FAUSTUS. What, is great Mephistophilis so passionate For being deprived of the joys of heaven? Learn thou of Faustus manly fortitude, And scorn those joys thou never shalt possess. Go bear these tidings to great Lucifer: Seeing Faustus hath incurr'd eternal death By desperate thoughts against Jove's deity, Say, he surrenders up to him his soul, So he will spare him four and twenty years, Letting him live in all voluptuousness; Having thee ever to attend on me, To give me whatsoever I shall ask, To tell me whatsoever I demand, To slay mine enemies, and to aid my friends, And always be obedient to my will. Go, and return to mighty Lucifer, And meet me in my study at midnight, And then resolve me of thy master's mind. MEPHIST. I will, Faustus. [Exit.] FAUSTUS. Had I as many souls as there be stars, I'd give them all for Mephistophilis. By him I'll be great emperor of the world, And make a bridge thorough [37] the moving air, To pass the ocean with a band of men; I'll join the hills that bind the Afric shore, And make that country continent to Spain, And both contributary to my crown: The Emperor shall not live but by my leave, Nor any potentate of Germany. Now that I have obtain'd what I desir'd, I'll live in speculation of this art, Till Mephistophilis return again. [Exit.] Enter WAGNER and CLOWN. WAGNER. Come hither, sirrah boy. CLOWN. Boy! O, disgrace to my person! zounds, boy in your face! You have seen many boys with beards, I am sure. WAGNER. Sirrah, [38] hast thou no comings in? CLOWN. Yes, and goings out too, you may see, sir. WAGNER. Alas, poor slave! see how poverty jests in his nakedness! I know the villain's out of service, and so hungry, that I know he would give his soul to the devil for a shoulder of mutton, though it were blood-raw. CLOWN. Not so neither: I had need to have it well roasted, and good sauce to it, if I pay so dear, I can tell you. WAGNER. Sirrah, wilt thou be my man, and wait on me, and I will make thee go like Qui mihi discipulus? CLOWN. What, in verse? WAGNER. No, slave; in beaten silk and staves-acre. CLOWN. Staves-acre! that's good to kill vermin: then, belike, if I serve you, I shall be lousy. WAGNER. Why, so thou shalt be, whether thou dost it or no; for, sirrah, if thou dost not presently bind thyself to me for seven years, I'll turn all the lice about thee into familiars, and make them tear thee in pieces. CLOWN. Nay, sir, you may save [39] yourself a labour, for they are as familiar with me as if they paid for their meat and drink, I can tell you. WAGNER. Well, sirrah, leave your jesting, and take these guilders. [Gives money.]