privations

Study me then,

Whither, as to the bed’s-feet, life is shrunk,

But get a winter-seeming summer’s night.

odoriferous

Draw not up seas to drown me in thy sphere ; Weep me not dead, in thine arms, but forbear To teach the sea, what it may do too soon ;

The day breaks not, it is my heart,

LET me pour forth My tears before thy face

Into the glasses of your eyes

We’ll build in sonnets pretty rooms

We’re tapers too, and at our own cost die,

tapers

palsy

chide

vices

Shine here to us, and thou art everywhere ;

THE SUN RISING.

o, if I now should utter this,

HAVE 

Such a pilgrimage were sweet;

And now good-morrow to our waking souls, Which watch not one another out of fear ;

If ever any beauty I did see, Which I desired, and got, ’twas but a dream of thee.

Our marriage bed, and marriage temple is.

Where we almost, yea, more than married are.

Ugly hell, gape not! come not, Lucifer!

Unto some brutish beast![174] all beasts are happy, For, when they die, Their souls are soon dissolv’d in elements; But mine must live still to be plagu’d in hell.

[Exeunt SCHOLARS.–The clock strikes eleven.]

FAUSTUS. Lucifer and Mephistophilis. Ah, gentlemen, I gave them my soul for my cunning![168]

Yet, Faustus, look up to heaven; remember God’s mercies are infinite.

FIRST SCHOLAR. What ails Faustus?

Those[161] thoughts that do dissuade me from my vow, And keep mine oath I made to Lucifer.

Master Doctor, if you will do us that favour, as to let us see that peerless dame of Greece, whom all the world admires for majesty,

I think my master means to die shortly, For he hath given to me all his goods:

that being in the dead time of winter and in the month of January, how you should come by these grapes.

HORSE-COURSER. I’ll speak with him now, or I’ll break his glass-windows about his ears.

Away, you villain! what, dost think I am a horse-doctor?

That time doth run with calm and silent foot, Shortening my days and thread of vital life, Calls for the payment of my latest years:

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with SPIRITS in the shapes of ALEXANDER and his PARAMOUR.

But, if it like your grace, it is not in my ability[136] to present before your eyes the true substantial bodies of those two deceased princes, which long since are consumed to dust.

I have heard strange report of thy knowledge in the black art,

What there he did, in trial of his art, I leave untold; your eyes shall see[‘t] perform’d.

Dominus

Et omnes Sancti

From Paris next,[115] coasting the realm of France, We saw the river Maine fall into Rhine, Whose banks are set with groves of fruitful vines; Then up to Naples, rich Campania, Whose buildings fair and gorgeous to the eye, The streets straight forth, and pav’d with finest brick,

Now will I make all the maidens in our parish dance at my pleasure, stark naked, before me;

Enter the SEVEN DEADLY SINS.[105] Now, Faustus, examine them of their several names and dispositions. FAUSTUS. What art thou, the first? PRIDE. I am Pride. I disdain to have any parents. I am like to Ovid’s flea; I can creep into every corner of a wench; sometimes, like a perriwig, I sit upon her brow; or, like a fan of feathers, I kiss her lips; indeed, I do–what do I not? But, fie, what a scent is here! I’ll not speak another word, except the ground were perfumed, and covered with cloth of arras. FAUSTUS. What art thou, the second? COVETOUSNESS. I am Covetousness, begotten of an old churl, in an old leathern bag: and, might I have my wish, I would desire that this house and all the people in it were turned to gold, that I might lock you up in my good chest: O, my sweet gold! FAUSTUS. What art thou, the third? WRATH. I am Wrath. I had neither father nor mother: I leapt out of a lion’s mouth when I was scarce half-an-hour old; and ever since I have run up and down the world with this case[106] of rapiers, wounding myself when I had nobody to fight withal. I was born in hell; and look to it, for some of you shall be my father. FAUSTUS. What art thou, the fourth? ENVY. I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an oyster-wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books were burnt. I am lean with seeing others eat. O, that there would come a famine through all the world, that all might die, and I live alone! then thou shouldst see how fat I would be. But must thou sit, and I stand? come down, with a vengeance! FAUSTUS. Away, envious rascal!–What art thou, the fifth? GLUTTONY. Who I, sir? I am Gluttony. My parents are all dead, and the devil a penny they have left me, but a bare pension, and that is thirty meals a-day and ten bevers,[107]–a small trifle to suffice nature. O, I come of a royal parentage! my grandfather was a Gammon of Bacon, my grandmother a Hogshead of Claret-wine; my godfathers were these, Peter Pickle-herring and Martin Martlemas-beef; O, but my godmother, she was a jolly gentlewoman, and well-beloved in every good town and city; her name was Mistress Margery March-beer. Now, Faustus, thou hast heard all my progeny; wilt thou bid me to supper? FAUSTUS. No, I’ll see thee hanged: thou wilt eat up all my victuals. GLUTTONY. Then the devil choke thee! FAUSTUS. Choke thyself, glutton!–What art thou, the sixth? SLOTH. I am Sloth. I was begotten on a sunny bank, where I have lain ever since; and you have done me great injury to bring me from thence: let me be carried thither again by Gluttony and Lechery. I’ll not speak another word for a king’s ransom. FAUSTUS. What are you, Mistress Minx, the seventh and last? LECHERY. Who I, sir? I am one that loves an inch of raw mutton better than an ell of fried stock-fish; and the first letter of my name begins with L.[108]

