[Scene V]

Faustus [discovered] in his Study

Faustus

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

Good Angel

Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art.

Faustus

Contrition, prayer, repentance! What of them?

Good Angel

O, they are means to bring thee unto Heaven.

Evil Angel

Rather, illusions, fruits of lunacy,

That makes men foolish that do trust them most.

Good Angel

Sweet Faustus, think of Heaven, and heavenly things.

Evil Angel

No, Faustus, think of honour and of wealth.

[Exeunt ANGELS.]

Faustus

Of wealth!

What the signiory of Embden⁴⁸ 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!

Enter Mephistophilis

Now tell me, what says Lucifer thy lord?

Mephistophilis

That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives,

So he will buy my service with his soul.

Faustus

Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee.

Mephistophilis

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.

Faustus

Stay, Mephistophilis! and tell me what good

Will my soul do thy lord.

Mephistophilis

Enlarge his kingdom.

Faustus

Is that the reason why he tempts us thus?

Mephistophilis

Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.⁴⁹

Faustus

Why, have you any pain that torture others?

Mephistophilis

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.

Faustus

Ay, Mephistophilis, I give it thee.

Mephistophilis

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.

Faustus [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.

Mephistophilis

But, Faustus, thou must

Write it in manner of a deed of gift.

Faustus

Ay, so I will.

[Writes.]

But, Mephistophilis,

My blood congeals, and I can write no more.

Mephistophilis

I’ll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight.

[Exit.]

Faustus

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

Mephistophilis

Here’s fire. Come, Faustus, set it on.

Faustus

So now the blood begins to clear again;

Now will I make an end immediately.

[Writes.]

Mephistophilis

O what will not I do to obtain his soul.

[Aside.]

Faustus

Consummatum est:⁵⁰ this bill is ended,

And Faustus hath bequeath’d his soul to Lucifer—

But what is this inscription on mine arm?

Homo, fuge!⁵¹ 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.

Mephistophilis

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

Faustus

Speak Mephistophilis, what means this show?

Mephistophilis

Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind withal,

And to show thee what magic can perform.

Faustus

But may I raise up spirits when I please?

Mephistophilis

Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these.

Faustus

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.

Mephistophilis

Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer

To effect all promises between us made.

Faustus

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.

Mephistophilis

Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?

Faustus

Ay, take it, and the Devil give thee good on’t.

Mephistophilis

Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt.

Faustus

First will I question with thee about hell.

Tell me where is the place that men call hell?

Mephistophilis

Under the Heaven.

Faustus

Ay, but whereabout?

Mephistophilis

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.

Faustus

Come, I think hell’s a fable.

Mephistophilis

Ay, think so still, till experience change thy mind.

Faustus

Why, think’st thou then that Faustus shall be damn’d?

Mephistophilis

Ay, of necessity, for here’s the scroll

Wherein thou hast given thy soul to Lucifer.

Faustus

Ay, and body too; but what of that?

Think’st thou that Faustus is so fond⁵² to imagine

That, after this life, there is any pain?

Tush; these are trifles, and mere old wives’ tales.

Mephistophilis

But, Faustus, I am an instance to prove the contrary,

For I am damned, and am now in hell.

Faustus

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.

Mephistophilis

How—a wife?

I prithee, Faustus, talk not of a wife.

Faustus

Nay, sweet Mephistophilis, fetch me one, for I will have one.

Mephistophilis

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

Mephistophilis

Tell me, Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?

Faustus

A plague on her for a hot whore!

Mephistophilis

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,⁵³ or as beautiful

As was bright Lucifer before his fall.

Here, take this book peruse it thoroughly:

[Gives a book.]

The iterating⁵⁴ 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.

Faustus

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.

Mephistophilis

Here they are, in this book.

[Turns to them.]

Faustus

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.

Mephistophilis

Here they are too.

[Turns to them.]

Faustus

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.

Mephistophilis

Here they be.

Faustus

O, thou art deceived.

Mephistophilis

Tut, I warrant thee.

[Turns to them.]

[Exeunt.]