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diff --git a/28094.txt b/28094.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a60ab71 --- /dev/null +++ b/28094.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10214 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mediaeval Tales, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Mediaeval Tales + +Author: Various + +Editor: Henry Morley + +Release Date: February 16, 2009 [EBook #28094] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEDIAEVAL TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +MEDIAEVAL TALES + +_WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY HENRY MORLEY_ +LL. D., LATE PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH LITERATURE AT +UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON + + +LONDON: +GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS, LTD. +NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +This volume of "Mediaeval Tales" is in four parts, containing severally, +(1) Turpin's "History of Charles the Great and Orlando," which is an old +source of Charlemagne romance; (2) Spanish Ballads, relating chiefly to +the romance of Charlemagne, these being taken from the spirited +translations of Spanish ballads published in 1823 by John Gibson +Lockhart; (3) a selection of stories from the "Gesta Romanorum;" and (4) +the old translation of the original story of Faustus, on which Marlowe +founded his play, and which is the first source of the Faust legend in +literature. + + * * * * * + +Turpin's "History of Charles the Great and Orlando" is given from a +translation made by Thomas Rodd, and published by himself in 1812, of +"Joannes Turpini Historia de Vita Caroli Magni et Rolandi." This +chronicle, composed by some monk at an unknown date before the year +1122, professed to be the work of a friend and secretary of Charles the +Great, Turpin, Archbishop of Rheims, who was himself present in the +scenes that he describes. It was--like Geoffrey of Monmouth's nearly +contemporary "History of British Kings," from which were drawn tales of +Gorboduc, Lear and King Arthur--romance itself, and the source of +romance in others. It is at the root of many tales of Charlemagne and +Roland that reached afterwards their highest artistic expression in +Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso." The tale ascribed to Turpin is of earlier +date than the year 1122, because in that year Pope Calixtus II. +officially declared its authenticity. But it was then probably a new +invention, designed for edification, for encouragement of faith in the +Church, war against infidels, and reverence to the shrine of St. James +of Compostella. + +The Church vouched for the authorship of Turpin, Archbishop of Rheims, +"excellently skilled in sacred and profane literature, of a genius +equally adapted to prose and verse; the advocate of the poor, beloved +of God in his life and conversation, who often hand to hand fought the +Saracens by the Emperor's side; and who flourished under Charles and his +son Lewis to the year of our Lord eight hundred and thirty." But while +this work gave impulse to the shaping of Charlemagne romances with +Orlando (Roland) for their hero, there came to be a very general opinion +that, whether the author of the book were Turpin or another, he too was +a romancer. His book came, therefore, to be known as the "Magnanime +Mensonge," a lie heroic and religious. + +No doubt Turpin's "Vita Caroli Magni et Rolandi" was based partly on +traditions current in its time. It was turned of old into French +verse and prose; and even into Latin hexameters. The original work +was first printed at Frankfort in 1566, in a collection of Four +Chronographers--"Germanicarum Rerum." Mr. Rodd's translation, here +given, was made from the copy of the original given in Spanheim's "Lives +of Ecclesiastical Writers." + + * * * * * + +Publication of the songs and ballads of Spain began at Valencia in the +year 1511 with a collection by Fernando del Castillo, who on his +title-page professed to collect pieces "as well ancient as modern." From +1511 to 1573 there were nine editions of this "Cancionero." A later +collection made between 1546 and 1550--The "Cancionero de Romances"--was +made to consist wholly of ballads. A third edition of it, in 1555, is +the fullest and best known. The greatest collection followed in nine +parts, published separately between 1593 and 1597, at Valencia, Burgos, +Toledo, Alcala, and Madrid. This formed the great collection known as +the "Romancero General." + + * * * * * + +The chief hero of the Spanish Ballads is the Cid Campeador; and Robert +Southey used these ballads as material for enriching the "Chronicle of +the Cid," which has already been given in this Library. Songs of the Cid +were sung as early as the year 1147, are of like date with the +"Magnanime Mensonge" and Geoffrey of Monmouth's "History of British +Kings." In 1248 St. Ferdinand gave allotments to two poets who had been +with him during the Siege of Seville, and who were named Nicolas and +Domingo Abod "of the Romances." There is also evidence from references +to what "the _juglares_ sing in their chants and tell in their tales," +that in the middle of the thirteenth century tales of Charlemagne and of +Bernardo del Carpio were familiar in the mouths of ballad-singers. + +The whole number of the old ballads of Spain exceeds a thousand, and of +these John Gibson Lockhart has translated some of the best into English +verse. Lockhart was born in 1793, was the son of a Scottish minister, +was educated at the Universities of Glasgow and Oxford, and was called +to the bar at Edinburgh in 1816. Next year he was one of the keenest of +the company of young writers whose genius and lively audacity established +the success of "Blackwood's Magazine." Three years later, in 1820, he +married the eldest daughter of Sir Walter Scott. Lockhart's vigorous +rendering of the spirit of the Spanish Romances was first published in +1823, two years before he went to London to become editor of the +"Quarterly Review." He edited the "Quarterly" for about thirty years, +and died in 1854. + + * * * * * + +The "Gesta Romanorum;" is a mediaeval compilation of tales that might be +used to enforce and enliven lessons from the pulpit. Each was provided +with its "Application." The French Dominican, Vincent of Beauvais, tells +in his "Mirror of History" that in his time--the thirteenth century--it +was the practice of preachers, to rouse languid hearers by quoting +fables out of AEsop, and he recommends a sparing and discreet use of +profane fancies in discussing sacred subjects. Among the Harleian MSS. +is an ancient collection of 215 stories, romantic, allegorical and +legendary, compiled by a preacher for the use of monastic societies. +There were other such collections, but the most famous of all, widely +used not only by the preachers but also by the poets, was the Latin +story-book known as the "Gesta Romanorum." Its name, "Deeds of the +Romans," was due to its fancy for assigning every story to some emperor +who had or had not reigned in Rome; the emperor being a convenient +person in the Application, which might sometimes begin with, "My +beloved, the emperor is God." Perhaps the germ of the collection may +have been a series of applied tales from Roman history. But if so, it +was soon enriched with tales from the East, from the "Clericalis +Disciplina," a work by Petrus Alfonsus, a baptized Jew who lived in +1106, and borrowed professedly from the Arabian fabulists. Mediaeval +tales of all kinds suitable for the purpose of the "Gesta Romanorum" +were freely incorporated, and the book so formed became a well-known +storehouse of material for poetic treatment. Gower, Shakespeare, +Schiller are some of the poets who have used tales which are among the +thirty given in this volume. + +The "Gesta Romanorum" was first printed in 1473, and after that date +often reprinted. It was translated into Dutch as early as the year 1484. +There was a translation of forty-three of its tales into English, by +Richard Robinson, published in 1577, of which there were six or seven +editions during the next twenty-four years. A version of forty-five of +its tales was published in 1648 as "A Record of Ancient Histories." The +fullest English translation was that by the Rev. C. Swan, published in +1824. In this volume two or three tales are given in the earlier English +form, the rest from Mr. Swan's translation, with a little revision of +his English. Mr. Swan used Book English, and was apt to write "an +instrument of agriculture" where he would have said "a spade." I give +here thirty of the Tales, but of the "Applications" have left only +enough to show how they were managed. + + * * * * * + +In the volume of this Library, which contains Marlowe's "Faustus" and +Goethe's "Faust," reference has been made to the old German History of +Faustus, first published at Frankfort in September 1587, and reprinted +with slight change in 1588. There was again a reprint of it with some +additions in 1589. This book was written by a Protestant in early days +of the Reformation, but shaped by him from mediaeval tales of magic, with +such notions of demons and their home as had entered deeply in the +Middle Ages into popular belief. From it was produced within two years +of its first publication Marlowe's play of "Faustus," which has already +been given, and that English translation of the original book which will +be found in the present volume. It was reprinted by Mr. William J. Thoms +in his excellent collection of "Early English Prose Romances," first +published in 1828, of which there was an enlarged second edition, in +three volumes, in 1858. That is a book of which all students of English +literature would like to see a third and cheap edition. + +H. M. +_October 1884._ + + + + +TURPIN'S HISTORY +OF +CHARLES THE GREAT AND ORLANDO. + + + + +THE HISTORY +OF +CHARLES THE GREAT AND ORLANDO. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +_Archbishop Turpin's Epistle to Leopander._ + + +Turpin, by the grace of God, Archbishop of Rheims, the faithful +companion of the Emperor Charles the Great in Spain, to Leopander, Dean +of Aix-la-Chapelle, greeting. + +Forasmuch as you requested me to write to you from Vienne (my wounds +being now cicatrized) in what manner the Emperor Charles delivered Spain +and Gallicia from the yoke of the Saracens, you shall attain the +knowledge of many memorable events, and likewise of his praiseworthy +trophies over the Spanish Saracens, whereof I myself was eyewitness, +traversing France and Spain in his company for the space of forty years; +and I hesitate the less to trust these matters to your friendship, as I +write a true history of his warfare. For indeed all your researches +could never have enabled you fully to discover those great events in the +Chronicles of St. Denis, as you sent me word: neither could you for +certain know whether the author had given a true relation of those +matters, either by reason of his prolixity, or that he was not himself +present when they happened. Nevertheless this book will agree with his +history. Health and happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_How Charles the Great delivered Spain and Gallicia from the +Saracens._ + + +The most glorious Christian Apostle St. James, when the other Apostles +and Disciples of our Lord were dispersed abroad throughout the whole +world, is believed to have first preached the gospel in Gallicia. After +his martyrdom, his servants, rescuing his body from King Herod, brought +it by sea to Gallicia, where they likewise preached the gospel. But soon +after, the Gallicians, relapsing into great sins, returned to their +former idolatry, and persisted in it till the time of Charles the Great, +Emperor of the Romans, French, Germans, and other nations. Charles +therefore, after prodigious toils in Saxony, France, Germany, Lorraine, +Burgundy, Italy, Brittany, and other countries; after taking innumerable +cities from sea to sea, which he won by his invincible arm from the +Saracens, through divine favour; and after subjugating them with great +fatigue of mind and body to the Christian yoke, resolved to rest from +his wars in peace. + +But observing the starry way in the heavens, beginning at the Friezeland +sea, and passing over the German territory and Italy, between Gaul and +Aquitaine, and from thence in a straight line over Gascony, Bearne, and +Navarre, and through Spain to Gallicia, wherein till his time lay +undiscovered the body of St. James; when night after night he was wont +to contemplate it, meditating upon what it might signify, a certain +beautiful resplendent vision appeared to him in his sleep, and, calling +him son, inquired what he was attempting to discover. At which Charles +replied, "Who art thou, Lord?" "I am," answered the vision, "St. James +the Apostle, Christ's disciple, the son of Zebedee, and brother of John +the Evangelist, whom the Lord was pleased to think worthy, in his +ineffable goodness, to elect on the sea of Galilee to preach the gospel +to his people, but whom Herod the King slew. My body now lies concealed +in Gallicia, long so grievously oppressed by the Saracens, from whose +yoke I am astonished that you, who have conquered so many lands and +cities, have not yet delivered it. Wherefore I come to warn you, as God +has given you power above every other earthly prince, to prepare my way, +and rescue my dominions from the Moabites, that so you may receive a +brighter crown of glory for your reward. The starry way in the heavens +signifies that you, with a great army, will enter Gallicia to fight the +Pagans, and, recovering it from them, will visit my church and shrine; +and that all the people from the borders of the sea, treading in your +steps, will ask pardon of God for their sins, and return in safety, +celebrating his praise; that you likewise will acknowledge the wonders +he hath done for you in prolonging your life to its present span. +Proceed then as soon as you are ready; I am your friend and helper; your +name shall become famous to all eternity, and a crown of glory shall be +your reward in heaven." + +Thus did the blessed Apostle appear thrice to the Emperor, who, +confiding in his word, assembled a great army, and entered Spain to +fight the infidels. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_Of the Walls of Pampeluna, that fell of themselves._ + + +The first city Charles besieged was Pampeluna; he invested it three +months, but was not able to take it, through the invincible strength of +the walls. He then made this prayer to God: "O Lord Jesus Christ, for +whose faith I am come hither to fight the Pagans; for thy glory's sake +deliver this city into my hands; and O blessed St. James, if thou didst +indeed appear to me, help me to take it." And now God and St. James, +hearkening to his petition, the walls utterly fell to the ground of +themselves; but Charles spared the lives of the Saracens that consented +to be baptized; the rest he put to the edge of the sword. The report of +this miracle induced all their countrymen to surrender their cities, and +consent to pay tribute to the Emperor. Thus was the whole land soon +subdued. + +The Saracens were amazed to see the French well clothed, accomplished in +their manners and persons, and strictly faithful to their treaties; they +gave them therefore a peaceful and honourable reception, dismissing all +thoughts of war. The Emperor, after frequently visiting the shrine of +St. James, came to Ferrol, and, fixing his lance in the sea, returned +thanks to God and the Apostle for having brought him to this place, +though he could then proceed no further. + +The Pagan nations, after the first preaching of St. James and his +disciples, were converted by Archbishop Turpin, and by the grace of God +baptized; but those who refused to embrace the faith were either slain +or made slaves by the Christians. Turpin then traversed all Spain from +sea to sea. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Of the idol Mahomet._ + + +The Emperor utterly destroyed the idols and images in Spain, except the +idol in Andalusia, called Salamcadis. Cadis properly signifies the place +of an island, but in Arabic it means God. The Saracens had a tradition +that the idol Mahomet, which they worshipped, was made by himself in +his lifetime; and that by the help of a legion of devils it was by magic +art endued with such irresistible strength, that it could not be broken. +If any Christian approached it he was exposed to great danger; but when +the Saracens came to appease Mahomet, and make their supplications to +him, they returned in safety. The birds that chanced to light upon it +were immediately struck dead. + +There is, moreover, on the margin of the sea an ancient stone excellently +sculptured after the Saracenic fashion; broad and square at the bottom, +but tapering upward to the height that a crow generally flies, having on +the top an image of gold, admirably cast in the shape of a man, standing +erect, with a certain great key in his hand, which the Saracens say was +to fall to the ground immediately after the birth of a King of Gaul, who +would overrun all Spain with a Christian army, and totally subdue it. +Wherefore it was enjoined them, whenever that happened, to fly the +country, and bury their jewels in the earth. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_Of the Churches the King built._ + + +Charles remained three years in these parts, and with the gold given him +by the kings and princes greatly enlarged the church of the blessed St. +James, appointing an Abbot and Canons of the order of St. Isidore, +martyr and confessor, to attend it: he enriched it likewise with bells, +books, robes, and other gifts. With the residue of the immense quantity +of gold and silver, he built many churches on his return from Spain; +namely, of the blessed Virgin in Aix-la-Chapelle, of St. James in +Thoulouse, and another in Gascony, between the city commonly called Aix, +after the model of St. John's at Cordova, in the Jacobine road; the +church likewise of St. James at Paris, between the river Seine and +Montmartre, besides founding innumerable abbeys in all parts of the +world. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_Of the King's Return to France, and of Argolander, King of the Africans._ + + +After the King's return from Spain, a certain Pagan King, called +Argolander, recovered the whole country with his army, driving the +Emperor's soldiers from the towns and garrisons, which led him to march +back his troops, under their General, Milo de Angleris. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Of the false Executor._ + + +But the judgment inflicted on a false executor deserves to be recorded, +as a warning to those who unjustly pervert the alms of the deceased. +When the King's army lay at Bayonne, a certain soldier, called +Romaricus, was taken grievously ill, and, being at the point of death, +received the eucharist and absolution from a priest, bequeathing his +horse to a certain kinsman, in trust, to dispose of for the benefit of +the priest and the poor. But when he was dead his kinsman sold it for a +hundred pence, and spent the money in debauchery. But how soon does +punishment follow guilt! Thirty days had scarcely elapsed when the +apparition of the deceased appeared to him in his sleep, uttering these +words: "How is it you have so unjustly misapplied the alms entrusted to +you for the redemption of my soul? Do you not know they would have +procured the pardon of my sins from God? I have been punished for your +neglect thirty days in fire; to-morrow you shall be plunged in the same +place of torment, but I shall be received into Paradise." The apparition +then vanished, and his kinsman awoke in extreme terror. + +On the morrow, as he was relating the story to his companions, and the +whole army was conversing about it, on a sudden a strange uncommon +clamour, like the roaring of lions, wolves, and calves, was heard in the +air, and immediately a troop of demons seized him in their talons, and +bore him away alive. What further? Horse and foot sought him four days +together in the adjacent mountains and valleys to no purpose; but the +twelfth day after, as the army was marching through a desert part of +Navarre, his body was found lifeless, and dashed to pieces, on the +summit of some rocks, a league above the sea, about four days' journey +from the city. There the demons left the body, bearing the soul away to +hell. Let this be a warning, then, to all that follow his example to +their eternal perdition. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Of the War of the Holy Facundus, where the Spears grew._ + + +Charles and Milo, his General, now marched after Argolander into Spain, +and found him in the fields of the river, where a castle stands in the +meadows, in the best part of the whole plain, where afterwards a church +was built in honour of the blessed martyrs Facundus and Primitivus; +where likewise their bodies rest, an abbey was founded, and a city +built. When the King's army advanced, Argolander wished to decide the +contest by set combat between twenties, forties, hundreds, thousands, or +even by two champions only. Charles willingly consented, and marched a +hundred of his soldiers against a hundred Saracens, when all of them +were slain. Argolander then sent two hundred, who shared the same fate. +Two thousand were then led against two thousand, part of whom were +slain, and the rest fled. But on the third day Argolander cast lots, +and, knowing that evil fortune threatened the Emperor, sent him word he +would draw out his whole army on the open plain, on the morrow, which +challenge was accepted. + +Then did this miracle happen. Certain of the Christians, who carefully +had been furbishing their arms against the day of battle, fixed their +spears in the evening erect in the ground before the castle in the +meadow, near the river, and found them early in the morning covered with +bark and branches. Those, therefore, that were about to receive the palm +of martyrdom were greatly astonished at this event, ascribing it to +divine power. Then cutting off their spears close to the ground, the +roots that remained shot out afresh, and became lofty trees, which may +be still seen flourishing there, chiefly ash. All this denoted joy to +the soul, but loss to the body; for now the battle commenced, and forty +thousand Christians were slain, together with Milo, their General, the +father of Orlando. The King's horse was likewise slain under him; but +Charles resolutely continued the fight on foot, and with two thousand +Christians gallantly hewed his way through the Saracens, cleaving many +of them asunder from the shoulders to the waist. + +The following day both Christians and Saracens remained quietly in their +camps, but the day after four Marquisses brought four thousand fresh +troops from Italy to the King's assistance; whereupon Argolander +retreated with his army to Leon, and Charles led back his forces to +France. + +And here it is proper to observe we should strive for Christ's blessing; +for as the soldiers prepared their arms against the day of battle, so we +in like manner should prepare ours, namely, our virtues to resist our +passions. For he that would oppose faith to infidelity, brotherly love +to hatred, charity to avarice, humility to pride, chastity to lust, +prayer to temptation, perseverance to instability, peace to strife, +obedience to a carnal disposition, must fortify his soul with grace, and +prepare his spear to flourish against the day of judgment. Triumphant +indeed will he be in heaven who conquers on earth! As the King's +soldiers died for their faith, so should we die to sin, and live in +holiness in this world, that we may receive the palm of glory in the +next, which shall be the reward of those who fight manfully against +their three grand adversaries, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Of King Argolander's Army._ + + +Argolander now assembled together innumerable nations of Saracens, +Moors, Moabites, Parthians, Africans, and Persians: Texephin, King of +Arabia; Urabell, King of Alexandria; Avitus, King of Bugia; Ospin, King +of Algarve; Facin, King of Barbary; Ailis, King of Malclos; Manuo, King +of Mecca; Ibrahim, King of Seville; and Almanzor, King of Cordova. Then, +marching to the city of Agen, he took it, and sent word to Charles he +would give him sixty horse-load of gold, silver, and jewels, if he would +acknowledge his right to the sceptre. But Charles returned this answer, +"that he would acknowledge him no otherwise than by slaying him whenever +it should be his chance to meet him in battle." + +The Emperor had by this time approached within four miles of Agen, when, +secretly dismissing his army, he proceeded with only sixty soldiers to +the mountain near the city. There he left them, and changing his dress, +came with his shield reversed, after the custom of messengers in time of +war, accompanied by one soldier only to the city; and when the people +inquired his business, he informed them he had brought a message from +King Charles to Argolander, whereupon he was admitted into his presence, +and addressed him in these words: "My King bids me say, you may expect +to see him, provided you will come out with only sixty of your people to +meet him." Now Argolander little thought it was Charles himself to whom +he was speaking, who all the while took especial note of his person, and +of the weakest parts of the walls of the city, as well as of the +auxiliary kings that were then within it. Argolander then armed himself, +and Charles rejoined his sixty soldiers, and soon after the two thousand +that at first accompanied him. But Argolander came out with seven +thousand men, thinking to slay the Emperor, but was himself compelled to +fly. + +The King then recruited his army, and besieged the city for six months. +On the seventh his battering rams, wooden castles, and other engines, +were ready to storm it; but Argolander and the rest of the Kings made +their escape in the night through the common sewers, and, passing up the +Garonne, got clear off. Charles entered the city in triumph the next +day, and slew ten thousand of the remaining Saracens. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +_Of the City of Xaintonge, where the Spears grew._ + + +Argolander now came to Xaintonge, at that time under the dominion of the +Saracens; but Charles pursuing him, summoned him to restore the city, +which Argolander refused, resolving first to fight, and that it should +be the conqueror's reward. But on the eve of battle, when the battering +rams were ready to attack the castle in the meadows, called Taleburg, +and that part of the city near the river Carenton, certain of the +Christians fixed their spears in the ground before the castle, and on +the morrow found them covered with bark and branches. Those therefore +that were to receive the crown of martyrdom perished in the fight, after +slaying a multitude of the Saracens, namely, about four thousand men. +The King's horse was likewise slain under him, but valiantly placing +himself at the head of his infantry, he slew so many of his enemies that +they were forced back into the city, which Charles invested on every +side but the river, through which Argolander made his escape, with the +loss of the Kings of Algarve and Bugia, and about four thousand of his +army. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +_Of Argolander's Flight, and of the King's Warriors._ + + +Argolander fled beyond the passes of the Pyrenees, and came to +Pampeluna, where he sent Charles word he would stay for him. Charles +then returned to France, and with the utmost diligence summoned his +troops from all parts to his assistance, proclaiming free pardon to all +banished persons, on condition they would join him against the Pagans. +What further? He liberated all the prisoners; made the poor rich; +clothed the naked; reconciled the disaffected; bestowed honours on the +disinherited; preferred the most experienced to the best commands; +making friends of enemies, and associating both the civilized and the +barbarian in the war of Spain, uniting them through the favour of God in +the bond of love. Then did I, Turpin, absolve them from their sins, and +give them my benediction. + +These are the names of the warriors that attended the King:--Turpin, +Archbishop of Rheims, who by the precepts of Christ, and for his +faith's sake, brought the people to fight valiantly, fighting likewise +himself hand to hand with the Saracens. Orlando, General of the whole +army, Count of Mans and Lord of Guienne, the King's nephew, son of Milo +de Angleris and Bertha the King's sister. His soldiers were four +thousand. Another Orlando likewise, of whom we are silent. Oliver, a +General also, and a valiant soldier, renowned for strength and skill in +war, led three thousand troops. Aristagnus, King of Brittany, seven +thousand. Another King of Brittany, of whom little mention is made. +Angelerus, Duke of Aquitaine, brought four thousand valiant bowmen. At +this time likewise there was in the city of Poictiers another Duke of +Aquitaine, but Angelerus was the son of Gascon, Duke of the city of +Aquitaine, lying between Limorge, Bourges, and Poictiers, which city +Augustus Caesar founded; and the rest of the cities, as well as Xaintonge +and Angouleme, with their provinces, were subject to it; the whole +country was also called Aquitaine. But after the death of its lord, who +perished with all his people in the fatal battle of Ronceval, it was +never fresh colonized, and fell utterly to ruin. + +Gayfere, King of Bordeaux, led three thousand warriors. Galerus, Galinus +Solomon, Estolfo's friend and companion; Baldwin, Orlando's brother, +Galdebode, King of Friezeland, led seven thousand heroes; Ocellus, Count +of Nantes, two thousand, who achieved many memorable actions, celebrated +in songs to this day. Lambert, Count of Berry, led two thousand men. +Rinaldo of the White Thorn, Vulterinus Garinus, Duke of Lorraine, four +thousand. Hago, Albert of Burgundy, Berard de Miblis, Gumard, Esturinite, +Theodoric, Juonius, Beringaire, Hato, and Ganalon, who afterwards proved +the traitor, attended the King into Spain. The army of the King's own +territory was forty thousand horse and foot innumerable. + +These were all famous heroes and warriors, mighty in battle, +illustrious in worldly honour, zealous soldiers of Christ, that spread +his name far and near, wherever they came. For even as our Lord and his +twelve Apostles subdued the world by their doctrine, so did Charles, +King of the French and Emperor of the Romans, recover Spain to the glory +of God. And now the troops, assembling in Bordeaux, overspread the +country for the space of two days' journey, and the noise they made was +heard at twelve miles distance. Arnold of Berlanda first traversed the +pass of the Pyrenees, and came to Pampeluna. Then came Astolfo, followed +by Aristagnus; Angelerus, Galdebode, Ogier the King, and Constantine, +with their several divisions. Charles and his troops brought up the +rear, covering the whole land from the river of Rume to the mountains, +that lie three leagues beyond them on the Compostella road. They now +halted for eight days. In the interval Charles sent Argolander word, if +he would restore the city he had built, he would return home, or +otherwise wage cruel war against him: but Argolander, finding he could +not keep possession of the city, resolved to march out, rather than +tamely perish in it. Charles then granted him a truce to draw out his +army and prepare for battle; expressing moreover his willingness to see +him face to face, as Argolander wished. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +_Of the Truce, and of the Discourse between the King and Argolander._ + + +A truce thus being granted, Argolander drew out his people from the +city, and attended by sixty guards came into the King's presence, who +was at this time encamped about a mile from Pampeluna. The two armies +occupied a spacious plain six miles square, separated by the main road +to Compostella. + +When Charles perceived Argolander, he addressed him in these words: + +"You are, then, he that have fraudulently taken possession of my +territories in Spain and Gascony, which I conquered by the favour of +God, and reduced to the faith of Christ. You have perverted the princes +from my allegiance, and slain the Christians with the edge of the sword. +Availing yourself of my return to Gaul, you have destroyed my towns and +castles, and laid waste the territory with fire and sword. At present, +therefore, you have the advantage of me." + +Now when Argolander heard the King speak in the Arabic tongue, he was +greatly pleased and astonished, for Charles had learnt it in his youth +in the city of Thoulouse, where he had spent some time. Argolander then +answered in these terms: "I wonder you should reason thus, for the +territory did not belong to you; neither was it your father's, +grandfather's, or great-grandfather's. Why then did you take possession +of it?" "Because," replied Charles, "our Lord Jesus Christ, the creator +of heaven and earth, elected us in preference to others, and gave us +dominion over all the earth: therefore I endeavoured to convert the +Saracens to the Christian faith."--"It would be unworthy of us to submit +to you," rejoined Argolander, "when our own faith is best. We have +Mahomet, a prophet of God, whose precepts we obey. Therefore we have a +powerful God, who through his prophet has declared his will, and by him +we live and reign." "O Argolander," said the King, "how widely do you +err! You follow the vain precepts of a man; we believe and worship +Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: you worship mortal man. After death our +souls are received into Paradise, and enjoy everlasting life, but yours +descend to the abyss of hell. Wherefore our faith is evidently best. +Accept then baptism, or fight and perish." + +"Far be it from me," said Argolander, "to accept baptism, and deny +Mahomet and my God! But I will fight you on these terms: if your faith +is best, you shall gain the victory, otherwise heaven shall give it to +me; and let shame be the portion of the conquered, but eternal glory +reward the conqueror. Furthermore, if my people are subdued, and I +survive the contest, I will receive baptism." + +These terms being mutually agreed, twenty Christians were sent against +twenty Saracens, and the battle commenced. What further? Nearly all the +Saracens fell. Forty were then sent against forty, and they were +defeated also. A hundred then fought together; but the Saracens turned +their backs from the face of the Christians, and were all slain. Are not +these Christians then types for us? Does it not argue that we likewise +should fight manfully against our sins; should face our spiritual +enemies, and never ignobly yield to them, since they will infallibly +lead us into perdition? He only, says the Apostle, shall receive the +crown that fights the good fight, and overcomes. + +Two hundred Saracens were then sent out, and were all slain; lastly a +thousand, who shared the same fate. A truce being then granted, +Argolander promised to be baptized on the morrow with all his people, +and, calling his Kings and Captains together, told them his intention, +to which they likewise assented, few only refusing to follow his +example. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +_Of the King's Banquet, and of the Poor, at whom Argolander took so +great Offence that he refused to be Baptized._ + + +On the third day Argolander attended the King, as he promised, and found +him at dinner. Many tables were spread at which the guests were sitting; +some in military uniform; some in black; some in Priests' habits; which +Argolander perceiving, inquired what they were? "Those you see in robes +of one colour," replied the King, "are priests and bishops of our holy +religion, who expound the gospel to us, absolve us from our offences, +and bestow heavenly benediction. Those in black are monks and abbots; +all of them holy men, who implore incessantly the divine favour in our +behalf." But in the meantime Argolander espying thirty poor men in mean +habiliments, without either table or table-cloth, sitting and eating +their scanty meals upon the ground, he inquired what they were? "These," +replied the King, "are people of God, the messengers of our Lord Jesus, +whom in his and his Apostles names we feed daily." Argolander then made +this reply: "The guests at your table are happy; they have plenty of the +best food set before them; but those you call the messengers of God, +whom you feed in his name, are ill fed, and worse clothed, as if they +were of no estimation. Certainly he must serve God but indifferently who +treats his messengers in this manner, and thus do you prove your +religion false." Argolander then refused to be baptized, and, returning +to his army, prepared for battle on the morrow. + +Charles, seeing the mischief his neglect of these poor men had occasioned, +ordered them to be decently clothed and better fed. Here then we may +note the Christian incurs great blame who neglects the poor. If Charles, +from inattention to their comfort, thereby lost the opportunity of +converting the Saracens, what will be the lot of those who treat them +still worse? They will hear this sentence pronounced--"Depart from me, +ye cursed, into everlasting fire; for I was an hungered, and ye gave me +no meat; naked, and ye clothed me not." + +We must consider likewise that our faith in Christ is of little value +without good works. As the body, says the Apostle, without the soul is +dead, so is faith dead if it produce not good fruit. And as the Pagan +King refused baptism because he found something wrong after it, so our +Lord, I fear, will refuse our baptism at the day of judgment if +superfluity of faults be found in us. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +_Of the Battle of Pampeluna, and Argolander's Death._ + + +Both armies now prepared for battle in the morning, contending for their +different faiths. The King mustered one hundred and thirty thousand +men, but Argolander only one hundred thousand. The Christians formed +themselves into four squadrons; the Saracens into five; whose first +corps being speedily discomfited, they all joined in one phalanx, with +Argolander in the midst. The Christians then surrounded them on all +sides. First Arnaldo de Berlanda and his troops; then Astolfo; next +Aristagnus, Galdebode, Ogier, and Constantine; lastly the King himself, +and his innumerable warriors. Arnaldo was the first that broke in upon +the enemy, overthrowing them right and left till he reached Argolander +himself in the centre, and slew him with his own hand. Then ensued a +great shout, and the Christians, rushing in upon the Saracens, slew them +on all sides, making so great a slaughter that none escaped but the +Kings of Seville and Cordova, and a few of their troops. So great, +indeed, was the effusion of blood, that the Christians waded in it to +their very knees. They slew likewise all the Saracens left in the city. +Charles fought for the faith, and therefore triumphed over Argolander. +Note then, O Christian, that whatsoever thou undertakest thou likewise +shalt accomplish if thou hast faith, for all things are possible to them +that believe. Greatly rejoiced at this victory, the King marched +forward, and came to the bridge of Arge in the Compostella road. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +_Of the Christians that returned unlawfully to Spoil the Dead._ + + +Certain of the Christians however, coveting the spoils of the dead, +returned that same night to the field of battle, and loaded themselves +with heaps of gold and silver. But as they were returning to the camp, +Almanzor, King of Cordova, who had fled for refuge to the mountains with +the Saracens that made their escape, came pouring down, and slew them +all to the number of a thousand men. These, then, are types of such as +strive against sin, but afterwards relapse; who, when they have overcome, +continue not stedfast, but seek unlawful pleasures, suffering themselves +to be mastered in turn by their grand adversary. So likewise the religious, +that forsake their vocations to re-engage in worldly concerns and +profits, lose the reward of eternal life, and entail upon themselves +everlasting perdition. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +_Of the War of Furra._ + + +The day after the King was informed that a certain King of Navarre, +called Furra, designed to fight him at Mount Garzim. Charles therefore +prepared for battle; but desiring to know who should perish in it, he +entreated the Lord to show him; whereupon in the morning a red cross +appeared on their shoulders behind. In order therefore to preserve them, +he confined them in his Oratory. Then joining battle, Furra and three +thousand of his troops were slain. These were all Saracens of Navarre. +The King now returned to his Oratory, but found them all dead that he +had left in it, to the number of one hundred and fifty men. + +"O holy band of Christian warriors, though the sword slew you not, yet +did you not lose the palm of victory, or the prize of martyrdom!" +Charles then made himself master of the mountain and castle of Garzim, +and subdued the whole country of Navarre. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +_Of the War with Ferracute, and of Orlando's admirable Dispute with him._ + + +Charles now received news that a certain Giant, of the name of Ferracute, +of the race of Goliath, was come to Nager, sent thither by Admiraldus, +with twenty thousand Turks of Babylon, to fight him. This Giant neither +feared spear nor dart, and was stronger than forty men. Charles +therefore marched to Nager, and Ferracute, hearing of his arrival, +sallied out from the city to challenge any warrior to single combat. + +Charles then sent Ogier the Dacian, whom the Giant no sooner perceived, +than, leisurely approaching, he caught him up under his right arm, as +easily as he would a lamb, and bore him off in sight of all his friends +to the city; for the Giant's stature was twelve cubits; his face a cubit +long; his nose a palm; his arms and thighs four cubits; and his fingers +three palms in length. + +Rinaldo of the White Thorn was next sent against him, but he seized him +in like manner, and imprisoned him with Ogier. The King then sent +Constantine and Ocellus, but, seizing one under each arm, he bore them +off likewise. He then sent twenty warriors by pairs against him, but +they shared the same fate. Charles dared not then venture to send more +warriors: but Orlando with the King's permission approached the Giant, +who seized him instantly by the right arm, and seated him upon his steed +before him. + +But as he was bearing him to the city, Orlando, recovering his strength, +and trusting in the Almighty, seized the Giant by the beard, and tumbled +him from his horse, so that both came to the ground together. Orlando, +then, thinking to slay the Giant, drew his sword, and struck at him, but +the blow fell upon his steed, and pierced him through. The Giant being +thus on foot, drew his enormous sword, which Orlando perceiving, who had +remounted his own charger, struck him on the sword arm, and, though he +did not wound him, struck the sword out of his hand; which greatly +enraging Ferracute, he aimed a blow at Orlando with his fist, but, +missing him, hit his horse on the forehead, and laid him dead on the +spot. And now the fight lasted till noon with fists and stones. The +Giant then demanded a truce till next day, agreeing to meet Orlando +without horse or spear. Each warrior then retired to his post. + +Next morning they accordingly met once more. The Giant brought a sword, +but Orlando a long staff to ward off the Giant's blows, who wearied +himself to no purpose. They now began to batter each other with stones, +that lay scattered about the field, till at last the Giant begged a +second truce, which being granted, he presently fell fast asleep upon +the ground. Orlando, taking a stone for a pillow, quietly laid himself +down also. For such was the law of honour between the Christians and +Saracens at that time, that no one on any pretence dared to take +advantage of his adversary before the truce was expired, as in that case +his own party would have slain him. + +When Ferracute awoke, he found Orlando awake also, who thereupon rose, +and seated himself by the Giant's side, inquiring how it came to pass he +was so very strong? "Because," replied the Giant, "I am only vulnerable +in the navel." Ferracute spoke in the Spanish language, which Orlando +understanding tolerably well, a conversation now followed between them, +which Ferracute recommenced by inquiring his name, which Orlando told +him. "And what race are you of?" said the Giant. "Of the race of the +Franks."--"What law do you follow?" "The law of Christ, so far as his +grace permits me."--"Who is this Christ in whom you profess to believe?" +"The Son of God, born of a Virgin, who took upon him our nature, was +crucified for us, rose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven, +where he sitteth on the right hand of his Father." + +"We believe," said Ferracute, "that the Creator of heaven and earth is +one God, and that, as he was not made himself, so cannot another God +spring from him. There is therefore only one God, not three, as I +understand you Christians profess." "You say well," said Orlando; "there +is but one God, but your faith is imperfect; for as the Father is God, +so likewise is the Son, and so is the Holy Ghost. Three persons, but one +God."--"Nay," said Ferracute: "if each of these three persons be God, +there must be three Gods." + +"By no means," replied Orlando; "he is both three and one. The three +persons are co-eternal and co-equal. There is indeed distinction of +person, but unity of essence, and equality of majesty. Abraham saw +three, but worshipped one. Let us recur to natural things. When the harp +sounds, there is the art, the strings, and the hand, yet but one harp. +In the almond there is the shell, the coat, and the kernel. In the sun, +the body, the beams, and the heat. In the wheel, the centre, the spokes, +and the nave. In you, likewise, there is the body, the members, and the +soul. In like manner may Trinity in Unity be ascribed to God." + +"I now comprehend," replied Ferracute, "how God may be three in one, but +I know not how he begot the Son." "Do you," answered Orlando, "believe +that God made Adam?"--"I do." "Adam himself was not, then, born of any, +and yet he begot sons. So God the Father is born of none, yet of his own +ineffable grace begot the Son from all eternity."--"Your arguments," +said the Giant, "please me exceedingly, but still I am at a loss to +know how he that was God became man." "The Creator of heaven and earth, +who made all things out of nothing, could certainly," said Orlando, +"engender his Son of a pure Virgin, by divine afflation."--"There lies +the difficulty," returned Ferracute, "how without human aid, as you +affirm, he could spring from the womb." "Surely," said Orlando, "God, +who formed Adam from no seed, could form his Son in like manner; and as +from God the Father he was without Mother, so from his Mother did he +spring without an earthly Father."--"It makes me blush," said the Giant, +"to think that a virgin should conceive without a man." "He," answered +Orlando, "that causes the worm in the bean, and many species of birds, +beasts, and serpents, to engender without the help of the male, could +procure God and Man of a pure Virgin without the help of Man. For as his +power enabled him to produce the first man from the ground, so could he +produce the second from a virgin."--"I grant it," replied the Giant; "he +might be born of a virgin; but if he was the Son of God, how could he +die, for God never dies?" "That indeed is true," said Orlando; "as God, +he could not die; but when he took our nature upon him, and was made +man, he became subject to death, for every man dies. As we believe his +nativity, so may we likewise believe his passion and resurrection." + +"And what is it we are to believe of his resurrection?" inquired +Ferracute. "That he died, and rose again the third day."--The Giant, +hearing this, was greatly astonished, and exclaimed to Orlando, "Why do +you talk so idly? It is impossible that a man, after he is once dead, +can return to life again." "Not only did the Son of God rise from the +dead," replied Orlando, "but all the men that have died since the +creation of the world shall rise again, and appear before his tribunal, +where they shall be rewarded everyone according to his deeds, whether +they be good or evil. That God, who makes the tree spring from the soil, +and the grain of wheat to rot in the ground, that it may revive with +fresh increase, can at the last day clothe the souls of men with their +own bodies, and restore them to life. Take the mystic example of the +lion, which on the third day revives his dead cubs with his breath by +licking them. What wonder, then, that God should after three days revive +his Son? Nor ought it to seem strange that, as the Son of God rose from +the dead, many others of the dead should rise even before his own +resurrection. If Elijah and Elisha by the power of God could perform +this miracle, how much more easily could the Father restore the Son, +whom it was indeed impossible that Death could retain in his fetters. +Death fled at his sight, as he shall fly likewise at the sound of his +voice, when the whole phalanx of the dead shall rise again."--"Enough," +said Ferracute, "I clearly perceive all this; but how could he ascend +into heaven?" "He that descended," answered Orlando, "could easily +ascend. He that rose of himself could enter the skies in triumph. Does +not the wheel of the mill descend low, and return to its height again? +Does not the bird in the air ascend and descend? Can you not yourself +come down from a mountain, and return thither? Did not the sun yesterday +rise in the east and set in the west, and yet rise again in the east +to-day? To that place from whence the Son of God descended, did he +likewise ascend." + +"Well," said Ferracute, "to end our arguments, I will fight you on these +terms: If the faith you profess be the true faith, you shall conquer; +otherwise the victory shall be mine; and let the issue be eternal honour +to the conqueror, but dishonour to the vanquished." "Be it so!" said +Orlando: whereupon they immediately fell to blows. But the very first +which the Giant aimed at him would have certainly been fatal, if Orlando +had not nimbly leaped aside, and caught it on his staff, which was +however cut in twain. The Giant, seeing his advantage, then rushed in +upon him, and both came to the ground together. Orlando then, finding it +impossible to escape, instantly implored the divine assistance, and, +feeling himself re-invigorated, sprung upon his feet, when, seizing +the Giant's sword, he thrust it into his navel, and made his escape. +Ferracute, finding himself mortally wounded, called aloud upon Mahomet; +which the Saracens hearing, sallied from the city, and bore him off in +their arms. Orlando returned safe to the camp; the Christians then +boldly attacked the city, and carried it by storm. The Giant and his +people were slain, his castle taken, and all the Christian warriors +liberated. