Dr. Faustus detailed Summary-Part III
Faustus is bent upon teasing the proud and arrogant Pope while we may understand the religious authority and its misuse by the Pope deeming himself not prone to error:
"Is not all power on earth bestow'd on us?
And therefore, though we would, we cannot err.
Behold this silver belt, whereto is fix'd Seven golden seals, fast sealed with seven seals,
In token of our seven-fold power from heaven,
To bind or loose, lock fast, condemn or judge".
Here Faustus and Mephistophilis , disguised in the cardinals of France and Padua, approach the haughty Pope. They free Bruno from the Pope and Faustus desires invisibility for teasing the Papal order. He snatches the meal of the Pope. There is amazement and anger in the holy ceremony. The Friars are ordered to curse Faustus with bells, books and candle but Mephistophilis and Faustus beat the Friars and disappear.
Faustus again appears in the court of German Emperor with Bruno and others. The Emperor is much impressed by the magic of Faustus in setting Bruno free. The Emperor desires to see Alexander the Great by charms of Faustus' magic. Benvolio, a knight, does criticize Faustus and is punished with horns. Upon Emperor's request, Faustus spares him. But this knight plans to avenge and kill Faustus. They attack and cut off Faustus' head but Faustus is alive again with his head restored. He then punishes them with horns.
In a public place some people are cursing the strange but loathsome deeds of Faustus which he has been doing to trouble them: he sold a horse of hay to a man for 40 dollars while he ate up all the hay load of another for just 3 dollars.
Faustus has built a castle in the air for the Duke of Vanholt. While they are thanking Faustus, a few people enter the house of the Duke to trouble Faustus. Faustus makes them dumb in the middle of their speech and pleases the Duke and the Duchess.
Then Faustus is asked for a meeting with Helen and Faustus responds:
"It is not Faustus' custom to deny
The just request of those that wish him well:
You shall behold that peerless dame of Greece".
When the show of Helen is over, an old man approaches Faustus and asks him to repent for
"Then thou art banish'd from the sight of heaven:
No mortal can express the pains of hell."
The old tells him:
"I see an angel hover o'er thy head,
And, with a vial full of precious grace,
Offers to pour the same into thy soul:
Then call for mercy, and avoid despair".
But Faustus delays by saying: "Leave me a while to ponder on my sins". Faustus wishes to repent but feels despair. Mephistophilis threatens Faustus with death. And Faustus once again surrenders to Lucifer by his own free will and demands the company of Helen. He kisses her.
Enter Lucifer with his devils to take the life of Faustus upon completion of 24 years. They are discussing that Faustus is damned for ever. Two scholars come to meet Faustus and find him gloomy. They advise him: "Faustus, look up to heaven, and remember mercy is infinite." While Faustus is very desolate: "the serpent that tempted Eve may be saved, but not Faustus...what shall become of Faustus, being in hell for ever?" The scholars advise him to "call on God". Faustus utters: "O my God, I would weep! but the devil draws in my tears. Gush forth blood, instead of tears! yea, life and soul! O, he stays my tongue". Faustus discloses the contract with Lucifer: "God forbade it, indeed; but Faustus hath done it: for the vain pleasure of four-and-twenty years hath Faustus lost eternal joy and felicity. I writ them a bill with mine own blood: the date is expired; this is the time, and he will fetch me".
The scholars retire to the other room to pray for Faustus while the devils come to take his life. Mephistophilis tells Faustus "Twas I that, when thou wert i'the way to heaven, Damm'd up thy passage; when thou took'st the book To view the Scriptures, then I turn'd the leaves, And led thine eye". Then good and bad angels appear; both threaten him with upcoming hell and its pangs. Faustus is in deep pains: "let this hour be but A year, a month, a week, a natural day, That Faustus may repent and save his soul!" Faustus seeks heaven's favours now when half an hour is left of his life:
"Let Faustus live in hell a thousand years,
A hundred thousand, and at last be sav'd!"
But the devils come and tear apart Faustus's limbs.
