Mediaeval Tales Part 35

CHAPTER LII.

_How Dr. Faustus gathered together a great Army of Men in his extremity, against a Knight that would have Conjured him on his own Journey._

Dr. Faustus travelled towards Evzeleben, and when he was nigh half the way, he espied seven hors.e.m.e.n, and the chief of them he knew to be the knight with whom he had jested in the emperor's court, for he had left a great pair of hart's horns upon his head; and when the knight now saw that he had a fit opportunity to be revenged of Faustus, he ran upon him, and those that were with him, to mischief himself, intending privily to slay him; which when Faustus espied, he vanished away into a wood that was hard by them, but when the knight perceived that he was vanished away, he caused his men to stand still; but where they remained, they heard all manner of warlike instruments of music, as drums, flutes, trumpets, and such like, and a certain troop of hors.e.m.e.n running towards them; then they turned another way, and were also met on that side; then another way, and yet were freshly a.s.saulted, so that which way soever they turned themselves, they were encountered, insomuch that when the knight perceived that he could escape no way, but that his enemies lay on him which way soever he offered to fly, he took good heart, and ran amongst the thickest, and thought with himself better to die than to live with so great infamy; therefore being at handy blows with them, he demanded the cause why they should so use them? But none of them would give him answer, until Dr. Faustus showed himself unto the knight; whereupon they enclosed him round, and Dr. Faustus said unto him, "Sir, yield your weapon and yourself, otherwise it will go hard with you."

The knight knew no other but that he was conjured with a host of men, whereas indeed they were none other but devils, yielded; then Faustus took away his sword, his piece, and horse, with all the rest of his companions. And farther he said unto him: "Sir, the chiefest general of our army hath commanded me to deal with you, according to the law of arms; you shall depart in peace, whither you please." And then he gave the knight a horse, after the manner, and set him thereon, so he rode, the rest went on foot, until they came to their inn where he being alighted, his page rode on his horse to the water, and presently the horse vanished away, the page being almost sunk and drowned, but he escaped; and coming home, the knight perceiving the page to be bemired, and on foot, asked where his horse was; who answered, that he was vanished away. Which when the knight heard, he said, "Of a truth this is Faustus his doing, for he serveth me now, as he did before at the court, only to make me a scorn and laughing-stock."

CHAPTER LIII.

_How Dr. Faustus used Mephistophiles, to bring him seven of the fairest Women he could find in all the Countries he had travelled the twenty Years._

When Dr. Faustus called to mind that his time from day to day drew nigh, he began to live a swinish and epicurish life. Wherefore he commanded his spirit Mephistophiles to bring him seven of the fairest women that he had seen in all the times of his travel; which being brought, he liked them so well that he continued with them in all manner of love, and made them to travel with him all his journeys. These women were two Netherland, one Hungarian, one Scottish, two Walloon, one Franklander.

And with these sweet personages he continued long, yea, even to his last end.

CHAPTER LIV.

_How Dr. Faustus found a Ma.s.s of Money, when he had consumed twenty-two of his Years._

To the end that the devil would make Faustus his only heir, he showed unto him where he should go and find a mighty huge ma.s.s of money, and that he should find it in an old chapel that was fallen down, half a mile distance from Wittenburg. There he bade him to dig, and he should find it, which he did; and having digged reasonable deep, he saw a mighty huge serpent, which lay on the treasure itself; the treasure itself lay like a huge light burning; but Dr. Faustus charmed the serpent, that he crept into a hole, and when he digged deeper to get up the treasure, he found nothing but coals of fire. There he also saw and heard many that were tormented; yet notwithstanding he brought away the coals, and when he was come home, it was turned into silver and gold; and after his death it was found by his servant, which was almost, by estimation, one thousand guilders.

CHAPTER LV.

_How Dr. Faustus made the Spirit of fair Helena of Greece his own Paramour in his twenty-third Year._

To the end that this miserable Faustus might fill the l.u.s.t of his flesh and live in all manner of voluptuous pleasure, it came in his mind, after he had slept his first sleep, and in the twenty-third year past of his time, that he had a great desire to lie with fair Helena of Greece, especially her whom he had seen and shown unto the students at Wittenburg; wherefore he called his spirit Mephistophiles, commanding him to bring to him the fair Helena, which he also did.

Whereupon he fell in love with her, and made her his common companion, for she was so beautiful and delightful that he could not be an hour from her; if he should therefore have suffered death, she had stolen away his heart, and to his seeming in time she had child, whom Faustus named Justus Faustus. The child told Dr. Faustus many things which were done in foreign countries, but in the end, when Faustus lost his life, the mother and the child vanished away both together.

