________________________________________________
_ ACT IV - SCENE V
[Enter FAUSTUS, a HORSE-COURSER, and MEPHISTOPHILIS.]
HORSE-COURSER.
I beseech your worship, accept of these forty dollars.
FAUSTUS.
Friend, thou canst not buy so good a horse for
so small a price. I have no great need to sell him:
but, if thou likest him for ten dollars more, take
him, because I see thou hast a good mind to him.
HORSE-COURSER.
I beseech you, sir, accept of this: I am a very
poor man, and have lost very much of late by
horse-flesh, and this bargain will set me up again.
FAUSTUS.
Well, I will not stand with thee: give me the money
[HORSE-COURSER gives FAUSTUS the money]. Now, sirrah,
I must tell you that you may ride him o'er hedge
and ditch, and spare him not; but, do you hear? in
any case, ride him not into the water.
HORSE-COURSER.
How, sir! not into the water! why, will he not
drink of all waters?
FAUSTUS.
Yes, he will drink of all waters; but ride him not
into the water: o'er hedge and ditch, or where
thou wilt, but not into the water. Go, bid the
hostler deliver him unto you, and remember
what I say.
HORSE-COURSER.
I warrant you, sir!--O, joyful day! now am I a
made man for ever.
[Exit.]
FAUSTUS.
What art thou, Faustus, but a man condemn'd to die?
Thy fatal time draws to a final end;
Despair doth drive distrust into my thoughts:
Confound these passions with a quiet sleep:
Tush, Christ did call the thief upon the Cross;
Then rest thee, Faustus, quiet in conceit.
[He sits to sleep.]
[Re-enter the HORSE-COURSER, wet.]
HORSE-COURSER.
0, what a cozening doctor was this! I, riding my horse into the water, thinking some hidden mystery had been in the horse, I had nothing under me but a little straw, and had much ado to escape [198] drowning. Well, I'll go rouse him, and make him give me my forty dollars again.--Ho, sirrah Doctor, you cozening scab! Master Doctor, awake, and rise, and give me my money again, for your horse is turned to a bottle of hay, Master Doctor!
[He pulls off FAUSTUS' leg].
Alas, I am undone! what shall I do? I have pulled off his leg.
[Footnote 198: escape: So 4tos 1616, 1631.--2to 1624 "scape."]
FAUSTUS.
O, help, help! the villain hath murdered me.
HORSE-COURSER.
Murder or not murder, now he has [199] but one leg,
I'll outrun him, and cast this leg into some ditch or other.
[Aside, and then runs out.]
[Footnote 199: has: So 4tos 1616, 1624.--2to 1631 "hath."]
FAUSTUS.
Stop him, stop him, stop him!--Ha, ha, ha!
Faustus hath his leg again, and the Horse-courser
a bundle of hay for his forty dollars.
[Enter WAGNER.]
How now, Wagner! what news with thee?
WAGNER.
If it please you, the Duke of Vanholt doth earnestly
entreat your company, and hath sent some of his men
to attend you, [200] with provision fit for your journey.
[Footnote 200: you: So 4to 1616.--Not in 4tos 1624, 1631.]
FAUSTUS.
The Duke of Vanholt's an honourable gentleman,
and one to whom I must be no niggard of my cunning.
Come, away!
[Exeunt.] _
Read next: Act 4 - Scene 6
Read previous: Act 4 - Scene 4
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
