Classic Poem

SCENE ONE

Enter the CHORUS . CHORUS :
Learned Faustus,
To find the secrets of astronomy,
Graven in the book of Jove's high firmament,
Did mount him up to scale Olympus top,
Where sitting in a chariot burning bright,
Drawn by the strength of yoked dragons' necks,
He views the clouds, the planets, and the stars,
The tropic, zones, and quarters of the sky,
From the bright circle of the horned moon,
Even to the height of Primum Mobile .
And whirling round with this circumference,
Within the concave compass of the pole,
From east to west his dragons swiftly glide,
And in eight days did bring him home again.
Not long he stayed within his quiet house,
To rest his bones after his weary toil,
But new exploits do hale him out again,
And mounted then upon a dragon's back,
That with his wings did part the subtle air,
He now is gone to prove Cosmography,
That measures coasts and kingdoms of the earth;
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,
The which this day is highly solemnised.
Exit .

SCENE TWO

Enter FAUSTUS and MEPHOSTOPHILIS . FAUSTUS :
Having now, my good Mephostophilis,
Passed with delight the stately town of Trier,
Environed round with airy mountain tops,
With walls of flint, and deep entrenched lakes,
Not to be won by any conquering prince,
From Paris next coasting the realm of France
We saw the river Main 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,
The streets straight forth and paved with finest brick,
Quarters the town in four equivolence.
There saw we learned Maro's golden tomb,
The way he cut an English mile in length,
Thorough a rock of stone in one night's space.
From thence to Venice, Padua and the rest,
In midst of which a sumptuous temple stands,
That threats the stars with her aspiring top,
Whose frame is paved with sundry coloured stones,
And roofed aloft with curious work in gold.
Thus hitherto hath Faustus spent his time.
But tell me now, what resting place is this?
Hast thou, as erst I did command,
Conducted me within the walls of Rome? MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
I have, my Faustus, and for proof thereof,
This is the goodly palace of the Pope;
And cause we are no common guests,
I choose his privy chamber for our use. FAUSTUS :
I hope his Holiness will bid us welcome. MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
All's one, for we'll be bold with his venison.
But now, my Faustus, that thou may'st perceive
What Rome contains for to delight thine eyes,
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,
That make safe passage to each part of Rome.
Upon the bridge called Ponto Angelo
Erected is a castle passing strong,
Where thou shalt see such store of ordinance
As that the double cannons forged of brass
Do match the number of the days contained
Within the compass of one complete year.
Beside the gates and high pyramides,
That Julius Caesar brought from Africa. FAUSTUS :
Now by the kingdoms of infernal rule,
Of Styx, or Acheron, and the fiery lake
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. MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
Now, stay, my Faustus. I know you'd see the Pope,
And take some part of holy Peter's feast,
The which in state and high solemnity
This day is held through Rome and Italy
In honour of the Pope's triumphant victory. FAUSTUS :
Sweet Mephostophilis, thou pleasest me.
Whilst I am here on earth let me be cloyed
With all things that delight the heart of man.
My four and twenty years of liberty
I'll spend in pleasure and in dalliance,
That Faustus' name, whilst this bright frame doth stand,
May be admired through the furthest land. MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
'Tis well said, Faustus. Come then, stand by me,
And thou shalt see them come immediately. FAUSTUS :
Nay stay, my gentle Mephostophilis,
And grant me my request, and then I go.
Thou know'st within the compass of eight days
We viewed the face of heaven, of earth and hell.
So high our dragons soared into the air,
That looking down, the earth appeared to me
No bigger than my hand in quantity.
There did we view the kingdoms of the world,
And what might please mine eye, I there beheld.
Then in this show let me an actor be,
That this proud Pope may Faustus' cunning see. MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
Let it be so, my Faustus, but first stay
And view their triumphs as they pass this way.
And then devise what best contents thy mind
By cunning in thine art to cross the Pope,
Or dash the pride of this solemnity,
To make his monks and abbots stand like apes,
And point like antics at his triple crown,
To beat the beads about the friars' pates,
Or clap huge horns upon the cardinals' heads,
Or any villainy thou canst devise,
