Doctor Faustus

Wagner is puzzled because Faustus “hath given to [him] all his goods” (49), yet he carouses as if he isn’t about to die. Faustus entertains members of the university—who, after a long discussion, have decided that Helen of Troy is history’s most wonderful woman. They ask Faustus to produce her for them to admire. He does so, and the men are awed by her perfect beauty.

After the party, an old man appears and begs Faustus to seek repentance before his time is up. Faustus, meaning to honor his bargain with Lucifer, receives a dagger from Mephistophilis. The old man says he can see an angel hovering above Faustus. The scholar agrees to think about it.

Mephistophilis accuses Faustus of breaking his pact and threatens to tear him apart. Faustus relents, slits his arm with the dagger, and writes in blood on a piece of paper. He makes a last request, to enjoy an intimate encounter with Helen of Troy. Mephistophilis indulges the request, and Helen reappears. She’s so beautiful that Faustus moans, “Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships” (52). He promises to defend her as did her Trojan lover Paris.