CHAPTER LVI.

_How Dr. Faustus made his Will, in which he named his Servant Wagner to be his Heir._

Dr. Faustus was now in his twenty-fourth and last year, and he had a pretty stripling to his servant, which had studied also at the university of Wittenburg. This youth was very well acquainted with his knaveries and sorceries, so that he was hated as well for his own knavery as also for his master's, for no man would give him entertainment into his service because of his unhappiness but Faustus.

This Wagner was so well beloved of Faustus that he used him as his son, for do what he would, his master was always therewith contented.

And then when the time drew nigh that Faustus should end, he called unto him a notary and certain masters, the which were his friends and often conversant with him, in whose presence he gave this Wagner his house and garden. Item, he gave him in ready money sixteen thousand guilders.

Item, one farm. Item, a gold chain, much plate, and other household stuff, that gave he to his servant, and the rest of his time he meant to spend in inns and students' company, drinking and eating, with other jollity. And thus he finished his will at that time.

CHAPTER LVII.

_How Dr. Faustus fell in talk with his Servant, touching his Testament, and the Covenants thereof._

Now when this will was made, Dr. Faustus called unto his servant, saying, "I have thought upon thee in my testament, for that thou hast been a trusty servant unto me, and faithful, and hast not opened my secrets. And yet farther," said he, "ask of me before I die what thou wilt, and I will give it unto thee."

His servant rashly answered, "I pray you, let me have your cunning."

To which Dr. Faustus answered, "I have given thee all my books, upon this condition, that thou wouldst not let them be common, but use them for thy own pleasure, and study carefully in them; and dost thou also desire my cunning? That thou mayst peradventure have, if thou love and peruse my books well."

"Farther," said Dr. Faustus, "seeing that thou desirest of me this request, I will resolve thee. My spirit Mephistophiles his time is out with me, and I have nought to command him, as touching thee. Yet I will help thee to another if thou like well thereof."

And within three days after he called his servant unto him, saying, "Art thou resolved? wouldst thou verily have a spirit? Then tell me in what manner or form thou wouldst have him." To whom his servant answered that he would have him in the form of an ape. Whereupon appeared presently a spirit unto him in manner and form of an ape, the which leaped about the house.

Then said Faustus, "See, there thou hast thy request; but yet he will not obey thee until I be dead, for when my spirit Mephistophiles shall fetch me away, then shall thy spirit be bound unto thee, if thou agree, and thy spirit shalt thou name Aberec.o.c.k, for so he is called. But all this upon a condition, that you publish my cunning and my merry conceits, with all that I have done (when I am dead) in an history, and if thou canst not remember all, the spirit Aberec.o.c.k will help thee; so shall the acts that I have done be made manifest unto the world."

CHAPTER LVIII.

_How Dr. Faustus having but one Month of his appointed Time to come, fell to Mourning and Sorrowing with himself for his devilish exercise._

Time ran away with Faustus, as the hour-gla.s.s; for he had but one month to come of his twenty-four years, at the end whereof he had given himself to the devil, body and soul, as is before specified. Here was the first token, for he was like a taken murderer, or a thief, the which finding himself guilty in conscience before the judge has given sentence, fears every hour to die; for he was grieved, and in wailing spent the time, went talking to himself, wringing of his hands, sobbing and sighing. His flesh fell away, and he was very lean, and kept himself close; neither could he abide, see, or hear of his Mephistophiles any more.

CHAPTER LIX.

_How Dr. Faustus complained that he should in his l.u.s.ty Time, and youthful Years, die so miserably._

The sorrowful time drawing near, so troubled Dr. Faustus, that he began to write his mind, to the end he might peruse it often and not forget it, which was in manner as followeth:--"Ah! Faustus, thou sorrowful and woeful man, now must thou go to the d.a.m.nable company in unquenchable fire, whereas thou mightest have had the joyful immortality of thy soul, the which now thou hast lost! Ah! gross understanding and wilful will!

What seizeth upon thy limbs, other than robbing of my life? Bewail with me, my sound and healthful body, will, and soul; bewail with me, my senses, for you have had your part and pleasure as well as I. Oh! envy and disdain! How have you crept both at once upon me, and now for your sakes I must suffer all these torments! Ah! whither is pity and mercy fled? Upon what occasion hath heaven repaid me with this reward, by sufferance, to suffer me to perish? Wherefore was I created a man? The punishment I see prepared for me of myself, now must I suffer. Ah!

miserable wretch! There is nothing in this world to show me comfort!

Then woe is me! What helpeth my wailing?"