Faustus, whose mind was to study conjuration, the which he followed
night and day, he took the wings of an eagle, and endeavoured to fly
over the world, to see and know all the secrets of heaven and earth; so
that in a short time he attained power to command the Devil to appear
before him when he pleased. One day as Dr. Faustus was walking in a wood
near to Wurtemberg, in Germany, he having a friend with him who was
desirous to know of the doctor's art, he desired him to let him see if
he could then and there bring Mephistopheles before him; all which the
doctor immediately did, and the devil upon the first call made such a
noise in the wood as if heaven and earth would have come together; then
the devil made such a roaring as if the wood had been full of wild
beasts. The doctor made a circle for the devil, the which circle the
devil ran round, making a noise as if ten thousand waggons had been
running upon paved stones. After this it thundered and lightened, as if
the whole world had been on fire. Faustus and his friend, amazed at this
noise, and the devil's long tarrying, thought to leave his circle;
whereupon he made him such music, the like was never heard in the world.
This so ravished Faustus that he began again to conjure Mephistopheles
in the name of the prince of the devils to appear in his own likeness;
whereupon in an instant hung over his head a mighty dragon. Faustus
calls again after his former manner, after which there was a cry in the
wood as if hell had opened, and all the tormented souls had been there.
Faustus, in the meanwhile, asked the devil many questions, and commanded
him to show many diabolical tricks.
CHAPTER III.
_How Mephistopheles came to Dr. Faustus' house, and what
happened between them._
Faustus commanded the spirit to meet him at his house by ten of the
clock the next day. At the hour appointed he came into his chamber
asking Faustus what he would have. Faustus told him it was his will and
pleasure to conjure him to be obedient to him in all points of those
articles, viz.:--
First, That the spirit should serve him in all things he asked, from
that time till his death.
Secondly, Whatsoever he would have, he should bring him.
Thirdly, Whatsoever he desired to know, he should tell him.
The spirit answered him and said he had no such power of himself, until
he had acquainted his prince that ruled over him. "For," said he, "we
have rulers over us that send us out, and command us home when they
please; and we can act no further than our power is, which we receive
from Lucifer, who, you know, for his pride, was thrust out of heaven.
But," saith the spirit, "I am not to tell you any more except you make
yourself over to us."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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