Scene 8

[Enter ROBIN and RALPH with a silver goblet.]

ROBIN
Come, Ralph: did not I tell thee, we were for ever made by this Doctor Faustus' book? ecce, signum! here's a simple purchase for horse-keepers: our horses shall eat no hay as long as this lasts.

RALPH
But, Robin, here comes the Vintner.

ROBIN
Hush! I'll gull him supernaturally.

[Enter VINTNER.]

ROBIN
Drawer, I hope all is paid; God be with you!--Come, Ralph.

VINTNER
Soft, sir; a word with you. I must yet have a goblet paid from you, ere you go.

ROBIN
I a goblet, Ralph, I a goblet!--I scorn you; and you are but a, &c. I a goblet! search me.

VINTNER
I mean so, sir, with your favour.

[Searches ROBIN.]

ROBIN
How say you now?

VINTNER
I must say somewhat to your fellow.--You, sir!

RALPH
Me, sir! me, sir! search your fill. [VINTNER searches him.] Now, sir, you may be ashamed to burden honest men with a matter of truth.

VINTNER
Well, tone of you hath this goblet about you.

ROBIN
You lie, drawer, 'tis afore me [Aside].--Sirrah you, I'll teach you to impeach honest men;--stand by;--I'll scour you for a goblet;--stand aside you had best, I charge you in the name of Belzebub.--Look to the goblet, Ralph [Aside to RALPH].

VINTNER
What mean you, sirrah?

ROBIN
I'll tell you what I mean. [Reads from a book] Sanctobulorum Periphrasticon--nay, I'll tickle you, Vintner.--Look to the goblet, Ralph [Aside to RALPH].--[Reads] Polypragmos Belseborams framanto pacostiphos tostu, Mephistophilis, &c.

[Enter MEPHISTOPHILIS, sets squibs at their backs, and then exit. They run about.]

VINTNER
O, nomine Domini! what meanest thou, Robin? thou hast no goblet.

RALPH
Peccatum peccatorum!--Here's thy goblet, good Vintner.

[Gives the goblet to VINTNER, who exit.]

ROBIN
Misericordia pro nobis! what shall I do? Good devil, forgive me now, and I'll never rob thy library more.

[Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS.]

MEPHISTOPHILIS
Monarch of Hell, under whose black survey
Great potentates do kneel with awful fear,
Upon whose altars thousand souls do lie,
How am I vexed with these villains' charms?
From Constantinople am I hither come,
Only for pleasure of these damned slaves.

ROBIN
How, from Constantinople! you have had a great journey: will you take sixpence in your purse to pay for your supper, and be gone?

MEPHISTOPHILIS
Well, villains, for your presumption, I transform thee into an ape, and thee into a dog; and so be gone!

[Exit.]

ROBIN
How, into an ape! that's brave: I'll have fine sport with the boys; I'll get nuts and apples enow.

RALPH
And I must be a dog.

ROBIN
I'faith, thy head will never be out of the pottage-pot.

[Exeunt.]