Masters of the Theatre

by Delphi Classics

  And if this Bruno, thou hast late redeem’d,

  In peace possess the triple diadem,

  And sit in Peter’s chair, despite of chance,

  Thou shalt be famous through all Italy,

  And honour’d of the German Emperor.

  FAUSTUS. These gracious words, most royal Carolus,

  Shall make poor Faustus, to his utmost power,

  Both love and serve the German Emperor,

  And lay his life at holy Bruno’s feet:

  For proof whereof, if so your grace be pleas’d,

  The doctor stands prepar’d by power of art

  To cast his magic charms, that shall pierce through

  The ebon gates of ever-burning hell,

  And hale the stubborn Furies from their caves,

  To compass whatsoe’er your grace commands.

  BENVOLIO. Blood, he speaks terribly! but, for all that, I do not

  greatly believe him: he looks as like a conjurer as the Pope

  to a costermonger. [Aside.]

  EMPEROR. Then, Faustus, as thou late didst promise us,

  We would behold that famous conqueror,

  Great Alexander, and his paramour,

  In their true shapes and state majestical,

  That we may wonder at their excellence.

  FAUSTUS. Your majesty shall see them presently. —

  Mephistophilis, away,

  And, with a solemn noise of trumpets’ sound,

  Present before this royal Emperor

  Great Alexander and his beauteous paramour.

  MEPHIST. Faustus, I will.

  [Exit.]

  BENVOLIO. Well, Master Doctor, an your devils come not away

  quickly, you shall have me asleep presently: zounds, I could

  eat myself for anger, to think I have been such an ass all this

  while, to stand gaping after the devil’s governor, and can see

  nothing!

  FAUSTUS.

  I’ll make you feel something anon, if my art fail me not. —

  My lord, I must forewarn your majesty,

  That, when my spirits present the royal shapes

  Of Alexander and his paramour,

  Your grace demand no questions of the king,

  But in dumb silence let them come and go.

  EMPEROR. Be it as Faustus please; we are content.

  BENVOLIO. Ay, ay, and I am content too: an thou bring Alexander

  and his paramour before the Emperor, I’ll be Actaeon, and turn

  myself to a stag.

  FAUSTUS. And I’ll play Diana, and send you the horns presently.

  Sennet. Enter, at one door, the EMPEROR ALEXANDER, at

  the other, DARIUS. They meet. DARIUS is thrown down;

  ALEXANDER kills him, takes off his crown, and, offering to

  go out, his PARAMOUR meets him. He embraceth her, and sets

  DARIUS’ crown upon her head; and, coming back, both salute

  the EMPEROR, who, leaving his state, offers to embrace

  them; which FAUSTUS seeing, suddenly stays him. Then trumpets

  cease, and music sounds.

  My gracious lord, you do forget yourself;

  These are but shadows, not substantial.

  EMPEROR. O, pardon me! my thoughts are so ravish’d

  With sight of this renowmed emperor,

  That in mine arms I would have compass’d him.

  But, Faustus, since I may not speak to them,

  To satisfy my longing thoughts at full,

  Let me this tell thee: I have heard it said

  That this fair lady, whilst she liv’d on earth,

  Had on her neck a little wart or mole;

  How may I prove that saying to be true?

  FAUSTUS. Your majesty may boldly go and see.

  EMPEROR. Faustus, I see it plain;

  And in this sight thou better pleasest me

  Than if I gain’d another monarchy.

  FAUSTUS. Away! be gone! [Exit show.] — See, see, my gracious

  lord! what strange beast is yon, that thrusts his head out at

  window?

  EMPEROR. O, wondrous sight! — See, Duke of Saxony,

  Two spreading horns most strangely fastened

  Upon the head of young Benvolio!

  SAXONY. What, is he asleep or dead?

  FAUSTUS. He sleeps, my lord; but dreams not of his horns.

