Chapter XVI: Act V: Scene I (2)

_Faust._ How! now in hell!
Nay, an this be hell, I’ll willingly be damn’d here;
What? walking, disputing, &c.? 140
But, leaving off this, let me have a wife,
The fairest maid in Germany;
For I am wanton and lascivious,
And cannot live without a wife.

_Meph._ How—a wife? 145
I prithee, Faustus, talk not of a wife.

_Faust._ Nay, sweet Mephistophilis, fetch me one, for I will have one.

_Meph._ Well—thou wilt have one. Sit there till I come:
I’ll fetch thee a wife in the Devil’s name.
[_Exit._]

_Re-enter_ MEPHISTOPHILIS _with a_ Devil _dressed like a woman, with fireworks_.

_Meph._ Tell [me,] Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife? 150

_Faust._ A plague on her for a hot whore!

_Meph._ Tut, Faustus,
Marriage is but a ceremonial toy;
And if thou lovest me, think no more of it.
I’ll cull thee out the fairest courtesans, 155
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,[425] or as beautiful
As was bright Lucifer before his fall. 160
Here, take this book, peruse it thoroughly:
[_Gives a book._]
The iterating[426] of these lines brings gold;
The framing of this circle on the ground
Brings whirlwinds, tempests, thunder and lightning;
Pronounce this thrice devoutly to thyself, 165
And men in armour shall appear to thee,
Ready to execute what thou desir’st.

_Faust._ Thanks, Mephistophilis; yet fain would I have a book wherein
I might behold all spells and incantations, that I might raise 170
up spirits when I please.

_Meph._ Here they are, in this book. _Turns to them._

_Faust._ Now would I have a book where I might see all characters and
planets of the heavens, that I might know their motions and 175
dispositions.

_Meph._ Here they are too. _Turns to them._

_Faust._ Nay, let me have one book more,— and then I have
done,—wherein I might see all plants, herbs, and trees that grow
upon (180) the earth.

_Meph._ Here they be.

_Faust._ O, thou art deceived.

_Meph._ Tut, I warrant thee. _Turns to them._ [_Exeunt._]

[SCENE VI.[427]

_Enter_ FAUSTUS _and_ MEPHISTOPHILIS.]

_Faust._ When I behold the heavens, then I repent,
And curse thee, wicked Mephistophilis,
Because thou hast depriv’d me of those joys.

_Meph._ Why, Faustus,
Thinkest thou Heaven is such a glorious thing? 5
I tell thee ’t is not half so fair as thou,
Or any man that breathes on earth.

_Faust._ How provest thou that?

_Meph._ ’T was made for man, therefore is man more excellent.

_Faust._ If it were made for man, ’t was made for me; 10
I will renounce this magic and repent.

_Enter_ GOOD ANGEL _and_ EVIL ANGEL.

_G. Ang._ Faustus, repent; yet God will pity thee.

_E. 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; 15
Ay, God will pity me if I repent.

_E. Ang._ Ay, but Faustus never shall repent. _Exeunt_ [ANGELS.]

_Faust._ My heart’s so hard’ned I cannot repent.
Scarce can I name salvation, faith, or heaven,
But fearful echoes thunder in mine ears 20
“Faustus, thou art damn’d!” Then swords and knives,
Poison, gun, halters, and envenom’d steel
Are laid before me to despatch myself,
And long ere this I should have slain myself,
Had not sweet pleasure conquer’d deep despair.
Have I not made blind Homer sing to me 25
Of Alexander’s love and Œnon’s death?
And hath not he that built the walls of Thebes
With ravishing sound of his melodious harp,
Made music with my Mephistophilis? 30
Why should I die then, or basely despair?
I am resolv’d: Faustus shall ne’er repent.
Come, Mephistophilis, let us dispute again,
And argue of divine astrology.
Tell me, are there many heavens above the moon? 35
Are all celestial bodies but one globe,
As is the substance of this centric earth?

_Meph._ As are the elements, such are the spheres
Mutually folded in each other’s orb,
And, Faustus, 40
All jointly move upon one axletree
Whose terminine is term’d the world’s wide pole;
Nor are the names of Saturn, Mars, or Jupiter
Feign’d, but are erring stars.

_Faust._ But tell me, have they all one motion, both _situ et
tempore_?[428] 46

_Meph._ All jointly move from east to west in twenty-four hours upon
the poles of the world; but differ in their motion upon the poles of
the zodiac. 50

_Faust._ Tush!
These slender trifles Wagner can decide;
Hath Mephistophilis no greater skill?
Who knows not the double motion of the planets?
The first is finish’d in a natural day; 55
The second thus: as Saturn in thirty years; Jupiter in twelve;
Mars in four; the Sun, Venus, and Mercury in a year; the moon in
twenty-eight days. Tush, these are freshmen’s suppositions. But tell
me, hath every sphere a dominion or _intelligentia_? 61

_Meph._ Ay.

_Faust._ How many heavens, or spheres, are there?

_Meph._ Nine: the seven planets, the firmament, and the empyreal
heaven. 66

_Faust._ Well, resolve me in this question: Why have we not
conjunctions, oppositions, aspects, eclipses, all at one time, but in
some years we have more, in some less? 70

_Meph. Per inæqualem motum respecta totius._[429]

_Faust._ Well, I am answered. Tell me who made the world.

_Meph._ I will not.

_Faust._ Sweet Mephistophilis, tell me.

_Meph._ Move me not, for I will not tell thee.

_Faust._ Villain, have I not bound thee to tell me anything? 76

_Meph._ Ay, that is not against our kingdom; but this is.
Think thou on hell, Faustus, for thou art damn’d.

_Faust._ Think, Faustus, upon God that made the world.

_Meph._ Remember this. 80

_Faust._ Ay, go, accursed spirit, to ugly hell. ’T is thou hast
damn’d distressed Faustus’ soul. Is’t not too late?

_Re-enter_ GOOD ANGEL _and_ EVIL ANGEL.

_E. Ang._ Too late.

_G. Ang._ Never too late, if Faustus can repent.

_E. Ang._ If thou repent, devils shall tear thee in pieces. 86

_G. Ang._ Repent, and they shall never raze thy skin. _Exeunt_
[ANGELS.]

_Faust._ Ah, Christ, my Saviour,
Seek to save distressed Faustus’ soul.

_Enter_ LUCIFER, BELZEBUB, _and_ MEPHISTOPHILIS.

_Luc._ Christ cannot save thy soul, for he is just; 90
There’s none but I have interest in the same.

_Faust._ O, who art thou that look’st so terrible?

_Luc._ I am Lucifer,
And this is my companion-prince in hell.

_Faust._ O Faustus! they are come to fetch away thy soul! 95

_Luc._ We come to tell thee thou dost injure us;
Thou talk’st of Christ contrary to thy promise;
Thou should’st not think of God: think of the Devil,
And of his dam, too.

_Faust._ Nor will I henceforth: pardon me in this, 100
And Faustus vows never to look to Heaven,
Never to name God, or to pray to him,
To burn his Scriptures, slay his ministers,
And make my spirits pull his churches down.

_Luc._ Do so, and we will highly gratify thee. Faustus, we are come
from hell to show thee (106) some pastime. Sit down, and thou shalt
see all the Seven Deadly Sins appear in their proper shapes.

_Faust._ That sight will be pleasing unto me,
As Paradise was to Adam the first day 111
Of his creation.

_Luc._ Talk not of Paradise nor creation, but mark this show: talk of
the Devil, and nothing else.—Come away! 115

_Enter the_ SEVEN DEADLY SINS.

Now, Faustus, examine them of their several names and dispositions.

_Faust._ What art thou—the first?

_Pride._ I am Pride. I disdain to have any parents. I am like
to Ovid’s flea: I can (120) creep into every corner of a wench;
sometimes, like a periwig, I sit upon her brow; or like a fan of
feathers, I kiss her lips; indeed I do—what do I not? But, fie, what
a scent is here! I’ll not speak another word, except the (125) ground
were perfum’d, and covered with cloth of arras.

_Faust._ What art thou—the second?

_Covet._ I am Covetousness, begotten of an old churl in an old
leathern bag; and might I (130) have my wish I would desire that this
house and all the people in it were turn’d to gold, that I might lock
you up in my good chest. O, my sweet gold!

_Faust._ What art thou—the third? 135

_Wrath._ I am Wrath. I had neither father nor mother: I leapt out of
a lion’s mouth when I was scarce half an hour old; and ever since
I have run up and down the world with this case[430] of rapiers
wounding myself when I (140) had nobody to fight withal. I was born
in hell; and look to it, for some of you shall be my father.

_Faust._ What art thou—the fourth?

_Envy._ I am Envy, begotten of a chimney (145) sweeper and an
oyster-wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books were burnt.
I am lean with seeing others eat. O that there would come a famine
through all the world, that all might die, and I live alone! then
thou (150) should’st see how fat I would be. But must thou sit and I
stand! Come down with a vengeance!

_Faust._ Away, envious rascal! What art thou—the fifth?

_Glut._ Who, I, sir? I am Gluttony. My (155) parents are all dead,
and the devil a penny they have left me, but a bare pension, and
that is thirty meals a day and ten bevers[431]—a small trifle to
suffice nature. O, I come of a royal parentage! My grandfather
was a Gammon (160) of Bacon, my grandmother a Hogshead of
Claret-wine, my godfathers were these, Peter Pickleherring, and
Martin Martlemas-beef.[432] O, but my godmother, she was a jolly
gentlewoman, and well beloved in every good town and (165) city; her
name was Mistress Margery March-beer. Now, Faustus, thou hast heard
all my progeny, wilt thou bid me to supper?

_Faust._ No, I’ll see thee hanged: thou wilt eat up all
my victuals. 170

_Glut._ Then the Devil choke thee!

_Faust._ Choke thyself, glutton! Who art thou—the sixth?

_Sloth._ I am Sloth. I was begotten on a sunny bank, where I have
lain ever since; and (175) you have done me great injury to bring me
from thence: let me be carried thither again by Gluttony and Lechery.
I’ll not speak another word for a king’s ransom.

_Faust._ What are you, Mistress Minx, the seventh and last? 180

_Lech._ Who, I, sir? I am one that loves an inch of raw mutton better
than an ell of fried stockfish; and the first letter of my name
begins with Lechery.

_Luc._ Away to hell, to hell! (_Exeunt the_ SINS.) Now, Faustus, how
dost thou like this? 186

_Faust._ O, this feeds my soul!

_Luc._ Tut, Faustus, in hell is all manner of delight.

_Faust._ O might I see hell, and return again.
How happy were I then! 190

_Luc._ Thou shalt; I will send for thee at midnight.
In meantime take this book; peruse it throughly,
And thou shalt turn thyself into what shape thou wilt.

_Faust._ Great thanks, mighty Lucifer!
This will I keep as chary as my life. 195

_Luc._ Farewell, Faustus, and think on the Devil.

_Faust._ Farewell, great Lucifer! Come, Mephistophilis.
_Exeunt omnes._

_Enter_ WAGNER.[433]

_Wagner._ Learned Faustus,
To know the secrets of astronomy,
Graven in the book of Jove’s high firmament,
Did mount himself to scale Olympus’ top, 200
Being seated in a chariot burning bright,
Drawn by the strength of yoky dragons’ necks.
He now is gone to prove cosmography,
And, as I guess, will first arrive at Rome, 205
To see the Pope and manner of his court,
And take some part of holy Peter’s feast,
That to this day is highly solemnis’d. _Exit._

[SCENE VII.][434]

_Enter_ FAUSTUS _and_ MEPHISTOPHILIS.

_Faust._ Having now, my good Mephistophilis,
Past with delight the stately town of Trier,[435]
Environ’d round with airy mountain-tops,
With walls of flint, and deep entrenched lakes,
Not to be won by any conquering prince; 5
From Paris next, coasting the realm of France,
We saw the river Maine fall into Rhine,
Whose banks are set with groves of fruitful vines;
Then up to Naples, rich Campania,
Whose buildings fair and gorgeous to the eye, 10
The streets straight forth, and pav’d with finest brick,
Quarter the town in four equivalents.
There saw we learned Maro’s[436] golden tomb,
The way he cut, an English mile in length,
Thorough a rock of stone in one night’s space; 15
From thence to Venice, Padua, and the rest,
In one of which a sumptuous temple stands,
That threats the stars with her aspiring top,
Thus hitherto has Faustus spent his time:
But tell me, now, what resting-place is this? 20
Hast thou, as erst I did command,
Conducted me within the walls of Rome?

_Meph._ Faustus, I have; and because we
will not be unprovided, I have taken up[437] his
Holiness’ privy-chamber for our use. 25

_Faust._ I hope his Holiness will bid us welcome.

_Meph._ Tut, ’tis no matter, man, we’ll be
bold with his good cheer.
And now, my Faustus, that thou may’st perceive
What Rome containeth to delight thee with, 30
Know that this city stands upon seven hills
That underprop the groundwork of the same.
[Just through the midst runs flowing Tiber’s stream,
With winding banks that cut it in two parts:]
Over the which four stately bridges lean, 35
That make safe passage to each part of Rome:
Upon the bridge call’d Ponto Angelo
Erected is a castle passing strong,
Within whose walls such store of ordnance are,
And double cannons, fram’d of carved brass, 40
As match the days within one cómplete year;
Besides the gates and high pyramides,
Which Julius Cæsar brought from Africa.