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +_The War of the Masks._ + + +Soon after the Emperor heard that Ibrahim, King of Seville, and Almanzor, +who escaped from the battle of Pampeluna, had gathered together at +Cordova a body of troops from seven[1] of the neighbouring cities of +Seville. Thither then did the King pursue his march with six thousand +men, and found the Saracens, ten thousand strong, about three miles from +the city. The King formed his army into three divisions. The first +composed of his best troops, all cavalry; the two last, foot. The +Saracens formed theirs in a similar manner. But when the King in person +advanced against the first squadrons of Pagans, he found them all +disguised in bearded masks, with horns upon their heads, like demons, +making so strange a din with their hands upon their drums and other +instruments, that the horses were terrified, and galloped back in spite +of all their riders could do to prevent them. Whereupon the foot +retreated likewise to an adjacent mountain, where, uniting in one +squadron, they stopped for the Saracens, who would then advance no +further, but gave our people time to pitch their tents, and encamp that +night. + +Charles then called a council of his captains, and agreed to tie +bandages over their horses' eyes, and to stuff their ears, in order to +disconcert this stratagem on the morrow. Admirable experiment! For now +we fought the enemy from morning till night, and slew a great number, +though it was by no means a general slaughter; for the Saracens, again +joining in martial array, brought forward a castle, drawn by eight oxen, +with a certain red banner waving upon it, which so long as they saw +present, it was their rule never to fly. The King, knowing this, armed +himself with a strong breast-plate, a mighty spear, and invincible +sword, and, aided by divine assistance, hewed his way through his +enemies, overturning them to right and left, till he reached the car, +when, cutting the flag-pole with his sword, the Saracens instantly fled +in all directions. Prodigious shouts were made by both armies. We then +slew eight thousand Moors, together with Ibrahim, King of Seville. +Almanzor made good his retreat into the city, but submitted to Charles +the day after, consenting to be baptized, and to do homage for his +dominions. + +The King now divided the conquered countries of Spain amongst his +soldiers. Navarre and Bearn he gave to the inhabitants of Brittany; +Castile to the Franks; Nadres and Saragossa to the Apulians; Arragon to +the Ponthieuse; Andalusia, on the sea-coast, to the Germans; and +Portugal to the Dacians and Flemings. But the French would not settle +in the mountain parts of Gallicia. Thus there seemed to be no more foes +in Spain to hurt the Emperor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +_Of the Council the Emperor summoned; and of his Journey to +Compostella._ + + +Charles then sent away the greatest part of his troops, and came to +Gallicia, where he behaved very liberally to the Christians he found +there, but either put to death or banished those that had revolted to +the Moorish faith. He then appointed bishops and prelates in every city, +and, assembling a council of the chief dignitaries in Compostella, +decreed that the church of St. James should be henceforth considered as +the Metropolitan, instead of Iria, as it was no city, subjecting Iria +likewise to Compostella. In the same council I, Turpin, Archbishop of +Rheims, together with forty other Bishops and Prelates, dedicated, by +the King's command, the church and altar of St. James, with extraordinary +splendour and magnificence. All Spain and Gallicia were made subject to +this holy place: it was moreover endowed with four pieces of money from +every house throughout the kingdom, and at the same time totally freed +from the royal jurisdiction; being from that hour styled the Apostolic +See, as the body of the holy Apostle laid entombed within it. Here +likewise the general councils of Spain are held; the Bishops ordained, +and the Kings crowned by the hand of the Metropolitan Bishop, to the +Apostle's honour. Here too, when any crying sin is committed, or +innovations made in the faith and precepts of our Lord, through the +meritoriousness of this venerable edifice the grievance is discovered, +and atonement made. As the Eastern Apostolic See was established by St. +John, the brother of St. James, at Ephesus, so was the Western +established by St. James. + +And those Sees are undoubtedly the true Sees. Ephesus on the right hand +of Christ's earthly kingdom, and Compostella on the left, both which +fell to the share of the sons of Zebedee, according to their request. +There are, then, three Sees which are deservedly held pre-eminent, even +as our Lord gave the pre-eminence to the three Apostles, Peter, James, +and John, who first established them. And certainly these three places +should be deemed more sacred than others, where they preached, and +their bodies lie enshrined. Rome claims the superiority from Peter, +Prince of the Apostles. Compostella holds the second place from St. +James, the elder brother of St. John, and first inheritor of the crown of +martyrdom. He dignified it with his preaching, consecrated it with his +sepulchre, and ceases not to exalt it by miracles and dispensations of +mercy. The third See justly is Ephesus; for there St. John wrote his +gospel, "In the beginning was the Word," assembling there likewise the +bishops of the neighbouring cities, whom he calls Angels in the +Apocalypse. He established that church by his doctrines and miracles, +and there his body was entombed. If, therefore, any difficulty should +occur that cannot elsewhere be resolved, let it be brought before these +Sees, and it shall, by divine grace, be decided. As Gallicia was freed +in these early ages from the Saracen yoke, by the favour of God and St. +James, and by the King's valour, so may it continue firm in the orthodox +faith till the consummation of ages! + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +_Of the Emperor's Person and Courage._ + + +The Emperor was of a ruddy complexion, with brown hair; of a well-made +handsome form, but a stern visage. His height was about eight of his own +feet, which were very long. He was of a strong robust make; his legs and +thighs very stout, and his sinews firm. His face was thirteen inches +long; his beard a palm; his nose half a palm; his forehead a foot over. +His lion-like eyes flashed fire like carbuncles; his eyebrows were half +a palm over. When he was angry, it was a terror to look upon him. He +required eight spans for his girdle, besides what hung loose. He ate +sparingly of bread; but a whole quarter of lamb, two fowls, a goose, or +a large portion of pork; a peacock, crane, or a whole hare. He drank +moderately of wine and water. He was so strong, that he could at a +single blow cleave asunder an armed soldier on horseback from the head +to the waist, and the horse likewise. He easily vaulted over four horses +harnessed together; and could raise an armed man from the ground to his +head, as he stood erect upon his hand. + +He was liberal, just in his decrees, and fluent of speech. Four days in +the year, especially during his residence in Spain, he held a solemn +assembly at court, adorning himself with his royal crown and sceptre; +namely, on Christmas-day, at Easter, Whitsuntide, and on the festival of +St. James. A naked sword, after the imperial fashion, was then borne +before him. A hundred and twenty orthodox soldiers matched nightly round +his couch, in three courses of forty each. A drawn sword was laid at his +right hand, and a lighted candle at his left. Although many would +delight to read his great actions, they would be too tedious to relate. +How he invested Galifer, Admiral of Coleto, where he was banished, with +the military order, and, in return for his kindness, slew Bramantes, +his enemy, the proud Saracen King; how many kingdoms and countries +he conquered; Abbeys he founded; bodies of the saints and relics he +enshrined in gold; how he was made Emperor of Rome, and visited the holy +supulchre, bringing back with him the wood of the Holy Cross, wherewith +he endowed the shrine of St. James; of all this I shall say no more: the +hand and the pen would sooner fail than the history. But what befel his +army at his return to France, we now briefly proceed to tell. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +_Of the Treachery of Ganalon; the Battle of Ronceval, and the Sufferings +of the Christian Warriors._ + + +When this famous Emperor had thus recovered Spain to the glory of our +Lord and St. James, after a season he returned to Pampeluna, and +encamped there, with his army. At that time there were in Saragossa two +Saracen Kings, Marsir, and Beligard, his brother, sent by the Soldan of +Babylon from Persia to Spain. Charles had bowed them to his dominion, +and they served him always, but only with feigned fidelity. For the King +having sent Ganalon to require them to be baptized, and to pay tribute, +they sent him thirty horse-load of gold, silver, and jewels; forty load +of wine likewise for his soldiers, and a thousand beautiful Saracen +women. But at the same time they covenanted with Ganalon to betray the +King's army into their hands for twenty horse-load of gold and silver; +which wicked compact being accordingly made, Ganalon returned to the +King with intelligence that Marsir would embrace the Christian faith, +and was preparing to follow him into France to receive baptism there, +and would then hold all Spain under oath of fealty to him. The old +soldiers would accept the wine only, but the young men were highly +gratified with the present of the women. + +Charles, confiding in Ganalon, now began his march through the pass of +the mountains, in his return to France; giving the command of the rear +to his nephew, Orlando, Count of Mans and Lord of Guienne, and to +Oliver, Count of Auvergne, ordering them to keep the station of Ronceval +with thirty thousand men, whilst he passed it with the rest of the army. +But many, who had on the night preceding intoxicated themselves with +wine, and been guilty of fornication with the Saracen women, and other +women that followed the camp from France, incurred the penalty of death. +What more shall we say? When Charles had safely passed the narrow strait +that leads into Gascony, between the mountains, with twenty thousand of +his warriors, Turpin, the Archbishop, and Ganalon, and while the rear +kept guard, early in the morning Marsir and Beligard, rushing down from +the hills, where, by Ganalon's advice, they had lain two days in ambush, +formed their troops into two great divisions, and with the first of +twenty thousand men attacked our army, which making a bold resistance, +fought from morning to the third hour, and utterly destroyed the enemy. +But a fresh body of thirty thousand Saracens now poured furiously down +upon the Christians, already faint and exhausted with fighting so long, +and smote them from high to low, so that scarcely one escaped. Some were +transpierced with lances; some killed with clubs; others beheaded, +burnt, flayed alive, or suspended on trees: only Orlando, Baldwin, and +Theodoric, were left; the two last gained the woods, and finally +escaped. After this terrible slaughter the Saracens retreated a league +from the field of battle. + +And here it may be asked, why God permitted those to perish who in no +wise had defiled themselves with women? It was, indeed, to prevent them +from committing fresh sins at their return home and to give them a +crown of glory in reward for their toils. However neither is it to be +doubted but those who were guilty of this fault amply atoned for it by +their death. In that awful hour they confessed his name, bewailing their +sins, and the all-merciful God forgot not their past labours for the +sake of Christ, for whose faith they lost their lives. The company of +women is evidently baneful to the warrior: those earthly Princes Darius +and Mark Antony were attended by their women, and perished; for lust at +once enervates the soul and the body. + +Those who fell into intoxication and lasciviousness typify the priests +that war against vice, but suffer themselves to be overcome by wine and +sensual appetites till they are slain by their enemy the devil, and +punished with eternal death. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +_Of the Death of Marsir, and the Flight of Beligard._ + + +As Orlando was returning after the battle was over to view the Saracen +army, he met a certain black Saracen, who had fled from the field, and +concealed himself in the woods, whom he seized and bound to a tree with +four bands. Then, ascending a lofty hill, he surveyed the Moorish army, +and seeing likewise many Christians retreating by the Ronceval road he +blew his horn, and was joined by about a hundred of them, with whom he +returned to the Saracen, and promised to give him his life if he would +show him Marsir; which having performed, he set him at liberty. +Animating his little band, Orlando was soon amidst the thickest of the +enemy, and finding one of larger stature than the rest, he hewed him and +his horse in twain, so that the halves fell different ways. Marsir and +his companions then fled in all directions, but Orlando, trusting in the +divine aid, rushed forward, and overcoming all opposition, slew Marsir +on the spot. By this time every one of the Christians was slain, and +Orlando himself sorely wounded in five places by lances, and grievously +battered likewise with stones. Beligard, seeing Marsir had fallen, +retired from the field with the rest of the Saracens; whilst Theodoric +and Baldwin, and some few other Christians, made their way through the +pass, towards which Orlando, wandering, came likewise to the foot of it, +and, alighting from his steed, stretched himself on the ground, beneath +a tree, near a block of marble, that stood upright in the meadows of +Ronceval. + +Here drawing his sword, Durendal, which signifies a hard blow, a sword +of exquisite workmanship, fine temper, and resplendent brightness, which +he would sooner have lost his arm than parted with, as he held it in his +hand, regarding it earnestly, addressed it in these words: "O sword of +unparalleled brightness, excellent dimensions, admirable temper, and +hilt of the whitest ivory, decorated with a splendid cross of gold, +topped by a berylline apple, engraved with the sacred name of God, +endued with keenness and every other virtue, who now shall wield thee in +battle? who shall call thee master? He that possessed thee was never +conquered, never daunted at the foe; phantoms never appalled him. Aided +by Omnipotence, with thee did he destroy the Saracen, exalt the faith of +Christ, and acquire consummate glory. Oft hast thou vindicated the blood +of Jesus, against Pagans, Jews, and heretics; oft hewed off the hand and +foot of the robber, fulfilling divine justice. O happy sword, keenest of +the keen; never was one like thee! He that made thee, made not thy +fellow! Not one escaped with life from thy stroke! If the slothful timid +soldier should now possess thee, or the base Saracen, my grief would be +unspeakable! Thus, then, do I prevent thy falling into their hands."--He +then struck the block of marble thrice, which cleft it in the midst, and +broke the sword in twain. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +_Of the Sound of Orlando's Horn; of his Confession, and Death._ + + +He now blew a loud blast with his horn, to summon any Christian +concealed in the adjacent woods to his assistance, or to recal his +friends beyond the pass. This horn was endued with such power, that all +other horns were split by its sound; and it is said that Orlando at that +time blew it with such vehemence, that he burst the veins and nerves of +his neck. The sound reached the King's ears, who lay encamped in the +valley still called by his name, about eight miles from Ronceval, +towards Gascony, being carried so far by supernatural power. Charles +would have flown to his succour, but was prevented by Ganalon, who, +conscious of Orlando's sufferings, insinuated it was usual with him to +sound his horn on light occasions. "He is, perhaps," said he, "pursuing +some wild beast, and the sound echoes through the woods; it will be +fruitless, therefore, to seek him." O wicked traitor, deceitful as +Judas! What dost thou merit? + +Orlando now grew very thirsty, and cried for water to Baldwin, who just +then approached him; but unable to find any, and seeing him so near his +end, he blessed him, and, again mounting his steed, galloped off for +assistance to the army. Immediately after Theodoric came up, and, +bitterly grieving to see him in this condition, bade him strengthen his +soul by confessing his faith. Orlando had that morning received the +blessed Eucharist, and confessed his sins before he went to battle, this +being the custom with all the warriors at that time, for which purpose +bishops and monks attended the army to give them absolution. The martyr +of Christ then cast up his eyes to heaven, and cried, "O Lord Jesus, for +whose sake I came into these barbarous regions; through thy aid only +have I conquered innumerable Pagans, enduring blows and wounds, +reproach, derision, and fatigue, heat and cold, hunger and thirst. To +thee do I commit my soul in this trying hour. Thou, who didst suffer on +the cross for those who deserved not thy favour, deliver my soul, I +beseech thee, from eternal death! I confess myself a most grievous +sinner, but thou mercifully dost forgive our sins; thou pitiest every +one, and hatest nothing which thou hast made, covering the sins of the +penitent in whatsoever day they turn unto thee with true contrition. O +thou, who didst spare thy enemies, and the woman taken in adultery; who +didst pardon Mary Magdalen, and look with compassion on the weeping +Peter; who didst likewise open the gate of Paradise to the thief that +confessed thee upon the cross; have mercy upon me, and receive my soul +into thy everlasting rest! + +"Thou art he who preventest our bodies from perishing in the grave, +changing them to greater glory; thou, O Lord, art he, who hast said, +'thou rather wouldst the sinner should live than die.' I believe in thee +with my whole heart, and confess thee with my lips; therefore I beseech +thee to receive me into the enjoyment of a better life when this is +ended. Let my sense and intellects be in the same measure improved as +the shadow differs from the substance." And now, grasping the flesh and +skin near his heart (as Theodoric afterwards related), he continued his +speech with bitter groanings. "O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, and of +the blessed Virgin, with my inmost soul do I confess that thou, my +Redeemer, dost live, and that at the day of judgment I shall rise, and +in my flesh behold thee, my God and my Saviour!" And thrice, thus +grasping his breast, did he repeat those words; and, laying his hand +upon his eyes in like manner, he said, "And these eyes shall behold +thee!" Uncovering them, he again looked up to heaven, and, signing +himself with the sign of the cross, he uttered, "All earthly things are +vain and unprofitable; I am now taught of Christ, that eye hath not +seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to +conceive, the good things that God hath prepared for them that love +him." Then, stretching his hands to heaven, he uttered this prayer for +them that perished in the battle:-- + +"Let thy bowels of compassion, O Lord, be open to thy faithful servants, +who have this day perished by the hand of the barbarians. Hither did +they come to vindicate thy faith; for thy sake are they fallen. Do thou, +O Lord, mercifully blot out their offences, accounting them worthy to +be delivered from the pains of hell. Send thy archangels to rescue +their souls from darkness, and bear them to the regions of light, where +thy blessed martyrs eternally live and reign with thee, who dost live +and reign with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, to all ages. +Amen!"--Immediately after this confession and prayer, his soul winged +its flight from his body, and was borne by angels to Paradise, where he +reigns in transcendent glory, united by his meritorious deeds to the +blessed choir of martyrs. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +_Of Orlando's Rank and Virtue._ + + + No longer it becomes the heart to mourn + A hero of immortal joys possessed; + Of noble rank, and noble parents born, + For nobler deeds in heaven with glory blest. + + To none inferior, thine was native worth; + Thy feet still tending to the temple's bounds; + A glorious model to the wondering earth, + A faithful balsam to thy country's wounds. + + The Clergy's refuge, and the Widow's friend, + Bounteous to guests, and liberal to the poor; + To heaven thy parting steps may safely bend, + Whose works have opened wide salvation's door. + + Thy tongue the fount of heavenly eloquence, + That still would slake the thirst, and never pall, + Endowed with graceful wit, and manly sense, + Proclaimed thee common father, friend of all. + + Blest Chief, farewell! but not the marbled urn + That holds thy ashes can thy soul contain: + Our wondering eyes to heaven above we turn, + Where thou for ever dost triumphant reign. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +_Archbishop Turpin's Vision, and the King's Lamentation for Orlando._ + + +What more shall we say? Whilst the soul of the blessed Orlando was +leaving his body, I, Turpin, standing near the King in the valley of +Charles, at the moment I was celebrating the mass of the dead, namely, +on the 16th day of June, fell into a trance, and, hearing the angelic +choir sing aloud, I wondered what it might be. Now, when they had +ascended on high, behold, there came after them a phalanx of terrible +ones, like warriors returning from the spoil, bearing their prey. +Presently I inquired of one of them what it meant, and was answered, "We +are bearing the soul of Marsir to hell, but yonder is Michael bearing +the Horn-winder to heaven." When mass was over, I told the King what I +had seen; and whilst I was yet speaking, behold Baldwin rode up on +Orlando's horse, and related what had befallen him, and where he had +left the hero in the agonies of death, beside a stone in the meadows at +the foot of the mountain; whereupon the whole army immediately marched +back to Ronceval. + +The King himself first discovered the hero, lying in the form of a +cross, and began to lament over him with bitter sighs and sobs, wringing +his hands, and tearing his hair and beard. "O right arm," cried he, "of +thy Sovereign's body; honour of the French; sword of justice, inflexible +spear, inviolable breast-plate, shield of safety; a Judas Maccabeus in +probity, a Samson in strength; in death like Saul and Jonathan; brave, +experienced soldier, great and noble defender of the Christians, scourge +of the Saracens; a wall to the clergy, the widow's and orphan's friend, +just and faithful in judgment!--Renowned Count of the French, valiant +captain of our armies, why did I leave thee here to perish? How can I +behold thee dead, and not die myself? Why hast thou left me sorrowful +and alone? A poor miserable King! But thou art exalted to the kingdom of +heaven, and dost enjoy the company of angels and martyrs. Without cease +I shall lament over thee, as David did over Saul and Jonathan, and his +son Absalom. + + Thy soul is fled to happier scenes above, + And left us mourning to lament thee here; + Blest in thy God and Saviour's fav'ring love, + Who wipes from every eye the trickling tear. + + Six lustres and eight years thou dwelledst below, + But snatched from earth to heaven, thou reign'st on high, + Where feasts divine immortal spirits know, + And joys transcendent fill the starry sky." + +Thus did Charles mourn for Orlando to the very last day of his life. On +the spot where he died he encamped; and caused the body to be embalmed +with balsam, myrrh, and aloes. The whole camp watched it that night, +honouring his corse with hymns and songs, and innumerable torches and +fires kindled on the adjacent mountains. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +_How the Sun stood still for three Days; the Slaughter of four thousand +Saracens; and the Death of Ganalon._ + + +Early on the next day they came to the field of battle in Ronceval, and +found the bodies of their friends, many of them still alive, but +mortally wounded. Oliver was lying on his face, pinioned to the ground +in the form of a cross, and flayed from the neck to his finger-ends; +pierced also with darts and javelins, and bruised with clubs. The +mourning was now dismal; every one wept for his friend, till the groves +and valleys resounded with wailing. Charles solemnly vowed to pursue the +Pagans till he found them; and, marching in pursuit with his whole army, +the sun stood still for three days, till he overtook them on the banks +of the Ebro, near Saragossa, feasting and rejoicing for their success. +Attacking them valiantly, he then slew four thousand, and dispersed the +rest. What further? We now returned to Ronceval, bearing with us the +sick and wounded to the spot where Orlando fell. The Emperor then made +strict inquiries after the treachery of Ganalon, which began to be +universally rumoured about. Trial was ordained by single combat, Pinabel +for Ganalon, and Theodoric for the Accuser; when, the latter gaining the +victory, the treason was proved. Ganalon was now sentenced to be torn to +pieces by four wild horses, which was accordingly his end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +_The Embalming of the Dead._ + + +They now embalmed the dead bodies of their friends; some with myrrh and +balsam, some with salt, taking out the bowels, and filling the bodies +with aromatic drugs, or with salt only. Some were buried on the spot; +others conveyed to France; but many that became putrid and offensive +were buried on the road. Wooden carriages were made for the dead, but +the sick and wounded were borne away on litters upon their shoulders. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +_Of the consecrated Cemeteries of Arles and Bordeaux._ + + +Two chief burying grounds were now consecrated at Arles and Bordeaux by +seven Bishops: Maximin of Aix, Trophimus of Arles, Paul of Narbonne, +Saturnine of Thoulouse, Frontorne of Perigord, Martial of Limoges, and +Eutropius of Xaintonge; where the major part of the warriors were +interred that fell in the battles of Ronceval and Mount Garzim. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +_Of the Burial of Orlando and his Companions at Blaye and other Places._ + + +Charles deferred the burial of Orlando till he came to Blaye. His body +was laid upon gold tapestry on two mules, covered with a pall, and at +length honourably interred in the Church of St. Roman, which he had +formerly built, and endowed with regular canons. His helmet was placed +upon his head, and his ivory horn at his feet. But the body was +afterwards translated to St. Severin in Bordeaux, the chief city of +these provinces, where it was joyfully welcomed, as it had liberally +tasted his munificence. + +At Blaye likewise was buried Oliver, and Galdebode, King of Friezeland; +Ogier, King of Dacia; Aristagnus, King of Brittany; Garin, Duke of +Lorraine; and many other warriors. Happy town, graced with the sepulchres +of so many heroes! At Bordeaux, in the cemetery of St. Severin, were +buried Gayfere, King of Bordeaux; Angelerus, Duke of Aquitaine; Lambert, +Prince of Bourges; Galerius Galin; Rinaldo of the White Thorn; Walter +of the Olive Trees; Vulterinus, and five thousand of their soldiers. +Ocellus, Count of Nantes, and most of the inhabitants of Brittany, were +buried in that city. Charles gave twelve thousand pieces of silver and +talents of gold for the repose of their souls, and fed the poor for many +miles round the city of Blaye; endowing the church likewise with rich +vestments and silver ornaments, for the love he bore Orlando; freeing +the Canons from all service but prayers for him and his companions. He +moreover clothed and entertained thirty poor men on the anniversary of +their martyrdom, establishing Minstrels, Masses, and other solemnities, +which the Canons were not to neglect on that day, as they hoped to merit +a crown of glory, which they promised to perform. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +_Of those Buried at Arles._ + + +After this the King and his army proceeded by the way of Gascony and +Thoulouse, and came to Arles, where we found the army of Burgundy, +which had left us in the hostile valley, bringing their dead by the way +of Morbihan and Thoulouse, to bury them in the plain of Arles. Here we +performed the rites of Estolfo, Count of Champagne; of Solomon; Sampson, +Duke of Burgundy; Arnold of Berlanda; Alberic of Burgundy; Gumard, +Esturinite, Hato, Juonius, Berard, Berengaire, and Naaman, Duke of +Bourbon, and of ten thousand of their soldiers. Constantine, Governor of +Rome, and other Romans, were conveyed thither by sea, and buried in +Apulia. The King gave twelve thousand pieces of silver, and as many +talents of gold, for the repose of their souls, and to the poor of +Arles. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +_Of the Council held at St. Denis._ + + +We then came to Vienne, where I remained to be healed of the scars and +wounds I received in Spain. The King, much fatigued, at length arrived +at Paris; and, assembling a council of his chief princes and bishops at +St. Denis, returned thanks to God for his victory over the Pagans, and +gave all France as a manor to that church, in the same way as St. Paul +and St. Clement had formerly endowed the bishopric of Rome. The French +Bishops were likewise to be ordained there, and not made subject to the +See of Rome. Then, standing by the tomb of St. Denis, he entreated the +Lord for all who had died in his cause. + +The very next night St. Denis appeared to the King in his sleep, +assuring him that full pardon of sin was granted to all that followed +him, and had fought and perished in the wars with the Saracens; that +they likewise should recover of their wounds who had bestowed money on +the church; which being made known by the King, very liberal offerings +were made by the people, who thus acquired the name of Franks; and the +whole land, formerly called Gaul, was now changed to France, as being +freed from all servitude, and having dominion over other nations. The +King then went to Aix-la-Chapelle, in the county of Liege, to bathe and +drink the waters, where he liberally endowed St. Mary's Church with gold +and silver, ordering it to be painted with ancient and modern histories, +and his palace to be decorated with the representation of his wars in +Spain; with emblems of the seven liberal arts and other excellent +embellishments. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +_Of the King's Death._ + + +Soon after, the King's approaching death was revealed to me; for, +behold, as I was praying in the church of Vienne, I fell into a trance, +as I was singing psalms, and saw innumerable companies of soldiers pass +before me by the Lorraine road. A certain one, black as an Ethiop, +followed them, of whom I inquired whither he was going, and received for +answer that he was awaiting the death of Charles to take possession of +his soul. "I conjure you, then," said I, "by the name of the Lord Jesus, +to return when you have completed your errand." When I had rested some +time, and begun to explain the psalms, behold they returned back, and, +speaking to the same person I before addressed, I inquired whom he had +been seeking, and was answered, "the Gallician;" but the stones and +timber of the churches he founded balanced so greatly in his favour, +that his good works outweighed his bad, and his soul was snatched from +us, and at this the demon vanished. Thus I understood Charles died that +day, and was carried into the bosom of God and St. James. But as I had +requested him, before we parted at Vienne, to send me notice of his +decease in case it preceded mine, being then grievously sick, and +remembering his promise, he encharged a certain learned soldier to bring +me word the moment he died. What more need I add? The messenger arrived +on the fifteenth day after it happened. He had, indeed, been grievously +afflicted with illness from the hour he left Spain, and suffered still +more in mind than in body for the friends he lost on the unfortunate +16th of June. On the same day that I saw the vision, namely, on the 5th +of February, in the year of our Lord 814, he departed this life, and was +sumptuously buried in the round church of St. Mary, which he had himself +built; and this sign I was credibly informed happened yearly for three +years together before his death,--"The Sun and Moon became dark, and +his name, Charles the Prince, inscribed on the church, was totally +obliterated of itself; and the portico likewise, between the church and +the palace, fell to the very foundation." The wooden bridge also which +he built six years before over the Rhine at Mentz was destroyed by fire, +self-kindled. And the same day, as a traveller was on his journey, he +saw a great flame, like the flame of a funeral pile, pass from right to +left before him; which terrifying him greatly, he fell from his horse, +but was presently relieved by his friends. + +We therefore believe that he now enjoys the crown of the blessed +martyrs, whose labours he imitated, whose pattern and example he +followed. Whereby we may understand, that whoever builds a church to +God's glory, provides for himself a residence in his kingdom. For this +cause was Charles snatched from the hands of demons, and borne by good +angels to heavenly habitations. + + + + +BALLAD ROMANCE +TOUCHING +THE DAYS OF CHARLEMAGNE +AND OF +THE CID CAMPEADOR +WITH THE BALLAD OF COUNT ALARCOS + +_FROM THE SPANISH BALLADS TRANSLATED BY_ +JOHN GIBSON LOCKHART. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PART I. + + + THE MOOR CALAYNOS 57 + THE ESCAPE OF GAYFEROS 61 + MELISENDRA 63 + THE MARCH OF BERNARDO DEL CARPIO 67 + LADY ALDA'S DREAM 69 + THE ADMIRAL GUARINOS 71 + THE COMPLAINT OF THE COUNT OF SALDENHA 75 + THE FUNERAL OF THE COUNT OF SALDENHA 76 + BERNARDO AND ALPHONSO 78 + + + PART II. + + THE YOUNG CID 81 + XIMENA DEMANDS VENGEANCE 83 + THE CID AND THE FIVE MOORISH KINGS 84 + THE CID'S COURTSHIP 85 + THE CID'S WEDDING 87 + THE CID AND THE LEPER 88 + BAVIECA 90 + THE EXCOMMUNICATION OF THE CID 92 + + + PART III. + + COUNT ALARCOS AND THE INFANTA SOLIS 94 + + + + +PART I. + +THE MOOR CALAYNOS. + + +In the following version I have taken liberty to omit a good many of the +introductory stanzas of the famous _Coplas de Calainos_. The reader will +remember that this ballad is alluded to in Don Quixote, where the +Knight's nocturnal visit to Toboso is described. + +It is generally believed to be among the most ancient, and certainly was +among the most popular, of all the ballads in the Cancionero. + + +I. +"I had six Moorish nurses, but the seventh was not a Moor, +The Moors they gave me milk enow, but the Christian gave me lore; +And she told me ne'er to listen, though sweet the words might be, +Till he that spake had proved his troth, and pledged a gallant fee."-- + + +II. +"Fair damsel," quoth Calaynos, "if thou wilt go with me, +Say what may win thy favour, and thine that gift shall be. +Fair stands the castle on the rock, the city in the vale, +And bonny is the red red gold, and rich the silver pale."-- + + +III. +"Fair sir," quoth she, "virginity I never will lay down +For gold, nor yet for silver, for castle, nor for town; +But I will be your leman for the heads of certain peers-- +And I ask but three--Rinaldo's--Roland's--and Olivier's."-- + + +IV. +He kissed her hand where she did stand, he kissed her lips also, +And "Bring forth," he cries, "my pennon, for to Paris I must go."-- +I wot ye saw them rearing his banner broad right soon, +Whereon revealed his bloody field its pale and crescent moon. + + +V. +That broad bannere the Moore did rear, ere many days were gone, +In foul disdain of Charlemagne, by the church of good Saint John; +In the midst of merry Paris, on the bonny banks of Seine, +Shall never scornful Paynim that pennon rear again. + + +VI. +His banner he hath planted high, and loud his trumpet blown, +That all the twelve might hear it well around King Charles's throne; +The note he blew right well they knew; both Paladin and Peer +Had the trumpet heard of that stern lord in many a fierce career. + + +VII. +It chanced the King, that fair morning, to the chace had made him bowne, +With many a knight of warlike might, and prince of high renown; +Sir Reynold of Montalban, and Claros' Lord, Gaston, +Behind him rode, and Bertram good, that reverend old Baron. + + +VIII. +Black D'Ardennes' eye of mastery in that proud troop was seen, +And there was Urgel's giant force, and Guarinos' princely mien; +Gallant and gay upon that day was Baldwin's youthful cheer, +But first did ride, by Charles's side, Roland and Olivier. + + +IX. +Now in a ring around the King, not far in the greenwood, +Awaiting all the huntsman's call, it chanced the nobles stood; +"Now list, mine earls, now list!" quoth Charles, "yon breeze + will come again, +Some trumpet-note methinks doth float from the bonny banks of Seine."-- + + +X. +He scarce had heard the trumpet, the word he scarce had said, +When among the trees he near him sees a dark and turbaned head; +"Now stand, now stand at my command, bold Moor," quoth Charlemagne, +"That turban green, how dare it be seen among the woods of Seine."-- + + +XI. +"My turban green must needs be seen among the woods of Seine," +The Moor replied, "since here I ride in quest of Charlemagne-- +For I serve the Moor Calaynos, and I his defiance bring +To every lord that sits at the board of Charlemagne your King. + + +XII. +"Now lordlings fair, if anywhere in the wood ye've seen him riding, +O tell me plain the path he has ta'en--there is no cause for chiding; +For my lord hath blown his trumpet by every gate of Paris-- +Long hours in vain, by the bank of Seine, upon his steed he tarries."-- + + +XIII. +When the Emperor had heard the Moor, full red was his old cheek, +"Go back, base cur, upon the spur, for I am he you seek-- +Go back, and tell your master to commend him to Mahoun, +For his soul shall dwell with him in hell, or ere yon sun go down. + + +XIV. +"Mine arm is weak, my hairs are grey," (thus spake King Charlemagne,) +"Would for one hour I had the power of my young days again, +As when I plucked the Saxon from out his mountain den-- +O soon should cease the vaunting of this proud Saracen! + + +XV. +"Though now mine arm be weakened, though now my hairs be grey, +The hard-won praise of other days cannot be swept away-- +If shame there be, my liegemen, that shame on you must lie-- +Go forth, go forth, good Roland; to-night this Moor must die."-- + + +XVI. +Then out and spake rough Roland--"Ofttimes I've thinned the ranks +Of the hot Moor, and when all was o'er have won me little thanks; +Some carpet knight will take delight to do this doughty feat, +Whom damsels gay shall well repay with their smiles and whispers sweet!"-- + + +XVII. +Then out and spake Sir Baldwin--the youngest peer was he, +The youngest and the comeliest--"Let none go forth but me; +Sir Roland is mine uncle, and he may in safety jeer, +But I will show the youngest may be Sir Roland's peer."-- + + +XVIII. +"Nay, go not thou," quoth Charlemagne, "thou art my gallant youth, +And braver none I look upon; but thy cheek it is too smooth; +And the curls upon thy forehead they are too glossy bright;-- +Some elder peer must couch his spear against this crafty knight."-- + + +XIX. +But away, away goes Baldwin, no words can stop him now, +Behind him lies the greenwood, he hath gained the mountain's brow, +He reineth first his charger, within the churchyard green, +Where, striding slow the elms below, the haughty Moor is seen. + + +XX. +Then out and spake Calaynos--"Fair youth, I greet thee well; +Thou art a comely stripling, and if thou with me wilt dwell, +All for the grace of thy sweet face, thou shalt not lack thy fee, +Within my lady's chamber a pretty page thou'lt be."-- + + +XXI. +An angry man was Baldwin, when thus he heard him speak, +"Proud knight," quoth he, "I come with thee a bloody spear to break."-- +O, sternly smiled Calaynos, when thus he heard him say,-- +O loudly as he mounted his mailed barb did neigh. + + +XXII. +One shout, one thrust, and in the dust young Baldwin lies full low-- +No youthful knight could bear the might of that fierce warrior's blow; +Calaynos draws his falchion, and waves it to and fro, +"Thy name now say, and for mercy pray, or to hell thy soul must go."-- + + +XXIII. +The helpless youth revealed the truth. Then said the conqueror-- +"I spare thee for thy tender years, and for thy great valour; +But thou must rest thee captive here, and serve me on thy knee, +For fain I'd tempt some doughtier peer to come and rescue thee." + + +XXIV. +Sir Roland heard that haughty word, (he stood behind the wall,) +His heart, I trow, was heavy enow, when he saw his kinsman fall; +But now his heart was burning, and never a word he said, +But clasped his buckler on his arm, his helmet on his head. + + +XXV. +Another sight saw the Moorish knight, when Roland blew his horn, +To call him to the combat in anger and in scorn; +All cased in steel from head to heel, in the stirrup high he stood, +The long spear quivered in his hand, as if athirst for blood. + + +XXVI. +Then out and spake Calaynos--"Thy name I fain would hear; +A coronet on thy helm is set; I guess thou art a Peer."-- +Sir Roland lifted up his horn, and blew another blast, +"No words, base Moor," quoth Roland, "this hour shall be thy last."-- + + +XXVII. +I wot they met full swiftly, I wot the shock was rude; +Down fell the misbeliever, and o'er him Roland stood; +Close to his throat the steel he brought, and plucked his beard full sore-- +"What devil brought thee hither?--speak out or die, false Moor!"-- + + +XXVIII. +"O! I serve a noble damsel, a haughty maid of Spain, +And in evil day I took my way, that I her grace might gain; +For every gift I offered, my lady did disdain, +And craved the ears of certain Peers that ride with Charlemagne."-- + + +XXIX. +Then loudly laughed rough Roland--"Full few will be her tears, +It was not love her soul did move, when she bade thee beard THE PEERS."-- +With that he smote upon his throat, and spurned his crest in twain, +"No more," he cries, "this moon will rise above the woods of Seine." + + + + +THE ESCAPE OF GAYFEROS. + + +The story of Gayfer de Bourdeaux is to be found at great length in the +Romantic Chronicle of Charlemagne; and it has supplied the Spanish +minstrels with subjects for a long series of ballads. + +In that which follows, Gayferos, yet a boy, is represented as hearing +from his mother the circumstances of his father's death; and as narrowly +escaping with his own life, in consequence of his stepfather's cruelty. + + +I. +Before her knee the boy did stand, within the dais so fair, +The golden shears were in her hand, to clip his curled hair; +And ever as she clipped the curls, such doleful words she spake, +That tears ran from Gayferos' eyes, for his sad mother's sake. + + +II. +"God grant a beard were on thy face, and strength thine arm within, +To fling a spear, or swing a mace, like Roland Paladin! +For then, I think, thou wouldst avenge thy father that is dead, +Whom envious traitors slaughtered within thy mother's bed. + + +III. +"Their bridal-gifts were rich and rare, that hate might not be seen; +They cut me garments broad and fair--none fairer hath the Queen."-- +Then out and spake the little boy--"Each night to God I call, +And to his blessed Mother, to make me strong and tall!"-- + + +IV. +The Count he heard Gayferos, in the palace where he lay;-- +"Now silence, silence, Countess! it is falsehood that you say; +I neither slew the man, nor hired another's sword to slay;-- +But, for that the mother hath desired, be sure the son shall pay!" + + +V. +The Count called to his esquires, (old followers were they, +Whom the dead Lord had nurtured for many a merry day)-- +He bade them take their old Lord's heir, and stop his tender breath-- +Alas! 'twas piteous but to hear the manner of that death. + + +VI. +"List, esquires, list, for my command is offspring of mine oath-- +The stirrup-foot and the hilt-hand see that ye sunder both;-- +That ye cut out his eyes 'twere best--the safer he will go-- +And bring a finger and the heart, that I his end may know."-- + + +VII. +The esquires took the little boy aside with them to go; +Yet, as they went, they did repent--"O God! must this be so? +How shall we think to look for grace, if this poor child we slay, +When ranged before Christ Jesu's face at the great judgment day?"-- + + +VIII. +While they, not knowing what to do, were standing in such talk, +The Countess' little lap-dog bitch by chance did cross their walk; +Then out and spake one of the 'squires, (you may hear the words he said,) +"I think the coming of this bitch may serve us in good stead-- + + +IX. +"Let us take out the bitch's heart, and give it to Galvan; +The boy may with a finger part, and be no worser man."-- +With that they cut the joint away, and whispered in his ear, +That he must wander many a day, nor once those parts come near. + + +X. +"Your uncle grace and love will show; he is a bounteous man;"-- +And so they let Gayferos go, and turned them to Galvan. +The heart and the small finger upon the board they laid, +And of Gayferos' slaughter a cunning story made. + + +XI. +The Countess, when she hears them, in great grief loudly cries: +Meantime the stripling safely unto his uncle hies:-- +"Now welcome, my fair boy," he said, "what good news may they be +Come with thee to thine uncle's hall?"--"Sad tidings come with me-- + + +XII. +"The false Galvan had laid his plan to have me in my grave; +But I've escaped him, and am here, my boon from thee to crave: +Rise up, rise up, mine uncle, thy brother's blood they've shed; +Rise up--they've slain my father within my mother's bed."[2] + + + + +MELISENDRA. + + +The following is a version of another of the ballads concerning +Gayferos. It is the same that is quoted in the chapter of the +Puppet-show in Don Quixote. + +"'Child, child,' said Don Quixote, 'go on directly with your story, and +don't keep us here with your excursions and ramblings out of the road. I +tell you there must be a formal process, and legal trial, to prove +matters of fact.'--'Boy,' said the master from behind the show, 'do as +the gentleman bids you. Don't run so much upon flourishes, but follow +your plain song, without venturing on counterpoints, for fear of +spoiling all'--'I will, sir,' quoth the boy, and so proceeding: 'Now, +sirs, he that you see there a-horseback, wrapt up in the Gascoign-cloak, +is Don Gayferos himself, whom his wife, now revenged on the Moor for his +impudence, seeing from the battlements of the tower, takes him for a +stranger, and talks with him as such, according to the ballad, + + 'Quoth Melisendra, if perchance, + Sir Traveller, you go for France, + For pity's sake, ask when you're there, + For Gayferos, my husband dear.' + + +"'I omit the rest, not to tire you with a long story. It is sufficient +that he makes himself known to her, as you may guess by the joy she +shows; and, accordingly, now see how she lets herself down from the +balcony, to come at her loving husband, and get behind him; but, +unhappily, alas! one of the skirts of her gown is caught upon one of the +spikes of the balcony, and there she hangs and hovers in the air +miserably, without being able to get down. But see how Heaven is +merciful, and sends relief in the greatest distress! Now Don Gayferos +rides up to her, and, not fearing to tear her rich gown, lays hold on +it, and at one pull brings her down; and then at one lift sets her +astride upon his horse's crupper, bidding her to sit fast, and clap her +arms about him, that she might not fall; for the lady Melisendra was not +used to that kind of riding. + +"'Observe now, gallants, how the horse neighs, and shows how proud he is +of the burden of his brave master and fair mistress. Look, now, how they +turn their backs, and leave the city, and gallop it merrily away towards +Paris. Peace be with you, for a peerless couple of true lovers! may ye +get safe and sound into your own country, without any lett or ill +chance in your journey, and live as long as Nestor, in peace and +quietness among your friends and relations.'--'Plainness, boy!' cried +Master Peter, 'none of your flights, I beseech you, for affectation is +the devil.'--The boy answered nothing, but going on: 'Now, sirs,' quoth +he, 'some of those idle people, that love to pry into everything, +happened to spy Melisendra as she was making her escape, and ran +presently and gave Marsilius notice of it; whereupon he straight +commanded to sound an alarm; and now mind what a din and hurly-burly +there is, and how the city shakes with the ring of the bells backwards +in all the mosques!'--'There you are out, boy,' said Don Quixote; 'the +Moors have no bells, they only use kettle-drums, and a kind of shaulms +like our waits or hautboys; so that your ringing of bells in Sansuena is +a mere absurdity, good Master Peter.'--'Nay, sir,' said Master Peter, +giving over ringing, 'if you stand upon these trifles with us, we shall +never please you. Don't be so severe a critic. Are there not a thousand +plays that pass with great success and applause, though they have many +greater absurdities, and nonsense in abundance? On, boy, on, let there +be as many impertinences as motes in the sun; no matter, so I get the +money.'--'Well said,' answered Don Quixote.--'And now, sirs,' quoth the +boy, 'observe what a vast company of glittering horse comes pouring out +of the city, in pursuit of the Christian lovers; what a dreadful sound +of trumpets, and clarions, and drums, and kettle-drums there is in the +air. I fear they will overtake them, and then will the poor wretches be +dragged along most barbarously at the tails of their horses, which would +be sad indeed.' + +"Don Quixote, seeing such a number of Moors, and hearing such an alarm, +thought it high time to assist the flying lovers; and starting up, 'It +shall never be said while I live,' cried he aloud, 'that I suffered such +a wrong to be done to so famous a knight and so daring a lover as Don +Gayferos. Forbear, then, your unjust pursuit, ye base-born rascals! +Stop, or prepare to meet my furious resentment!' Then drawing out his +sword, to make good his threats, at one spring he gets to the show, and +with a violent fury lays at the Moorish puppets, cutting and slashing in +a most terrible manner: some he overthrows, and beheads others; maims +this, and cleaves that in pieces. Among the rest of his merciless +strokes, he thundered one down with such a mighty force, that had not +Master Peter luckily ducked and squatted down, it had certainly chopped +off his head as easily as one might cut an apple." + +I. +At Sansuena,[3] in the tower, fair Melisendra lies, +Her heart is far away in France, and tears are in her eyes; +The twilight shade is thickening laid on Sansuena's plain, +Yet wistfully the lady her weary eyes doth strain. + + +II. +She gazes from the dungeon strong, forth on the road to Paris, +Weeping, and wondering why so long her Lord Gayferos tarries, +When lo! a knight appears in view--a knight of Christian mien, +Upon a milk-white charger he rides the elms between. + + +III. +She from her window reaches forth her hand a sign to make, +"O, if you be a knight of worth, draw near for mercy's sake; +For mercy and sweet charity, draw near, Sir Knight to me, +And tell me if ye ride to France, or whither bowne ye be. + + +IV. +"O, if ye be a Christian knight, and if to France you go, +I pr'ythee tell Gayferos that you have seen my woe; +That you have seen me weeping, here in the Moorish tower, +While he is gay by night and day, in hall and lady's bower. + + +V. +"Seven summers have I waited, seven winters long are spent, +Yet word of comfort none he speaks, nor token hath he sent; +And if he is weary of my love, and would have me wed a stranger, +Still say his love is true to him--nor time nor wrong can change her."