And I'll perform it, Faustus. Hark, they come!
This day shall make thee be admired in Rome.
Enter the CARDINALS and BISHOPS , some bearing crosiers, some the pillars , MONKS and FRIARS , singing their procession. Then the POPE and RAYMOND , King of Hungary with BRUNO led in chains . POPE :
Cast down our footstool. RAYMOND :
Saxon Bruno, stoop,
Whilst on thy back his Holiness ascends
Saint Peter's chair and state pontifical. BRUNO :
Proud Lucifer, that state belongs to me:
But thus I fall to Peter, not to thee. POPE :
To me and Peter shalt thou grovelling lie,
And crouch before the papal dignity.
Sounds trumpets then, for thus Saint Peter's heir
From Bruno's back ascends Saint Peter's chair.
A flourish while he ascends .
Thus, as the gods creep on with feet of wool
Long ere with iron hands they punish men,
So shall our sleeping vengeance now arise,
And smite with death thy hated enterprise.
Lord cardinals of France and Padua,
Go forthwith to our holy consistory,
And read amongst the statutes decretal,
What by the holy council held at Trent
The sacred synod hath decreed for him
That doth assume the papal government,
Without election and a true consent.
Away, and bring us word with speed! FIRST CARDINAL :
We go, my lord.
Exeunt CARDINALS . POPE :
Lord Raymond. FAUSTUS :
Go, haste thee, gentle Mephostophilis,
Follow the cardinals to the consistory,
And as they turn their superstitious books,
Strike them with sloth and drowsy idleness,
And make them sleep so sound that in their shapes
Thyself and I may parly with this Pope,
This proud confronter of the Emperor,
And in despite of all his holiness
Restore this Bruno to his liberty
And bear him to the states of Germany. MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
Faustus, I go. FAUSTUS :
Dispatch it soon,
The Pope shall curse that Faustus came to Rome.
Exeunt FAUSTUS and MEPHOSTOPHILIS . BRUNO :
Pope Adrian, let me have some right of law:
I was elected by the Emperor. POPE :
We will depose the Emperor for that deed,
And curse the people that submit to him.
Both he and thou shalt stand excommunicate,
And interdict from Church's privilege
And all society of holy men.
He grows too proud in his authority,
Lifting his lofty head above the clouds
And like a steeple overpeers the Church.
But we'll pull down his haughty insolence,
And, as Pope Alexander, our progenitor,
Stood on the neck of German Frederick,
Adding this golden sentence to our praise,
That Peter's heirs should tread on emperors
And walk upon the dreadful adder's back,
Treading the lion and the dragon down,
And fearless spurn the killing basilisk,
So will we quell that haughty schismatic,
And by authority apostolical
Depose him from his regal government. BRUNO :
Pope Julius swore to princely Sigismond
For him and the succeeding popes of Rome,
To hold the emperors their lawful lords. POPE :
Pope Julius did abuse the Church's rites,
And therefore none of his decrees can stand.
Is not all power on earth bestowed on us?
And therefore though we would we cannot err.
Behold this silver belt, whereto is fixed
Seven golden seals fast sealed with seven seals,
In token of our seven-fold power from heaven,
To bind or loose, lock fast, condemn or judge,
Resign or seal, or what so pleaseth us.
Then he and thou, and all the world, shall stoop,
Or be assured of our dreadful curse,
To light as heavy as the pains of hell.
Enter FAUSTUS and MEPHOSTOPHILIS , like the cardinals . MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
Now tell me, Faustus, are we not fitted well? FAUSTUS :
Yes, Mephostophilis, and two such cardinals
Ne'er served a holy Pope as we shall do.
But whilst they sleep within the consistory,
Let us salute his reverend fatherhood. RAYMOND :
Behold, my lord, the cardinals are returned. 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? FAUSTUS :
Most sacred patron of the Church of Rome,
By full consent of all the 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 Saint Peter's chair,
The statutes decretal have thus decreed:
He shall be straight condemned of heresy
And on a pile of fagots burnt to death. POPE :
It is enough. Here, take him to your charge,
And bear him straight to Ponto Angelo,
And in the strongest tower enclose him fast.
Tomorrow, 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. MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
So, so, was never devil thus blessed before. FAUSTUS :
Away, sweet Mephostophilis, be gone:
The cardinals will be plagued for this anon.
Exeunt FAUSTUS and MEPHOSTOPHILIS . POPE :
Go presently, and bring a banquet forth
That we may solemnise Saint Peter's feast,
And with Lord Raymond, King of Hungary,
Drink to our late and happy victory.
Exeunt .

