that enthusiasm for virtue which you displayed so warmly before him
to-day." Faustus looked furiously, and gave a sign: a fiendish roar
instantly filled the arched vaults; the soldiers and executioners sunk
trembling to the ground, and out flew the prisoners on the wings of the
mighty wind.

Revenge now inflamed the breast of Faustus, and arrayed itself in the
brilliant hues of a great and noble call. The idea of avenging mankind
on its oppressors rushed through his brain, and he determined to employ
the power of the Devil in clearing the earth of hypocrites and villains.
He therefore exclaimed:

"Fly this moment to the palace, and strangle the wretch who makes a game
of virtue. Annihilate him who rewards the traitor, and knowingly treads
upon the righteous man. Avenge mankind on him, in my name."

_Devil_. Faustus, thou art forestalling the vengeance of the Avenger.

_Faustus_. His vengeance sleeps, and the righteous man suffers; I will
have him destroyed who wears only the mask of virtue.

_Devil_. Bid me, then, breathe pestilence and death over the whole
earth, so that the whole race of man may perish. I tell thee, Faustus,
thou art giving thyself useless trouble, and sending wretches down to
hell in vain; for things will still go on as they did, or perhaps worse.

_Faustus_. Crafty fiend, thou wouldst willingly save him in order that
he might commit more crimes. Princes like him do indeed deserve thy
protection, for they render virtue contemptible by rewarding villany.
Die he shall, and, loaded with his last deed, sink trembling into
damnation.

_Devil_. Know, thou fool, that the Devil rejoices over the death of a
sinner; and what I said was merely to secure myself from thy future
reproaches, and that thou mightest have no excuse remaining. The
consequences of this deed be thine.

_Faustus_. Yes, be they mine. I will lay them in the scale against my
sins. Hasten, and be firm. Be thou the arrow of my vengeance. Seize
the favourite and hurl him among the sands of burning Libya, so that he
may perish by inches.

_Devil_. Only private revenge, and spite in finding thyself deceived,
drive thee to this.

_Faustus_. Babbling fiend! It is a solitary remnant of what you call my
youthful prejudices which inspires me with angry thoughts at the sight of
any atrocious act. If I could have seen and tolerated the wickedness of
men, should I have wanted thee? Hasten and obey.

The Devil suffocate