(He shook upon the ground, from a sack, a quantity of orders of knighthood, bishops’ hats, crosses of honour, and diplomas of nobility.)
“No, no; I know Faustus better: knowledge and pleasure are his gods. Remain what you are; these things are vain and futile. Thus, by different bribes may ye all be won; and for the sake of lust or advancement, ye would work bare your hands and your intellects. But, whilst fools toil for them in the sweat of their brow, and in the exhaustion of their mind, do thou enjoy, without care or labour, what I shall serve up. To-morrow, with thy consent, I will conduct thee to the mayoress.”
Faustus. But how?
Devil. Accept the conditions, and I will tell thee. Come out of the circle; thou lookest still like a drunken man.
Faustus. I would annihilate myself if it were not for one thought!
Devil. Which is—
Faustus. That I shall only thereby sooner fall into thy power.
Devil. How rash and hasty are men! Learn but to know me, and, if I cannot gratify thy wildest earthly desires, return to poverty, to contempt, and thy starving philosophy. Step forth, I say.
Faustus. The fury of a lion inflames me, and, if hell were to yawn beneath my foot, I would spring beyond the limits of humanity.
He sprang out of the circle, and cried,