Faust (from The Puppet-Play of Doctor Faust and Doctor Faustus)
Enter FAUST.
FAUST
Now, Faustus, must you be damned and can you not be saved. What boots it then to think of
God of heaven? O, something sounds in my ears:
GOOD ANGEL
Sweet Faustus, leave that
execrable
art.
FAUST
Contrition, prayer, repentance—what of them?
GOOD ANGEL
O, they are means to bring you unto heaven!
EVIL ANGELS
Rather, illusions, fruits of lunacy that make men foolish that do trust them most.
GOOD ANGEL
Sweet Faustus, think of heaven and heavenly things.
EVIL ANGELS
No, Faustus; think of honor and wealth.
Exit ANGELS
FAUST
Of wealth! What god can hurt you, Faustus? You are safe. I charge you, you furies of hell, by
hell’s gates to appear immediately before me!
Enter SPIRITS.
FAUST
Tell me, you first fury of hell, what’s your name?
MEXICO
Mexico.
FAUST
And how quick are you?


avails, helps
detested, wretched
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MEXICO
As quick as a bullet fired from a gun.
FAUST
You have great speed, but not enough for me. Vanish! And what name have you, hellish fury,
and how quick are you?
AUERHAN
Auerhan, and I am as quick as the wind.
FAUST
That’s very quick, but not enough for me. Vanish! What’s your name hellish spirit?
VITZLIPUTZLI
Vitzliputzli.
FAUST
And how quick are you?
VITZLIPUTZLI
As quick as a ship sailing on the sea.
FAUST
A ship sailing on the sea? That is a fair speed, but with unfavorable winds it doesn’t always
reach its goal. Vanish! Say on, hellish fury—what’s your name?
ALEKSO
Alekso.
FAUST
Alekso? And what’s your speed?
ALEKSO
I am as quick as a snail.
FAUST
As a snail? So you are truly the slowest of all the hellish spirits? I can’t make use of you at all.
Vanish!
Enter MEPHISTOPHELES.
FAUST
Ha! What do I see? A hellish fury in the likeness of a man?
MEPHISTOPHELES
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You must know, Faust, that I am a prince of hell, and have the power to assume, and to appear
in, whatsoever shape I please.
FAUST
You a prince of hell? What’s your name?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Mephistopheles.
FAUST
Mephistopheles? That’s a good-sounding name. And how quick are you?
MEPHISTOPHELES
As quick as man’s thoughts.
FAUST
As man’s thoughts? Ha! That is an extraordinary speed. How is it then, that you are out of hell?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Why, this is hell.
FAUST
Mephistopheles, what means this show?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Nothing, Faustus, but to delight your mind and to show you what magic can perform. For, when
we hear a man rack the name of God, we fly in hope to get his glorious soul. Tell me, Faustus,
shall I have your soul?
FAUST
I promise to be yours, body and soul, at the end of the time I shall settle on.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Tell me the conditions, Faust, to which I must submit.
FAUST
The first condition is, that you get me as much money as I ask from you. The second is that you
make me a person of consequence among all great men and at all great courts, that you carry me
wherever my desire takes me, that you warn me of all dangers. And the third condition is that
you tell me before our contract comes to an end, and that you obey me for four and twenty years.
Are you willing?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Why four and twenty years, Faust? Half of that is enough.
FAUST
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Four and twenty years, no less.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Well, I am satisfied. Then stab your arm courageously and bind your soul. Write it in manner of
a deed of gift.
FAUST cuts his arm writes the contract.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Speak, Faustus, do you deliver this as your deed?
FAUST
Yes, take it.
MEPHISTOPHELES
I must leave you now.
FAUST
Leave me then! But when will you return to me?
MEPHISTOPHELES
As soon as you think of me, Faust.
MEPHISTOPHELES goes off.
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