_Faust._ Now by the kingdoms of infernal rule,
Of Styx, of Acheron, and the fiery Lake 45
Of ever-burning Phlegethon, I swear
That I do long to see the monuments
And situation of bright-splendent Rome:
Come therefore, let’s away.

_Meph._ Nay, Faustus, stay; I know you’d fain see the Pope, 50
And take some part of holy Peter’s feast,
Where thou shalt see a troop of bald-pate friars,
Whose _summum bonum_ is in belly-cheer.

_Faust._ Well, I’m content to compass then some sport,
And by their folly make us merriment. 55
Then charm me, [Mephistophilis,] that I
May be invisible, to do what I please
Unseen of any whilst I stay in Rome. [MEPHISTOPHILIS _charms him._]

_Meph._ So, Faustus, now 59
Do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discern’d.

_Sound a sennet.[438] Enter the_ POPE _and the_ CARDINAL _of_ LORRAIN _to the banquet, with_ FRIARS _attending._

_Pope._ My Lord of Lorrain, wilt please you draw near?

_Faust._ Fall to, and the devil choke you an[439] you spare!

_Pope._ How now! Who’s that which spake?—Friars, look about.

_1 Friar._ Here’s nobody, if it like your Holiness. 64

_Pope._ My lord, here is a dainty dish was sent me from the Bishop of
Milan.

_Faust._ I thank you, sir. _Snatches it._

_Pope._ How now! Who’s that which snatch’d the meat from me? Will no
man look? My (69) Lord, this dish was sent me from the Cardinal of
Florence.

_Faust._ You say true; I’ll ha’t. [_Snatches it._]

_Pope._ What, again! My lord, I’ll drink to your Grace.

_Faust._ I’ll pledge your Grace. [_Snatches the cup._] 75

_C. of Lor._ My lord, it may be some ghost newly crept out of
purgatory, come to beg a pardon of your Holiness.

_Pope._ It may be so. Friars, prepare a dirge to lay the fury of
this ghost. Once again, my (80) lord, fall to. _The_ POPE _crosseth
himself._

_Faust._ What, are you crossing of yourself?
Well, use that trick no more I would advise you.
[_The_ POPE] _crosses_ [_himself_] _again._
Well, there’s the second time. Aware the third.
I give you fair warning. 85
[_The_ POPE] _crosses_ [_himself_] _again, and_ FAUSTUS _hits him a
box of the ear; and they all run away._
Come on, Mephistophilis, what shall we do?

_Meph._ Nay, I know not. We shall be curs’d with bell, book, and
candle.

_Faust._ How! bell, book, and candle,—candle, book, and bell,
Forward and backward to curse Faustus to hell!
Anon you shall hear a hog grunt, a calf bleat, and an ass bray, 90
Because it is Saint Peter’s holiday.

_Re-enter all the_ FRIARS _to sing the Dirge._

_1 Friar._ Come, brethren, let’s about our business with good
devotion.

_They sing:_
Cursed be he that stole away his Holiness’ meat from the table!
_Maledicat Dominus!_[440]
Cursed be he that struck his Holiness a blow on the face!
_Maledicat Dominus!_ 95
Cursed be he that took Friar Sandelo a blow on the pate!
_Maledicat Dominus!_
Cursed be he that disturbeth our holy dirge!
_Maledicat Dominus!_
Cursed be he that took away his Holiness’ wine!
_Maledicat Dominus! Et omnes sancti![441] Amen!_

[MEPHISTOPHILIS _and_ FAUSTUS] _beat the_ FRIARS, _and fling fireworks among them: and so exeunt._

_Enter_ CHORUS.

_Chorus._ When Faustus had with pleasure ta’en the view
Of rarest things, and royal courts of kings, 100
He stay’d his course, and so returned home;
Where such as bear his absence but with grief,
I mean his friends, and near’st companions,
Did gratulate his safety with kind words,
And in their conference of what befell, 105
Touching his journey through the world and air,
They put forth questions of Astrology,
Which Faustus answer’d with such learned skill,
As they admir’d and wond’red at his wit.
Now is his fame spread forth in every land; 110
Amongst the rest the Emperor is one,
Carolus the Fifth, at whose palace now
Faustus is feasted ’mongst his noblemen.
What there he did in trial of his art, 114
I leave untold—your eyes shall see perform’d.
_Exit._

[SCENE VIII.][442]

_Enter_ ROBIN _the Ostler with a book in his hand_.

_Robin._ O, this is admirable! here I ha’ stolen one of Dr. Faustus,
conjuring books, and i’ faith I mean to search some circles for my
own use. Now will I make all the maidens in our parish dance at my
pleasure, stark naked (5) before me; and so by that means I shall see
more than e’er I felt or saw yet.

_Enter_ RALPH _calling Robin_.

_Ralph._ Robin, prithee come away; there’s a gentleman tarries to
have his horse, and he would have his things rubb’d and made clean. 10
He keeps such a chafing with my mistress about it; and she has
sent me to look thee out. Prithee come away.

_Robin._ Keep out, keep out, or else you are blown up; you are
dismemb’red, Ralph: keep (15) out, for I am about a roaring piece of
work.

_Ralph._ Come, what dost thou with that same book? Thou canst not
read.

_Robin._ Yes, my master and mistress shall find that I can read, he
for his forehead, she (20) for her private study; she’s born to bear
with me, or else my art fails.

_Ralph._ Why, Robin, what book is that?

_Robin._ What book! Why, the most intolerable book for conjuring that
e’er was invented by any brimstone devil. 25

_Ralph._ Canst thou conjure with it?

_Robin._ I can do all these things easily with it: first, I can make
thee drunk with ippocras[443] at any tavern in Europe for nothing;
that’s one of my conjuring works. 31

_Ralph._ Our Master Parson says that’s nothing.

_Robin._ True, Ralph; and more, Ralph, if them hast any mind to Nan
Spit, our kitchenmaid, then turn her and wind her to thy own use 35
as often as thou wilt, and at midnight.

_Ralph._ O brave Robin, shall I have Nan Spit, and to mine own use?
On that condition I’ll feed thy devil with horsebread as long as he
lives, of free cost. 40

_Robin._ No more, sweet Ralph: let’s go and make clean our boots,
which lie foul upon our hands, and then to our conjuring in the
Devil’s name. _Exeunt._

[SCENE IX.][444]

_Enter_ ROBIN _and_ RALPH _with a silver goblet_.

