Mediaeval Tales Part 29

CHAPTER XVIII.

_A Question put forth by Dr. Faustus to his Spirit, concerning Astronomy._

Now Faustus falling to practice, and making his prognostications, he was doubtful in many points, wherefore he called unto him Mephistophiles his spirit, saying, "I find the ground of the science very difficult to attain unto; for when that I confer Astronomia and Astrologia, as the mathematicians and ancient writers have left in memory, I find them vary, and very much to disagree; wherefore I pray thee to teach me the truth of this matter."

To whom his spirit answered: "Faustus, thou shalt know that the pract.i.tioners or speculators, or at least the first inventors of these arts, have done nothing of themselves certain, whereupon thou mayst attain to the true prognosticating or presaging of things concerning the heavens, or of the influence of the planets; for if by chance some one mathematician or astronomer have left behind him anything worthy of memory, they have so blinded it with enigmatical words, blind characters, and such obscure figures, that it is impossible for any earthly man to attain the knowledge thereof without the aid of some spirits, or else the special gift of G.o.d, for such as are the hidden works of G.o.d from men, yet do we spirits, that fly and fleet all elements, know such; and there is nothing to be done, or by the heavens portended, but we know it, except only the day of doom. Wherefore, Faustus, learn of me: I will teach thee the course and re-course of the planets, the cause of winter and summer, the exaltation and declination of the sun, and eclipse of the moon, the distance and height of the poles and every fixed star, the nature and opposition of the elements--fire, air, water, and earth--and all that is contained in them; yea, herein there is nothing hidden from me, but only the filthy essence which once thou hadst, Faustus, at liberty, but now thou hast lost it past recovery; therefore, leaving that which will not be again had, learn now of me to make thunder, lightning, hail, snow, and rain; the clouds to rend the earth; and craggy rocks to shake and split in sunder; the seas to swell and roar, and overrun their marks. Knowest thou not that the deeper the sun shines the hotter it pierces; so the more thy art is famous whilst thou art here, the greater shall be thy name when thou art gone. Knowest thou not that the earth is frozen, cold, and dry; the water running, cold and moist; the air flying, hot and moist; the fire consuming, hot and dry: yea, Faustus, so must thy heart be inflamed like the fire to mount on high. Learn, Faustus, to fly like myself, as swift as thought from one kingdom to another: to sit at princes' tables, to eat their dainty fare, to have thy pleasure of their ladies, wives, and concubines; to use all their jewels and costly robes as things belonging unto thee, and not unto them. Learn of me, Faustus, to run through walls, doors, and gates of stone and iron; to creep into the earth like a worm, or swim in the water like a fish; to fly in the air like a bird, and to live and nourish thyself in the fire like a salamander: so shalt thou be famous, renowned, far spoken of, and extolled for thy skill; going on knives not hurting thy feet, carrying fire in thy bosom and not burning thy shirt; seeing through the heavens as through a crystal, wherein is placed the planets, with all the rest of the presaging comets--the whole circuit of the world from east to west, north and south. There shalt thou know, Faustus, whereof the fiery sphere above, and the signs of the Zodiac doth not burn and consume the whole face of the earth, being hindered by placing the two moist elements between them--the airy clouds and wavering waves of water. Yea, Faustus, I will learn thee the secrets of Nature; what the cause is, that the sun in summer, being at the highest, giveth all his heat downwards on the earth; and being winter at the lowest, giveth all his heat upwards into the heavens; that the snow should be of so great virtue as the honey, and the Lady Saturnia in occulto more hot than the sun in manifesto. Come on, my Faustus; I will make thee as perfect in these ways as myself; I will learn thee to go invisible, to find out the mines both of gold and silver, the fodines of precious stones--as the carbuncle, the diamond, sapphire, emerald, ruby, topaz, jacinth, granat, jaspies, amethyst: use all these at thy pleasure--take thy heart's desire. Thy time, Faustus, weareth away; then why wilt thou not take thy pleasure of the world? Come up, we will go unto kings at their own courts, and at their most sumptuous banquets be their guests. If willingly they invite us not, then by force we will serve our own turn with their best meat and daintest wine."

"Agreed," quoth Faustus; "but let me pause a while upon this thou hast even now declared unto me."

CHAPTER XIX.

_How Dr. Faustus fell into Despair with himself, for having put a question unto his Spirit; they fell at Variance, whereupon the Rout of Devils appeared unto him, threatening him sharply._

Dr. Faustus resolved with himself the speeches of his spirit, and became so woeful and sorrowful in his cogitations that he thought himself already frying in the hottest flame of h.e.l.l; and lying in this muse, suddenly there appeared unto him his spirit, demanding what thing so grieved and troubled his conscience?

Whereat Dr. Faustus gave no answer. Yet the spirit lay very earnestly upon him to know the cause, and if it were possible he would find a remedy for his grief and ease him of his sorrows.

