3.1
Enter Faustus and Mephistophilis.
Faustus
Having now my good Mephistophilis,
Passed with delight the stately town of Trier,
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, costing the realm of France,
We saw the river Main, 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 paled with finest brick.
There saw we learned Maro's golden tomb,
The way he cut an English mile in length,
Through a rock of stone in one night's space.
From thence to Venice, Padua, and the east,
In one of which a sumptuous temple stands,
That threats the stars with her aspiring top,
Whose frame is paved with sundry coloured stones,
And roofed aloft with curious work in gold.
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?
Mephistophilis
I have my Faustus, and for proof thereof,
This is the goodly palace of the Pope,
And cause we are no common guests,
I choose his privy chamber for our use.
Faustus
I hope his Holiness will bid us welcome.
Mephistophilis
All's one, for we'll be bold with his venison.
But now, my Faustus, that thou may'st perceive,
What Rome contains for to delight thine eyes.
Know that this city stands upon seven hills,
That underprop the ground-work of the same.
Just through the midst runs flowing Tiber's stream,
With winding banks that cut it in two parts;
Over the which two stately Bridges lean,
That make safe passage, to each part of Rome.
Upon the Bridge, called Ponto Angelo,
Erected is a castle passing strong,
Where thou shalt see such store of ordinance,
As that the double cannons forged of brass,
Do watch the number of the days contained,
Within the compass of one complete year.
Beside the gates, and high pyramids,
That 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
Mephistophilis
Nay stay, my Faustus; I know you'd see the Pope
And take some part of holy Peter's feast,
The which this day with high solemnity,
This day is held through Rome and Italy,
In honour of the Pope's triumphant victory.
Faustus
Sweet Mephistophilis, thou pleasest me.
Whilst I am here on earth, let me be cloyed
With all things that delight the heart of man.
My four and twenty years of liberty
I'll spend in pleasure and in dalliance,
That Faustus' name, whilst this bright frame doth stand,
May be admired through the furthest land.
Mephistophilis
'Tis well said, Faustus. Come, then, stand by me
And thou shalt see them come immediately.
Faustus
Nay, stay my gentle Mephistophilis,
And grant me my request, and then I go.
Thou know'st within the compass of eight days,
We viewed the face of heaven, of earth and hell.
So high our dragons soared into the air,
That looking down the earth appeared to me,
No bigger than my hand in quantity.
There did we view the kingdoms of the world,
And what might please mine eye, I there beheld.
Then in this show let me an actor be,
That this proud Pope may Faustus' cunning see.
Mephistophilis
Let it be so, my Faustus, but first stay,
And view their triumphs, as they pass this way.
And then devise what best contents thy mind,
By coming in thine art to cross the Pope,
Or dash the pride of this solemnity,
To make his monks and abbots stand like apes,
And point like antiques at his triple crown:
To beat the beads about the friars' pates,
Or clap huge horns, upon the cardinals' heads,
Or any villainy thou can'st devise,
And I'll perform it, Faustus. Hark, they come:
This day shall make thee be admired in Rome.
Enter the Cardinals and Bishops, some bearing crosiers, some
the pillars, Monks and Friars, singing their procession.
Then the Pope, and Raymond, King of Hunga-
ry, with Bruno led in chaines.
Pope.
Cast down our footstool.
Raymond
Saxon Bruno stoop,
Whilst on thy back his Holiness ascends
Saint Peter's chair and state pontifical.
Bruno
Proud Lucifer, that state belongs to me.
But thus I fall to Peter, not to thee.
Pope.
To me and Peter, shalt thou groveling lie,
And crouch before the papal dignity.
Sound trumpets then, for thus SaintPeter's heir,
From Bruno's back, ascends Saint Peter's chair.
A flourish while he ascends.
Thus, as the gods, creep on with feet of wool,
Long ere with iron hands they punish men,
So shall our sleeping vengeance now arise,
And smite with death thy hated enterprise.
Lord cardinals of France and Padua,
Go forthwith to our holy consistory,
And read amongst the statutes decretal,
What by the holy council held at Trent,
The sacred synod hath decreed for him,
That doth assume the papal government,
Without election, and a true consent.
Away, and bring us word with speed.
1 Cardinal
We go, my Lord. Exeunt Cardinals.
Pope.
Lord Raymond.
Faustus
Go, hast thee, gentle Mephistophilis,
Follow the cardinals to the consistory,
And as they turn their superstitious books,
strike them with sloth, and drowsy idleness,
And make them sleep so sound, that in their shapes,
Thyself and I , may parly with this Pope,
This proud confronter of the Emperor,
And in despite of all his Holiness
Restore this Bruno to his liberty,
And bear him to the states of Germany.
Mephistophilis
Faustus, I go.
Faustus
Dispatch it soon.
The Pope shall curse that Faustus came to Rome.
Exit Faustus and Mephistophilis.
Bruno.
Pope Adrian, let me have some right of law;
I was elected by the Emperor.
Pope.
We will depose the Emperor for that deed,
And curse the people that submit to him;
Both he and thou shalt stand excommunicate,
And interdict from churches privilege,
And all society of holy men.
He grows too proud in his authority,
Lifting his lofty head above the clouds,
And like a steeple overpeers the church.
But we'll pull down his haughty insolence,
And as Pope Alexander, our progenitor,
Trod on the neck of German Frederick,
Adding this golden sentence to our praise,
That Peter's heirs should tread on emperors,
And walk upon the dreadful adder's back,
Treading the lion, and the dragon down.
And fearless spurn the killing basilisk,
So will we quell that haughty schismatic,
And by authority apostolic
Depose him from his regal government.
Bruno
Pope Julius swore to princely Sigismond,
For him, and the succeeding Popes of Rome,
To hold the emperors their lawful lords.
Pope.
Pope Julius did abuse the Church's rites,
And therefore none of his decrees can stand.
Is not all power on earth bestowed on us?
And therefore though we would we cannot e'er.
Behold this silver belt whereto is fixed
Seven golden seales fast sealed with seven seals,
In token of our seven-fold power from heaven,
To bind or loose, lock fast, condemn, or judge,
Resign, or seale, or what so pleaseth us.
Then he and thou, and all the world shall stoop,
Or be assured of our dreadful curse,
To light as heavy as the pains of hell.
Enter Faustus and Mephistophilis, like the Cardinals.
Mephistophilis
Now tell me, Faustus, are we not fitted well?
Faustus
Yes, Mephistophilis, and two such cardinals
Ne'er served a holy Pope, as we shall do.
But whil'st they sleep within the consistory,
Let us salute his reverend Fatherhood.
Raymond
Behold, my Lord, the cardinals are returned.
Pope.
Welcome, grave Fathers, answer presently,
What have our holy council there decreed,
Concerning Bruno and the Emperor,
In quittance of their late conspiracy
Against our state, and papal dignity?
Faustus
Most sacred patron of the Church of Rome,
By full consent of all the synod
Of priests and prelates, it is thus decreed:
That Bruno, and the German Emperor
Be held as Lollords, and bold schismatics,
And proud disturbers of the Church's peace.
And if that Bruno by his own assent,
Without enforcement of the German peers,
Did seek to wear the triple diadem,
And by your death to climb Saint Peter's chair,
The statutes decretal have thus decreed:
He shall be straight condemned of heresy,
And on a pile of fagots burnt to death.
Pope.
It is enough. Here, take him to your charge,
And bear him straight to Ponto Angelo,
And in the strongest tower enclose him fast.
Tomorrow, sitting in our consistory,
With all our college of grave cardinals,
We will determine of his life or death.
Here, take his triple crown along with you,
And leave it in the Church's treasury.
Make haste again, my good lord cardinals,
And take our blessing apostolic.
Mephistophilis
So, so, was never devil thus blessed before.
