Act III, Scene ii

A Sennet<127> while the banquet is brought in; and then enter

FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS in their own shapes.

MEPHIST. Now, Faustus, come, prepare thyself for mirth:

The sleepy Cardinals are hard at hand,

To censure Bruno, that is posted hence,

And on a proud-pac'd steed, as swift as thought,

Flies o'er the Alps to fruitful Germany,

There to salute the woful Emperor.

FAUSTUS. The Pope will curse them for their sloth to-day,

That slept both Bruno and his crown away.

But now, that Faustus may delight his mind,

And by their folly make some merriment,

Sweet Mephistophilis, so charm me here,

That I may walk invisible to all,

And do whate'er I please, unseen of any.

MEPHIST. Faustus, thou shalt: then kneel down presently,

Whilst on thy head I lay my hand,

And charm thee with this magic wand.

First, wear this girdle; then appear

Invisible to all are here:

The planets seven, the gloomy air,

Hell, and the Furies' forked hair,

Pluto's blue fire, and Hecat's tree,

With magic spells so compass thee,

That no eye may thy body see!

So, Faustus, now, for all their holiness,

Do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discern'd.

FAUSTUS. Thanks, Mephistophilis.—Now, friars, take heed,

Lest Faustus make your shaven crowns to bleed.

MEPHIST. Faustus, no more: see, where the Cardinals come!

Re-enter the CARDINALS of France and Padua with a book.:

POPE. Welcome, Lord Cardinals; come, sit down.—

Lord Raymond, take your seat.—Friars, attend,

And see that all things be<128> in readiness,

As best beseems this solemn festival.

CARDINAL OF FRANCE. First, may it please your sacred Holiness

To view the sentence of the reverend synod

Concerning Bruno and the Emperor?

POPE. What needs this question? did I not tell you,

To-morrow we would sit i' the consistory,

And there determine of his punishment?

You brought us word even now, it was decreed

That Bruno and the cursed Emperor

Were by the holy council both condemn'd

For loathed Lollards and base schismatics:

Then wherefore would you have me view that book?

CARDINAL OF FRANCE. Your grace mistakes; you gave us no such charge.

RAYMOND. Deny it not; we all are witnesses

That Bruno here was late deliver'd you,

With his rich triple crown to be reserv'd

And put into the church's treasury.

BOTH CARDINALS. By holy Paul, we saw them not!

POPE. By Peter, you shall die,

Unless you bring them forth immediately!—

Hale them to<129> prison, lade their limbs with gyves.—

False prelates, for this hateful treachery

Curs'd be your souls to hellish misery!

[Exeunt ATTENDANTS with the two CARDINALS.]

FAUSTUS. So, they are safe. Now, Faustus, to the feast:

The Pope had never such a frolic guest.

POPE. Lord Archbishop of Rheims, sit down with us.

ARCHBISHOP.<130> I thank your Holiness.

FAUSTUS. Fall to; the devil choke you,<131> an you spare!

POPE. Who is that spoke?—Friars, look about.—

Lord Raymond, pray, fall to. I am beholding<132>

To the Bishop of Milan for this so rare a present.

FAUSTUS. I thank you, sir.

[Snatches the dish.]

POPE. How now! who snatch'd the meat from me?

Villains, why speak you not?—

My good Lord Archbishop, here's a most dainty dish

Was sent me from a cardinal in France.

FAUSTUS. I'll have that too.

[Snatches the dish.]

POPE. What Lollards do attend our holiness,

That we receive such<133> great indignity?

Fetch me some wine.

FAUSTUS. Ay, pray, do, for Faustus is a-dry.

POPE. Lord Raymond,

I drink unto your grace.

FAUSTUS. I pledge your grace.

[Snatches the cup.]

POPE. My wine gone too!—Ye lubbers, look about,

And find the man that doth this villany,

Or, by our sanctitude, you all shall die!—

I pray, my lords, have patience at this

Troublesome banquet.

ARCHBISHOP. Please it<134> your Holiness, I think it be some ghost

crept out of Purgatory, and now is come unto your Holiness for his

pardon.

POPE. It may be so.—

Go, then, command our priests to sing a dirge,

To lay the fury of this same troublesome ghost.

[Exit an ATTENDANT.—The POPE crosses himself.]

FAUSTUS. How now! must every bit be spic'd with a cross?—

Nay, then, take that.

[Strikes the POPE.]

POPE. O, I am slain!—Help me, my lords!

O, come and help to bear my body hence!—

Damn'd be his<135> soul for ever for this deed!

[Exeunt all except FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS.]

MEPHIST. Now, Faustus, what will you do now? for I can tell you

you'll be cursed with bell, book, and candle.

FAUSTUS. Bell, book, and candle,—candle, book, and bell,—

Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell!

Re-enter the FRIARS, with bell, book, and candle, for the

Dirge.

FIRST FRIAR. Come, brethren, lets about our business with good

devotion.

[They sing.]

CURSED BE HE THAT STOLE HIS HOLINESS' MEAT FROM THE TABLE!

maledicat Dominus!

CURSED BE HE THAT STRUCK<136> HIS HOLINESS A BLOW ON<137> THE

FACE! maledicat Dominus!

CURSED BE HE THAT STRUCK FRIAR SANDELO A BLOW ON THE PATE!

maledicat Dominus!

CURSED BE HE THAT DISTURBETH OUR HOLY DIRGE! maledicat

Dominus!

CURSED BE HE THAT TOOK AWAY HIS HOLINESS' WINE! maledicat

Dominus!

[MEPHISTOPHILIS and FAUSTUS beat the FRIARS, and fling fire-works among them, and exeunt.]