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Pope. Welcome, grave fathers; answer presently What have our holy council there decreed, Concerning Bruno and the Emperor, In quittance of their late conspiracy, Against our state and papal dignity?

Faust. Most sacred patron of the Church of Rome, By full consent of all the [holy] synod,

Of priests and prelates, it is thus decreed:
That Bruno, and the German Emperor,
Be held as Lollards and bold schismatics,
And proud disturbers of the church's peace:
And if that Bruno, by his own assent,
Without enforcement of the German peers,
Did seek to wear the triple diadem,

And by your death to climb St. Peter's chair,
The statutes decretal have thus decreed:
He shall be straight condemned of heresy,
And on a pile of faggots burnt to death.

Pope. It is enough: here, take him to your charge, And bear him straight to Ponte 1 Angelo,

And in the strongest tower enclose him fast:
To-morrow, sitting in our consistory,
With all our college of grave cardinals,
We will determine of his life or death.
Here, take his triple crown along with you,
And leave it in the church's treasury.
Make haste, again, my good lord Cardinals,
And take our blessing apostolical.

Meph. So, so; was never devil thus blessed before.

1 Old eds. "Ponto."

Faust. Away, sweet Mephistophilis, begone; The Cardinals will be plagued for this anon.

[Exeunt FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS, Pope. Go presently and bring a banquet forth, That we may solemnise St. Peter's feast, And with Lord Raymond, King of Hungary, Drink to our late and happy victory.

[Exeunt.

A sennet while the banquet is brought in; and then enter FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS in their own shapes.

Meph. 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-paced steed, as swift as thought,
Flies o'er the Alps to fruitful Germany,

There to salute the woful Emperor.

Faust. 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.

Meph. 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' forkèd 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 discerned.
Faust. Thanks, Mephistophilis; now, friars, take heed,
Lest Faustus make your shaven crowns to bleed.

Meph. Faustus, no more: see where the Cardinals

come.

Enter the Cardinals with a book.

Pope. Welcome, Lord Cardinals; come, sit down; Lord Raymond, take your seat; friars, attend And see that all things be in readiness,

As best beseems this solemn festival.

1 Card. 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 cursèd Emperor,

Were by the holy council both condemned,

For loathed Lollards, and base schismatics :

Then wherefore would you have me view that book?

1 Card. Your grace mistakes, you gave us no such

charge.

Ray. Deny it not: we all are witnesses

That Bruno here was late delivered you,

With his rich triple crown to be reserved,

And put into the church's treasury.

Both Card. By holy Paul we saw them not!
Pope. By Peter you shall die,

Unless you bring them forth immediately!

Hale them to prison, lade their limbs with gyves:
False prelates, for this hateful treachery,

Cursed be your souls to hellish misery!

[Exeunt Attendants with the Cardinals. Faust. 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. Arch. I thank your holiness.

Faust. Fall to; the devil choke you, an you spare. Pope. Who is that spoke?

Friars, look about.
Lord Raymond, pray fall to: I am beholding

To the Bishop of Millaine for this so rare a present.
Faust. I thank you, sir.

[Snatches the dish.

Pope. How now! Who snatched 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.

Faust. I'll have that too.

[Snatches the dish.

Pope. What Lollards do attend our holiness,

That we receive such great indignity?

Fetch me some wine.

Faust. Ay, pray do, for Faustus is a-dry.

Pope. Lord Raymond, I drink unto your grace.

Faust. I pledge your grace.

[Snatches the cup.

1 Old eds. "Bish.” and “Bishop."

Pope. My wine gone too! Ye lubbers, look about

And find the man that doth this villainy,

Or by our sanctitude you all shall die.

I pray, my lords, have patience at this
Troublesome banquet.

Arch. Please it your Holiness, I think it be some ghost crept out of Purgatory, and now is come unto your Holiness for his pardon.

Pope. It may be so.

Go then, command our priests to sing a dirge,
To lay the fury of this same troublesome ghost.

[Exit Attendant. The POPE crosses himself.

Faust. How now !

Must every bit be spiced with a cross?
Nay, then, take that.

[Gives the POPE a buffet. lords!

Pope. O, I am slain! help me, my
O come and help to bear my body hence!
Damned be his1 soul for ever for this deed!

[Exeunt POPE and his train.

For I

Meph. Now, Faustus, what will you do now? can tell you you'll be cursed with bell, book, and candle. Faust. Bell, book, and candle; candle, book, and bell, Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell!

Enter the Friars with bell, book, and candle, for the

dirge.

1 Friar. Come, brethren, let's about our business with good devotion. [They sing.

1 So eds. 1620, 1624.—Ed. 1616 “this."

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