-- + + +VI. +The knight on stirrup rising, bids her wipe her tears away,-- +"My love, no time for weeping, no peril save delay-- +Come, boldly spring, and lightly leap--no listening Moor is near us, +And by dawn of day we'll be far away,"--so spake the Knight Gayferos. + + +VII. +She has made the sign of the Cross divine, and an Ave she hath said, +And she dares the leap both wide and deep--that damsel without dread; +And he hath kissed her pale pale cheek, and lifted her behind, +Saint Denis speed the milk-white steed--no Moor their path shall find. + + + + +THE MARCH OF BERNARDO DEL CARPIO. + + +Of Bernardo del Carpio, we find little or nothing in the French romances +of Charlemagne. He belongs exclusively to Spanish History, or rather +perhaps to Spanish Romance; in which the honour is claimed for him of +slaying the famous Orlando, or Roland, the nephew of Charlemagne, in the +fatal field of Roncesvalles. + +The continence which procured for Alonzo, who succeeded to the +precarious throne of the Christians, in the Asturias, about 795, the +epithet of the Chaste, was not universal in his family. By an intrigue +with Sancho Diaz, Count of Saldana, or Saldenha, Donna Ximena, sister of +this virtuous prince, bore a son. Some historians attempt to gloss over +this incident, by alleging that a private marriage had taken place +between the lovers: but King Alphonso, who was well-nigh sainted for +living only in platonic union with his wife Bertha, took the scandal +greatly to heart. He shut up the peccant princess in a cloister, and +imprisoned her gallant in the castle of Luna, where he caused him to be +deprived of sight. Fortunately, his wrath did not extend to the +offspring of their stolen affections, the famous Bernardo del Carpio. +When the youth had grown up to manhood, Alphonso, according to the +Spanish chroniclers, invited the Emperor Charlemagne into Spain, and +having neglected to raise up heirs for the kingdom of the Goths in the +ordinary manner, he proposed the inheritance of his throne as the price +of the alliance of Charles. But the nobility, headed by Bernardo del +Carpio, remonstrated against the king's choice of a successor, and would +on no account consent to receive a Frenchman as heir of their crown. +Alphonso himself repented of the invitation he had given Charlemagne, +and when that champion of Christendom came to expel the Moors from +Spain, he found the conscientious and chaste Alphonso had united with +the infidels against him. An engagement took place in the renowned pass +of Roncesvalles, in which the French were defeated, and the celebrated +Roland, or Orlando, was slain. The victory was ascribed chiefly to the +prowess of Bernardo del Carpio. + +The following ballad describes the enthusiasm excited among the Leonese, +when Bernard first raised his standard to oppose the progress of +Charlemagne's army. + + +I. +With three thousand Men of Leon, from the city Bernard goes, +To protect the soil Hispanian from the spear of Frankish foes +From the city which is planted in the midst between the seas, +To preserve the name and glory of old Pelayo's victories. + + +II. +The peasant hears upon his field the trumpet of the knight, +He quits his team for spear and shield, and garniture of might, +The shepherd hears it 'mid the mist--he flingeth down his crook, +And rushes from the mountain like a tempest-troubled brook. + + +III. +The youth who shows a maiden's chin, whose brows have ne'er been bound +The helmet's heavy ring within, gains manhood from the sound; +The hoary sire beside the fire forgets his feebleness, +Once more to feel the cap of steel a warrior's ringlets press. + + +IV. +As through the glen his spears did gleam, these soldiers from the hills, +They swelled his host, as mountain-stream receives the roaring rills; +They round his banner flocked, in scorn of haughty Charlemagne, +And thus upon their swords are sworn the faithful sons of Spain. + + +V. +"Free were we born," 'tis thus they cry, "though to our King we owe +The homage and the fealty behind his crest to go; +By God's behest our aid he shares, but God did ne'er command, +That we should leave our children heirs of an enslaved land. + + +VI. +"Our breasts are not so timorous, nor are our arms so weak, +Nor are our veins so bloodless, that we our vow should break, +To sell our freedom for the fear of Prince or Paladin,-- +At least we'll sell our birthright dear, no bloodless prize they'll win. + + +VII. +"At least King Charles, if God decrees he must be lord of Spain, +Shall witness that the Leonese were not aroused in vain; +He shall bear witness that we died, as lived our sires of old, +Nor only of Numantium's pride shall minstrel tales be told. + + +VIII. +"THE LION[4] that hath bathed his paws in seas of Libyan gore, +Shall he not battle for the laws and liberties of yore? +Anointed cravens may give gold to whom it likes them well, +But steadfast heart and spirit bold Alphonso ne'er shall sell." + + + + +LADY ALDA'S DREAM. + + +The following is an attempt to render one of the most admired of all the +Spanish ballads. + + + En Paris esta Dona Alda, la esposa de Don Roldan, + Trecientas damas con ella, para la accompanar, + Todas visten un vestido, todas calcan un calcar, &c. + + +In its whole structure and strain it bears a very remarkable resemblance +to several of our own old ballads--both English and Scottish. + + +I. +In Paris sits the lady that shall be Sir Roland's bride, +Three hundred damsels with her, her bidding to abide; +All clothed in the same fashion, both the mantle and the shoon, +All eating at one table, within her hall at noon: +All, save the Lady Alda, she is lady of them all, +She keeps her place upon the dais, and they serve her in her hall; +The thread of gold a hundred spin, the lawn a hundred weave, +And a hundred play sweet melody within Alda's bower at eve. + + +II. +With the sound of their sweet playing, the lady falls asleep, +And she dreams a doleful dream, and her damsels hear her weep; +There is sorrow in her slumber, and she waketh with a cry, +And she calleth for her damsels, and swiftly they come nigh. +"Now, what is it, Lady Alda," (you may hear the words they say,) +"Bringeth sorrow to thy pillow, and chaseth sleep away?"-- +"O, my maidens!" quoth the lady, "my heart it is full sore! +I have dreamt a dream of evil, and can slumber never more. + + +III. +"For I was upon a mountain, in a bare and desert place, +And I saw a mighty eagle, and a falcon he did chase; +And to me the falcon came, and I hid it in my breast, +But the mighty bird, pursuing, came and rent away my vest; +And he scattered all the feathers, and blood was on his beak, +And ever, as he tore and tore, I heard the falcon shriek;-- +Now read my vision, damsels, now read my dream to me, +For my heart may well be heavy that doleful sight to see."-- + + +IV. +Out spake the foremost damsel was in her chamber there-- +(You may hear the words she says), "O! my lady's dream is fair-- +The mountain is St. Denis' choir; and thou the falcon art, +And the eagle strong that teareth the garment from thy heart, +And scattereth the feathers, he is the Paladin-- +That, when again he comes from Spain, must sleep thy bower within;-- +Then be blithe of cheer, my lady, for the dream thou must not grieve, +It means but that thy bridegroom shall come to thee at eve."-- + + +V. +"If thou hast read my vision, and read it cunningly,"-- +Thus said the Lady Alda, "thou shalt not lack thy fee." But +woe is me for Alda! there was heard, at morning hour, +A voice of lamentation within that lady's bower, +For there had come to Paris a messenger by night, +And his horse it was a-weary, and his visage it was white; +And there's weeping in the chamber and there's silence in the hall, +For Sir Roland had been slaughtered in the chase of Roncesval. + + + + +THE ADMIRAL GUARINOS. + + +This is a translation of the ballad which Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, +when at Toboso, overheard a peasant singing, as he was going to his work +at daybreak.--"Iba cantando," says Cervantes, "aquel romance que dice, +Mala la vistes Franceses la caca de Roncesvalles." + + +I. +The day of Roncesvalles was a dismal day for you, +Ye men of France, for there the lance of King Charles was broke in two. +Ye well may curse that rueful field, for many a noble peer, +In fray or fight, the dust did bite, beneath Bernardo's spear. + + +II. +There captured was Guarinos, King Charles's admiral; +Seven Moorish kings surrounded him, and seized him for their thrall; +Seven times, when all the chase was o'er, for Guarinos lots they cast; +Seven times Marlotes won the throw, and the knight was his at last. + + +III. +Much joy had then Marlotes, and his captive much did prize, +Above all the wealth of Araby, he was precious in his eyes. +Within his tent at evening he made the best of cheer, +And thus, the banquet done, he spake unto his prisoner. + + +IV. +"Now, for the sake of Alla, Lord Admiral Guarinos +Be thou a Moslem, and much love shall ever rest between us. +Two daughters have I--all the day thy handmaid one shall be, +The other (and the fairer far) by night shall cherish thee. + + +V. +"The one shall be thy waiting-maid, thy weary feet to lave, +To scatter perfumes on thy head, and fetch thee garments brave; +The other--she the pretty--shall deck her bridal bower, +And my field and my city they both shall be her dower. + + +VI. +"If more thou wishest, more I'll give--speak boldly what thy thought is."-- +Thus earnestly and kindly to Guarinos said Marlotes;-- +But not a moment did he take to ponder or to pause, +Thus clear and quick the answer of the Christian Captain was: + + +VII. +"Now, God forbid! Marlotes, and Mary, his dear mother, +That I should leave the faith of Christ, and bind me to another. +For women--I've one wife in France, and I'll wed no more in Spain; +I change not faith, I break not vow, for courtesy or gain."-- + + +VIII. +Wroth waxed King Marlotes, when thus he heard him say, +And all for ire commanded, he should be led away; +Away unto the dungeon keep, beneath its vault to lie, +With fetters bound in darkness deep, far off from sun and sky. + + +IX. +With iron bands they bound his hands. That sore unworthy plight +Might well express his helplessness, doomed never more to fight. +Again, from cincture down to knee, long bolts of iron he bore, +Which signified the knight should ride on charger never more. + + +X. +Three times alone, in all the year, it is the captive's doom, +To see God's daylight bright and clear, instead of dungeon-gloom; +Three times alone they bring him out, like Samson long ago, +Before the Moorish rabble-rout to be a sport and show. + + +XI. +On three high feasts they bring him forth, a spectacle to be, +The feast of Pasque, and the great day of the Nativity, +And on that morn, more solemn yet, when the maidens strip the bowers, +And gladden mosque and minaret with the first fruits of the flowers. + + +XII. +Days come and go of gloom and show. Seven years are come and gone, +And now doth fall the festival of the holy Baptist John; +Christian and Moslem tilts and jousts, to give it homage due; +And rushes on the paths to spread they force the sulky Jew. + + +XIII. +Marlotes, in his joy and pride, a target high doth rear, +Below the Moorish knights must ride and pierce it with the spear; +But 'tis so high up in the sky, albeit much they strain, +No Moorish lance so far may fly, Marlotes' prize to gain. + + +XIV. +Wroth waxed King Marlotes, when he beheld them fail, +The whisker trembled on his lip, and his cheek for ire was pale; +And heralds proclamation made, with trumpets, through the town,-- +"Nor child shall suck, nor man shall eat, till the mark be tumbled down." + + +XV. +The cry of proclamation, and the trumpet's haughty sound, +Did send an echo to the vault where the admiral was bound. +"Now, help me God!" the captive cries, "what means this din so loud? +Oh, Queen of Heaven! be vengeance given on these thy haters proud! + + +XVI. +"O! is it that some Pagan gay doth Marlotes' daughter wed, +And that they bear my scorned fair in triumph to his bed? +Or is it that the day is come--one of the hateful three, +When they, with trumpet, fife, and drum, make heathen game of me?"-- + + +XVII. +These words the jailer chanced to hear, and thus to him he said, +"These tabors, Lord, and trumpets clear, conduct no bride to bed; +Nor has the feast come round again, when he that has the right, +Commands thee forth, thou foe of Spain, to glad the people's sight. + + +XVIII. +"This is the joyful morning of John the Baptist's day, +When Moor and Christian feasts at home, each in his nation's way; +But now our King commands that none his banquet shall begin, +Until some knight, by strength or sleight, the spearman's prize do win."-- + + +XIX. +Then out and spake Guarinos, "O! soon each man should feed, +Were I but mounted once again on my own gallant steed. +O! were I mounted as of old, and harnessed cap-a-pee, +Full soon Marlotes' prize I'd hold, whate'er its price may be. + + +XX. +"Give me my horse, mine old grey horse, so be he is not dead, +All gallantly caparisoned, with plate on breast and head, +And give the lance I brought from France, and if I win it not, +My life shall be the forfeiture--I'll yield it on the spot."-- + + +XXI. +The jailer wondered at his words. Thus to the knight said he, +"Seven weary years of chains and gloom have little humbled thee; +There's never a man in Spain, I trow, the like so well might bear; +An' if thou wilt, I with thy vow will to the King repair."-- + + +XXII. +The jailer put his mantle on, and came unto the King, +He found him sitting on the throne, within his listed ring; +Close to his ear he planted him, and the story did begin, +How bold Guarinos vaunted him the spearman's prize to win. + + +XXIII. +That, were he mounted but once more on his own gallant grey, +And armed with the lance he bore on the Roncesvalles' day, +What never Moorish knight could pierce, he would pierce it at a blow, +Or give with joy his life-blood fierce, at Marlotes' feet to flow. + + +XXIV. +Much marvelling, then said the King, "Bring Sir Guarinos forth, +And in the Grange go seek ye for his grey steed of worth; +His arms are rusty on the wall--seven years have gone, I judge, +Since that strong horse has bent his force to be a carrion drudge. + + +XXV. +"Now this will be a sight indeed, to see the enfeebled lord +Essay to mount that ragged steed, and draw that rusty sword; +And for the vaunting of his phrase he well deserves to die, +So, jailer, gird his harness on, and bring your champion nigh."-- + + +XXVI. +They have girded on his shirt of mail, his cuisses well they've clasped, +And they've barred the helm on his visage pale, and his hand the lance + hath clasped, +And they have caught the old grey horse, the horse he loved of yore, +And he stands pawing at the gate--caparisoned once more. + + +XXVII. +When the knight came out the Moors did shout, and loudly laughed the King, +For the horse he pranced and capered, and furiously did fling; +But Guarinos whispered in his ear, and looked into his face, +Then stood the old charger like a lamb, with a calm and gentle grace. + + +XXVIII. +O! Lightly did Guarinos vault into the saddle-tree, +And slowly riding down made halt before Marlotes' knee; +Again the heathen laughed aloud--"All hail, Sir Knight," quoth he, +"Now do thy best, thou champion proud. Thy blood I look to see."-- + + +XXIX. +With that Guarinos, lance in rest, against the scoffer rode, +Pierced at one thrust his envious breast, and down his turban trode. +Now ride, now ride, Guarinos--nor lance nor rowel spare-- +Slay, slay, and gallop for thy life.--The land of France lies _there_! + + + + +THE COMPLAINT OF THE COUNT OF SALDENHA. + + +This ballad is intended to represent the feelings of Don Sancho, Count +of Saldenha or Saldana, while imprisoned by King Alphonso, and, as he +supposed, neglected and forgotten, both by his wife, or rather mistress, +Donna Ximena, and by his son, the famous Bernardo del Carpio. + + +I. +The Count Don Sancho Diaz, the Signior of Saldane, +Lies weeping in his prison, for he cannot refrain:-- +King Alphonso and his sister, of both doth he complain, +But most of bold Bernardo, the champion of Spain. + + +II. +"The weary years I durance brook, how many they have been, +When on these hoary hairs I look, may easily be seen; +When they brought me to this castle, my curls were black, I ween, +Woe worth the day! they have grown grey these rueful walls between. + + +III. +"They tell me my Bernardo is the doughtiest lance in Spain, +But if he were my loyal heir, there's blood in every vein +Whereof the voice his heart would hear--his hand would not gainsay;-- +Though the blood of kings be mixed with mine, it would not have + all the sway. + + +IV. +"Now all the three have scorn of me--unhappy man am I! +They leave me without pity--they leave me here to die. +A stranger's feud, albeit rude, were little dole or care, +But he's my own, both flesh and bone; his scorn is ill to bear. + + +V. +"From Jailer and from Castellain I hear of hardiment +And chivalry in listed plain on joust and tourney spent;-- +I hear of many a battle, in which thy spear is red, +But help from thee comes none to me where I am ill bested. + + +VI. +"Some villain spot is in thy blood to mar its gentle strain, +Else would it show forth hardihood for him from whom 'twas ta'en; +Thy hope is young, thy heart is strong, but yet a day may be, +When thou shalt weep in dungeon deep, and none thy weeping see." + + + + +THE FUNERAL OF THE COUNT OF SALDENHA. + + +The ballads concerning Bernardo del Carpio are, upon the whole, in +accordance with his history as given in the _Coronica General_. +According to the Chronicle, Bernardo being at last wearied out of all +patience by the cruelty of which his father was the victim, determined +to quit the Court of his King, and seek an alliance among the Moors. +Having fortified himself in the Castle of Carpio, he made continual +incursions into the territory of Leon, pillaging and plundering wherever +he came. The King at length besieged him in his stronghold, but the +defence was so gallant, that there appeared no prospect of success; +whereupon many of the gentlemen in Alphonso's camp entreated the King to +offer Bernardo immediate possession of his father's person, if he would +surrender his castle. + +Bernardo at once consented; but the King gave orders to have Count +Sancho Diaz taken off instantly in his prison. "When he was dead they +clothed him in splendid attire, mounted him on horseback, and so led him +towards Salamanca, where his son was expecting his arrival. As they drew +nigh the city, the King and Bernardo rode out to meet them; and when +Bernardo saw his father approaching, he exclaimed,--'O God! is the Count +of Saldana indeed coming?'--'Look where he is,' replied the cruel King; +'and now go and greet him whom you have so long desired to see.' +Bernardo went forward and took his father's hand to kiss it; but when he +felt the dead weight of the hand, and saw the livid face of the corpse, +he cried aloud, and said,--'Ah, Don Sandiaz, in an evil hour didst thou +beget me!--Thou art dead, and I have given my stronghold for thee, and +now I have lost all.'" + + +I. +All in the centre of the choir Bernardo's knees are bent, +Before him for his murdered sire yawns the old monument. + + +II. +His kinsmen of the Carpio blood are kneeling at his back, +With knightly friends and vassals good, all garbed in weeds of black. + + +III. +He comes to make the obsequies of a basely slaughtered man, +And tears are running down from eyes whence ne'er before they ran. + + +IV. +His head is bowed upon the stone; his heart, albeit full sore, +Is strong as when in days bygone he rode o'er Frank and Moor; + + +V. +And now between his teeth he mutters, that none his words can hear; +And now the voice of wrath he utters, in curses loud and clear. + + +VI. +He stoops him o'er his father's shroud, his lips salute the bier; +He communes with the corse aloud, as if none else were near. + + +VII. +His right hand doth his sword unsheath, his left doth pluck his beard;-- +And while his liegemen held their breath, these were the words + they heard:-- + + +VIII. +"Go up, go up, thou blessed ghost, into the arms of God; +Go, fear not lest revenge be lost, when Carpio's blood hath flowed; + + +IX. +"The steel that drank the blood of France, the arm thy foe that shielded, +Still, Father, thirsts that burning lance, and still thy son can wield it." + + + + +BERNARDO AND ALPHONSO. + + +The incident recorded in this ballad may be supposed to have occurred +immediately after the funeral of the Count of Saldenha. As to what was +the end of the knight's history, we are left almost entirely in the +dark, both by the Chronicle and by the Romancero. It appears to be +intimated, that after his father's death, he once more "took service" +among the Moors, who are represented in several of the ballads as +accustomed to exchange offices of courtesy with Bernardo. + +I. +With some good ten of his chosen men, Bernardo hath appeared +Before them all in the palace hall, the lying King to beard; +With cap in hand and eye on ground, he came in reverend guise, +But ever and anon he frowned, and flame broke from his eyes. + + +II. +"A curse upon thee," cries the King, "who comest unbid to me; +But what from traitor's blood should spring, save traitors like to thee? +His sire, Lords, had a traitor's heart; perchance our Champion brave +Made think it were a pious part to share Don Sancho's grave." + + +III. +"Whoever told this tale the King hath rashness to repeat," +Cries Bernard, "here my gage I fling before THE LIAR'S feet! +No treason was in Sancho's blood, no stain in mine doth lie-- +Below the throne what knight will own the coward calumny? + + +IV. +"The blood that I like water shed, when Roland did advance, +By secret traitors hired and led, to make us slaves of France;-- +The life of King Alphonso I saved at Roncesval,-- +Your words, Lord King, are recompense abundant for it all. + + +V. +"Your horse was down--your hope was flown--I saw the falchion shine, +That soon had drunk your royal blood, had not I ventured mine; +But memory soon of service done deserteth the ingrate, +And ye've thanked the son for life and crown by the father's bloody fate. + + +VI. +"Ye swore upon your kingly faith, to set Don Sancho free, +But curse upon your paltering breath, the light he ne'er did see; +He died in dungeon cold and dim, by Alphonso's base decree, +And visage blind, and stiffened limb, were all they gave to me. + + +VII. +"The King that swerveth from his word hath stained his purple black, +No Spanish Lord will draw the sword behind a Liar's back; +But noble vengeance shall be mine, an open hate I'll show-- +The King hath injured Carpio's line, and Bernard is his foe." + + +VIII. +"Seize--seize him!"--loud the King doth scream--"There are + a thousand here-- +Let his foul blood this instant stream--What! Caitiffs, do ye fear? +Seize--seize the traitor!"--But not one to move a finger dareth,-- +Bernardo standeth by the throne, and calm his sword he bareth. + + +IX. +He drew the falchion from the sheath, and held it up on high, +And all the hall was still as death:--cries Bernard, "Here am I, +And here is the sword that owns no lord, excepting heaven and me; +Fain would I know who dares his point--King, Conde, or Grandee." + + +X. +Then to his mouth the horn he drew--(it hung below his cloak) +His ten true men the signal knew, and through the ring they broke; +With helm on head, and blade in hand, the knights the circle brake, +And back the lordlings 'gan to stand, and the false king to quake. + + +XI. +"Ha! Bernard," quoth Alphonso, "what means this warlike guise? +Ye know full well I jested--ye know your worth I prize."-- +But Bernard turned upon his heel, and smiling passed away-- +Long rued Alphonso and his realm the jesting of that day. + + + + +PART II. + +THE YOUNG CID. + + +The Ballads in the Collection of Escobar, entitled "Romancero e Historia +del muy valeroso Cavallero El Cid Ruy Diaz de Bivar," are said by Mr. +Southey to be in general possessed of but little merit. Notwithstanding +the opinion of that great scholar and poet, I have had much pleasure in +reading them; and have translated a very few, which may serve, perhaps, +as a sufficient specimen. + +The following is a version of that which stands fifth in Escobar:-- + + Cavalga Diego Laynez al buen Rey besar la mano, &c. + + +I. +Now rides Diego Laynez, to kiss the good King's hand, +Three hundred men of gentry go with him from his land, +Among them, young Rodrigo, the proud Knight of Bivar; +The rest on mules are mounted, he on his horse of war. + + +II. +They ride in glittering gowns of soye,--He harnessed like a lord; +There is no gold about the boy, but the crosslet of his sword; +The rest have gloves of sweet perfume,--He gauntlets strong of mail; +They broidered caps and flaunting plume,--He crest untaught to quail. + + +III. +All talking with each other thus along their way they passed, +But now they've come to Burgos, and met the King at last; +When they came near his nobles, a whisper through them ran,-- +"He rides amidst the gentry that slew the Count Lozan."-- + + +IV. +With very haughty gesture Rodrigo reined his horse, +Right scornfully he shouted, when he heard them so discourse,-- +"If any of his kinsmen or vassals dare appear, +The man to give them answer, on horse or foot, is here."-- + + +V. +"The devil ask the question!" thus muttered all the band;-- +With that they all alighted, to kiss the good King's hand,-- +All but the proud Rodrigo, he in his saddle stayed,-- +Then turned to him his father (you may hear the words he said). + + +VI. +"Now, light, my son, I pray thee, and kiss the good King's hand, +He is our lord, Rodrigo; we hold of him our land."-- +But when Rodrigo heard him, he looked in sulky sort,-- +I wot the words he answered they were both cold and short. + + +VII. +"Had any other said it, his pains had well been paid, +But thou, sir, art my father, thy word must be obeyed."-- +With that he sprung down lightly, before the King to kneel, +But as the knee was bending, out leapt his blade of steel. + + +VIII. +The King drew back in terror, when he saw the sword was bare; +"Stand back, stand back, Rodrigo, in the devil's name beware, +Your looks bespeak a creature of father Adam's mould, +But in your wild behaviour you're like some lion bold." + + +IX. +When Rodrigo heard him say so, he leapt into his seat, +And thence he made his answer, with visage nothing sweet,-- +"I'd think it little honour to kiss a kingly palm, +And if my fathers kissed it, thereof ashamed I am."-- + + +X. +When he these words had uttered, he turned him from the gate, +His true three hundred gentles behind him followed straight; +If with good gowns they came that day, with better arms they went; +And if their mules behind did stay, with horses they're content. + + + + +XIMENA DEMANDS VENGEANCE. + + +This ballad, the sixth in Escobar, represents Ximena Gomez as, in +person, demanding of the King vengeance for the death of her father, +whom the young Rodrigo de Bivar had fought and slain. + + +I. +Within the court at Burgos a clamour doth arise, +Of arms on armour clashing, and screams, and shouts, and cries; +The good men of the King, that sit his hall around, +All suddenly upspring, astonished at the sound. + + +II. +The King leans from his chamber, from the balcony on high-- +"What means this furious clamour my palace-porch so nigh?" +But when he looked below him, there were horsemen at the gate, +And the fair Ximena Gomez, kneeling in woeful state. + + +III. +Upon her neck, disordered, hung down the lady's hair, +And floods of tears were streaming upon her bosom fair. +Sore wept she for her father, the Count that had been slain; +Loud cursed she Rodrigo, whose sword his blood did stain. + + +IV. +They turned to bold Rodrigo, I wot his cheek was red;-- +With haughty wrath he listened to the words Ximena said-- +"Good King, I cry for justice. Now, as my voice thou hearest, +So God befriend the children, that in thy land thou rearest. + + +V. +"The King that doth not justice hath forfeited his claim, +Both to his kingly station, and to his kingly name; +He should not sit at banquet, clad in the royal pall, +Nor should the nobles serve him on knee within the hall. + + +VI. +"Good King, I am descended from barons bright of old, +That with Castilian pennons, Pelayo did uphold; +But if my strain were lowly, as it is high and clear, +Thou still shouldst prop the feeble, and the afflicted hear. + + +VII. +"For thee, fierce homicide, draw, draw thy sword once more, +And pierce the breast which wide I spread thy stroke before; +Because I am a woman, my life thou needst not spare,-- +I am Ximena Gomez, my slaughtered father's heir. + + +VIII. +"Since thou hast slain the Knight that did our faith defend, +And still to shameful flight all the Almanzors send, +'Tis but a little matter that I confront thee so, +Come, champion, slay his daughter, she needs must be thy foe."-- + + +IX. +Ximena gazed upon him, but no reply could meet; +His fingers held the bridle; he vaulted to his seat. +She turned her to the nobles, I wot her cry was loud, +But not a man durst follow; slow rode he through the crowd. + + + + +THE CID AND THE FIVE MOORISH KINGS. + + +The reader will find the story of this ballad in Mr. Southey's +"Chronicle of the Cid." "And the Moors entered Castile in great power, +for there came with them five kings," &c. Book I. Sect. 4. + + +I. +With fire and desolation the Moors are in Castile, +Five Moorish kings together, and all their vassals leal; +They've passed in front of Burgos, through the Oca-Hills they've run, +They've plundered Belforado, San Domingo's harm is done. + + +II. +In Najara and Lograno there's waste and disarray:-- +And now with Christian captives, a very heavy prey, +With many men and women, and boys and girls beside, +In joy and exultation to their own realms they ride. + + +III. +For neither king nor noble would dare their path to cross, +Until the good Rodrigo heard of this skaith and loss; +In old Bivar the castle he heard the tidings told, +(He was as yet a stripling, not twenty summers old.) + + +IV. +He mounted Bavieca, his friends he with him took, +He raised the country round him, no more such scorn to brook; +He rode to the hills of Oca, where then the Moormen lay, +He conquered all the Moormen, and took from them their prey. + + +V. +To every man had mounted he gave his part of gain, +Dispersing the much treasure the Saracens had ta'en; +The Kings were all the booty himself had from the war, +Them led he to the castle, his stronghold of Bivar. + + +VI. +He brought them to his mother, proud dame that day was she:-- +They owned him for their Signior, and then he set them free: +Home went they, much commending Rodrigo of Bivar, +And sent him lordly tribute, from their Moorish realms afar. + + + + +THE CID'S COURTSHIP. + + +See Mr. Southey's "Chronicle of the Cid" (Book I. Sect. V) for this part +of the Cid's story, as given in the General Chronicle of Spain. + + +I. +Now, of Rodrigo de Bivar great was the fame that run, +How he five Kings had vanquished, proud Moormen every one; +And how, when they consented to hold of him their ground, +He freed them from the prison wherein they had been bound. + + +II. +To the good King Fernando, in Burgos where he lay, +Came then Ximena Gomez, and thus to him did say:-- +"I am Don Gomez' daughter, in Gormaz Count was he; +Him slew Rodrigo of Bivar in battle valiantly. + + +III. +"Now am I come before you, this day a boon to crave, +And it is that I to husband may this Rodrigo have; +Grant this, and I shall hold me a happy damosell, +Much honoured shall I hold me, I shall be married well. + + +IV. +"I know he's born for thriving, none like him in the land; +I know that none in battle against his spear may stand; +Forgiveness is well pleasing in God our Saviour's view. +And I forgive him freely, for that my sire he slew."-- + + +V. +Right pleasing to Fernando was the thing she did propose; +He writes his letter swiftly, and forth his foot-page goes; +I wot, when young Rodrigo saw how the King did write, +He leapt on Bavieca--I wot his leap was light. + + +VI. +With his own troop of true men forthwith he took the way, +Three hundred friends and kinsmen, all gently born were they; +All in one colour mantled, in armour gleaming gay, +New were both scarf and scabbard, when they went forth that day. + + +VII. +The King came out to meet him, with words of hearty cheer; +Quoth he, "My good Rodrigo, you are right welcome here; +This girl Ximena Gomez would have ye for her lord, +Already for the slaughter her grace she doth accord. + + +VIII. +"I pray you be consenting, my gladness will be great; +You shall have lands in plenty, to strengthen your estate."-- +"Lord King," Rodrigo answers, "in this and all beside +Command, and I'll obey you. The girl shall be my bride."-- + + +IX. +But when the fair Ximena came forth to plight her hand, +Rodrigo, gazing on her, his face could not command: +He stood and blushed before her;--thus at the last said he-- +"I slew thy sire, Ximena, but not in villany:-- + + +X. +"In no disguise I slew him, man against man I stood; +There was some wrong between us, and I did shed his blood. +I slew a man, I owe a man; fair lady, by God's grace, +An honoured husband thou shalt have in thy dead father's place." + + + + +THE CID'S WEDDING. + + +The following ballad, which contains some curious traits of rough and +antique manners, is not included in Escobar's Collection. There is one +there descriptive of the same event, but apparently executed by a much +more modern hand. + + +I. +Within his hall of Burgos the King prepares the feast: +He makes his preparation for many a noble guest. +It is a joyful city, it is a gallant day, +'Tis the Campeador's wedding, and who will bide away? + + +II. +Layn Calvo, the Lord Bishop, he first comes forth the gate, +Behind him comes Ruy Diaz, in all his bridal state; +The crowd makes way before them as up the street they go;-- +For the multitude of people their steps must needs be slow. + + +III. +The King had taken order that they should rear an arch, +From house to house all over, in the way where they must march; +They have hung it all with lances, and shields, and glittering helms, +Brought by the Campeador from out the Moorish realms. + + +IV. +They have scattered olive branches and rushes on the street, +And the ladies fling down garlands at the Campeador's feet; +With tapestry and broidery their balconies between, +To do his bridal honour, their walls the burghers screen. + + +V. +They lead the bulls before them all covered o'er with trappings; +The little boys pursue them with hootings and with clappings; +The fool, with cap and bladder, upon his ass goes prancing, +Amidst troops of captive maidens with bells and cymbals dancing. + + +VI. +With antics and with fooleries, with shouting and with laughter, +They fill the streets of Burgos--and The Devil he comes after, +For the King has hired the horned fiend for sixteen maravedis, +And there he goes, with hoofs for toes, to terrify the ladies. + + +VII. +Then comes the bride Ximena--the King he holds her hand; +And the Queen, and, all in fur and pall, the nobles of the land; +All down the street the ears of wheat are round Ximena flying, +But the King lifts off her bosom sweet whatever there is lying. + + +VIII. +Quoth Suero, when he saw it, (his thought you understand,) +"'Tis a fine thing to be a King; but Heaven make me a Hand!" +The King was very merry, when he was told of this, +And swore the bride ere eventide, must give the boy a kiss. + + +IX. +The King went always talking, but she held down her head, +And seldom gave an answer to anything he said; +It was better to be silent, among such a crowd of folk, +Than utter words so meaningless as she did when she spoke. + + + + +THE CID AND THE LEPER. + + +Like our own Robert the Bruce, the great Spanish hero is represented as +exhibiting, on many occasions, great gentleness of disposition and +compassion. But while old Barbour is contented with such simple +anecdotes as that of a poor laundress being suddenly taken ill with the +pains of childbirth, and the king stopping the march of his army rather +than leave her unprotected, the minstrels of Spain, never losing an +opportunity of gratifying the superstitious propensities of their +audience, are sure to let no similar incident in their champion's +history pass without a miracle. + + +I. +He has ta'en some twenty gentlemen, along with him to go, +For he will pay that ancient vow he to Saint James doth owe; +To Compostella, where the shrine doth by the altar stand, +The good Rodrigo de Bivar is riding through the land. + + +II. +Where'er he goes, much alms he throws, to feeble folk and poor; +Beside the way for him they pray, him blessings to procure; +For, God and Mary Mother, their heavenly grace to win, +His hand was ever bountiful: great was his joy therein. + + +III. +And there, in middle of the path, a leper did appear; +In a deep slough the leper lay, none would to help come near. +With a loud voice he thence did cry, "For God our Saviour's sake, +From out this fearful jeopardy a Christian brother take."-- + + +IV. +When Roderick heard that piteous word, he from his horse came down; +For all they said, no stay he made, that noble champion; +He reached his hand to pluck him forth, of fear was no account, +Then mounted on his steed of worth, and made the leper mount. + + +V. +Behind him rode the leprous man; when to their hostelrie +They came, he made him eat with him at table cheerfully; +While all the rest from that poor guest with loathing shrunk away, +To his own bed the wretch he led, beside him there he lay. + + +VI. +All at the mid-hour of the night, while good Rodrigo slept, +A breath came from the leprous man, it through his shoulders crept; +Right through the body, at the breast, passed forth that breathing cold; +I wot he leaped up with a start, in terrors manifold. + + +VII. +He groped for him in the bed, but him he could not find, +Through the dark chamber groped he, with very anxious mind; +Loudly he lifted up his voice, with speed a lamp was brought, +Yet nowhere was the leper seen, though far and near they sought. + + +VIII. +He turned him to his chamber, God wot, perplexed sore +With that which had befallen--when lo! his face before, +There stood a man, all clothed in vesture shining white: +Thus said the vision, "Sleepest thou, or wakest thou, Sir Knight?"-- + + +IX. +"I sleep not," quoth Rodrigo; "but tell me who art thou, +For, in the midst of darkness, much light is on thy brow?"-- +"I am the holy Lazarus, I come to speak with thee; +I am the same poor leper thou savedst for charity. + + +X. +"Not vain the trial, nor in vain thy victory hath been; +God favours thee, for that my pain thou didst relieve yestreen. +There shall be honour with thee, in battle and in peace, +Success in all thy doings, and plentiful increase. + + +XI. +"Strong enemies shall not prevail, thy greatness to undo; +Thy name shall make men's cheeks full pale--Christians and Moslem too; +A death of honour shalt thou die, such grace to thee is given, +Thy soul shall part victoriously, and be received in heaven."-- + + +XII. +When he these gracious words had said, the spirit vanished quite, +Rodrigo rose and knelt him down--he knelt till morning light; +Unto the Heavenly Father, and Mary Mother dear, +He made his prayer right humbly, till dawned the morning clear. + + + + +BAVIECA. + + +Montaigne, in his curious Essay, entitled "Des Destriers," says that all +the world knows everything about Bucephalus. The name of the favourite +charger of the Cid Ruy Diaz, is scarcely less celebrated. Notice is +taken of him in almost every one of the hundred ballads concerning the +history of his master,--and there are two or three of these, of which +the horse is more truly the hero than his rider. In one of these ballads, +the Cid is giving directions about his funeral; he desires that they +shall place his body "in full armour upon Bavieca," and so conduct him +to the church of San Pedro de Cardena. This was done accordingly; and, +says another ballad-- + + Truxeron pues a Babieca; + Y en mirandole se puso + Tan triste como si fuera + Mas rasonable que bruto. + +In the Cid's last will, mention is also made of this noble charger. +"When ye bury Bavieca, dig deep," says Ruy Diaz; "for shameful thing +were it, that he should be eat by curs, who hath trampled down so much +currish flesh of Moors." + + +I. +The King looked on him kindly, as on a vassal true; +Then to the King Ruy Diaz spake after reverence due,-- +"O King, the thing is shameful, that any man beside +The liege lord of Castile himself should Bavieca ride: + + +II. +"For neither Spain nor Araby could another charger bring +So good as he, and certes, the best befits my King. +But that you may behold him, and know him to the core, +I'll make him go as he was wont when his nostrils smelt the Moor."-- + + +III. +With that, the Cid, clad as he was in mantle furred and wide, +On Bavieca vaulting, put the rowel in his side; +And up and down, and round and round, so fierce was his career, +Streamed like a pennon on the wind Ruy Diaz' minivere. + + +IV. +And all that saw them praised them--they lauded man and horse, +As matched well, and rivalless for gallantry and force; +Ne'er had they looked on horseman might to this knight come near, +Nor on other charger worthy of such a cavalier. + + +V. +Thus, to and fro a-rushing the fierce and furious steed, +He snapt in twain his hither rein:--"God pity now the Cid." +"God pity Diaz," cried the Lords,--but when they looked again, +They saw Ruy Diaz ruling him, with the fragment of his rein; +They saw him proudly ruling with gesture firm and calm, +Like a true lord commanding--and obeyed as by a lamb. + + +VI. +And so he led him foaming and panting to the King, +But "No," said Don Alphonso, "it were a shameful thing +That peerless Bavieca should ever be bestrid +By any mortal but Bivar--Mount, mount again, my Cid." + + + + +THE EXCOMMUNICATION OF THE CID. + + +The last specimen I shall give of the Cid-ballad, is one the subject of +which is evidently of the most apocryphal cast. It is, however, so far +as I recollect, the only one of all that immense collection that is +quoted or alluded to in Don Quixote. "Sancho," cried Don Quixote, "I am +afraid of being excommunicated for having laid violent hands upon a man +in holy orders, _Juxta illud; si quis suadente diabolo_, &c. But yet, now +I think on it, I never touched him with my hands, but only with my +lance; besides, I did not in the least suspect I had to do with priests, +whom I honour and revere as every good Catholic and faithful Christian +ought to do, but rather took them to be evil spirits. Well, let the +worst come to the worst, I remember what befel the Cid Ruy Diaz, when he +broke to pieces the chair of a king's ambassador in the Pope's presence, +for which he was excommunicated; which did not hinder the worthy Rodrigo +de Bivar from behaving himself that day like a valorous knight, and a +man of honour." + + +I. +It was when from Spain across the main the Cid had come to Rome, +He chanced to see chairs four and three beneath Saint Peter's dome. +"Now tell, I pray, what chairs be they;"--"Seven kings do sit thereon, +As well doth suit, all at the foot of the holy Father's throne." + + +II. +"The Pope he sitteth above them all, that they may kiss his toe, +Below the keys the Flower-de-lys doth make a gallant show: +For his great puissance, the King of France next to the Pope may sit, +The rest more low, all in a row, as doth their station fit."-- + + +III. +"Ha!" quoth the Cid, "now God forbid! it is a shame, I wiss, +To see the Castle[5] planted beneath the Flower-de-lys.[6] +No harm, I hope, good Father Pope--although I move thy chair." +--In pieces small he kicked it all, ('twas of the ivory fair). + + +IV. +The Pope's own seat he from his feet did kick it far away, +And the Spanish chair he planted upon its place that day; +Above them all he planted it, and laughed right bitterly; +Looks sour and bad I trow he had, as grim as grim might be. + + +V. +Now when the Pope was aware of this, he was an angry man, +His lips that night, with solemn rite, pronounced the awful ban; +The curse of God, who died on rood, was on that sinner's head-- +To hell and woe man's soul must go if once that curse be said. + + +VI. +I wot, when the Cid was aware of this, a woful man was he, +At dawn of day he came to pray at the blessed Father's knee: +"Absolve me, blessed Father, have pity upon me, +Absolve my soul, and penance I for my sin will dree."-- + + +VII. +"Who is this sinner," quoth the Pope, "that at my foot doth kneel?" +--"I am Rodrigo Diaz--a poor Baron of Castile."-- +Much marvelled all were in the hall, when that name they heard him say, +--"Rise up, rise up," the Pope he said, "I do thy guilt away;-- + + +VIII. +"I do thy guilt away," he said--"and my curse I blot it out-- +God save Rodrigo Diaz, my Christian champion stout;-- +I trow, if I had known thee, my grief it had been sore, +To curse Ruy Diaz de Bivar, God's scourge upon the Moor." + + + + +PART III. + +COUNT ALARCOS AND THE INFANTA SOLISA. + + +Mr. Bouterweck has analyzed this ballad, and commented upon it at some +length, in his History of Spanish Literature. See Book I, Section 1. + +He bestows particular praise upon a passage, which the reader will find +attempted in the fourth line of stanza xxxi. of the following version-- + + + Dedes me aca este hijo amamare por despedida. + + +"What modern poet," says he, "would have dared to imagine that _trait_, +at once so natural and touching?" + +Mr. Bouterweck seems to be of opinion that the story of the ballad had +been taken from some prose romance of chivalry; but I have not been able +to find any trace of it. + + +I. +Alone, as was her wont, she sate,--within her bower alone;-- +Alone, and very desolate, Solisa made her moan, +Lamenting for her flower of life, that it should pass away, +And she be never wooed to wife, nor see a bridal day. + + +II. +Thus said the sad Infanta--"I will not hide my grief, +I'll tell my father of my wrong, and he will yield relief."-- +The King, when he beheld her near, "Alas! my child," said he, +"What means this melancholy cheer?--reveal thy grief to me."-- + + +III. +"Good King," she said, "my mother was buried long ago, +She left me to thy keeping, none else my griefs shall know; +I fain would have a husband, 'tis time that I should wed,-- +Forgive the words I utter, with mickle shame they're said."-- + + +IV. +'Twas thus the King made answer,--"This fault is none of mine, +You to the Prince of Hungary your ear would not incline; +Yet round us here where lives your peer?--nay, name him if you can,-- +Except the Count Alarcos, and he's a married man."-- + + +V. +"Ask Count Alarcos, if of yore his word he did not plight +To be my husband evermore, and love me day and night? +If he has bound him in new vows, old oaths he cannot break-- +Alas! I've lost a loyal spouse, for a false lover's sake."-- + + +VI. +The good King sat confounded in silence for some space, +At length he made this answer, with very troubled face,-- +"It was not thus your mother gave counsel you should do; +You've done much wrong, my daughter; we're shamed, both I and you. + + +VII. +"If it be true that you have said, our honour's lost and gone; +And while the Countess is in life, remeed for us is none. +Though justice were upon our side, ill-talkers would not spare-- +Speak, daughter, for your mother's dead, whose counsel eased my care." + + +VIII. +"How can I give you counsel?--but little wit have I; +But certes, Count Alarcos may make this Countess die; +Let it be noised that sickness cut short her tender life, +And then let Count Alarcos come and ask me for his wife. +What passed between us long ago, of that be nothing said; +Thus none shall our dishonour know, in honour I shall wed."-- + + +IX. +The Count was standing with his friends, thus in the midst he spake-- +"What fools we be! what pains men dree for a fair woman's sake! +I loved a fair one long ago;--though I'm a married man, +Sad memory I can ne'er forego, how life and love began."-- + + +X. +While yet the Count was speaking, the good King came full near; +He made his salutation with very courteous cheer. +"Come hither, Count Alarcos, and dine with me this day, +For I have something secret I in your ear must say."-- + + +XI. +The King came from the chapel, when he had heard the mass; +With him the Count Alarcos did to his chamber pass; +Full nobly were they served there, by pages many a one; +When all were gone, and they alone, 'twas thus the King begun.-- + + +XII. +"What news be these, Alarcos, that you your word did plight, +To be a husband to my child, and love her day and night? +If more between you there did pass, yourself may know the truth, +But shamed is my grey-head--alas!--and scorned Solisa's youth. + + +XIII. +"I have a heavy word to speak--a lady fair doth lie +Within my daughter's rightful place, and certes! she must die-- +Let it be noised that sickness cut short her tender life, +Then come and woo my daughter, and she shall be your wife:-- +What passed between you long ago, of that be nothing said, +Thus, none shall my dishonour know--in honour you shall wed." + + +XIV. +Thus spake the Count Alarcos--"The truth I'll not deny, +I to the Infanta gave my troth, and broke it shamefully; +I feared my King would ne'er consent to give me his fair daughter; +But, oh! spare her that's innocent--avoid that sinful slaughter."-- + + +XV. +"She dies, she dies," the King replies; "from thine own sin it springs, +If guiltless blood must wash the blot which stains the blood of kings: +Ere morning dawn her life must end, and thine must be the deed, +Else thou on shameful block must bend: thereof is no remeed." + + +XVI. +"Good King, my hand thou mayst command, else treason blots my name! +I'll take the life of my dear wife--(God! mine be not the blame!) +Alas! that young and sinless heart for others' sin should bleed! +Good King, in sorrow I depart."----"May God your errand speed!"-- + + +XVII. +In sorrow he departed, dejectedly he rode +The weary journey from that place, unto his own abode; +He grieved for his fair Countess, dear as his life was she; +Sore grieved he for that lady, and for his children three. + + +XVIII. +The one was yet an infant upon its mother's breast, +For though it had three nurses, it liked her milk the best; +The others were young children, that had but little wit, +Hanging about their mother's knee while nursing she did sit. + + +XIX. +"Alas!" he said, when he had come within a little space, +"How shall I brook the cheerful look of my kind lady's face? +To see her coming forth in glee to meet me in my hall, +When she so soon a corpse must be, and I the cause of all!" + + +XX. +Just then he saw her at the door with all her babes appear-- +(The little page had run before to tell his lord was near) +"Now welcome home, my lord, my life!--Alas! you droop your head +Tell, Count Alarcos, tell your wife, what makes your eyes so red?"-- + + +XXI. +"I'll tell you all--I'll tell you all: It is not yet the hour; +We'll sup together in the hall--I'll tell you in your bower." +The lady brought forth what she had, and down beside him sate; +He sat beside her pale and sad, but neither drank nor ate. + + +XXII. +The children to his side were led (he loved to have them so), +Then on the board he laid his head, and out his tears did flow:-- +"I fain would sleep--I fain would sleep,"--the Count Alarcos said:-- +Alas! be sure, that sleep was none that night within their bed. + + +XXIII. +They came together to the bower where they were used to rest, +None with them but the little babe that was upon the breast: +The Count had barred the chamber doors, they ne'er were barred till then; +"Unhappy lady," he began, "and I most lost of men!" + + +XXIV. +"Now, speak not so, my noble lord, my husband and my life, +Unhappy never can she be, that is Alarcos' wife."-- +"Alas! unhappy lady, 'tis but little that you know, +For in that very word you've said is gathered all your woe. + + +XXV. +"Long since I loved a lady,--long since I oaths did plight, +To be that lady's husband, to love her day and night; +Her father is our lord the King, to him the thing is known, +And now, that I the news should bring! she claims me for her own. + + +XXVI. +"Alas! my love, alas! my life, the right is on their side; +Ere I had seen your face, sweet wife, she was betrothed my bride; +But, oh! that I should speak the word--since in her place you lie, +It is the bidding of our Lord, that you this night must die."-- + + +XXVII. +"Are these the wages of my love, so lowly and so leal?-- +O, kill me not, thou noble Count, when at thy foot I kneel!-- +But send me to my father's house, where once I dwelt in glee, +There will I live a lone chaste life, and rear my children three."-- + + +XXVIII. +"It may not be--mine oath is strong--ere dawn of day you die!"-- +"O! well 'tis seen how all alone upon the earth am I-- +My father is an old frail man,--my mother's in her grave,-- +And dead is stout Don Garcia--Alas! my brother brave! + + +XXIX. +"'Twas at this coward King's command they slew my brother dear, +And now I'm helpless in the land:--It is not death I fear, +But loth, loth am I to depart, and leave my children so-- +Now let me lay them to my heart, and kiss them ere I go."-- + + +XXX. +"Kiss him that lies upon thy breast--the rest thou mayst not see."-- +"I fain would say an Ave."--"Then say it speedily."-- +She knelt her down upon her knee: "O Lord! behold my case-- +Judge not my deeds, but look on me in pity and great grace."-- + + +XXXI. +When she had made her orison, up from her knees she rose-- +"Be kind, Alarcos, to our babes, and pray for my repose-- +And now give me my boy once more upon my breast to hold, +That he may drink one farewell drink, before my breast be cold."-- + + +XXXII. +"Why would you waken the poor child? you see he is asleep-- +Prepare, dear wife, there is no time, the dawn begins to peep."-- +"Now hear me, Count Alarcos! I give thee pardon free-- +I pardon thee for the love's sake wherewith I've loved thee. + + +XXXIII. +"But they have not my pardon, the King and his proud daughter-- +The curse of God be on them, for this unchristian slaughter!