Doctor Faustus | Scene V

Scene V

FAUSTUS discovered in his Study.

FAUSTUS.
Now, Faustus, must
Thou needs be damned, and canst thou not be saved:
What boots it then to think of God or heaven?
Away with such vain fancies, and despair:
Despair in God, and trust in Belzebub;(5)
Now go not backward: no, Faustus, be resolute:
Why waver'st thou? O, something soundeth in mine
ears
“Abjure this magic, turn to God again!”
Ay, and Faustus will turn to God again.(10)
To God?——He loves thee not—
The god thou serv'st is thine own appetite,
Wherein is fixed the love of Belzebub;
To him I'll build an altar and a church,
And offer lukewarm blood of new-born babes.(15)

Enter Good Angel and Evil Angel.

GOOD ANGEL.
Sweet Faustus, leave that execrable art.
FAUSTUS.
Contrition, prayer, repentance! What of them?
GOOD ANGEL.
O, they are means to bring thee unto
Heaven!
EVIL ANGEL.
Rather illusions—fruits of lunacy,(20)
That makes men foolish that do trust 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.
Of wealth!(25)
Why, the signiory of Embden shall be mine.
When Mephistophilis shall stand by me,
What god can hurt thee? Faustus, thou art safe:
Cast no more doubts. Come, Mephistophilis,
And bring glad tidings from great Lucifer; —(30)
Is't not midnight? Come, Mephistophilis;
Veni, veni, Mephistophile!

Enter MEPHISTOPHILIS.

Now tell me, what says Lucifer thy lord?
MEPHIST.
That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives,
So he will buy my service with his soul.(35)
FAUSTUS.
Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee.
MEPHIST.
But, Faustus, thou must bequeath it solemnly,
And write a deed of gift with thine own blood,
For that security craves great Lucifer.
If thou deny it, I will back to hell.(40)
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. (45)
FAUSTUS.
Why, have you any pain that tortures 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.(50)
FAUSTUS.
Ay, Mephistophilis, I give it thee.
MEPHIST.
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.(55)
FAUSTUS.
[Stabbing his arm.] Lo, Mephistophilis, 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!(60)
View here the blood that trickles from mine arm,
And let it be propitious for my wish.
MEPHIST.
But, Faustus, thou must
Write it in manner of a deed of gift.
FAUSTUS.
Ay, so I will. [Writes.] But, Mephistophilis,(65)
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 unwilling I should write this bill?
Why streams it not, that I may write afresh?(70)
Faustus gives to thee his soul. Ah, there it stayed!
Why should'st thou not? Is not thy soul thine own?
Then write again, Faustus gives to thee his soul.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with a chafer of coals.

MEPHIST.
Here's fire. Come, Faustus, set it on.
FAUSTUS.
So now the blood begins to clear again;(75)
Now will I make an end immediately.

[Writes.]

MEPHIST.
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?(80)
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.(85)
MEPHIST.
I'll fetch him somewhat to delight his mind.

[Exit.]

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with Devils, who give crowns and rich apparel to FAUSTUS, dance, and depart.

FAUSTUS.
Speak, Mephistophilis, what means this show?
MEPHIST.
Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind
withal,
And to show thee what magic can perform.(90)
FAUSTUS.
But may I raise up spirits when I please?
MEPHIST.
Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these.
FAUSTUS.
Then there's enough for a thousand souls.
Here, Mephistophilis, receive this scroll,
A deed of gift of body and of soul:(95)
But yet conditionally that thou perform
All articles prescribed between us both.
MEPHIST.
Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer
To effect all promises between us made.
FAUSTUS.
Then hear me read them: On these conditions(100)
following. First, that Faustus may be a spirit in form and
substance. Secondly, that Mephistophilis shall be his ser-
vant, and at his command. Thirdly, that Mephistophilis shall
do for him and bring him whatsoever he desires. Fourthly,
that he shall be in his chamber or house invisible. Lastly, (105)
that he shall appear to the said John Faustus, at all times,
and in what form or shape soever he pleases. I, John Faustus,
of Wertenberg, 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 (110)
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.
MEPHIST.
Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?(115)
FAUSTUS.
Ay, take it, and the Devil give thee good on't!
MEPHIST.
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?
MEPHIST.
Under the heavens.(120)
FAUSTUS.
Ay, but whereabout?
MEPHIST.
Within the bowels of these elements,
Where we are tortured and remain for ever;
Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscribed
In one self place; for where we are is hell,(125)
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 is not Heaven.
  • are the advantages
  • silly or foolish
  • detestable
  • sincere regret for a wrongdoing
  • regret for past wrongdoing
  • respected men
  • an important commercial town in Elizabethan times
  • Veni, veni, Mephistophile—come, come, Mephistopheles
  • to give or hand down, especially in a will
  • Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris—It is comforting to the wretched to have had company in their pain (i.e., “misery loves company”)
  • continuing forever; unending
  • favorable
  • thickens into a mass or clot
  • Consummatum est—it is finished
  • a marking, often in the form of writing
  • Homo, fuge—Flee, O man!
  • depending on certain terms
  • established rules or guidelines
  • unbroken; intact
  • a place of residence
  • limited or defined
  • cleansed of sin; made pure
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