Cart. Be both your legs bed-fellows every night?

Faust. Would'st thou make a Colossus of me, that thou askest me such a question?

Cart. No, truly, sir, I would make nothing of you; but I would fain know that.

Enter HOSTESS with drink:

Faust. Then, I assure thee, certainly they are. Cart. I thank you, I am fully satisfied.

Faust. But wherefore dost thou ask?

Cart. For nothing, sir; but methinks you should have a wooden bed-fellow of one of 'em. Horse. Why, do you hear, sir, did not I pull off one of your legs when you were asleep?

Faust. But I have it again now I am awake: look you here, sir.

All. O horrible! had the Doctor three legs? Cart. Do you remember, sir, how you cozened me, and eat up my load of

Faustus charms him dumb. Dick. Do you remember how you made me wear an ape's

Horse. You whoreson conjuring scab! do you remember how you cozened with a ho

Clown. Ha' you forgotten me? you think to carry it away with your hey-passe and re-passe: do you remember the dog's fa

[Exeunt Clowns.

Host. Who pays for the ale? hear you, Master Doctor; now you have sent away my guests, I pray who shall pay me for my a

[Exit Hostess.

Lady. My lord,

We are much beholden to this learned man.

Duke. So are we, madam; which we will recompense

With all the love and kindness that we may; His artful sport drives all sad thoughts away. [Exeunt.

(Thunder and lightning.) Enter DEVILS with covered Dishes: MEPHOSTOPHILIS leads them into FAUSTUS'S Study: then enter Wagner.

Wag. I think my master means to die shortly; he has made his will, and given me his wealth, his house, his goods, and store of golden plate; besides two thousand ducats ready coined: I wonder what he means! If death were nigh, he would not frolic thus: he's now at supper with the scholars; where there's such belly-cheer, as Wagner in his life ne'er saw the like: and see where they come, belike the feast is done. [Exit.

Enter FAUSTUS, MEPHOSTOPHILIS, and two or three Scholars.

1 Schol. Mister Doctor Faustus, since our conference about fair ladies, which was the beautifulest in all the world, we have determined with ourselves, that Helen of Greece was the admirablest lady that ever lived: therefore, Mister Doctor, if you will do us so much favour as to let us see that peerless dame of Greece, whom all the world admires for majesty, we should think ourselves much beholding unto you.

Faust. Gentlemen,

For that I know your friendship is unfeign'd,

It is not Faustus's custom to deny

The just request of those that wish him well:
You shall behold that peerless dame of Greece,
No otherwise for pomp or majesty,

Than when Sir Paris cross'd the seas with her.
And brought the spoils to rich Dardania:
Be silent then, for danger is in words.

(Music sounds. Mephostophilis brings in
Helen; she passeth over the Stage.)

2 Scho. Was this fair Helen, whose admired worth

Made Greece with ten years war afflict poor Troy? 3 Scho. Too simple is my wit to tell her worth, Whom all the world admires for majesty.

1 Scho. Now we have seen the pride of Nature's work,

We'll take our leave; and for this blessed sight, Happy and bless'd be Faustus evermore.

[Exeunt Scholars. Faust. Gentlemen, farewell: the same I wish

to you.

Enter an OLD MAN.

Old Man. O, gentle Faustus! leave this damned

art,

This magic, that will charm thy soul to hell;
And quite bereave thee of salvation.
Though thou hast now offended like a man,
Do not persever in it like a devil:
Yet, yet, thou hast an amiable soul,
If sin by custom grow not into nature;
Then, Faustus, will repentance come too late;
Then thou art banish'd from the sight of heav'n;

No mortal can express the pains of hell.

It may

be this my exhortation

Seems harsh, and all unpleasant; let it not;
For, gentle son, I speak it not in wrath,
Or envy of thee, but in tender love

And pity of thy future misery;

And so have hope that this my kind rebuke,
Checking thy body, may amend thy soul.
Faust. Where art thou, Faustus? wretch! what
hast thou done?

[Mephostophilis gives him a dagger. Hell claims his right, and with a roaring voice Says, "Faustus, come, thine hour is almost come;" And Faustus now will come to do thee right. Old Man. Oh! stay, good Faustus, stay thy desperate steps;

I see an angel hover o'er thy head,
And with a vial full of precious grace,
Offers to pour the same into thy soul;

Then call for mercy, and avoid despair.
Faust. O friend! I feel thy words to comfort
my distressed soul;

Leave me awhile to ponder on my sins.

Old Man. Faustus, I leave thee, but with grief of heart,

Fearing the enemy of thy hapless soul. [Exit. Faust. Accursed Faustus! wretch! what hast thou done?

I do repent, and yet I do despair;

Hell strives with grace for conquest in my breast, What shall I do to shun the snares of death?

Meph. Thou traitor, Faustus! I arrest thy soul, For disobedience to my sovereign lord; Revolt, or I'll in piecemeal tear thy flesh.

Faust. I do repent I e'er offended him;
Sweet Mephostophilis, intreat thy lord
To pardon my unjust presumption,
And with my blood again I will confirm
The former vow I made to Lucifer.

Meph. Do it then, Faustus, with unfeigned heart,

Lest greater dangers do attend thy drift *.
Faust. Torment, sweet friend, that base and
aged man,

That durst dissuade me from thy Lucifer,
With greatest torments that our hell affords.
Meph. His faith is great; I cannot touch his
soul;

But what I may afflict his body with

I will attempt, which is but little worth.
Faust. One thing, good servant, let me crave
of thee,

To glut the longing of my heart's desire:
That I may have unto my paramour,
That heavenly Helen which I saw of late,
Whose sweet embraces may extinguish clear
Those thoughts that do dissuade me from my vow,
And keep my vow I made to Lucifer.

Meph. This, or what else my Faustus shall desire,

Shall be perform'd in twinkling of an eye.

Enter HELEN again, passing over between two

Cupids.

Faust. Was this the face that launch'd a thou

sand ships,

*Both in the edit. of 1616 and 1624, this speech is given to Faustus.