-- +I charge them with my dying breath, ere thirty days be gone, +To meet me in the realm of death, and at God's awful throne!"-- + + +XXXIV. +He drew a kerchief round her neck, he drew it tight and strong, +Until she lay quite stiff and cold her chamber floor along; +He laid her then within the sheets, and, kneeling by her side, +To God and Mary Mother in misery he cried. + + +XXXV. +Then called he for his esquires:--oh! deep was their dismay, +When they into the chamber came, and saw her how she lay;-- +Thus died she in her innocence, a lady void of wrong, +But God took heed of their offence--his vengeance stayed not long. + + +XXXVI. +Within twelve days, in pain and dole, the Infanta passed away, +The cruel King gave up his soul upon the twentieth day; +Alarcos followed ere the Moon had made her round complete.-- +Three guilty spirits stood right soon before God's judgment-seat. + + + + +TALES FROM THE +GESTA ROMANORUM. + +CONTENTS. + + + I.--THE EIGHT PENNIES 103 + II.--THE THREE TRUTHS 105 + III.--THE HUSBAND OF AGLAES 106 + IV.--THE THREE CASKETS 111 + V.--THE THREE CAKES 116 + VI.--THE HERMIT 118 + VII.--THE LOST FOOT 121 + VIII.--PLACIDUS 122 + IX.--DEAD ALEXANDER 131 + X.--THE TREE OF PALETINUS 132 + XI.--HUNGRY FLIES 132 + XII.--THE HUMBLING OF JOVINIAN 133 + XIII.--THE TWO PHYSICIANS 139 + XIV.--THE FALCON 141 + XV.--LET THE LAZIEST BE KING 142 + XVI.--THE THREE MAXIMS 143 + XVII.--A LOAF FOR A DREAM 146 + XVIII.--LOWER THAN THE BEASTS 148 + XIX.--OF REAL FRIENDSHIP 151 + XX.--ROYAL BOUNTY 152 + XXI.--WILY BEGUILED 153 + XXII.--THE BASILISK 155 + XXIII.--THE TRUMP OF DEATH 155 + XXIV.--ALEXANDER AND THE PIRATE 157 + XXV.--A TALE OF A PENNY 158 + XXVI.--OF AVOIDING IMPRECATIONS 159 + XXVII.--A VERSE EXERCISE 161 + XXVIII.--BRED IN THE BONE 164 + XXIX.--FULGENTIUS 167 + XXX.--VENGEANCE DEFERRED 173 + + + + +I.--THE EIGHT PENNIES. + + +When Titus was Emperor of Rome, he made a decree that the natal day of +his first-born son should be held sacred, and that whosoever violated it +by any kind of labour should be put to death. Then he called Virgil to +him, and said, "Good friend, I have made a certain law; we desire you to +frame some curious piece of art which may reveal to us every transgressor +of the law." Virgil constructed a magic statue, and caused it to be set +up in the midst of the city. By virtue of the secret powers with which +it was invested, it told the emperor whatever was done amiss. And thus +by the accusation of the statue, an infinite number of persons were +convicted and punished. + +Now there was a certain carpenter, called Focus, who pursued his +occupation every day alike. Once, as he lay in bed, his thoughts turned +upon the accusations of the statue, and the multitudes which it had +caused to perish. In the morning he clothed himself, and proceeded to +the statue, which he addressed in the following manner: "O statue! +statue! because of thy informations, many of our citizens have been +taken and slain. I vow to my God, that if thou accusest _me_, I will +break thy head." Having so said, he returned home. + +About the first hour, the emperor, as he was wont, despatched sundry +messengers to the statue, to inquire if the edict had been strictly +complied with. After they had arrived, and delivered the emperors +pleasure, the statue exclaimed: "Friends, look up; what see ye written +upon my forehead?" They looked, and beheld three sentences which ran +thus: "TIMES ARE ALTERED. MEN GROW WORSE. HE WHO SPEAKS TRUTH HAS HIS +HEAD BROKEN." "Go," said the statue, "declare to his majesty what you +have seen and read." The messengers obeyed, and detailed the +circumstances as they had happened. + +The emperor therefore commanded his guard to arm, and march to the place +on which the statue was erected; and he further ordered, that if any one +presumed to molest it, they should bind him hand and foot, and drag him +into his presence. + +The soldiers approached the statue and said, "Our emperor wills you to +declare the name of the scoundrel who threatens you." + +The statue made answer, "It is Focus the carpenter. Every day he +violates the law, and, moreover, menaces me with a broken head, if I +expose him." + +Immediately Focus was apprehended, and conducted to the emperor, who +said, "Friend, what do I hear of thee? Why hast thou broken my law?" + +"My lord," answered Focus, "I cannot keep it; for I am obliged to obtain +every day eight pennies, which, without incessant work, I have not the +means of getting." + +"And why eight pennies?" said the emperor. + +"Every day through the year," returned the carpenter, "I am bound to +repay two pennies which I borrowed in my youth; two I lend; two I lose; +and two I spend." + +"For what reason do you this?" asked the emperor. + +"My lord," he replied, "listen to me. I am bound each day to repay two +pennies to my father; for, when I was a boy, my father expended upon me +daily the like sum. Now he is poor, and needs my assistance, and +therefore I return what I borrowed formerly. Two other pennies I lend to +my son, who is pursuing his studies; in order, that if by any chance I +should fall into poverty, he may restore the loan, just as I have done +to his grandfather. Again, I lose two pennies every day on my wife; for +she is contradictious, wilful, and passionate. Now, because of this +disposition, I account whatsoever is given to her entirely lost. Lastly, +two other pennies I expend upon myself in meat and drink. I cannot do +with less, nor can I earn them without unremitting labour. You now know +the truth; and, I pray you, judge dispassionately and truly." + +"Friend," said the emperor, "thou hast answered well. Go, and labour +earnestly in thy calling." + +Soon after this the emperor died, and Focus the carpenter, on account of +his singular wisdom, was elected in his stead by the unanimous choice of +the whole nation. He governed as wisely as he had lived; and at his +death, his picture, bearing on the head eight pennies, was reposited +among the effigies of the deceased emperors. + + + + +II.--THE THREE TRUTHS. + + +A certain king, named Asmodeus, established an ordinance, by which every +malefactor taken and brought before the judge, should distinctly declare +three truths, against which no exception could be taken, or else be +hanged. If, however, he did this, his life and property should be safe. +It chanced that a certain soldier transgressed the law and fled. He hid +himself in a forest, and there committed many atrocities, despoiling +and slaying whomsoever he could lay his hands upon. When the judge +of the district ascertained his haunt, he ordered the forest to be +surrounded, and the soldier to be seized, and brought bound to the seat +of judgment. + +"You know the law," said the judge. + +"I do," returned the other. "If I declare three unquestionable truths I +shall be free; but if not, I must die." + +"True," replied the judge; "take then advantage of the law's clemency, +or undergo the punishment it awards without delay." + +"Cause silence to be kept," said the soldier undauntedly. + +His wish being complied with, he proceeded in the following manner: "The +first truth is this. I protest before ye all, that from my youth up, I +have been a bad man." + +The judge, hearing this, said to the bystanders, "He says true?" They +answered: "Else he had not now been in this situation." "Go on, then," +said the judge. "What is the second truth?" + +"I like not," exclaimed he, "the dangerous situation in which I stand." + +"Certainly," said the judge, "we may credit thee. Now then for the third +truth, and thou hast saved thy life." + +"Why," he replied, "if I once get out of this confounded place, I will +never willingly re-enter it." + +"Amen," said the judge, "thy wit hath preserved thee; go in peace." And +thus he was saved. + + + + +III.--THE HUSBAND OF AGLAES. + + +In Rome some time dwelt a mighty emperor named Philominus, who had one +only daughter, who was fair and gracious in the sight of every man, who +had to name Aglaes. There was also in the emperor's palace a gentle +knight that loved dearly this lady. It befell after on a day, that this +knight talked with this lady, and secretly uttered his desire to her. +Then she said courteously, "Seeing you have uttered to me the secrets of +your heart, I will likewise for your love utter to you the secrets of my +heart: and truly I say, that above all other I love you best." Then said +the knight, "I purpose to visit the Holy Land, and therefore give me +your troth, that this seven years you shall take no other man, but only +for my love to tarry for me so long, and if I come not again by this day +seven years, then take what man you like best. And likewise I promise +you that within this seven years I will take no wife." Then said she, +"This covenant pleaseth me well." When this was said, each of them was +betrothed to other, and then this knight took his leave of the lady, and +went to the Holy Land. + +Shortly after the emperor treated with the king of Hungary for the +marriage of his daughter. Then came the king of Hungary to the emperor's +palace, and when he had seen his daughter, he liked marvellous well her +beauty and her behaviour, so that the emperor and the king were accorded +in all things as touching the marriage, upon the condition that the +damsel would consent. Then called the emperor the young lady to him, and +said, "O, my fair daughter, I have provided for thee, that a king shall +be thy husband, if thou list consent; therefore tell me what answer thou +wilt give to this." Then said she to her father, "It pleaseth me well; +but one thing, dear father, I entreat of you, if it might please you to +grant me: I have vowed to keep my virginity, and not to marry these +seven years; therefore, dear father, I beseech you for all the love that +is between your gracious fatherhood and me, that you name no man to be +my husband till these seven years be ended, and then I shall be ready in +all things to fulfil your will." Then said the emperor, "Sith it is so +that thou hast thus vowed, I will not break thy vow; but when these +seven years be expired, thou shalt have the king of Hungary to thy +husband." + +Then the emperor sent forth his letters to the king of Hungary, praying +him if it might please him to stay seven years for the love of his +daughter, and then he should speed without fail. Herewith the king was +pleased and content to stay the prefixed day. + +And when the seven years were ended, save a day, the young lady stood in +her chamber window, and wept sore, saying, "Woe and alas, as to-morrow +my love promised to be with me again from the Holy Land; and also the +king of Hungary to-morrow will be here to marry me, according to my +father's promise; and if my love comes not at a certain hour, then am I +utterly deceived of the inward love I bear to him." + +When the day came, the king hasted toward the emperor, to marry his +daughter, and was royally arrayed in purple. And while the king was +riding on his way, there came a knight riding on his way, who said, "I +am of the empire of Rome, and now am lately come from the Holy Land, and +I am ready to do you the best service I can." And as they rode talking +by the way, it began to rain so fast that all the king's apparel was +sore wet. Then said the knight, "My lord, ye have done foolishly, for as +much as ye brought not with you your house." Then said the king: "Why +speakest thou so? My house is large and broad, and made of stones and +mortar, how should I bring then with me my house? Thou speakest like a +fool." When this was said, they rode on till they came to a great deep +water, and the king smote his horse with his spurs, and leapt into the +water, so that he was almost drowned. When the knight saw this, and was +over on the other side of the water without peril, he said to the king, +"Ye were in peril, and therefore ye did foolishly, because ye brought +not with you your bridge." Then said the king, "Thou speakest strangely: +my bridge is made of lime and stone, and containeth in quality more +than half a mile; how should I then bear with me my bridge? therefore +thou speakest foolishly." "Well," said the knight, "my foolishness may +turn you to wisdom." When the king had ridden a little further, he asked +the knight what time of day it was. Then said the knight, "If any man +hath list to eat, it is time of the day to eat. Wherefore, my lord, pray +take a _modicum_ with me, for that is no dishonour to you, but great +honour to me before the states of this empire." Then said the king, "I +will gladly eat with thee." They sat both down in a fair vine garden, +and there dined together, both the king and the knight. And when dinner +was done, and that the king had washed, the knight said unto the king, +"My lord, ye have done foolishly, for that ye brought not with you your +father and mother." Then said the king, "What sayest thou? My father is +dead, and my mother is old, and may not travel; how should I then bring +them with me? Therefore, to say the truth, a foolisher man than thou art +did I never hear." Then said the knight, "Every work is praised at the +end." + +When the knight had ridden a little further, and nigh to the emperor's +palace, he asked leave to go from him; for he knew a nearer way to the +palace, to the young lady, that he might come first, and carry her away +with him. Then said the king, "I pray thee tell me by what place thou +purposest to ride?" Then said the knight, "I shall tell you the truth. +This day seven years I left a net in a place, and now I purpose to visit +it, and draw it to me, and if it be whole, then will I take it to me, +and keep it as a precious jewel; if it be broken, then will I leave it." +And when he had thus said, he took his leave of the king, and rode +forth; but the king kept the broad highway. + +When the emperor heard of the king's coming, he went towards him with a +great company, and royally received him, causing him to shift his wet +clothes, and to put on fresh apparel. And when the emperor and the king +were set at meat, the emperor welcomed him with all the cheer and +solace that he could. And when he had eaten, the emperor asked tidings +of the king. "My lord," said he, "I shall tell you what I have heard +this day by the way: there came a knight to me, and reverently saluted +me; and anon after there fell a great rain, and greatly spoiled my +apparel. And anon the knight said, 'Sir, ye have done foolishly, for +that ye brought not with you your house.'" Then said the emperor, "What +clothing had the knight on?" "A cloak," quoth the king. Then said the +emperor, "Sure that was a wise man, for the house whereof he spake was a +cloak, and therefore he said to you that you did foolishly, because had +you come with your cloak, then your clothes had not been spoiled with +rain." Then said the king, "When he had ridden a little further, we came +to a deep water, and I smote my horse with my spurs, and I was almost +drowned, but he rid through the water without any peril. Then said he to +me, 'You did foolishly, for that you brought not with you your bridge.'" +"Verily," said the emperor, "he said truth, for he called the squires +the bridge, that should have ridden before you, and assayed the deepness +of the water." Then said the king, "We rode further, and at the last he +prayed me to dine with him. And when he had dined, he said, I did +unwisely, because I brought not with me my father and mother." "Truly," +said the emperor, "he was a wise man, and saith wisely: for he called +your father and mother, bread and wine, and other victual." Then said +the king, "We rode further, and anon after he asked me leave to go from +me, and I asked earnestly whither he went; and he answered again, and +said, 'This day seven years I left a net in a private place, and now I +will ride to see it; and if it be broken and torn, then will I leave it, +but if it be as I left it, then shall it be unto me right precious.'" + +When the emperor heard this, he cried with a loud voice, and said, "O +ye my knights and servants, come ye with me speedily unto my daughter's +chamber, for surely that is the net of which he spake." And forthwith +his knights and servants went unto his daughter's chamber, and found her +not, for the aforesaid knight had taken her with him. And thus the king +was deceived of the damsel, and he went home again to his own country +ashamed. + + + + +IV.--THE THREE CASKETS. + + +Some time dwelt in Rome a mighty emperor, named Anselm, who had married +the king's daughter of Jerusalem, a fair lady, and gracious in the sight +of every man, but she was long time with the emperor ere she bare him +any child; wherefore the nobles of the empire were very sorrowful, +because their lord had no heir of his own body begotten: till at last it +befell, that this Anselm walked after supper, in an evening, into his +garden, and bethought himself that he had no heir, and how the king of +Ampluy warred on him continually, for so much as he had no son to make +defence in his absence; therefore he was sorrowful, and went to his +chamber and slept. Then he thought he saw a vision in his sleep, that +the morning was more clear than it was wont to be, and that the moon was +much paler on the one side than on the other. And after he saw a bird of +two colours, and by that bird stood two beasts, which fed that little +bird with their heat. And after that came more beasts, and bowing their +breasts toward the bird, went their way. Then came there divers birds +that sung sweetly and pleasantly: with that the emperor awaked. + +In the morning early this Anselm remembered his vision, and wondered +much what it might signify; wherefore he called to him his philosophers, +and all the states of the empire, and told them his dream, charging them +to tell him the signification thereof on pain of death, and if they +told him the true interpretation thereof, he promised them good reward. +Then said they, "Dear lord, tell us your dream, and we shall declare to +you what it betokens." Then the emperor told them from the beginning to +the ending, as is aforesaid. When the philosophers heard this, with glad +cheer they answered, and said, "Sir, the vision that you saw betokeneth +good, for the empire shall be clearer than it is. + +"The moon that is more pale on the one side than on the other, betokeneth +the empress, that hath lost part of her colour, through the conception +of a son that she hath conceived. The little bird betokeneth the son +that she shall bare. The two beasts that fed this bird betoken the wise +and rich men of the empire which shall obey the son. These other beasts +that bowed their breasts to the bird betoken many other nations that +shall do him homage. The bird that sang so sweetly to this little bird +betokeneth the Romans, who shall rejoice and sing because of his birth. +This is the very interpretation of your dream." + +When the emperor heard this, he was right joyful. Soon after that, the +empress travailed in childbirth, and was delivered of a fair son, at +whose birth there was great and wonderful joy made. + +When the king of Ampluy heard this, he thought in himself thus: "Lo, I +have warred against the emperor all the days of my life, and now he hath +a son who, when he cometh to full age, will revenge the wrong I have +done against his father; therefore it is better that I send to the +emperor and beseech him of truce and peace, that the son may have +nothing against me when he cometh to manhood." When he had thus said to +himself, he wrote to the emperor, beseeching him to have peace. When the +emperor saw that the king of Ampluy wrote to him more for fear than for +love, he wrote again to him, that if he would find good and sufficient +sureties to keep the peace, and bind himself all the days of his life to +do him service and homage, he would receive him to peace. + +When the king had read the tenor of the emperor's letter, he called his +council, praying them to give him counsel how he best might do, as +touching this matter. Then said they, "It is good that ye obey the +emperor's will and commandment in all things. For first, in that he +desired of you surety for the peace; to this we answer thus: Ye have but +one daughter, and the emperor one son, wherefore let a marriage be made +between them, and that may be a perpetual covenant of peace. Also he +asketh homage and tribute, which it is good to fulfil." Then the king +sent his messengers to the emperor, saying, that he would fulfil his +desire in all things, if it might please his highness that his son and +the king's daughter might be married together. All this well pleased the +emperor, yet he sent again, saying, "If his daughter were a pure maid +from her birth unto that day, he would consent to that marriage." Then +was the king right glad, for his daughter was a pure maid. + +Therefore, when the letters of covenant and compact were sealed, the +king furnished a fair ship, wherein he might send his daughter, with +many noble knights, ladies, and great riches, unto the emperor, for to +have his son in marriage. + +And when they were sailing in the sea, towards Rome, a storm arose so +extremely and so horribly that the ship brake against a rock, and they +were all drowned save only the young lady, which fixed her hope and +heart so greatly on God, that she was saved, and about three of the +clock the tempest ceased, and the lady drove forth over the waves in +that broken ship which was cast up again. But a huge whale followed +after, ready to devour both the ship and her. Wherefore this young lady, +when night came, smote fire with a stone, wherewith the ship was greatly +lightened, and then the whale durst not adventure toward the ship for +fear of that light. At the cock-crowing, this young lady was so weary of +the great tempest and trouble of sea, that she slept, and within a +little while after the fire ceased, and the whale came and devoured the +virgin. And when she awaked and found herself swallowed up in the +whale's belly, she smote fire, and with a knife wounded the whale in +many places, and when the whale felt himself wounded, according to his +nature he began to swim to land. + +There was dwelling at that time in a country near by a noble earl named +Pirris, who for his recreation walking on the sea-shore, saw the whale +coming towards the land; wherefore he turned home again, and gathered a +great many of men and women, and came thither again, and fought with the +whale, and wounded him very sore, and as they smote, the maiden that was +in his belly cried with a high voice, and said: "O gentle friends, have +mercy and compassion on me, for I am a king's daughter, and a true maid +from the hour of my birth unto this day." When the earl heard this he +wondered greatly, and opened the side of the whale, and found the young +lady, and took her out. And when she was thus delivered, she told him +forthwith whose daughter she was, and how she had lost all her goods in +the sea, and how she should have been married unto the emperor's son. +And when the earl heard this, he was very glad, and comforted her the +more, and kept her with him till she was well refreshed. And in the +meantime he sent messengers to the emperor, letting him to know how the +king's daughter was saved. + +Then was the emperor right glad of her safety, and coming, had great +compassion on her, saying, "Ah, good maiden, for the love of my son thou +hast suffered much woe; nevertheless, if thou be worthy to be his wife, +soon shall I prove." And when he had thus said, he caused three vessels +to be brought forth. The first was made of pure gold, well beset with +precious stones without, and within full of dead men's bones, and +thereupon was engraven this posie: "WHOSO CHOOSETH ME, SHALL FIND THAT +HE DESERVETH." The second vessel was made of fine silver, filled with +earth and worms, the superscription was thus: "WHOSO CHOOSETH ME, SHALL +FIND THAT HIS NATURE DESIRETH." The third vessel was made of lead, full +within of precious stones, and thereupon was insculpt this posie: "WHOSO +CHOOSETH ME, SHALL FIND THAT GOD HATH DISPOSED FOR HIM." These three +vessels the emperor showed the maiden, and said: "Lo, here daughter, +these be rich vessels. If thou choose one of these, wherein is profit to +thee and to others, then shalt thou have my son. And if thou choose that +wherein is no profit to thee, nor to any other, soothly thou shalt not +marry him." + +When the maiden heard this, she lift up her hands to God, and said, +"Thou Lord, that knowest all things, grant me grace this hour so to +choose, that I may receive the emperor's son." And with that she beheld +the first vessel of gold, which was engraven royally, and read the +superscription, "_Whoso chooseth me, shall find that he deserveth_;" +saying thus, "Though this vessel be full precious, and made of pure +gold, nevertheless I know not what is within, therefore, my dear lord, +this vessel will I not choose." + +And then she beheld the second vessel, that was of pure silver, and read +the superscription, "_Whoso chooseth me, shall find that his nature +desireth._" Thinking thus within herself, "If I choose this vessel, what +is within I know not, but well I know, there shall I find that nature +desireth, and my nature desireth the lust of the flesh, and therefore +this vessel will I not choose." + +When she had seen these two vessels, and had given an answer as touching +them, she beheld the third vessel of lead, and read the superscription, +"_Whoso chooseth me, shall find that God hath disposed._" Thinking +within herself, "This vessel is not very rich, nor outwardly precious, +yet the superscription saith, "_Whoso chooseth me, shall find that God +hath disposed_;" and without doubt God never disposeth any harm, +therefore, by the leave of God, this vessel will I choose." + +When the emperor heard this, he said, "O fair maiden, open thy vessel, +for it is full of precious stones, and see if thou hast well chosen or +no." And when this young lady had opened it, she found it full of fine +gold and precious stones, as the emperor had told her before. Then said +the emperor, "Daughter, because thou hast well chosen, thou shalt marry +my son." And then he appointed the wedding-day; and they were married +with great solemnity, and with much honour continued to their lives' +end. + + + + +V.--THE THREE CAKES. + + +A certain carpenter, in a city near the sea, very covetous, and very +wicked, collected a large sum of money, and placed it in the trunk of a +tree, which he set by his fire-side, and never lost sight of. A place +like this, he thought, no one could suspect: but it happened, that while +all his household slept, the sea overflowed its boundaries, broke down +that side of the building where the log was placed, and carried it away. +It floated many miles, and reached, at length, a city in which there +lived a person who kept open house. Arising early in the morning, he +perceived the trunk of a tree in the water, and thinking it would be of +use to him, he brought it home. He was a liberal, kind-hearted man; and +a great benefactor to the poor. It one day chanced that he entertained +some pilgrims in his house; and the weather being extremely cold, he cut +up the log for firewood. When he had struck two or three blows with the +axe, he heard a rattling sound; and cleaving it in twain, the gold +pieces rolled out and about. Greatly rejoiced at the discovery, he put +them by in a safe place, until he should ascertain who was the owner. + +Now the carpenter, bitterly lamenting the loss of his money, travelled +from place to place in pursuit of it. He came, by accident, to the house +of the hospitable man who had found the trunk. He failed not to mention +the object of his search; and the host, understanding that the money was +his, reflected whether his title to it were good. "I will prove," said +he to himself, "if God will that the money should be returned to him." + +Accordingly, he made three cakes, the first of which he filled with +earth; the second with the bones of dead men; and in the third he put a +quantity of the gold which he had discovered in the trunk. + +"Friend," said he, addressing the carpenter, "we will eat three cakes +made of the best meat in my house. Choose which you will have." + +The carpenter did as he was directed; he took the cakes and weighed them +in his hand, one after another, and finding that with the earth weigh +heaviest, he chose it. "And if I want more, my worthy host," added he, +"I will have that"--laying his hand upon the cake containing the bones. +"You may keep the third cake yourself." + +"I see clearly," murmured the host, "I see very clearly that God does +not will the money to be restored to this wretched man." Calling +therefore the poor and the infirm, the blind and the lame, he opened the +cake of gold in the presence of the carpenter, to whom he spoke, "Thou +miserable varlet; this is thine own gold. But thou preferredst the cake +of earth, and dead men's bones. I am persuaded, therefore, that God +wills not that I return thee thy money." Without delay, he distributed +it all amongst the poor, and drove the carpenter away. + + + + +VI.--THE HERMIT. + + +There once lived a hermit, who in a remote cave passed day and night +in God's service. Not far from his cell there was a flock kept by a +shepherd, who one day fell into a deep sleep, when a robber, seeing him +careless, carried off his sheep. When the keeper awoke, he began to +swear in good set terms that he had lost his sheep; and where they were +gone to he knew not. But the lord of the flock bade him be put to death. +This gave to the hermit great offence. "O heaven," said he to himself, +"seest thou this deed? The innocent suffers for the guilty: why permittest +thou such things? If thus injustice triumph, why do I remain here? I +will again enter the world, and do as other men do." + +And so he left his hermitage, and went again into the world; but God +willed not that he should be lost: an angel in the form of a man was +sent to join him. And so, crossing the hermit's path, he said to him, +"Whither bound, my friend?" "I go," said he, "to yonder city." "I will +go with you," replied the angel; "I am a messenger from heaven, come to +be your companion on the way." + +So they walked on together to the city. When they had entered, they +begged for the love of God harbourage during the night, at the house of +a certain soldier, who received them cheerfully and entertained them +nobly. The soldier had an only and most dear son lying in the cradle. +After supper, their bed-chamber was sumptuously adorned for them; and +the angel and the hermit went to rest. But about the middle of the +night the angel rose, and strangled the sleeping infant. The hermit, +horror-struck at what he witnessed, said within himself, "Never can +this be an angel of God. The good soldier gave us everything that was +necessary; he had but this poor innocent, and he is strangled." Yet he +was afraid to reprove him. + +In the morning both arose and went forward to another city, in which +they were honourably entertained at the house of one of the inhabitants. +This person had a rich gold cup, which he highly valued; and of which, +during the night, the angel robbed him. But still the hermit held his +peace, for great was his fear. + +On the morrow they went forward; and as they walked they came to a +certain river, over which was a bridge. They went on the bridge, and +about midway a poor pilgrim met them. "My friend," said the angel to +him, "show us the way to yonder city." The pilgrim turned, and pointed +with his finger to the road they were to take; but as he turned the +angel seized him by the shoulders, and hurled him into the stream below. +At this the terror of the hermit became greater. "It is the devil," he +said to himself; "it is the devil, and no good angel! What evil had the +poor man done that he should be drowned?" + +He would now have gladly gone alone; but was afraid to speak his mind. +About the hour of vespers they came to a city, in which they again +sought shelter for the night; but the master of the house where they +applied sharply refused it. "For the love of heaven," said the angel, +"give us shelter, lest we fall prey to the wolves." The man pointed to a +sty. "That," said he, "has pigs in it; if it please you to lie there you +may, but to no other place will I admit you." "If we can do no better," +said the angel, "we must accept your ungracious offer." They did so; and +next morning the angel calling their host, said, "My friend, I give you +this cup;" and he gave him the gold cup he had stolen. The hermit, more +and more amazed at what he saw, said to himself, "Now I am sure this is +the devil. The good man who received us with all kindness he despoiled, +and now he gives the plunder to this fellow who refused us a lodging." + +Turning therefore to the angel, he cried, "I will travel with you no +more. I commend you to God." "Dear friend," the angel said, "first hear +me, and then go thy way." + + +THE EXPLANATION. + +"When thou wert in thy hermitage, the owner of the flock unjustly put to +death his servant. True it is he died innocently, and therefore was +in a fit state to enter another world. God permitted him to be slain, +foreseeing, that if he lived he would commit a sin, and die before +repentance followed. But the guilty man who stole the sheep will suffer +eternally; while the owner of the flock will repair, by alms and good +works, that which he ignorantly committed. As for the son of the +hospitable soldier whom I strangled in the cradle, know, that before the +boy was born he performed numerous works of charity and mercy; but +afterwards grew parsimonious and covetous in order to enrich the child, +of which he was inordinately fond. This was the cause of its death; and +now its distressed parent is again become a devout Christian. Then for +the cup which I purloined from him who received us so kindly, know, that +before the cup was made, there was not a more abstemious person in the +world; but afterwards he took such pleasure in it, and drank from it so +often, that he was intoxicated twice or thrice during the day. I took +away the cup, and he has returned to his former sobriety. Again I cast +the pilgrim into the river; and know that he whom I drowned was a good +Christian, but had he proceeded much further, he would have fallen into +a mortal sin. Now he is saved, and reigns in celestial glory. Then, that +I bestowed the cup upon the inhospitable citizen, know nothing is done +without reason. He suffered us to occupy the swine-house and I gave him +a valuable consideration. But _he_ will hereafter reign in hell. Put a +guard, therefore, on thy lips, and detract not from the Almighty. For He +knoweth all things." + +The hermit, hearing this, fell at the feet of the angel and entreated +pardon. He returned to his hermitage, and became a good and pious +Christian. + + + + +VII.--THE LOST FOOT. + + +A certain tyrannical and cruel knight retained in his service a very +faithful servant. One day, when he had been to the market, he returned +with this servant through a grove; and by the way lost thirty silver +marks. As soon as he discovered the loss, he questioned his servant +about it. The man solemnly denied all knowledge of the matter, and he +spoke truth. But when the money was not to be found, he cut off the +servant's foot, and leaving him in that place, rode home. A hermit, +hearing the groans and cries of the man, went speedily to his help. He +confessed him; and being satisfied of his innocence, conveyed him upon +his shoulders to his hermitage. + +Then entering the oratory, he dared to reproach the All-just with want +of justice, inasmuch as he had permitted an innocent man to lose his +foot. + +For a length of time he continued in tears, and prayers, and reproaches; +until at last an angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said, "Hast thou +not read in the Psalms, 'God is a just judge, strong and patient?'" + +"Often," answered the hermit meekly, "have I read and believed it from +my heart; but to-day I have erred. That wretched man, whose foot has +been cut off, perhaps under the veil of confession deceived me." + +"Tax not the Lord with injustice," said the angel; "His way is truth, +and His judgments equitable. Recollect how often thou hast read, 'The +decrees of God are unfathomable.' Know that he who lost his foot, lost +it for a former crime. With the same foot he maliciously spurned his +mother, and cast her from a chariot--for which eternal condemnation +overtook him. The knight, his master, was desirous of purchasing a +war-horse, to collect more wealth, to the destruction of his soul; and +therefore, by the just sentence of God, the money which he had provided +for the purchase was lost. Now hear; there is a very poor man with his +wife and little ones, who daily supplicate heaven, and perform every +religious exercise. He found the money, when otherwise he would have +starved, and therewith procured for himself and family the necessaries +of life, entrusting a portion to his confessor to distribute to the +poor. But first he diligently endeavoured to find out the right owner. +Not accomplishing this, the poor man applied it to its proper use. Place +then a bridle upon thy thoughts; and no more upbraid the righteous +Disposer of all things, as thou but lately didst. For he is just, and +strong, and patient." + + + + +VIII.--PLACIDUS. + + +In the reign of Trajan there lived a knight named Placidus, who was +commander-in-chief of the emperor's armies. He was very merciful, but a +worshipper of idols. His wife too was an idolater. They had two sons, +brought up in all magnificence, and from the kindness and goodness of +their hearts, they deserved a revelation of the way of truth. + +As he was one day following the chase, Placidus discovered a herd of +deer, amongst which was one remarkable for size and beauty. Separating +itself from the rest, it plunged into the thickest part of the brake. +While the hunters, therefore, occupied themselves with the remainder of +the herd, Placidus swiftly followed this deer's track. The stag scaled +a lofty precipice, and Placidus, approaching as near as he could, +considered how it might be followed yet. But as he regarded it with +fixed attention, there appeared upon the centre of the brow, the form of +the cross, which glittered with more splendour than the noonday sun. +Upon this cross an image of Jesus Christ was suspended; and the stag +thus addressed the hunter: "Why dost thou persecute me, Placidus? For +thy sake have I assumed the shape of this animal. I am Christ, whom thou +ignorantly worshippest. Thine alms have gone up before me, and therefore +I come; but as thou hast hunted this stag, so will I hunt thee." + +Some indeed assert that the image, hanging between the deer's antlers, +said these things. However that may be, Placidus, filled with terror, +fell from his horse; and in about an hour, returning to himself, arose +from the earth and said, "Declare what thou wouldst have, that I may +believe in thee." + +"I am Christ, O Placidus! I created heaven and earth; I caused the light +to arise, and divided it from the darkness. I appointed days, and +seasons, and years. I formed man out of the dust of the earth; and I +became incarnate for the salvation of mankind. I was crucified, and +buried; and on the third day I rose again." + +When Placidus understood these sublime truths, he fell again upon the +earth, and exclaimed: "I believe, O Lord, that thou hast done all this; +and that thou art He who bringest back the wanderer." + +The Lord answered: "If thou believest this, go into the city and be +baptized." + +"Wouldst thou, O Lord, that I tell what has befallen me to my wife and +children, that they also may believe?" + +"Do so; tell them, that they also may be cleansed from their iniquities. +And on the morrow return hither, where I will appear again, and show you +of the future." + +Placidus, therefore, went to his own home, and told all that had passed +to his wife. But she too had had a revelation; and in like manner had +been enjoined to believe in Christ, together with her children. So they +hastened to the city of Rome, where they were entertained and baptized +with great joy. Placidus was called Eustacius, and his wife, Theosbyta; +the two sons, Theosbytus and Agapetus. + +In the morning, Eustacius, according to custom, went out to hunt, and +coming with his attendants near the place, he dispersed them, as if for +the purpose of discovering the prey. Immediately the vision of yesterday +reappeared, and prostrating himself, he said, "I implore thee, O Lord, +to manifest thyself according to thy word." + +"Blessed art thou, Eustacius, because thou hast received the laver of +my grace, and thereby overcome the devil. Now hast thou trod him to +dust, who beguiled thee. Now will thy fidelity appear; for the devil, +whom thou hast deserted, will rage against thee in many ways. Much must +thou undergo ere thou possessest the crown of victory. Much must thou +suffer from the dignified vanity of the world; and much from spiritual +intolerance. Fail not, therefore; nor look back upon thy former +condition. Thou must be as another Job; but from the very depth of thy +humiliation, I will restore thee to the height of earthly splendour. +Choose, then, whether thou wouldst prefer thy trials at the end of +life." + +Eustacius replied: "If it become me, O Lord, to be exposed to trials, +let them presently approach; but do thou uphold me, and supply me with +patient strength." + +"Be bold, Eustacius: my grace shall support your souls." Saying thus, +the Lord ascended into heaven. After which Eustacius returned home to +his wife, and explained to her what had been decreed. + +In a few days a pestilence carried off the whole of their men-servants +and maid-servants; and before long the sheep, horses, and cattle also +perished. Robbers plundered their habitation, and despoiled them of +every ornament; while he himself, together with his wife and sons, fled +naked and in the deepest distress. But devoutly they worshipped God; and +apprehensive of an Egyptian redness, went secretly away. Thus were they +reduced to utter poverty. The king and the senate, greatly afflicted +with their general's calamities, sought for, but found not the slightest +trace of him. + +In the meantime this unhappy family approached the sea; and finding a +ship ready to sail, they embarked in it. The master of the vessel +observing that the wife of Eustacius was very beautiful, determined to +secure her; and when they had crossed the sea, demanded a large sum of +money for their passage, which, as he anticipated, they did not possess. +Notwithstanding the vehement and indignant protestations of Eustacius, +he seized upon his wife; and beckoning to the mariners, commanded them +to cast the unfortunate husband headlong into the sea. Perceiving, +therefore, that all opposition was useless, he took up his two children, +and departed with much and heavy sorrow. "Merciful heaven," he exclaimed, +as he wept over his bereaved offspring, "your poor mother is lost; and, +in a strange land, in the arms of a strange lord, must lament her fate." + +Travelling along, he came to a river, the water of which ran so high, +that it appeared hazardous in an eminent degree to cross with both the +children at the same time. One, therefore, he placed carefully upon the +bank, and then passed over with the other in his arms. This effected, he +laid it upon the ground, and returned immediately for the remaining +child. But in the midst of the river, accidentally glancing his eye +back, he beheld a wolf hastily snatch up the child, and run with it into +an adjoining wood. Half maddened at a sight so truly afflicting, he +turned to rescue it from the destruction with which it was threatened; +but at that instant a huge lion approached the child he had left; and +seizing it, presently disappeared. To follow was useless, for he was in +the middle of the water. Giving himself up, therefore, to his desperate +situation, he began to lament and to pluck away his hair, and would have +cast himself into the stream, had not Divine Providence preserved him. + +Certain shepherds, however, observing the lion carrying off the child in +his teeth, pursued him with dogs, and by the peculiar dispensation of +heaven it was dropped unhurt. As for the other, some ploughmen witnessing +the adventure, shouted lustily after the wolf, and succeeded in +liberating the poor victim from its jaws. Now it happened that both the +shepherds and ploughmen resided in the same village, and brought up the +children amongst them. But Eustacius knew nothing of this, and his +affliction was so poignant that he was unable to control his complaints. +"Alas!" he would say, "once I nourished like a luxuriant tree, but now I +am altogether blighted. Once I was encompassed with military ensigns and +bands of armed men; now I am a single being in the universe. I have lost +all my children and everything that I possessed. I remember, O Lord, +that thou saidst my trials should resemble Job's; behold they exceed +them. For although he was destitute, he had a couch, however vile, to +repose upon; I, alas! have nothing. He had compassionating friends; +while I, besides the loss of my children, am left a prey to the savage +beasts. His wife remained, but mine is forcibly carried off. Assuage my +anguish, O Lord, and place a bridle upon my lips, lest I utter +foolishness, and stand up against thee." With such words he gave free +course to the fulness of his heart; and after much travel, entered a +village, where he abode. In this place he continued for fifteen years, +as the hired servant of one of the villagers. + +To return to the two boys. They were educated in the same +neighbourhood, but had no knowledge of their consanguinity. And as for +the wife of Eustacius, she preserved her purity, and suffered not the +infamous usage which she had to fear. After some time her persecutor +died. + +In the meanwhile the Roman emperor was beset by his enemies, and +recollecting how valiantly Placidus had behaved himself in similar +straits, his grief at the deplorable change of fortune was renewed. He +despatched soldiers through various parts of the world in pursuit of +them; and promised to the discoverer infinite rewards and honours. It +happened that some of the emissaries, being of those who had attended +upon the person of Placidus, came into the country in which he laboured, +and one of them he recognized by his gait. The sight of these men +brought back to the exile's mind the situation of wealth and honour +which he had once possessed; and being filled with fresh trouble at the +recollection--"O Lord!" he exclaimed, "even as beyond expectation I have +seen these people again, so let me be restored to my beloved wife. Of my +children I speak not; for I know too well that they are devoured by wild +beasts." + +At that moment a voice whispered, "Be faithful, Eustacius, and thou wilt +shortly recover thy lost honours, and again look upon thy wife and +offspring." + +Now when the soldiers met Placidus they knew not who he was; and +accosting him, they asked if he were acquainted with any foreigner named +Placidus, with his wife and two sons. He replied that he did not, but +requested that they would rest in his house. And so he took them home, +and waited on them. And here, as before, at the recollection of his +former splendour, his tears flowed. Unable to contain himself, he +went out of doors, and when he had washed his face he re-entered, and +continued his service. By-and-by one said to the other, "Surely this man +bears great resemblance to him we inquire after." "Of a truth," answered +his companion, "you say well. Let us examine if he possess a sabre-mark +on his head, which he received in action." They did so, and finding a +scar which indicated a similar wound, they leaped up and embraced him, +and inquired after his wife and sons. + +He told his adventures; and the neighbours coming in, listened with +wonder to the account delivered by the soldiers of his military +achievements and former magnificence. Then, obeying the command of the +emperor, they clothed him in sumptuous apparel. On the fifteenth day +they reached the imperial court, and the emperor, apprised of his +coming, went out to meet him, and saluted him with great gladness. +Eustacius told all that had befallen him. He was then invested with the +command of the army, and restored to every office that he had held +before his departure. + +He now therefore prepared with energy to encounter their enemies. He +drew together from all parts the young men of the country; and it fell +to the lot of the village where his own children were educated, to send +two to the army; and these very youths were selected by the inhabitants +as the best and bravest of their number. They appeared before the +general, and their elegant manners, so much above their station, united +to a singular propriety of conduct, won his esteem. He placed them in +the van of his troops, and began his march against the enemy. Now the +spot on which he pitched his tent was near his wife's abode; and, +strange to say, the sons themselves, in the general distribution of the +soldiers, were quartered with their own mother, but all the while +ignorant with whom they were stationed. + +About mid-day, the lads sitting together, related the various chances to +which their infancy had been subject; and the mother, who was at no +great distance, became an attentive listener. "Of what I was while a +child," said the elder of the brothers, "I remember nothing, except +that my beloved father was a leader of a company of soldiers; and that +my mother, who was very beautiful, had two sons, of whom I was the +elder. We left home with our parents during the night, and embarking on +board a vessel that immediately put to sea, sailed I know not whither. +Our mother remained in the ship, but wherefore I am also ignorant. In +the meantime, our father carried my brother and myself in his arms, and +me he left upon the nearer bank of a river, until he had borne the +younger of us across. But when he was returning to me, a wolf darted +from a thicket and bore him off in his mouth. Before he could hasten +back to him, a prodigious lion seized upon me, and carried me into a +neighbouring wood. But shepherds delivered me, and brought me up amongst +them." + +The younger brother here burst into a flood of tears, and exclaimed, +"Surely I have found my brother; for they who brought me up frequently +declared that I was saved from the jaws of a wolf." They exchanged +embraces, and the mother, who listened, felt a strong conviction that +they were her own children. She was silent, however, and the next day +went to the commander of the forces, and begged leave to go into her own +country. "I am a Roman woman," said she, "and a stranger in these +parts." + +As she uttered these words, her eye fixed with an earnest and anxious +gaze upon the countenance of him she addressed. It was her husband, whom +she now for the first time recollected; and she threw herself at his +feet, unable to contain her joy. "My lord," cried the glad woman, "I +entreat you to tell something of your past life; for unless I greatly +mistake, you are Placidus, the master of the soldiery, since known by +the name of Eustacius, whom our blessed Saviour converted and tried by +temptations. I am _his_ wife, taken from him at sea by a wretch, who yet +spared me from the worst. I had two sons, Agapetus and Theosbytus." + +These words recalled Eustacius to himself. Time and sorrow had made much +change in both, but the recognition was full of happiness. They embraced +and wept, giving glory to God as the God of all consolation. The wife +then said, "My lord, what has become of our children?" "Alas!" replied +he, "they were carried off by wild beasts;" and he told the manner of +their loss. "Give thanks," said his wife, "give manifold thanks to the +Lord; for as His Providence hath revealed our existence to each other, +so will He give us back our beloved offspring." "Did I not tell you," +returned he, "that wild beasts had devoured them?" + +"True; but yesternight as I sat in the garden I overheard two young men +tell of their childhood, and whom I believe to be our sons. Ask them, +and they will tell you." + +Messengers were immediately despatched for this purpose, and a few +questions convinced Eustacius of the full completion of his happiness. +They fell upon each other's neck and wept aloud. It was a joyful +occasion; the whole army shared the joy of their general. A splendid +victory ensued. Before their return the Emperor Trajan died, and was +succeeded by Adrian, more wicked even than his predecessor. However, he +received the conqueror and his family with great magnificence, and +sumptuously entertained them at his own table. But the day following the +emperor would have proceeded to the temple of his idols to sacrifice, in +consequence of the late victory, and desired his guests to accompany +him. "My lord," said Eustacius, "I worship the God of the Christians; +and Him only do I serve and propitiate with sacrifice." + +Enraged at an opposition he had not contemplated, he placed the man who +had freed Rome from a foreign yoke, with his whole family, in the arena, +and let loose a ferocious lion upon them. But the lion, to the +astonishment of all, held down his head before them, as if in reverence. +On which the ungrateful emperor ordered a brazen ox to be fabricated, +and heated to the highest degree. In this his victims were cast alive; +but with prayer and supplication they commended themselves to the mercy +of God, and three days after, being taken out of the furnace in the +presence of the emperor, it appeared as if they had died tranquilly +in bed. Not a hair of their heads was scorched, nor was there the +smallest perceptible change, more than the easiest transition from life +occasions. The Christians buried their corpses in the most honourable +manner, and over them constructed an oratory. They perished in the first +year of Adrian, A.D. 120, in the kalends of November; or, as some write, +the 12th of the kalends of October. + + + +IX.