Chapter II: Act I: Scene I

_Dr._ Faustus _seated in his Chair, and reading in his Study_.

_Good and bad Angel ready._

_Faust._ Settle thy Study, _Faustus_, and begin
To sound the Depth of that thou wilt profess;
These Metaphysicks of Magicians,
And Negromantick Books, are heav'nly
Lines, Circles, Letters, Characters,
Ay, these are those that _Faustus_ most desires;
A sound Magician is a Demi-God:
Here tire my Brains to get a Deity.

Mephostopholis _under the Stage_. _A good and bad Angel fly down._

_Good Ang._ O _Faustus_! lay that damn'd Book aside;
And gaze not on it, lest it tempt thy heart to blasphemy.

_Bad Ang._ Go forward, _Faustus_, in that famous Art
Wherein all Natures Treasure is contain'd:
Be thou on Earth as _Jove_ is in the Sky,
Lord and Commander of these Elements.

_Spirits ascend._

_Faust._ How am I glutted with conceit of this?
Shall I make Spirits fetch me what I please?
I'll have 'em fly to _India_ for Gold,
Ransack the Ocean for Orient Pearl.
I'll have 'em Wall all _Germany_ with Brass:
I'll levy Soldiers with the Coin they bring,
And chase the Prince of _Parma_ from our Land. [_Rises._
'Tis now the Dead nigh Noon of Night,
And _Lucifer_ his Spirits freedom gives;
I'll try if in this Circle I can Raise
A _Daemon_ to inform me what I long for.

_Sint mihi Dii Acherontis propitii, Orientis Princeps, Beelzebub, German. Demogorgon._ [Thunders. _Mephostopholis, Mephostopholis, surgat Spiritus._

Mephostopholis _speaks under Ground_. [Thunders.

_Meph._ _Faustus_, I attend thy Will.

_Faust._ Where art thou?

_Meph._ Here. [_a Flash of Light._

_Scar. within._ Oh, oh, oh.

_Faust._ What Noise is that? Hast thou any Companions with thee?

_Meph._ No.

_Faust._ It comes this way?

_Scar._ Oh, oh, O----. [_Enter_ Scaramouche.

_Faust._ What ail'st thou?

_Scar._ O' o' o'

_Faust._ Speak, Fellow, what's the Matter?

_Scar._ O poor _Scaramouche_!

_Faust._ Speak, I conjure thee; or _Acherontis Dii Demogorgon_.----

_Scar._ O I beseech you Conjure no more, for I am frighted into a _Diabetes_ already.

_Faust._ Frighted at what?

_Scar._ I have seen, Oh, oh----

_Faust._ What?

_Scar._ The Devil.

_Faust._ Art sure it was the Devil?

_Scar._ The Devil, or the Devil's Companion: He had a Head like a Bulls, with Horns on; and two Eyes that glow'd like the Balls of a dark Lantern: His Hair stood a Tiptoe, like your new-fashion'd Top-knots; with a Mouth as large as a King's Beef Eater: His Nails was as sharp as a Welshman's in Passion; and he look'd as frightful as a Sergeant to an _Alsatian_.

_Faust._ But why art thou afraid of the Devil?

_Scar._ Why I never said my Prayers in all my Life, but once; and that was when my damn'd Wife was sick, that she might dye: My Ears are as deaf to good Council, as _French_ Dragoons are to Mercy. And my Conscience wants as much sweeping as a Cook's Chimny. And I have as many Sins to answer for as a Church-warden, or an Overseer of the Poor.

_Faust._ Why, the Devil loves Sinners at his Heart.

_Scar._ Does he so?

_Faust._ He hates none, but the Vertuous, and the Godly. Such as Fast, and go to Church, and give Alms-deeds.

_Scar._ I never saw a Church in my Life, thank God, (I mean the Devil;) and for Fasting, it was always my Abomination; and for Alms, I never gave any Thing in my Life, but the Itch once to a Pawn-broker. Therefore I hope he may Love me.

_Faust._ And he shall Love thee; I'll bring thee acquainted with him.

_Scar._ Acquainted with the Devil?

