SCENE I.--_Rome. Enter_ CHORUS.

CHORUS: Learned Faustus, To find the secrets of astronomy Graven in the book of Jove's high firmament, Did mount him up to scale Olympus' top; Where, sitting in a chariot burning bright, Drawn by the strength of yokéd dragons' necks, He views the clouds, the planets, and the stars. From east to west his dragons swiftly glide, And in eight days did bring him home again. Now, mounted new upon a dragon's back, He, as I guess, will first arrive at Rome To see the Pope and manner of his court, And take some part of holy Peter's feast, The which this day is highly solemnised.

[_Exit. Enter_ FAUSTUS _and_ MEPHISTOPHILIS.

FAUSTUS: Hast thou, as erst I did command, Conducted me within the walls of Rome?

MEPHISTOPHILIS: This is the goodly palace of the Pope.

FAUSTUS: Sweet Mephistophilis, thou pleasest me. Whilst I am here on earth, let me be cloy'd With all things that delight the heart of man. My four-and-twenty years of liberty I'll spend in pleasure and in dalliance. Now in this show let me an actor be, That this proud Pope may Faustus' cunning see.

[_Enter_ POPE _and others in procession_; BRUNO, _nominated pope in opposition by the_ EMPEROR, _in chains_. FAUSTUS _and_ MEPHISTOPHILIS, _impersonating two cardinals, are given charge of the condemned_ BRUNO, _whom they liberate and dispatch magically to the_ EMPEROR. _Subsequently, both being rendered invisible, they amuse themselves at the expense of the_ POPE _and his guests at a banquet; and then depart to the_ EMPEROR'S _court_.