Away with such vain fancies, and despair:

Despair in God, and trust in Belzebub;

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 fixed 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 makes men foolish that do trust them most.
G. Ang. Sweet Faustus, think of Heaven, and heavenly

things.

20

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,

1 In ed. 1616 the "Evil Angel" begins the colloquy with "Go for ward, Faustus, with that famous art."

So ed. 1616.-Omitted in ed. 1604.

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?

Meph. That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives,

So he will buy my service with his soul.

30

Faust. Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee.
Meph. 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.

Faust. Stay, Mephistophilis! and tell me what good Will my soul do thy lord.

Meph. Enlarge his kingdom.

40

Faust. Is that the reason why he tempts us thus?
Meph. Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.
Faust. Why, have you any pain that tortures others?
Meph. 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.

1 So ed. 1616.-Omitted in ed. 1604.
So ed. 1616.-Ed. 1604 "I live."

So ed. 1616.-Omitted in ed. 1604.

So ed. 1604. "You" is of course the antecedent of "that." CE note, p. 21.

Faust. Ay, Mephistophilis, I give it thee.

Meph. 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.

50

Faust. [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.

Meph. But, Faustus, thou must

Write it in manner of a deed of gift.

Faust. Ay, so I will. [Writes.] But, Mephistophilis,

My blood congeals, and I can write no more.

60

Meph. I'll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight. [Exit. Faust. 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 stayed. 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. Meph. Here's fire. Come, Faustus, set it on.2

1 So ed. 1616.-Omitted in ed. 1604.

70

"This would not be intelligible without the assistance of the History of Dr. Faustus, the sixth chapter of which is headed-'How Dr. Faustus set his blood in a saucer on warme ashes and writ as followeth,'"-Dyce.

[Writes.

Faust. So now the blood begins to clear again;

Now will I make an end immediately.

Meph. O what will not I do to obtain his soul. [Aside.

Faust. Consummatum est: this bill is ended,

And Faustus hath bequeathed his soul to Lucifer.
But what is this inscription on mine arm?
Homo, fuge Whither should I fly?

If unto God, he'll throw me down to Hell.

My senses are deceived; here's nothing writ:-
I see it plain; here in this place is writ
Homo, fuge! Yet shall not Faustus fly.
Meph. I'll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind.

[Exit.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with Devils, who give crowns and rich apparel to FAUSTUS, dance, and depart.

Faust. Speak, Mephistophilis, what means this show? Meph. Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind withal, And to show thee what Magic can perform.

Faust. But may I raise up Spirits when I please? Meph. Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these. Faust. 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 prescribed between us both.
Meph. Faustus, I swear by Hell and Lucifer
To effect all promises between us made.

1 So ed. 1616.-Ed. 1604 "thee."

90

Faust. 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, 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 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?

110

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,

1 The words "he desires" are not found in the old copies. Dyce mentions that in the prose History of Dr. Faustus, ed. 1648, the 3rd article runs :-"That Mephistophilis should bring him anything and do for him whatsoever"—a later edition adding "he desired."