Dr Faustus - The Pope Scene
Enter CHORUS | |
CHORUS | |
1 |
Learnèd Faustus |
To know the secrets of astronomy | |
Graven in the book of Jove's high firmament, | |
Did mount himself to scale Olympus' top, | |
5 | Being seated in a chariot burning bright, |
Drawn by the strength of yoky drangons' necks. | |
He now is gone to prove cosmography, | |
And, as I guess, will first arrive at Rome, | |
To see the Pope and manner of his court, | |
10 | And take some part of holy Peter's feast, |
That to this day is higly solemnized. | |
Exit CHORUS. | |
SCENE 7 | |
[Enter FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS]. | |
FAUSTUS | |
1 | Having now, my good Mephistophilis, |
Passed with delight the stately town of Trier, | |
Environed round with airy mountain tops, | |
With walls of flint and deep-entrenched lakes, | |
5 | Not to be won by any conquering prince; |
From Paris next, 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, | |
10 | Whose buildings fair and gorgeous to the eye, |
The streets straight forth and paved with finest brick, | |
Quarters the town in four equivalents. | |
There saw we learned Maro's golden tomb, | |
The way he cut an English mile in length | |
15 | Thorough a rock of stone in one night's space. |
From thence to Venice, Padua, and the rest, | |
In one of which a sumptuous temple stands | |
That threats the stars with her aspiring top. | |
Thus hitherto hath Faustus spent his time: | |
20 | But tell me now what resting-place is this? |
Hast thou, as erst I did command | |
Conducted me within the walls of Rome? | |
MEPHISTOPHILIS | |
Faustus, I have; and, because we will not be unprovided, I have taken up his Holiness' | |
privy-chamber for our use. | |
FAUSTUS | |
25 | I hope his Holiness will bid us welcome. |
MEPHISTOPHILIS | |
Tut, 'tis no matter; man; we'll be bold with his good cheer. | |
And now, my Faustus, that thou mayst perceive | |
What Rome containeth to delight thee with, | |
30 | Know that this city stands upon seven hills |
That underprop the groundwork of the same: | |
Just through the midst runs flowing Tiber's stream | |
With winding banks that cut it in two parts, | |
Over the which four stately bridges lean, | |
35 | That makes safe passage to each part of Rome. |
Upon the bridge called Ponte Angelo | |
Erected is a castle passing strong | |
Within whose walls such store of ordnance are, | |
And double cannons framed of carvèd brass, | |
40 | As match the days within one complete year, |
Besides the gates, and high pyramides | |
Which Julius Caesar brought from Africa. | |
FAUSTUS | |
Now, by the kingdoms of infernal rule, | |
Of Styx, of Acheron, and the fiery lake | |
45 | Of ever-burning Phlegethon, I swear |
That I do long to see the monuments | |
And situation of bright-splendent Rome. | |
Come, therefore, let's away! | |
MEPHISTOPHILIS | |
Nay, Faustus, stay. I know you'd fain see the Pope | |
50 | And take some part of holy Peter's feast, |
Where thou shalt see a troop of bald-pate friars | |
Whose summum bonum is in belly-cheer. | |
FAUSTUS | |
Well, I'm content to compass then some sport, | |
And by their folly make us merriment. | |
55 | Then charm me that I may be invisible, to do what I please, unseen |
of any whilst I stay in Rome. | |
[MEPHISTOPHILIS charms him.] | |
MEPHISTOPHILIS | |
So, Faustus; now do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discern'd. | |
[Sound a sennet. Enter the POPE and the CARDINAL OF | |
LORRAINE to the banquet, with FRIARS attending.] | |
POPE | |
My Lord of Lorraine, will't please you draw near? | |
FAUSTUS |
|
60 | Fall to, and the devil choke you an you spare |
POPE | |
How now! who's that which spake? Friars, look about. | |
FIRST FRIAR | |
Here's nobody, if it like your Holiness. | |
POPE | |
My lord, here is a dainty dish was sent me from the Bishop of Milan. | |
FAUSTUS | |
65 | I thank you, sir. [Snatch it] |
POPE | |
How now! who's that which snatched the meat from me? will | |
no man look?--My lord, this dish was sent me from the Cardinal | |
of Florence. | |
FAUSTUS | |
[Snatching the dish] You say true. I'll ha't. | |
POPE | |
70 | What, again? My lord, I'll drink to your grace. |
FAUSTUS | |
[Snatching the cup] I'll pledge your grace. | |
LORRAINE | |
My lord, it may be some ghost, newly crept out of | |
Purgatory, come to beg a pardon of your Holiness. | |
POPE | |
It may be so. Friars, prepare a dirge to lay the fury of this ghost. | |
75 | Once again my lord, fall to. [The POPE crosseth himself.] |
FAUSTUS | |
What, are you crossing of yourself? | |
Well, use that trick no more, I would advise you. | |
[The POPE crosses himself again.] | |
FAUSTUS | |
Well, there's the second time. Aware the third, | |
I give you fair warning. | |
[The POPE cross(es himself) again, and FAUSTUS hits him a box of the ear; and they all (except FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS) run away.] |
|
FAUSTUS | |
80 | Come on, Mephistophilis; what shall we do? |
MEPHISTOPHILIS | |
Nay, I know not: we shall be cursed with bell, book, | |
and candle. | |
FAUSTUS | |
How! bell, book, and candle, candle, book, and bell, | |
Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell. | |
85 | Anon you shall hear a hog grunt, a calf bleat, and an ass bray, |
Because it is Saint Peter's holiday. | |
[Re-enter all the FRIARS to sing the Dirge.] | |
FIRST FRIAR | |
Come, brethren, let's about our business with good devotion. | |
[(The FRIARS) Sing this.] | |
CURSED BE HE THAT STOLE AWAY HIS HOLINESS' MEAT FROM THE | |
TABLE! | |
90 | Maledicat Dominus! |
CURSED BE HE THAT STRUCK HIS HOLINESS A BLOW ON THE FACE! | |
Maledicat Dominus! | |
CURSED BE HE THAT TOOK FRIAR SANDELO A BLOW ON THE PATE! | |
Maledicat Dominus! | |
95 | CURSED BE HE THAT DISTURBETH OUR HOLY DIRGE! |
Maledicat Dominus! | |
CURSED BE HE THAT TOOK AWAY HIS HOLINESS' WINE! | |
Maledicat Dominus! | |
Et omnes Sancti. Amen. | |
[FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS beat the FRIARS, and fling fireworks among them, and so exuent.] |