MEPHIST. Yes, Faustus, and most dearly lov'd of G.o.d.

FAUSTUS. How comes it, then, that he is prince of devils?

MEPHIST. O, by aspiring pride and insolence; For which G.o.d threw him from the face of heaven.

FAUSTUS. And what are you that live with Lucifer?

MEPHIST. Unhappy spirits that fell with Lucifer, Conspir'd against our G.o.d with Lucifer, And are for ever d.a.m.n'd with Lucifer.

FAUSTUS. Where are you d.a.m.n'd?

MEPHIST. In h.e.l.l.

FAUSTUS. How comes it, then, that thou art out of h.e.l.l?

MEPHIST. Why, this is h.e.l.l, nor am I out of it:[57]

Think'st thou that I, who saw the face of G.o.d, And tasted the eternal joys of heaven, Am not tormented with ten thousand h.e.l.ls, In being depriv'd of everlasting bliss?

O, Faustus, leave these frivolous demands, Which strike a terror to my fainting soul!

FAUSTUS. What, is great Mephistophilis so pa.s.sionate For being deprived of the joys of heaven?

Learn thou of Faustus manly fort.i.tude, And scorn those joys thou never shalt possess.

Go bear these[58] tidings to great Lucifer: Seeing Faustus hath incurr'd eternal death By desperate thoughts against Jove's[59] deity, Say, he surrenders up to him his soul, So he will spare him four and twenty[60] years, Letting him live in all voluptuousness; Having thee ever to attend on me, To give me whatsoever I shall ask, To tell me whatsoever I demand, To slay mine enemies, and aid my friends, And always be obedient to my will.

Go and return to mighty Lucifer, And meet me in my study at midnight, And then resolve[61] me of thy master's mind.

MEPHIST. I will, Faustus.

[Exit.]

FAUSTUS. Had I as many souls as there be stars, I'd give them all for Mephistophilis.

By him I'll be great emperor of the world, And make a bridge thorough[62] the moving air, To pa.s.s the ocean with a band of men; I'll join the hills that bind the Afric sh.o.r.e, And make that country[63] continent to Spain, And both contributory to my crown: The Emperor shall not live but by my leave, Nor any potentate of Germany.

Now that I have obtain'd what I desir'd,[64]

I'll live in speculation of this art, Till Mephistophilis return again.

[Exit.]

Enter WAGNER[65] and CLOWN.

WAGNER. Sirrah boy, come hither.

CLOWN. How, boy! swowns, boy! I hope you have seen many boys with such pickadevaunts[66] as I have: boy, quotha!

WAGNER. Tell me, sirrah, hast thou any comings in?

CLOWN. Ay, and goings out too; you may see else.

WAGNER. Alas, poor slave! see how poverty jesteth in his nakedness!

the villain is bare and out of service, and so hungry, that I know he would give his soul to the devil for a shoulder of mutton, though it were blood-raw.

CLOWN. How! my soul to the devil for a shoulder of mutton, though 'twere blood-raw! not so, good friend: by'r lady,[67] I had need have it well roasted, and good sauce to it, if I pay so dear.

WAGNER. Well, wilt thou serve me, and I'll make thee go like Qui mihi discipulus?[68]

CLOWN. How, in verse?

WAGNER. No, sirrah; in beaten silk and staves-acre.[69]

CLOWN. How, how, knaves-acre! ay, I thought that was all the land his father left him. Do you hear? I would be sorry to rob you of your living.

WAGNER. Sirrah, I say in staves-acre.

CLOWN. Oho, oho, staves-acre! why, then, belike, if I were your man, I should be full of vermin.[70]

WAGNER. So thou shalt, whether thou beest with me or no. But, sirrah, leave your jesting, and bind yourself presently unto me for seven years, or I'll turn all the lice about thee into familiars,[71] and they shall tear thee in pieces.

CLOWN. Do you hear, sir? you may save that labour; they are too familiar with me already: swowns, they are as bold with my flesh as if they had paid for their[72] meat and drink.

WAGNER. Well, do you hear, sirrah? hold, take these guilders.

[Gives money.]

CLOWN. Gridirons! what be they?

WAGNER. Why, French crowns.

CLOWN. Ma.s.s, but for the name of French crowns, a man were as good have as many English counters. And what should I do with these?

WAGNER. Why, now, sirrah, thou art at an hour's warning, whensoever or wheresoever the devil shall fetch thee.

CLOWN. No, no; here, take your gridirons again.

WAGNER. Truly, I'll none of them.

CLOWN. Truly, but you shall.

WAGNER. Bear witness I gave them him.

CLOWN. Bear witness I give them you again.

WAGNER. Well, I will cause two devils presently to fetch thee away.--Baliol and Belcher!

CLOWN. Let your Baliol and your Belcher come here, and I'll knock them, they were never so knocked since they were devils: say I should kill one of them, what would folks say? "Do ye see yonder tall fellow in the round slop?[73] he has killed the devil."

So I should be called Kill-devil all the parish over.

Enter two DEVILS; and the CLOWN runs up and down crying.

WAGNER. Baliol and Belcher,--spirits, away!

[Exeunt DEVILS.]

CLOWN. What, are they gone? a vengeance on them! they have vile[74]

long nails. There was a he-devil and a she-devil: I'll tell you how you shall know them; all he-devils has horns, and all she-devils has clifts and cloven feet.

WAGNER. Well, sirrah, follow me.