victuals

O, I come of a royal parentage! my grandfather was a Gammon of Bacon, my grandmother a Hogshead of Claret-wine; my godfathers were these, Peter Pickle-herring and Martin Martlemas-beef; O, but my godmother, she was a jolly gentlewoman, and well-beloved in every good town and city; her name was Mistress Margery March-beer.

I cannot read, and therefore wish all books were burnt. I am lean with seeing others eat. O, that there would come a famine through all the world, that all might die, and I live alone!

WRATH. I am Wrath. I had neither father nor mother: I leapt out of a lion’s mouth when I was scarce half-an-hour old; and ever since I have run up and down the world with this case[106] of rapiers, wounding myself when I had nobody to fight withal. I was born in hell; and look to it, for some of you shall be my father.

And Faustus vows never to look to heaven, Never to name God, or to pray to him, To burn his Scriptures, slay his ministers, And make my spirits pull his churches down.

Are all celestial bodies but one globe, As is the substance of this centric earth? MEPHIST. As are the elements, such are the spheres, Mutually folded in each other’s orb, And, Faustus, All jointly move upon one axletree, Whose terminine is term’d the world’s wide pole; Nor are the names of Saturn, Mars, or Jupiter Feign’d, but are erring[101] stars.

GOOD ANGEL. Faustus, repent; yet God will pity thee.

Be she as chaste as was Penelope, As wise as Saba,[98] or as beautiful As was bright Lucifer before his fall.

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.[88] 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 SOEVER 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; AND FURTHERMORE GRANT UNTO THEM, THAT,[89] TWENTY-FOUR YEARS BEING EXPIRED, THE ARTICLES ABOVE-WRITTEN INVIOLATE, FULL POWER TO FETCH OR CARRY THE SAID JOHN FAUSTUS, BODY AND SOUL, FLESH, BLOOD, OR GOODS, INTO THEIR HABITATION WHERESOEVER. BY ME, JOHN FAUSTUS.

MEPHIST. Faustus, I swear by hell and Lucifer To effect all promises between us made

MEPHIST. Then, Faustus,[83] 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. [Stabbing his arm] Lo, 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. MEPHIST. But, Faustus, thou must Write it in manner of a deed of gift.

FAUSTUS. Now, Faustus, must Thou needs be damn’d, and canst thou not be sav’d: What boots it, then, to think of God or heaven? Away with such vain fancies, and despair; Despair in God, and trust in Belzebub: Now go not backward; no, Faustus, be resolute: Why waver’st thou? O, something soundeth in mine ears, “Abjure this magic, turn to God again!” Ay, and Faustus will turn to God again. To God? he loves thee not; The god thou serv’st is thine own appetite, Wherein is fix’d the love of Belzebub: To him I’ll build an altar and a church, And offer lukewarm blood of new-born babes.

let it be in the likeness of a little pretty frisking flea, that I may be here and there and every where: O, I’ll tickle the pretty wenches’ plackets!

wenches’ plackets

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.

But, leaving these vain trifles of men’s souls, Tell me what is that Lucifer thy lord? MEPHIST. Arch-regent and commander of all spirits. FAUSTUS. Was not that Lucifer an angel once? MEPHIST. Yes, Faustus, and most dearly lov’d of God. FAUSTUS. How comes it, then, that he is prince of devils? MEPHIST. O, by aspiring pride and insolence; For which God threw him from the face of heaven.

Therefore the shortest cut for conjuring Is stoutly to abjure the Trinity, And pray devoutly to the prince of hell.

I am a servant to great Lucifer, And may not follow thee without his leave: No more than he commands must we perform.

