Dr. Faustus (newer edition) | Page 7

pieces.
CLOWN. Nay, sir, you may save<39> yourself a labour, for they are as familiar with me as if they paid for their meat and drink, I can tell you.
WAGNER. Well, sirrah, leave your jesting, and take these guilders. [Gives money.]
CLOWN. Yes, marry, sir; and I thank you too.
WAGNER. So, now thou art to be at an hour's warning, whensoever and wheresoever the devil shall fetch thee.
CLOWN. Here, take your guilders again;<40> I'll none of 'em.
WAGNER. Not I; thou art pressed: prepare thyself, or<41> I will presently raise up two devils to carry thee away.--Banio! Belcher!
CLOWN. Belcher! an Belcher come here, I'll belch him: I am not afraid of a devil.
Enter two DEVILS.
WAGNER. How now, sir! will you serve me now?
CLOWN. Ay, good Wagner; take away the devil[s], then.
WAGNER. Spirits, away! [Exeunt DEVILS.] Now, sirrah, follow me.
CLOWN. I will, sir: but hark you, master; will you teach me this conjuring occupation?
WAGNER. Ay, sirrah, I'll teach thee to turn thyself to a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or a rat, or any thing.
CLOWN. A dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or a rat! O, brave, Wagner!
WAGNER. Villain, call me Master Wagner, and see that you walk attentively, and let your right eye be always diametrally fixed upon my left heel, that thou mayst quasi vestigiis nostris<42> insistere.
CLOWN. Well, sir, I warrant you. [Exeunt.]
FAUSTUS discovered in his study.
FAUSTUS. Now, Faustus, Must thou needs be damn'd, canst thou not be sav'd. What boots it, then, to think on God or heaven? Away with such vain fancies, and despair; Despair in God, and trust in Belzebub: Now, go not backward,<43> Faustus; be resolute: Why<44> waver'st thou? O, something soundeth in mine ear, "Abjure this magic, turn to God again!" Why, he loves thee not; The god thou serv'st is thine own appetite, Wherein is fix'd the love of Belzebub: To him I'll build an altar and a church, And offer lukewarm blood of new-born babes.
Enter GOOD ANGEL and EVIL ANGEL.
EVIL ANGEL. Go forward, Faustus, in that famous<45> art.
GOOD ANGEL. Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art.
FAUSTUS. Contrition, prayer, repentance--what of<46> these?
GOOD ANGEL. O, they are means to bring thee unto heaven!
EVIL ANGEL. Rather illusions, fruits of lunacy, That make men<47> foolish that do use them most.
GOOD ANGEL. Sweet Faustus, think of heaven and heavenly things.
EVIL ANGEL. No, Faustus; think of honour and of wealth. [Exeunt ANGELS.]
FAUSTUS. Wealth! Why, the signiory of Embden shall be mine. When Mephistophilis shall stand by me, What power can hurt me? Faustus, thou art safe: Cast no more doubts.--Mephistophilis, come, And bring glad tidings from great Lucifer;-- Is't not midnight?--come Mephistophilis, And bring glad tidings from great Lucifer;-- Is't not midnight?--come Mephistophilis, Veni, veni, Mephistophile!<48>
Enter MEPHISTOPHILIS.
Now tell me what saith Lucifer, thy lord?
MEPHIST. That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives, So he will buy my service with his soul.
FAUSTUS. Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee.
MEPHIST. But now thou must bequeath it solemnly, And write a deed of gift with thine own blood; For that security craves Lucifer. If thou deny it, I must back to hell.
FAUSTUS. Stay, Mephistophilis, and tell me, what good will my soul do thy lord?
MEPHIST. Enlarge his kingdom.
FAUSTUS. Is that the reason why he tempts us thus?
MEPHIST. Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.
FAUSTUS. Why, have you any pain that torture others?
MEPHIST. As great as have the human souls of men. But, tell 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, Mephistophilis, I'll give it thee.<49>
MEPHIST. Then, Faustus, stab thine<50> arm courageously, And bind thy soul, that at some certain day Great Lucifer may claim it as his own; And<51> then be thou as great as Lucifer.
FAUSTUS. [Stabbing his arm] Lo, Mephistophilis, for love of thee, Faustus hath cut his arm, and with his proper blood Assures his soul to be great Lucifer's, Chief lord and regent of perpetual night! View here this blood that trickles from mine arm, And let it be propitious for my<52> wish.
MEPHIST. But, Faustus, Write it in manner of a deed of gift.
FAUSTUS. [Writing] Ay, so I do. But, Mephistophilis, My blood congeals, and I can write no more.
MEPHIST. I'll fetch thee fire to dissolve it straight. [Exit.]
FAUSTUS. What might the staying of my blood portend? Is it<53> unwilling I should write this bill? Why streams it not, that I may write afresh? FAUSTUS GIVES TO THEE HIS SOUL: O, there it stay'd! Why shouldst thou not? is not thy soul thine own? Then write again, FAUSTUS GIVES TO THEE HIS SOUL.<54>
Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with the chafer of fire.
MEPHIST. See, Faustus, here is fire; set it on.
FAUSTUS. So, now the blood begins to clear again; Now will I make an<55> end immediately. [Writes.]
MEPHIST. What will not I do to