_Robin._ Come, Ralph, did not I tell thee we were for ever made
by this Doctor Faustus’ book? _Ecce signum,_ here’s a simple
purchase[445] for horsekeepers; our horses shall eat no hay as long
as this lasts. 5

_Enter the_ VINTNER.

_Ralph._ But, Robin, here comes the vintner.

_Robin._ Hush! I’ll gull him supernaturally. Drawer, I hope all is
paid: God be with you. Come, _Ralph._

_Vint._ Soft, sir; a word with you. I must (10) yet have a goblet
paid from you, ere you go.

_Robin._ I, a goblet, Ralph; I, a goblet! I scorn you, and you are
but a[446] &c. I, a goblet! search me.

_Vint._ I mean so, sir, with your favour. [_Searches him._] 15

_Robin._ How say you now?

_Vint._ I must say somewhat to your fellow. You, sir!

_Ralph._ Me, sir! me, sir! search your fill. [VINTNER _searches
him_.] Now, sir, you may be ashamed to burden honest men with a
matter (21) of truth.

_Vint._ Well, t’ one of you hath this goblet about you.

_Robin._ [_Aside._] You lie, drawer, ’tis afore (25) me.—Sirrah you,
I’ll teach ye to impeach honest men; stand by;—I’ll scour you for
a goblet!—stand aside you had best. I charge you in the name of
Belzebub. Look to the goblet, Ralph. [_Aside to_ RALPH.] 30

_Vint._ What mean you, sirrah?

_Robin._ I’ll tell you what I mean. _Reads_ [_from a book._]
_Sanctobulorum, Periphrasticon_—Nay, I’ll tickle you, vintner.
Look to the goblet, Ralph. [_Aside to_ RALPH.] (35) _Polypragmos
Belseborams framanto pacostiphos tostu, Mephistophilis, &c._
[_Reads._]

_Enter_ MEPHISTOPHILIS, _sets squibs at their backs,_ [_and then exit_]. _They run about_.

_Vint. O nomine Domini!_[447] what meanest thou, Robin? Thou hast no
goblet.

_Ralph. Peccatum peccatorum!_[448] Here’s (40) thy goblet, good
vintner.

[_Gives the goblet to_ VINTNER, _who exit_.]

_Robin. Misericordia pro nobis!_[449] What shall I do? Good Devil,
forgive me now, and I’ll never rob thy library more.

_Re-enter to them_ MEPHISTOPHILIS.

_Meph._ Monarch of hell, under whose black survey 45
Great potentates do kneel with awful fear,
Upon whose altars thousand souls do lie,
How am I vexed with these villains’ charms?
From Constantinople am I hither come
Only for pleasure of these damned slaves. 50

_Robin._ How from Constantinople? You have had a great journey.
Will you take sixpence in your purse to pay for your supper, and
begone?

_Meph._ Well, villains, for your presumption, (55) I transform thee
into an ape, and thee into a dog; and so begone. _Exit._

_Robin._ How, into an ape? That’s brave! I’ll have fine sport with
the boys. I’ll get nuts and apples enow. 60

_Ralph._ And I must be a dog.

_Robin._ I’ faith thy head will never be out of the pottage pot.
_Exeunt._

[SCENE X.][450]

_Enter_ EMPEROR, FAUSTUS, _and a_ KNIGHT _with attendants_.

_Emp._ Master Doctor Faustus, I have heard strange report of thy
knowledge in the black art, how that none in my empire nor in the
whole world can compare with thee for the rare effects of magic; they
say thou hast a familiar (5) spirit, by whom thou canst accomplish
what thou list. This, therefore, is my request, that thou let me see
some proof of thy skill, that mine eyes may be witnesses to confirm
what mine ears have heard reported; and here I (10) swear to thee by
the honour of mine imperial crown, that, whatever thou doest, thou
shalt be no ways prejudiced or endamaged.

_Knight._ I’faith he looks much like a conjuror. _Aside._ 15

_Faust._ My gracious sovereign, though I must confess myself
far inferior to the report men have published, and nothing
answerable[451] to the honour of your imperial majesty, yet for that
love and duty binds me thereunto, I am content (20) to do whatsoever
your majesty shall command me.

_Emp._ Then, Doctor Faustus, mark what I shall say.
As I was sometime solitary set
Within my closet, sundry thoughts arose 25
About the honour of mine ancestors,
How they had won by prowess such exploits,
Got such riches, subdued so many kingdoms,
As we that do succeed, or they that shall
Hereafter possess our throne, shall 30
(I fear me) ne’er attain to that degree
Of high renown and great authority;
Amongst which kings is Alexander the Great,
Chief spectacle of the world’s pre-eminence,
The bright shining of whose glorious acts 35
Lightens the world with his[452] reflecting beams,
As, when I heard but motion[453] made of him,
It grieves my soul I never saw the man.
If, therefore, thou by cunning of thine art 40
Canst raise this man from hollow vaults below,
Where lies entomb’d this famous conqueror,
And bring with him his beauteous paramour,
Both in their right shapes, gesture, and attire
They us’d to wear during their time of life,
Thou shalt both satisfy my just desire, 45
And give me cause to praise thee whilst I live.

_Faust._ My gracious lord, I am ready to accomplish your request so
far forth as by art, and power of my Spirit, I am able to perform. 50

_Knight._ I’ faith that’s just nothing at all. _Aside._

_Faust._ But, if it like your Grace, it is not in my ability to
present before your eyes the true substantial bodies of those two
deceased princes, which long since are consumed to dust. 55

_Knight._ Ay, marry. Master Doctor, now there’s a sign of grace in
you, when you will confess the truth. _Aside._

_Faust._ But such spirits as can lively resemble Alexander and his
paramour shall appear before your Grace in that manner that they best
(61) liv’d in, in their most flourishing estate; which I doubt not
shall sufficiently content your imperial majesty.

_Emp._ Go to, Master Doctor, let me see them presently. 66

_Knight._ Do you hear, Master Doctor? You bring Alexander and his
paramour before the Emperor!

_Faust._ How then, sir? 70

_Knight._ I’ faith that’s as true as Diana turn’d me to a stag!

_Faust._ No, sir, but when Actæon died, he left the horns for you.
Mephistophilis, begone. _Exit_ MEPHISTOPHILIS. 75

_Knight._ Nay, an you go to conjuring, I’ll begone. _Exit._

_Faust._ I’ll meet with you anon for interrupting me so. Here they
are, my gracious lord. 80

_Re-enter_ MEPHISTOPHILIS _with_ [SPIRITS _in the shape of_] ALEXANDER _and his_ PARAMOUR.