_Faust._ Ay; _Tanto metropontis Acherontis_.

_Scar._ Oh, oh, oh.

_Faust._ Fear nothing _Mephostopholis_, be visible.

[Scaramouche _sinks behind the Doctor, and peeps his Head out behind the Slip of his Gown._ _A Devil rises in Thunder and Lightning._

I charge thee to be gon, and change thy Shape; thou art too ugly to attend on me. I find there's Virtue in my Charm; Come, rise up, Fool, the Devil's gon.

[_The Devil sinks._

_Scar._ The Devil go with him.

_Faust._ Fear nothing, I command the Devil. If thou wilt leave thy Chimny-sweeping Trade, and live with me, thou shalt have Meat and Drink in Plenty; and 40 Crowns a Year shall be thy Wages; I'll make thee Learned in the black Art.

_Scar._ I am a Student in that already: But let me consider, Good Meat and Drink, and 40 Crowns a Year. Then I'll change my black Art for yours.

_Faust._ There's Earnest, thou art now my Servant; dispose of thy Brooms and Poles, they'll be useless to thee here; take this Key, go into my Study, and clean; take all the Books you find scatter'd about, and range 'em orderly upon the Shelves.

_Scar._ Happy _Scaramouche_, now may'st thou Swear, Lye, Steal, Drink and Whore; for thy Master is the Devil's Master, and thou in time may'st master 'em both.

[_Exit_ Scaram.

_Enter_ Mephostopholis.

_Meph._ Now, _Faustus_, what wouldst thou have with me?

_Faust._ I charge thee wait upon me whilst I live,
And do what-ever _Faustus_ shall command.

_Meph._ Ay _Faustus_, so I will, if thou wilt purchase me of _Lucifer_.

_Faust._ What says _Lucifer_, thy Lord?

_Meph._ That I shall Wait on _Faustus_ whilst he Lives,
So thou wilt buy my Service with thy Blood.

_Faust._ Already _Faustus_ has hazarded that for thee.

_Meph._ Ay, but thou must bequeath it solemnly,
And write a Deed of Gift with it;
For that Security craves _Lucifer_.
If thou deny it, I must back to Hell.

_Bad Ang._ But _Faustus_, if I shall have thy Soul,
I'll be thy Slave, and worship thy Commands,
And give thee more than thou hast Will of.

_Faust._ If he wilt spare me Four and twenty Years,
Letting me Live in all Voluptuousness,
To have thee ever to attend on me,
To give me whatsoever I shall ask,
And tell me whatsoever I demand;
On these Conditions I resign it to him.

_Meph._ Then, _Faustus_ stab thy Arm couragiously,
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_.

_Faust._ Lo, _Mephostopholis_, for Love of thee, _Faustus_ has cut
His Arm, and with his proper Blood
Assures his Soul to be great _Lucifers_.

_Meph._ But, _Faustus_, write it in manner of a Deed, and Gift.

_Faust._ Ay, so I do; but, _Mephostopholis_, my Blood congeals, and I can write no more.

_Meph._ I'll fetch thee Fire to dissolve it streight. [_Exit._

_Faust._ What might the staying of my Blood portend,
It is unwilling I should write this Bill.

_Good and Bad Angel descend._

_Good An._ Yet, _Faustus_, think upon thy precious Soul.

_Bad An._ No, _Faustus_, think of Honour, and of Wealth.

_Faust._ Of Wealth. Why all the _Indies_, _Ganges_, shall be mine.

_Good An._ No, _Faustus_, everlasting Tortures shall be thine.

_Bad An._ No, _Faustus_, everlasting Glory shall be thine.
The World shall raise a Statue of thy Name,
And on it write, This, this is he that could command the
World. [_Good Angel ascends, bad Angel descends._

_Faust._ Command the World; Ay, _Faustus_, think on that,
Why streams not then my Blood that I may write?
_Faustus_ gives to thee his Soul; Oh! there it stops. Why
shouldst thou not? Is not thy Soul thy own?

_Enter_ Mephostopholis _with a Chafer of Fire_.

_Meph._ See, _Faustus_, here is Fire, set it on.

