine astrology.
Speak, are there many spheres above the moon?
Are all celestial bodies but one globe,
As is the substance of this centric earth?
MEPHIST.
As are the elements, such are the heavens,
Even from the moon unto th' empyreal orb,
Mutually folded in each other's spheres,
And jointly move upon one axletree,
Whose termine [75] is term'd the world's wide pole;
Nor are the names of Saturn, Mars, or Jupiter
Feign'd, but are erring [76] stars.
FAUSTUS.
But have they all one motion, both situ et tempore?
MEPHIST.
All move from east to west in four-and-twenty
hours upon the poles of the world; but differ in
their motions upon the poles of the zodiac.
FAUSTUS.
These slender questions Wagner can decide:
Hath Mephistophilis no greater skill?
Who knows not the double motion [77] of the planets?
That the first is finish'd in a natural day;
The second thus; Saturn in thirty years; Jupiter in twelve;
Mars in four; the Sun, Venus, and Mercury in a year;
the Moon in twenty-eight days. These are freshmen's
questions. But tell me, hath every sphere a dominion
or intelligentia?
MEPHIST.
Ay.
FAUSTUS.
How many heavens or spheres are there?
MEPHIST.
Nine; the seven planets, the firmament, and the empyreal
heaven.
FAUSTUS.
But is there not coelum igneum et crystallinum?
MEPHIST.
No, Faustus, they be but fables.
FAUSTUS.
Resolve me, then, in this one question; why are
not conjunctions, oppositions, aspects, eclipses,
all at one time, but in some years we have more,
in some less?
MEPHIST.
Per inoequalem motum respectu totius.
FAUSTUS.
Well, I am answered. Now tell me who made the world?
MEPHIST.
I will not.
FAUSTUS.
Sweet Mephistophilis, tell me.
MEPHIST.
Move me not, Faustus.
FAUSTUS.
Villain, have I not bound thee to tell me any thing?
MEPHIST.
Ay, [78] that is not against our kingdom; this is.
Thou art damned; think thou of hell.
FAUSTUS.
Think, Faustus, upon God that made the world.
MEPHIST.
Remember this.
[Exit.]
FAUSTUS.
Ay, go, accursed spirit, to ugly hell!
'Tis thou hast damn'd distressed Faustus' soul.
Is't not too late?
[Re-enter GOOD ANGEL and EVIL ANGEL.]
EVIL ANGEL.
Too late.
GOOD ANGEL.
Never too late, if Faustus will repent.
EVIL ANGEL.
If thou repent, devils will tear thee in pieces.
GOOD ANGEL.
Repent, and they shall never raze thy skin.
[Exeunt ANGELS.]
FAUSTUS.
O Christ, my Saviour, my Saviour
Help to save distressed Faustus' soul!
[Enter LUCIFER, BELZEBUB, and MEPHISTOPHILIS.]
LUCIFER.
Christ cannot save thy soul, for he is just:
There's none but I have interest in the same.
FAUSTUS.
O, what art thou that look'st so terribly?
LUCIFER.
I am Lucifer,
And this is my companion-prince in hell.
FAUSTUS.
O Faustus, they are come to fetch thy soul!
BELZEBUB.
We are come to tell thee thou dost injure us.
LUCIFER.
Thou call'st of Christ, contrary to thy promise.
BELZEBUB.
Thou shouldst not think on God.
LUCIFER.
Think of the devil.
BELZEBUB.
And his dam too.
FAUSTUS.
Nor will Faustus henceforth: pardon him for this,
And Faustus vows never to look to heaven.
LUCIFER.
So shalt thou shew thyself an obedient servant,
And we will highly gratify thee for it.
BELZEBUB.
Faustus, we are come from hell in person to shew
thee some pastime: sit down, and thou shalt behold
the Seven Deadly Sins appear to thee in their own
proper shapes and likeness.
FAUSTUS.
That sight will be as pleasant unto me,
As Paradise was to Adam the first day
Of his creation.
LUCIFER.
Talk not of Paradise or creation; but mark the show.--
Go, Mephistophilis, and [79] fetch them in.
[MEPHISTOPHILIS brings in the SEVEN DEADLY SINS.]
BELZEBUB.
Now, Faustus, question them of their names and
dispositions.
FAUSTUS.
That shall I soon.--What art thou, the [80] first?
PRIDE.
