But, Faustus, since I may not speak to them,
To satisfy my longing thoughts at full,
Let me this tell thee: I have heard it said,
That this fair lady, whilst she liv'd on earth,
Had on her neck a little wart or mole;
Now may I prove that saying to be true?

FAUST. Your majesty may boldly go and see.
EMP. Faustus, I see it plain;

And in this sight thou better pleasest me,

Than if I'd gain'd another monarchy.

FAUST. Away! begone!

[Exit show.

See, see, my gracious lord! what strange beast is yon

That thrusts his head out at window?

EMP. O wondrous sight! see, Duke of Saxony, Two spreading horns most strangely fastened Upon the head of young Benvolio.

SAX. What, is he asleep or dead?

FAUST. He sleeps, my lord, but dreams not of his horns.

EMP. This sport is excellent: we'll call and wake

him.

What, ho! Benvolio !

BENV. A plague upon you, let me sleep awhile. EMP. I blame thee not to sleep much, having such a head of thine own.

SAX. Look up, Benvolio, 'tis the emperor calls. BENV. The emperor! where? O, zounds, my head!

EMP. Nay, an thy horns hold, 'tis no matter for thy head, for that's arm'd sufficiently.

FAUST. Why, how now, sir knight, what hang'd by the horns? This is most horrible: fie, pull in head for shame; let not all the world wonder at

your

you.

BENV. Zounds, Doctor! is this your villany? FAUST. O say not so, sir: the Doctor has no skill, No art, no cunning, to present these lords, Or bring before this royal Emperor The mighty monarch, warlike Alexander: If Faustus do it, you are straight resolv'd In bold Acteon's shape to turn a stag. And therefore, my lord, so please your majesty, I'll raise a kennel of hounds shall hunt him so, As all his footmanship shall scarce prevail To keep his carcase from their bloody fangs. Ho! Belimote, Argiron, Asterote!

BEN V. Hold, hold! zounds! he'll raise up a kennel of devils I think anon: good my lord intreat for me; 'sblood, I am never able to endure these torments.

EMP. Then, good Mr. Doctor,

Let me entreat you to remove his horns,

He has done penance now sufficiently.

FAUST. My gracious lord; not so much for injury done to me, as to delight your majesty with some mirth, hath Faustus justly requited this injurious knight; which being all I desire, I am content to remove his horns. Mephostophilis, transform him; and hereafter, sir, look you speak well of scholars.

BENV. Speak well of ye? 'sblood, an' scholars

be such cuckold-makers to clap horns on honest men's heads o' this order, I'll ne'er trust smooth faces and small ruffs more. But an I be not reveng'd for this, would I might be turned to a gaping oyster, and drink nothing but salt water.

EMP. Come, Faustus, while the Emperor lives, In recompense of this thy high desert,

Thou shalt command the state of Germany,

And live belov'd of mighty Carolus.

[Exeunt omnes.

SCENE II.

Enter BENVOLIO, MARTINO, FREDERICK, and SOLDIERS.

MART. Nay, sweet Benvolio, let us sway thy thoughts

From this attempt against the conjurer.

BENV. Away, you love me not, to urge me thus; Shall I let slip so great an injury,

When every servile groom jests at my wrongs,
And in their rustic gambols proudly say,
Benvolio's head was grac'd with horns to-day?
O may these eyelids never close again,
Till with my sword I have that conjurer slain :
If you will aid mé in this enterprise,

Then draw your weapons and be resolute;
If not, depart; here will Benvolio die,

But Faustus' death shall quit thy infamy.

FRED. Nay, we will stay with thee, betide what

may,

And kill that Doctor if he come this way.

BENV. Then, gentle Frederick, hie thee to the

grove,

And place our servants, and our followers,
Close in an ambush there behind the trees;
By this I know the conjurer is near,

I saw him kneel, and kiss the Emperor's hand,
And take his leave, laden with rich rewards:
Then, soldiers, boldly fight; if Faustus die,
Take you the wealth, leave us the victory.

FRED. Come, soldiers, follow me unto the grove,
Who kills him shall have gold and endless love.

[Exit Fred. with Soldiers.

BENV. My head is lighter than it was by th' horns,
But yet my heart's more ponderous than my head,
And pants until I see that conjurer dead.

MART. Where shall we place ourselves, Benvolio?
BENV. Here will we stay to hide the first assault;
O were that damned hell-hound but in place,
Thou soon shouldst see me quit my foul disgrace!
Enter FREDERICK.

FRED. Close, close, the conjurer is at hand,
And all alone comes walking in his gown;

Be ready then, and strike the peasant down.

BENV. Mine be that honour then: now, sword

strike home,

For horns he gave, I'll have his head anon.

Enter FAUSTUS with a false head.

MART. See, see, he comes.

BENV. No words: this blow ends all;

Hell take his soul, his body thus must fall.

FAUST. Oh!

FRED. Groan you, Master Doctor?

BENV. Break may his heart with groans: dear Frederick, see,

Thus will I end his griefs immediately.

MART. Strike with a willing hand, his head is off. [Benvolio strikes off Faustus's false head. BENV. The devil's dead, the Furies now may laugh. FRED.Was this that stern aspect, that awful frown, Made the grim monarch of infernal spirits Tremble and quake at his commanding charms? MART. Was this that damned head, whose art conspir'd

Benvolio's shame before the Emperor ?

BENV. Aye, that's the head, and here the body lies, Justly rewarded for his villanies.

FRED. Come, let's devise how we may add more shame

To the black scandal of his hated name.

BENV. First, on his head, in quittance of my

wrongs,

I'll nail huge forked horns, and let them hang
Within the window where he yok'd me first,
That all the world may see my just revenge.
MART. What use shall we put his beard to?
BENV. We'll sell it to a chimney-sweeper; it will
wear out ten birchen brooms, I warrant you.
FRED. What shall his eyes do?

BENV. We'll put out his eyes; and they shall