To whom Faustus answered, "I have taken thee unto me as a servant to do my service, and thy service will be very dear unto me; yet I cannot have any diligence of thee farther than thou list thyself, neither dost thou in anything as it becometh thee."

The spirit replied: "My Faustus, thou knowest that I was never against thy commandment as yet, but ready to serve and resolve thy questions, although I am not bound unto thee in such respects as concern the hurt of our kingdom; yet was I always willing to answer thee, and so am I still: therefore, my Faustus, say on boldly, what is thy will and pleasure?"

At which words the spirit stole away the heart of Faustus, who spake in this sort: "Mephistophiles, tell me how and after what sort G.o.d made the world and all the creatures in it? And why man was made after the image of G.o.d?"

The spirit hearing this, answered Faustus: "Thou knowest that all this is in vain for thee to ask. I know that thou art sorry for what thou hast done, but it availeth thee not; for I will tear thee in a thousand pieces if thou change not thy opinions." And hereat he vanished away.

Whereat Faustus, all sorrowful that he had put forth such a question, fell to weeping and to howling bitterly, not for his sins towards G.o.d, but that the devil was departed from him so suddenly in such a rage. And being in this perplexity, he was suddenly taken with such extreme cold, as if he would have frozen in the place where he sat, in which the greatest devil in h.e.l.l appeared unto him, with certain of his hideous and infernal company, in most ugly shapes, that it was impossible to think upon; and traversing the chamber round about where Faustus sat, Faustus thought to himself, "Now are they come for me, though my time be not come, and that because I have asked such questions of my servant Mephistophiles." At whose cogitations the chiefest devil, which was the lord unto whom he gave his soul, that was Lucifer, spake in this sort: "Faustus, I have seen thy thoughts, which are not as thou hast vowed unto me, by the virtue of this letter [and showed him the obligation which he had written with his own blood]; wherefore I am come to visit thee, and to show thee some of our h.e.l.lish pastimes, in hope that will draw and confirm thy mind a little more steadfast unto us."

"Content," quoth Faustus: "go to, let me see what pastime you can make."

At which words the great devil in his likeness sate him down by Faustus, commanding the rest of his devils to appear in the form as if they were in h.e.l.l. First entered Belial, in form of a bear, with curled black hair to the ground, his ears standing upright; within his ears were as red as blood, out of which issued flames of fire; his teeth were at least a foot long, and as white as snow, with a tail three ells long at the least, having two wings, one behind each arm; and thus one after another they appeared to Faustus in form as they were in h.e.l.l. Lucifer himself sate in a manner of a man all hairy, but of brown colour like a squirrel, curled, and his tail curling upwards on his back as the squirrels use. I think he could crack nuts too like a squirrel. After him came Belzebub in curled hair of a horse-flesh colour, his head like the head of a bull, with a mighty pair of horns, and two long ears down to the ground, and two wings on his back, with two p.r.i.c.king things like horns; out of his wings issued flames of fire; his tail was like a cow's. Then came Astaroth in the form of a worm, going upright on his tail, and had no feet, but a tail like a glow-worm; under his chops grew two short hands, and his back was coal black; his belly thick in the middle, yellow, like gold, having many bristles on his back like a hedgehog. After him came Cannagosta, being white and grey mixed, exceeding curled and hairy; he had a head like the head of an a.s.s, and a tail like a cat, and claws like an ox, lacking nothing of an ell broad.

Then came An.o.bis: this devil had a head like a dog, white and black hair; in shape like a hog, saving that he had but two feet--one under his throat, the other at his tail; he was four ells long, with hanging ears like a blood-hound. After him came Dithican: he was a short thief, in form of a large bird, with shining feathers, and four feet; his neck was green, and body red, and his feet black. The last was called Brachus, with very short feet, like a hedgehog, yellow and green; the upper side of his body was brown, and the belly like blue flames of fire, the tail red like the tail of a monkey. The rest of the devils were in form of unreasonable beasts, as swine, harts, bears, wolves, apes, buffes, goats, antelopes, elephants, dragons, horses, a.s.ses, lions, cats, snakes, toads, and all manner of ugly odious serpents and worms; yet came in such sort that every one at his entry into the hall made their reverence unto Lucifer, and so took their places, standing in order as they came until they had filled the whole hall, wherewith suddenly fell a most horrible thunder-clap, that the house shook as if it would have fallen unto the ground; upon which every monster had a muck-fork in his hand, holding them towards Faustus as though they would have run a tilt at him; which, when Faustus perceived, he thought upon the words of Mephistophiles, when he told him how the souls in h.e.l.l were tormented, being cast from devil to devil upon muck-forks, he thought verily to have been tormented there by them in like sort.

