Doctor Faustus

Full Text and Introduction (NHB Drama Classics)

Christopher Marlowe

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2016
• Topic: Literature
• eBook ISBN:
  9781780010366
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Drama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price

The classic story of the learned Doctor Faustus who sells his soul to the devil.

This edition of Christopher Marlowe's play contains two self-contained versions, known as the A-text and the B-text, allowing readers to compare the available versions, and performers to choose the version that suits them best.

It also contains a full introduction, notes on further reading, a chronology and a glossary of difficult words.

Edited by D. Bevington & E. Rasmussen, and introduced by Simon Trussler.

Act IV

[IV.i]

Enter MARTINO and FREDERICK [with other OFFICERS and GENTLEMEN] at several doors.

MARTINO. What ho, officers, gentlemen!

Hie to the presence to attend the Emperor.

Good Frederick, see the rooms be voided straight;

His Majesty is coming to the hall.

Go back, and see the state in readiness.

[Exeunt some.]

FREDERICK. But where is Bruno, our elected pope,

That on a Fury’s back came post from Rome?

Will not his Grace consort the Emperor?

MARTINO. O, yes, and with him comes the German conjurer,

The learnèd Faustus, fame of Wittenberg,

The wonder of the world for magic art;

And he intends to show great Carolus

The race of all his stout progenitors,

And bring in presence of his Majesty

The royal shapes and warlike semblances

Of Alexander and his beauteous paramour.

FREDERICK. Where is Benvolio?

MARTINO. Fast asleep, I warrant you.

He took his rouse with stoups of Rhenish wine

So kindly yesternight to Bruno’s health

That all this day the sluggard keeps his bed.

FREDERICK. See, see, his window’s ope. We’ll call to him.

MARTINO. What ho, Benvolio!

Enter BENVOLIO above at a window, in his nightcap, buttoning.

BENVOLIO. What a devil ail you two?

MARTINO. Speak softly, sir, lest the devil hear you;

For Faustus at the court is late arrived,

And at his heels a thousand Furies wait

To accomplish whatsoever the doctor please.

BENVOLIO. What of this?

MARTINO. Come, leave thy chamber first, and thou shalt see

This conjurer perform such rare exploits

Before the Pope and royal Emperor

As never yet was seen in Germany.

BENVOLIO. Has not the Pope enough of conjuring yet?

He was upon the devil’s back late enough;

An if he be so far in love with him,

I would he would post with him to Rome again.

FREDERICK. Speak, wilt thou come and see this sport?

BENVOLIO. Not I.

MARTINO. Wilt thou stand in thy window and see it, then?

BENVOLIO. Ay, an I fall not asleep i’ th’ meantime.

MARTINO. The Emperor is at hand, who comes to see

What wonders by black spells may compassed be.

BENVOLIO. Well, go you attend the Emperor. I am content for this once to thrust my head out at a window, for they say if a man be drunk overnight the devil cannot hurt him in the morning. If that be true, I have a charm in my head shall control him as well as the conjurer, I warrant you.

Exeunt [FREDERICK and MARTINO. BENVOLIO remains at his window.].

A sennet. [Enter] Charles the German EMPEROR, BRUNO, [the Duke of] SAXONY, FAUSTUS, MEPHISTOPHELES, FREDERICK, MARTINO, and ATTENDANTS. [The EMPEROR sits in his throne.]

EMPEROR. Wonder of men, renowned magician,

Thrice-learnèd Faustus, welcome to our court.

This deed of thine, in setting Bruno free

From his and our professèd enemy,

Shall add more excellence unto thine art

Than if by powerful necromantic spells

Thou couldst command the world’s obedience.

For ever be beloved of Carolus.

And if this Bruno thou hast late redeemed

In peace possess the triple diadem

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

Thou shalt be famous through all Italy

And honoured 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 pleased,

The doctor stands prepared 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 [aside, at the window]. 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.

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. –

[Aside to MEPHISTOPHELES.] Mephistopheles, away,

And with a solemn noise of trumpet’s sound

Present before this royal Emperor

Great Alexander and his beauteous paramour.

MEPHISTOPHELES [aside to FAUSTUS]. Faustus, I will.

[Exit.]

BENVOLIO [at the window]. 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 [aside]. I’ll make you feel something anon, if my art fail me not. –

[To EMPEROR.] 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 [at the window]. 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 [aside]. And I’ll play Diana and send you the horns presently.

[Enter MEPHISTOPHELES.] A 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’s crown upon her head; and, coming back, both salute the [German] 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 ravishèd

With sight of this renownèd emperor

That in mine arms I would have compassed 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...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Contents
• Introduction
• For Further Reading
• Marlowe: Key Dates
• Doctor Faustus: A-Text
• Dramatis Personae
• Prologue
• Act One
• Act Two
• Act Three
• Act Four
• Act Five
• Epilogue
• Doctor Faustus: B-Text
• Dramatis Personae
• Prologue
• Act One
• Act Two
• Act Three
• Act Four
• Act Five
• Epilogue
• Glossary
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information