MEPH. Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer, To effect all promises between us both.

FAUST. Then hear me read it, Mephostophilis, On these conditions following:

First. That Faustus may be a Spirit in form and substance.

Secondly. That Mephostophilis shall be his servant, and be by him commanded.

Thirdly. That Mephostophilis shall do for him, and bring him whatsoever he requireth

Fourthly. That he shall be in his house or chamber invisible.

Lastly. He shall appear to the said John Faustus, at all times, in what shape and form soever he please.

I, John Faustus of Wittenberg, Doctor, by these presents, do give both body and soul to Lucifer, Prince of the East, and his minister Mephostophilis; and furthermore grant unto them, that four-and-twenty years being expired, and these articles above written being inviolate, full power to fetch or carry the said John Faustus, body and soul, into their habitation wheresoever.

By me,

JOHN FAUSTUS.

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

FAUST. Aye, take it, and the devil give thee good

of it.

MEPH. So now, Faustus, ask me what thou wilt. FAUST. First I will question thee about hell. Tell me where is the place that men call hell? MEPH. Under the heavens.

FAUST. Aye, so are all things else; but whereabouts?

MEPH. Within the bowels of these elements;
Where we are tortured and remain for ever.
Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscribed
In one self place; but where we are is hell;
And where hell is there must we ever be:
And, to be short, when all the world dissolves,
And every creature shall be purified,

All places shall be hell that are not heaven.

FAUST. I think hell is a mere fable.

MEPH. Ah! think so still, till experience change thy mind.

FAUST. Why, dost thou think that Faustus shall be damned?

MEPH. Aye, of necessity, for here's the scroll In which thou hast given thy soul to Lucifer.

FAUST. Aye, and body too; and what of that? Think'st thou that Faustus is so fond to imagine, That after this life there is any pain?

No, these are trifles, and mere old wives' tales. MEPH. But I am an instance to prove the con

trary;

For I tell thee I am damn'd, and now in hell.

FAUST. Nay, an this be hell, I'll willingly be damn'd:

What sleeping, eating, walking, and disputing?

But, leaving this, let me have a wife,
The fairest maid in Germany;

For I am wanton and lascivious,

And cannot live without a wife.

MEPH. Well, Faustus, thou shalt have a wife.

[He fetches in a Woman Devil.

FAUST. What sight is this?

MEPH. Now, Faustus, wilt thou have a wife? FAUST. Here's a hot whore indeed; no, I'll no wife.

MEPH. Marriage is but a ceremonial toy,

And if thou lov'st me think no 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;
Were she as chaste as was Penelope,

As wise as Saba, or as beautiful
As was bright Lucifer before his fall.
Here take this book, and peruse it well;
The iterating of these lines brings gold;
The framing of this circle on the ground
Brings thunder, whirlwinds, storms, and lightning;
Pronounce this thrice devoutly to thyself,
And men in harness shall appear to thee,
Ready to execute what thou command'st..

FAUST. Thanks, Mephostophilis, for this sweet

book,

This will I keep as chary as my life.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter WAGNER.

WAG. Learned Faustus,

To know the secrets of astronomy,

Graven in the book of Jove's high firmament,
Did mount himself to scale Olympus' top,
Being seated in a chariot burning bright,
Drawn by the strength of yoked dragons' necks:
He now is gone to prove cosmography,
And, as I guess, will first arrive at Rome,
To see the Pope, and manner of his court,
And take some part of holy Peter's feast,
That on this day is highly solemnized.

1

SCENE III.

[Exit.

Enter FAUSTUS, in his Study, and MEPHOSTO

PHILIS.

FAUST. When I behold the heav'ns, then I re

pent,

And curse thee, wicked Mephostophilis,

Because thou hast deprived me of these joys.

MEPH. 'Twas thine own seeking, Faustus, thank thyself.

But think'st thou heav'n such a glorious thing?

I tell thee, Faustus, it is not half so fair

As thou, or any man that breathes on earth.

FAUST. How prov'st thou that?

MEPH. "Twas made for man,-then he's more excellent.

FAUST. If heav'n was made for man, 'twas made

for me;

I will renounce this magic, and repent.

Enter the two ANGELS.

GOOD ANG. Faustus, repent, yet heaven will pity thee.

BAD ANG. Thou art a spirit, God cannot pity

thee.

FAUST. Who buzzeth in mine ears I am a spirit?
Be I a devil, yet God may pity me;
Yea, God will pity me if I repent.

BAD ANG. Ah! but Faustus never will repent!
[Exeunt Angels.

FAUST. My heart is harden'd; I cannot repent:
Scarce can I name salvation, faith, or heaven:
Swords, poisons, halters, and envenom'd steel,
Are laid before me to dispatch myself;

And long ere this I should have done the deed,
Had not sweet pleasure conquer'd deep despair:
Have I not made blind Homer sing to me,
Of Alexander's love, and ŒŒnon's death?
And hath not he that built the walls of Thebes,
With ravishing sounds of his melodious harp,
Made music with my Mephostophilis ?
Why should I die then, or basely despair?
I am resolv'd Faustus shall not repent.

Come, Mephostophilis, let us dispute again,
And reason of divine astrology:'

Speak, are there many spheres above the moon;
Are all celestial bodies but one globe,