I charge thee to return, and change thy shape;
Thou art too ugly to attend on me:
Go, and return an old Franciscan friar;
That holy shape becomes a devil best.

[Exit MEPHIST.
I see there's virtue in my heavenly words:
Who would not be proficient in this art?
How pliant is this Mephistophilis,
Full of obedience and humility!

Such is the force of magic and my spells :
No, Faustus, thou art conjuror laureat,
That canst command great Mephistophilis :
Quin regis Mephistophilis fratris imagine.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS like a Franciscan friar.‡ Meph. Now, Faustus, what wouldst thou have me do?

Faust. I charge thee wait upon me whilst I live,

To do whatever Faustus shall command,
Be it to make the moon drop from her sphere,
Or the ocean to overwhelm the world.

surgat Mephistophilis, quod tumeraris] The later 4tos have "surgat Mephistophilis Dragon, quod tumeraris.”— There is a corruption here, which seems to defy emendation. For" quod tumeraris," Mr. J. Crossley, of Manchester, would read (rejecting the word "Dragon") "quòd tu mandares" (the construction being "quod tu mandares ut Mephistophilis appareat et surgat "): but the "tu" does not agree with the preceding "vos."-The Revd. J. Mitford proposes "surgat Mephistophilis, per Dragon (or Dagon) quod numen est aëris.'

+ dicatus] So two of the later 4tos.-2to 1604 "dicatis."

↑ Re-enter Mephistophilis, &c.] According to The History of Dr. Faustus, on which this play is founded, Faustus raises Mephistophilis in "a thicke wood neere to Wittenberg, called in the German tongue Spisser Wolt.. Presently, not three fathom above his head, fell a flame in manner of a lightning, and changed itselfe into a globe. Suddenly the globe opened, and sprung up in the height of a man; so burning a time, in the end it converted to the shape of a fiery man [?] This pleasant beast ran about the circle a great while, and, lastly, appeared in the manner of a Gray Fryer, asking Faustus what was his request?" Sigs. A 2, A 3, ed. 1648. Again; "After Doctor Faustus had made his promise to the devill, in the morning betimes he called the spirit before him, and commanded him that he should alwayes come to him like a fryer after the order of Saint Francis, with a bell in his hand like Saint Anthony, and to ring it once or twice before he appeared, that he might know of his certaine coming." Id. Sig. A 4.

Meph. I am a servant to great Lucifer, And may not follow thee without his leave: No more than he commands must we perform. Faust. Did not he charge thee to appear to

me?

Meph. No, I came hither of mine Own accord.

Faust. Did not my conjuring speeches raise thee? speak.

Meph. That was the cause, but yet per

accidens; +

For, when we hear one rack the name of God,
Abjure the Scriptures and his Saviour Christ,
We fly, in hope to get his glorious soul;
Nor will we come, unless he use such means
Whereby he is in danger to be damn'd.
Therefore the shortest cut for conjuring
Is stoutly to abjure the Trinity,
And pray devoutly to the prince of hell.
Faust. So Faustus hath

Already done; and holds this principle,
There is no chief but only Belzebub;
To whom Faustus doth dedicate himself.
This word "damnation " terrifies not him,
For he confounds hell in Elysium:
His ghost be with the old philosophers!
But, leaving these vain trifles of men's souls,
Tell me what is that Lucifer thy lord?
Meph. Arch-regent and commander of all
spirits.

Faust. Was not that Lucifer an angel once?
Meph. Yes, Faustus, and most dearly lov'd of
God.

Faust. How comes it, then, that he is prince of devils?

Meph. O, by aspiring pride and insolence; For which God threw him from the face of heaven.

Faust. And what are you that live with Lucifer?

Meph. Unhappy spirits that fell with Lucifer, Conspir'd against our God with Lucifer, And are for ever damn'd with Lucifer. Faust. Where are you damn'd? Meph. In hell.

Faust. How comes it, then, that thou art out of hell?

Meph. Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it:

* came hither] So two of the later 4tos.-2to 1604 "came now hither."

t accidens] So two of the later 4tos.-2to 1604 "accident."

Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it] Compare Milton, Par. Lost, iv. 75;

"Which way I fly is hell; myself am hell.'

Think'st thou that I, who saw the face of God,
And tasted the eternal joys of heaven,
Am not tormented with ten thousand hells,
In being depriv'd of everlasting bliss?
O, Faustus, leave these frivolous demands,
Which strike a terror to my fainting soul!
Faust. What, is great Mephistophilis so
passionate

For being deprived of the joys of heaven?
Learn thou of Faustus manly fortitude,
And scorn those joys thou never shalt possess.
Go bear these* tidings to great Lucifer :
Seeing Faustus hath incurr'd eternal death
By desperate thoughts against Jove's + deity,
Say, he surrenders up to him his soul,

So he will spare him four and twenty ‡ years,
Letting him live in all voluptuousness;
Having thee ever to attend on me,
To give me whatsoever I shall ask,
To tell me whatsoever I demand,

To slay mine enemies, and aid my friends,
And always be obedient to my will.

Faust. Had I as many souls as there be stars, I'd give them all for Mephistophilis. By him I'll be great emperor of the world, And make a bridge thorough || the moving air, To pass the ocean with a band of men; I'll join the hills that bind the Afric shore, And make that country ¶ continent to Spain, And both contributory to my crown: The Emperor shall not live but by my leave, Nor any potentate of Germany.

Now that I have obtain'd what I desir'd,**

* these] So the later 4tos.-2to 1604 "those." Jove's] See note 1, p. 80.

four and twenty] So the later 4tos.-2to 1604 "24." § resolve] i. e. satisfy, inform.

I thorough] So one of the later 4tos. -2to 1604 "through."

country] So the later 4tos.-2to 1604 "land." ** desir'd] So the later 4tos.-2to 1604 "desire." tt Enter Wagner, &c.] Scene, a street most probably. I pickadevaunts] i. e. beards cut to a point.

in?

Wag. Tell me, sirrah, hast thou any comings

Clown. Ay, and goings out too; you may see else.

Wag. Alas, poor slave! see how poverty jesteth in his nakedness! the villain is bare and out of service, and so hungry, that I know he would give his soul to the devil for a shoulder of mutton, though it were blood-raw.

Clown. How! my soul to the devil for a shoulder of mutton, though 'twere blood-raw! not so, good friend: by'r lady,* I had need have it well roasted, and good sauce to it, if I pay so dear.

Wag. Well, wilt thou serve me, and I'll make thee go like Qui mihi discipulus ? †

Clown. How, in verse?

Wag. No, sirrah; in beaten silk and stavesacre.‡

Clown. How, how, knaves-acre! ay, I thought that was all the land his father left him. Do you hear? I would be sorry to rob you of your living.

Wag. Sirrah, I say in staves-acre.

Clown. Oho, oho, staves-acre! why, then, belike, if I were your man, I should be full of vermin.§

Wag. So thou shalt, whether thou beest with me or no. But, sirrah, leave your jesting, and bind yourself presently unto me for seven years, or I'll turn all the lice about thee into familiars,|| and they shall tear thee in pieces.

Clown. Do you hear, sir? you may save that labour; they are too familiar with me already: swowns, they are as bold with my flesh as if they had paid for their¶ meat and drink.

Wag. Well, do you hear, sirrah? hold, take these guilders. [Gives money. Clown. Gridirons! what be they?

Wag. Why, French crowns.

Clown. Mass, but for the name of French crowns, a man were as good have as many English counters. And what should I do with these?

warning, whensoever or wheresoever the devil shall fetch thee.

fustian. Well, I'll follow him; I'll serve him, [Exit. that's flat.

Clown. No, no; here, take your gridirons again.

Wag. Truly, I'll none of them.

Clown. Truly, but you

shall.

Wag. Bear witness I gave them him.

Clown. Bear witness I give them you again.

FAUSTUS discovered in his study.

to fetch thee away.-Baliol and Belcher !