I am Pride. I disdain to have any parents. I am like to Ovid's flea; I can creep into every corner of a wench; sometimes, like a perriwig, I sit upon her brow; next, like a necklace, I hang about her neck; then, like a fan of feathers, I kiss her lips; [81] and then, turning myself to a wrought smock, do what I list. But, fie, what a smell is here! I'll not speak a word more for a king's ransom, unless the ground be perfumed, and covered with cloth of arras.
FAUSTUS.
Thou art a proud knave, indeed.--What art thou, the second?
COVETOUSNESS.
I am Covetousness, begotten of an old churl,
in a leather bag: and, might I now obtain my
wish, this house, you, and all, should turn to
gold, that I might lock you safe into
my chest: O my sweet gold!
FAUSTUS.
And what art thou, the third?
ENVY.
I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an oyster-wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books burned. I am lean with seeing others eat. O, that there would come a famine over all the world, that all might die, and I live alone! then thou shouldst see how fat I'd be. But must thou sit, and I stand? come down, with a vengeance!
FAUSTUS.
Out, envious wretch!--But what art thou, the fourth?
WRATH.
I am Wrath. I had neither father nor mother: I leapt out of a lion's mouth when I was scarce an hour old; and ever since have run [82] up and down the world with this [83] case of rapiers, wounding myself when I could get none to fight withal. I was born in hell; and look to it, for some of you shall be my father.
FAUSTUS.
And what art thou, the fifth?
GLUTTONY.
I am Gluttony. My parents are all dead, and the devil a penny they have left me, but a small pension, and that buys me thirty meals a-day and ten bevers,--a small trifle to suffice nature. I come [84] of a royal pedigree: my father was a Gammon of Bacon, my mother was a Hogshead of Claret-wine; my godfathers were these, Peter Pickled-herring and Martin Martlemas-beef; but my godmother, O, she was an ancient gentlewoman; her name was Margery March-beer. Now, Faustus, thou hast heard all my progeny; wilt thou bid me to supper?
FAUSTUS.
Not I.
GLUTTONY.
Then the devil choke thee!
FAUSTUS.
Choke thyself, glutton!--What art thou, the sixth?
SLOTH.
Heigho! I am Sloth. I was begotten on a sunny bank.
Heigho! I'll not speak a word more for a king's ransom.
FAUSTUS.
And what are you, Mistress Minx, the seventh and last?
LECHERY.
Who, I, [85] sir? I am one that loves an inch of
raw mutton better than an ell of fried stock-fish;
and the first letter of my name begins with L. [86]
LUCIFER.
Away to hell, away! On, piper!
[Exeunt the SINS.]
FAUSTUS.
O, how this sight doth delight my soul!
LUCIFER.
Tut, [87] Faustus, in hell is all manner of delight.
FAUSTUS.
O, might I see hell, and return again safe,
How happy were I then!
LUCIFER.
Faustus, thou shalt; at midnight I will send for thee.
Meanwhile peruse this book and view it throughly,
And thou shalt turn thyself into what shape thou wilt.
FAUSTUS.
Thanks, mighty Lucifer!
This will I keep as chary as my life.
LUCIFER.
Now, Faustus, farewell.
FAUSTUS.
Farewell, great Lucifer.
[Exeunt LUCIFER and BELZEBUB.]
Come, Mephistophilis.
[Exeunt.]
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 69: This will I keep as chary as my life.
[Exeunt.]:
[Enter FAUSTUS, in his study, and MEPHISTOPHILIS.]
FAUSTUS.
When I behold the heavens, &c.:
Old eds. (that is, 4tos 1616, 1624, 1631) thus;
"This will I keepe, as chary as my life.
[Exeunt.]:
[Enter WAGNER solus.]
WAGNER.
Learned Faustus
To know the secrets of Astronomy
Grauen in the booke of Joues high firmament,
Did mount himselfe to scale Olympus top,
Being seated in a chariot burning bright,
Drawne by the strength of yoaky [2to 1624 "yoaked": Dragons necks,
He now is gone to proue Cosmography,
And as I gesse will first arriue at Rome,
To see the Pope and manner of his Court;
And take some part of holy Peters feast,
That to [2tos 1624, 1631, "on": this day is highly solemnized.
[Exit WAGNER.]
[Enter FAUSTUS in his Study, and MEPHISTOPHILIS.]
FAUSTUS.
When I behold the heauens," &c.
