________________________________________________
_ ACT III - SCENE II
(A Sennet [127] while the banquet is brought in;
and then enter FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS in
their own shapes.)
[Footnote 127: Sennet: Old eds. "Senit" and "Sonet". See note ||, p. 91.
Note ||, from p. 91. (Doctor Faustus, from the quarto of 1604):
"Sonnet: Variously written, SENNET, SIGNET, SIGNATE,
&c.--A particular set of notes on the trumpet,
or cornet, different from a flourish.
See Nares's GLOSS. in V. SENNET." ]
MEPHIST.
Now, Faustus, come, prepare thyself for mirth:
The sleepy Cardinals are hard at hand,
To censure Bruno, that is posted hence,
And on a proud-pac'd steed, as swift as thought,
Flies o'er the Alps to fruitful Germany,
There to salute the woful Emperor.
FAUSTUS.
The Pope will curse them for their sloth to-day,
That slept both Bruno and his crown away.
But now, that Faustus may delight his mind,
And by their folly make some merriment,
Sweet Mephistophilis, so charm me here,
That I may walk invisible to all,
And do whate'er I please, unseen of any.
MEPHIST.
Faustus, thou shalt: then kneel down presently,
Whilst on thy head I lay my hand,
And charm thee with this magic wand.
First, wear this girdle; then appear
Invisible to all are here:
The planets seven, the gloomy air,
Hell, and the Furies' forked hair,
Pluto's blue fire, and Hecat's tree,
With magic spells so compass thee,
That no eye may thy body see!
So, Faustus, now, for all their holiness,
Do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discern'd.
FAUSTUS.
Thanks, Mephistophilis.--Now, friars, take heed,
Lest Faustus make your shaven crowns to bleed.
MEPHIST.
Faustus, no more: see, where the Cardinals come!
[Re-enter the CARDINALS of France and Padua with a book.]
POPE.
Welcome, Lord Cardinals; come, sit down.--
Lord Raymond, take your seat.--Friars, attend,
And see that all things be [128] in readiness,
As best beseems this solemn festival.
[Footnote 128: be: So 4tos 1616, 1624.--2to 1631 "are."]
CARDINAL OF FRANCE.
First, may it please your sacred Holiness
To view the sentence of the reverend synod
Concerning Bruno and the Emperor?
POPE.
What needs this question? did I not tell you,
To-morrow we would sit i' the consistory,
And there determine of his punishment?
You brought us word even now, it was decreed
That Bruno and the cursed Emperor
Were by the holy council both condemn'd
For loathed Lollards and base schismatics:
Then wherefore would you have me view that book?
CARDINAL OF FRANCE.
Your grace mistakes; you gave us no such charge.
RAYMOND. Deny it not; we all are witnesses
That Bruno here was late deliver'd you,
With his rich triple crown to be reserv'd
And put into the church's treasury.
BOTH CARDINALS.
By holy Paul, we saw them not!
POPE.
By Peter, you shall die,
Unless you bring them forth immediately!--
Hale them to [129] prison, lade their limbs with gyves.--
False prelates, for this hateful treachery
Curs'd be your souls to hellish misery!
[Exeunt ATTENDANTS with the two CARDINALS.]
[Footnote 129: them to: So 4to 1616.--2tos 1624, 1631, "them FORTH to."]
FAUSTUS.
So, they are safe. Now, Faustus, to the feast:
The Pope had never such a frolic guest.
POPE.
Lord Archbishop of Rheims, sit down with us.
ARCHBISHOP.
[130] I thank your Holiness.
FAUSTUS.
Fall to; the devil choke you, [131] an you spare!
POPE.
Who is that spoke?--Friars, look about.--
Lord Raymond, pray, fall to. I am beholding [132]
To the Bishop of Milan for this so rare a present.
[Footnote 130: Archbishop.: Old eds. "Bish." and "Bishop" (and so afterwards).]
[Footnote 131: you: So 4tos 1616, 1631.--Not in 4to 1624.]
[Footnote 132: beholding: So 4to 1616 (see note †, p. 98).--2tos 1624, 1631, "beholden."
Note †, from p. 98. (Doctor Faustus, from the quarto of 1604):
"beholding: i.e. beholden." ]
FAUSTUS.
I thank you, sir.
[Snatches the dish.]
POPE.
How now! who snatch'd the meat from me?
Villains, why speak you not?--
My good Lord Archbishop, here's a most dainty dish
Was sent me from a cardinal in France.
FAUSTUS.
I'll have that too.
[Snatches the dish.]
POPE.
What Lollards do attend our holiness,
That we receive such [133] great indignity?
Fetch me some wine.
[Footnote 133: such: So 4tos 1616, 1631.--2to 1624 "this."]
FAUSTUS.
Ay, pray, do, for Faustus is a-dry.
POPE.
Lord Raymond,
I drink unto your grace.
FAUSTUS.
I pledge your grace.
[Snatches the cup.]
POPE.
My wine gone too!--Ye lubbers, look about,
And find the man that doth this villany,
Or, by our sanctitude, you all shall die!--
I pray, my lords, have patience at this
Troublesome banquet.
ARCHBISHOP.
Please it [134] your Holiness, I think it be some
ghost crept out of Purgatory, and now is come
unto your Holiness for his pardon.
[Footnote 134: it: So 4to 1616.--Not in 4tos 1624, 1631.]
POPE.
It may be so.--
Go, then, command our priests to sing a dirge,
To lay the fury of this same troublesome ghost.
[Exit an ATTENDANT.--The POPE crosses himself.]
FAUSTUS.
How now! must every bit be spic'd with a cross?--
Nay, then, take that.
[Strikes the POPE.]
POPE.
O, I am slain!--Help me, my lords!
O, come and help to bear my body hence!--
Damn'd be his [135] soul for ever for this deed!
[Exeunt all except FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS.]
[Footnote 135: his: So 4tos 1624, 1631.--2to 1616 "this."]
MEPHIST.
Now, Faustus, what will you do now? for I can tell you
you'll be cursed with bell, book, and candle.
FAUSTUS.
Bell, book, and candle,--candle, book, and bell,--
Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell!
[Re-enter the FRIARS, with bell, book, and candle, for the Dirge.]
FIRST FRIAR.
Come, brethren, lets about our business with good devotion.
[They sing.]
CURSED BE HE THAT STOLE HIS HOLINESS' MEAT FROM THE TABLE!
Maledicat Dominus!
CURSED BE HE THAT STRUCK [136] HIS HOLINESS A BLOW ON [137] THE FACE!
Maledicat Dominus!
CURSED BE HE THAT STRUCK FRIAR SANDELO A BLOW ON THE PATE!
Maledicat Dominus!
CURSED BE HE THAT DISTURBETH OUR HOLY DIRGE!
Maledicat Dominus!
CURSED BE HE THAT TOOK AWAY HIS HOLINESS' WINE!
Maledicat Dominus!
[MEPHISTOPHILIS and FAUSTUS beat the FRIARS, and fling
fire-works among them, and exeunt.]
[Footnote 136: struck: Here the old eds. have "stroke" and "strooke:" but in the next clause they all agree in having "strucke."]
[Footnote 137: on: So 4tos 1624, 1631.--Not in 4to 1616.] _
Read next: Act 3 - Scene 3
Read previous: Act 3 - Scene 1
Table of content of Dr. Faustus (From The Quarto Of 1616)
GO TO TOP OF SCREEN
Post your review
Your review will be placed after the table of content of this book
