SAVED BY THE GOOD An original play by Rhianna Rita Starr Copyright© 2003 Rhianna Rita Starr  All rights reserved.

This is the continuation please  click here to read the beginning of the play

Faustus:  As to this being against my nature, I do not see. This deed shall increase my felicity. Some fire shall make this blood flow free. The deed is signed.  Mephostophilis, come to me. Mephostophilis stands next to Faustus. Faustus  Mephostophilis, wilt thou answer my question? Mephostophilis  That and any other without an exception. Faustus  Wilt thou now give me any any treasure? Mephostophilis  To thee I'll give adventures and wealth without measure. Enter Aristotle Aristotle  Wait, Faustus! There is a defect in thy pleasure! Faustus  Aristotle! In truth, I can not see! What can this defect in pleasure be? Aristotle  If thou wilt know the verity pleasure lacks continuity.  (Nicomachean Ethics 282) Mephostophilis:  Faustus, thou know what thou signed in the lease. Aristotle:  After twenty four years thy pleasure shall cease. Lucifer (viewing the scene from Hell):  At that time thou shalt not rest in peace. For then shalt thou be chained to burning coal. Plato:  The supreme business of life is to tend to the soul. Faustus  Why should that be a person's goal? Plato:  The end of all endeavor, the object on which every heart is set is the good.  (Republic 304) Aristotle:  Well put, Plato! I'll say the same. The good is that at which all things aim.   (Nicomachean Ethics 3) Faustus, I know that thou wilt be able to comprehend that in some cases the activity is the end. In some cases beyond the action the end dost lie there the product is superior to the activity.  (Nicomachean Ethics 3) Plato:  Faustus, your spirit and appetite should be subordinate to your reason.  (Republic 218) Faustus:  I think I've had enough of your lesson. I yearn for wealth without measure. Harassing the Pope shall be a great pleasure. Victory and honor are what I do seek. Aristotle:  Excessive indulgence makes thee morally weak.  (Ethics 186) Faustus:  I don't think I shall stop sinning yet. Enter Good Angel Good Angel:  Remember the wage of sin is death! Repent, Faustus, and do what is right. Aristotle:  Don't make a god out of thy appetite. Faustus:  Once I was a just and kind man before. Once I suffered. What was it for? Enter Job Job:  The world was good under God's plan Evil entered through the choice of man. Why did I suffer? That was my question. God's omniscience was my only solution. I had faith and received retribution. Repent and God will grant absolution. Exit Job Mephostophilis:  Ignore Job. Faustus, thou art a man without any fetter. Plato:  Still, Faustus, the just man's life pays the better.  (Republic 90) Faustus:  If I repent I'll lose Mephostophilis as a friend. Aristotle:  There are three types of friendship. The motive for the affection between Mephostophilis and thou is partly the pleasure thou art getting now and Mephostophilis shall leave thee, I can tell when the lease is up and Faustus is sent to Hell. In case this definition still makes thee guess thy friendship, Faustus, is one of usefulness. Faustus:  I think thy argument is not at all great. Aristotle:  I see Faustus, that thou art obstinate. Thou art amenable to thy appetite. Rational argument thou shalt not entertain. I shall sway thee with pleasure and pain. Mephostophilis:  Why listen to these? There's nothing to gain. Faustus, here we've nothing to show. Faustus, around the world shall we go? I've had enough of Aristotle and Plato. Aristotle:  I shall win thee though pleasure, thou shall see the greatest pleasure is the contemplative activity. This activity surpasses all others in bliss therefore, contemplation is most conducive to happiness.  (Ethics 293) Plato:  Faustus, contemplate upon the good. Aristotle:  Faustus, thou art wasting thy life, what a shame! The good is that at which all things aim. Faustus, thou art not aiming for the good. Repent, Faustus, and do as you should. Mephostophilis:  Faustus, let's not listen to this babblement!! Aristotle:  Incessent pain in Hell shall be your punishment! Faustus:  Pain? Punishment! My life is not yet spent! I, John Faustus of Wittenberg do hereby repent! Now I shall have just one goal. From now on I shall tend to my soul. My acts, whether injust or just be whichever they are shall affect me. Conducive to happiness is contemplation I shall not choose Mephostophilis over salvation. I revoke what I wrote in the deed; let the terms cease. Everyone leave my room; let me contemplate in peace. Bibliography

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