The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus - Christopher Marlowe (affordable ebook reader .txt) 📗

epub:type="z3998:persona">Faustus What art thou⁠—the third? Wrath I am Wrath. I had neither father nor mother: I leapt out of a lion’s mouth when I was scarce half an hour old; and ever since I have run up and down the world with this case39 of rapiers, wounding myself when I had nobody to fight withal. I was born in hell; and look to it, for some of you shall be my father. Faustus What art thou⁠—the fourth? Envy I am Envy, begotten of a chimney sweeper and an oyster-wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books were burnt. I am lean with seeing others eat. O that there would come a famine through all the world, that all might die, and I live alone! then thou should’st see how fat I would be. But must thou sit and I stand! Come down, with a vengeance! Faustus Away, envious rascal! What art thou⁠—the fifth? Gluttony Who I, sir? I am Gluttony. My parents are all dead, and the devil a penny they have left me, but a bare pension, and that is thirty meals a day and ten bevers,40⁠—a small trifle to suffice nature. O, I come of a royal parentage! my grandfather was a Gammon of Bacon, my grandmother a Hogshead of Claret-wine; my godfathers were these, Peter Pickle-herring and Martin Martlemas-beef;41 O, but my godmother, she was a jolly gentlewoman, and well-beloved in every good town and city; her name was Mistress Margery March-beer.42 Now, Faustus, thou hast heard all my progeny, wilt thou bid me to supper? Faustus No, I’ll see thee hanged: thou wilt eat up all my victuals. Gluttony Then the Devil choke thee! Faustus Choke thyself, glutton! What art thou⁠—the sixth? Sloth I am Sloth. I was begotten on a sunny bank, where I have lain ever since; and you have done me great injury to bring me from thence: let me be carried thither again by Gluttony and Lechery. I’ll not speak another word for a king’s ransom. Faustus What are you, Mistress Minx, the seventh and last? Lechery Who I, sir? I am one that loves an inch of raw mutton better than an ell of fried stock-fish; and the first letter of my name begins with L.43 Lucifer Away to hell, to hell! Now, Faustus, how dost thou like this? Exeunt the Sins. Faustus O, this feeds my soul! Lucifer Tut, Faustus, in hell is all manner of delight. Faustus O might I see hell, and return again, How happy were I then! Lucifer

Thou shalt; I will send for thee at midnight.
In meantime take this book; peruse it throughly,
And thou shalt turn thyself into what shape thou wilt.

Faustus Great thanks, mighty Lucifer! This will I keep as chary as my life. Lucifer Farewell, Faustus, and think on the Devil. Faustus Farewell, great Lucifer. Exeunt Lucifer and Belzebub. Come, Mephistopheles. Exeunt. Scene VII Enter Chorus. Chorus

Learned Faustus,
To know the secrets of astronomy,
Graven in the book of Jove’s high firmament,
Did mount himself to scale Olympus’ top,
Being seated in a chariot burning bright,
Drawn by the strength of yoky dragons’ necks.
He now is gone to prove cosmography,
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,
That to this day is highly solemnised.44

Exit. Enter Faustus and Mephistopheles.45 Faustus

Having now, my good Mephistopheles,
Passed with delight the stately town of Trier,46
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 Maine 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,
Quarter the town in four equivalents:
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;47
From thence to Venice, Padua, and the rest,
In one48 of which a sumptuous temple stands,
That threats the stars with her aspiring top.49
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?

Mephistopheles Faustus, I have; and because we will not be unprovided, have taken up his Holiness’ privy-chamber for our use. Faustus I hope his Holiness will bid us welcome. Mephistopheles

Tut, ’tis no matter, man, we’ll be bold with his good cheer.
And now, my Faustus, that thou may’st perceive
What Rome containeth to delight thee with,
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 Ponte Angelo
Erected is a castle passing strong,
Within whose walls such store of ordnance are,
And double50 cannons framed of carved brass,
As match the days within one complete year;
Besides the gates and high pyramides,51
Which Julius Caesar brought from Africa.

Faustus

Now by the kingdoms of infernal rule,
Of Styx, of 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.

Mephistopheles

Nay, Faustus, stay; I know you’d fain see the Pope,
And take some part of holy Peter’s feast,
Where thou shalt see a troop of baldpate friars,
Whose summum bonum is in belly-cheer.

Faustus

Well, I’m content to compass then some sport,
And by their folly make us merriment.
Then charm me, Mephistopheles, that I
May be invisible, to do what I please
Unseen of any whilst I stay in Rome.

Mephistopheles charms him. Mephistopheles

So, Faustus; now
Do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discerned.

Sound a sonnet.52 Enter the Pope and the Cardinal of Lorrain to the banquet, with