--DEAD ALEXANDER. + + +We read, that at the death of Alexander a golden sepulchre was +constructed, and that a number of philosophers assembled round it. One +said: "Yesterday, Alexander made a treasure of gold, and now gold makes +a treasure of him." Another observed: "Yesterday, the whole world was +not enough to satiate his ambition; to-day, three or four ells of cloth +are more than sufficient." A third said: "Yesterday, Alexander commanded +the people; to-day, the people command him." Another said: "Yesterday, +Alexander could enfranchise thousands; to-day, he cannot free himself +from the bonds of death." Another remarked: "Yesterday, he pressed the +earth; to-day, it oppresses him." "Yesterday," continued another, "all +men feared Alexander; to-day, men repute him nothing." Another said: +"Yesterday, Alexander had a multitude of friends; to-day, not one." +Another said: "Yesterday, Alexander led on an army; to-day that army +bears him to the grave." + + + + +X.--THE TREE OF PALETINUS. + + +Valerius tells us, that a man named Paletinus one day burst into tears; +and calling his son and his neighbours around him, said, "Alas! alas! I +have now growing in my garden a fatal tree, on which my first poor wife +hung herself, then my second, and after that my third. Have I not +therefore cause for wretchedness?" "Truly," said one who was called +Arrius, "I marvel that you should weep at such unusual good fortune! +Give me, I pray you, two or three sprigs of that gentle tree, which I +will divide with my neighbours, and thereby enable every man to indulge +his spouse." Paletinus complied with his friend's request; and ever +after found this tree the most productive part of his estate. + + + + +XI.--HUNGRY FLIES. + + +Josephus mentions that Tiberius Caesar, inquiring why the governors of +provinces remain so long in office, was answered by an example. "I have +seen," said the respondent, "an infirm man covered with ulcers, +grievously tormented by a swarm of flies. When asked why he did not use +a flap and drive off his tormentors, he answered, 'The very circumstance +which you think would relieve me would, in effect, cause tenfold +suffering. For by driving away the flies now saturated with my blood, I +should afford an opportunity to those that were empty and hungry to +supply their place. And who doubts that the biting of a hungry insect is +ten thousand times more painful than that of one completely gorged, +unless the person attacked be stone, and not flesh.'" + + + + +XII.--THE HUMBLING OF JOVINIAN. + + +When Jovinian was emperor, he had very great power, and as he lay in bed +reflecting upon the extent of his dominions, his heart was elated. + +"Is there," he impiously asked, "is there any other god than me?" Amid +such thoughts he fell asleep. + +In the morning, he reviewed his troops, and said, "My friends, after +breakfast we will hunt." + +Preparations being made accordingly, he set out with a large retinue. +During the chase, the emperor felt such extreme oppression from the +heat, that he believed his very existence depended upon a cold bath. As +he anxiously looked around, he discovered a sheet of water at no great +distance. "Remain here," said he to his guard, "until I have refreshed +myself in yonder stream." Then spurring his steed, he rode hastily to +the edge of the water. Alighting, he stripped off his clothes, and +experienced the greatest pleasure from its invigorating freshness and +coolness. But whilst he was thus employed, a person similar to him in +every respect--in countenance and gesture--arrayed himself unperceived +in the emperor's dress, and then mounting his horse, rode off to the +attendants. The resemblance to the sovereign was such, that no doubt was +entertained of the reality; and straightway command was issued for their +return to the palace. + +Jovinian, however, having quitted the water, sought in every possible +direction for his horse and clothes, and to his utter astonishment, +could find neither. Vexed beyond measure at the circumstance (for he was +completely naked, and saw no one near to assist him) he began to reflect +upon what course he should pursue. "Miserable man that I am," said he, +"to what a strait am I reduced! There is, I remember, a knight who +lives close by; I will go to him, and command his attendance and +service. I will then ride on to the palace and strictly investigate the +cause of this extraordinary conduct. Some shall smart for it." + +Jovinian proceeded, naked and ashamed, to the castle of the aforesaid +knight, and beat loudly at the gate. The porter, without unclosing the +wicket, inquired the cause of the knocking. "Open the gate," said the +enraged emperor, "and you will see who I am." The gate was opened; and +the porter, struck with the strange appearance he exhibited, replied, +"In the name of all that is marvellous, what are you?" "I am," said he, +"Jovinian, your emperor; go to your lord, and command him from me to +supply the wants of his sovereign. I have lost both horse and clothes." +"Infamous ribald!" shouted the porter, "just before thy approach, the +Emperor Jovinian, accompanied by the officers of his household, entered +the palace. My lord both went and returned with him; and but even now +sat with him at meat. But because thou hast called thyself the emperor, +however madly, my lord shall know of thy presumption." The porter +entered, and related what had passed. Jovinian was introduced, but the +knight retained not the slightest recollection of his master, although +the emperor remembered him. "Who are you?" said the knight, "and what is +your name?" "I am the Emperor Jovinian," rejoined he; "canst thou have +forgotten me? At such a time I promoted thee to a military command." +"Why, thou most audacious scoundrel," said the knight, "darest thou call +thyself the emperor? I rode with him myself to the palace, from whence I +am this moment returned. But thy impudence shall not go without its +reward. Flog him," said he, turning to his servants. "Flog him soundly, +and drive him away." + +This sentence was immediately executed, and the poor emperor, bursting +into a convulsion of tears, exclaimed, "Oh, my God, is it possible that +one whom I have so much honoured and exalted should do this? Not content +with pretending ignorance of my person, he orders these merciless +villains to abuse me! However, it will not be long unavenged. There is a +certain duke, one of my privy councillors, to whom I will make known my +calamity. At least, he will enable me to return decently to the palace." +To him, therefore, Jovinian proceeded, and the gate was opened at his +knock. But the porter, beholding a naked man, exclaimed in the greatest +amaze, "Friend, who are you, and why come you here in such a guise?" He +replied, "I am your emperor; I have accidentally lost my clothes and my +horse, and I have come for succour to your lord. Inform the duke, +therefore, that I have business with him." The porter, more and more +astonished, entered the hall, and told of the man outside. "Bring him +in," said the duke. He was brought in, but neither did he recognize the +person of the emperor. "What art thou?" was again asked, and answered as +before. "Poor mad wretch," said the duke, "a short time since, I +returned from the palace, where I left the very emperor thou assumest to +be. But ignorant whether thou art more fool or knave, we will administer +such remedy as may suit both. Carry him to prison, and feed him with +bread and water." The command was no sooner delivered, than obeyed; and +the following day his naked body was submitted to the lash, and again +cast into the dungeon. + +Thus afflicted, he gave himself up to the wretchedness of his untoward +condition. In the agony of his heart, he said: "What shall I do? Oh! +what will be my destiny? I am loaded with the coarsest contumely, and +exposed to the malicious observation of my people. It were better to +hasten immediately to my palace, and there discover myself--my wife will +know me; surely, my wife will know me!" Escaping, therefore, from his +confinement, he approached the palace and beat upon the gate. The same +questions were repeated, and the same answers returned. "Who art thou?" +said the porter. "It is strange," replied the aggrieved emperor, "it is +strange that thou shouldst not know me; thou, who hast served me so +long!" "Served _thee_!" returned the porter indignantly; "thou liest +abominably. I have served none but the emperor." "Why," said the other, +"thou knowest that I am he. Yet, though you disregard my words, go, I +implore you, to the empress; communicate what I will tell thee, and by +these signs, bid her send the imperial robes, of which some rogue +has deprived me. The signs I tell thee of are known to none but to +ourselves." "In verity," said the porter, "thou art specially mad; at +this very moment my lord sits at table with the empress herself. +Nevertheless, out of regard for thy singular merits, I will intimate thy +declaration within; and rest assured thou wilt presently find thyself +most royally beaten." The porter went accordingly, and related what he +had heard. But the empress became very sorrowful, and said: "Oh, my +lord, what am I to think? The most hidden passages of our lives are +revealed by an obscene fellow at the gate, and repeated to me by the +porter, on the strength of which he declares himself the emperor, and my +espoused lord!" When the fictitious monarch was apprised of this, he +commanded him to be brought in. He had no sooner entered, than a large +dog, which couched upon the hearth, and had been much cherished by him, +flew at his throat, and, but for timely prevention, would have killed +him. A falcon also, seated upon her perch, no sooner beheld him than she +broke her jesses and flew out of the hall. Then the pretended emperor, +addressing those who stood about him, said: "My friends, hear what I +will ask of yon ribald. Who are you? and what do you want?" "These +questions," said the suffering man, "are very strange. You know I am the +emperor and master of this place." The other, turning to the nobles who +sat or stood at the table, continued: "Tell me, on your allegiance, +which of us two is your lord and master?" "Your majesty asks us an easy +thing," replied they, "and need not to remind us of our allegiance. That +obscene wretch cannot be our sovereign. You alone are he, whom we have +known from childhood; and we intreat that this fellow may be severely +punished as a warning to others how they give scope to their mad +presumption." Then turning to the empress, the usurper said: "Tell me, +my lady, on the faith you have sworn, do you know this man who calls +himself thy lord and emperor?" She answered: "My lord, how can you ask +such a question? Have I not known thee more than thirty years, and borne +thee many children? Yet, at one thing I do admire. How can this fellow +have acquired so intimate a knowledge of what has passed between us?" + +The pretended emperor made no reply, but addressing the real one, said: +"Friend, how darest thou to call thyself emperor? We sentence thee, for +this unexampled impudence, to be drawn, without loss of time, at the +tail of a horse. And if thou utterest the same words again, thou shalt +be doomed to an ignominious death." He then commanded his guards to see +the sentence put in force, but to preserve his life. The unfortunate +emperor was now almost distracted; and urged by his despair, wished +vehemently for death. "Why was I born?" he exclaimed. "My friends shun +me, and my wife and children will not acknowledge me. But there is my +confessor, still. To him will I go; perhaps he will recollect me, +because he has often received my confessions." He went accordingly, and +knocked at the window of his cell. "Who is there?" said the confessor. +"The Emperor Jovinian," was the reply; "open the window and I will speak +to thee." The window was opened; but no sooner had he looked out than he +closed it again in great haste. "Depart from me," said he, "accursed +thing: thou art not the emperor, but the devil incarnate." This completed +the miseries of the persecuted man; and he tore his hair, and plucked up +his beard by the roots. "Woe is me," he cried, "for what strange doom am +I reserved?" At this crisis, the impious words which, in the arrogance +of his heart, he had uttered, crossed his recollection. Immediately he +beat again at the window of the confessor's cell, and exclaimed: "For +the love of Him who was suspended from the cross, hear my confession." +The recluse opened the window, and said, "I will do this with pleasure;" +and then Jovinian acquainted him with every particular of his past life; +and principally how he had lifted himself up against his Maker. + +The confession made, and absolution given, the recluse looked out of his +window, and directly knew him. "Blessed be the most high God," said he, +"now I do know thee. I have here a few garments: clothe thyself, and go +to the palace. I trust that they also will recognize thee." The emperor +did as the confessor directed. The porter opened the gate, and made a +low obeisance to him. "Dost thou know me?" said he. "Very well, my +lord!" replied the menial; "but I marvel that I did not observe you go +out." Entering the hall of his mansion, Jovinian was received by all +with a profound reverence. The strange emperor was at that time in +another apartment with the queen; and a certain knight going to him, +said, "My lord, there is one in the hall to whom everybody bends; he so +much resembles you, that we know not which is the emperor." Hearing +this, the usurper said to the empress, "Go and see if you know him." She +went, and returned greatly surprised at what she saw. "Oh, my lord," +said she, "I declare to you that I know not whom to trust." "Then," +returned he, "I will go and determine you." And taking her hand he led +her into the hall and placed her on the throne beside him. Addressing +the assembly, he said, "By the oaths you have taken, declare which of +us is your emperor." The empress answered: "It is incumbent on me to +speak first; but heaven is my witness, that I am unable to determine +which is he." And so said all. Then the feigned emperor spoke thus: "My +friends, hearken! That man is your king and your lord. He exalted +himself to the disparagement of his Maker; and God, therefore, scourged +and hid him from your knowledge. But his repentance removes the rod; he +has now made ample satisfaction, and again let your obedience wait upon +him. Commend yourselves to the protection of heaven." So saying, he +disappeared. The emperor gave thanks to God, and surrendering to Him all +his soul, lived happily and finished his days in peace. + + + + +XIII.--THE TWO PHYSICIANS. + + +Two physicians once lived in a city, who were admirably skilled in +medicine, insomuch that all the sick who took their prescriptions were +healed; and it thence became a question with the inhabitants, which of +them was the best. After a while, a dispute arose between them upon this +point. + +Said one, "My friend, why should discord or envy or anger separate us; +let us make the trial, and whosoever is inferior in skill shall serve +the other." + +"But how," replied his friend, "is this to be brought about?" + +The first physician answered: "Hear me. I will pluck out your eyes +without doing you the smallest injury, and lay them before you on the +table; and when you desire it I will replace them as perfect and +serviceable as they were before. If, in like manner, you can perform +this, we will then be esteemed equal, and walk as brethren through the +world. But, remember, he who fails in the attempt shall become the +servant of the other." + +"I am well pleased," returned his fellow, "to do as you say." Whereupon +he who made the proposition took out his instruments and extracted the +eyes, besmearing the sockets and the outer part of the lids with a +certain rich ointment. + +"My dear friend," said he, "what do you perceive?" + +"Of a surety," cried the other, "I see nothing. I want the use of my +eyes, but I feel no pain from their loss. I pray you, however, restore +them to their places as you promised." + +"Willingly," said his friend. He again touched the inner and outer part +of the lids with the ointment, and then, with much precision, inserted +the balls into their sockets. "How do you see now?" asked he. + +"Excellently," returned the other, "nor do I feel the least pain." +"Well, then," continued the first, "it now remains for you to treat me +in a similar manner." "I am ready," he said. And accordingly taking the +instruments, as the first had done, he smeared the upper and under parts +of the eye with a peculiar ointment, drew out the eyes and placed them +upon the table. The patient felt no pain, but added, "I wish you would +hasten to restore them." The operator cheerfully complied; but as he +prepared his implements, a crow entered by an open window, and seeing +the eyes upon the table, snatched one of them up, and flew away with it. +The physician, vexed at what had happened, said to himself, "If I do not +restore the eye to my companion, I must become his slave." At that +moment a goat, browsing at no great distance, attracted his observation. +Instantly he ran to it, drew out one of his eyes, and put it into the +place of the lost one. + +"My dear friend," exclaimed the operator, "how do things appear to +you?" + +"Neither in extracting nor in replacing," he answered, "did I suffer the +least pain; but--bless me!--one eye looks up to the trees!" + +"Ah!" replied the first, "this is the very perfection of medicine. +Neither of us is superior; henceforward we will be friends, as we are +equals; and banish far off that spirit of contention which has destroyed +our peace." The goat-eyed man of physic acquiesced; they lived from this +time in the greatest amity. + + + + +XIV.--THE FALCON. + + +In the reign of Pompey there lived a fair and amiable lady, and near to +her dwelt a handsome, noble soldier. He often visited her, and professed +much honourable love. The soldier coming once to see her, observed a +falcon upon her wrist, which he greatly admired. "Dear lady," said he, +"if you love me, give me that beautiful bird." "I consent," returned +she, "but on one condition, that you do not attach yourself so much to +it as to rob me of your society." "Far be such ingratitude from your +servant," cried the soldier, "I would not forsake you on any account; +and believe me, this generosity binds me more than ever to love you." + +The lady presented the falcon to him; and bidding her farewell, he +returned to his own castle. But he liked the bird so much, that he +forgot his promise to the lady, and never thought of her except when he +sported with the falcon. She sent messengers to him, but it was of no +use; he came not: and at last she wrote a very urgent letter, entreating +him, without the least delay, to hasten to her and bring the falcon +along with him. + +He acquiesced; and the lady, after salutation, asked him to let her +touch the bird. But when she had it in her hands, she wrenched its head +from the body. "Madam," said the vexed soldier, "what have you done?" To +which the lady answered, "Be not offended, but rather rejoice at what I +have done. That falcon was the cause of your absence, and I killed him +that I might enjoy your company as I was wont." The soldier, satisfied +with the reason, became once more faithful in his love. + + +APPLICATION. + +My beloved, the king is our heavenly Father; the lady, our human nature +joined to the divinity in Christ. The soldier is any Christian, and the +falcon, temporal prosperity. + + + + +XV.--LET THE LAZIEST BE KING. + + +The Emperor Pliny had three sons, to whom he was very indulgent. He +wished to dispose of his kingdom, and calling the three into his +presence, spoke thus: "The laziest of you shall reign after my death." + +"Then," answered the elder, "the kingdom must be mine; for I am so lazy, +that sitting once by the fire, I burnt my legs, because I was too +slothful to withdraw them." + +The second son said, "The kingdom should properly be mine, for if I had +a rope round my neck, and held a sword in my hand, my idleness is such, +that I should not put forth my hand to cut the rope." + +"But I," said the third son, "ought to be preferred to you both; for I +outdo both in sloth. While I lay upon my bed, water dropped from above +upon my eyes; and though, from the nature of the water, I was in danger +of becoming blind, I neither could nor would turn my head ever so little +to the right hand or to the left." The emperor, hearing this, bequeathed +the kingdom to him, thinking him the laziest of the three. + + + + +XVI.--THE THREE MAXIMS. + + +Domitian was a very wise and just prince, and suffered no offender to +escape. It happened that as he once sat at table, a certain merchant +knocked at the gate. The porter opened it, and asked what he pleased to +want. + +"I have brought some useful things for sale," answered the merchant. The +porter introduced him, and he very humbly made obeisance to the emperor. + +"My friend," said the emperor, "what merchandise have you to dispose +of?" + +"Three maxims of especial wisdom and excellence, my lord." + +"And how much will you take for your maxims?" + +"A thousand florins." + +"And so," said the king, "if they are of no use to me I lose my money?" + +"My lord," answered the merchant, "if the maxims do not stand you in +stead, I will return the money." + +"Very well," said the emperor. "Let us hear your maxims." + +"The first, my lord, is this: 'Whatever you do, do wisely; and think of +the consequences.' The second is: 'Never leave the _highway_ for a +_byway_.' And, thirdly: 'Never stay all night as a guest in that house +where you find the master an old man and his wife a young woman.' These +three maxims, if you attend to them, will be extremely serviceable." + +The emperor, being of the same opinion, ordered him to be paid a +thousand florins; and so pleased was he with the first, that he +commanded it to be inscribed in his court, in his bed-chamber, and in +every place where he was accustomed to walk, and even upon the +table-cloths from which he ate. + +Now the rigid justice of the emperor occasioned a conspiracy among the +vicious and refractory of his subjects; and finding the means of +accomplishing their purposes somewhat difficult, they engaged a barber, +by large promises, to cut his throat as he shaved him. + +When the emperor, therefore, was to be shaved, the barber lathered his +beard, and began to operate upon it; but casting his eyes over the towel +which he had fastened round the royal neck, he perceived woven thereon, +"Whatever you do, do wisely, and think of the consequences." The +inscription startled the tonsor, and he said to himself, "I am to-day +hired to destroy this man. If I do it, my end will be ignominious; I +shall be condemned to the most shameful death. Therefore, whatsoever I +do, it is good to consider the end, as the writing testifies." These +cogitations disturbed the barber so much that his hand trembled, and the +razor fell to the ground. The emperor, seeing this, inquired the cause. + +"Oh, my lord," said the barber, "have mercy upon me: I was hired this +day to destroy you; but accidentally, or rather by the will of God, I +read the inscription on the towel, 'Whatever you do, do wisely, and +think of the consequences.' Whereby, considering that, of a surety, the +consequence would be my own destruction, my hand trembled so much, that +I lost all command over it." + +"Well," thought the emperor, "this first maxim hath assuredly saved my +life: in a good hour was it purchased. My friend," said he to the +barber, "on condition that you be faithful hereafter, I pardon you." + +The noblemen who had conspired against the emperor, finding that their +project had failed, consulted with one another what they were to do +next. + +"On such a day," said one, "he journeys to a particular city; we will +hide ourselves in a bypath, through which, in all probability, he will +pass, and so kill him." + +The counsel was approved. + +The king, as had been expected, prepared to set out; and riding on till +he came to a cross-way, much less circuitous than the high road, his +knights said, "My lord, it will be better for you to go this way, than +to pass along the broad road; it is considerably nearer." + +The king pondered the matter within himself. "The second maxim," thought +he, "admonishes me never to forsake the highway for a byway. I will +adhere to that maxim." + +Then turning to his soldiers, "I shall not quit the public road; but +you, if it please you, may proceed by that path, and prepare for my +approach." Accordingly a number of them went; and the ambush, imagining +that the king rode in their company, fell upon them and put the greater +part to the sword. When the news reached the king, he secretly +exclaimed, "My second maxim hath also saved my life." + +Seeing, therefore, that by cunning they were unable to slay their lord, +the conspirators again took counsel, and it was observed, that on a +certain day he would lodge in a particular house, "because," said they, +"there is no other fit for his reception. Let us then agree with the +master of that house, and his wife, for a sum of money to kill the +emperor as he lies in bed." + +This was agreed to. + +But when the emperor had come into the city, and had been lodged in the +house to which the conspirators referred, he commanded his host to be +called into his presence. Observing that he was an old man, the emperor +said, "Have you not a wife?" + +"Yes, my lord." + +"I wish to see her." + +The lady came; and when it appeared that she was very young--not +eighteen years of age--the king said hastily to his chamberlain, "Away, +prepare me a bed in another house. I will remain here no longer." + +"My lord," replied he, "be it as you please. But they have made +everything ready for you: were it not better to lie where you are, for +in the whole city there is not so commodious a place." + +"I tell you," answered the emperor, "I will sleep elsewhere." + +The chamberlain, therefore, removed; and the king went privately to +another residence, saying to the soldiers about him, "Remain here, if +you like; but join me early in the morning." + +Now while they slept, the old man and his wife arose, and not finding +the king, put to death all the soldiers who had remained. In the +morning, when the murder was discovered, the emperor gave thanks to God +for his escape. "Oh," cried he, "if I had continued here, I should have +been destroyed. So the third maxim hath also preserved me." + +But the old man and his wife, with the whole of their family, were +crucified. The emperor retained the three maxims in memory during life, +and ended his days in peace. + + + + +XVII.--A LOAF FOR A DREAM. + + +There were once three friends who agreed to make a pilgrimage together. +It happened that their provisions fell short, and having but one loaf +between them, they were nearly famished. + +"Should this loaf," they said to each other, "be divided amongst us, +there will not be enough for any one. Let us then take counsel +together, and consider how the bread is to be disposed of." + +"Suppose we sleep upon the way," replied one of them; "and whosoever +hath the most wonderful dream shall possess the loaf." + +The other two acquiesced, and settled themselves to sleep. + +But he who gave the advice, arose while they were sleeping, and ate up +the bread, not leaving a single crumb for his companions. When he had +finished he awoke them. + +"Get up quickly," said he, "and tell us your dreams." + +"My friends," answered the first, "I have had a very marvellous vision. +A golden ladder reached up to heaven, by which angels ascended and +descended. They took my soul from my body, and conveyed it to that +blessed place where I beheld the Holy Trinity; and where I felt such an +overflow of joy, as eye hath not seen, nor ear heard. This is my dream." + +"And I," said the second, "beheld the devils with iron instruments, by +which they dragged my soul from the body, and plunging it into hell +flames, most grievously tormented me, saying, 'As long as God reigns in +heaven this will be your portion.'" + +"Now then," said the third, who had eaten the bread, "hear my dream. It +appeared as if an angel came and addressed me in the following manner: +'My friend, would you see what is become of your companions?' I answered, +'Yes, Lord. We have but one loaf among us, and I fear that they have run +off with it.' 'You are mistaken,' he rejoined, 'it lies beside us; +follow me.' He immediately led me to the gate of heaven, and by his +command I put in my head and saw you; and I thought that you were +snatched up into heaven and sat upon a throne of gold, while rich +wines and delicate meats stood around you. Then said the angel, 'Your +companion, you see, has an abundance of good things, and dwells in all +pleasures. There he will remain for ever; for he has entered a celestial +kingdom, and cannot return. Come now where your other associate is +placed.' I followed, and he led me to hell-gates, where I beheld you in +torment, as you just now said. Yet they furnished you, even there, with +bread and wine in abundance. I expressed my sorrow at seeing you in +misery, and you replied, 'As long as God reigns in heaven here I must +remain, for I have merited it. Do you then rise up quickly, and eat all +the bread, since you will see neither me nor my companion again.' I +complied with your wishes; arose, and ate the bread." + + + + +XVIII.--LOWER THAN THE BEASTS. + + +In the reign of a certain king there lived a proud and oppressive +seneschal. Now near the royal palace was a forest well stocked with +game; and by the direction of this person various pits were dug there, +and covered with leaves, for the purpose of entrapping the beasts. It +happened that the seneschal himself went into this forest, and with much +exaltation of heart exclaimed internally, "Lives there a being in the +empire more powerful than I am?" This braggart thought was scarcely +formed, ere he rode upon one of his own pitfalls, and immediately +disappeared. + +The same day had been taken a lion, a monkey, and a serpent. Terrified +at the situation into which fate had thrown him, he cried out lustily; +and his noise awoke a poor man called Guido, who had come with his ass +into that forest for firewood, by the sale of which he got his bread. +Hastening to the mouth of the pit, and finding the cause of the noise, +he was promised great wealth if he would lift the seneschal out. + +"My friend," answered Guido, "I have no means of obtaining a livelihood +except by the faggots which I collect; if I neglect this for one day, I +shall starve." + +The seneschal renewed his promises of enriching him. Guido went back to +the city, and returned with a long cord, which he let down into the pit, +and bade the seneschal bind it round his waist. But before he could do +so, the lion leaped forward, and seizing upon the cord, was drawn up in +his stead. Immediately, in high glee, the beast ran off into the wood. +The rope again descended, and the monkey having noticed the success of +the lion, vaulted above the man's head, and shaking the cord, was in +like manner set at liberty. Without staying to return thanks, he hurried +off to his haunts. A third time the cord was let down, and the serpent +twining around it, was drawn up, and escaped. + +"O my good friend," said the seneschal, "the beasts are gone, now draw +me up quickly, I pray you." + +Guido complied, and afterwards succeeded in drawing up his horse, which +the seneschal instantly mounted and rode back to the palace. + +Guido returned home; and his wife observing that he had come without +wood, was very dejected, and inquired the cause. He related what had +occurred, and the riches he was to receive for his service. The wife's +countenance brightened, and early in the morning she posted off her +husband to the palace. But the seneschal denied all knowledge of him, +and ordered him to be whipped for his presumption. The porter executed +the directions, and beat him so severely that he left him half dead. As +soon as Guido's wife understood this, she saddled their ass, and brought +him home. The sickness which ensued, consumed the whole of their little +property; but as soon as he had recovered, he went back to his usual +occupation in the wood. + +Whilst he was thus employed, he saw afar off ten asses laden with packs, +and a lion by the last of them, coming along the path. On looking +narrowly at this beast, he remembered that it was the same which he had +freed from its imprisonment in the pit. The lion signified with his foot +that he should take the loaded asses, and go home. This Guido did, and +the lion followed. When he had come to his own door, the noble beast +fawned upon him, and wagging his tail as if in triumph, ran back to the +woods. Guido caused proclamation to be made in different churches,[7] +that if any asses had been lost, the owners should come to him; but no +one appearing to demand them, he opened the packages, and to his great +joy discovered them full of money. + +On the second day Guido returned to the forest, but forgot an iron +instrument to cleave the wood. He looked up, and saw the monkey whom he +had set free; and the animal, by help of teeth and nails, worked for +him. Guido then loaded his asses and went home. + +The next day he renewed his visit to the forest; and sitting down to +prepare his axe, discerned the serpent, whose escape he had aided, +carrying a stone in its mouth of three colours; the one white, another +black, and the third red. It opened its mouth and let the stone fall +into Guido's lap. Having done this, it departed. Guido took the stone to +a skilful lapidary, who had no sooner inspected it than he knew its +virtues, and would willingly have paid him a hundred florins for it. But +Guido refused; and by means of that singular stone, obtained great +wealth, and was promoted to a military command. + +The emperor having heard of the extraordinary qualities which it +possessed, desired to see it. Guido went accordingly; and the emperor +was so struck with its uncommon beauty, that he wished to purchase it at +any rate; and threatened, if Guido refused compliance, to banish him +the kingdom. + +"My lord," answered he, "I will sell the stone; but let me say one +thing--if the price be not given, it shall be presently restored to me." + +He demanded three hundred florins, and then taking it from a small +coffer, put it into the emperor's hands. Full of admiration, he +exclaimed, "Tell me where you procured this beautiful stone?" + +This he did; and related from the beginning the seneschal's accident and +subsequent ingratitude. He told how severely he had been whipped by his +command; and the benefits he had received from the lion, the monkey, and +serpent. + +Much moved at the recital, the emperor sent for the seneschal, and said, +"What is this I hear of thee?" He was unable to reply. "O wretch!" +continued the emperor--"monster of ingratitude! Guido liberated thee from +the most imminent danger, and for this thou hast nearly destroyed him. +Dost thou see how even irrational things have rendered him good for the +service he performed? but thou hast returned evil for good. Therefore I +deprive thee of thy dignity, which I will bestow upon Guido; and I +further adjudge you to be hung on a cross." This decree infinitely +rejoiced the noblemen of the empire; and Guido, full of honours and +years, ended his days in peace. + + + + +XIX.--OF REAL FRIENDSHIP. + + +A certain king had an only son whom he much loved. The young man was +desirous of travelling, and obtained his father's leave to travel. After +an absence of seven years he returned, and his father, overjoyed at his +arrival, asked what friends he had made. "Three," said the son, "the +first of whom I love more than myself; the second, as much as myself; +and the third, little or nothing." + +"You say well," returned the father; "but it is a good thing to prove +them before you need their help. Therefore kill a pig, put it into a +sack, and go at night to the house of him whom you love best, and say +that you have accidentally killed a man, and if the body should be found +I shall condemn you to an ignominious death. Intreat him if he ever +loved you, to give his help in this extremity." The son did so; and the +friend answered, "Since you have rashly destroyed a man, you must needs +be crucified. Now because you were my friend, I will bestow upon you +three or four ells of cloth to wrap your body in." + +The youth hearing this, went in much indignation to the second of his +friends, and told the same story. He received him like the first, and +said, "Do you believe me mad, that I should expose myself to such peril? +But since I have called you my friend, I will accompany you to the +cross, and console you as much as possible upon the way." + +This liberal proposal not meeting the prince's approbation, he went to +the third, and said, "I am ashamed to speak what I have done; but alas! +I have accidentally slain a man." "My friend," answered the other, "I +will readily lay down my life in your defence; and should you be +condemned to expiate your misfortune on the cross, I will be crucified +either for you or with you." _This_ man, therefore, proved that he was +his friend. + + + + +XX.--ROYAL BOUNTY. + + +A king issued a proclamation, that whosoever would come to him should +obtain all they asked. The noble and the rich desired dukedoms, or +counties, or knighthood; and some treasures of silver and gold. But +whatsoever they desired they had. Then came the poor and the simple, +and solicited a like boon. + +"Ye come late," said the king, "the noble and the rich have already +been, and have carried away all I possess." This reply troubled them +exceedingly; and the king, moved by their concern, said, "My friends, +though I have given away all my wealth, I have still the sovereign +power; no one asked for that. I appoint you, therefore, to be their +judges and masters." + +When this came to the ears of the rich, they were extremely disturbed, +and said to the king, "My lord, we are greatly troubled at your +appointing these poor wretches our rulers; it were better for us to die +than admit such servitude." + +"Sirs," answered the king, "I do you no wrong: whatever you asked I +gave; insomuch that nothing remains to me but the supreme power. +Nevertheless, I will give you counsel. Whosoever of you has enough to +support life, let him bestow the superfluity upon these poor people. +They will then live honestly and comfortably, and upon these conditions +I will resume the sovereignty and keep it, while you avoid the servitude +you fear." And thus it was done. + + + + +XXI.--WILY BEGUILED. + + +A thief went one night to the house of a rich man, and scaling the roof, +peeped through a hole to see whether any part of the family were yet +stirring. The master of the house, suspecting something, said secretly +to his wife, "Ask me in a loud voice how I got my property, and do not +stop until I bid you." + +The woman complied, and began to shout, "My dear husband, pray tell me, +since you never were a merchant, how you came by all the wealth you +have." + +"My love," answered her husband, "do not ask such foolish questions." + +But she persisted in her inquiries; and at length, as if overcome by her +urgency, he said, "Keep what I am going to tell you a secret, and you +shall know." + +"Oh! trust me." + +"Well, then, you must know that I was a thief, and got what I now enjoy +by nightly depredations." + +"It is strange," said the wife, "that you were never taken." + +"Why," he replied, "my master, who was a skilful clerk, taught me a +particular word, which, when I went on the tops of people's houses, I +pronounced, and thus escaped detection." + +"Tell me, I conjure you," returned the lady, "what that powerful word +was." + +"Hear, then; but never mention it again, or we shall lose all our +property." + +"Be sure of that," said the lady; "it shall never be repeated." + +"It was--is there no one within hearing?--the mighty word was 'FALSE.'" + +The lady, apparently quite satisfied, fell asleep; and her husband +feigned it. He snored lustily, and the thief above, who had heard their +conversation with much pleasure, aided by the light of the moon, +descended, repeating seven times the cabalistic sound. But being too +much occupied with the charm to mind his footing, he stepped through the +window into the house; and in the fall dislocated his leg and arm, and +lay half dead upon the floor. The owner of the mansion, hearing the +noise, and well knowing the reason, though he pretended ignorance, asked +"What was the matter?" "Oh!" groaned the suffering thief, "_False_ +falls." In the morning he was taken before the judge, and afterwards +suspended on a cross. + + + + +XXII.--THE BASILISK. + + +Alexander the Great was lord of the whole world. He once collected a +large army, and besieged a certain city, around which many knights and +others were killed without any visible wound. Much surprised at this, he +called together his philosophers, and said, "My masters, how is this? My +soldiers die, and there is no apparent wound!" "No wonder," replied +they; "under the walls of the city is a basilisk, whose look infects +your soldiers, and they die of the pestilence it creates." "And what +remedy is there for this?" said the king. + +"Place a glass in a high place between the army and the wall under which +the basilisk cowers; and no sooner shall he behold it, than his own +figure, reflected in the mirror, shall return the poison upon himself, +and kill him." Alexander took their advice, and thus saved his +followers. + + +APPLICATION. + +My beloved, look into the glass of _reflection_, and by remembrance of +human frailty destroy the vices which time breeds. + + + + +XXIII.--THE TRUMP OF DEATH. + + +A king made a law, by which whosoever was suddenly to be put to death, +in the morning, before sunrise should be saluted with songs and +trumpets; and, arrayed in black garments, should receive judgment. This +king made a great feast; and convoked all the nobles of his kingdom, who +appeared accordingly. The most skilful musicians were assembled, and +there was much sweet melody. + +But the king was discontented and out of humour; his countenance +expressed intense sorrow, and sighs and groans rose from his heart. The +courtiers were all amazed; but none dared ask the cause of his sadness. +At last, the king's brother whispered to him the surprise of his guests, +and intreated that he might understand the cause of his grief. "Go home +now," answered the king; "to-morrow you shall know." This was done. + +Early in the morning the king caused the trumpets to sound before his +brother's house, and the guards to bring him to the court. The brother, +greatly alarmed at the sounding of the trumpets, arose, and put on +black. When he came before the king, the king commanded a deep pit to +be dug, and a rotten chair, with four decayed feet, to be slightly +suspended over it. In this chair he made his brother sit; above his head +he caused a sword to hang, attached to one silk thread; and four men, +each armed with a very sharp sword, to stand near him, one before and +one behind; a third on the right hand, and the fourth on the left. When +they were thus placed, the king said, "The moment I give the word, +strike him to the heart." + +Trumpets, and all other kind of musical instruments, were brought; and a +table, covered with various dishes, was set before him. "My dear +brother," said the king, "what is the cause of your sorrow? Here are the +greatest delicacies, the most enrapturing harmony; why do you not +rejoice?" + +"How can I rejoice?" answered he. "In the morning, trumpets sounded for +my death; and I am now placed upon a frail chair, in which, if I move +ever so little, I shall probably be thrown upon the pointed sword +beneath. If I raise my head, the weapon above will pierce to my brain. +Besides this, the four torturers around stand ready to kill me at your +bidding. These things considered, were I lord of the universe I could +not rejoice." + +"Now, then," answered the king, "I will reply to your question of +yesterday. I am, on my throne, as you on that frail chair. For my body +is its emblem, supported by four decayed feet, that is, by the four +elements. The pit below me is hell. Above my head is the sword of divine +justice, ready to take life from my body. Before me is the sword of +death; behind, the sword of sin, ready to accuse me at the tribunal of +God. The weapon on the right hand is the devil; and that on the left, is +the worms which after death shall gnaw my body. And, considering all +these circumstances, how can _I_ rejoice? If you to-day feared me, who +am mortal, how much more ought I to dread my Creator and my Redeemer, +our Lord Jesus Christ? Go, dearest brother, and be careful that you do +not again ask such questions." + +The brother rose from his unpleasant seat, and rendering thanks to the +king for the lesson he had given him, firmly resolved to amend his life. +All who were present commended the ingenuity of the royal reproof. + + + + +XXIV.--ALEXANDER AND THE PIRATE. + + +Augustine tells us in his book, "De Civitate Dei," that Diomedes, in a +piratical galley, for a long time infested the sea, plundering and +sinking many ships. Being captured by command of Alexander, before whom +he was brought, the king inquired how he dared to molest the seas. "How +darest _thou_," replied he, "molest the earth? Because I am master only +of a single galley, I am termed a robber; but you, who oppress the world +with huge squadrons, are called a king and a conqueror. Would my fortune +change I might become better; but as you are the more fortunate, so +much are you the worse." "I will change thy fortune," said Alexander, +"lest fortune should be blamed by thy malignity." Thus he became rich; +and from a robber was made a prince and a dispenser of justice. + + + + +XXV.--A TALE OF A PENNY. + + +There was an emperor whose porter was very shrewd. He earnestly besought +his master that he might have the custody of a city for a single month, +and receive, by way of tax, one penny from every crook-backed, one-eyed, +scabby, leprous, or ruptured person. The emperor admitted his request, +and confirmed the gift under his own seal. + +Accordingly, the porter was installed in his office; and as the people +entered the city he took note of their defects, and charged them in +accordance with the grant. It happened that a hunch-backed fellow one +day entered, and the porter made his demand. Hunch-back protested that +he would pay nothing. + +The porter immediately laid hands upon him, and accidentally raising his +cap, discovered that he was _one-eyed_ also. He demanded two pennies +forthwith. + +The other still more vehemently opposed, and would have fled; but the +porter catching hold of his head, the cap came off, and disclosed a bald +_scab_; whereupon he required three pennies. + +Hunch-back, very much enraged, persisted in his refusal, and began to +struggle with the porter. This caused an exposure of his arms, by which +it became manifest that he was _leprous_. The fourth penny was therefore +laid claim to; and the scuffle continuing, revealed a _rupture_, which +made a fifth. + +Thus, a fellow unjustly refusing to pay a rightful demand of _one_ +penny, was necessitated, much against his inclination, to pay _five_. + + + + +XXVI.--OF AVOIDING IMPRECATIONS. + + +Gervase of Tilbury relates a very remarkable occurrence, but at the same +time full of excellent caution and prudent exhortation. + +During the reign of the Roman emperor Otto, there was, in the bishopric +of Girona, in Catalonia, a very high mountain, whose ascent was +extremely arduous, and, except in one place, inaccessible. On the summit +was an unfathomable lake of black water. Here also stood, as it is +reported, a palace of demons, with a large gate, continually closed; but +the palace itself, as well as its inhabitants, existed in invisibility. +If any one cast a stone or other hard substance into this lake, the +demons exhibited their anger by furious storms. In one part of the +mountain was perpetual snow and ice, with abundance of crystal. At its +foot flowed a river, whose sands were of gold; and the precious metal +thus obtained, was denominated, by the vulgar, its _cloak_. The mountain +itself and the parts adjacent, furnished silver; and its inexhaustible +fertility was not the least surprising. + +Not far from hence lived a certain farmer, who was much occupied with +domestic matters, and troubled exceedingly by the incessant squalling of +his little girl; insomuch, that at length wearied out by the torment, +in a moment of fretfulness he wished his infant at the devil. This +incautious desire was scarcely uttered, ere the girl was seized by an +invisible hand, and carried off. Seven years afterwards, a person +journeying at the foot of the mountain near the farmer's dwelling, +distinguished a man hurrying along at a prodigious rate, and uttering +the most doleful complaints. He stopped to inquire the occasion; and +was told, that for the space of seven years last passed, he had been +committed to the custody of the demons upon that mountain, who daily +made use of him as of a chariot, in consequence of an unwary exclamation +to that effect. The traveller startled at an assertion so extraordinary, +and a little incredulous, was informed that his neighbour had suffered +in a similar degree; for that having hastily committed his daughter to +their power, they had instantly borne her off. He added, that the +demons, weary of instructing the girl, would willingly restore her, +provided the father presented himself on the mountain and there received +her. + +The auditor, thunder-struck at this communication, doubted whether he +should conceal things so incredible, or relate them as he had heard. He +determined, at last, to declare the girl's situation to her father; and +hastening, accordingly, found him still bewailing the lengthened absence +of his daughter. Ascertaining the cause, he went on to state what he had +heard from the man whom the devils used as a chariot. "Therefore," said +he, "I recommend you, attesting the divine name, to demand of these +devils the restitution of your daughter." Amazed at what was imparted to +him, the father deliberated upon the best method of proceeding; and +finally, pursued the counsel of the traveller. Ascending the mountain, +he passed forward to the lake, and adjured the demons to restore the +girl whom his folly had committed to them. Suddenly a violent blast +swept by him, and a girl of lofty stature stood in his presence. Her +eyes were wild and wandering, and her bones and sinews were scarcely +covered with skin. Her horrible countenance discovered no sign of +sensibility; and, ignorant of all language, she scarcely could be +acknowledged for a human being. The father, wondering at her strange +appearance, and doubtful whether she should be taken to his own home or +not, posted to the bishop of Girona, and with a sorrowful aspect +detailed what had befallen him; at the same time requesting his advice. +The bishop, as a religious man, and one entrusted with a charge of so +much importance, narrated every circumstance respecting the girl to his +diocese. He warned them against rashly committing their fortunes to the +power of concealed demons; and showed that our adversary the devil, as a +raging lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour; that he will slay +those who are given to him, and hold them in eternal bonds. + +The man who was used by the devils as a chariot, a long time remained in +this miserable situation. But his subsequent faith and discretion +emancipated him. He stated that near the above-mentioned place there was +an extensive subterranean palace, whose entrance was by a single gate, +enveloped in the thickest darkness. Through this portal the devils, who +had been on embassies to various parts of the world, returned, and +communicated to their fellows what they had done. No one could tell of +what the palace was constructed, save themselves, and those who passed +under their yoke to eternal damnation. From all which, my beloved, we +may gather the dangers we are exposed to, and how cautious we should be +of invoking the devil to our assistance, as well as of committing our +family to his power. Let us guard our hearts, and beware that he catch +not up the sinful soul, and plunge it into the lake of everlasting +misery; where there is snow and ice unthawed; crystal, that reflects the +awakened and agonized conscience perpetually burning with immortal fire. + + + + +XXVII.