But Lucifer perceiving his thought, spake to him, "My Faustus, how likest thou this crew of mine?"

Quoth Faustus, "Why came you not in another manner of shape?"

Lucifer replied: "We cannot change our h.e.l.lish form, we have showed ourselves here as we are there; yet can we blind men's eyes in such sort, that when we will, we appear unto them as if we were men or angels of light, although our dwelling be in darkness."

Then said Faustus, "I like not so many of you together."

Whereupon Lucifer commanded them to depart, except seven of the princ.i.p.al; forthwith they presently vanished, which Faustus perceiving, he was somewhat better comforted, and spake to Lucifer, "Where is my servant Mephistophiles? let me see if he can do the like."

Whereupon came a fierce dragon flying, and spitting fire round about the house, and coming towards Lucifer, made reverence, and then changed himself to the form of a friar, saying, "Faustus, what wilt thou?"

Faustus said, "I will that thou teach me to transform myself in like sort, as thou and the rest have done."

Then Lucifer put forth his paw and gave Faustus a book, saying, "Hold, do what thou wilt."

Which he looking upon, straightways changed himself into a hog, then into a worm, then into a dragon, and finding thus for his purpose it liked him well.

Quoth he to Lucifer, "And how cometh it that so many filthy forms are in the world?"

Lucifer answered, "They are ordained of G.o.d, as plagues unto men, and so shalt thou be plagued," quoth he; whereupon came scorpions, wasps, emets, bees, and gnats, which fell to stinging and biting him, and all the whole house was filled with a most horrible stinking fog, insomuch that Faustus saw nothing, but still was tormented; wherefore he cried for help, saying, "Mephistophiles, my faithful servant, where art thou?

Help, help, I pray thee."

Hereat the spirit answered nothing, but Lucifer himself said, "Ho, ho, ho, Faustus, how likest thou the creation of the world?"

And incontinent it was clear again, and the devils and all the filthy cattle were vanished, only Faustus was left alone, seeing nothing, but hearing the sweetest music that ever he heard before; at which he was so ravished with delight, that he forgot his fears he was in before, and it repented him that he had seen no more of their pastime.

CHAPTER XX.

_How Dr. Faustus desired to see h.e.l.l, and of the manner how he was used therein._

Dr. Faustus bethinking how his time went away, and how he had spent eight years thereof, he meant to spend the rest to his better contentment, intending quite to forget any such motions as might offend the devil any more: wherefore on a time he called his spirit Mephistophiles, and said unto him, "Bring thou hither unto me thy lord Lucifer or Belial." He brought him (notwithstanding) one that was called Belzebub, the which asked Faustus his pleasure.

Quoth Faustus, "I will know of thee if I might see h.e.l.l, and take a view thereof?"

"That thou shalt," said the devil, "and at midnight I will fetch thee."

Well, night being come, Dr. Faustus waited very diligently for the coming of the devil to fetch him, and thinking that he tarried too long, he went to the window, where he pulled open a cas.e.m.e.nt, and looking into the element, he saw a cloud in the north more black, and darker, and obscurer than all the rest of the sky, from whence the wind blew most horribly right into Faustus's chamber, and filled the whole house with smoke, that Faustus was almost smothered; hereat fell an exceeding thunder-clap, and withal came a great rugged black bear all curled, and upon his back a chair of beaten gold, and spake to Faustus, saying, "Sir, up and away with me:" and Dr. Faustus that had so long abode the smoke, wished rather to be in h.e.l.l than there, got on the devil, and so they went on together.

Mark how the devil blinded him, and made him believe he carried him into h.e.l.l, for he carried him into the lake, where Faustus fell into a sound sleep, as if he had sate into a warm water or bath: at last they came to a place which burneth continually with flashing flames of fire and brimstone, whereout issued an exceeding mighty clap of thunder, with so horrible a noise that Faustus awaked. But the devil went forth on his way, and carried Faustus therein, yea, notwithstanding however it burnt, Dr. Faustus felt no more heat than as it were the glimpse of the sun in May; there heard he all manner of music to overcome him, but saw none playing on them; it pleased him well, but he durst not ask, for he was forbidden it before. To meet the devil and the guest that came with him came three other ugly devils, the which ran back again before the bear, to make the way; against whom there came running an exceeding great hart, which would have thrust Faustus out of the chair; but being defended by the other three devils, the hart was put to the repulse: thence going on the way, Faustus looked, and behold there was nothing but snakes, and all manner of venomous beasts about him, which were exceeding great: unto the which snakes came many storks, and swallowed up the whole mult.i.tude of snakes, that they left not one: which when Faustus saw, he marvelled greatly. But proceeding farther on their h.e.l.lish voyage, there came forth out of a hollow clift an exceeding great flying bull, the which with such a force hit Faustus's chair with his head and horns, that he turned Faustus and his bear over and over, so that the bear vanished away: whereat Faustus began to cry, "Oh!

woe to me that ever I came here!" For he thought there to have been beguiled of the devil; and to make an end before his time appointed or conditioned of the devil: but shortly after came to him a monstrous ape, bidding Faustus to be of good cheer, and said, "Get upon me."