  EMPEROR. This sport is excellent: we’ll call and wake him. —

  What, ho, Benvolio!

  BENVOLIO. A plague upon you! let me sleep a while.

  EMPEROR. I blame thee not to sleep much, having such a head of

  thine own.

  SAXONY. Look up, Benvolio; ’tis the Emperor calls.

  BENVOLIO. The Emperor! where? — O, zounds, my head!

  EMPEROR. Nay, an thy horns hold, ’tis no matter for thy head,

  for that’s armed sufficiently.

  FAUSTUS. Why, how now, Sir Knight! what, hanged by the horns!

  this is most horrible: fie, fie, pull in your head, for

  shame! let not all the world wonder at you.

  BENVOLIO. Zounds, doctor, this is your villany!

  FAUSTUS. O, say not so, sir! the doctor has no skill,

  No art, no cunning, to present these lords,

  Or bring before this royal Emperor

  The mighty monarch, warlike Alexander.

  If Faustus do it, you are straight resolv’d,

  In bold Actaeon’s shape, to turn a stag: —

  And therefore, my lord, so please your majesty,

  I’ll raise a kennel of hounds shall hunt him so

  As all his footmanship shall scarce prevail

  To keep his carcass from their bloody fangs. —

  Ho, Belimoth, Argiron, Asteroth!

  BENVOLIO. Hold, hold! — Zounds, he’ll raise up a kennel of devils,

  I think, anon. — Good my lord, entreat for me.— ‘Sblood, I am never

  able to endure these torments.

  EMPEROR. Then, good Master Doctor,

  Let me entreat you to remove his horns;

  He has done penance now sufficiently.

  FAUSTUS. My gracious lord, not so much for injury done to me,

  as to delight your majesty with some mirth, hath Faustus justly

  requited this injurious knight; which being all I desire, I am

  content to remove his horns. — Mephistophilis, transform him

  [MEPHISTOPHILIS removes the horns]: — and hereafter, sir,

  look you speak well of scholars.

  BENVOLIO. Speak well of ye! ‘sblood, an scholars be such

  cuckold-makers, to clap horns of honest men’s heads o’ this

  order, I’ll ne’er trust smooth faces and small ruffs more. — But,

  an I be not revenged for this, would I might be turned to a

  gaping oyster, and drink nothing but salt water!

  [Aside, and then exit above.]

  EMPEROR. Come, Faustus: while the Emperor lives,

  In recompense of this thy high desert,

  Thou shalt command the state of Germany,

  And live belov’d of mighty Carolus.

  [Exeunt.]

  Enter BENVOLIO, MARTINO, FREDERICK, and SOLDIERS.

  MARTINO. Nay, sweet Benvolio, let us sway thy thoughts

  From this attempt against the conjurer.

  BENVOLIO. Away! you love me not, to urge me thus:

  Shall I let slip so great an injury,

  When every servile groom jests at my wrongs,

  And in their rustic gambols proudly say,

  “Benvolio’s head was grac’d with horns today?”

  O, may these eyelids never close again,

  Till with my sword I have that conjurer slain!

  If you will aid me in this enterprise,

  Then draw your weapons and be resolute;

  If not, depart: here will Benvolio die,

  But Faustus’ death shall quit my infamy
.

  FREDERICK. Nay, we will stay with thee, betide what may,

  And kill that doctor, if he come this way.

  BENVOLIO. Then, gentle Frederick, hie thee to the grove,

  And place our servants and our followers

  Close in an ambush there behind the trees.

  By this, I know the conjurer is near:

  I saw him kneel, and kiss the Emperor’s hand,

  And take his leave, laden with rich rewards.

  Then, soldiers, boldly fight: if Faustus die,

  Take you the wealth, leave us the victory.

  FREDERICK. Come, soldiers, follow me unto the grove:

  Who kills him shall have gold and endless love.

  [Exit FREDERICK with SOLDIERS.]