_Emp._ Master Doctor, I heard this lady while she liv’d had a wart or
mole in her neck: how shall I know whether it be so or no?

_Faust._ Your Highness may boldly go and see.

_Exeunt_ [SPIRITS.]

_Emp._ Sure these are no spirits, but the (85) true substantial
bodies of those two deceased princes.

_Faust._ Will’t please your Highness now to send for the knight that
was so pleasant with me here of late? 90

_Emp._ One of you call him forth.

[_Exit_ Attendant.]

_Re-enter the_ KNIGHT _with a pair of horns on his head_.

How now, sir knight! why I had thought thou had’st been a bachelor,
but now I see thou hast a wife, that not only gives thee horns, but
makes thee wear them. Feel on thy head. 95

_Knight._ Thou damned wretch and execrable dog,
Bred in the concave of some monstrous rock,
How darest thou thus abuse a gentleman?
Villain, I say, undo what thou hast done!

_Faust._ O, not so fast, sir; there’s no haste; (100) but, good, are
you rememb’red how you crossed me in my conference with the Emperor?
I think I have met with you for it.

_Emp._ Good Master Doctor, at my entreaty release him; he hath done
penance sufficient. 105

_Faust._ My gracious lord, not so much for the injury he off’red
me here in your presence, as to delight you with some mirth, hath
Faustus worthily requited this injurious knight; (109) which, being
all I desire, I am content to release him of his horns: and, sir
knight, hereafter speak well of scholars. Mephistophilis, transform
him straight. [MEPHISTOPHILIS _removes the horns_.] Now, my good
lord, having done my duty I humbly take my leave. 115

_Emp._ Farewell, Master Doctor; yet, ere you go, Expect from me a
bounteous reward. _Exeunt._

[SCENE XI.][454]

[_Enter_ FAUSTUS _and_ MEPHISTOPHILIS.]

_Faust._ Now, Mephistophilis, the restless course
That Time doth run with calm and silent foot,
Short’ning my days and thread of vital life,
Calls for the payment of my latest years;
Therefore, sweet Mephistophilis, let us 5
Make haste to Wittenberg.

_Meph._ What, will you go on horseback or on foot?

_Faust._ Nay, till I’m past this fair and pleasant green,
I’ll walk on foot.

_Enter a_ HORSE-COURSER.

_Horse-C._ I have been all this day seeking (10) one Master Fustian:
mass, see where he is! God save you. Master Doctor!

_Faust._ What, horse-courser! You are well met.

_Horse-C._ Do you hear, sir? I have brought (15) you forty dollars
for your horse.

_Faust._ I cannot sell him so: if thou likest him for fifty, take him.

_Horse-C._ Alas, sir, I have no more.—I pray you speak for me. 20

_Meph._ I pray you let him have him, he is an honest fellow, and he
has a great charge, neither wife nor child.

_Faust._ Well, come, give me your money. [HORSE-COURSER _gives_
FAUSTUS _the money_.] (25) My boy will deliver him to you. But I must
tell you one thing before you have him; ride him not into the water
at any hand.

_Horse-C._ Why, sir, will he not drink of all waters? 30

_Faust._ O yes, he will drink of all waters, but ride him not into
the water: ride him over hedge or ditch, or where thou wilt, but not
into the water.

_Horse-C._ Well, sir.—Now I am made man (35) forever. I’ll not leave
my horse for forty. If he had but the quality of hey-ding-ding,
hey-ding-ding, I’d make a brave living on him: he has a buttock as
slick as an eel. [_Aside._] Well, God b’ wi’ ye, sir, your boy will
deliver him me: but (40) hark ye, sir; if my horse be sick or ill at
ease, if I bring his water to you, you’ll tell me what it is?

_Exit_ HORSE-COURSER.

_Faust._ Away, you villain; what, dost think
I am a horse-doctor?
What art thou, Faustus, but a man condemn’d to die? 45
Thy fatal time doth draw to final end;
Despair doth drive distrust unto my thoughts:
Confound these passions with a quiet sleep:
Tush, Christ did call the thief upon the cross;
Then rest thee, Faustus, quiet in conceit. 50

_Sleeps in his chair._

_Re-enter_ HORSE-COURSER, _all wet, crying_.

_Horse-C._ Alas, alas! Doctor Fustian, quotha? Mass, Doctor
Lopus[455] was never such a doctor. Has given me a purgation has
purg ’d me of forty dollars; I shall never see them more. But yet,
like an ass as I was, I would not be ruled (55) by him, for he bade
me I should ride him into no water. Now I, thinking my horse had
had some rare quality that he would not have had me known of, I,
like a venturous youth, rid him into the deep pond at the town’s
end. I was (60) no sooner in the middle of the pond, but my horse
vanish’d away, and I sat upon a bottle of hay, never so near drowning
in my life. But I’ll seek out my Doctor, and have my forty dollars
again, or I’ll make it the dearest horse!—O, (65) yonder is his
snipper-snapper.—Do you hear? You hey-pass,[456] where’s your master?

_Meph._ Why, sir, what would you? You cannot speak with him.

_Horse-C._ But I will speak with him. 70

_Meph._ Why, he’s fast asleep. Come some other time.

_Horse-C._ I’ll speak with him now, or I’ll break his glass windows
about his ears.

_Meph._ I tell thee he has not slept this (75) eight nights.

_Horse-C._ An he have not slept this eight weeks, I’ll speak with him.

_Meph._ See where he is, fast asleep. 79

_Horse-C._ Ay, this is he. God save you, Master Doctor! Master
Doctor. Master Doctor Fustian!—Forty dollars, forty dollars for a
bottle of hay!

_Meph._ Why, thou seest he hears thee not.

_Horse-C._ So ho, ho!—so ho, ho! (_Hollas in (85) his ear._) No,
will you not wake? I’ll make you wake ere I go. (_Pulls_ FAUSTUS _by
the leg, and pulls it away_.) Alas, I am undone! What shall I do?

_Faust._ O my leg, my leg! Help, Mephistophilis! (90) call the
officers. My leg, my leg!

_Meph._ Come, villain, to the constable.

_Horse-C._ O lord, sir, let me go, and I’ll give you forty dollars
more.

_Meph._ Where be they? 95

_Horse-C._ I have none about me. Come to my ostry[457] and I’ll give
them you.

_Meph._ Begone quickly.

HORSE-COURSER _runs away_.

_Faust._ What, is he gone? Farewell he! (99) Faustus has his leg
again, and the horse-courser, I take it, a bottle of hay for his
labour. Well, this trick shall cost him forty dollars more.

_Enter_ WAGNER.

