Prince of the East

What god can hurt thee, Faustus? Thou art safe
Cast no more doubts. Come, Mephistophilis
And bring glad tidings from great Lucifer;
Is’t not midnight? Come, Mephistophilis
Veni, veni, Mephistophile!
(Enter MEPHISTOPHILIS)
Now tell me what says Lucifer, thy lord?
MEPHISTOPHILIS: That I shall wait on Faustus whilst he lives
So he will buy my service with his soul
FAUSTUS: Already Faustus hath hazarded that for thee
MEPHISTOPHILIS: But, Faustus, thou must bequeath it solemnly
And write a deed of gift with thine own blood;
For that security craves great Lucifer
If thou deny it, I will back to hell
FAUSTUS: Stay, Mephistophilis, and tell me, what good will my soul
Do thy lord?
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Enlarge his kingdom
FAUSTUS: Is that the reason why he tempts us thus?
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris
FAUSTUS: Why, have you any pain that torture others?!
MEPHISTOPHILIS: As great as have the human souls of men
But, tell me, Faustus, shall I have thy soul?
And I will be thy slave, and wait on thee
And give thee more than thou hast wit to ask
FAUSTUS: Ay, Mephistophilis, I give it thee
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Then, Faustus, stab thine arm courageously
And bind thy soul, that at some certain day
Great Lucifer may claim it as his own;
And then be thou as great as Lucifer
FAUSTUS: Mephistophilis, for love of thee
I cut mine arm, and with my proper blood
Assure my soul to be great Lucifer’s
Chief lord and regent of perpetual night!
View here the blood that trickles from mine arm
And let it be propitious for my wish
MEPHISTOPHILIS: But, Faustus, thou must
Write it in manner of a deed of gift
(Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with DEVILS, who give crowns and rich apparel to
FAUSTUS, dance, and then depart)
FAUSTUS: Speak, Mephistophilis, what means this show?
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Nothing, Faustus, but to delight thy mind withal
And to shew thee what magic can perform
FAUSTUS: But may I raise up spirits when I please?
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Ay, Faustus, and do greater things than these
FAUSTUS: Then there’s enough for a thousand souls
Here, Mephistophilis, receive this scroll
A deed of gift of body and of soul:
But yet conditionally that thou perform
All articles prescrib’d between us both
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer
To effect all promises between us made!
FAUSTUS: Then hear me read them. On these conditions
Following. First, that Faustus may be a spirit in form and
Substance. Secondly, that Mephistophilis shall be his servant, and at his
command. Thirdly, that Mephistophilis shall do for him, and bring him
whatsoever he desires. Fourthly, that he shall be in his chamber or house
invisible. Lastly, that he shall appear to the said John Faustus, at all times,
in what form or shape so ever he please. I, John Faustus, of Wertenberg,
doctor, by these presents, do give both body and soul to Lucifer Prince of The
East, and his minister Mephistophilis (…)
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?
FAUSTUS: Ay, take it, and the devil give thee good on’t!
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Now, Faustus, ask what thou wilt
FAUSTUS: First will I question with thee about hell
Tell me, where is the place that men call hell?
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Under the heavens
FAUSTUS: Ay, but whereabout?
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Within the bowels of these elements
Where we are tortur’d and remain for ever:
Hell hath no limits, nor is circumscrib’d
In one self place; for where we are is hell
And where hell is, there must we ever be:
And, to conclude, when all the world dissolves
And every creature shall be purified
All places shall be hell that are not heaven
FAUSTUS: Come, I think hell’s a fable
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Ay, think so still, till experience change thy mind
FAUSTUS: Why, think’st thou, then, that Faustus shall be damn’d?
MEPHISTOPHILIS: Ay, of necessity, for here’s the scroll
Wherein thou hast given thy soul to Lucifer
FAUSTUS: Ay, and body too: but what of that?
Think’st thou that Faustus is so fond to imagine
That, after this life, there is any pain?
Tush, these are trifles and mere old wives' tales
MEPHISTOPHILIS: But, Faustus, I am an instance to prove the contrary
For I am damn’d, and am now in hell *