The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus

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. Faustus

Ay, Mephistopheles, I give it thee.

Mephistopheles

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.

Faustus

Stabbing his arm. Lo, Mephistopheles, 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.

Mephistopheles

But, Faustus, thou must
Write it in manner of a deed of gift.

Faustus

Ay, so I will. Writes. But, Mephistopheles,
My blood congeals, and I can write no more.

Mephistopheles

I’ll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight.

Exit. Faustus

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 shine own?
Then write again, Faustus gives to thee his soul.

Re-enter Mephistopheles with a chafer of coals. Mephistopheles

Here’s fire. Come, Faustus, set it on.31

Faustus

So, now the blood begins to clear again;
Now will I make an end immediately. Writes.

Mephistopheles

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

Faustus

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.

Mephistopheles

I’ll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind.

Exit. Re-enter Mephistopheles with Devils, who give crowns and rich apparel to Faustus, dance, and then depart. Faustus

Speak, Mephistopheles, what means this show?

Mephistopheles

Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind withal,
And to show thee what magic can perform.

Faustus

But may I raise up spirits when I please?

Mephistopheles

Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these.

Faustus

Then there’s enough for a thousand souls.
Here, Mephistopheles, receive this scroll,
A deed of gift of body and of soul:
But yet conditionally that thou perform
All articles prescribed between us both.

Mephistopheles

Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer
To effect all promises between us made!

Faustus Then hear me read them. Reads. On these conditions following. First, that Faustus may be a spirit in form and substance. Secondly, that Mephistopheles shall be his servant, and at his command. Thirdly, shall do for him and bring him whatsoever he desires.32 Fourthly, that he shall be in his chamber or house invisible. Lastly, that he shall appear to the said John Faustus, at all times, in what form or shape soever he please. I, John Faustus, of Wertenberg, Doctor, by these presents do give both body and soul to Lucifer, Prince of the East, and his minister, Mephistopheles: 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. Mephistopheles

Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?

Faustus

Ay, take it, and the Devil give thee good on’t!

Mephistopheles

Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt.

Faustus

First will I question with thee about hell.
Tell me, where is the place that men call hell?

Mephistopheles

Under the Heavens.

Faustus

Ay, but whereabout?

Mephistopheles

Within the bowels of these elements,
Where we are tortured and remain forever:
Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscribed
In one self place; for where we are is hell,
And where hell is, there must we ever be:
And, to conclude, when all the world dissolves,
And every creature shall be purified,
All places shall be hell that are not Heaven.

Faustus

Come, I think hell’s a fable.

Mephistopheles

Ay, think so still, till experience change thy mind.

Faustus

Why, think’st thou, then that Faustus shall be damned?

Mephistopheles

Ay, of necessity, for here’s the scroll
Wherein thou hast given thy soul to Lucifer.

Faustus

Ay, and body too; but what of that?
Think’st thou that Faustus is so fond33 to imagine
That, after this life, there is any pain?
Tush; these are trifles, and mere old wives’ tales.

Mephistopheles

But, Faustus, I am an instance to prove the contrary,
For I am damned, and am now in hell.

Faustus

How! now in hell?
Nay, an this be hell, I’ll willingly be damned here;
What? walking, disputing, etc.?
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.

Mephistopheles

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

Faustus

Nay, sweet Mephistopheles, fetch me one, for I will have one.

Mephistopheles

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

Exit. Re-enter Mephistopheles with a Devil dressed like a woman, with fireworks. Mephistopheles

Tell me, Faustus, how dost thou like thy wife?

Faustus A plague on her for a hot whore! Mephistopheles

Tut, Faustus,
Marriage is but a ceremonial toy;
If thou lovest me, think no more of it.
I’ll cull thee out the fairest courtesans,
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,34 or as beautiful
As was bright Lucifer before his fall.
Hold, take this book, peruse it thoroughly: Gives book.
The iterating35 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,
And men in armour shall appear to thee,
Ready to execute what thou desir’st.

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

Here they are, in this book. Turns to them.

Faustus Now would I have a book where I might see all characters and planets