Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD   Dramatis Personæ

Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593). Doctor Faustus.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Scene VIII

Robin.O, this is admirable! here I ha’ stolen one of Dr. Faustus’ conjuring books, and i’ faith I mean to search come circles for my own use. Now will I make all the maidens in our parish dance at my pleasure, stark naked before me; and so by that means I shall see more than e’er I felt or saw yet.

Ralph.Robin, prithee come away; there’s a gentleman tarries to have his horse, and he would have his things rubb’d and made clean. He keeps such a chafing with my mistress about it; and she has sent me to look thee out; prithee come away.

Robin.Keep out, keep out, or else you are blown up; you are dismemb’red, Ralph: keep out, for I am about a roaring piece of work.

Ralph.Come, what dost thou with that same book? Thou canst not read.

Robin.Yes, my master and mistress shall find that I can read, he for his forehead, she for her private study; she’s born to bear with me, or else my art fails.

Ralph.Why, Robin, what book is that?

Robin.What book! Why, the most intolerable book for conjuring that e’er was invented by any brimstone devil.

Ralph.Canst thou conjure with it?

Robin.I can do all these things easily with it: first, I can make thee drunk with ippocras at any tabern in Europe for nothing; that’s one of my conjuring works.

Ralph.Our Master Parson says that’s nothing.

Robin.True, Ralph; and more, Ralph, if thou hast any mind to Nan Spit, our kitchenmaid, then turn her and wind her to thy own use as often as thou wilt, and at midnight.

Ralph.O brave Robin, shall I have Nan Spit, and to mine own use? On that condition I’ll feed thy devil with horsebread as long as he lives, of free cost.

Robin.No more, sweet Ralph: let’s go and make clean our boots, which lie foul upon our hands, and then to our conjuring in the Devil’s name.Exeunt.