The lines which I have here omitted belong to a
subsequent part of the play, where they will be
found with considerable additions, and are rightly
assigned to the CHORUS. (As given in the present
place by the 4tos 1616, 1624, 1631, these lines
exhibit the text of the earlier FAUSTUS; see
p. 90, sec. col.) It would seem that something
was intended to intervene here between the exit
of Faustus and Mephistophilis, and their
re-appearance on the stage: compare, however,
the preceding play, p. 88, first col.
p. 90, sec. col. (Doctor Faustus, from the quarto of 1604):
"FAUSTUS.
Great thanks, mighty Lucifer!
This will I keep as chary as my life.
LUCIFER.
Farewell, Faustus, and think on the devil.
FAUSTUS.
Farewell, great Lucifer.
[Exeunt LUCIFER and BELZEBUB.] :
Come, Mephistophilis.
[Exeunt.:
[Enter CHORUS.]
CHORUS.
Learned Faustus,
To know the secrets of astronomy
Graven in the book of Jove's high firmament,
Did mount himself to scale Olympus' top,
Being seated in a chariot burning bright,
Drawn by the strength of yoky dragons' necks.
He now is gone to prove cosmography,
And, as I guess, will first arrive at Rome,
To see the Pope and manner of his court,
And take some part of holy Peter's feast,
That to this day is highly solemniz'd.
[Exit.]
[Enter FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS.]
FAUSTUS.
Having now, my good Mephistophilis,
Pass'd with delight the stately town of Trier," etc.
p. 88, first col. (Doctor Faustus, from the quarto of 1604):
This part of the play does not have any relevance to characters
leaving the stage and re-entering.
Perhaps the editor meant p. 93, first column.
p. 93, first col. (Doctor Faustus, from the quarto of 1604):
"RALPH. O, brave, Robin! shall I have Nan Spit, and to mine
own use? On that condition I'll feed thy devil with horse-
bread as long as he lives, of free cost.
ROBIN.
No more, sweet Ralph: let's go and make clean our
boots, which lie foul upon our hands, and then to
our conjuring in the devil's name.
[Exeunt.]
[Enter ROBIN and RALPH with a silver goblet.]
ROBIN.
Come, Ralph: did not I tell thee, we were for ever
made by this Doctor Faustus' book? ecce, signum! here's a
simple purchase for horse-keepers: our horses shall eat
no hay as long as this lasts.
RALPH. But, Robin, here comes the Vintner." ]
[Footnote 70: thine: So 4tos 1616, 1624.--2to 1631 "thy."]
[Footnote 71: is: So 4to 1616.--Not in 4tos 1624, 1631.]
[Footnote 72: breathes: So 4tos 1624, 1631.--2to 1616 "breathe."]
[Footnote 73: ears: So 4tos 1616, 1631.--2to 1624 "eare."]
[Footnote 74: this I: So 4tos 1616, 1631.--2to 1624 "this TIME I."]
[Footnote 75: termine: I may notice that 4to 1604 (see p. 88, sec. col.)
has "terminine," which at least is better for the metre.
p. 88, second column, (Doctor Faustus, from the quarto of 1604):
"Whose terminine is term'd the world's wide pole;" ]
[Footnote 76: erring: So 4to 1604.--The later 4tos "euening."]
[Footnote 77: motion: So 4tos 1616, 1631.--2to 1624 "motions."]
[Footnote 78: Ay: So 4to 1616.--Not in 4tos 1624, 1631.]
[Footnote 79: and: So 4to 1631.--Not in 4tos 1616, 1624.]
[Footnote 80: the: So 4tos 1616, 1631.--Not in 4to 1624.]
[Footnote 81: lips: So 4to 1604.--Not in the later 4tos.]
[Footnote 82: and ever since have run: So 4to 1616.--2tos 1624, 1631,
"and HAUE EUER SINCE run."]
[Footnote 83: this: So 4to 1604.--The later 4tos "these."]
[Footnote 84: come: So 4to 1616.--2tos 1624, 1631, "came."]
[Footnote 85: I: So 4tos 1624, 1631.--2to 1616 "I I."]
[Footnote 86: L: Old eds. "Lechery." See note †, p. 90.
Note , from p. 90. (Doctor Faustus, from the quarto of 1604):
"L.: All the 4tos "Lechery."--Here I have made the alteration
recommended by Mr. Collier in his Preface to COLERIDGE'S
SEVEN LECTURES ON SHAKESPEARE AND MILTON, p. cviii." ]
[Footnote 87: Tut: So 4to 1604.--The later 4tos "But."] _
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