And try if devils will obey thy hest, Seeing thou hast pray’d and sacrific’d to them.

licentiates

FAUSTUS. Nothing, Cornelius. O, this cheers my soul! Come, shew me some demonstrations magical, That I may conjure in some lusty grove, And have these joys in full possession.

Sometimes like women, or unwedded maids, Shadowing more beauty in their airy brows Than have the[38] white breasts of the queen of love:

Know that your words have won me at the last To practice magic and concealed arts: Yet not your words only,[30] but mine own fantasy,

sage

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there’s no truth in us

plod

Couldst[12] thou make men[13] to live eternally, Or, being dead, raise them to life again,

falling to a devilish exercise

But after the public has reaped all the advantage of their service, and they come to be oppressed with age, sickness, and want, all their labours and the good they have done is forgotten, and all the recompense given them is that they are left to die in great misery.

putting them in mind of the blessing that they have received from God, and of their duties, both to Him and to their neighbours.

of several birds, laid together with so much art, and so neatly, that the true value of them is far beyond the costliest materials.

There are no taverns, no ale-houses, nor stews among them, nor any other occasions of corrupting each other, of getting into corners, or forming themselves into parties; all men live in full view, so that all are obliged both to perform their ordinary task and to employ themselves well in their spare hours; and it is certain that a people thus ordered must live in great abundance of all things, and these being equally distributed among them, no man can want or be obliged to be

When he has learned both, he follows that which he likes best, unless the public has more occasion for the other.

Agriculture is that which is so universally understood among them that no person, either man or woman, is ignorant of it; they are instructed in it from their childhood, partly by what they learn at school, and partly by practice, they being led out often into the fields about the town, where they not only see others at work but are likewise exercised in it themselves.

In this bay there is no great current; the whole coast is, as it were, one continued harbour, which gives all that live in the island great convenience for mutual commerce.  But the entry into the bay, occasioned by rocks on the one hand and shallows on the other, is very dangerous.  In the middle of it there is one single rock which appears above water, and may, therefore, easily be avoided; and on the top of it there is a tower, in which a garrison is kept; the other rocks lie under water, and are very dangerous.

They breed an infinite multitude of chickens in a very curious manner; for the hens do not sit and hatch them, but a vast number of eggs are laid in a gentle and equal heat in order to be hatched, and they are no sooner out of the shell, and able to stir about, but they seem to consider those that feed them as their mothers, and follow them as other chickens do the hen that hatched them.

soever

A fourth proposes the prohibiting of many things under severe penalties, especially such as were against the interest of the people, and then the dispensing with these prohibitions, upon great compositions, to those who might find their advantage in breaking them.

knave

None are quite hopeless of recovering their freedom, since by their obedience and patience, and by giving good grounds to believe that they will change their manner of life for the future, they may expect at last to obtain their liberty, and some are every year restored to it upon the good character that is given of them. 

for wherever it is found that the sheep of any soil yield a softer and richer wool than ordinary,

“for keeping their hands in use, that they may not grow dull by too long an intermission.”

he was of a middle stature, not broken with age; his looks begot reverence rather than fear; his conversation was easy, but serious and grave; he sometimes took pleasure to try the force of those that came as suitors to him upon business by speaking sharply, though decently, to them, and by that he discovered their spirit and presence of mind; with which he was much delighted when it did not grow up to impudence, as bearing a great resemblance to his own temper, and he looked on such persons as the fittest men for affairs.  He spoke both gracefully and weightily; he was eminently skilled in the law, had a vast understanding, and a prodigious memory; and those excellent talents with which nature had furnished him were improved by study and experience.

f God had not been very gracious to him; for after he, with five Castalians, had travelled over many countries, at last, by strange good fortune, he got to Ceylon, and from thence to Calicut, where he, very happily, found some Portuguese ships; and, beyond all men’s expectations, returned to his native country.”

bore a share in three of his four voyages that are now published

I do not know if there be anywhere to be found a more learned and a better bred young man; for as he is both a very worthy and a very knowing person, so he is so civil to all men, so particularly kind to his friends,

with such universal applause

earnest

The youth wore his patron’s livery, and added to his state. 

wantonness

perverted judgments

ill opinions be the works of the flesh and fruits of si

A marvellous monster, which for filthiness of living, for dulness of learning himself, for wiliness in dealing with others, for malice in hurting without cause, should carry at once in one body the belly of a swine, the head of an ass, the brain of a fox, the womb of a wolf

a child shall take more profit of two faults gently warned of than of four things rightly hit;

and encourage a will to learning

teach the child chearfully and plainly the cause and matter of the letter

would not only take wholly away this butcherly fear in making of Latines,

is tedious for the master, hard for the scholar, cold and uncomfortable for them both.

ite maledicti in ignem æternum

Methinketh

Everyman. O Jesu, help, all hath forsaken me!

