Marlowe, Christopher -- The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, Epilogue (1594; 1604 “A” text)

Dave — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:27:55 +0000

CHORUS: Cut is the branch that might have grown full straight,
And burnèd is Apollo’s laurel bough,
That sometime grew within this learnèd man.
Faustus is gone. Regard his hellish fall,
Whose fiendful fortune may exhort the wise
Only to wonder at unlawful things,
Whose deepness doth entice such forward wits,
To practise more than heavenly power permits.

Christopher "Kit" Marlowe (1564-1593) English dramatist and poet
The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, Epilogue (1594; 1604 “A” text)
(Source)

Final lines of the play, with the further written remark "Terminat hora diem; terminat auctor opus. [Finished the hour of the day; finished the author of the work]"

In the "B" text (written 1594; published 1616), this chorus is replaced by a scene 5.3, with the Scholars returning, finding Faustus torn to pieces by demons, expressing regret, and resolving to give him a funeral.

Moffat, Steven -- Coupling, 03×01 “Split” (2002-09-23)

Dave — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 23:10:54 +0000

JANE: Some people think that external beauty comes from inner tranquility. Of course, some people think it comes from drinking the blood of virgins, so there’s quite a range there.

Steven Moffat (b. 1961) Scottish television writer, producer
Coupling, 03×01 “Split” (2002-09-23)
(Source)

(Source (Video), at 18:23; dialog verified.) See the tale of Elizabeth Báthory.

WIST Quotations

Marlowe, Christopher -- The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus, Epilogue (1594; 1604 “A” text)

Moffat, Steven -- Coupling, 03×01 “Split” (2002-09-23)