Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships,
And burnt the topless towers of Ilium?
. . .
O, thou art fairer than the evening air
Clad in the beauty of a thousand stars;
Brighter art thou than flaming Jupiter
When he appear'd to hapless Semele;
More lovely than the monarch of the sky
In wanton Arethusa's azur'd arms;
And none but thou shalt be my paramour.

In "Doctor Faustus," Christopher Marlowe uses this passage to highlight Faustus's tragic obsession with worldly beauty and power. The famous line "Was this the face that launch'd a thousand ships" refers to Helen of Troy, a figure synonymous with irresistible allure and the catastrophic consequences it can incite. Faustus's admiration of Helen encapsulates his desire for the ultimate in beauty and pleasure, which parallels his pact with the devil. His comparison of Helen to celestial wonders such as "the evening air" and "flaming Jupiter" emphasizes her divine beauty and the extent of Faustus's infatuation. This moment underscores Faustus's doomed pursuit of temporal fulfillment, illustrating his failure to seek redemption. Instead of repentance, Faustus chooses ephemeral delight, reinforcing the play's themes of ambition, desire, and the human propensity for self-destruction.