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The Passionate Shepherd to His Love

This pastoral poem is a famous Elizabethan song. It was already famous in its own time. Shakespeare used a few lines from this song in his play: The Merry Wives of Windsor and many poets have written a reply to this song. This poem is a song that a shepherd sings to the person he loves. It is an invitation, the shepherd invites his love in the first line to come with him and live with him: “Come live with me and be my love”. He tells his love what can be expected from living with him. Together they will experience all the pleasures of the world like valleys, woods, rocks, melodious birds, flowers, a gown made of the finest wool and more. By saying all these beautiful things, the shepherd wants to persuade his love: “If these delights thy mind may move, then live with me and be my love”.

The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus

This play is one of Marlowe’s greatest dramas, as well as one of the greatest Renaissance dramas. Faustus, the main character, is desperately seeking the power of knowledge. He wants the power and pleasure that come from forbidden knowledge (black magic) more than anything. In the opening chorus, Faustus is compared to Icarus because his desire for knowledge is more than he can handle: “his waxen wings did mount above his reach.”¹ In the first scene, Faustus tells about all the knowledge he already has. He has studied philosophy, medicine, law and theology. He knows everything a man can know, but he wants more. He wants to be a god, he wants to be omnipotent. And the knowledge of black magic that he receives by becoming a magician, is the way to attain this: These Metaphysics of Magicians, And Necromantic books are heavenly; Lines, circles, scenes, letters and characters, Ay, these are those that Faustus most desires. O what a world of profit and delight, Of power, of honor, of omnipotence Is promised to the studious artisan? All things that move between the quiet poles Shall be at my command. Emperors and Kings, Are but obeyed in their several provinces: Nor can they raise the wind, or rend the clouds; But his dominion that exceeds in this, Stretcheth as far as doth the mind of man. A sound magician is a mighty god: Here Faustus try thy brains to gain a deity.(scene 1.49-63)²

In order to receive this knowledge of black magic, Faustus makes a deal with Lucifer (the devil) and Lucifer’s servant Mephastophilis. The deal is simple: Mephastophilis gives Faustus all the knowledge a man can want to have for the next 24 years. In exchange, Faustus will give his soul to Lucifer.

After signing the contract, Faustus, is introduced into the world of black magic. He learns how to become invisible and masters all kinds of spells. Years pass and he becomes enormously famous all over the world. He travels to Germany and France. He visits the Pope and the emperor Charles the Fifth. And everyone, including his friends, is impressed with all his knowledge. However, as the 24 years pass, Faustus is having second thoughts about his deal with Lucifer.

To get his mind of these thoughts, he asks Mephastophilis to show him Helen of Troy. And when he sees her, Faustus speaks his very famous words: “Was this the face that launched a thousand ships, and burnt the topless towers of Ilium?” (scene 12.81-82)³ But then, Faustus realizes that his end is near, his time is up and the devil is coming for him… The chorus, at the end of the play gives the audience the advice “only to wonder at unlawful things” and not to “practice more than heavenly power permits”.⁴

For an Elizabethan audience, this plot of a human that sells his soul to the devil, was very real. People believed that devils and demons were all around them. To engage in black magic was the most stupid thing you could do in those days, because many people believed that when you did, you would spend the rest of eternity in hell. It’s funny to read some of the accounts that were written during a staging of the play. Some people wrote that they heard strange noises in the theatre. Some even wrote that they saw an extra devil appear, one who was not written down in the script of the play...