第9章 Enter CHORUS(9)

FAUSTUS. Thanks, Mephistophilis.--Now, friars, take heed, Lest Faustus make your shaven crowns to bleed.

MEPHIST. Faustus, no more:see, where the Cardinals come! Re-enter the CARDINALS of France and Padua with a book.

POPE. Welcome, Lord Cardinals; come, sit down.-- Lord Raymond, take your seat.--Friars, attend, And see that all things be in readiness, As best beseems this solemn festival.

CARDINAL OF FRANCE. First, may it please your sacred Holiness To view the sentence of the reverend synod Concerning Bruno and theEmperor?

POPE. What needs this question? did I not tell you, To-morrow we would sit i' the consistory, And there determine of his punishment? You brought us word even now, it was decreed That Bruno and the cursed Emperor Were by the holy council both condemn'd For loathed Lollards and base schismatics: Then wherefore would you have me view that book?

CARDINAL OF FRANCE. Your grace mistakes; you gave us no such charge.

RAYMOND. Deny it not; we all are witnesses That Bruno here was late deliver'd you, With his rich triple crown to be reserv'd And put into the church's treasury.

BOTH CARDINALS. By holy Paul, we saw them not!

POPE. By Peter, you shall die, Unless you bring them forth immediately!-- Hale them to prison, lade their limbs with gyves.-- False prelates, for this hateful treachery Curs'd be your souls to hellish misery! [Exeunt ATTENDANTS with the two CARDINALS.]

FAUSTUS. So, they are safe. Now, Faustus, to the feast: The Pope had never such a frolic guest.

POPE. Lord Archbishop of Rheims, sit down with us. ARCHBISHOP. I thank your Holiness.

FAUSTUS. Fall to; the devil choke you, an you spare!

POPE. Who is that spoke?--Friars, look about.-- Lord Raymond, pray, fall to. I am beholding To the Bishop of Milan for this so rare a present.

FAUSTUS. I thank you, sir. [Snatches the dish.]

POPE. How now! who snatch'd the meat from me? Villains, why speak you not?-- My good Lord Archbishop, here's a most dainty dish Was sent me from a cardinal in France.

FAUSTUS. I'll have that too. [Snatches the dish.]

POPE. What Lollards do attend our holiness, That we receive such great indignity? Fetch me some wine.

FAUSTUS. Ay, pray, do, for Faustus is a-dry. POPE. Lord Raymond, I drink unto your grace. FAUSTUS. I pledge your grace. [Snatches the cup.]

POPE. My wine gone too!--Ye lubbers, look about, And find the man that doth this villany, Or, by our sanctitude, you all shall die!-- I pray, my lords, have patience at this Troublesome banquet.

ARCHBISHOP. Please it your Holiness, I think it be some ghost crept out of Purgatory, and now is come unto your Holiness for his pardon.

POPE. It may be so.-- Go, then, command our priests to sing a dirge, To lay the fury of this same troublesome ghost. [Exit an ATTENDANT.-- The POPE crosses himself.]

FAUSTUS. How now! must every bit be spic'd with a cross?-- Nay, then, take that. [Strikes the POPE.]

POPE. O, I am slain!--Help me, my lords! O, come and help to bear my body hence!-- Damn'd be his soul for ever for this deed! [Exeunt all except FAUSTUS and MEPHISTOPHILIS.]

MEPHIST. Now, Faustus, what will you do now? for I can tell you you'll be cursed with bell, book, and candle.

FAUSTUS. Bell, book, and candle,--candle, book, and bell,-- Forward and backward, to curse Faustus to hell!

Re-enter the FRIARS, with bell, book, and candle, for the Dirge.

FIRST FRIAR. Come, brethren, lets about our business with good devotion. [They sing.]

CURSED BE HE THAT STOLE HIS HOLINESS' MEAT FROMTHE TABLE! maledicat Dominus! CURSED BE HE THAT STRUCK HIS HOLINESS A BLOW ON THE FACE!

maledicat Dominus! CURSED BE HE THAT STRUCK FRIAR SANDELO A BLOW ON THE PATE! maledicat Dominus! CURSED BE HE THAT DISTURBETH OUR HOLY DIRGE! maledicat Dominus! CURSED BE HE THAT TOOK AWAY HIS HOLINESS' WINE!

maledicat Dominus!

[MEPHISTOPHILIS and FAUSTUS beat the FRIARS, and fling fire- works among them, and exeunt.]

Enter ROBIN and DICK with a cup.

DICK. Sirrah Robin, we were best look that your devil can answer the stealing of this same cup, for the Vintner's boy follows us at the hard heels.

ROBIN. 'Tis no matter; let him come: an he follow us, I'll so conjure him as he was never conjured in his life, I warrant him. Let me see the cup.

DICK. Here 'tis. [Gives the cup to ROBIN.] Yonder he comes: now, Robin, now or never shew thy cunning.

Enter VINTNER.

VINTNER. O, are you here? I am glad I have found you. You are a couple of fine companions: pray, where's the cup you stole from the tavern?

ROBIN. How, how! we steal a cup! take heed what you say: we look not like cup-stealers, I can tell you.

VINTNER. Never deny't, for I know you have it; and I'll search you. ROBIN. Search me! ay, and spare not. --Hold the cup, Dick [Aside toDICK, giving him the cup].-- Come, come, search me, search me. [VINTNER searches him.]

VINTNER. Come on, sirrah, let me search you now.

DICK. Ay, ay, do, do. --Hold the cup, Robin [Aside to ROBIN, giving him the cup].-- I fear not your searching: we scorn to steal your cups, I can tell you.

[VINTNER searches him.]

VINTNER. Never out-face me for the matter; for, sure, the cup is between you two.

ROBIN. Nay, there you lie; 'tis beyond us both.

VINTNER. A plague take you! I thought 'twas your knavery to take it away: come, give it me again.

ROBIN. Ay, much!From Constantinople have they brought me now, Only for pleasure of these damned slaves. [Exit VINTNER.]

ROBIN. By lady, sir, you have had a shrewd journey of it! willit please you to take a shoulder of mutton to supper, and a tester in your purse, and go back again?