Classic Poem

SCENE 12

[ Enter FAUSTUS ( and MEPHASTOPHILIS ), with two or three SCHOLARS .] 1 SCHOLAR
Master Doctor Faustus, since our conference about fair ladies, which was the beautifulest 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 favor as to let us see that peerless dame of Greece, whom all the world admires for majesty, we should think ourselves much beholding unto you. FAUSTUS
Gentlemen, for that I know your friendship is unfeigned,
And Faustus' custom is not to deny
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 crossed the seas with her
And brought the spoils to rich Dardania.┬░
Be silent then, for danger is in words.
[ Music sounds, and HELEN passeth over the stage .] 2 SCHOLAR
Too simple is my wit to tell her praise,
Whom all the world admires for majesty. 3 SCHOLAR
No marvel though the angry Greeks pursued
With ten years' war the rape of such a queen,
Whose heavenly beauty passeth all compare. 1 SCHOLAR
Since we have seen the pride of Nature's works
And only paragon of excellence,
Let us depart; and for this glorious deed
Happy and blest be Faustus evermore. FAUSTUS
Gentlemen farewell; the same I wish to you.
[ Exeunt SCHOLARS .]
[ Enter an OLD MAN .] 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.
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,
As no commiseration may expel
But mercy, Faustus, of thy savior sweet,
Whose blood alone must wash away thy guilt. FAUSTUS
Where art thou, Faustus? Wretch, what hast thou done!
Damned art thou, Faustus, damned; despair and die!
Hell calls for right, and with a roaring voice
Says, "Faustus, come: thine hour is come!"
[ MEPHASTOPHILIS gives him a dagger .]
And Faustus will come to do thee right. OLD MAN
Ah stay, good Faustus, stay thy desperate steps!
I see an angel hovers o'er thy head
And with a vial full of precious grace
Offers to pour the same into thy soul!
Then call for mercy, and avoid despair. FAUSTUS
Ah my sweet friend, I feel thy words
To comfort my distressed soul;
Leave me awhile to ponder on my sins. OLD MAN
I go, sweet Faustus; but with heavy cheer,┬░
Fearing the ruin of thy hopeless soul. FAUSTUS
Accursed Faustus, where is mercy now?
I do repent, and yet I do despair:
Hell strives with grace for conquest in my breast!
What shall I do to shun the snares of death? MEPHASTOPHILIS
Thou traitor, Faustus: I arrest thy soul
For disobedience to my sovereign lord.
Revolt, or I'll in piecemeal tear thy flesh. FAUSTUS
Sweet Mephastophilis, entreat thy lord
To pardon my unjust presumption;
And with my blood again I will confirm
My former vow I made to Lucifer. MEPHASTOPHILIS
Do it then quickly, with unfeigned heart,
Lest greater danger do attend thy drift.┬░ FAUSTUS
Torment, sweet friend, that base and crooked age
That durst dissuade me from thy Lucifer,
With greatest torments that our hell affords. MEPHASTOPHILIS
His faith is great, I cannot touch his soul,
But what I may afflict his body with
I will attempt — which is but little worth. FAUSTUS
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
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. MEPHASTOPHILIS
Faustus, this, or what else thou shalt desire,
Shall be performed in twinkling of an eye.
[ Enter HELEN .] FAUSTUS
Was this the face that launched a thousand ships,
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?┬░
Sweet Helen, make me immortal with a kiss:
Her lips sucks forth my soul, see where it flies!
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 sacked;
And I will combat with weak Menelaus,┬░
And wear thy colors on my plumed crest:
Yea, I will wound Achilles in the heel,
And then return to Helen for a kiss.
O thou art fairer than the evening air,
Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars,
Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter
When he appeared to hapless Semele;
More lovely than the monarch of the sky
In wanton Arethusa's azured arms;
And none but thou shalt be my paramour.
[ Exeunt ( FAUSTUS and HELEN ).] OLD MAN
Accursed Faustus, miserable man,
That from thy soul exclud'st the grace of heaven
And fliest the throne of His tribunal seat!
[ Enter the DEVILS .]
Satan begins to sift me with his pride,
As in this furnace God shall try my faith.
My faith, vile hell, shall triumph over thee!
Ambitious fiends, see how the heavens smiles
At your repulse, and laughs your state┬░ to scorn.
Hence hell, for hence I fly unto my God.[ Exeunt .]