 | Faustus |  |
SCENE I.
A Room in Faustus' Palace.Faustus and Mephistophiles.
Meph.
I could be angry with you.
Faus.
Well, be angry.
Meph.
To carry her away, and all for nothing!
From Venice here to Milan!—My back aches for it.
E'en Rosolia, if she be a woman,
Must laugh at such an innocent!
Faus.
The better!
Meph.
Why did you bear her off then?
Faus.
Why? To please
The humour of the moment, the wild whim,
That tickled me, as laughter tickles fools,
They know not wherefore. Plague not me for reasons;
Had I a jot of reason, I'd not use
The devil's company.
Meph.
One comfort still!
Though she be innocent, her fame is gone;
The rest will follow. She will scarcely be
Such perfect fool to bear the plagues of virtue
When all the profit's gone—I mean the name.
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She'll rate you soundly, doctor; yes, I spy it.
'Tis glimmering in her nose. I wish you joy.
[Exit Mephistophiles.
Faus.
Her eye indeed looks anger—Simple fool!—
I know not why, but in me is a scorn,
A deadly withering scorn, of all that is,
From the mean worm we tread on, to the thing
Nature made last and greatest—wretched man!
I'm weary of it all.
Enter Rosolia.
Ros.
Oh, villain! villain!
What spells, what dev'lish magic, did you use
To witch my better senses?
Faus.
All men, lady,
Use some art with your sex, to win its favour:
Many prevail by wit, and more by titles;
Some sing themselves into a lady's heart;
And some have danc'd their way there; some have done
The feat by a fair person; some, by gold;
But most, by flattery. Now I, indeed,
Us'd none of these: I bore you bravely off,
And you, I know it, love me all the better.
Ros.
I will denounce thee!
Faus.
Will you so, indeed?
Take my advice; be silent!
Ros.
Villain!
Faus.
Woman!
Ros.
I'll have revenge—I will—and such revenge—
If there is law in Milan.
Faus.
Woman still.
Ros.
What! do you mock me, wretch?
Faus.
A little, lady;
Pray you excuse it; we'll be better friends.
Ros.
Unhand me, sorcerer! I will not stay.
Faus.
Thou hast no choice; be rooted there in silence.
[Rosolia sinks into a chair.
Dost feel my spell upon thee? But fear not;
I will but show thee what my power can do,
That thou may'st cease to struggle with it.
Look! by mine art,
Thou shalt see distant Venice and our friends
As if reflected on a mirror.—Look!
[Rosolia sinks into a chair.
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I will but show thee what my power can do,
That thou may'st cease to struggle with it.
Look! by mine art,
Thou shalt see distant Venice and our friends
As if reflected on a mirror.—Look!
On the air, as on a glass,
Shadows of the moment, pass;
I have bid you once and twice,
Spirits, I have bid you thrice.
Shadows of the moment, pass;
I have bid you once and twice,
Spirits, I have bid you thrice.
[Music.—The scene opens and discovers, as in a mirror, the interior of a cemetery, where the body of Enrico lies.
Faus.
Spirits, ye obey me well;
Change again, and at my spell
Show us how they kneel in pray'r,
Monks and lords and ladies fair.
[Music.—The vision changes to the Interior of a Church, where the Count di Casanova, Orsini, &c. appear.
Faus.
Away! Away!
Dull visions, pass!
And on thy magic glass
Show Naples' Bay.
[Music.—The Scene changes to the Bay of Naples. —Continued Music.—Loud knocking at the door—the vision instantly passes away, and the apartment resumes its original appearance. Rosolia starts up.
Faus.
The sound dissolves my spell.
Roso.
Help! Help!
[The door is burst open. An Officer and Soldiers enter.
Off.
You are our prisoner.
Faus.
Art sure of that?
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The Countess Rosolia! I much grieve
A daughter of your house should e'er be found
As I find you.
Faus.
In truth it must be own'd
A parlous meeting for a maiden's fame!
Alone, sir, with a man!—
Fie, lady, fie! I blush for you, indeed.
Ros.
Oh, monstrous villainy! I'll to the king;
He'll right me on thee, sorcerer.
Faus.
Farewell!
[Exit Rosolia.
A shrewd young vixen! Are you married, sir?
Off.
His impudence confounds me!
Faus.
For, if not,
I recommend the lady; crede experto;
She's young, sir, as you see; dark sparkling eyes;
A tolerable brow; her nose indeed
Is somewhat of the shortest; but her tongue—
That's long enough I promise you.
Off.
Do I dream?
Faus.
Oh, marry her—by all means marry her;
I see it by your brow (but that's a secret)
You were ordained a cuckold.
Off.
Seize and bind him!
Faus.
You'll ask my good will first. Ho, Mephistophiles!
Quick! to my rescue! by that word—that word!—
Why, Mephistophiles!
Off.
Thy fiend deserts thee.
Bear him to prison.
[They seize him.
Faus.
Dost thou leave me, fiend?
Off.
As he leaves all who trust him.
Faus.
Dost desert me?
I do implore thee! Mephistophiles!
Off.
Off with him!
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No; if I must die, I'll die
Here, on this spot, and not by hangman hands.
[He suddenly breaks from them, and, drawing out a pistol, is about to shoot himself, when Mephistophiles appears, and beats down his hand as he fires.
Meph.
Stop, my dear Faustus—not that I object
To this same suicide; I like the deed;
But 'tis not yet your time.
Off.
What being's that?
Whence did he come?
Faus.
Quick! save me, I command thee!
Meph.
So brave, too, on the sudden? I command thee!
Good bye, dear domine!
Faus.
Stay, false one! stay!
Dost thou not fear my power?
Meph.
Try me.
Faus.
Stay!
Music. Faustus seizes the hand of Mephistophiles. Thunder; the Demon sinks.
Faus.
That icy touch has wither'd me. I'm lost!
Off.
Away with him!
Faus.
Nay, sirs; it shall not need;
I am your prisoner—if it must be so;
But keep your base hands from me. I am your's—
This wretched body's your's, and for my soul—
There lies the secret! I shall know it soon.
Off.
You must away.
Faus.
Well, fellow; lead you on—
I shall be free the sooner of your presence.
[The Soldiers bear off Faustus, followed by the Officer.
| Faustus | |