How now, Wagner, what’s the news with thee?

_Wag._ Sir, the Duke of Vanholt doth earnestly (105) entreat your
company.

_Faust._ The Duke of Vanholt! an honourable gentleman, to whom I must
be no niggard of my cunning. Come, Mephistophilis, let’s away to him.
_Exeunt._ 110

[SCENE XII.][458]

_Enter the_ DUKE [_of_ VANHOLT], _the_ DUCHESS, [FAUSTUS, _and_ MEPHISTOPHILIS.]

_Duke._ Believe me, Master Doctor, this merriment hath much pleased
me.

_Faust._ My gracious lord, I am glad it contents you so well.—But
it may be, madam, you take no delight in this. I have heard that
great-bellied (5) women do long for some dainties or other. What is
it, madam? Tell me, and you shall have it.

_Duchess._ Thanks, good Master Doctor; and for I see your courteous
intent to pleasure (10) me, I will not hide from you the thing my
heart desires; and were it now summer, as it is January and the dead
time of the winter, I would desire no better meat than a dish of ripe
grapes.

_Faust._ Alas, madam, that’s nothing! (15) Mephistophilis, begone.
(_Exit_ MEPHISTOPHILIS.) Were it a greater thing than this, so it
would content you, you should have it.

_Re-enter_ MEPHISTOPHILIS _with the grapes._

Here they be, madam; wilt please you taste on them? 20

_Duke._ Believe me, Master Doctor, this makes me wonder above the
rest, that being in the dead time of winter, and in the month of
January, how you should come by these grapes.

_Faust._ If it like your Grace, the year is (25) divided into two
circles over the whole world, that, when it is here winter with us,
in the contrary circle it is summer with them, as in India, Saba, and
farther countries in the East; and by means of a swift spirit that
I have, (30) I had them brought hither, as ye see.—How do you like
them, madam; be they good?

_Duchess._ Believe me. Master Doctor, they be the best grapes that I
e’er tasted in my life before. 35

_Faust._ I am glad they content you so, madam.

_Duke._ Come, madam, let us in, where you must well reward this
learned man for the great kindness he hath show’d to you.

_Duchess._ And so I will, my lord; and (40) whilst I live, rest
beholding for this courtesy.

_Faust._ I humbly thank your Grace.

_Duke._ Come, Master Doctor, follow us and receive your reward.
_Exeunt._

[SCENE XIII.][459]

_Enter_ WAGNER, _solus._

_Wag._ I think my master means to die shortly,
For he hath given to me all his goods;
And yet, methinks, if that death were near,
He would not banquet and carouse and swill
Amongst the students, as even now he doth, 5
Who are at supper with such belly-cheer
As Wagner ne’er beheld in all his life.
See where they come! Belike the feast is ended.

_Enter_ FAUSTUS, _with two or three_ SCHOLARS [_and_ MEPHISTOPHILIS.]

_1 Schol._ Master Doctor Faustus, since our conference about fair
Ladies, which was the (10) beautifullest in all the world, we have
determined with ourselves that Helen of Greece was the admirablest
lady that ever lived, therefore, Master Doctor, if you will do us
that favour, as to let us see that peerless dame of Greece, (15) whom
all the world admires for majesty, we should think ourselves much
beholding unto you.

_Faust._ Gentlemen,
For that I know your friendship is unfeigned,
And Faustus’ custom is not to deny 20
The just requests of those that wish him well,
You shall behold that peerless dame of Greece,
No otherways for pomp and majesty
Than when Sir Paris cross’d the seas with her,
And brought the spoils to rich Dardania. 25
Be silent, then, for danger is in words.

_Music sounds, and_ HELEN _passeth over the stage._

_2 Schol._ Too simple is my wit to tell her praise,
Whom all the world admires for majesty.

_3 Schol._ No marvel though the angry Greeks pursu’d
With ten years’ war the rape of such a queen, 30
Whose heavenly beauty passeth all compare.

_1 Schol._ Since we have seen the pride of Nature’s works,
And only paragon of excellence,

_Enter an_ OLD MAN.

Let us depart; and for this glorious deed
Happy and blest be Faustus evermore. 35

_Faustus._ Gentlemen, farewell—the same I wish to you. _Exeunt_
SCHOLARS [_and_ WAGNER].

_Old Man._ Ah, Doctor Faustus, that I might prevail
To guide thy steps unto the way of life,
By which sweet path thou may’st attain the goal
That shall conduct thee to celestial rest! 40
Break heart, drop blood, and mingle it with tears,
Tears falling from repentant heaviness
Of thy most vile and loathsome filthiness,
The stench whereof corrupts the inward soul
With such flagitious crimes of heinous sins 45
As no commiseration may expel,
But mercy, Faustus, of thy Saviour sweet,
Whose blond alone must wash away thy guilt.

_Faust._ Where art thou, Faustus? Wretch,
what hast thou done?
Damn’d art thou, Faustus, damn’d; despair and die! 50
Hell calls for right, and with a roaring voice
Says “Faustus! come! thine hour is [almost] come!”
And Faustus [now] will come to do thee right.
MEPHISTOPHILIS _gives him a dagger._

_Old Man._ Ah stay, good Faustus, stay thy desperate steps!
I see an angel hovers o’er thy head, 55
And, with a vial full of precious grace,
Offers to pour the same into thy soul:
Then call for mercy, and avoid despair.

_Faust._ Ah, my sweet friend, I feel
Thy words do comfort my distressed soul. 60
Leave me a while to ponder on my sins.

_Old Man._ I go, sweet Faustus, but with heavy cheer,
Fearing the ruin of thy hopeless soul. [_Exit._]

_Faust._ Accursed Faustus, where is mercy now?
I do repent; and yet I do despair; 65
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. 70

_Faust._ Sweet Mephistophilis, entreat thy lord
To pardon my unjust presumption,
And with my blood again I will confirm
My former vow I made to Lucifer.

_Meph._ Do it now then quickly, with unfeigned heart, 75
Lest danger do attend thy drift.
[FAUSTUS _stabs his arm and writes on a paper with his blood._]

_Faust._ Torment, sweet friend, that base and crooked age,[460]
That durst dissuade me from my Lucifer,
With greatest torments that our hell affords.

_Meph._ His faith is great, I cannot touch his soul; 80
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 might have unto my paramour 85
That heavenly Helen, which I saw of late,
Whose sweet embracings may extinguish clean
These thoughts that do dissuade me from my vow,
And keep mine oath I made to Lucifer.

_Meph._ Faustus, this or what else thou shalt desire 90
Shall be perform’d in twinkling of an eye.

_Re-enter_ HELEN.

