The history of the damnable life and deserved death of Doctor John Faustus, 1592, together with The second report of Faustus, containing his appearances and the deeds of Wagner, 1594.
History
The history of the damnable life and deserved death of Doctor John Faustus, 1592, together with The second report of Faustus, containing his appearances and the deeds of Wagner, 1594.
Faust, -approximately 1540 -- Legends
[Footnote 77: Plaster.]
CHAPTER XX
_The fourth and last_
When Wagner seeing him grieved, came and kneeled down before him,
declaring that he would undertake to heal all his wounds and other
grievances whatsoever, yea and make him utterly forget all that was
passed as if it had never been, and promised more to carry him home
himself safe and sound, which the Emperor thanked him highly for,
requesting him to perform it presently, for he would not for half his
revenues that his Foe should have any occasion to allege against him,
for to excuse the Combat. Then went Wagner up into his chamber, and
apparelled himself in white taffeta made close to his body, and there
where they use to wear round hose half a foot deep, stuck with swans’
feathers, like the skirts of a horseman’s coat, his hose, shoes (for
all were together) of the same white taffeta, and within with white
leather, at his heels two fine silver wings, and on his shoulders two
marvellous large bright silvery wings, and on his head an upright
little steeple hat (with a white feather of two or three ranges) of
white taffeta, and in his hand a Caduceus or a Mercurial Rod in the
same white silver colour, he entered into the Presence Chamber afore
all the assembly to their singular contentation, for in his Personated
garments he seemed to be a very Angel, for it was in doubt whether
Mercury was half so beautiful or no. And there opening a large casement
(as there they are very large) with a brave R’ingratio[78] departed
from them taking up his flight in the view of them all into the air,
as if he would have beaten the Azure firmament with his vast wings.
Thus he carried him lower and lower till he did light upon a great
Elm, and there he opened his sight to see in what plight he was. The
Turk seeing in what a trance he had been, began to swear, to ban and
curse, and was even then ready to have thrown himself down headlong,
but Mercury he stepped to him and bade him be of good cheer, for it
had pleased the great God Jupiter, whose servant Mahomet was, to shew
him those great abuses, to the intent he should be more wary in his
actions, and take heed how to tempt the Christians with vain battles
and such-like speech, but now (quoth he) come and give me thy hand, and
then will I lead thee to thy Pavilion, where as yet thou art not missed
of the Nobles, for in the place where thou wast taken away, hath Jove
sent one to bear thy shape. Then again he took his flight and all the
way as he went he rapped his heels against the tops of the high trees,
and beat him pitifully upon the shins all the journey, upon the tents’
tops. Now they arrived in the same place from whence he was taken, and
there he laid himself down who presently recovered his former strength
in full perfectness, and not only not felt it but utterly forgot it.
Then he continued his wonted solace and prepared himself to the battle,
whilst he was made a laughing-stock of the world, Wagner returned
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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