_Faust._ So now the Blood begins to clear again.

_Meph._ What is't I would not do to obtain his Soul?

_Faust._ _Consummatum est_; the Bill is ended.
But what is this Inscription on my Arm?
_Homo fuge_: Whether shall I fly?
My Senses are deceiv'd, here's nothing writ;
O yes, I see it plain, even here is writ
_Homo fuge_; yet shall not _Faustus_ fly,
I'll call up something to delight his Mind.

[_Song._ Mephostopholis _waves his Wand_. _Enter several Devils, who present Crowns to_ Faustus, _and after a Dance vanish_.

_Faust._ What means this then?

_Meph._ 'Tis to delight thy Mind, and let thee see
What Magick can perform.

_Faust._ And may I raise such Spirits when I please.

_Meph._ Ay, _Faustus_, and do greater Things than these.

_Faust._ Then, _Mephostopholis_ receive this Deed of Gift;
But set Conditionally, that thou perform all
Covenants and Articles herein subscribed.

_Meph._ I swear by Hell, and _Lucifer_, to effect all
Promises between us both.

_Faust._ Then take it.

_Meph._ Do you deliver it as your Deed, and Gift?

_Faust._ Ay, and the Devil do you good on't.

_Meph._ So, now, _Faustus_, ask what thou wilt.

_Faust._ Then let me have a Wife.

Faustus _waves his Wand, and a Woman Devil rises: Fire-works about whirles round, and sinks_.

_Faust._ What sight is this?

_Meph._ Now, _Faustus_ wilt thou have a Wife?

_Faust._ Here's a hot Whore indeed, I'll have no Wife.

_Meph._ Marriage is but a Ceremonial Toy;
I'll cull thee out the fairest Curtezans,
And bring 'em every Morning to thy Bed:
She whom thy Eye shall like, thy Heart shall have.

_Faust._ Then, _Mephostopholis_, let me behold the Famous _Hellen_, who was the Occasion of great _Troys'_ Destruction.

_Meph._ _Faustus_, thou shalt. [_Waves his Wand, enters._

_Faust._ O _Mephostopholis_! what would I give to gain a Kiss from off those lovely Lips.

_Meph._ _Faustus_, thou may'st. [_He kisses her._

_Faust._ My Soul is fled; come _Hellen_, come, give me my Soul again; she's gon. [_He goes to kiss her again, and she sinks._

_Meph._ Women are shy you know at the first Sight; but come, _Faustus_, command me somewhat else.

_Faust._ Then tell me, is Hell so terrible as Church-men write it.

_Meph._ No, _Faustus_ 'tis Glorious as the upper World; but that we have Night and Day, as you have here: Above there's no Night.

_Faust._ Why sighs my _Mephostopholis_, I think Hell's a meer Fable.

_Meph._ Ay, think so still.

_Faust._ Tell me who made the World?

_Meph._ I will not.

_Faust._ Sweet _Mephos._

_Meph._ Move me no further.

_Faust._ Villain, have I not bound thee to tell me any Thing.

_Meph._ That's not against our Kingdom, this is: Thou art
Lost; think thou of Hell.

_Faust._ Think, _Faustus_, upon him that made the World.

_Meph._ Remember this. [_Sinks._

_Faust._ Ay, go accursed Spirit to ugly Hell,
'Tis thou hast damn'd distressed _Faustus_ Soul:
I will Repent: Ha! [_Goes to his Books._
This Bible's fast, but here's another:

[_They both fly out of's Hand, and a flaming Thing appears written_, &c.

Is't not too late? [_Ring. Good and bad descend._

_Bad An._ Too late.

_Good An._ Never too late, if _Faustus_ will repent.

_Bad An._ _Faustus_, behold, behold thy Deed; if thou repent
Devils will tear thee in Pieces.

_Good An._ Repent, and they shall never raze thy Skin.

[_Scene shuts, Ang. ascends._

_Scene changes to the Street._ _Enter_ Harlequin.

_Harl._ This must be Mr. Doctor's House; I'll make bold to knock: My Heart fails me already.

[Harlequin _opens the Door, peeps about, and shuts it_.

