Faustus by David Mamet Read Free Book Online Page A

fear, regret and uncertainty. It is the most ancient song of conquest. For women conquer but the once, and then are self-schooled. Poor story. To live supine. First to conceive, and then to bear. At long last only licensed to revolve, our face to the ground. But to weep. (
We hear the pealing of the bell) …
Yes, I attend …
    MAGUS: See how the circularity augments the grief.
    WIFE: Fool woman who was content with little. With so little … (
The
WIFE
exits
.)
    MAGUS: Indeed, dashing all barriers to its intensification. The dropped stone stops at earth; gluttony brings repletion, the libertine copulates but to debility, in each the cure grows apace with the malady. It is a law. In all things but grief.
    FAUSTUS: Grief must find a rest.
    MAGUS: Behold the exception. She is a suicide, and lives forever. A self-perpetuating energy, increased in moment through sheer force of contemplation. Must we not stand unabashed, to receive whate’er of insight, awe, or entertainment our various natures may propose.
    FAUSTUS: God Damn You.
    MAGUS: Blasphemy and prayer are one. An appeal, thus an assertion of a superior power. Do you acknowledge it? I ask. Do you, at length, sense the true meaning of confession?
    FAUSTUS: I wish to see my son.
    MAGUS: You have bartered and been paid.
    FAUSTUS: I call upon God …
    MAGUS: And I invite you to denounce God.
    FAUSTUS: I denounce the Devil, in all of his undertakings. I convict myself, of a life of heresy. My every thought idolatrous, all my devotions sham, and homage to a false god. I disclaim them, I renounce every thought, exhortation, observance, devotion, and deed as sin and prostrate myself, helpless, before the One True God. It cannot lack precedent. Grant me the power to frame my contrition. Dear God, hear my prayer.
    MAGUS: Why should a god prefer your prayers to your agony?
    FAUSTUS: Let that stand as my offering: the anguish of a contrite heart. I beg for recision of my child’s death, of my wife’s suffering. God, who can read my heart, mighty judge, with no deeds to plead for him, here stands your servant, shriven, at last, to your will. Hear me.
    MAGUS: The voices of the Damned may not be heard above.
    FAUSTUS: I then plead for an intercessor. To one consecrated to Heaven. To speak for me. I call upon my son. My son, an angel.
    MAGUS: Do not name him.
    FAUSTUS: Then there exists that intuited mercy. Yes. To which your speech testifies. My son, untouched by sin, unimplicated, blameless. Is there not that bond?Stronger than death—a sweet, unending child’s love, oh son. Say that you hear my prayer.
    (
The drop parts behind
FAUSTUS
to now reveal Heaven, where we find
FAUSTUS’
s
SON .)
    CHILD: I hear you …
    ( FAUSTUS
turns to see his
SON ,
and advances to him
.)
    FAUSTUS: O blessed Child, how the sweet moment stuns me to chastisement. Dear Child. Oh, son, of my heart, exult the power which vouchsafed this interview. Oh, son. Intercede for me.
    CHILD: Intercede …
    FAUSTUS: For a poor penitent. Who implores your forgiveness. Plead for me, not for my worth, I have none. For yours. Forward your merit in my case. Bear my petition.
    CHILD: Ah, that is why you have appeared today.
    FAUSTUS: … today.
    CHILD: Today is the day of atonement.
    FAUSTUS: Of atonement …
    CHILD: You bear a petition.
    FAUSTUS: I do.
    CHILD: Say it to me.
    FAUSTUS: Yes, I shall—my angel—that my wife, that my child, and myself may return, to the earth, whole, and restored, as before.
    CHILD: Whole and restored.
    FAUSTUS: Bear my plea. Best of the two worlds. Through all my criminal confusion one truth endured, undoubted, and pure. That of your love—pity me, and preach your benignity in my cause on high.
    CHILD: I shall.
    FAUSTUS: Praise God—Oh, praise God.
    CHILD: But to plead in the cause of whom? (
Pause
)
    FAUSTUS: Can you not know me?
    CHILD: How should I know you? (
Pause
) Am I not endless blessed?
    FAUSTUS: You are.
    CHILD: In what could eternal blessing consist save in oblivion?