In faith, I care not; Thou art but a fool to complain, You spend your speech and waste your brain; Go thrust thee into the ground.

Yea, by my faith, and never more appear. In this world live no more we shall, But in heaven before the highest Lord of all.

 Alas, I am so faint I may not stand, My limbs under me do fold; Friends, let us not turn again to this land, Not for all the world’s gold, For into this cave must I creep And turn to the earth and there to sleep.

I will be as sure by thee As ever I did by Judas Maccabee.

twain.

. In the name of the Holy Trinity, My body sore punished shall be: Take this body for the sin of the flesh; Also thou delightest to go gay and fresh, And in the way of damnation thou did me bring; Therefore suffer now strokes and punishing. Now of penance I will wade the water clear, To save me from purgatory, that sharp fire.

Ask God mercy, and He will grant truly,

Then go you with your reckoning and your Good-Deeds together For to make you joyful at heart Before the blessed Trinity.

. Yea, sir, I may thank you of all; If ye had perfectly cheered me, Your book of account now full ready had be.

 O, to whom shall I make my moan For to go with me in that heavy journey? First Fellowship said he would with me gone; His words were very pleasant and gay, But afterward he left me alone. Then spake I to my kinsmen all in despair, And also they gave me words fair, They lacked no fair speaking, But all forsake me in the ending. Then went I to my Goods that I loved best, In hope to have comfort, but there had I least; For my Goods sharply did me tell That he bringeth many into hell. Then of myself I was ashamed, And so I am worthy to be blamed; Thus may I well myself hate. Of whom shall I now counsel take?

Weenest thou that I will follow thee? Nay, from this world, not verily.

It is another disease that grieveth me; In this world it is not, I tell thee so. I am sent for another way to go, To give a straight account general Before the highest Jupiter of all; And all my life I have had joy and pleasure in thee. Therefore I pray thee go with me, For, peradventure, thou mayst before God Almighty My reckoning help to clean and purify; For it is said ever among, That money maketh all right that is wrong.

Where art thou, my Goods and riches?

, ye be a merry man!

for saint charity

Fellowship. I wot well I say so truly; And yet if thou wilt eat, and drink, and make good cheer, Or haunt to women, the lusty company, I would not forsake you, while the day is clear, Trust me verily!

I may say Death giveth no warning: To think on thee, it maketh my heart sick

Here shall you see how Fellowship and Jollity, Both Strength, Pleasure, and Beauty, Will fade from thee as flower in May.

Will fade from thee as flower in May.

Ye think sin in the beginning full sweet, Which in the end causeth thy soul to weep,

cleave

o willeth He that we do, as a meek child saying thus: My kind Mother, my Gracious Mother, my dearworthy Mother, have mercy on me:

He comforteth our soul, He lighteneth our heart, and giveth us, in part,

so it is had, by grace; for in faith, with hope and charity, our life is grounded.

The great drops of blood fell down from under the Garland like pellots

and it pleaseth Him that we rest in Him;

He is our clothing that for love wrappeth us, claspeth us, and all encloseth us for tender love, that He may never leave us

It 

Trinity filled my heart

love would be a mortal man: and therefore I desired to suffer with Him.

or my eyes were set uprightward unto Heaven

God sent me a bodily sickness, in which I lay three days and three nights;

‘mine A B C taught m

Through their words I awoke · and looked about And saw the sun in the south · set at that time, Meatless and moneyless · on Malvern hills And musing on this vision · I went on my way.

Hunger ate all in haste · and asked after more. Then poor folk for fear · fed Hunger quickly; With green leeks and pease · to poison him they sought. By that it nighed near harvest · new corn came to market; Then were folk fain · and fed Hunger with the best, With good ale, as Glutton taught · and made Hunger go sleep.

lecherous

And wrung him so by the belly · that both his eyes watered; The Breton he buffeted · about the cheeks That he looked lantern-jawed · all his life after. He beat them so both · that he near burst their ribs; Had not Piers with a pease-loaf · prayed Hunger to cease They had been buried both

Hunger in haste then

‘I was not wont to work,

`My wife shall have my · honest gains and no more, To share with my daughters · and my dear children. For should I today die · all my debts are quit; I bore back what I borrowed ·

Save Jack the juggler · and Janet of the stews, Daniel the dicer · and Denot the bawd, All lying friars · and folk of their order, And Robin the ribald · for his smutty words —

let Mercy be taxer And Meekness thy master

Mercy is a maiden there · hath might over all; She is cousin.to all sinners

That ye love our lord God · the best of all things; And then your neighbours next

Conscience

In bindweed wise · wound about. A bowl and a bag · he bare by his side; An hundred ampullas · on his hat set, Signs of Sinai · and shells of Galicia, Many a cross on his cloak ·

And for to know it by nature

‘dull are thy wits; Too little Latin thou learnest

Taught them by the Trinity

truth is the best

Tell me, madam, to whom that treasure belongeth?’