Clown. Let your Baliol and your Belcher come here, and I'll knock them, they were never so knocked since they were devils: say I should kill one of them, what would folks say? "Do ye see yonder tall fellow in the round slop?* he has killed the devil." So I should be called Killdevil all the parish over.

Enter two Devils; and the Clown runs up and down crying.

Wag. Baliol and Belcher,-spirits, away!

[Exeunt Devils.

Clown. What, are they gone? a vengeance on them! they have vilet long nails. There was a he-devil and a she-devil: I'll tell you how you shall know them; all he-devils has horns, and all she-devils has clifts and cloven feet.

Wag. Well, sirrah, follow me.

Clown. But, do you hear? if I should serve you, would you teach me to raise up Banios and Belcheos?

Wag. I will teach thee to turn thyself to any thing, to a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or a rat, or any thing.

Clown. How! a Christian fellow to a dog, or a cat, a mouse, or a rat! no, no, sir; if you turn me into any thing, let it be in the likeness of a little pretty frisking flea, that I may be here and there and every where: O, I'll tickle the pretty wenches' plackets! I'll be amongst them, i'faith. Wag. Well, sirrah, come.

Clown. But, do you hear, Wagner?
Wag. How!-Baliol and Belcher !

Clown. O Lord! I pray, sir, let Banio and Belcher go sleep.

Wag. Villain, call me Master Wagner, and let thy left eye be diametarily fixed upon my right heel, with quasi vestigiis nostris insistere.

[Exit.

Clown. God forgive me, he speaks Dutch

* slop] i. e. wide breeches.

† vile] Old ed. "vild." See note 1, p. 68.

vestigiis nostris] All the 4tos "vestigias nostras."

Now go not backward; no, Faustus, be resolute : Why waver'st 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.

G. Ang. Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art. Faust. Contrition, prayer, repentance-what of them?

G. Ang. O, they are means to bring thee unto heaven!

E. Ang. Rather illusions, fruits of lunacy, That make men foolish that do trust them most. G. Ang. Sweet Faustus, think of heaven and heavenly things.

E. Ang. No, Faustus; think of honour and of* wealth. [Exeunt Angels. Faust. Of wealth! Why, the signiory of Embden 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!

Fourthly, that he shall be in his chamber or house invisible. Lastly, that he shall appear to the said John Faustus, at all times, in what form or shape soever he please. I, John Farstus, of Wertenberg, 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.

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

Faust. Ay, take it, and the devil give thee good on't!

Meph. Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt.

Faust. First will I question with thee about hell. Tell me, where is the place that men call hell? Meph. Under the heavens. Faust. Ay, but whereabout?

Meph. 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 are § not heaven.
Faust. Come, I think hell's a fable.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with a Devil drest like a Woman, with fire-works.

Meph. Tell me,† Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?

Faust. A plague on her for a hot whore !
Meph. Tut, Faustus,

Marriage is but a ceremonial toy;

If thou lovest me, think not more of it.
I'll cull thee out the fairest courtezans,
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, § or as beautiful
As was bright Lucifer before his fall.
Hold, take this book, peruse it thoroughly:

[Gives book.

ning;

Pronounce this thrice devoutly to thyself, And men in armour shall appear to thee, Ready to execute what thou desir'st.

it is evident that this speech is not given correctly in any of the old eds.

* let me have a wife, &c.] The ninth chapter of The History of Dr. Faustus narrates "How Doctor Faustus would have married, and how the Devil had almost killed him for it," and concludes as follows. "It is no jesting [said Mephistophilis] with us: hold thou that which thou hast vowed, and we will performe as we have promised; and more than that, thou shalt have thy hearts desire of what woman soever thou wilt, be she alive or dead, and so long as thou wilt thou shalt keep her by thee.-These words pleased Faustus wonderfull well, and repented himself that he was so foolish to wish himselfe married, that might have any woman in the whole city brought him at his command; the which he practised and persevered in a long time." Sig. B 3, ed. 1648.

† me] Not in 4to 1604. (This line is wanting in the later 4tos.)

no] So the later 4tos.-Not in 4to 1604. § Saba] i. e. Sabaa-the Queen of Sheba. iterating] i. e. reciting, repeating.