Devil. What madness is this, Faustus? Harmony! does she rule the confused dance of life?
Faustus. Silence! I feel it perhaps for the last time; and perhaps look back for the last time upon the pleasant, joyous days of youth. How lamentable that man must awake from this dream of bliss; that the plant must shoot up, in order to wither away as a tree, or be felled! Ha, demon, smile; I was once happy. But let that be forgotten which can never be recalled. Yes, we have only strength when we pursue wickedness. But wherein am I great? If I were so, should I want thee? Go, cunning flatterer; thou wilt only make me feel my own littleness.
Devil. He who is capable of feeling where the shoe pinches him, and has courage enough to tear away the cause of it, is at least great so far. More I will not say, and woe to thee if I were to stimulate thee with words.
Faustus. Observe me now, and tell me what my spirit requires, but what I dare not utter.
At these words Faustus pointed to himself, then towards the heavens, and moved his magic staff towards the east and the west. He then continued, “Thou wast, when nothing was.” He
laid his hand upon his breast and forehead: “Here is darkness; let it be dispelled.”
Devil. Desperate man! full well I know thy wish, and tremble, devil as I am, at thy boldness.
Faustus. Wretched spirit! thou shalt not escape by this subterfuge. In my burning thirst I would undertake to drink dry the deep sea, if I hoped to find at its bottom what I sought. I am thine, or another’s: I yet stand where no devil can penetrate. Faustus is yet his own master.
Devil. Thou wast so a few minutes since. But thy lot was cast when thou enteredst this circle. Whoever has looked me in the face turns back in vain; and thus I leave thee.
Faustus. Thou shalt speak, and remove the dark covering which conceals from me the world of spirits. I will know the destination of man, and the cause of moral evil in the world; I will know wherefore virtue suffers, and vice is rewarded; I will know why we must purchase a moment’s enjoyment by years of agony and sorrow. Thou shalt disclose to me the source of things, and the mysterious causes of the phenomena