All the fire in h.e.l.l seemed to Faustus to have been put out, whereupon followed a monstrous thick fog, that he saw nothing, but shortly after it seemed to him to wax clear, where he saw two great dragons fastened unto a waggon, in the which the ape ascended and set Faustus therein; forth flew the dragons into an exceeding dark cloud, where Faustus saw neither dragons nor chariot wherein he sate, and such were the cries of tormented souls, with mighty thunder-claps and flashing lightnings about his ears, that poor Faustus shook for fear; upon this they came to a water, stinking and filthy, thick like mud, into the which ran the dragons, sinking under with waggon and all; but Faustus felt no water, but as it were a small mist, saving that the waves beat so sore upon him, that he saw nothing under or over him but only water, in the which he lost his dragons, ape, and waggon; and sinking deeper and deeper, he came at last as it were upon a high rock, where the waters parted and left him thereon: but when the water was gone, it seemed to him he should there have ended his life, for he saw no way but death. The rock was so high from the bottom as heaven is from the earth. There sate he, seeing nor hearing any man, and looked ever upon the rock. At length he saw a little hole out of which issued fire. Thought he, "How shall I now do? I must either fall to the bottom or burn in the fire, or sit in despair." With that, in his madness he gave a skip into the fire-hole, saying, "Hold, you infernal hags! take here this sacrifice as my last end, that which I have justly deserved."

Upon this he was entered, and finding himself as yet unburned or touched of that fire, he was the better appayed. But there was so great a noise that he never heard the like before; it pa.s.sed all the thunder that ever he had heard. And coming down farther to the bottom of the rock, he saw a fire, wherein were many worthy and n.o.ble personages, as emperors, kings, dukes, and lords, and many thousand more tormented souls, at the edge of which fire ran a most pleasant, clear, and cold water to behold; into the which many tormented souls sprang out of the fire to cool themselves, but being so freezing cold, they were constrained to return again into the fire, and thus wearied themselves and spent their endless torments out of one labyrinth into another, one while in heat, another while in cold. But Faustus, standing here all this while gazing on them that were thus tormented, he saw one leaping out of the fire, shrieking horribly, whom he thought to have known, wherefore he would fain have spoken unto him, but remembering he was forbidden, he refrained speaking. Then this devil that brought him in, came to him again in likeness of a bear, with the chair on his back, and bid him sit up, for it was time to depart. So Faustus got up, and the devil carried him out into the air, where he had so sweet music that he fell asleep by the way.

His boy Christopher, being all this while at home, and missing his master so long, thought his master would have tarried and dwelt with the devil for ever; but whilst the boy was in these cogitations, his master came home; for the devil brought him home fast asleep as he sate in his chair, and threw him on his bed, where (being thus left of the devil) he lay until day. When he awaked, he was amazed, like a man who had been in a dark dungeon; musing with himself, if it were true or false that he had seen h.e.l.l, or whether he was blinded or not; but he rather persuaded himself he had been there than otherwise, because he had seen such wonderful things; wherefore he most carefully took pen and ink, and wrote those things in order as he had seen; which writing was afterwards found by his boy in his study, which afterwards was published to the whole city of Wittenburg in print, for example to all Christians.

CHAPTER XXI.

_How Dr. Faustus was carried through the Air, up to the Heavens to see the whole World, and how the Sky and Planets ruled; after the which he wrote a Letter to his Friend of the same to Liptzig, and how he went about the World in eight days._

This letter was found by a freeman and citizen of Wittenburg, written with his own hand, and sent to his friend at Liptzig, a physician, named Love Victori, the contents of which were as followeth:

"Amongst other things, my beloved friend and brother, I remember yet the former friendship we had together when we were schoolfellows and students in the university at Wittenburg; whereas you first studied physic, astronomy, astrology, geometry, and cosmography, I, to the contrary, you know, studied divinity, notwithstanding now in any of your own studies I am sure I have proceeded farther than yourself; for since I began I have never erred, for, might I speak it without affecting mine own praise, my calendars and other practices have not only the commendations of the common sort, but also the chiefest lords and n.o.bles of this our Dutch nation, because (which is chiefly to be noted) I write and presage of matters to come, which all accord and fall out so right, as if they had already been before. And for thee, my beloved Victori, you write to know my voyage which I made unto the heavens, the which (as you certify me) you have had some suspicion of, although you partly persuade yourself that it is a thing impossible; no matter for that, it is as it is, and let it be as it will, once it is done in such a manner as now according, unto your request, I will give you here to understand.