SCENE THREE

A sennet while the banquet is brought in, and then enter FAUSTUS and MEPHOSTOPHILIS in their own shapes . MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
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 woeful Emperor. FAUSTUS :
The Pope will curse them for their sloth today,
That slept both Bruno and his crown away.
But now, that Faustus may delight his mind,
And by their folly make some merriment,
Sweet Mephostophilis, so charm me here,
That I may walk invisible to all,
And do what e'er I please unseen of any. MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
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' forked hair,
Pluto's blue fire and Hecate'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. FAUSTUS :
Thanks, Mephostophilis. Now, friars, take heed
Lest Faustus make your shaven crowns to bleed. MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
Faustus, no more. See where the cardinals come.
Enter the POPE and all the LORDS . 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. FIRST CARDINAL :
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
Tomorrow 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 cursed Emperor
Were by the holy Council both condemned
For loathed lollards and base schismatics.
Then wherefore would you have me view that book? FIRST CARDINAL :
Your Grace mistakes. You gave us no such charge. RAYMOND :
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 CARDINALS :
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. FAUSTUS :
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. BISHOP :
I thank your Holiness. FAUSTUS :
Fall to, and the devil choke you an you spare. POPE :
Who's that spoke? Friars, look about. FRIARS :
Here's nobody, if it like your Holiness. POPE :
Lord Raymond, pray fall to. I am beholding
To the Bishop of Milan for this so rare a present. FAUSTUS :
I thank you, sir.
Snatches it . 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. FAUSTUS :
I'll have that too.
Snatches it . POPE :
What lollards do attend our Holiness.
That we receive such great indignity? Fetch me some wine. FAUSTUS :
Ay, pray do, for Faustus is a-dry. POPE :
Lord Raymond, I drink unto your grace. FAUSTUS :
I pledge your grace.
Snatches the glass . 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. BISHOP :
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.
The POPE crosseth himself . FAUSTUS :
How now? Must every bit be spiced with a cross?
Nay then, take that.
FAUSTUS hits him a box of the ear . POPE :
Oh, I am slain! Help me, my lords.
Oh come, and help to bear my body hence.
Damned be this soul for ever for this deed!
Exeunt the POPE and his train . MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
Now, Faustus, what will you do now? For I can tell you, you'll be cursed with bell, book and candle. FAUSTUS :
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 . FIRST FRIAR :
Come, brethren, let's about our business with good devotion.
( sing ) Cursed be he that stole his Holiness' meat from the table. Maledicat dominus .
Cursed be he that took his Holiness a blow on the face. Maledicat dominus .
Cursed be he that struck 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 . Amen.
FAUSTUS and MEPHOSTOPHILIS beat the FRIARS , fling fire-works among them and exeunt .
Enter CHORUS . CHORUS :
When Faustus had with pleasure ta'en the view
Of rarest things and royal courts of kings,
He stayed his course and so returned home;
Where such as bear his absence but with grief,
I mean his friends and nearest companions,
Did gratulate his safety with kind words,
And in their conference of what befell,
Touching his journey through the world and air,
They put forth questions of astrology,
Which Faustus answered with such learned skill
As they admired and wondered at his wit.
Now is his fame spread forth in every land;
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,
I leave untold: your eyes shall see performed.