Faustus
Away, sweet Mephistophilis, be gone.
The cardinals will be plagued for this anon. Exit. Faustus and; Mephistophilis.
Pope.
Go presently, and bring a banquet forth,
That we may solemnize Saint Peter's feast,
And with Lord Raymond, King of Hungary,
Drink to our late and happy victory. Exeunt.
3.2
A sennet while the banquet is brought in, and then enter
Faustus and Mephistophilis in their own
shapes.
Mephistophilis
Now, Faustus, come prepare thyself for mirth;
The sleepy cardinals are hard at hand,
To censure Bruno, that is posted hence,
And on a proud paced steed, as swift as thought,
Flies o'er the Alps to fruitful Germany,
There to salute the woeful Emperor.
Faustus
The Pope will curse them for their sloth today.
That slept both Bruno and his crown away.
But now, that Faustus may delight his mind,
And by their folly make some merriment,
Sweet Mephistophilis, so charm me here,
That I may walk invisible to all,
And do what e'er I please, unseen of any.
Mephistophilis
Faustus, thou shalt. Then kneel down presently.
Whil'st on thy head I lay my hand,
And charm thee with this magic wand,
First wear this girdle, then appear
Invisible to all are here.
The planets seven, the gloomy air,
Hell and the Furies' forked hair,
Pluto's blue fire, and Hecat's tree,
With magic spells so compass thee,
That no eye may thy body see.
So , Faustus, now for all their holiness,
Do what thou wilt; thou shalt not be discerned.
Faustus
Thanks, Mephistophilis. Now, Friars, take heed,
Lest Faustus make your shaven crowns to bleed.
Mephistophilis
Faustus, no more. See where the cardinals come.
Enter Pope and all the Lords. Enter the Cardinals
with a book.
Pope.
Welcome, lord cardinals. Come sit down.
Lord Raymond, take your seat; Friars attend,
And see that all things be in readiness,
As best beseems this solemn festival.
1. Cardinal
First, may it please your sacred Holiness,
To view the sentence of the reverend synod,
Concerning Bruno and the Emperor.
Pope.
What needs this question? Did I not tell you,
Tomorrow we would sit i'th'consistory,
And there determine of his punishment?
You brought us word even now, it was decreed,
That Bruno and the cursed Emperor
Were by the holy council both condemned
For loathed Lollords, and base schismatics.
Then wherefore would you have me view that book?
1. Cardinal
Your Grace mistakes; you gave us no such charge.
Raymond
Deny it not; we all are witnesses
That Bruno here was late delivered you,
With his rich triple crown to be reserved,
And put into the Church's treasury.
Both. Cardinals
By holy Paul we saw them not.
Pope.
By Peter, you shall die,
Unless you bring them forth immediately.
Hale them to prison, lade their limbs with gyves.
False prelates, for this hateful treachery,
Cursed be your souls to hellish misery.
Faustus
So, they are safe. Now, Faustus, to the feast,
The Pope had never such a frolic guest.
Pope.
Lord Archbishop of Reams, sit down with us.
Bishop
I thank your Holiness.
Faustus
Fall to, the Devil choke you an you spare.
Pope.
Who's that spoke? Friars, look about.
Lord Raymond, pray fall to; I am beholding
to the Bishop of Milan, for this so rare a present.
Faustus
I thank you sir. Snatches it
Pope.
How now! Who snatched the meat from me?
Villains, why speak you not?
My good Lord Archbishop, here's a most dainty dish,
Was sent me from a cardinal in France.
Faustus
I'll have that too.
Pope.
What Lollards do attend our Holiness,
That we receive such great indignity? Fetch me some wine.
Faustus
Ay, pray do, for Faustus is a dry.
Pope.
Lord Raymond, I drink unto your grace.
Faustus
I pledge your grace.
Pope.
My wine gone too? Ye Lubbers look about
And find the man that doth this villainy,
Or by our sanctitude you all shall die.
I pray my lords have patience at this
Troublesome banquet.
