Literature, Medieval -- Translations into English; Tales
Dr. Faustus having given his soul to the devil, renouncing all the
powers of heaven, confirming all his lamentable action with his own
blood, and having already delivered his writing now into the devil's
hand, the which so puffed up his heart, that he forgot the mind of a
man, and thought himself to be a spirit.
Thus Faustus dwelt at his uncle's house at Wittenburg, who died, and
bequeathed it in his testament to his cousin Faustus.
Faustus kept a boy with him, that was his scholar, an unhappy wag,
called Christopher Wagner, to whom this sport and life that he saw his
master followed, seemed pleasant. Faustus loved the boy well, hoping to
make him as good or better seen in his hellish exercises than himself,
and he was fellow with Mephistophiles. Otherwise Faustus had no company
in his house but himself and boy, and spirit that ever was diligent at
Faustus's command, going about the house, clothed like a friar, with a
little bell in his hand, seen of none but Faustus.
For victuals and other necessaries, Mephistophiles brought him at his
pleasure from the Duke of Saxony, the Duke of Bavaria, and the Bishop of
Salisburg; and they had many times their best wine stolen out of their
cellars by Mephistophiles, likewise their provisions for their own
table. Such meat as Faustus wished for, his spirit brought him in.
Besides that, Faustus himself was become so cunning, that when he opened
his window, what fowl soever he wished for, it came presently flying
into the house, were it never so dainty. Moreover, Faustus and his boy
went in sumptuous apparel, the which Mephistophiles stole from the
mercers at Norenburg, Aspurg, Franckford, and Tipzig; for it was hard
for them to find a lock to keep out such a thief. All their maintenance
was but stolen and borrowed ware; and thus they lived an odious life in
the sight of God, though as yet the world were unacquainted with their
wickedness. It must be so, for their fruits be none other, as Christ
saith in John, where he calls the devil a thief and murderer; and that
found Faustus, for he stole him away both body and soul.
CHAPTER IX.
_How Dr. Faustus would have married, and how the Devil had almost killed
him for it._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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