_Faust._ Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships,
And burnt the topless[461] towers of Ilium?
Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss. [_Kisses her._]
Her lips suck[462] forth my soul; see where it flies!— 95
Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.
Here will I dwell, for Heaven be in these lips,
And all is dross that is not Helena.
_Enter_ OLD MAN.
I will be Paris, and for love of thee,
Instead of Troy, shall Wittenberg be sack’d; 100
And I will combat with weak Menelaus,
And wear thy colours on my plumed crest;
Yea, I will wound Achilles in the heel,
And then return to Helen for a kiss.
Oh, thou art fairer than the evening air 105
Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars;
Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter
When he appear’d to hapless Semele:
More lovely than the monarch of the sky
In wanton Arethusa’s azur’d arms: 110
And none but thou shalt be my paramour. _Exeunt._

_Old Man._ Accursed Faustus, miserable man,
That from thy soul exclud’st the grace of Heaven,
And fly’st the throne of his tribunal seat!
_Enter_ DEVILS.
Satan begins to sift me with his pride: 115
As in this furnace God shall try my faith,
My faith, vile hell, shall triumph over thee.
Ambitious friends I see how the heavens smiles
At your repulse, and laughs your state to scorn!
Hence, hell! for hence I fly unto my God. _Exeunt._ 120

[SCENE XIV.][463]

_Enter_ FAUSTUS _with the_ SCHOLARS.

_Faust._ Ah, gentlemen!

_1 Schol._ What ails Faustus?

_Faust._ Ah, my sweet chamber-fellow, had I lived with thee, then had
I lived still! but now I die eternally. Look, comes he not, comes he
not? 5

_2 Schol._ What means Faustus?

_3 Schol._ Belike he is grown into some sickness by being over
solitary.

_1 Schol._ If it be so, we’ll have physicians to (10) cure him. ’T is
but a surfeit. Never fear, man.

_Faust._ A surfeit of deadly sin that hath damn’d both body and soul.

_2 Schol._ Yet, Faustus, look up to Heaven; remember God’s mercies
are infinite. 15

_Faust._ But Faustus’ offences can never be pardoned: the serpent
that tempted Eve may be sav’d, but not Faustus. Ah, gentlemen, hear
me with patience, and tremble not at my speeches! Though my heart
pants and quivers (20) to remember that I have been a student here
these thirty years, oh, would I had never seen Wittenberg, never read
book! And what wonders I have done, all Germany can witness, yea,
the world; for which Faustus hath lost both (25) Germany and the
world, yea Heaven itself, Heaven, the seat of God, the throne of the
blessed, the kingdom of joy; and must remain in hell for ever, hell,
ah, hell, for ever! Sweet friends! what shall become of Faustus being
in hell for ever? 31

_3 Schol._ Yet, Faustus, call on God.

_Faust._ On God, whom Faustus hath abjur’d! on God, whom Faustus hath
blasphemed! Ah, my God, I would weep, but the Devil draws (35) in my
tears. Gush forth blood instead of tears! Yea, life and soul! Oh, he
stays my tongue! I would lift up my hands, but see, they hold them,
they hold them!

_All._ Who, Faustus? 40

_Faust._ Lucifer and Mephistophilis. Ah, gentlemen, I gave them my
soul for my cunning!

_All._ God forbid!

_Faust._ God forbade it indeed; but Faustus (45) hath done it. For
vain pleasure of twenty-four years hath Faustus lost eternal joy
and felicity. I writ them a bill with mine own blood: the date is
expired; the time will come, and he will fetch me. 50

_1 Schol._ Why did not Faustus tell us of this before, that divines
might have prayed for thee?

_Faust._ Oft have I thought to have done so; but the Devil threat’ned
to tear me in pieces if I nam’d God; to fetch both body and soul if
I (55) once gave ear to divinity: and now ’t is too late. Gentlemen,
away! lest you perish with me.

_2 Schol._ Oh, what shall we do to save Faustus?

_Faust._ Talk not of me, but save yourselves, and depart. 60

_3 Schol._ God will strengthen me. I will stay with Faustus.

_1 Schol._ Tempt not God, sweet friend; but let us into the next
room, and there pray for him.

_Faust._ Ay, pray for me, pray for me! and (65) what noise soever ye
hear, come not unto me, for nothing can rescue me.

_2 Schol._ Pray thou, and we will pray that God may have mercy upon
thee.

_Faust._ Gentlemen, farewell! If I live till (70) morning I’ll visit
you: if not—Faustus is gone to hell.

_All._ Faustus, farewell!

_Exeunt_ SCHOLARS. _The clock strikes eleven._

_Faust._ Ah, Faustus,
Now hast thou but one bare hour to live, 75
And then thou must be damn’d perpetually!
Stand still, you ever-moving spheres of Heaven,
That time may cease, and midnight never come;
Fair Nature’s eye, rise, rise again and make
Perpetual day; or let this hour be but 80
A year, a month, a week, a natural day,
That Faustus may repent and save his soul!
_O lente, lente, currite noctis equi!_[464]
The stars move still,[465] time runs, the clock will strike,
The Devil will come, and Faustus must be damn’d. 85
O, I’ll leap up to my God! Who pulls me down?
See, see where Christ’s blood streams in the firmament!
One drop would save my soul—half a drop: ah, my Christ!
Ah, rend not my heart for naming of my Christ! 89
Yet will I call on him: O spare me, Lucifer!—
Where is it now? ’T is gone; and see where God
Stretcheth out his arm, and bends his ireful brows!
Mountain and hills come, come and fall on me,
And hide me from the heavy wrath of God!
No! no! 95
Then will I headlong run into the earth;
Earth gape! O no, it will not harbour me!
You stars that reign’d at my nativity,
Whose influence hath allotted death and hell,
Now draw up Faustus like a foggy mist 100
Into the entrails of yon labouring clouds,
That when they vomit forth into the air,
My limbs may issue from their smoky mouths,
So that my soul may but ascend to Heaven.
_The watch strikes_ [_the half hour_].
Ah, half the hour is past! ’T will all be past anon! 105
O God!
If thou wilt not have mercy on my soul,
Yet for Christ’s sake whose blood hath ransom’d me,
Impose some end to my incessant pain;
Let Faustus live in hell a thousand years— 110
A hundred thousand, and at last be sav’d!
O, no end is limited to damned souls!
Why wert thou not a creature wanting soul?
Or why is this immortal that thou hast?
Ah, Pythagoras’ metempsychosis! were that true, 115
This soul should fly from me, and I be chang’d
Unto some brutish beast! All beasts are happy,
For, when they die,
Their souls are soon dissolv’d in elements; 119
But mine must live, still to be plagu’d in hell.
Curst be the parents that engend’red me!
No, Faustus: curse thyself: curse Lucifer
That hath depriv’d thee of the joys of Heaven.
_The clock striketh twelve._
O, it strikes, it strikes! Now, body, turn to air,
Or Lucifer will bear thee quick to hell. 125
_Thunder and lightning._
O soul, be chang’d into little water-drops,
And fall into the ocean—ne’er be found.
My God! my God! look not so fierce on me!
_Enter_ DEVILS.
Adders and serpents, let me breathe awhile!
Ugly hell, gape not! come not, Lucifer! 130
I’ll burn my books!—Ah Mephistophilis!
_Exeunt_ [DEVILS _with_ FAUSTUS.]