Bishop.
Please it your holiness, I think it be some ghost
crept out of Purgatory, and now is come unto your Holi-
ness for his pardon.
Pope.
It may be so.
Go then command our priests to sing a dirge,
To lay the fury of this same troublesome ghost.
Faustus
How now? Must every bit be spiced with a cross?
Nay, then, take that.
Pope.
O, I am slain; help me my lords.
O, come and help to bear my body hence.
Damned be this soul forever, for this deed.
Exeunt the Pope and his train.
Me.
Now, Faustus, what will you do now, for I can tell you
you'll be cursed with bell, book, and candle?
Faustus
Bell, book, and candle: candle, book, and bell;
Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell.
Enter the Friars with bell, book, and candle,
for the dirge.
1 Friar
Come, brethren, let's about our business with
good devotion.
Cursed be he that stole his Holiness' meat from the table.
Maledicat Dominus.
Cursed be he that struck his Holiness a blow the face.
Maledicat Dominus.
Cursed be he that struck Friar Sandelo a blow on the pate.
Maledicat Dominus.
Cursed be he that disturbeth our holy dirge.
Maledicat Dominus.
Cursed be he that took away his Holiness' wine.
Maledicat Dominus.
Beat the Friars, fling fireworks among them, them,
and exeunt. Exeunt.
3.3
Enter Clown and Dick, with a cup.
Dick.
Sirrah Robin, we were best look that your devil
can answer the stealing of this same cup, for the vintner's
boy follows us at the hard heels.
Robin
'Tis no matter; let him come. If he follow us, I'll so
conjure him, as he was never conjured in his life, I warrant
him. Let me see the cup.
Enter Vintner.
Dick.
Here 'tis. Yonder he comes. Now Robin, now or
never, show thy cunning.
Vintner
O, are you here? I am glad I have found you; you
are a couple of fine companions. Pray where's the cup you
stole from the tavern?
Robin
How, how? We steal a cup? Take heed what you say;
we look not like cup-stealers I can tell you.
Vintner
Never deny't, for I know you have it, and I'll
search you.
Robin
Search me? Ay and spare not. Hold the cup Dick.
Come, come, search me, search me.
Vintner
Come on sirrah, let me search you now.
Dick.
Ay, ay, do, do; hold the cup Robin. Ifear not your
searching; we scorn to steal your cups I can tell you.
Vintner
Never outface me for the matter, for, sure the cup is is
between you two.
Robin
Nay, there you lie; 'tis beyond us both.
Vintner.
A plague take you; I thought 'twas your knavery
to take it away. Come, give it me again.
Robin
Ay, much. When, can you tell? Dick, make me a cir-
cle, and stand close at my back, and stir not for thy life. Vint-
ner, you shall have your cup anon; say nothing, Dick. O per
se o, demogorgon. Belcher and Mephistophilis.
Enter Mephistophilis.
Mephistophilis
You princely legions of infernal rule,
How am I vexed by these villains charms?
From Constantinople have they brought me now,
Only for pleasure of these damned slaves.
Robin
By lady sir, you have had a shroud journey of it;
Will it please you to take a shoulder of mutton to supper, and
a tester in your purse, and go back again?
Dick
Ay, I pray you heartily sir, for we called you but in
jest, I promise you.
Mephistophilis
To purge the rashness of this cursed deed,
First, be thou turned to this ugly shape,
For apish deeds transformed to an ape.
Robin
O brave, an ape? I pray sir, let me have the carry-
ing of him about to show some tricks.
Mephistophilis
And so thou shalt: be thou transformed to a dog, and
carry him upon thy back. Away, be gone.
Robin
A dog? That's excellent. Let the maids look well to
their porridge-pots, for I'll into the kitchen presently. Come,
Dick, come. Exeunt the two Clowns.
Mephistophilis
Now with the flames of ever-burning fire,
I'll wing myself and forth-with fly amain
Unto my Faustus to the great Turk's court. Exit.
