All translations are gathered from a variety of sources and organized in order from the beginning of the play to the end. All English translations are punctuated and capitalized as in the Latin text, except where the meaning of the English changes enough from the Latin to require a change in either. Faustus' translations are punctuated as in the text, regardless of the punctuation of the Latin phrase. Italicized text is additional information about the quote. Most translations are from Latin to English, unless otherwise noted.
To search for a particular phrase, use your computer's search function. For Macs use Command + F, for Windows use Ctrl + F.
Circulio.org provides additional information on each quote and on the translation itself, organized by character: The Friars, First Scholar, Wagner, Mephistopheles, Faustus, additional Faustus quotes, and Faustus' Oath. The site provides recordings of the Latin phrases for pronounciation purposes.
To search for a particular phrase, use your computer's search function. For Macs use Command + F, for Windows use Ctrl + F.
Circulio.org provides additional information on each quote and on the translation itself, organized by character: The Friars, First Scholar, Wagner, Mephistopheles, Faustus, additional Faustus quotes, and Faustus' Oath. The site provides recordings of the Latin phrases for pronounciation purposes.
Latin |
English |
Bene disserere est finis logices.
|
Well, to discuss the end of logic.
|
Summum bonum medicinoe sanitas,
|
Good health is the supreme medicine,
Medicinoe = Medicinae |
Si una eademque res legatur duobus, alter rem, alter valorem rei, &c.
|
If one thing is willed to two persons, one of them shall have the thing itself, the other the value of the thing, etc.
|
Exhoereditare filium non potest pater, nisi, &c.
|
A father may not disinherit his son, unless-
|
Stipendium peccati mors est. Ha! Stipendium, &c.
|
The wages of sin is death. Ha! The wages-
Romans 6:23 |
Si peccasse negamus, fallimur, et nulla est in nobis veritas;
|
Literal Translation:
If we refuse to make a mistake, we are deceived, and there's no truth in us. Faustus' Translation: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us. 1 John 1:8 |
Che sera, sera,
Though Marlowe most likely intended it to be Latin, "Che sera, sera" is not really Latin. Similar phrases include the following: Ce que sera, sera (French, correctly "Ce qui sera, sera") Que sera, sera (Spanish, correctly "Lo que sea será") |
Literal Translation:
Whatever will be, will be. Faustus' Translation: What will be, shall be? |
adieu!
French, not Latin. |
goodbye!
|
sic probo
|
thus I prove it
|
corpus naturale?
mobile? |
Sint mihi dii Acherontis propitii! Valeat numen triplex Jehovoe! Ignei, aerii, aquatani spiritus, salvete! Orientis princes Belzebub, inferni ardentis monarcha, et Demogorgon, propitiamus vos, ut appareat et surgat Mephistophilis Dragon, quod tumeraris: per Jehovam, Gehennam, et consecratum aquam quam nunc sparge, signumque crucis quod nunc facio, et per vota nostra, ipse nunc surgat nobis dicatus Mephistophilis!
|
Be propitious to me, gods of Acheron! May the triple deity of Jehovah prevail! Spirits of fire, air, water, hail! Belzebub, Prince of the East, monarch of burning hell, and Demogorgon, we propitiate ye, that Mephistophilis may appear and rise. Why dost thou delay? By Jehovah, Gehenna, and the holy water which now I sprinkle, and the sign of the cross which now I make, and by our prayer, may Mephistophilis now summoned by us arise!
|
Qui mihi discipulus?
|
you who are my pupil?
|
quasi vestigiis nostris insistere.
|
This is incorrect Latin, but is meant to be translated as follows.
as if to tread in our footsteps. Alternate Translation: as if to follow in our footsteps. |
Veni, veni, Mephistophile!
|
Come, come, Mephistophile!
|
Solamen miseris socios habuisse doloris.
|
Misery loves company.
|
Consummatum est,
|
It is done,
|
Homo, fuge:
|
Man, fly:
This inscription upon Faustus' arm seems to be a warning, though from whom is unclear. |
situ et tempore?
|
in position and time?
|
coelum igneum et crystallinum?
|
a heaven of fire and a crystalline sphere?
This conversation is about the cosmological theory of celestial spheres. |
Per inoequalem motum respectu totius.
|
Because of their unequal velocities within the system.
The conversation is still about the cosmological theory of celestial spheres. |
Primum Mobile
|
maledicat Dominus!
|
May they be cursed by the Lord!
|
O lente, lente currite, noctis equi!
|
Slowly, slowly run, o horses of the night!
|
Terminat hora diem; terminat auctor opus.
|
Literal Translation:
The hour finishes the day; the author finishes his work. Artistic Translation: As the hour ends the day, the author ends his work. |