Dr. Faustus (newer edition) | Page 8

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 obtain his soul? [Aside.]
FAUSTUS. Consummatum est; this bill is ended, And Faustus hath
bequeath'd his soul to Lucifer. But what is this inscription on mine arm?
Homo, fuge: whither should<56> I fly? If unto God,<57> he'll throw
me down to hell. 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.
MEPHIST. I'll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind. [Aside, and
then exit.]
Enter DEVILS, giving crowns and rich apparel to FAUSTUS. They
dance, and then depart.
Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS.
FAUSTUS. What means this show? speak, Mephistophilis.
MEPHIST. Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind, And let thee see
what magic can perform.

FAUSTUS. But may I raise such spirits when I please?
MEPHIST. Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these.
FAUSTUS. Then, Mephistophilis, receive this scroll,<58> A deed of
gift of body and of soul: But yet conditionally that thou perform All
covenants and articles between us both!
MEPHIST. Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer To effect all promises
between us both!
FAUSTUS. Then hear me read it, Mephistophilis. [Reads.] ON THESE
CONDITIONS FOLLOWING. FIRST, THAT FAUSTUS MAY BE A
SPIRIT IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE. SECONDLY, THAT
MEPHISTOPHILIS SHALL BE HIS SERVANT, AND BE BY HIM
COMMANDED. THIRDLY, THAT MEPHISTOPHILIS SHALL DO
FOR HIM, AND BRING HIM WHATSOEVER HE DESIRES.<59>
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 SHAPE AND FORM
SOEVER HE PLEASE. I, JOHN FAUSTUS, OF WITTENBERG,
DOCTOR, BY THESE PRESENTS, DO GIVE BOTH BODY AND
SOUL TO LUCIFER PRINCE OF THE EAST, AND HIS MINISTER
MEPHISTOPHILIS; AND FURTHERMORE GRANT UNTO THEM,
THAT, FOUR-AND- TWENTY YEARS BEING EXPIRED, AND
THESE ARTICLES ABOVE-WRITTEN BEING INVIOLATE, FULL
POWER TO FETCH OR CARRY THE SAID JOHN FAUSTUS,
BODY AND SOUL, FLESH AND<60> BLOOD, INTO THEIR
HABITATION WHERESOEVER. BY ME, JOHN FAUSTUS.
MEPHIST. Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?
FAUSTUS. Ay, take it, and the devil give thee good of it!
MEPHIST. So, now, Faustus, ask me what thou wilt.
FAUSTUS. First I will question with<61> thee about hell. Tell me,
where is the<62> place that men call hell?
MEPHIST. Under the heavens.
FAUSTUS. Ay, so are all things else; but whereabouts?
MEPHIST. Within the bowels of these elements, Where we are tortur'd
and remain for ever: Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscrib'd In one
self-place; but where we are is hell, And where hell is, there must we
ever be: And, to be short, when all the world dissolves, And every
creature shall be purified, All places shall be hell that are<63> not

heaven.
FAUSTUS. I think hell's a fable.<64>
MEPHIST. Ay, think so still, till experience change thy mind.
FAUSTUS. Why, dost thou think that Faustus shall be damn'd?
MEPHIST. Ay, of necessity, for here's the scroll In which thou hast
given thy soul to Lucifer.
FAUSTUS. Ay, and body too; and what of that? Think'st thou that
Faustus is so fond to imagine That, after this life, there is any pain? No,
these are trifles and mere old wives' tales.
MEPHIST. But I am an instance to prove the contrary, For I tell thee I
am damn'd and now in hell.
FAUSTUS. Nay, an this be hell, I'll willingly be damn'd: What!
sleeping, eating, walking, and disputing! But, leaving this, let me have
a wife, The fairest maid in Germany; For I