Wednesday 5 June 2013

The Parade of the Seven Deadly Sins

The following is a scene taken from the book The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe; the scene went very much visual as I read through an I hope you to find it interesting!



FAUSTUS. That sight will be as pleasant unto me,

As Paradise was to Adam the first day
Of his creation.

LUCIFER. Talk not of Paradise or creation; but mark the
show.—
Go, Mephistophilis, and fetch them in.

MEPHISTOPHILIS brings in the SEVEN DEADLY SINS.

BELZEBUB. Now, Faustus, question them of their names
and dispositions.

FAUSTUS. That shall I soon.—What art thou, the first?

PRIDE. I am Pride. I disdain to have any parents. I am like
to Ovid’s flea; I can creep into every corner of a wench;
sometimes, like a perriwig, I sit upon her brow; next, like a
necklace, I hang about her neck; then, like a fan of feathers,
I kiss her lips; and then, turning myself to a wrought smock,
do what I list. But, fie, what a smell is here! I’ll not speak a
word more for a king’s ransom, unless the ground be perfumed,
and covered with cloth of arras.

FAUSTUS. Thou art a proud knave, indeed.—What art
thou, the second?

COVETOUSNESS. I am Covetousness, begotten of an old
churl, in a leather bag: and, might I now obtain my wish,
this house, you, and all, should turn to gold, that I might
lock you safe into my chest: O my sweet gold!

FAUSTUS. And what art thou, the third?

ENVY. I am Envy, begotten of a chimney-sweeper and an
oyster-wife. I cannot read, and therefore wish all books
burned. I am lean with seeing others eat. O, that there would
come a famine over all the world, that all might die, and I
live alone! then thou shouldst see how fat I’d be. But must
thou sit, and I stand? come down, with a vengeance!

FAUSTUS. Out, envious wretch!—But what art thou, the
fourth?

WRATH. I am Wrath. I had neither father nor mother: I
leapt out of a lion’s mouth when I was scarce an hour old;
and ever since have run up and down the world with this
case of rapiers, wounding myself when I could get none to
fight withal. I was born in hell; and look to it, for some of
you shall be my father.

FAUSTUS. And what art thou, the fifth?

GLUTTONY. I am Gluttony. My parents are all dead, and
the devil a penny they have left me, but a small pension, and
that buys me thirty meals a-day and ten bevers,—a small
trifle to suffice nature. I come of a royal pedigree: my father
was a Gammon of Bacon, my mother was a Hogshead of
Claret-wine; my godfathers were these, Peter Pickled-herring
and Martin Martlemas-beef; but my godmother, O,
she was an ancient gentlewoman; her name was Margery
March-beer. Now, Faustus, thou hast heard all my progeny;
wilt thou bid me to supper?

FAUSTUS. Not I.

GLUTTONY. Then the devil choke thee!

FAUSTUS. Choke thyself, glutton!—What art thou, the
sixth?

SLOTH. Heigho! I am Sloth. I was begotten on a sunny bank.
Heigho! I’ll not speak a word more for a king’s ransom.

FAUSTUS. And what are you, Mistress Minx, the seventh
and last?

LECHERY. Who, I, sir? I am one that loves an inch of raw
mutton better than an ell of fried stock-fish; and the first
letter of my name begins with L.

LUCIFER. Away to hell, away! On, piper!

[Exeunt the SINS.]

6 comments:

  1. Good to share your reading, I didn't read this, I am adding to read and enjoy the book. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very interesting! I look forward to reading the entire book!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is really nice to know, I have sent you the Pdf file. "Happy Reading!"

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