Ye should have potent gramerye. Who may ye be? THE DEVIL Why, what care ye? To ask me that ’twere wiser not. In truth, I am not the best of my lot. But none could love you as well as I. MARY How hight ye, friend? THE DEVIL Moonen with the single eye, Whom all good fellows know right well. MARY Ye be the devil out of hell! THE DEVIL At least your humble servant and true friend. MARY Strange, but ye do not me offend. Though Lucifer self were come from hell, I stand in case to greet him well. I be wholly quit of fear. THE DEVIL So this is the short and long, my dear: If you will do after my rate, All that your fancy may dictate I’ll teach you, as at erst I told. Of goods, of jewels, or of gold Ye shall never more have need. MARY ’Tis well said; but by your rede, Ere we be given each to each, The seven arts ye shall me teach, For in such learning I would speed. Ye will me teach them? THE DEVIL Faith, in deed. All seemly lore I will impart. MARY Nigromancy is a merry art. Mine eme therein hath a pretty wit. He hath a book and wonders works with it, Nor never fails, he is so sly. He can through the needle’s eye Send the devil a-creeping willy-nilly. That trick I fain would learn. THE DEVIL Ah, silly, My knowledge is wholly at your device. But I never studied, to be precise, Nigromancy in all its parts. It is quite the hardest of all the arts, And for a novice perilous as well. Suppose there’s wanting in your spell A word or letter wherewithal Ye would make the spirit that ye call Your wishes duly to obey, The fiend would break your neck straightway. My dear, be sure there’s mischief in it. MARY Well, in that case I’ll not begin it. I would not meet death in such a kind. THE DEVIL Ha, ha! I’ve put that out of her mind, What would she be wanting to learn such a thing? An she did, it would not be long ere she’d bring On all us poor spirits the worst of our fears, At her own sweet will set all hell by the ears, And force even me in some dreadful tight squeak. I teach her nigromancy? Not this week! It is something at all costs she must not consider of.— Now hearken to what I shall teach you, my love. If nigromancy ye will wholly let be. MARY What will ye teach me? THE DEVIL Ah, let us see. I will make you master of every tongue, So that far and wide your fame shall be rung. In the knowledge of tongues much virtue abides, And the seven liberal arts there besides. Ye shall be exalted of all and each. MARY