I begin to tremble at the Thoughts of seeing the Devil.

[_Knocks again._

Here's a great Resort of Devils, the very Doors smell of
Brimstone: I'll e'en back----No: I'll be a Man of Resolution:
But if Mr. Doctor should send a Familiar to open the
Door, in what language should I speak to the Devil? [_Knocks._

_Enter_ Scaramouche.

_Scar. peeping._ This is some malicious Spirit, that will not let me alone at my Study; but I'll go in, and conn my Book. [_Exit._

_Harl._ I believe Mr. Doctor is very Busy; but I'll rap this time with Authority.

[Harlequin _raps at the Door_, Scaramouche _peeps out_. Harlequin _strikes him, and jumps back, runs frighted off_.

_Scene changes to a Room in the Doctor's House._

_Enter_ Scaramouche, _with a Book in the Doctor's Gown_.

_Scar._ I have left the Door open to save the Devil the labour of Knocking, if he has a mind to come in: For I am resolved not to stir from my Book; I found it in the Doctor's Closet, and know it must contain Something of the Black Art.

_Enter_ Harlequin.

_Harl._ Oh here's Mr. Doctor himself; he's reading some conjuring Book. _Ide fain jecit._

_Scar._ This must be a conjuring Book by the hard Words. AB, EB, IB, OB, UB, BA, BO, BU, BI.

_Harl._ Its a Child's Primer. [Harlequin _looks over him_.

_Scar._ The Devil, the Devil; be gon, avoid Satan. [_Runs off._

_Harl._ O the Devil! Now will I lye as if I were Dead, and let the Devil go hunt for my Soul. [_Lyes down._

_Enter_ Scaramouche.

_Scar._ I have learn'd to raise the Devil, but how the Devil shall I do to lay him. Ha! what's here, a dead Body? The Devil assum'd this Body, and when I began to mutter my Prayers, he was in such haste he left his Carcass behind him. Ha! it stirs; no, 'twas but my Fancy.

[Scaram. _lifts up all his Limbs, and lets 'em fall, whil'st_ Harl. _hits him on the Breech, lifts his Head, which falls gently_.

All's dead but's Head. [_Sets him upright._
The Devil, the Devil! Be gon; what art thou?

_Harl._ A poor unfortunate Devil.

_Scar._ The Devil; _Avant_ then _Hagon mogon strogon_.

_Harl._ O good Mr. Doctor, conjure up no more Devils and I'll be gon, or any thing.--I came only to ask your Black Artship a Question.

_Scar._ No, this is not the Devil. Who art thou? Whence comest thou? What's thy Business, Quick, or _Hogon strogon_?

_Harl._ Hold, hold, hold, I am poor _Harlequin_: By the Learned I am called _Zane_, by the Vulgar _Jack Pudding_. I was late Fool to a Mountebank; and last Night, in the mistaking the Pipkin, I eat up a Pot of _Bolus_ instead of Hasty Pudding; and devour'd Three Yards of _Diaculum_ Plaister instead of Pancake, for which my Master has turn'd me out of Doors instead of Wages: Therefore, to be reveng'd, I come to hire a Devil or two of you, Mr. Doctor, of a strong Constitution, that may swallow up his Turpentine Pills as fast as he makes 'em, that he may never cure poor Whore more of a Clap; and then he'll be undone, for they are his chief Patients.

_Scar._ What Practice has he?

_Harl._ Why his Business is to patch up rotten Whores against the Term for Country Lawyers, and Attorneys Clerks; and against _Christmas_, _Easter_ and _Whitsun_ Holidays, for City Apprentices; and if his Pills be destroy'd, 'twill ruin him in one Term.

_Scar._ Come in; and for a Crown a Week I'll lett thee out a Devil, as they do Horses at Livery, shall swallow him a Peck of Pills a day, though every one were as big as a Pumpkin; and make nothing of a _Bolus_ for a Breakfast.

_Harl._ O brave Mr. Doctor! O dainty Mr. Devil!

_Scar._ Seigniora. [_Here they Complement who shall go first._

_The End of the First Act._