  BENVOLIO. My head is lighter, than it was, by the horns;

  But yet my heart’s more ponderous than my head,

  And pants until I see that conjurer dead.

  MARTINO. Where shall we place ourselves, Benvolio?

  BENVOLIO. Here will we stay to bide the first assault:

  O, were that damned hell-hound but in place,

  Thou soon shouldst see me quit my foul disgrace!

  Re-enter FREDERICK.

  FREDERICK. Close, close! the conjurer is at hand,

  And all alone comes walking in his gown;

  Be ready, then, and strike the peasant down.

  BENVOLIO. Mine be that honour, then. Now, sword, strike home!

  For horns he gave I’ll have his head anon.

  MARTINO. See, see, he comes!

  Enter FAUSTUS with a false head.

  BENVOLIO. No words. This blow ends all:

  Hell take his soul! his body thus must fall.

  [Stabs FAUSTUS.]

  FAUSTUS. [falling.] O!

  FREDERICK. Groan you, Master Doctor?

  BENVOLIO. Break may his heart with groans! — Dear Frederick, see,

  Thus will I end his griefs immediately.

  MARTINO. Strike with a willing hand.

  [BENVOLIO strikes off FAUSTUS’ head.]

  His head is off.

  BENVOLIO. The devil’s dead; the Furies now may laugh.

  FREDERICK. Was this that stern aspect, that awful frown,

  Made the grim monarch of infernal spirits

  Tremble and quake at his commanding charms?

  MARTINO. Was this that damned head, whose art conspir’d

  Benvolio’s shame before the Emperor?

  BENVOLIO. Ay, that’s the head, and there the body lies,

  Justly rewarded for his villanies.

  FREDERICK. Come, let’s devise how we may add more shame

  To the black scandal of his hated name.

  BENVOLIO. First, on his head, in quittance of my wrongs,

  I’ll nail huge forked horns, and let them hang

  Within the window where he yok’d me first,

  That all the world may see my just revenge.

  MARTINO. What use shall we put his beard to?

  BENVOLIO. We’ll sell it to a chimney-sweeper: it will wear out

  ten birchen brooms, I warrant you.

  FREDERICK. What shall his eyes do?

  BENVOLIO. We’ll pull out his eyes; and they shall serve for

  buttons to his lips, to keep his tongue from catching cold.

  MARTINO. An excellent policy! and now, sirs, having divided him,

  what shall the body do?

  [FAUSTUS rises.]

  BENVOLIO. Zounds, the devil’s alive again!

  FREDERICK. Give him his head, for God’s sake.

  FAUSTUS. Nay, keep it: Faustus will have heads and hands,

  Ay, all your hearts to recompense this deed.

  Knew you not, traitors, I was limited

  For four-and-twenty years to breathe on earth?

  And, had you cut my body with your swords,

  Or hew’d this flesh and bones as small as sand,

  Yet in a minute had my spirit return’d,

  And I had breath’d a man, made free from harm.

  But wherefore do I dally my revenge? —

  Asteroth, Belimoth, Mephistophilis?

  Enter MEPHISTOPHILIS, and other Devils.

  Go, horse these traitors on your fiery backs,

  And mount aloft with them as high as heaven:

  Thence pitch them headlong to the lowest hell.

  Yet, stay: the world shall see their misery,

  And hell shall after plague their treachery.

  Go, Belimoth, and take this caitiff hence,

  And hurl him in some lake of mud and dirt.

  Take thou this other, drag him through the woods

  Amongst the pricking thorns and sharpest briers;

  Whilst, with my gentle Mephistophilis,

  This traitor flies unto some steepy rock,

  That, rolling down, may break the villain’s bones,

  As he intended to dismember me.

  Fly hence; despatch my charge immediately.

  FREDERICK. Pity us, gentle Faustus! save our lives!

  FAUSTUS. Away!

  FREDERICK. He must needs go that the devil drives.

