Literature, Medieval -- Translations into English; Tales
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 hell, 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 casement, 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 hell 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
hell, 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 multitude of snakes, that they left not one: which when
Faustus saw, he marvelled greatly. But proceeding farther on their
hellish 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
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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