of Doctor Faustus
To whom Faustus doth dedicate himselfe.
This word damnation terrifies not me,
For I confound Hell in Elizium:
My Ghost be with the old Philosophers,
But leaving these vaine trifles of mens souls,
Tell me, what is that Lucifer, thy Lord:
Meph.
Arch-regent and Commander of all Spirits.
Faust.
Was not that Lucifer an Angell once?
Meph.
Yes Faustus, and most dearely lov'd of God.
Faust.
How comes it then that he is Prince of Devils?
Meph.
O: by aspiring pride and insolence,
For which God threw him from the face of heaven.
Faust.
And what are you that live with Lucifer?
Meph.
Unhappie spirits that live with Lucifer,
Conspir'd against our God with Lucifer,
And are for ever damn'd with Lucifer.
Faust.
Where are you damn'd?
Meph.
In Hell.
Faust.
How comes it then that thou art out of Hell?
Meph.
Why this is Hell, nor am I out of it.
Thinkst thou that I, that saw the face of God,
And tasted the eternall joyes of Heaven,
Am not tormented with ten thousand Hels,
In being depriv'd of everlasting blisse?
O Faustus, leave those frivolous demands,
Which strike a terror to my fainting soule.
Faust.
What is great Mephostophilis so passionate,
For being deprived of the joyes of Heaven?
Learne thou of Faustus manly fortitude,
And scorn those joyes thou never shalt possesse.
Goe beare these tidings to great Lucifer,
Seeing Faustus hath incurr'd eternal death,
By desperate thoughts against Joves Deitie,
Say he surrenders up to him his soule,
So he will spare him foure and twentie yeares,
Letting him live in all voluptuousnesse,
Having thee ever to attend on me,
To give me whatsoever I shall aske,
To tell me whatsoever I demand:
