The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Preface
• Publisher's Notice
• Introduction
• Tamburlaine the Great. In Two Parts.
• Tamburlaine the Great, Part Tbe First.
• The Prologue.
• Persons Represented. 1
• Tamburlaine the Great. Part the First.: Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI.
• Scene VII.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Tamburlaine the Great. Part the Second
• Prologue.
• Persons Represented.
• Tamburlaine the Great. Part the Second: Act the First.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene II.
• Act the Second.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act the Third.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Act the Fourth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Act the Fifth.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.
• Persons Represented.
• The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus.
• Scene I.
• Scene II.
• Scene III.
• Scene IV.
• Scene V.
• Scene VI. 1
• Scene VII.
• Scene VIII.
• Scene IX.
• Scene X.
• Scene XI.
• Scene XII.
• Scene XIII.
• Scene XIV.
• Scene XV.
• Scene XVI.
• Appendix to Dr. Faustus.
• Ballad of Faustus.

BALLAD OF FAUSTUS.

“A ballad of the life and death of Doctor Faustus the great con-gerer,” perhaps founded on Marlowe's play, was licensed to be printed 28th February 1588-9. It was perhaps the ballad printed below from the Roxburghe Collection.

The judgment of God shewed upon one John Faustus, Doctor in Divinity.

Tuneof Fortune my Foe.

• All Christian men, give ear a while to me,
• How I am plung'd in pain, but cannot die:
• I liv'd a life the like did none before,
• Forsaking Christ, and I am damn'd therefore.

• At Wittenburge, a town in Germany,
• There was I born and bred of good degree;
• Of honest stock, which afterwards I sham'd;
• Accurst therefore, for Faustus was I nam'd.

• In learning, loe, my uncle brought up me,
• And made me Doctor in Divinity;
• And, when he dy'd, he left me all his wealth,
• Whose cursèd gold did hinder my souls health.

• Then did I shun the holy Bible-book,
• Nor on Gods word would ever after look;
• But studied accursèd conjuration,
• Which was the cause of my utter damnation.
• The devil in fryars weeds appeared to me,
• And straight to my request he did agree,
• That I might have all things at my desire:
• I gave him soul and body for his hire.

• Twice did I make my tender flesh to bleed,
• Twice with my blood I wrote the devils deed,
• Twice wretchedly I soul and body sold,
• To live in peace1 and do what things I would.

• For four and twenty years this bond was made,
• And at the length my soul was truly paid!
• Time ran away, and yet I never thought
• How dear my soul our Saviour Christ had bought.

• Wouldf I Hi first been made a beast by kind!
• Then had not I so vainly set my mind;
• Or would, when reason first began to bloom,
• Some darksome den had been my deadly tomb!

• Woe to the day of my nativity!
• Woe to the time that once did foster me!
• And woe unto the hand that seal'd the bill!
• Woe to myself, the cause of all my ill!

• The time I passed away, with much delight,
• Mongst princes, peers, and many a worthy knight:
• I wrought such wonders by my magick skill,
• That all the world may talk of Faustus still.

• The devil he carried me up into the sky,
• Where I did see how all the world did lie;
• I went about the world in eight daies space,
• And then return'd unto my native place.

• What pleasure I did wish to please my mind
• He did perform, as bond and seal did bind;
• The secrets of the stars and planets told,
• Of earth and sea, with wonders manifold.

• When four and twenty years was almost run,
• I thought of all things that was past and done;
• How that the devil would soon claim his right,
• And carry me to everlasting night.

• Then all too late I curst my wicked deed,
• The dread1 whereof doth make my heart to bleed;
• All daies and hours I mourned wondrous sore,
• Repenting me of all things done before.

• I then did wish both sun and moon to stay,
• All times and seasons never to decay;
• Then had my time nere come to dated end,
• Nor soul and body down to hell descend.

• At last, when I had but one hour to come,
• I turn'd my glass, for my last hour to run,
• And call'd in learned men to comfort me;
• But faith was gone, and none could comfort me.

• By twelve a clock my glass was almost out:
• My grieved conscience then began to doubt;
• I wisht the students stay in chamber by; But,
• as they staid, they heard a dreadful cry.
• Then present, lo,1 they came into the hall,
• Whereas my brains was cast against the wall;
• Both arms and legs in pieces torn they see,
• My bowels gone: this was an end of me.

• You conjurers and damned witches all,
• Example take by my unhappy fall:
• Give not your souls and bodies unto hell,
• See that the smallest hair you do not sell.

• But hope that Christ his kingdom you may gain,
• Where you shalt never fear such mortal pain;
• Forsake the devil and all his crafty ways,
• Embrace true faith that never more decays.

Printed by and for A. M. and sold by the Booksellers of London.

END OF VOL. I.

London: PRINTED by BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO KUINBUKGH.

[1]This fact was established by Dyce from an^ examination of thi Parish Register.

[1]“Another copy of this ballad in the British Museum,—Ballads, &c., 643, m. 10,—has, 'pleasure.'”Dyce.

[1]“So the other copy.—The Roxburghe copy 'deed.'”Dyce.

[1]“The other copy ' presently.'”Dya.