_Enter_ CHORUS.

[_Cho._] Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight,
And burned is Apollo’s laurel bough,
That sometimes grew within this learned man.
Faustus is gone; regard his hellish fall, 135
Whose fiendful fortune may exhort the wise
Only to wonder at unlawful things,
Whose deepness doth entice such forward wits
To practise more than heavenly power permits.
[_Exit._]
_Terminat hora diem, terminat author opus._ 140

THE JEW OF MALTA

BY CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE

[DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

BARABAS, a wealthy Jew.
FERNEZE, Governor of Malta.
DON LODOWICK, his Son.
SELIM CALYMATH, Son of the Grand Seignior.
MARTIN DEL BOSCO, Vice-Admiral of Spain.
DON MATHIAS, a Gentleman.
ITHAMORE, slave of Barabas.
JACOMO, }
BARNARDINE, } Friars.
PILIA-BORSA, a Bully.
Two Merchants.
Three Jews.
Knights, Bassoes, Officers, Reader, Guard, Messengers, Slaves, and
Carpenters.

KATHERINE, mother of MATHIAS.
ABIGAIL, Daughter of BARABAS.
BELLAMIRA, a Courtesan.
Abbess.
Two Nuns.

MACHIAVEL, Speaker of the Prologue.

Scene.—_Malta_.]

[THE PROLOGUE.]

MACHIAVEL.

Albeit the world think Machiavel is dead,
Yet was his soul but flown beyond the Alps,
And, now the Guise[466] is dead, is come from France
To view this land and frolic with his friends.
To some perhaps my name is odious, 5
But such as love me guard me from their tongues;
And let them know that I am Machiavel,
And weigh not men, and therefore not men’s words.
Admir’d I am of those that hate me most.
Though some speak openly against my books, 10
Yet will they read me, and thereby attain
To Peter’s chair; and when they cast me off,
Are poison’d by my climbing followers.
I count religion but a childish toy,
And hold there is no sin but ignorance. 15
“Birds of the air will tell of murders past!”
I am asham’d to hear such fooleries.
Many will talk of title to a crown:
What right had Cæsar to the empery?[467]
Might first made kings, and laws were then most sure 20
When, like the Draco’s, they were writ in blood.
Hence comes it that a strong-built citadel
Commands much more than letters can import;
Which maxim had [but] Phalaris observ’d,
He had never bellowed, in a brazen bull, 25
Of great ones’ envy. O’ the poor petty wights
Let me be envi’d and not pitied!
But whither am I bound? I come not, I,
To read a lecture here in Britain,
But to present the tragedy of a Jew, 30
Who smiles to see how full his bags are cramm’d,
Which money was not got without my means.
I crave but this—grace him as he deserves,
And let him not be entertain’d the worse
Because he favours me. [_Exit._] 35

[ACT I

SCENE I.]

_Enter_ BARABAS _in his counting-house, with heaps of gold before him_.

_Bar._ So that of thus much that return was made:
And of the third part of the Persian ships,
There was the venture summ’d and satisfied.
As for those Samnites,[468] and the men of Uz,
That bought my Spanish oils and wines of Greece, 5
Here have I purs’d their paltry silverlings.
Fie, what a trouble ’t is to count this trash!
Well fare the Arabians, who so richly pay
The things they traffic for with wedge of gold.
Whereof a man may easily in a day 10
Tell[469] that which may maintain him all his life.
The needy groom that never fing’red groat,
Would make a miracle of thus much coin;
But he whose steel-barr’d coffers are cramm’d full,
And all his lifetime hath been tired, 15
Wearying his fingers’ ends with telling it,
Would in his age be loth to labour so,
And for a pound to sweat himself to death.
Give me the merchants of the Indian mines,
That trade in metal of the purest mould; 20
The wealthy Moor, that in the eastern rocks
Without control can pick his riches up,
And in his house heap pearl like pebble-stones,
Receive them free, and sell them by the weight;
Bags of fiery opals, sapphires, amethysts, 25
Jacinths, hard topaz, grass-green emeralds,
Beauteous rubies, sparkling diamonds,
And seld-seen[470] costly stones of so great price
As one of them indifferently rated,
And of a carat of this quantity, 30
May serve in peril of calamity
To ransom great kings from captivity.
This is the ware wherein consists my wealth;
And thus methinks should men of judgment frame
Their means of traffic from the vulgar trade, 35
And as their wealth increaseth, so inclose
Infinite riches in a little room.
But now how stands the wind?
Into what corner peers my halcyon’s bill?[471]
Ha! to the east? Yes. See, how stands the vanes? 40
East and by south: why, then, I hope my ships
I sent for Egypt and the bordering isles
Are gotten up by Nilus’ winding banks;
Mine argosy from Alexandria,
Loaden with spice and silks, now under sail, 45
Are smoothly gliding down by Candy shore
To Malta, through our Mediterranean sea.
But who comes here? How now?

_Enter a_ Merchant.

_Merch._ Barabas, thy ships are safe.
Riding in Malta-road: and all the merchants 50
With other merchandise are safe arriv’d,
And have sent me to know whether yourself
Will come and custom[472] them.

_Bar._ The ships are safe thou say’st, and richly fraught?

_Merch._ They are.

_Bar._ Why then go bid them come ashore,
And bring with them their bills of entry. 56
I hope our credit in the custom-house
Will serve as well as I were present there.
Go send ’em threescore camels, thirty mules,
And twenty waggons to bring up the ware. 60
But art thou master in a ship of mine,
And is thy credit not enough for that?

_Merch._ The very custom barely comes to more
Than many merchants of the town are worth,
And therefore far exceeds my credit, sir. 65

_Bar._ Go tell ’em the Jew of Malta sent thee, man:
Tush! who amongst ’em knows not Barabas?

_Merch._ I go.

_Bar._ So then, there’s somewhat come.
Sirrah, which of my ships art thou master of?

_Merch._ Of the _Speranza_, sir.