For he is Father of Faith · formed you all Both with flesh and with face and gave you fine wits To worship him therewith ·

Laymen believed him · welcomed his words, And came up on their knees · to kiss his seals; He cozened them with his brevet · dimmed their eyes, And with his parchment · got his rings and brooches: Thus they gave their gold ·

by gluttony destroy.

  “Teehee!”

But kiss me, since you’ll do no more, my pet, For Jesus’ love and for the love of me.” 610       “And will you go, then, on your way?” asked she,       “Yes truly, darling,” said this Absalom.       “Then make you ready,” said she, “and I’ll come!”

Go on your way, or I’ll stone you therefrom, 605 And let me sleep, the fiends take you away!”

And dressed him gay and all at point-device, But first he chewed some licorice and spice So he’d smell sweet, ere he had combed his hair.

woebegone

You are so wise it needs not that I teach; Go, save our lives, and that I do beseech.”

Procured these kneading-tubs, or beer-vats, three, Then you shall hang them near the roof-tree high,

And if you’ll act as counselled and not fail, I undertake, without a mast or sail, 425 To save us all, aye you and her and me. Haven’t you heard of, Noah, how saved was he, Because Our Lord had warned him how to keep Out of the flood that covered earth so deep?”

And to that hole he stooped, and through did peep, 335 And finally he ranged him in his sight.

And softer than the wool is on a wether.

And she had become eighteen years of age. Jealous he was and held her close in cage.

Many good wives there are, as women run, And ever a thousand good to one that’s bad, As well you know yourself, unless you’re mad.

Unto the Devil rough and black of hue Give I your body and my pan also!”

 “Pay me,” he cried, “or by the sweet Saint Anne 350 I’ll take away with me your brand-new pan For debt that you have owed to me of old, When you did make your husband a cuckold; I paid at home that fine to save citation.”

They saw a cart that loaded was with hay, The which a carter drove along the way. Deep was the mire; for which the cart now stood.

You shall in all ways learn our proper shape; You shall hereafter come, my brother dear, Where you’ll not need to ask of me, as here. For you shall, of your own experience, In a red chair have much more evidence

Sometimes we feign them, sometimes we arise In bodies that are dead, in various ways,

Well, sometimes we are God’s own instruments 220 And means to do his orders and intents, When so he pleases, upon all his creatures, In divers ways and shapes, and divers features.

Stomach nor any conscience have I, none;

“’tis my intent To ride, sir, to collect a bit of rent Pertaining to my lord’s temporality.

This summoner, ever lurking for his prey,

He was, if I’m to give him proper laud, 90 A thief, and more, a summoner, and a bawd.

But unto lechers gave he greatest woe; They should lament if they were apprehended;

archdeacon

“Nay,” said the summoner, “let him say to me What pleases him; when it falls to my lot, By God I’ll then repay him, every jot. I’ll then make plain to him what great honour 30 It is to be a flattering limiter;

“I am as good as dead, unless I can tell, truly, What thing it is that women most desire; Could you inform me, I’d pay well your hire.”

“Dear mother,

When what he went for he could not find out, That is, the thing that women love the best, Most saddened was the spirit in his breast; But home he goes, he could no more delay. The day was come when home he turned his way;

Here may you see, though for a while we bide, Yet out it must; no secret can we hide.

What thing it is that women most desire.

“You stand yet,” said she, “in such poor a way That for your life you’ve no security. 910 I’ll grant you life if you can tell to me

Sufficient answer in this grave concern.

Had at his court a lusty bachelor

A clerk, when he is old and can naught do Of Venus’ labours worth his worn-out shoe,

worn-out shoe,

Of why I tore from out his book a leaf, For which he struck me so it made me deaf.

That all my heart I gave to him to hold. He was, I think, but twenty winters old, And I was forty, if I tell the truth; But then I always had a young colt’s tooth.

a young colt’s tooth.

But since I was provided with a mate, I really wept but little, I may state.