  [Exeunt MEPHISTOPHILIS and DEVILS with BENVOLIO, MARTINO,

  and FREDERICK.]

  Enter the ambushed SOLDIERS.

  FIRST SOLDIER. Come, sirs, prepare yourselves in readiness;

  Make haste to help these noble gentlemen:

  I heard them parley with the conjurer.

  SECOND SOLDIER. See, where he comes! despatch and kill the slave.

  FAUSTUS. What’s here? an ambush to betray my life!

  Then, Faustus, try thy skill. — Base peasants, stand!

  For, lo, these trees remove at my command,

  And stand as bulwarks ‘twixt yourselves and me,

  To shield me from your hated treachery!

  Yet, to encounter this your weak attempt,

  Behold, an army comes incontinent!

  FAUSTUS strikes the door, and enter a DEVIL playing

  on a drum; after him another, bearing an ensign; and divers

  with weapons; MEPHISTOPHILIS with fire-works. They set upon

  the SOLDIERS, drive them out, and exeunt.

  Enter, at several doors, BENVOLIO, FREDERICK, and MARTINO,

  their heads and faces bloody, and besmeared with mud and

  dirt; all having horns on their heads.

  MARTINO. What, ho, Benvolio!

  BENVOLIO. Here. — What, Frederick, ho!

  FREDERICK. O, help me, gentle friend! — Where is Martino?

  MARTINO. Dear Frederick, here,

  Half smother’d in a lake of mud and dirt,

  Through which the Furies dragg’d me by the heels.

  FREDERICK. Martino, see, Benvolio’s horns again!

  MARTINO. O, misery! — How now, Benvolio!

  BENVOLIO. Defend me, heaven! shall I be haunted still?

  MARTINO. Nay, fear not, man; we have no power to kill.

  BENVOLIO. My friends transformed thus! O, hellish spite!

  Your heads are all set with horns.

  FREDERICK. You hit it right;

  It is your own you mean; feel on your head.

  BENVOLIO. Zounds, horns again!

  MARTINO. Nay, chafe not, man; we all are sped.

  BENVOLIO. What devil attends this damn’d magician,

  That, spite of spite, our wrongs are doubled?

  FREDERICK. What may we do, that we may hide our shames?

  BENVOLIO. If we should follow him to work revenge,

  He’d join long asses’ ears to these huge horns,

  And make us laughing-stocks to all the world.

  MARTINO. What shall we, then, do, dear Benvolio?

  BENVOLIO. I have a castle joining near these woods;

  And thither we’ll repair, and live obscure,

  Till time shall alter these our brutish shapes:

  Sith black disgrace hath thus eclips’d our fame,

  We’ll rather die with grief than live wit
h shame.

  [Exeunt.]

  Enter FAUSTUS, a HORSE-COURSER, and MEPHISTOPHILIS.

  HORSE-COURSER. I beseech your worship, accept of these forty dollars.

  FAUSTUS. Friend, thou canst not buy so good a horse for so small

  a price. I have no great need to sell him: but, if thou likest

  him for ten dollars more, take him, because I see thou hast a

  good mind to him.

  HORSE-COURSER. I beseech you, sir, accept of this: I am a very

  poor man, and have lost very much of late by horse-flesh, and

  this bargain will set me up again.

  FAUSTUS. Well, I will not stand with thee: give me the money

  [HORSE-COURSER gives FAUSTUS the money]. Now, sirrah, I must

  tell you that you may ride him o’er hedge and ditch, and spare

  him not; but, do you hear? in any case, ride him not into the

  water.

  HORSE-COURSER. How, sir! not into the water! why, will he not

  drink of all waters?

  FAUSTUS. Yes, he will drink of all waters; but ride him not into

  the water: o’er hedge and ditch, or where thou wilt, but not into

  the water. Go, bid the hostler deliver him unto you, and remember

  what I say.

  HORSE-COURSER. I warrant you, sir! — O, joyful day! now am I a