SCENE FOUR

Enter ROBIN the ostler with a book in his hand . ROBIN :
Oh this is admirable! Here I ha' stol'n one of Doctor 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 before me. And so by that means I shall see more than ere I felt or saw yet.
Enter RAFE calling ROBIN . RAFE :
Robin, prithee come away! There's a gentleman tarries to have his horse, and he would have his things rubbed and made clean. 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 dismembered, Rafe, keep out, for I am about a roaring piece of work. RAFE :
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 for her private study. She's born to bear with me, or else my art fails. RAFE :
Why, Robin, what book is that? ROBIN :
What book? Why, the most intolerable book for conjuring that ere was invented by any brimstone devil. RAFE :
Canst thou conjure with it? ROBIN :
I can do all these things easily with it. First, I can make thee drunk with ippocras at any tavern in Europe, for nothing. That's one of my conjuring works! RAFE :
Our master parson says that's nothing. ROBIN :
True, Rafe. And more, Rafe, if thou hast any mind to Nan Spit, our kitchen maid, then turn her and wind her to thy own use as often as thou wilt, and at midnight. RAFE :
Oh 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. ROBIN :
No more, sweet Rafe. 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 .
Re-enter ROBIN and RAFE with a silver goblet . ROBIN :
Come, Rafe, did I not tell thee we were for ever made by this Doctor Faustus' book? Ecce signum , here's a simple purchase for horse-keepers. Our horses shall eat no hay as long as this lasts.
Enter the VINTER . RAFE :
But, Robin, here comes the vintner. ROBIN :
Hush, I'll gull him supernaturally. Drawer, I hope all is paid. God be with you. Come, Rafe. VINTNER :
Soft, sir, a word with you. I must yet have a goblet paid from you ere you go. ROBIN :
I, a goblet? Rafe, I a goblet? I scorn you, and you are but a etc. I, a goblet? Search me. VINTNER :
I mean so, sir, with your favour. ROBIN :
How say you now? VINTNER :
I must say somewhat to your fellow ÔÇô you, sir. RAFE :
Me, sir? Me, sir? Search your fill. Now, sir, you may be ashamed to burden honest men with a matter of truth. VINTNER :
Well, t'one of you hath this goblet about you. ROBIN :
You lie, drawer. 'Tis afore me! Sirrah, you! I'll teach ye to impeach honest men. Stand by, I'll scour you for a goblet. Stand aside, you were best. I charge you in the name of Belzebub. Look to the goblet, Rafe. VINTNER :
What mean you, sirrah? ROBIN :
I'll tell you what I mean. ( He reads ) Sanctobolorum Peripbrasticon . Nay, I'll tickle you, vintner ÔÇô look to the goblet, Rafe. Polypragmos Belseborams framanto pacostiphos tostu Mephostophilis, Etc.
Enter MEPHOSTOPHILIS , who sets squibs at their backs. They run about . VINTNER :
O nomine Domine , what mean'st thou, Robin? Thou hast no goblet. RAFE :
Peccatum peccatorum , here's thy goblet, good vintner. ROBIN :
Misericordia pro nobis , what shall I do? Good devil, forgive me now and I'll never rob thy library more.
Enter to them MEPHOSTOPHILIS . MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
Vainish villains! Th'one like an ape, another like a bear, the third an ass, for doing this enterprise.
Monarch of hell, under whose black survey
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. ROBIN :
How, from Constantinople? You have had a great journey. Will you take six pence in your purse to pay for your supper, and be gone? MEPHOSTOPHILIS :
Well, villains, for your presumption I transform thee into an ape and thee into a dog, and so be gone. Exit . ROBIN :
How, into an ape? That's brave! I'll have fine sport with the boys. I'll get nuts and apples enow. RAFE :
And I must be a dog! ROBIN :
I'faith thy head will never be out of the potage pot.
Exeunt .