--A VERSE EXERCISE. + + +Alexander had an only son called Celestinus, whom he loved with the +utmost tenderness. He desired to have him well instructed; and sending +for a certain philosopher, said, "Sir, instruct my son, and I will pay +you bountifully." The philosopher agreed, and took the boy home with +him. He diligently performed his duty; and it happened, that one day +entering a meadow with his pupil, they saw a horse lying on the ground, +grievously affected with the mange. Near the animal two sheep were tied +together, which busily cropped the grass that grew around them. It so +chanced that the sheep were on each side of the horse, and the cord with +which they were bound passed over his back, and chafing the sores, +galled him exceedingly. Disturbed by this, he got up; but the cord, then +loaded with the weight of the sheep, afflicted him more and more; and +filled with fury, he began to run off at a great speed, dragging along +the unfortunate sheep. And in equal proportion to their resistance was +the increase of the horse's suffering, for the cord, having worn itself +into a hollow, sunk, at every struggle, deeper into the wound. + +Adjoining the meadow was the house of a miller, toward which the horse, +impelled by the anguish of his wound, galloped, and entered, with the +sheep hanging as we have said. The house was then unoccupied; but there +was a fire burning upon the hearth; and the horse plunging and striking +his hoofs, so scattered the fire, that the flame caught hold of the +building, and burnt all to ashes, together with the horse and the sheep. +"Young man," said the preceptor to his pupil, "you have witnessed the +beginning, the middle, and the end of this incident: make me some +correct verses upon it; and show me why the house was burnt. Unless you +do this, I promise I will punish you severely." + +Celestinus, during the absence of his master, applied himself diligently +to study, but he was unable to do his task. This much troubled him; and +the devil, ever on the alert, met him in the likeness of a man, and +said, "My son, what has made you so sorrowful?" + +_Celest._ "Never mind; it is no use telling you." + +_Devil._ "You know not that; tell me, and I will help you." + + +_Celest._ "I am charged, under a heavy punishment, to make some verses +about a scabby horse and two sheep, and I don't know how." + +_Devil._ "Young man, I am the devil in a human form, and the best poet +going; care nothing about your master, but promise to serve me +faithfully, and I will compose such delectable verses for you that they +shall excel those of your pedagogue himself." + +Celestinus, tempted by this insidious proposal, gave his word to serve +him faithfully if he fulfilled his engagement. + +The devil then produced the following verses:-- + + Bound by a thong, that passed along + A horse's mangy hide; + Two sheep there lay, as I you say, + One upon either side. + + The steed uprose, and upward goes + Each sheep with dangling breech; + Borne by the horse's rapid course, + The miller's hut they reach. + + Scattering the fire, with reckless ire, + The rafters caught the flame; + And bleating breed and scabby steed + Were roasted in the same. + + Now had that wight, that miller hight, + Vouchsafed his house to keep; + Ere he returned, it had not burned, + Nor burned his horse and sheep.[8] + +The boy, made happy by the present, returned home. + +_Master._ "My child, have you stolen your verses, or made them?" + +_Celest._ "I made them, sir." + +He then read what we have given above; and the master, struck with the +greatest astonishment at their uncommon beauty, exclaimed, "My dear boy, +tell me if any one made these verses for you?" + +_Celest._ "No, sir; no one did." + +_Master._ "Unless you tell me the truth, I will flog you till the blood +run." + +The lad, fearful of what might follow, declared all that occurred, and +how he had bound himself to the devil. The preceptor, grieved at the +communication, induced the youth to confess himself, and renounce this +fearful confederacy. When this was done he became a holy man; and after +a well-spent life, gave up his soul to God. + + + + +XXVIII.--BRED IN THE BONE. + + +There reigned some time in Rome a wise and mighty emperor, named Anselm, +who did bear in his arms a shield of silver with five red roses. This +emperor had three sons, whom he loved much. He had also continual war +with the king of Egypt, in which war he lost all his temporal goods +except a precious tree. It fortuned after on a day that he gave +battle to the same king of Egypt, wherein he was grievously wounded; +nevertheless, he obtained the victory, notwithstanding he had his deadly +wound. Wherefore, while he lay at point of death, he called unto his +eldest son, and said: "My dear and well-beloved son, all my temporal +riches are spent, and almost nothing is left me but a precious tree, the +which stands in the midst of my empire. I give to thee all that is under +the earth and above the earth of the same tree." "O my reverend +father," quoth he, "I thank you much." + +Then said the emperor, "Call to me my second son." Anon the eldest son, +greatly joying of his father's gift, called in his brother. And when he +came, the emperor said, "My dear son, I may not make my testament, +forasmuch as I have spent all my goods, except a tree which stands in +the midst of mine empire, of the which tree, I bequeath to thee all that +is great and small." Then answered he and said, "My reverend father, I +thank you much." + +Then said the emperor, "Call to me my third son." And so it was done. +And when he was come the emperor said, "My dear son, I must die of these +wounds, and I have only a precious tree, of which I have given thy +brethren their portion, and to thee I bequeath thy portion; for I will +that thou have of the said tree all that is wet and dry." Then said his +son, "Father, I thank you." + +Soon after the emperor had made his bequest, he died. And the eldest son +took possession of the tree. Now when the second son heard this, he came +to him, saying, "My brother, by what law or title occupy you this tree?" +"Dear brother," quoth he, "I occupy it by this title: my father gave me +all that is under the earth, and above of the said tree, by reason +thereof the tree is mine." "Unknowing to thee," quoth the second brother, +"he gave unto me all that is great and small of the said tree, and +therefore I have as great right in the tree as you." This hearing, the +third son he came to them and said, "My well-beloved brethren, it +behoveth you not to strive for this tree, for I have as much right in +the tree as ye, for by the law ye wot that the last will and testament +ought to stand, for of truth he gave me of the said tree all that is wet +and dry, and therefore the tree by right is mine; but forasmuch as your +words are of great force and mine also, my counsel is that we be judged +by reason, for it is not good nor commendable that strife or dissension +should be among us. Here beside dwelleth a king full of reason; therefore, +to avoid strife, let us go to him, and each of us lay his right before +him, and as he shall judge, let us stand to his judgment." Then said his +brethren, "Thy counsel is good." Wherefore they went all three unto the +king of reason, and each of them severally showeth forth his right unto +him, as it is said before. + +When the king had heard the titles, he rehearsed them all again +severally, first saying to the eldest son thus: "You say," quoth the +king, "that your father gave you all that is under the earth and above +the earth of the said tree. And to the second brother he bequeathed all +that is great and small of that tree. And to the third brother he gave +all that is wet and dry." + +And with that he laid the law to them, and said that this will ought to +stand. + +"Now, my dear friends, briefly I shall satisfy all your requests;" and +when he had thus said, he turned him unto the eldest brother, saying, +"My dear friend, if you list to abide the judgment of right, it behoveth +you to be letten blood of the right arm." "My lord," quoth he, "your +will shall be done." Then the king called for a discreet physician, +commanding him to let him blood. + +When the eldest son was letten blood, the king said unto them all three, +"My dear friends, where is your father buried?" Then answered they, and +said, "Forsooth, my lord, in such a place." Anon the king commanded to +dig in the ground for the body, and to take a bone out of his breast, +and to bury the body again: and so it was done. And when the bone was +taken out, the king commanded that it should be laid in the blood of the +elder brother, and it should lie till it had received kindly the blood, +and then to be laid in the sun and dried, and after that it should +be washed with clear water. His servants fulfilled all that he had +commanded: and when they began to wash, the blood vanished clean away; +when the king saw this, he said to the second son, "It behoveth that +thou be letten blood, as thy brother was." Then said he, "My lord's will +shall be fulfilled," and anon he was done unto like as his brother was +in all things, and when they began to wash the bone, the blood vanished +away. Then said the king to the third son, "It behoveth thee to be +letten blood likewise." He answered and said, "My lord, it pleaseth me +well so to be." When the youngest brother was letten blood, and done +unto in all things as the two brethren were before, then the king's +servants began to wash the bone, but neither for washing nor rubbing +might they do away the blood of the bone, but it ever appeared bloody: +when the king saw this, he said, "It appeareth openly now that this +blood is of the nature of the bone, thou art his true son, and the other +two are bastards. I judge thee the tree for evermore." + + + + +XXIX.--FULGENTIUS. + + +In Rome some time dwelt a mighty emperor named Martin, which for entire +affection kept with him his brother's son, whom men called Fulgentius. +With this Martin dwelt also a knight that was steward of the empire, and +uncle unto the emperor, which envied this Fulgentius, studying day and +night how he might bring the emperor and this youth at debate. Wherefore +the steward on a day went to the emperor, and said, "My lord," quoth he, +"I that am your true servant, am bound in duty to warn your highness, if +I hear anything that toucheth your honour, wherefore I have such things +that I must needs utter it in secret to your majesty between us two." +Then said the emperor, "Good friend, say on what thee list." + +"My most dear lord," quoth the steward, "Fulgentius, your cousin and +your nigh kinsman, hath defamed you wonderfully and shamefully throughout +all your whole empire, saying that your breath stinketh, and that it is +death to him to serve your cup." Then the emperor was grievously +displeased, and almost beside himself for anger, and said unto him thus: +"I pray thee, good friend, tell me the very truth, if that my breath +stinketh as he saith?" "My lord," quoth the steward, "ye may believe +me, I never perceived a sweeter breath in my days than yours is." +"Then," said the emperor, "I pray thee, good friend, tell me how I may +bring this thing to good proof." + +The steward answered and said: "My lord," quoth he, "ye shall right well +understand the truth; for to-morrow next when he serveth you of your cup, +ye shall see that he will turn away his face from you, because of your +breath, and this is the most certain proof that may be had of this +thing." "Verily," quoth the emperor, "a truer proof cannot be had of +this thing." Therefore anon, when the steward heard this, he went +straight to Fulgentius, and took him aside, saying thus: "Dear friend, +thou art near kinsman and also nephew unto my lord the emperor, therefore +if thou wilt be thankful unto me, I will tell thee of a fault whereof my +lord the emperor complaineth oft, and thinks to put thee from him, +except it be the sooner amended, and that will be a great reproof to +thee." Then said this Fulgentius: "Ah, good sir, for his love that died +upon the cross, tell me why my lord is so sore moved with me, for I am +ready to amend my fault in all that I can or may, and for to be ruled by +your discreet counsel." + +"Thy breath," quoth the steward, "stinketh so sore, that his drink doth +him no good, so grievous unto him is the stinking breath of thy mouth." +Then said Fulgentius unto the steward: "Truly; that perceived I never +till now. But what think ye of my breath? I pray you tell me the very +truth." "Truly," quoth the steward, "it stinketh greatly and foul." And +this Fulgentius believed all that he had said, and was right sorrowful +in his mind, and prayed the steward of his counsel and help in this +woeful case. Then said the steward unto him, "If that thou wilt do my +counsel, I shall bring this matter to a good conclusion; wherefore do as +I shall tell thee. + +"I counsel thee for the best, and also warn thee that when thou servest +my lord the emperor of his cup, that thou turn thy face away from him, +so that he may not smell thy stinking breath, until the time that thou +hast provided thee of some remedy therefore." + +Then was Fulgentius right glad, and sware to him that he would do by his +counsel. + +Not long after it befell that this young man Fulgentius served his lord +as he was wont to do, and therewith suddenly he turned his face from the +lord the emperor, as the steward had taught him. + +And when the emperor perceived the avoiding of his head, he smote this +young Fulgentius on the breast with his foot, and said to him thus: "O +thou lewd varlet; now I see well it is true that I have heard of thee, +and therefore go thou anon out of my sight, that I may see thee no more +in this place." And with that this young Fulgentius wept full sore, and +avoided the place, and went out of his sight. + +And when this was done, the emperor called unto him his steward, and +said, "How may I rid this varlet from the world, that thus hath defamed +me?" "My most dear lord," quoth the steward, "right well you shall have +your intent. + +"For here beside, within these three miles, ye have brickmakers, which +daily make great fire, for to burn brick, and also they make lime; +therefore, my lord, send to them this night, charge them upon pain of +death, that whosoever cometh to them first in the morning, saying to +them thus, 'My lord commandeth them to fulfil his will,' that they take +him and cast him into the furnace and burn him: and this night command +you this Fulgentius, that he go early in the morning to your workmen, +and that he ask them whether they have fulfilled your will which they +were commanded or not; and then shall they, according to your +commandment, cast him into the fire, and thus shall he die an evil +death." + +"Surely," quoth the emperor, "thy counsel is good; therefore call to me +that varlet Fulgentius." And when the young man was come to the +emperor's presence, he said to him thus: "I charge thee upon pain of +death, that thou rise early in the morning, and go to the burners of +lime and brick, and that thou be with them early before the sun rise, +three miles from this house, and charge them in my behalf, that they +fulfil my commandment, or else they shall die a most shameful death." + +Then spake this Fulgentius: "My lord, if God send me my life, I shall +fulfil your will, were it that I go to the world's end." + +When Fulgentius had this charge, he could not sleep for thought, that he +must rise early to fulfil his lord's commandment. The emperor about +midnight sent a messenger on horseback unto his brickmakers, commanding, +that upon pain of death, that whosoever came to them first in the +morning, saying unto them (as is before rehearsed) they should take him +and bind him, and cast him into the fire, and burn him to the bare +bones. + +The brickmakers answered and said, it should be done. Then the messenger +returns home again, and told the emperor that his commandment should be +diligently fulfilled. + +Early in the morning following, Fulgentius arose and prepared him +towards his way, and as he went, he heard a bell ring to service, +wherefore he went to hear service, and after the end of service he fell +asleep, and there slept a long while so soundly, that the priest, nor +none other, might awake him. + +The steward desiring inwardly to hear of his death, about two of the +clock he went to the workmen, and said unto them thus: "Sirs," quoth he, +"have ye done the emperor's commandment or not?" + +The brickmakers answered him and said: "No, truly, we have not yet done +his commandment, but it shall be done," and with that they laid hands on +him. Then cried the steward, and said, "Good sirs, save my life, for the +emperor commanded that Fulgentius should be put to death." Then said +they, "The messenger told us not so, but he bade us, that whosoever came +first in the morning, saying, as you have said, that we should take him, +and cast him into the furnace, and burn him to ashes." And with that +they threw him into the fire. + +And when he was burnt, Fulgentius came to them and said, "Good sirs, +have you done my lord's commandment?" "Yea, soothly," said they, "and +therefore go ye again to the emperor, and tell him so." Then said +Fulgentius, "For Christ's love, tell me that commandment?" + +"We had in commandment," said they, "upon pain of death, that whosoever +came to us first in the morning, and said like as thou hast said, that +we should take him and cast him into the furnace. But before thee came +the steward and therefore on him have we fulfilled the emperor's +commandment; now he is burnt to the bare bones." + +When Fulgentius heard this, he thanked God that he had so preserved him +from death; therefore he took his leave of the workmen, and went again +to the palace. + +When the emperor saw him, he was almost distract of his wits for anger, +and thus he said, "Hast thou been with the brickmakers, and fulfilled my +commandment?" "Soothly, my gracious lord, I have been there, but ere I +am there, your commandment was fulfilled." "How may that be true," quoth +the emperor. + +"Forsooth," said Fulgentius, "the steward came to them afore me, and +said that I should have said, so they took him and threw him into the +furnace; and if I had come any earlier, so would they have done to me, +and therefore I thank God that he hath preserved me from death." + +Then said the emperor, "Tell me the truth of such questions as I shall +demand of thee." Then said Fulgentius to the emperor, "You never found +me in any falsehood, and therefore I greatly wonder why ye have ordained +such a death for me; for well ye know that I am your own brother's son." +Then said the emperor to Fulgentius: "It is no wonder, for that death I +ordained for thee, through counsel of the steward, because thou didst +defame me throughout all my empire, saying, that my breath did stink so +grievously, that it was death to thee, and in token thereof thou +turnedst away thy face when thou servedst me of my cup, and that I saw +with mine eyes; and for this cause I ordained for thee such a death; and +yet thou shalt die, except I hear a better excuse." + +Then answered Fulgentius, and said, "Ah, dear lord, if it might please +your highness for to hear me, I shall show you a subtle and deceitful +imagination." "Say on," quoth the emperor. + +"The steward," quoth Fulgentius, "that is now dead, came to me and said, +that ye told unto him that my breath did stink, and thereupon he +counselled me, that when I served you of your cup, I should turn my face +away; I take God to witness, I lie not." + +When the emperor heard this, he believed him, and said, "O my nephew, +now I see, through the right wise judgment of God, the steward is burnt, +and his own wickedness and envy is fallen on himself, for he ordained +this malice against thee, and therefore thou art much bound to Almighty +God that hath preserved thee from death." + + + + +XXX.--VENGEANCE DEFERRED. + + +A law was made at Rome, that no man should marry for beauty, but for +riches only; and that no woman should be united to a poor man, unless he +should by some means acquire wealth equal to her own. A certain poor +knight solicited the hand of a rich lady, but she reminded him of the +law, and desired him to use the best means of complying with it, in +order to effect their union. He departed in great sorrow; and after much +inquiry, was informed of a rich duke, who had been blind from the day of +his birth. Him he resolved to murder, and obtain his wealth; but found +that he was protected in the daytime by several armed domestics, and at +night by the vigilance of a faithful dog. He contrived, however, to kill +the dog with an arrow, and immediately afterwards the master; with whose +money he returned to the lady. He informed her that he had accomplished +his purpose; and being asked how this had been done in so short a space +of time, he told all that had happened. + +The lady desired, before the marriage should take place, that he would +go to the spot where the duke was buried, lay himself on his tomb, +listen to what he might hear, and then report it to her. The knight +armed himself, and went accordingly. In the middle of the night he heard +a voice saying, "O duke, that liest here, what askest thou that I can do +for thee?" The answer was, "O Jesus, thou upright judge, all that I +require is vengeance for my blood unjustly spilt." The voice rejoined, +"Thirty years from this time thy wish shall be fulfilled." The knight, +extremely terrified, returned with the news to the lady. She reflected +that thirty years were a long time, and resolved on the marriage. During +the whole thirty years the parties remained in perfect happiness. + +When the thirty years were nearly passed, the knight built a strong +castle, and over one of the gates, in a conspicuous place, caused the +following verses to be written-- + + "In my distress, religious aid I sought: + But my distress relieved, I held it nought. + The wolf was sick, a lamb he seemed to be; + But health restored, a wolf again was he." + +Interrogated as to the meaning of these enigmatical lines, the knight at +once explained them, by relating his own story, and added, that in eight +days time the thirty years would expire. + +He invited all his friends to a feast at that date, and when the day was +arrived, the guests placed at table, and the minstrels attuning their +instruments of music, a beautiful bird flew in at the window, and began +to sing with uncommon sweetness. The knight listened attentively and +said, "I fear this bird prognosticates misfortune." He then took his +bow, and shot an arrow into it, in presence of all the company. +Instantly the castle divided into two parts, and, with the knight, his +wife, and all who were in it, was precipitated to the lowest depth of +the infernal regions. The story adds, that on the spot where the castle +stood, there is now a spacious lake, on which no substance whatever +floats, but is immediately plunged to the bottom. + + + + +A DISCOURSE +OF THE +MOST FAMOUS DR. JOHN FAUSTUS, +OF WITTENBURG, IN GERMANY. +CONJURER AND NECROMANCER; + + +_WHEREIN IS DECLARED MANY STRANGE THINGS +THAT HIMSELF HAD SEEN AND DONE IN +THE EARTH AND AIR, WITH HIS +BRINGING UP, HIS TRAVELS, STUDIES, AND LAST END._ + + + + +THE FAMOUS HISTORY +OF +DOCTOR FAUSTUS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +_Of his Parentage and Birth._ + + +John Faustus, born in the town of Rhodes, being in the province of +Weimar, in Germany, his father a poor husbandman, and not able well to +bring him up, yet having an uncle at Wittenburg, a rich man, and without +issue, took this Faustus from his father, and made him his heir, +insomuch that his father was no more troubled with him, for he remained +with his uncle at Wittenburg, where he was kept at the university in the +same city, to study Divinity; but Faustus being of a naughty mind, and +otherwise addicted, plyed not his studies, but betook himself to other +exercises, which his uncle oftentimes hearing, rebuked him for it; as +Eli oftentimes rebuked his children for sinning against the Lord, even +so this good old man laboured to have Faustus apply his study to +Divinity, that he might come to the knowledge of God and his law. But it +is manifest that many virtuous parents have wicked children, as Cain, +Reuben, Absolom, and such like, have been to their parents. So Faustus +having godly parents, who seeing him to be of a toward wit, were +desirous to bring him up in those virtuous studies, namely, of Divinity; +but he gave himself secretly to necromancy, and conjuration, insomuch +that few or none could perceive his profession. + +But to the purpose, Faustus continued at study in the university, and +was by the rectors, and sixteen masters afterwards, examined how he had +profited in his studies, and being found by them, that none of his time +were able to argue with him in divinity, or for the excellency of his +wisdom to compare with him, with one consent they made him Doctor of +Divinity. But Doctor Faustus, within short time after he had obtained +his degree, fell into such fantasies, and deep cogitations, that he was +mocked of many, and of the most part of the students was called the +Speculator, and sometimes he would throw the Scriptures from him, as +though he had no care of his former profession, so that he began a most +ungodly life, as hereafter more at large may appear, for the old proverb +saith, "Who can hold what will away?" So, who can hold Faustus from the +devil, that seeks after him with all his endeavours; for he accompanied +himself with divers that were seen in those devilish arts, and that had +the Chaldean, Persian, Hebrew, Arabian, and Greek tongues, using +figures, characters, conjurations, incantations, with many other +ceremonies belonging to those infernal arts, as necromancy, charms, +soothsaying, witchcraft, enchantment, being delighted with their books, +words, and names so well, that he studied day and night therein, +insomuch that he could not abide to be called Doctor of Divinity, +but waxed a worldly man, and named himself an astrologian, and a +mathematician, and for a shadow sometimes a physician, and did great +cures, namely with herbs, roots, waters, drinks, receipts and glysters; +and without doubt he was passing wise and excellent perfect in Holy +Scripture. But he that knoweth his master's will, and doth it not, is +worthy to be beaten with many stripes. It is written, "No man can serve +two masters, and thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." But Faustus +threw all this in the wind, and made his soul of no estimation, +regarding more his worldly pleasures than the joys to come; therefore at +the day of judgment, there is no hope of his redemption. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_How Doctor Faustus began to practise his devilish Art, and how he +conjured the Devil, making him to appear, and meet him on the +morrow-morning at his own House._ + + +You have heard before that all Faustus's mind was to study the arts of +necromancy and conjuration, the which exercise he followed day and +night, and taking to him the wings of an eagle thought to fly over the +whole world, and to know the secrets of heaven and earth, for his +speculation was so wonderful, being expert in using his vocabula, +figures, characters, conjuration, and other ceremonial actions, that in +all haste he put in practice to bring the devil before him, and taking +his way to a thick wood near to Wittenburg, called in the German tongue, +Spisser Holt, that is in English, the Spisser's Wood, as Faustus would +oftentimes boast of it among the crew, being in jollity, he came into +the wood one evening into the cross-way, where he made with a wand a +circle in the dust, and within that many more circles and characters; +and thus he past away the time until it was nine or ten of the clock in +the night, then began Dr. Faustus to call on Mephistophiles the Spirit, +and to charge him in the name of Belzebub, to appear there presently, +without any long stay. + +Then presently the devil began so great a rumour in the wood, as if +heaven and earth would have come together, with wind, and the trees +bowed their tops to the ground, then fell the devil to roar, as if the +whole wood had been full of lions, and suddenly about the circle run +the devil, as if a thousand waggons had been running together on +paved-stones. After this, at the four corners of the wood it thundered +horribly, with such lightning, as the whole world to his seeming had +been on fire. Faustus all this while, half amazed at the devil's so long +tarrying, and doubting whether he were best to abide any more such +horrible conjurings, thought to leave his circle, and depart, whereupon +the devil made him such music of all sorts, as if the nymphs themselves +had been in place: whereat Faustus revived, and stood stoutly in his +circle, expecting his purpose, and began again to conjure the spirit +Mephistophiles in the name of the Prince of Devils, to appear in his +likeness: whereat suddenly, over his head hung hovering in the air a +mighty dragon; then calls Faustus again after his devilish manner, at +which there was a monstrous cry in the wood, as if hell had been open, +and all the tormented souls cursing their condition. + +Presently, not three fathoms above his head, fell a flame in manner of +lightning, and changed itself into a globe; yet Faustus feared it not, +but did persuade himself that the devil should give him his request +before he would leave. Oftentimes after to his companions he would boast +that he had the stoutest head under the cope of heaven at command. +Whereat they answered, They knew no stouter than the Pope or Emperor. +But Dr. Faustus said, "The head that is my servant, is above all upon +earth;" and repeated certain words out of St. Paul to the Ephesians, to +make his argument good, "The Prince of the World is upon earth and under +heaven." Well, let us come again to his conjuration, where we left him +at the fiery globe; Faustus, vexed at his spirit's so long tarrying, +used his charms, with full purpose not to depart before he had his +intent; and crying on Mephistophiles the spirit, suddenly the globe +opened, and sprung up in the height of a man, so burning a time, in the +end it converted to the shape of a fiery man. This pleasant beast ran +about the circle a great while, and lastly appeared in the manner of a +Gray Friar, asking Faustus what was his request. + +Faustus commanded, that the next morning at twelve of the clock, he +should appear to him at his house; but the devil would in no wise grant +it. Faustus began to conjure him again, in the name of Belzebub, that he +should fulfil his request; whereupon the spirit agreed, and so they +departed each on his way. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_The Conference of Doctor Faustus, with his Spirit Mephistophiles, the +Morning following at his own House._ + + +Dr. Faustus, having commanded the spirit to be with him, at his hour +appointed, he came and appeared in his chamber, demanding of Faustus +what his desire was. Then began Dr. Faustus anew with him, to conjure +him, That he would be obedient unto him, and to answer him certain +articles, to fulfil them in all points: + + 1. That the spirit would serve him, and be obedient unto him in + all things that he asked of him, from that hour until the hour of + his death. + + 2. Further, anything that he desired of him, he should bring him. + + 3. Also that in all Faustus's demands and interrogations, the + spirit should tell him nothing but that which was true. + +Hereupon the spirit answered, and laid his case forth, that he had no +such power of himself until he had first given his prince (that was +ruler over him) to understand thereof, and to know if he could obtain so +much of his lord: "Therefore speak farther, that I may do thy whole +desire to my prince; for it is not in my power to fulfil without his +leave." + +"Show me the cause why?" said Faustus. + +The spirit answered Faustus: "Thou shalt understand, that with us it is +even as well a kingdom as with you on earth; yea, we have our rulers and +servants, as I myself am one; and we have our whole number the legion, +for although that Lucifer is thrust and fallen out of heaven, through +his pride and high mind, yet he hath notwithstanding a legion of devils +at his command, that we call the Oriental Princes, for his power is +infinite; also there is a power in meridie, in septentrio, in occidente, +and for that Lucifer hath his kingdom under heaven; we must change and +give ourselves to men, to serve them at their pleasure. It is also +certain, we have not as yet opened to any man the truth of our dwelling, +neither of our ruling, neither what our power is; neither have we given +any man any gift, or learned him anything, except he promise to be +ours." + +Dr. Faustus upon this arose where he sat, and said, "I will have my +request, and yet I will not be damned." + +The spirit answered: "Then shalt thou want thy desire, and yet art thou +mine notwithstanding; if any men would detain thee, it is but in vain, +for thy infidelity hath confounded thee." + +Hereupon spake Faustus: "Get thee hence from me, and take St. Valentine's +farewell, and Crisman with thee; yet I conjure thee, that thou be here +at evening, and bethink thyself of what I have asked thee; ask thy +prince's counsel therein." + +Mephistophiles the spirit, thus answered, vanished away, leaving Faustus +in his study, where he sat pondering with himself how he might obtain +his request of the devil, without the loss of his soul; yet he was fully +resolved in himself, rather than to want his pleasure, to do what the +spirit and his lord should condition upon. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_The second Time of the Spirit's appearing to Faustus at his House, and +their Parley._ + + +Faustus continued in his devilish cogitations, never moving out of the +place where the spirit left him, such was his fervent love to the devil; +the night approaching, this swift-flying spirit appeared to Faustus, +offering himself with all submission to his service, with full authority +from his prince, to do whatsoever he would request; if so be Faustus +would promise to be his. "This answer I bring thee, an answer must thou +make by me again: yet I will hear what is thy desire, because thou hast +sworn to me to be here at this time." + +Dr. Faustus gave him this answer, though faintly for his soul's sake, +that his request was none other, but to become a devil, or at least a +limb of him, and that the spirit should agree to these articles +following: + + 1. That he might be a spirit in shape and quality. + + 2. That Mephistophiles should be his servant at his command. + + 3. That Mephistophiles should bring him anything, and do for him + whatsoever he desired. + + 4. That all times he would be in the house invisible to all men, + except only to himself, and at his command to show himself. + + 5. That Mephistophiles should at all times appear at his command, + in what form or shape soever he would. + +Upon these points the spirit answered Dr. Faustus. That all this should +be granted him, and fulfilled, and more if he would agree unto him upon +certain articles as followeth: + + 1. That Dr. Faustus should give himself to the lord Lucifer, body + and soul. + + 2. For confirmation of the same, he should make him a writing + written in his own blood. + + 3. That he would be an enemy to all Christian people. + + 4. That he would deny the Christian belief. + + 5. That he let not any man change his opinion, if so be any man + should go about to dissuade or withdraw him from it. + +Farther the spirit promised Faustus to give him certain years to live +in health and pleasure, and when such years were expired, that then +Faustus would be fetched away; and if he would hold these articles and +conditions, that then he should have whatsoever his heart would wish or +desire; and that Faustus should quickly perceive himself to be a spirit +in all manner of actions whatsoever. Hereupon Dr. Faustus's mind was +inflamed, that he forgot his soul, and promises Mephistophiles to hold +all things as he mentioned them: he thought the devil was not so black +as they used to paint him, nor hell so hot as the people say. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_The third Parley between Dr. Faustus and Mephistophiles about a +Conclusion._ + + +After Dr. Faustus had made his promise to the devil, in the morning +betimes he called the spirit before him, and commanded him, that he +should always come to him like a friar, after the order of St. Francis, +with a bell in his hand like St. Anthony, and to ring it once or twice +before he appeared, that he might know of his certain coming: then +Faustus demanded of his spirit what was his name? + +The spirit answered, "My name is as thou sayest, Mephistophiles, and I +am a prince, but a servant to Lucifer, and all the circuit from +septentrio to the meridian, I rule under him." + +Even at these words was this wicked wretch Faustus inflamed, to hear +himself to have gotten so great a potentate to serve him, forgetting the +Lord his Maker, and Christ his Redeemer, he became an enemy to all +mankind; yea, worse than the giants, whom the poets said to climb the +hills to make war with the gods, not unlike the enemy of God and Christ, +that for his pride was cast into hell; so likewise Faustus forgot, that +high climbers catch the greatest falls, and sweet meats have oft sourest +sauce. + +After a while Faustus promised Mephistophiles to write and make his +obligation with all assurance of the articles in the chapter before +rehearsed: a pitiful case, Christian reader, for certainly this letter +or obligation was found in his house, after his most lamentable end, +with all the rest of his damnable practices used in his whole life. + +Wherefore I wish all Christians to take example by this wicked doctor, +and to be comforted in Christ, concerning themselves with that vocation +whereunto it has pleased God to call them, and not so esteem the vain +delights of this life as did this unhappy Faustus in giving his soul to +the devil: and to confirm it the more assuredly, he took a small +penknife, and pricked a vein in his left hand, and for certainty +thereupon were seen on his hand these words written, as if they had been +written in his own blood, O HOMO FUGE; whereat the spirit vanished, but +Faustus continued in his damnable mind. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_How Dr. Faustus set his Blood in a Saucer on warm Ashes, and writ as +followeth:_ + + + I, John Faustus, _doctor, do openly acknowledge with mine own + hand, to the great force and strengthening of this letter, that + since I began to study, and speculate the course and nature of the + elements, I have not found, through the gift that is given me from + above, any such learning and wisdom that can bring me to my desire + and for that I find that men are unable to instruct me any farther + in the matter; now have I, Dr. Faustus, to the hellish prince of + Orient, and his messenger Mephistophiles, given both body and + soul, upon such conditions, that they shall learn me, and fulfil + my desires in all things, as they have promised and vowed unto me, + with due obedience unto me, according to the articles mentioned + between us._ + + Farther, I do covenant and grant _with them by these presents, + that at the end of twenty-four years next ensuing, the date of + this present letter, they being expired, and I in the mean time, + during the said years, be served of them at my will, they + accomplishing my desires to the full in all points as we are + agreed: that then I give to them all power to do with me at their + pleasure, to rule, to send, fetch or carry me or mine, be it + either body, soul, flesh, blood or goods, into their habitation, + be it wheresoever: and hereupon I defy God and his Christ, all the + Host of Heaven, and all living creatures that bear the shape of + God; yea, all that live: And again I say it, and it shall be so, + and to the more strengthening of this writing, I have written it + with my own hand and blood, being in perfect memory: and hereupon + I subscribe to it with my name and title, calling all the + infernal, middle, and supreme powers to witness of this my letter + and subscription._ + + John Faustus. + + _Approved in the elements, and the spiritual doctor._ + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_How Mephistophiles came for his Writing, and in what manner he +appeared, and his Sights he showed him; and how he caused him to +keep a Copy of his own Writing._ + + +Dr. Faustus sitting pensive, having but one only boy with him, suddenly +there appeared his spirit Mephistophiles in likeness of a very man, from +whom issued most horrible fiery flames, insomuch that the boy was +afraid, but being hardened by his master, he bid him stand still, and he +should have no harm: this spirit began to bleat as in a singing manner. +This pretty sport pleased Dr. Faustus well; but he would not call his +spirit into his counting-house until he had seen more. Anon was heard a +rushing of armed men, and trampling of horses; this ceasing, came a +kennel of hounds, and they chased a great hart in the hall, and there +the hart was slain. Faustus took heart, came forth and looked upon the +hart, but presently before him there was a lion and a dragon together, +fighting so fiercely, that Faustus thought they would have thrown down +the house; but the dragon overcame the lion, and so they vanished. After +this came in a peacock and peahen; the cock, bruising of his tail, +turning to the female, beat her, and so vanished. Afterward followed a +furious bull, that with a full fierceness ran upon Faustus, but coming +near him vanished away. Afterward followed a great old ape; this ape +offered Faustus the hand, but he refused; so the ape ran out of the hall +again. Hereupon fell a mist in the hall, that Faustus saw no light, but +it lasted not; and so soon as it was gone, there lay before Faustus two +great sacks, one full of gold, another of silver. + +Lastly, was heard by Faustus all manner of instruments of music, as +organs, clarigolds, lutes, viols, citterns, waits, hornpipes, flutes, +anomes, harps, and all manner of other instruments, which so ravished +his mind, that he thought he had been in another world, forgot both body +and soul, insomuch that he was minded never to change his opinion +concerning that which he had done. + +Hereat came Mephistophiles into the hall to Faustus, in apparel like +unto a friar, to whom Faustus spake: "Thou hast done me a wonderful +pleasure in showing me this pastime; if thou continue as thou hast +begun, thou shalt win my heart and soul, yea, and have it." + +Mephistophiles answered: "This is nothing; I will please thee better; +yea, that thou mayst know my power on all, ask what request thou wilt of +me, that shalt thou have, conditionally hold thy promise, and give me +thy handwriting." At which words the wretch thrust forth his hand, +saying, "Hold thee, there hast thou my promise." + +Mephistophiles took the writing and willed Faustus to take a copy of it. +With that the perverse Faustus being resolute in his damnation, wrote a +copy thereof, and gave the devil the one, and kept in store the other. +Thus the spirit and Faustus were agreed, and dwelt together; no doubt +there was a virtuous house-keeping. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_The manner how Faustus proceeded in this damnable Life, and of +the diligent Service that Mephistophiles used towards him._ + + +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._ + + +Dr. Faustus continued thus in this epicurish life day and night, +believed not that there was a God, hell, or devil: he thought that +soul and body died together, and had quite forgot divinity, or the +immortality of the soul, but stood in that damnable heresy day and +night, and bethinking himself of a wife, called Mephistophiles to +council: which would in no case agree, demanding of him if he would +break the covenant made with him, or if he had forgot it. "Hast thou," +quoth Mephistophiles, "sworn thyself an enemy to God and to all +creatures? To this I answer thee, Thou canst not marry, thou canst not +serve two masters, God and my prince; for wedlock is a chief institution +ordained of God, and that thou hast promised to defy as we do all, and +that hast thou not only done, but moreover thou hast confirmed it with +thy blood, persuade thyself that what thou dost in contempt of wedlock, +it is all to thy own delight. Therefore, Faustus, look well about thee, +and bethink thyself better, and I wish thee to change thy mind, for if +thou keep not what thou hast promised in thy writing, we will tear thee +in pieces like the dust under thy feet. Therefore, sweet Faustus, think +with what unquiet life, anger, strife, and debate thou shalt live in +when thou takest a wife. Therefore change thy mind." + +Dr. Faustus was with these speeches in despair; and as all that have +forsaken the Lord can build upon no good foundation, so this wretched +doctor having forsook the rock, fell into despair with himself, fearing, +if he should motion matrimony any more, that the devil should tear him +in pieces. "For this time," quoth he to Mephistophiles, "I am not +minded to marry." "Then dost thou well," answered his spirit. + +But within two hours after Faustus called again to his spirit, who came +in his old manner like a friar. Then Faustus said unto him, "I am not +able to resist or bridle my fancy; I must and will have a wife, and I +pray thee give thy consent to it." Suddenly upon these words came such a +whirlwind about the place that Faustus thought the whole house would +have come down; all the doors of the house flew off the hooks. After all +this his house was full of smoke, and the floor covered with ashes; +which, when Dr. Faustus perceived, he would have gone upstairs, and +flying up he was taken and thrown down into the hall, that he was not +able to stir hand nor foot; then round about him ran a monstrous circle +of fire, never standing still, that Faustus cried as he lay, and +thought there to have been burned. Then cried he out to his spirit +Mephistophiles for help, promising him he would live, for all this, as +he had vowed by his handwriting. Hereupon appeared unto him an ugly +devil, so dreadful and monstrous to behold, that Faustus durst not look +on him. The devil said, "What wouldst thou have, Faustus? How likest +thou thy wedding? What mind art thou in now?" Faustus answered, he had +forgot his promise, desiring of him pardon, and he would talk no more of +such things. "Thou art best so to do;" and so vanished from him. + +After appeared unto him his friar Mephistophiles, with a bell in his +hand, and spake to Faustus: "It is no jesting with us; hold thou that +which thou hast vowed, and we will perform that which we have promised; +and more than that, thou shalt have thy heart's desire of what woman +soever thou wilt, be she alive or dead, and so long as thou wilt thou +shalt keep her by thee." These words pleased Faustus wonderful well, and +repented himself that he was so foolish to wish himself married, that +might have any woman in the whole city brought him at his command, the +which he practised and persevered in a long time. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +_Questions put forth by Dr. Faustus unto his Spirit Mephistophiles._ + + +Dr. Faustus living in all manner of pleasure that his heart could +desire, continuing of his amorous drifts, his delicate fare, and costly +apparel, called on a time his Mephistophiles to him, who being come, +brought him a book in his hand of all manner of devilish and enchanting +arts, the which he gave Faustus, saying, "Hold, my Faustus; work now thy +heart's desire." The copy of this enchanting book was afterwards found +by his servant Christopher Wagner. "Well," quoth Faustus to his spirit, +"I have called thee to know what thou canst do if I have need of thy +help." + +Then answered Mephistophiles, and said, "My lord Faustus, I am a flying +spirit, yea, so swift as thought can think, to do whatsoever." + +Here Faustus said, "But how came lord and master Lucifer to have so +great a fall from heaven?" + +Mephistophiles answered: "My lord Lucifer was a fair angel, created of +God as immortal, and being placed in the Seraphims, which are above the +Cherubims, he would have presumed upon the Throne of God, with intent to +thrust God out of his seat; upon this presumption the Lord cast him down +headlong, and where before he was an angel of light, now dwells in +darkness, not able to come near his first place, without God send for +him to appear before him; as Raphael, unto the lower degree of angels, +that have their conversation with men, he may come, but not unto the +second degree of the heavens, that is kept by the archangels, namely, +Michael and Gabriel, for these are called Angels of God's wonders; +these are far inferior places to that from whence my lord and master +Lucifer fell; and thus far, Faustus, because thou art one of the beloved +children of the lord Lucifer, following thy mind in manner as he did +his, I have shortly resolved thy request, and more I will do for thee at +thy pleasure." + +"I thank thee, Mephistophiles," quoth Faustus, "come, let us now go to +rest, for it is night;" upon this they left their communication. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +_How Dr. Faustus dreamed that he had seen Hell in his Sleep, and how he +questioned with the Spirit of matters concerning Hell, with the Spirit's +answer._ + + +The night following after Faustus's communication with Mephistophiles, +as concerning the fall of Lucifer, Dr. Faustus dreamed that he had +seen a part of hell, but in what manner it was, or in what place, he +knew not, whereby he was much troubled in mind, and called unto him +Mephistophiles his spirit, saying unto him, "I pray thee resolve me in +this doubt: What is hell? What substance is it of? In what place stands +it? And when was it made?" + +Mephistophiles answered: "Faustus, thou shalt know, that before the fall +of my lord Lucifer there was no hell, but even then was hell ordained. +It is no substance, but a confused thing; for I tell thee, that before +all elements were made, or the earth seen, the spirit of God moved upon +the waters, and darkness was over all; but when God said, 'Let there be +light,' it was at his word, and the light was on God's right hand, and +he praised the light. Judge thou farther, God stood in the middle, the +darkness was on his left hand, in the which my Lord was bound in chains +until the day of judgment. In this confused hell is nought to find but a +sulphurish fire, and stinking mist or fog. Farther, we devils know not +what substance it is of, but a confused thing; for as the bubble of +water flieth before the wind, so doth hell before the breath of God. +Moreover, the devils know not how God hath laid the foundation of our +hell, nor where it is; but to be short, Faustus, we know that hell hath +neither bottom nor end." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +_The second Question put forth by Dr. Faustus to his Spirit, what +Kingdoms were in Hell, how many, and what were the Rulers' names._ + + +Faustus spake again to his spirit, saying, "Thou speakest of wonderful +things: I pray thee now tell me what kingdoms are there in your hell? +How many are there? What they are called? And who rules them?" + +The spirit answered him: "My Faustus, know that hell is, as thou wouldst +think with thyself, another world, in the which we have our being under +the earth, even to the heavens; within the circumference whereof are +contained ten kingdoms, namely, 1. Lacus Mortis. 2. Stagnum Ignis. +3. Terra Tenebrosa. 4. Tartarus. 5. Terra Oblivionis. 6. Gehenna. +7. Erebus. 8. Barathrum. 9. Styx. 10. Acheron. The which kingdoms are +governed by five kings, that is, Lucifer in the Orient, Belzebub in +Septentrio, Belial in Meredie, Ascheroth in the Occident, and Phlegeton +in the midst of them all; whose rules and dominions have no end until +the day of doom; and thus far, Faustus, hast thou heard of our rule and +kingdom." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +_Another Question put forth by Dr. Faustus to his Spirit, concerning his +Lord Lucifer, with the sorrow that Faustus fell afterwards into._ + + +Dr. Faustus began again to reason with Mephistophiles, requiring him to +tell in what form and shape, and in what estimation his lord Lucifer +was, when he was in favour with God. + +Whereupon his spirit required of him three days' respite, which Faustus +granted. + +The three days being expired, Mephistophiles gave him this answer: +"Faustus, my lord Lucifer (so called now for that he was banished out of +the clear light of heaven) was at the first an angel of God, yea, he was +so of God ordained for shape, pomp, authority, worthiness, and dwelling, +that he far exceeded all the other creatures of God, yea, or gold and +precious stones; and so illuminated that he far surpassed the brightness +of the sun, and all other stars where God placed him on the cherubims; +he had a kingly office, and was always before God's seat, to the end he +might be the more perfect in all his being; but when he began to be +high-minded, proud, and so presumptuous, that he would usurp the seat of +God's Majesty, then was he banished out from amongst the heavenly +powers, separated from their abiding, into the manner of a fiery stone, +that no water is able to quench, but continually burneth until the end +of the world." + +Dr. Faustus, when he had heard the words of his spirit, began to ponder +with himself, having divers and sundry opinions in his head, and very +pensively, saying nothing to his spirit, he went into his chamber and +laid him on his bed, recording the words of Mephistophiles, which so +pierced his heart that he fell into sighing and great lamentation, +crying out, "Alas! Ah, woe is me! What have I done? Even so shall it +come to pass with me: am I not also a creature of God's making, bearing +his own image and similitude, into whom he hath breathed the spirit of +life and immortality, unto whom he hath made all things living subject; +but woe is me! My haughty mind, proud aspiring stomach, and filthy +flesh, hath brought my soul into perpetual damnation, yea, pride hath +abused my understanding, insomuch that I have forgot my Maker, the +Spirit of God is departed from me; I have promised the devil my soul, +and therefore it is but a folly for me to hope for grace, but it must be +even with me as with Lucifer, thrown into perpetual burning fire: ah! +woe is me that ever I was born." + +In this perplexity lay this miserable Dr. Faustus, having quite forgot +his faith in Christ, never falling to repentance truly, thereby to +attain the grace and holy Spirit of God again, the which would have been +able to have resisted the strong assaults of Satan; for although he had +made him a promise, yet he might have remembered, through true +repentance sinners may once come again into the favour of God, which +faith the faithful firmly hold, knowing they that kill the body are not +able to hurt the soul; but he was in all his opinions doubtful, without +faith or hope, and so he continued. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +_Another disputation betwixt Dr. Faustus and his Spirit, of the Power +of the Devil, and his Envy to Mankind._ + + +After Faustus had a while pondered and sorrowed with himself on his +wretched estate, he called again Mephistophiles unto him, commanding him +to tell him the judgment, rule, power, attempts, tyranny, and temptation +of the devil; and why he was moved to such kind of living? + +Whereupon the spirit answered to this question: "That thou demandest of +me will turn thee to no small discontentment; therefore thou shouldst +not have desired of me such matters, for it toucheth the secrets of our +kingdom, although I cannot deny to resolve thy request: therefore know, +Faustus, that so soon as my lord Lucifer fell from Heaven, he became +mortal enemy both to God and man, and hath used, as now he doth, all +manner of tyranny to the destruction of man, as is manifested by divers +examples: one falling suddenly dead, another hangs himself, another +drowns himself, others stab themselves, others unlawfully despair, and +so come to utter confusion. The first Adam, that was made perfect to the +similitude of God, was by my lord's policy the whole decay of man; yea, +Faustus, in him was the beginning and first tyranny of my lord Lucifer +to man. The like did he with Cain; the same with the children of Israel +when they worshipped strange gods, and fell to whoredom with strange +women; the like with Saul; so did he by the seven husbands of her that +after was the wife of Tobias; likewise Dagon, our fellow, brought to +destruction fifty thousand men, whereupon the ark of God was stolen, and +Belial made David to number his men, whereupon were slain sixty +thousand. Also he deceived King Solomon, that worshipped the gods of the +heathen: and there are such spirits innumerable, that can come by men, +and tempt them, and drive them to sin, and weaken their belief; for we +rule the hearts of kings and princes, stirring them up to war and +bloodshed, and to this intent do we spread ourselves through all the +world, as the utter enemies of God and his Son Christ--yea, and all that +worship them, and that thou knowest by thyself, Faustus. How have we +dealt by thee?" + +To this said Faustus: "Then thou didst also beguile me?" + +"I did what I could to help thee forward, for as soon as I saw how thy +heart did despise thy degree taken in divinity, and didst study to +search and know the secrets of our kingdom, then did I enter into thee, +giving thee divers foul and filthy cogitations, pricking thee forward in +thy intent, persuading thee thou couldst never attain to thy desire till +thou hadst the help of some devil; and when thou wast delighted in this, +then took I root in thee, and so firmly, that thou gavest thyself to us +both body and soul, which thou canst not deny." + +Hereat answered Faustus: "Thou sayest true; I cannot deny it. Ah, woe is +me, most miserable Faustus! How have I been deceived! Had I not had a +desire to know too much, I had not been in this case; for having studied +the lives of the holy saints and prophets, and thereby thought to +understand sufficient heavenly matters, I thought myself not worthy to +be called Dr. Faustus if I should not also know the secrets of hell, and +be associated with the furious fiends thereof; now, therefore, must I be +rewarded accordingly." + +Which speeches being uttered, Faustus went very sorrowful away from his +spirit. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +_How Dr. Faustus desired again of his Spirit, to know the Secrets and +Pains of Hell; and whether those damned Devils, and their Company, +might ever come to the Favour and Love of God again._ + + +Dr. Faustus was pondering with himself how he might get loose from so +damnable an end as he had given himself unto, both soul and body; but +his repenting was like that of Cain and Judas--he thought his sin +greater than God could forgive; hereupon resting his mind, he looked up +to heaven, but saw nothing therein, for his heart was so possessed of +the devil that he could think of nought else but of hell and the pains +thereof. + +Wherefore in all haste he called unto him his spirit Mephistophiles, +desiring him to tell him some more of the secrets of hell; what pain the +damned are in, and how they were tormented; and whether the damned souls +might get again the favour of God, and so be released out of their +torments or not. + +Whereupon the spirit answered: "My Faustus, thou mayst well leave to +question any more of such matters, for they will but disquiet thy mind; +I pray thee, what meanest thou, thinkest thou through these thy +fantasies to escape us? No, for if thou shouldst climb up to heaven, +there to hide thyself, yet would I thrust thee down again; for thou art +mine, and thou belongest to our society. Therefore, sweet Faustus, thou +wilt repent this thy foolish demand, except thou be content that I shall +tell thee nothing." + +Quoth Faustus, ragingly: "I will know, or I will not live, wherefore +dispatch and tell me." + +To whom Mephistophiles answered: "Faustus, it is no trouble unto me at +all to tell thee; and therefore since thou forcest me thereto, I will +tell thee things to the terror of thy soul, if thou wilt abide the +hearing: thou wilt have me to tell thee of the secrets of hell, and of +the pains thereof. Know, Faustus, that hell hath many figures, +semblances, and names; but it cannot be named or figured in such sort to +the living that are damned, as it is to those that are dead, and do both +see and feel the torments thereof: for hell is said to be deadly, out of +which came never any to life again but one, but he is nothing for thee +to reckon upon; hell is bloodthirsty, and is never satisfied: hell is a +valley into which the damned souls fall; for so soon as the soul is out +of man's body, it would gladly go to the place from whence it came, and +climbeth up above the highest hills, even to the heavens, where being by +the angels of the first model denied entertainment (in consideration of +their evil life spent on earth), they fall into the deepest pit or +valley, that hath no bottom, into a perpetual fire which shall never be +quenched; for like as the flint thrown in the water loseth not virtue, +neither is the fire extinguished, even so the hellish fire is +unquenchable: and even as the flint-stone in the fire burns red hot, and +consumeth not, so likewise the damned souls in our hellish fire are ever +burning, but their pain never diminishing. Therefore is hell called the +everlasting pain, in which is never hope for mercy; so it is called +utter darkness, in which we see neither the light, the sun, moon, nor +stars; and were our darkness like the darkness of night, yet were there +hope of mercy: but ours is perpetual darkness, clean exempt from the +face of God. Hell hath also a place within it, called Chasma, out +of which issueth all manner of thunders and lightnings, with such +shriekings and wailings, that oftentimes the very devils themselves +stand in fear thereof; for one while it sendeth forth wind, with +exceeding snow, hail, and rain, congealing the water into ice, with +the which the damned are frozen, gnash their teeth, howl, and cry, +yet cannot die. Other whiles, it sendeth forth most horrible hot +mists, or fogs, with flashing of flames of fire and brimstone, wherein +the sorrowful souls of the damned lie broiling in their reiterated +torments. Yea, Faustus, hell is called a prison, wherein the damned +lie continually bound; it is called Pernicies and Exitium, death, +destruction, hurtfulness, mischief, a mischance, a pitiful and evil +thing, world without end. We have also with us in hell a ladder, +reaching of exceeding height, as though the top of the same would touch +the heaven, to which the damned ascend to seek the blessing of God, but +through their infidelity, when they are at very highest degree, they +fall down again into their former miseries, complaining of the heat of +that unquenchable fire; yea, sweet Faustus, so much understand thou of +hell, the while thou art desirous to know the secrets of our kingdom. +And mark, Faustus, hell is the nurse of death, the heat of fire, the +shadow of heaven and earth, the oblivion of all goodness; the pains +unspeakable, the griefs unremovable, the dwelling of the devils. +Dragons, serpents, adders, toads, crocodiles, and all manner of venomous +and noisome creatures; the puddle of sin, the stinking far ascending +from the Stygian lake, brimstone, pitch, and all manner of unclean +metals, the perpetual and unquenchable fire, the end of whose miseries +was never purposed by God. Yea, yea, Faustus, thou sayest I shall, I +must, nay, I will tell thee the secrets of our kingdom, for thou buyest +it dearly, and thou must and shalt be partaker of our torments, that, as +the Lord said, shall never cease, for hell, the woman's belly, and the +earth, are never satisfied; there shalt thou abide horrible torments, +howling, crying, burning, freezing, melting, swimming in a labyrinth of +miseries, scolding, smoking in thine eyes, stinking in thy nose, +hoarseness in thy speech, deafness in thy ears, trembling in thy hands, +biting thine own tongue with pain, thy heart crushed as with a press, +thy bones broken, the devils tossing firebrands unto thee: yea, thy +whole carcass tossed upon muck-forks from one devil to another; yea, +Faustus, then wilt thou wish for death, and he will fly from thee, thine +unspeakable torments shall be every day augmented more and more, for the +greater the sin the greater is the punishment. How likest thou this, my +Faustus? A resolution answerable to thy request. + +"Lastly, Thou wilt have me tell thee that which only belongeth to God, +which is, if it be possible for the damned to come again into the favour +of God, or not. Why, Faustus, thou knowest that this is against thy +promise; for why shouldst thou desire to know that having already given +thy soul to the devil, to have the pleasure of the world, and to know +the secrets of hell; therefore thou art damned, and how canst thou then +come again to the favour of God? Wherefore I discreetly answer, no; for +whomsoever God hath forsaken and thrown into hell must there abide his +wrath and indignation in that unquenchable fire, where is no hope of +mercy to be looked for, but abiding his perpetual pains, world without +end: for even as much it availeth thee, Faustus, to hope for the favour +of God again as Lucifer himself; who indeed, although he and we have a +hope, yet it is to small avail and taketh none effect, for out of that +place God will neither hear crying nor singing; if he do, thou shalt +have a little remorse, as Dives, Cain, and Judas had. What helpeth the +emperor, king, prince, duke, earl, baron, lord, knight, esquire, or +gentleman, to cry for mercy being there? Nothing; for if on earth they +would not be tyrants and self-willed, rich with covetousness, proud with +pomp, gluttons, drunkards, whoremongers, backbiters, robbers, murderers, +blasphemers, and such like, then were there some hope to be looked for; +therefore, my Faustus, as thou comest to hell with these qualities thou +mayst say with Cain, 'My sins are greater than can be forgiven;' go hang +thyself with Judas; and lastly, be contented to suffer torments with +Dives. Therefore know, Faustus, that the damned have neither end nor +time appointed in the which they may hope to be released; for if there +were any such hope that they, by throwing one drop of water out of the +sea in a day until it were dry, or there were one heap of sand as high +as from the earth to the heavens, that a bird carrying away but one corn +in a day, at the end of this so long labour, that yet they might hope at +the last God would have mercy on them, they would be comforted; but now +there is no hope that God once thinks upon them, or that their howling +shall ever be heard; yea, so impossible it is for thee to hide thyself +from God, as it is impossible for thee to remove the mountains, or to +empty the sea, or to tell the drops of rain that have fallen from heaven +until this day, or to tell what there is most of in the world; yea, and +as for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, even so impossible it +is for thee, Faustus, and the rest of the damned, to come again into the +favour of God. And thus, Faustus, hast thou heard my last sentence, and +I pray thee, how dost thou like it? But know this, that I counsel thee +to let me be unmolested hereafter with such disputations, or else will I +vex thee every limb to thy small contentment." + +Dr. Faustus parted from his spirit very pensive and sorrowful, laying +him on his bed, altogether doubtful of the grace and favour of God, +wherefore he fell into fantastical cogitations. Fain he would have had +his soul at liberty again, but the devil had so blinded him, and had +taken such deep root in his heart, that he could never think to crave +God's mercy; or, if by chance he had any good motion, straightways the +devil would thrust in a fair lady into his chamber, which fell to +kissing and dalliance with him, through which means he threw the godly +motions in the wind, going forward still in his wicked practice, to the +utter ruin both of body and soul. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +_Another Question put forth by Dr. Faustus to his Spirit Mephistophiles +of his own Estate._ + + +Dr. Faustus being yet desirous to hear more strange things, called his +spirit unto him, saying, "My Mephistophiles, I have yet another suit +unto thee, which I pray thee deny me not to resolve me of." + +"Faustus," quoth the spirit, "I am loth to reason with thee any further, +for thou art never satisfied in thy mind, but always bringest me a new." + +"Yet, I pray thee, this once," quoth Faustus, "do me so much favour as +to tell me the truth in this matter, and hereafter I will be no more so +earnest with thee." + +The spirit was altogether against it; but yet once more he would abide +him. "Well," said the spirit to Faustus, "what demandest thou of me." + +Faustus said, "I would gladly know of thee if thou wert a man in manner +and form as I am, what wouldst thou do to please both God and man?" + +Whereat the spirit smiled, saying, "My Faustus, if I was a man as thou +art, and that God had adorned me with those gifts of nature which thou +once hadst, even so long as the breath of God were by and within me, +would I humble myself unto his majesty, endeavouring all that I could to +keep his commandments, praise him and glorify him, that I might continue +in his favour, so were I sure to enjoy the eternal joy and felicity of +his kingdom." + +Faustus said, "But that I have not done." + +"No, thou sayest truth," quoth Mephistophiles, "thou hast not done it; +but thou hast denied the Lord thy Maker which gave thee the breath of +life, speech, hearing, sight, and all other thy reasonable senses, that +thou mightest understand his will and pleasure, to live to the glory and +honour of his name, and to the advancement of thy body and soul. Him, I +say, being thy Maker, hast thou denied and defied; yea, wickedly hast +thou applied that excellent gift of understanding, and given thy soul to +the devil; therefore give none the blame but thine own self-will, thy +proud and aspiring mind, which hath brought thee unto the wrath of God +and utter damnation." + +"This is most true," quoth Faustus; "but tell me, Mephistophiles, would +thou be in my case as I am now?" + +"Yea," saith the spirit (and with that fetched a great sigh), "for yet I +would so humble myself that I would win the favour of God." + +"Then," said Dr. Faustus, "it were time enough for me if I amended." + +"True," said Mephistophiles, "if it were not for thy great sins, which +are so odious and detestable in the sight of God, that it is too late +for thee, for the wrath of God resteth upon thee." + +"Leave off," quoth Faustus, "and tell me my question to my greater +comfort." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +HERE FOLLOWETH THE SECOND PART OF DR. FAUSTUS HIS LIFE AND PRACTICES, +UNTIL HIS END. + + +Dr. Faustus having received denial of his spirit to be resolved any more +in such questions propounded, forgot all good works, and fell to be a +calendar-maker by the help of his spirit, and also in short time to be a +good astronomer or astrologian. He had learned so perfectly of his +spirit the course of the sun, moon, and stars, that he had the most +famous name of all the mathematicians that lived in his time, as may +well appear by his works dedicated unto sundry dukes and lords, for he +did nothing without the advice of his spirit, which learned him to +presage of matters to come, which have come to pass since his death. The +like praise won he with his calendars and almanack-making; for when he +presaged of anything, operations, and alterations of the weather or +elements, as wind, rain, fogs, snow, hail, moist, dry, warm, cold, +thunder, lightning, it fell so duly out, as if an angel of heaven had +forewarned it. He did not, like the unskilful astronomers in our time, +that set in winter, cold moist air, frosty, and in the dog days, hot, +dry, thunder, fire, and such like; but he set in all his works the day +and hour, when, where, and how it should happen. If any wonderful things +were at hand, as mortality, famine, plague, wars, he would set the time +and place, in true and just order, when it would come to pass. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +_A Question put forth by Dr. Faustus to his Spirit, concerning +Astronomy._ + + +Now Faustus falling to practice, and making his prognostications, he was +doubtful in many points, wherefore he called unto him Mephistophiles his +spirit, saying, "I find the ground of the science very difficult to +attain unto; for when that I confer Astronomia and Astrologia, as the +mathematicians and ancient writers have left in memory, I find them +vary, and very much to disagree; wherefore I pray thee to teach me the +truth of this matter." + +To whom his spirit answered: "Faustus, thou shalt know that the +practitioners or speculators, or at least the first inventors of these +arts, have done nothing of themselves certain, whereupon thou mayst +attain to the true prognosticating or presaging of things concerning the +heavens, or of the influence of the planets; for if by chance some one +mathematician or astronomer have left behind him anything worthy of +memory, they have so blinded it with enigmatical words, blind +characters, and such obscure figures, that it is impossible for any +earthly man to attain the knowledge thereof without the aid of some +spirits, or else the special gift of God, for such as are the hidden +works of God from men, yet do we spirits, that fly and fleet all +elements, know such; and there is nothing to be done, or by the heavens +portended, but we know it, except only the day of doom. Wherefore, +Faustus, learn of me: I will teach thee the course and re-course of the +planets, the cause of winter and summer, the exaltation and declination +of the sun, and eclipse of the moon, the distance and height of the +poles and every fixed star, the nature and opposition of the +elements--fire, air, water, and earth--and all that is contained in +them; yea, herein there is nothing hidden from me, but only the filthy +essence which once thou hadst, Faustus, at liberty, but now thou hast +lost it past recovery; therefore, leaving that which will not be again +had, learn now of me to make thunder, lightning, hail, snow, and rain; +the clouds to rend the earth; and craggy rocks to shake and split in +sunder; the seas to swell and roar, and overrun their marks. Knowest +thou not that the deeper the sun shines the hotter it pierces; so the +more thy art is famous whilst thou art here, the greater shall be thy +name when thou art gone. Knowest thou not that the earth is frozen, +cold, and dry; the water running, cold and moist; the air flying, hot +and moist; the fire consuming, hot and dry: yea, Faustus, so must thy +heart be inflamed like the fire to mount on high. Learn, Faustus, to fly +like myself, as swift as thought from one kingdom to another: to sit at +princes' tables, to eat their dainty fare, to have thy pleasure of their +ladies, wives, and concubines; to use all their jewels and costly robes +as things belonging unto thee, and not unto them. Learn of me, Faustus, +to run through walls, doors, and gates of stone and iron; to creep into +the earth like a worm, or swim in the water like a fish; to fly in the +air like a bird, and to live and nourish thyself in the fire like a +salamander: so shalt thou be famous, renowned, far spoken of, and +extolled for thy skill; going on knives not hurting thy feet, carrying +fire in thy bosom and not burning thy shirt; seeing through the heavens +as through a crystal, wherein is placed the planets, with all the rest +of the presaging comets--the whole circuit of the world from east to +west, north and south. There shalt thou know, Faustus, whereof the fiery +sphere above, and the signs of the Zodiac doth not burn and consume the +whole face of the earth, being hindered by placing the two moist +elements between them--the airy clouds and wavering waves of water. Yea, +Faustus, I will learn thee the secrets of Nature; what the cause is, +that the sun in summer, being at the highest, giveth all his heat +downwards on the earth; and being winter at the lowest, giveth all his +heat upwards into the heavens; that the snow should be of so great +virtue as the honey, and the Lady Saturnia in occulto more hot than the +sun in manifesto. Come on, my Faustus; I will make thee as perfect in +these ways as myself; I will learn thee to go invisible, to find out the +mines both of gold and silver, the fodines of precious stones--as the +carbuncle, the diamond, sapphire, emerald, ruby, topaz, jacinth, granat, +jaspies, amethyst: use all these at thy pleasure--take thy heart's +desire. Thy time, Faustus, weareth away; then why wilt thou not take thy +pleasure of the world? Come up, we will go unto kings at their own +courts, and at their most sumptuous banquets be their guests. If +willingly they invite us not, then by force we will serve our own turn +with their best meat and daintest wine." + +"Agreed," quoth Faustus; "but let me pause a while upon this thou hast +even now declared unto me." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +_How Dr. Faustus fell into Despair with himself, for having put a +question unto his Spirit; they fell at Variance, whereupon the Rout of +Devils appeared unto him, threatening him sharply._ + + +Dr. Faustus resolved with himself the speeches of his spirit, and became +so woeful and sorrowful in his cogitations that he thought himself +already frying in the hottest flame of hell; and lying in this muse, +suddenly there appeared unto him his spirit, demanding what thing so +grieved and troubled his conscience? + +Whereat Dr. Faustus gave no answer. Yet the spirit lay very earnestly +upon him to know the cause, and if it were possible he would find a +remedy for his grief and ease him of his sorrows. + +To whom Faustus answered, "I have taken thee unto me as a servant to do +my service, and thy service will be very dear unto me; yet I cannot have +any diligence of thee farther than thou list thyself, neither dost thou +in anything as it becometh thee." + +The spirit replied: "My Faustus, thou knowest that I was never against +thy commandment as yet, but ready to serve and resolve thy questions, +although I am not bound unto thee in such respects as concern the hurt +of our kingdom; yet was I always willing to answer thee, and so am I +still: therefore, my Faustus, say on boldly, what is thy will and +pleasure?" + +At which words the spirit stole away the heart of Faustus, who spake in +this sort: "Mephistophiles, tell me how and after what sort God made the +world and all the creatures in it? And why man was made after the image +of God?" + +The spirit hearing this, answered Faustus: "Thou knowest that all this +is in vain for thee to ask. I know that thou art sorry for what thou +hast done, but it availeth thee not; for I will tear thee in a thousand +pieces if thou change not thy opinions." And hereat he vanished away. + +Whereat Faustus, all sorrowful that he had put forth such a question, +fell to weeping and to howling bitterly, not for his sins towards God, +but that the devil was departed from him so suddenly in such a rage. And +being in this perplexity, he was suddenly taken with such extreme cold, +as if he would have frozen in the place where he sat, in which the +greatest devil in hell appeared unto him, with certain of his hideous +and infernal company, in most ugly shapes, that it was impossible to +think upon; and traversing the chamber round about where Faustus sat, +Faustus thought to himself, "Now are they come for me, though my time +be not come, and that because I have asked such questions of my servant +Mephistophiles." At whose cogitations the chiefest devil, which was the +lord unto whom he gave his soul, that was Lucifer, spake in this sort: +"Faustus, I have seen thy thoughts, which are not as thou hast vowed +unto me, by the virtue of this letter [and showed him the obligation +which he had written with his own blood]; wherefore I am come to visit +thee, and to show thee some of our hellish pastimes, in hope that will +draw and confirm thy mind a little more steadfast unto us." + +"Content," quoth Faustus: "go to, let me see what pastime you can make." + +At which words the great devil in his likeness sate him down by Faustus, +commanding the rest of his devils to appear in the form as if they were +in hell. First entered Belial, in form of a bear, with curled black hair +to the ground, his ears standing upright; within his ears were as red as +blood, out of which issued flames of fire; his teeth were at least a +foot long, and as white as snow, with a tail three ells long at the +least, having two wings, one behind each arm; and thus one after another +they appeared to Faustus in form as they were in hell. Lucifer himself +sate in a manner of a man all hairy, but of brown colour like a +squirrel, curled, and his tail curling upwards on his back as the +squirrels use. I think he could crack nuts too like a squirrel. After +him came Belzebub in curled hair of a horse-flesh colour, his head like +the head of a bull, with a mighty pair of horns, and two long ears down +to the ground, and two wings on his back, with two pricking things like +horns; out of his wings issued flames of fire; his tail was like a +cow's. Then came Astaroth in the form of a worm, going upright on his +tail, and had no feet, but a tail like a glow-worm; under his chops grew +two short hands, and his back was coal black; his belly thick in the +middle, yellow, like gold, having many bristles on his back like a +hedgehog. After him came Cannagosta, being white and grey mixed, +exceeding curled and hairy; he had a head like the head of an ass, and a +tail like a cat, and claws like an ox, lacking nothing of an ell broad. +Then came Anobis: this devil had a head like a dog, white and black +hair; in shape like a hog, saving that he had but two feet--one under +his throat, the other at his tail; he was four ells long, with hanging +ears like a blood-hound. After him came Dithican: he was a short thief, +in form of a large bird, with shining feathers, and four feet; his neck +was green, and body red, and his feet black. The last was called +Brachus, with very short feet, like a hedgehog, yellow and green; the +upper side of his body was brown, and the belly like blue flames of +fire, the tail red like the tail of a monkey. The rest of the devils +were in form of unreasonable beasts, as swine, harts, bears, wolves, +apes, buffes, goats, antelopes, elephants, dragons, horses, asses, +lions, cats, snakes, toads, and all manner of ugly odious serpents and +worms; yet came in such sort that every one at his entry into the hall +made their reverence unto Lucifer, and so took their places, standing in +order as they came until they had filled the whole hall, wherewith +suddenly fell a most horrible thunder-clap, that the house shook as if +it would have fallen unto the ground; upon which every monster had a +muck-fork in his hand, holding them towards Faustus as though they would +have run a tilt at him; which, when Faustus perceived, he thought upon +the words of Mephistophiles, when he told him how the souls in hell were +tormented, being cast from devil to devil upon muck-forks, he thought +verily to have been tormented there by them in like sort. + +But Lucifer perceiving his thought, spake to him, "My Faustus, how +likest thou this crew of mine?" + +Quoth Faustus, "Why came you not in another manner of shape?" + +Lucifer replied: "We cannot change our hellish form, we have showed +ourselves here as we are there; yet can we blind men's eyes in such +sort, that when we will, we appear unto them as if we were men or angels +of light, although our dwelling be in darkness." + +Then said Faustus, "I like not so many of you together." + +Whereupon Lucifer commanded them to depart, except seven of the +principal; forthwith they presently vanished, which Faustus perceiving, +he was somewhat better comforted, and spake to Lucifer, "Where is my +servant Mephistophiles? let me see if he can do the like." + +Whereupon came a fierce dragon flying, and spitting fire round about the +house, and coming towards Lucifer, made reverence, and then changed +himself to the form of a friar, saying, "Faustus, what wilt thou?" + +Faustus said, "I will that thou teach me to transform myself in like +sort, as thou and the rest have done." + +Then Lucifer put forth his paw and gave Faustus a book, saying, "Hold, +do what thou wilt." + +Which he looking upon, straightways changed himself into a hog, then +into a worm, then into a dragon, and finding thus for his purpose it +liked him well. + +Quoth he to Lucifer, "And how cometh it that so many filthy forms are in +the world?" + +Lucifer answered, "They are ordained of God, as plagues unto men, and so +shalt thou be plagued," quoth he; whereupon came scorpions, wasps, +emets, bees, and gnats, which fell to stinging and biting him, and all +the whole house was filled with a most horrible stinking fog, insomuch +that Faustus saw nothing, but still was tormented; wherefore he cried +for help, saying, "Mephistophiles, my faithful servant, where art thou? +Help, help, I pray thee." + +Hereat the spirit answered nothing, but Lucifer himself said, "Ho, ho, +ho, Faustus, how likest thou the creation of the world?" + +And incontinent it was clear again, and the devils and all the filthy +cattle were vanished, only Faustus was left alone, seeing nothing, but +hearing the sweetest music that ever he heard before; at which he was so +ravished with delight, that he forgot his fears he was in before, and it +repented him that he had seen no more of their pastime. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +_How Dr. Faustus desired to see Hell, and of the manner how he was used +therein._ + + +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 +his head and horns, that he turned Faustus and his bear over and over, +so that the bear vanished away: whereat Faustus began to cry, "Oh! +woe to me that ever I came here!" For he thought there to have been +beguiled of the devil; and to make an end before his time appointed or +conditioned of the devil: but shortly after came to him a monstrous ape, +bidding Faustus to be of good cheer, and said, "Get upon me." + +All the fire in hell seemed to Faustus to have been put out, whereupon +followed a monstrous thick fog, that he saw nothing, but shortly after +it seemed to him to wax clear, where he saw two great dragons fastened +unto a waggon, in the which the ape ascended and set Faustus therein; +forth flew the dragons into an exceeding dark cloud, where Faustus saw +neither dragons nor chariot wherein he sate, and such were the cries of +tormented souls, with mighty thunder-claps and flashing lightnings about +his ears, that poor Faustus shook for fear; upon this they came to a +water, stinking and filthy, thick like mud, into the which ran the +dragons, sinking under with waggon and all; but Faustus felt no water, +but as it were a small mist, saving that the waves beat so sore upon +him, that he saw nothing under or over him but only water, in the which +he lost his dragons, ape, and waggon; and sinking deeper and deeper, he +came at last as it were upon a high rock, where the waters parted and +left him thereon: but when the water was gone, it seemed to him he +should there have ended his life, for he saw no way but death. The rock +was so high from the bottom as heaven is from the earth. There sate he, +seeing nor hearing any man, and looked ever upon the rock. At length he +saw a little hole out of which issued fire. Thought he, "How shall I now +do? I must either fall to the bottom or burn in the fire, or sit in +despair." With that, in his madness he gave a skip into the fire-hole, +saying, "Hold, you infernal hags! take here this sacrifice as my last +end, that which I have justly deserved." + +Upon this he was entered, and finding himself as yet unburned or touched +of that fire, he was the better appayed. But there was so great a noise +that he never heard the like before; it passed all the thunder that +ever he had heard. And coming down farther to the bottom of the rock, he +saw a fire, wherein were many worthy and noble personages, as emperors, +kings, dukes, and lords, and many thousand more tormented souls, at the +edge of which fire ran a most pleasant, clear, and cold water to behold; +into the which many tormented souls sprang out of the fire to cool +themselves, but being so freezing cold, they were constrained to return +again into the fire, and thus wearied themselves and spent their endless +torments out of one labyrinth into another, one while in heat, another +while in cold. But Faustus, standing here all this while gazing on them +that were thus tormented, he saw one leaping out of the fire, shrieking +horribly, whom he thought to have known, wherefore he would fain +have spoken unto him, but remembering he was forbidden, he refrained +speaking. Then this devil that brought him in, came to him again in +likeness of a bear, with the chair on his back, and bid him sit up, for +it was time to depart. So Faustus got up, and the devil carried him out +into the air, where he had so sweet music that he fell asleep by the +way. + +His boy Christopher, being all this while at home, and missing his +master so long, thought his master would have tarried and dwelt with the +devil for ever; but whilst the boy was in these cogitations, his master +came home; for the devil brought him home fast asleep as he sate in his +chair, and threw him on his bed, where (being thus left of the devil) he +lay until day. When he awaked, he was amazed, like a man who had been in +a dark dungeon; musing with himself, if it were true or false that he +had seen hell, or whether he was blinded or not; but he rather persuaded +himself he had been there than otherwise, because he had seen such +wonderful things; wherefore he most carefully took pen and ink, and +wrote those things in order as he had seen; which writing was afterwards +found by his boy in his study, which afterwards was published to the +whole city of Wittenburg in print, for example to all Christians. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +_How Dr. Faustus was carried through the Air, up to the Heavens to see +the whole World, and how the Sky and Planets ruled; after the which he +wrote a Letter to his Friend of the same to Liptzig, and how he went +about the World in eight days._ + +This letter was found by a freeman and citizen of Wittenburg, written +with his own hand, and sent to his friend at Liptzig, a physician, named +Love Victori, the contents of which were as followeth: + +"Amongst other things, my beloved friend and brother, I remember yet the +former friendship we had together when we were schoolfellows and +students in the university at Wittenburg; whereas you first studied +physic, astronomy, astrology, geometry, and cosmography, I, to the +contrary, you know, studied divinity, notwithstanding now in any of your +own studies I am sure I have proceeded farther than yourself; for since +I began I have never erred, for, might I speak it without affecting +mine own praise, my calendars and other practices have not only the +commendations of the common sort, but also the chiefest lords and nobles +of this our Dutch nation, because (which is chiefly to be noted) I write +and presage of matters to come, which all accord and fall out so right, +as if they had already been before. And for thee, my beloved Victori, +you write to know my voyage which I made unto the heavens, the which (as +you certify me) you have had some suspicion of, although you partly +persuade yourself that it is a thing impossible; no matter for that, it +is as it is, and let it be as it will, once it is done in such a manner +as now according, unto your request, I will give you here to understand. +I being once laid in my bed, and I could not sleep for thinking on my +calendar and practice, I marvelled with myself how it were possible that +the firmament should be known, and so largely written of by men, or +whether they write true or false, by their own opinions and suppositions, +or by due observation and true course of the heavens; behold, I thought +my house would have been blown down, so that all my doors and chests +flew open, whereat I was not a little astonished, for withal I heard a +groaning voice, which said, 'Get up; the desire of thy heart, mind, +and thought thou shalt see.' At the which I answered, 'What my heart +desireth that would I fain see; and to make proof if I shall see, I will +away with thee.' 'Why, then,' quoth he, 'look out the window, there +cometh a messenger for thee.' That did I; and behold, there stood a +waggon with two dragons before it to draw the same, and all the waggon +was of a light burning fire, and for that the moon shone I was the +willinger at that time to depart. But the voice spoke again: 'Sit up, +and let us away.' 'I will,' said I, 'go with thee, but upon condition +that I may ask after all things that I see, hear, or think on.' The +voice answered: 'I am content for this time.' Hereupon I got me into the +waggon, so that the dragons carried me up right into the air. + +"The waggon had four wheels, the which rattled so, and made such a +noise, as if it had been all this while running on the stones, and round +about us flew flames of fire; and the higher that I came, the more the +earth seemed to be darkened, so that methought I came out of a dungeon; +and looking down from heaven, behold Mephistophiles my spirit and +servant was behind me; and when he perceived that I saw him, he came and +sate by me; to whom I said, 'I pray thee, Mephistophiles, whither shall +I go now?' 'Let not that trouble thy mind,' said he; and yet they carried +us higher up. And now I will tell thee, good friend and schoolfellow, +what things I have seen and proved; for on the Tuesday I went out, and +on Tuesday seven nights following I came home again, that's eight days, +in which time I slept not, no not one wink came within my eyes; and we +went invisible of any man; and as the day began to appear, after the +first night's journey, I said to my spirit Mephistophiles, 'I pray thee +how far have we now ridden? I am sure thou knowest, for methinks we +have ridden exceeding far, the world seemeth so little.' Mephistophiles +answered me, 'My Faustus, believe me, that from the place from whence +thou camest unto this place where we now are is already forty-seven +leagues right in height.' And as the day increased, I looked down into +the world. Asia, Europe, and Africa, I had a sight of; and being so +high, quoth I to my spirit, 'Tell me how these kingdoms lie, and what +they are called?' The which he denied not, saying, 'See this on our left +hand is Hungaria, this is also Prussia on our left hand, and Poland, +Muscovia, Tartary, Silesia, Bohemia, Saxony; and here on our right hand, +Spain, Portugal, France, England, and Scotland; then right on before us +lie the kingdoms of Persia, India, Arabia, the king of Althar, and the +great Cham. Now we are come to Wittenburg, and are right over the town +of Weim, in Austria, and ere long we will be at Constantinople, Tripoli, +and Jerusalem, and after will we pierce the frozen zone, and shortly +touch the horizon and the zenith of Wittenburg.' There looked I on the +ocean sea, and beheld a great many ships and galleys ready to battle one +against another; and thus I spent my journey, and I cast my eyes here, +now there, towards south, north, east, and west. I have been in one +place where it rained and hailed, and in another where the sun shone +excellent fair; and so I think that I saw most things in and about the +world, with great admiration; that in one place it rained, and in +another hail and snow; on this side the sun shone bright, some hills +covered with snow never consuming, others were so hot that grass and +trees were burned and consumed therewith. Then looked I up to the +heavens, and behold they went so swift, that I thought they would have +sprung into thousands; likewise it was so clear and so hot, that I could +not gaze upon it, it so dimmed my sight; and had not my spirit +Mephistophiles covered me, as it were with a shadowing cloud, I had been +burnt with the extreme heat thereof; for the sky which we behold here, +when we look up from the earth, is so fast and thick as a wall, clear +and shining bright as crystal, in which is placed the sun, which casteth +forth his rays and beams over the whole world, to the uttermost confines +of the earth. But we think that the sun is very little; no, it is +altogether as big as the world; indeed the body substantial is but +little in compass, but the rays or streams that it casteth forth by +reason of the thing wherein it is placed, maketh him to extend and show +himself all over the whole world; and we think that the sun runneth his +course, and that the heavens stand still; no, it is the heavens that +moves his course, and the sun abideth perpetually in his place, he is +permanent and fixed in his place; and although we see him beginning to +ascend in the orient or east, at the highest in the meridian or south, +setting in occident or west, yet is he in the lowest in septentrio or +north, and yet he moveth not, it is the axle of the heavens that moveth, +the whole firmament being a chaos or confused thing, and for that proof +I will show this example: like as thou seest a bubble made of water and +soap blown out of a quill, it is in form of a confused mass or chaos, +and being in this form is moved at pleasure of the wind, which runneth +round about that chaos, and moveth him also round; even so the whole +firmament or chaos, wherein are placed the sun and the rest of the +planets, is turned and carried at the pleasure of the spirit of God, +which is wind. Yea, Christian reader, to the glory of God, and to the +profit of my soul, I will open unto thee a divine opinion touching the +rule of this confounded chaos, far more than my rude German author, +being possessed with the devil, was able to utter, and prove some of my +sentences before to be true; look into Genesis, into the works of God, +at the creation of the world, there shalt thou find that the spirit of +God moved upon the water, before heaven and earth were made. Mark how he +made it, and how by his word every element took his place; these were +not his works, but his words, for all the words he used before, +concluded afterwards in one work, which was in making man. Mark, reader, +with patience, for thy soul's health, see into all that was done by the +word and work of God. Light and darkness was, the firmament stood, and +the great and little light in it; the moist waters were in one place, +the earth was dry, and every element brought forth according to the word +of God. Now follow his works: he made man after his own image. How? Out +of the earth. The earth will shape no image without water; there was one +of the elements; but all this while there was wind. All elements were at +the word of God. Man was made, and in a form by the work of God, yet +moved not that work before God had breathed the spirit of life into his +nostrils, and made him a living soul. Here was the first wind and spirit +of God, out of his own mouth; which we have likewise from the same seed +which was only planted by God in Adam; which wind, breath, or spirit, +when he had received, he was living and moved on earth; for it was +ordained of God for his habitation, but the heavens are the habitation +of the Lord. And like as I showed before of the bubble or confused chaos +made of water and soap, through the wind and breath of man is turned +round and carried with the wind, even so the firmaments wherein the sun +and the rest of the planets are fixed, be moved, turned, and carried +with the wind, breath, and spirit of God; for the heavens and firmaments +are moveable as the chaos, but the sun is fixed in the firmament. And +farther, my good schoolfellow, I was thus nigh the heavens, where +methought every planet was but as half the earth, and under the firmament +ruled the spirits in the air. As I came down, I looked upon the world +and heavens, and methought that the earth was inclosed (in comparison) +within the firmament as the yolk of an egg within the white; methought +that the whole length of the earth was not a span long, and the water +was as it had been twice as broad and as long as the earth. Even thus, +at eight days' end, I came home again, and fell asleep, and so I +continued sleeping three days and three nights together, and the first +hour I waked, fell fresh again to my calendars, and have made them in +right ample manner as you know. And to satisfy your request for that you +write unto me, I have (in consideration of our old friendship had at the +university of Wittenburg) declared unto you my heavenly voyage, wishing +no worse unto you than unto myself, that is, that your mind were as mine +in all respects. Dixi, Dr. Faustus the astrologian." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +_How Dr. Faustus made his Journey through the principal and most famous +Lands in the World._ + + +Dr. Faustus having overrun fifteen years of his appointed time, he took +upon him a journey, with full intent to see the whole world, and calling +his spirit Mephistophiles unto him, he said, "Thou knowest that thou art +bound unto me upon conditions, to form and fulfil my desire in all +things, wherefore my intent is to visit the whole face of the earth, +visible and invisible, when it pleaseth me; therefore I command and +enjoin thee to the same." Whereupon Mephistophiles answered, "I am +ready, my lord, at thy command;" and forthwith the spirit changed +himself into the likeness of a flying horse, saying, "Faustus, sit up, I +am ready." + +Dr. Faustus softly sate upon him, and forwards they went. Faustus came +through many a land and province, as Pannonia, Austria, Germany, +Bohemia, Silesia, Saxony, Messene, During, Frankland, Swaalband, +Byerland, Sayrir, Corinthia, Poland, Litaw, Lesland, Prussia, Denmark, +Muscovia, Tartaria, Turkey, Persia, Cathai, Alexandria, Barbaria, Ginny, +Porut, the Straights Maghellane, India, all about the frozen zone, and +Terra-incognita, Nova Hispaniola, the Isles of Tereza, Madera, St. +Michaels, the Canaries, and the Trenorirolcio into Spain, and Mainland, +Portugal, Italy, Campania, the Kingdom of Naples, the Isles of Sicilia, +Malta, Majorca, Minorca, to the Knights of the Rhodes, Candy or Crete, +Cypress, Corinth, Switzerland, France, Freezeland, Westphalia, Zealand, +Holland, Brabant, and all the seventeen provinces in Netherland, +England, Scotland, Ireland, and America, and Island, the Gut-Isles of +Scotland, the Orcades, Norway, the Bishopric of Bream; and so home +again. + +All these kingdoms, and provinces, and countries he passed in twenty-five +days, in which time he saw nothing that delighted his mind; wherefore he +took little rest at home, and burning in desire to see more at large, +and to behold the secrets of each kingdom, he set forward again on his +journey on his swift horse Mephistophiles, and came to Trent, for that +he chiefly desired to see this town, and the monuments thereof, but +there he saw not any wonders, except two fair palaces that belonged unto +the bishop, and also a mighty large castle that was built with brick, +with three walls, and three great trenches, so strong that it was +impossible for any prince's power to win it; then he saw a church +wherein was buried Simon and the bishop of Popo. Their tombs are of most +sumptuous stone-marble, closed and joined together with great bars of +iron. From thence he departed to Paris, where he liked well the academy; +and what place or kingdom soever fell in his mind, the same he visited. + +He came from Paris to Mentz, where the river of Maine falls into the +Rhine, notwithstanding he tarried not long there, but went into +Campania, in the kingdom of Neapoly, in which he saw an innumerable sort +of cloisters, nunneries, and churches, and great houses of stone, the +streets fair and large, and straight forth from one end of the town to +the other all alike, and all the pavement of the city was of brick, and +the more it rained in the town the fairer the streets were. There saw he +the tomb of Virgil, and the highway that he cut through the mighty hill +of stone in one night, the whole length of an English mile, where he saw +the number of galleys and argosies that lay there at the city head, the +windmill that stood in the water, the castle in the water, and the +houses above the water, where many galleys might ride most safely from +rain or wind; then he saw the castle on the hill over the town, and many +monuments therein, also the hill called Vesuvius, whereon groweth all +the Greekish wine and most pleasant sweet olives. + +From thence he came to Venice, whereat he wondered not a little to see a +city so famously built standing in the sea, where through every street +the water came in such largeness that great ships and barques might pass +from one street to another, having yet a way on both sides the water +whereon men and horses might pass. He marvelled also how it was possible +so much victuals to be found in the town, and so good and cheap, +considering that for a whole league nothing grew near the same. He +wondered not a little at the fairness of St. Mark's Place, and the +sumptuous church standing thereon, called St. Mark; how all the pavement +was set with coloured stones, and all the rood or loft of the church +double gilded over. + +Leaving this, he came to Padua, beholding the manner of their academy, +which is called the mother or nurse of Christendom; there heard he the +doctors, and saw most of the monuments of the town, entered his name in +the university of the German nation, and wrote himself Dr. Faustus, the +insatiable speculator. Then saw he the worthiest monument in the world +for a church, named St. Anthony's Cloister, which for the pinnacles +thereof and the contrivement of the church, hath not the like in +Christendom. The town is fenced about with three mighty walls of stone +and earth, betwixt the which runneth goodly ditches of water. Betwixt +every four-and-twenty hours passeth boats betwixt Padua and Venice with +passengers, as they do here betwixt London and Gravesend, and even so +far they differ in distance. Faustus beheld likewise the council-house +and castle, with no small wonder. + +Well, forward he went to Rome, which lay, and doth yet lie, on the river +Tibris, the which divideth the city into two parts. Over the river are +four great stone bridges, and upon the one bridge, called Ponte St. +Angelo, is the Castle of St. Angelo, wherein are so many great cast +pieces as there are days in the year, and such pieces as will shoot +seven bullets off with one fire. To this castle cometh a privy vault +from the church and the palace of St. Peter, through the which the pope +(if any danger be) passeth from his palace to the castle for safeguard. +The city hath eleven gates, and a hill called Vaticinium, whereupon St. +Peter's church is built. In that church the holy fathers will hear no +confessions without the penitent bring money in his hand. Adjoining to +the church is the Campo Santo, the which Carolus Magnus built, where +every day thirteen pilgrims have their dinners served of the best; that +is to say, Christ and his twelve apostles. Hard by this he visited the +churchyard of St. Peter, where he saw that pyramid that Julius Caesar +brought forth of Africa; it stood in Faustus's time leaning against the +church-wall of St. Peter's; but Pope Sixtus hath erected it in the +middle of St. Peter's churchyard. It is fourteen fathom long, and at the +lower end five fathom four square, and so forth smaller upwards. On the +top is a crucifix of beaten gold, the stone standing on four lions of +brass. Then he visited the seven churches of Rome, that were St. Peter, +St. Paul, St. Sebastian, St. John Lateran, St. Laurence, St. Mary +Magdalen, and St. Mary Majora. Then went he without the town, where he +saw the conduits of water that run level through hill and dale, bringing +water into the town fifteen Italian miles off. Other mountains he saw, +too many to recite. + +But amongst the rest he was desirous to see the pope's court, and his +manner of service at his table, wherefore he and his spirit made +themselves invisible, and came to the pope's court and privy-chamber, +where he was; there saw he many servants attending on his holiness, with +many a flattering sycophant carrying his meat; and there he marked +the pope, and the manner of his service, which he seeing to be so +unmeasurable and sumptuous: "Fie," quoth Faustus, "why had not the devil +made a pope of me?" Faustus saw there notwithstanding such as were like +to himself, proud, stout, wilful gluttons, drunkards, whoremongers, +breakers of wedlock, and followers of all manner of ungodly excess; +wherefore he said to his spirit, "I thought that I had been alone a hog +or pork of the devil's, but he must bear with me a little longer; for +these hogs of Rome are ready fatted, and fitted to make him roast meat; +the devil might do well to spit them all, and have them to the fire, and +let him summon the nuns to turn the spits; for as none must confess the +nun but the friar, so none should turn the roasting friar but the nun." +Thus continued Faustus three days in the pope's palace, and yet had no +lust to his meat, but stood still in the pope's chamber, and saw +everything whatsoever it was. + +On a time the pope would have a feast prepared for the Cardinal of +Pavia, and for his first welcome the cardinal was bidden to dinner, and +as he sate at meat the pope would ever be blessing and crossing over his +mouth. Faustus would suffer it no longer, but up with his fist and smote +the pope on his face, and withal he laughed that the whole house might +hear him, yet none of them saw him, or knew where he was. The pope +persuaded his company that it was a damned soul, commanding mass +presently to be said for his delivery out of purgatory, which was done; +the pope sat still at meat, but when the latter mess came to the pope's +board, Dr. Faustus laid hands thereon, saying, "This is mine," and so he +took both dish and meat, and flew into the Capitol or Campadolia, +calling his spirit unto him, and said, "Come, let us be merry, for thou +must fetch me some wine, and the cup that the pope drinks out of; and +hereupon morte caval, we will make good cheer in spite of the pope and +all his fat abbey lubbers." + +His spirit hearing this, departed towards the pope's chamber, where he +found them yet sitting, quaking; wherefore he took from before the pope +the fairest piece of plate, or drinking goblet, and a flagon of wine, +and brought it to Faustus. + +But when the pope and the rest of his crew perceived they were robbed, +and knew not after what sort, they persuaded themselves that it was a +damned soul that before had vexed the pope so, and that smote him on the +face; wherefore he sent commandment through the whole city of Rome, that +they should say a mass in every church, and ring all the bells, for to +lay the walking spirit, and to curse him with bell, book, and candle, +that so invisibly had misused the pope's holiness, with the Cardinal of +Pavia, and the rest of their company. + +But Faustus notwithstanding made good cheer with that which he had +beguiled the pope of, and in the midst of the order of St. Bernard's, +bare-footed friars, as they were going on procession through the +market-place, called Campo de Fiore, he let fall his plate, dish, and +cup, and withal for a farewell he made such a thunder-clap and storm of +rain, as though heaven and earth would have met together, and left Rome, +and came to Millain in Italy, near the Alps or borders of Switzerland, +where he praised much to his spirit the pleasures of the place, the city +being founded in so brave a plain, by the which ran most pleasant rivers +on every side of the same, having besides within the compass of a +circuit of seven miles, seven small seas: he saw also therein many fair +places, and goodly buildings, the duke's palace, and the mighty strong +castle, which is in a manner half the bigness of the town. Moreover, it +liked him well to see the hospital of St. Mary, with divers other +things: he did there nothing worthy of memory, but he departed back +again towards Bologna, and from thence to Florence, where he was well +pleased to see the pleasant walk of merchants, the goodly vaults of +the city, for that almost the whole city is vaulted, and the houses +themselves are built outwardly in such sort, that the people go under +them as under a vault: then he perused the sumptuous church in the +duke's castle, called Nostra Dama, our Lady's church, in which he saw +many monuments, as a marble door most huge to look upon; the gates of +the castle are bell-metal, wherein are graven the holy patriarchs, with +Christ and his twelve apostles, and divers other histories out of the +Old and New Testament. + +Then went he to Siena, where he highly praised the church and hospital +of Sancta Maria Formosa, with the goodly buildings, and especially the +fairness and greatness of the city, and beautiful women: then came he to +Lyons in France, where he marked the situation of the city, which lay +between two hills, environed with two waters; one worthy monument +pleased him well, that was the great church, with the image therein; he +commended the city highly for the great resort that it had unto it of +strangers. + +From thence he went to Cullen, which lieth upon the river of Rhine, +wherein he saw one of the ancientest monuments in the world, the which +was the tomb of the three kings that came by the angel of God, and their +knowledge they had in the stars, to worship Christ, which when Faustus +saw, he spake in this manner: "Ah! alas, good men! How have you erred, +and lost your way! You should have gone to Palestina, and Bethlehem in +Judea; how came you hither? Or belike after your death you were thrown +into Mare Mediterraneum, about Tripolis in Syria, and so you steered out +of the Straights of Gibralterra, in the ocean seas, and so into the Bay +of Portugal. And not finding any rest, you are driven along the coast of +Gallicia, Biscay and France, and into the narrow seas: then from thence +into Mare Germanicum, and taken up I think about the town of Dort in +Holland: you were brought to Cullen to be buried, or else (I think) you +came most easily with a whirlwind over the Alps, and being thrown into +the river of Rhine, it conveyed you to this place where you are kept a +monument." Then saw he the church of St. Ursula, where remains a +monument of the thousand virgins; it pleased him also to see the beauty +of the women. + +Not far from Cullen lieth the town of Ach, where he saw the gorgeous +temple that the Emperor Carolus Quartus built of marble-stone for a +remembrance of him, to the end that all his successors should there be +crowned. + +From Cullen and Ach he went to Geneva, a city in Savoy, lying near +Switzerland; it is a town of great traffic, the lord thereof is a +bishop, whose wine-cellar Faustus and his spirit visited for the love of +his good wine. + +From thence he went to Strasburg, where he beheld the fairest temple that +ever he had seen in his life before, for on every side thereof he might +see through, even from the covering of the minster to the top of the +pinnacle, and it is named one of the wonders of the world; wherefore, he +demanded why it is called Strasburg? His spirit answered, "Because it +hath so many highways common to it on every side, for Stros in Dutch is +a Highway, and hereof came the name: yea," said Mephistophiles, "the +church that thou so wonderest at, hath more revenues belonging to it +than the twelve dukes of Silesia are worth, for there pertain unto this +church fifty-five towns, and four hundred and sixty-three villages, +besides many houses in the town." + +From thence went Faustus to Basil, in Switzerland, where the river of +Rhine runneth through the town, parting the same as the river of Thames +doth London: in the town of Basil he saw many rich monuments, the town +walled with brick round about, without it goeth a great trench: no +church pleased him but the Jesuits' church, which was sumptuously +builded, and set full of alabaster pillars, where the spirit told +Faustus that before the city was founded, there used a Basiliscus, a +kind of serpent: this serpent killed as many men, women and children as +he took a sight of, but there was a knight that made himself a cover of +crystal, to come over his head and down to the ground, and being first +covered with a black cloth, over that he put the crystal, and so boldly +went to see the Basiliscus, and finding the place where she haunted, he +expected her coming even before the mouth of the cave, where standing a +while, the Basiliscus came forth, where when she saw her own venomous +shadow in the crystal, she split in a thousand pieces, wherefore the +knight was richly rewarded of the emperor, after the which the knight +founded this town upon the place where he had slain the serpent, and +gave it the name Basil, in remembrance of his deed. + +From Basil, Faustus went to Costnitz in Sweitz, at the head of the +Rhine, where is a most sumptuous bridge that goeth over the Rhine, even +from the gates of the town to the other side of the stream; at the head +of the river of Rhine, is a small sea, called of the Switzers the Black +Sea, twenty thousand paces long, and fifty hundred paces broad. The town +Costnitz took the name of this; the emperor gave it a clown for +expounding of his riddle: wherefore the clown named the town Costnitz, +that is in English, "Cost me nothing." + +From Costnitz he came to Ulm, where he saw the sumptuous town house +built by two-and-fifty of the ancient senators of the city; it took the +name Ulm, because the whole land thereabouts is full of Elms: but +Faustus minding to depart from thence, his spirit said unto him, +"Faustus, think of the town as you will; it hath three dukedoms +belonging to it, the which they have bought with ready money." + +From Ulm he came unto Watzberg, the chiefest town in Frankland, wherein +the bishop altogether keepeth his court, through the which town passeth +the river Mayne, that runs into the Rhine; thereabouts groweth strong +and pleasant wine, the which Faustus well proved: the castle standeth on +a hill on the north side of the town, at the foot thereof runneth the +river. This town is full of beggarly friars, nuns, priests, and Jesuits; +for there are five sorts of begging friars, besides three cloisters of +nuns; at the foot of the castle stands a church, in the which there is +an altar, where are engraven all the four elements, and all the orders +and degrees in heaven, that any man of understanding whosoever, that +hath a light thereof, may say that it is the artificialist thing that +ever he beheld. + +From thence he went to Norenberg, whither as he went by the way his +spirit informed him that the town was named of Claudius Tiberius, the +son of Nero the Tyrant. In the town are two famous cathedral churches, +one called St. Sabelt, the other St. Laurence; in which church stands +all the relics of Carolus Magnus, that is to say, his cloak, his hose, +his doublet, his sword and crown, the sceptre and apple. It hath a very +glorious gilded conduit in the market-place of St. Laurence; in which +conduit is the spear that thrust our Saviour into the side, and a piece +of the holy cross; the wall is called the fair wall of Norenberg, and +five hundred and twenty-eight streets, a hundred and sixty wells, four +great and two small clocks, six great gates, two small doors, eight +stone bridges, twelve small hills, ten fair market-places, thirteen +common hot-houses, ten churches; within the town are twenty wheels of +water-mills, it hath a hundred and thirty-eight tall ships, two mighty +town walls of hewed stone and earth, with very deep trenches: the walls +have a hundred and eighty towers about them, and four fair platforms, +ten apothecaries, ten doctors of the common law, fourteen doctors of +physic. + +From Norenberg he went to Auspurg, where at the break of the day he +demanded of his spirit whereupon the town took his name. "This town," +quoth he, "hath had many names; when it was first built, it was called +Vindelica; secondly, it was called Zizaria, the iron-bridge; lastly, by +the Emperor Octavus Augustus, it was called Augusta, and by the +corruption of language, the Germans had named it Auspurg." + +Now, for because that Faustus had been there before, he departed +(without seeing their monuments) to Ravensberg, where his spirit +certified him that the city had seven names: the first Diperia, the +second Quadratis, the third Heaspolis, the fourth Reginipolis, the fifth +Imbripolis, the sixth Ratisbona, the last is Ravensberg. The situation +of this city pleased Faustus well, also the strong and sumptuous +building; by the walls thereof runneth the river Danubius, in Dutch +called Danow, into which not far from the compass of the city falleth +near hand threescore other small rivers and fresh waters. Faustus also +liked the sumptuous stone bridge over the same water, with the church +standing thereon, the which was founded Anno 1115, the name whereof is +called St. Remedian; in the town Faustus went into the cellar of an +inn-holder, and let out all the beer and wine that was in the cellar. + +After which feat, he returned into Mentz in Bavaria, a right princely +town: the town appeared as if it were new, with great streets therein, +both of breadth and length from Mentz to Salisburg, where the bishop is +always resident: here saw he all the commodities that were possible to +be seen, for at the hill he saw the form of a bell made in crystal, a +huge thing to look upon, that every year groweth bigger and bigger, by +reason of the freezing cold. + +From thence he went to Vienna in Austria; the town is of great +antiquity, that it is not possible to find the like. "In this town," +said the spirit, "is more wine than water, for all under the town are +wells, which are filled every year with wine, and all the water that +they have runneth by this town; this is the river Danubius." + +From thence he went into Prage, the chief city of Bohemia; this is +divided into three parts, that is old Prage, little Prage, and new +Prage. Little Prage is the place where the emperor's court is placed; +upon an exceeding high mountain there is a castle, where are two fair +churches; in the one he found a monument which might well have been a +mirror for himself, and that was the sepulchre of a notable conjurer, +which by his magic had so enchanted his sepulchre that whosoever set foot +thereon, should be sure never to die in their beds. From this castle he +came and went down over the bridge; this bridge has twenty-four arches, +and in the middle of the bridge stands a very fair monument, being a +cross builded of stone, and most artificially carved. From thence he +went into the old Prage, the which is separated from the new Prage, with +an exceeding deep ditch, and round about enclosed with a wall of brick; +unto this is adjoining the Jews' town, wherein are thirteen thousand +men, women, and children, all Jews; there he viewed the college and the +gardens, where all manner of savage beasts are kept; and from thence he +fetched a compass round about the three towns, whereat he wondered +greatly to see so mighty a city stand all within the walls. + +From Prage he flew into the air, and bethought himself what he +might do, or which way to take; so looked round about, and behold he +espied a passing fair city, which lay not far from Prage, about some +four-and-twenty miles, and that was Bressaw in Silesia, in which when he +was entered, it seemed to him that he had been in Paradise, so neat and +clean were the streets, and so sumptuous were their buildings. In the +city he saw not many wonders, except the brazen Virgin that standeth +on a bridge over the water, and under which standeth a mill like a +paper-mill, which Virgin is made to do execution upon those disobedient +town-born children that be so wild that their parents cannot bridle +them; which, when any such are found with some heinous offence, turning +to the shame of their parents and kindred, they are brought to kiss the +Virgin, which openeth her arms. The person then to be executed kisseth +her, then doth she close her arms together with such violence, that she +crusheth out the breath of the party, breaketh his bulk, and so he +dieth; but being dead she openeth her arms again, and letteth the party +fall into the mill, where he is stamped into small morsels, which the +water carrieth away, so that no part is found again. + +From Bressaw he went toward Cracovia, in the kingdom of Polionia, where +he beheld the academy, the which pleased him wonderful well. In the city +the king most commonly holdeth his court at a castle, in which castle +are many famous monuments; there is a most sumptuous church in the same, +in which standeth a silver altar gilded and set with rich stones, and +over it is a covenance full of all manner of silver ornaments belonging +to mass. In the church hangeth the jaw-bones of a huge dragon, that kept +the rock before the castle was edified thereon: it is full of all manner +of munition, and hath always victuals for three years to serve three +thousand men; through the town runneth a river, called the Vessnal or +Wessel, where over is a fair wooden bridge; this water divideth the +town and Gasmere; in this Gasmere dwell the Jews, being a small walled +town by themselves, to the number of twenty-five thousand men, women and +children; within one mile of the town there is a salt mine, where they +found stones of pure salt, one thousand pound, two thousand pound, or +more in weight, and that in great quantity: this salt is as black as the +Newcastle coal when it comes out of the mines, but being beaten to +powder, it is as white as snow. The like they have four miles from +thence at a town called Buckma. + +From thence Faustus went to Sandentz, the Captain thereof was called Don +Spicket Jordan. In this town are many monuments, as the tomb and +sepulchre of Christ, in as ample a manner as that is at Jerusalem, at +the proper costs of a gentleman that went thrice a year to Jerusalem +from that place and returned again. Not far from that town is a new town +wherein is a nunnery of the order of St. Dioclesian, into which order +may none come except they be gentlewomen, and well formed, and fair to +look upon, which pleased Faustus well; but having a will to travel +further, and to see more wonders, mounting up towards the east, over +many lands and provinces, as in Hungaria, Transilvania, Shede, Ingatz, +Sardinia, and so into Constantinople, where the Turkish emperor kept his +court. + +This city was surnamed by Constantine, the founder thereof, being +builded of very fair stone. In the same the Great Turk hath three fair +palaces: the walls are strong, the pinnacles are very huge, and the +streets very large. But this liked not Faustus that one man should have +as many wives as he would. The sea runneth hard by the city; the wall +hath eleven gates. Faustus abode there a certain time to see the manner +of the Turkish emperor's service at his table, where he saw his royal +service to be such that he thought if all the Christian princes should +banquet together, and every one adorn the feast to the utmost, that +they were not able to compare with the Turk and his table, and the rest +of his country service. Wherefore it so affrighted Faustus that he vowed +to be revenged on him, for his pomp, he thought, was more fit for +himself; wherefore as the Turk sate at meat Faustus showed them a little +apish play, for round about the privy-chamber he sent forth flashing +flames of fire, insomuch that the whole company forsook their meat and +fled, except only the Great Turk himself; him Faustus charmed in such +sort that he could neither rise nor fall, neither could any man pull him +up. With this was the hall so light as if the sun had shined in the +house. Then came Faustus in form of a pope to the Great Turk, saying, +"All hail, emperor, now art thou honoured, that I so worthily appear +unto thee as thy Mahomet was wont to do." Hereupon he vanished, and +forthwith it thundered that the whole palace shook. The Turk greatly +marvelled what this should be that so vexed him, and was persuaded by +the chiefest counsellors that it was Mahomet, his prophet, which had so +appeared unto them; whereupon the Turk commanded them to fall down on +their knees and to give him thanks for doing them so great honour as to +show himself unto them. But the next day Faustus went into the castle +where he kept his wives and concubines, in which castle might no man, +upon the pain of death, come, except those that were appointed by the +Great Turk to do him service, and they were all eunuchs, which when +Faustus perceived, he said to his spirit Mephistophiles, "How likest +thou this sport? Are not these fair ladies greatly to be pitied that +thus consume their youth at the pleasure of one only man?" + +"Why," quoth the spirit, "mayst not thou instead of the emperor embrace +these fair ladies? Do what thy heart desireth herein, and I will aid +thee, and what thou wishest thou shalt have it performed." + +Wherefore Faustus (being before this counsel apt enough to put such +matters in practice) caused a great fog to be round about the castle, +both within and without, and he himself appeared amongst the ladies in +all points as they used to paint Mahomet; at which sight the ladies fell +on their knees and worshipped him. Then Faustus took the fairest by the +hand, and when he had delighted himself sufficiently with her, he put +her away, and made his spirit bring him another; and so he passed away +six days, all which time the fog was so thick and so stinking that they +within the house thought that they had been in hell for the time, and +they without wondered thereat, in such sort that they went to their +prayers, calling on their God Mahomet, and worshipping of the image; +where the sixth day Faustus exalted himself into the air like a pope, in +the sight of the Great Turk and all his people, and he had no sooner +departed the castle but the fog vanished away. Whence presently the Turk +went to his wives and concubines, demanding of them if they knew the +cause why the castle was beset with a mist so long. They said it was the +God Mahomet himself that had caused it, and how he was in the castle +personally six days. The Turk, hearing this, fell down upon his knees +and gave Mahomet thanks, desiring him to forgive him for being offended +with his visiting his castle and wives these six days. + +From thence Faustus went to Alker, the which before times was called +Chairam, or Memphis. In this city the Egyptian Soldan holdeth his court; +from thence the river Nilus hath his head and spring. It is the greatest +fresh water river that is in the whole world, and always when the sun is +in Cancer it overfloweth the whole land of Egypt. + +Then he returned again towards the north-east, and to the town of Osen +and Sebasa in Hungaria. This Osen is the closest city in Hungaria, and +standing in a fertile soil, wherein groweth most excellent wine; and not +far from the tower there is a well called Zipzan, the water whereof +changeth iron into copper. There are mines of gold and silver and all +manner of metal. We Germans call this town Osen, but in the Hungarian +speech it is Start. In the town standeth a very fair castle, and very +well fortified. + +From thence he went to Austria, and so through Silesia into Saxony, +unto the towns of Magdeburg, and Lipzig, and Lubeck. Magdeburg is a +bishopric. In this city is one of the pitchers wherein Christ changed +the water into wine in Cana in Galilee. At Lipzig nothing pleased +Faustus so well as the great vessel in the castle made of wood, the +which is bound about with twenty-four iron hoops, and every hoop weighed +two hundred pound weight. You must go upon a ladder thirty steps high +before you can look into it. He saw also the new churchyard where it was +walled, and standeth upon a fair plain. The yard is two hundred paces +long, and round about the side of the wall are good places, separated +one from each other to see sepulchres in, which in the middle of the +yard standeth very sumptuous; therein standeth a pulpit of white work +and gold. + +From thence he went to Lubeck and Jamberg, where he made no abode, but +away again to Erford in Duriten, where he visited the Frescold; and from +Erford he went home to Wittenburg, when he had seen and visited many a +strange place, being from home one year and a half, in which time he +wrought more wonders than are here declared. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +_How Dr. Faustus had sight of Paradise._ + + +After this Dr. Faustus set forth again to visit the countries of Spain, +Portugal, France, England, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Muscovy, +India, Cataia, Africa, Persia, and lastly, into Barbaria, amongst the +Black Moors; and in all his wandering he was desirous to visit the +ancient monuments and mighty hills, amongst the rest, beholding the high +hill called Theno Reise, was desirous to rest upon it. From thence he +went into the Isle of Britain, wherein he was greatly delighted to see +the fair water and warm baths, the divers sorts of metal, with many +precious stones and divers other commodities, the which Faustus brought +thence with him. He was also at the Orcades behind Scotland, where he +saw the tree that bringeth forth fruit, that when it is ripe, openeth +and falleth in the water, wherein engendereth a certain kind of fowl and +birds. These islands are in number twenty-three, but ten of them are not +habitable, the other thirteen were inhabited. + +From thence he went to the hill Caucasus, which is the highest in all +that tropic: it lieth near the borders of Scythia. Hereon Faustus stood +and beheld many lands and kingdoms. Faustus, being on such a high hill, +thought to look over all the world, and beyond, for he went to Paradise, +but he durst not commune with his spirit thereof; and being on the hill +Caucasus, he saw the whole land of India and Scythia, and as he looked +towards the east, he saw a mighty clear streak of fire coming from +heaven upon earth, even as if it had been one of the beams of the sun. +He saw in the water four mighty waters springing, one had his course +towards India, the second towards Egypt, the third and fourth towards +Armenia. When he saw these he would needs know of his spirit what waters +they were, and from whence they came? + +His spirit gave him gently an answer, saying, "It is Paradise that lieth +so far in the east, the garden that God himself hath planted with all +manner of pleasure; and the fiery streams which thou seest is the wall +or fence of the garden; but the clear light which thou seest afar of, +that is the angel that hath the custody thereof with a fiery sword; and +although thou thinkest thyself to be hard by, thou are yet further +thither from hence than thou hast ever been. The water that thou seest +divided in four parts, is the water that issueth out of the well in the +middle of Paradise. The first is called Ganges or Pison, the second +Gihon, the third Tygris, and the fourth Euphrates; also thou seest that +he standeth under Libra and Aries, right towards the Zenith; and upon +this fiery wall standeth the angel Michael with his flaming sword, to +keep the tree of life, which he hath in charge. But," the spirit said +to Faustus, "neither thou, nor I, nor any after us, yea, all men +whatsoever, are denied to visit, or come any nearer than we be." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +_Of a certain Comet that appeared in Germany, and how Dr. Faustus was +desired by certain Friends of his to know the meaning thereof._ + + +In Germany, over the town of St. Elzeben, was seen a mighty great comet, +whereat the people wondered, but Dr. Faustus being there, was asked of +certain of his friends his judgment or opinion in the matter; whereupon +he answered: "It falleth out often by the course and change of the sun +and moon, that the sun is under the earth, and the moon above; but when +the moon draweth near the change, then is the sun so strong that it +taketh away the light of the moon in such sort as she is red as blood; +and, on the contrary side, after they have been together, she soon +taketh her light from him, and so increasing in light to the full, she +will be as red as the sun was before, and change herself into divers and +sundry colours, of which springeth the prodigal monster, or, as you +call it, a comet, which is a figure or token appointed of God as a +forewarning of his displeasure: as at one time he sendeth hunger, +plague, sword, or such like, being all tokens of his judgments, which +comet cometh through the conjunction of the sun and moon, and begetteth +a monster, whose father is the sun, and whose mother is the moon: moon +and sun." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +_Another Question put forth to Dr. Faustus concerning the Stars._ + + +There was a learned man of the town of Halberstat, named N. W., who +invited Dr. Faustus to his table, but falling into communication before +supper was ready, they looked out of the window, and seeing many stars +in the firmament, this man being a doctor of physic, and a good +astrologian, said: "Dr. Faustus, I have invited you as my guest, hoping +you will take in good part with me, and withal, I request you to impart +some of your experience in the stars and planets;" and seeing a star +fall, he said: "I pray you, Faustus, what is the condition, quality, or +greatness of the stars in the firmament?" + +Faustus answered him: "My friend and brother, you see that the stars +that fall from heaven, when they come to the earth, they be very small +to our thinking as candles, but being fixed in the firmament, they are +many as great as a city, some as great as a province or dukedom, others +as great as the whole earth, other some far greater than the earth +twelve times, and from the height of the heavens there is scarce any +earth to be seen--yea, the planets in the heavens are some so great as +this land, some so great as the whole empire of Rome, some as Turkey, +yea, some as great as the whole world." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +_How Faustus was asked a Question concerning the Spirits that vexed +Men._ + + +"That is most true," said he to Faustus, "concerning the stars and +planets; but, I pray you, in what kind or manner do the spirits use to +vex men so little by day and so greatly by night?" + +Dr. Faustus answered: "Because the spirits are of God forbidden the +light; their dwelling is in darkness, and the clearer the sun shineth, +the farther the spirits have their abiding from it, but in the night +when it is dark, they have their familiarity and abiding near unto us +men. For although in the night we see not the sun, yet the brightness +thereof so lighted the first moving of the firmament, as it doth here +on earth in the day, by which reason we are able to see the stars and +planets in the night, even so the rays of the sun piercing upwards into +the firmament, the spirits abandon the place, and so come near us on +earth, the darkness filling our heads with heavy dreams and fond fancies, +with shrieking and crying in many deformed shapes: and sometimes when +men go forth without light, there falleth to them a fear, that their +hairs standeth up on end, so many start in their sleep, thinking there +is a spirit by them, groping or feeling for him, going round about the +house in their sleep, and many such like fancies, and all this is, +because in the night the spirits are more familiarly by us than we are +desirous of their company, and so they carry us, blinding us, and +plaguing us more than we are able to perceive." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +_How Dr. Faustus was asked a Question concerning the Stars that fell +from Heaven._ + + +Dr. Faustus being demanded the cause why the stars fall from heaven, he +answered: "That it is but our opinion; for if one star fall, it is the +great judgment of God upon us, as a forewarning of some great thing to +come: for when we think that a star falleth, it is but as a spark that +issueth from a candle or flame of fire; for if it were a substantial +thing, we should not so soon lose the sight of them as we do. But +likewise if so be that we see as it were a stream of fire fall from the +firmament, as it oft happeneth, yet are they not stars, but as it were a +flame of fire vanishing, but the stars are substantial; therefore are +they firm and not falling; if there fall any, it is a sign of some great +matter to come, as a scourge to a people or country; and then such stars +falling, and the gates of heaven are opened, and the clouds send forth +floods and other plagues, to the damage of the whole land and people." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +_How Faustus was asked a Question concerning Thunder._ + + +In the month of August there was over Wittenburg a mighty great +lightning and thunder; and as Dr. Faustus was jesting merrily in the +market-place with certain of his friends and companions, being +physicians, they desired him to tell them the cause of that weather. +Faustus answered: "It hath been commonly seen heretofore that, before a +thunder-clap, fell a shower of rain or a gale of wind; for commonly +after a wind falleth rain, and after rain a thunder-clap, such thickness +come to pass when the four winds meet together in the heavens, the airy +clouds are by force beaten against the fixed crystal firmament, but when +the airy clouds meet with the firmament, they are congealed, and so +strike, and rush against the firmament, as great pieces of ice when they +meet on the water; then each other sounded in our ears, and that we call +thunder, which indeed was none other than you have heard." + + + + +THE THIRD AND LAST OF DR. FAUSTUS HIS MERRY CONCEITS, SHOWING AFTER WHAT +SORT HE PRACTISED NECROMANCY IN THE COURTS OF GREAT PRINCES: AND, +LASTLY, OF HIS FEARFUL AND PITIFUL END. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +_How the Emperor Carolus Quintus requested of Faustus to see some of his +Cunning, whereunto he agreed._ + + +The Emperor Charles the Fifth of that name, was personally, with the +rest of the nobles and gentlemen, at the town of Intzbrack, where he +kept his court, unto the which also Dr. Faustus resorted, and being +there well known of divers nobles and gentlemen, he was invited in the +court to meat, even in the presence of the emperor, whom when the +emperor saw, he looked earnestly upon him, thinking by his looks he was +some wonderful fellow; wherefore he asked one of his nobles whom he +should be? He answered, that he was called Dr. Faustus. Whereupon the +emperor held his peace until he had taken his repast; after which he +called unto him Faustus into his privy-chamber; where being come, he +said unto him: "Faustus, I have heard much of thee, that thou art +excellent in the black art, and none like thee in my empire; for men say +that thou hast a familiar spirit with thee, and that thou canst do what +thou list. It is, therefore," said the emperor, "my request of thee that +thou let me see proof of thy experience, and I vow unto thee, by the +honour of my imperial crown, none evil shall happen unto thee for so +doing." + +Hereupon Dr. Faustus answered his Majesty, that upon those conditions he +was ready in anything that he could to do his highness's command in what +service he could appoint him. + +"Well, hear then what I say," quoth the emperor. "Being once solitary +in my house, I called to mind my elders and ancestors, how it was +possible for them to attain to so great a degree and authority, yea, so +high, that we, the successors of that line, are not able to come near. +As for example, the great and mighty monarch of the world, Alexander +Magnus, was such a pattern and spectacle to all his successors, as the +chronicles make mention of, having so great riches, conquering and +subduing so many kingdoms, the which I and those that follow me (I fear) +shall never be able to attain unto; wherefore, Faustus, my hearty desire +is that thou wouldst vouchsafe to let me see that Alexander and his +paramour, the which was praised to be so fair; and I pray thee show me +them in such sort that I may see their personages, shapes, gesture and +apparel, as they used in their lifetime, and that here before my face, +to that end that I may say, I have my long desire fulfilled, and to +praise thee to be a famous man in thy art and experience." + +Dr. Faustus answered: "My most excellent lord, I am ready to accomplish +your request in all things, so far forth as I and my spirit are able to +perform; yet your Majesty shall know that their dead bodies are not able +substantially to be brought before you; but such spirits as have seen +Alexander and his paramour alive shall appear unto you in manner and +form as they both lived in their most flourishing time, and herewith I +hope to please your imperial Majesty." Then Faustus went a little aside +and spoke to his spirit, but he returned again presently, saying, "Now, +if it please your Majesty, you shall see them, yet upon this condition, +that you demand no question of them, nor speak unto them;" which the +emperor agreed unto. + +Whereupon Dr. Faustus opened the privy-chamber door, where presently +entered the great and mighty emperor, Alexander Magnus, in all things to +look upon as if he had been alive; in proportion, a strong set thick +man, of a middle stature, black hair, and that both thick and curled, +head and beard, red cheeks, and a broad face, with eyes like a basilisk; +he had a complete harness furnished and engraven, exceeding rich to look +upon; and so passing towards the Emperor Carolus he made a low and +reverend courtesy; whereat the Emperor Carolus would have stood up to +receive and greet him with the like reverence. Faustus took hold on him, +and would not permit him to do it. Shortly after Alexander made humble +reverence, and went out again, and coming to the door, his paramour met +him. She coming in, made the emperor likewise reverence. She was clothed +in blue velvet, wrought and embroidered with pearls and gold; she was +also excellent fair, like blood and milk mixed, tall and slender, with a +face as round as an apple, and thus passed they certain times up and +down the house, which the emperor marking, said to himself, "Now I have +seen two persons which my heart hath long wished to behold; and sure it +cannot otherwise be," said he to himself, "but that the spirits have +changed themselves into these forms, and have but deceived me," calling +to mind the woman that raised the prophet Samuel. And for that the +emperor should be more satisfied in the matter, he said, "I have often +heard that behind in her neck she had a great wart or wen;" wherefore he +took Faustus by the hand without any words, and went to see if it were +able to be seen on her or not; but she perceiving that he came to her, +bowed down her neck, where he saw a great wart, and hereupon she +vanished, leaving the emperor and the rest well contented. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +_How Dr. Faustus, in the sight of the Emperor, conjured a Pair of Hart's +Horns upon a Knight's Head, that slept out at a casement._ + + +When Dr. Faustus had accomplished the emperor's desire in all things as +he was requested, he went forth into the gallery, and leaning over a +rail to look into the privy garden, he saw many of the emperor's +courtiers walking and talking together, and casting his eyes now this +way, now that way, he espied a knight leaning out of the window of the +great hall, who was fast asleep (for in those days it was hot); but the +person shall be nameless that slept, for that he was a knight, though it +was all done to no little disgrace of the gentleman. It pleased Dr. +Faustus, through the help of his spirit Mephistophiles, to fix on his +head as he slept a huge pair of hart's horns; and as the knight awaked, +thinking to pull in his head, he hit his horns against the glass, +that the panes thereof flew about his ears. Think here how this good +gentleman was vexed, for he could neither get backward nor forward; +which, when the emperor heard, all the courtiers laughed, and came for +to see what had happened. The emperor also, when he beheld the knight +with so fair a head, laughed heartily thereat, and was therewith well +pleased. At last Faustus made him quit of his horns again, but the +knight perceived not how they came. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +_How the above-mentioned Knight went about to be revenged of Dr. +Faustus._ + + +Dr. Faustus took his leave of the emperor and the rest of the courtiers, +at whose departure they were sorry, giving him many rewards and gifts; +but being a league and a half out of the city, he came into a wood, +where he beheld the knight that he had jested with at the court with +others in harness, mounted upon fair palfreys, and running with full +charge towards Faustus; but he seeing their intent ran towards the +bushes, and before he came among the bushes he returned again, running +as it were to meet them that chased him: whereupon suddenly all the +bushes were turned into horsemen, which also ran to encounter with the +knight and his company, and coming to them, they enclosed the knight and +the rest, and told them they must pay their ransom before they departed; +whereupon the knight seeing himself in such distress, besought Faustus +to be good to them, which he denied not but let them loose; yet he so +charmed them, that every one, knight and other, for the space of a whole +month did wear a pair of goat's horns on their brows, and every palfrey +a pair of ox's horns on his head; and this was their penance appointed +by Faustus. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +_How three young Dukes being together at Wittenburg, to behold the +University, requested Faustus to help them at a Wish to the Town of +Muncheon, in Bavaria, there to see the Duke of Bavaria's Son's Wedding._ + + +Three worthy young dukes, the which are not here to be named, but being +students all together, at the university of Wittenburg, met on a time +all together, where they fell in reasoning concerning the pomp and bravery +that should be in the city of Muncheon in Bavaria, at the wedding of +the duke's son, wishing themselves there but one half hour to see the +manner of their jollity; to whom one replied, saying to the two other +gentlemen, "If it please you to give me the hearing, I will give you +good counsel, that you may see the wedding, and be here again to-night, +and this is my meaning: let us send to Dr. Faustus, make him a present +of some rare thing, and open our minds unto him, desiring him to assist +us in our enterprise, and assure ye he will not deny to fulfil our +request." Hereupon they all concluded: sent for Faustus, told him their +minds, and gave him a gift, and invited him to a sumptuous banquet, +wherewith Faustus was well contented, and promised to further their +journey to the uttermost: and when the time was come that the three +young gentlemen came into his house, commanding them that they would put +on their best apparel, and adorn themselves as rich as they could. He +took off his great large cloak, went into the garden that was adjoining +unto his house, and set the three young dukes upon his cloak, and he +himself in the midst: but he gave them in charge, that in anywise they +should not at once open their mouths to speak, or make answer to any man +so soon as they went out, not so much as if the Duke of Bavaria or his +son should speak to them, or offer them courtesy, they should give no +word or answer again; to which they all agreed. + +These conditions being made, Dr. Faustus began to conjure, and on a +sudden arose a mighty wind, heaving up the cloak, and so carried them +away in the air, and in due time they came unto Muncheon to the duke's +court; where being entered into the utmost court, the marshal had espied +them, who presently went to the duke, showing his grace that all the +lords and gentlemen were ready set at the table, notwithstanding there +were newly come three goodly gentlemen with one servant, the which stood +without in the court, wherefore the good old duke came out unto them, +welcoming them, requiring what they were, and whence? But they made no +answer at all; whereat the duke wondered, thinking they had been all +dumb: notwithstanding for his honour's sake he took them into the court, +and feasted them. Faustus notwithstanding spake to them, "If anything +happen otherwise than well, when I say, Sit up, then fall you all on the +cloak, and good enough." + +Well, the water being brought, and that they must wash, one of the three +had some manners as to desire his friend to wash first, which when +Faustus heard, he said, "Sit up;" and all at once they got on the cloak, +but he that spoke fell off again, the other two with Dr. Faustus were +again presently at Wittenburg: but he that remained was taken and laid +in prison: wherefore the other two gentlemen were very sorrowful for +their friend, but Faustus comforted them, promising that on the morrow +he should also be at Wittenburg. + +Now all this while was the duke taken in great fear, and strucken into +an exceeding dumps, wondering with himself that his hap was so hard to +be left behind, and not the rest: and now being locked and watched with +so many keepers: there was also certain of the guests that fell to +reasoning with him to know what he was, and also what the other were +that were vanished away? But the poor prisoner thought with himself, "If +I open what they are, then it will be evil also with me." Wherefore all +this while he gave no man any answer, so that he was there a whole day +and gave no man a word: wherefore the old duke gave charge that the next +morning they should rack him until he had confessed; which when the +young duke heard, he began to sorrow, and to say with himself, "It may +be, that to-morrow (if Dr. Faustus come not to aid me) I shall be racked +and grievously tormented, insomuch that I shall be constrained by force +to say more than willingly I would do." + +But he comforted himself with hope that his friends would entreat Dr. +Faustus about his deliverance, as also it came to pass: for that before +it was day, Dr. Faustus was by him, and he conjured them that watched +him into such a heavy sleep, that he with his charms made open all the +locks in the prison, and therewithal brought the young duke again in +safety to the rest of his fellows and friends, where they presented +Faustus with a sumptuous gift, and so departed one from another. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +_How Dr. Faustus borrowed Money of a Jew, and laid his own Leg in Pawn +for it._ + + +It is a common proverb in Germany that, although a conjurer have all +things at command, the day will come that he shall not be worth a penny: +so it is like to fall out with Dr. Faustus in promising the devil so +largely; but as the devil is the author of all lies, even so he led +Faustus his mind in practising things to deceive the people, and +blinding them, wherein he took his whole delight, thereby to bring +himself to riches. Notwithstanding, in the end he was never the richer; +and although during twenty-four years of his time that the devil set him +he wanted nothing, yet was he best pleased when he might deceive +anybody; for out of the mightiest potentates' courts in all these +countries he would send his spirit to fetch away their best cheer. + +And on a time, being in his merriment, where he was banqueting with +other students in an inn, thereunto resorted many Jews; which when Dr. +Faustus perceived, he was minded to play a merry jest to deceive a Jew, +desiring one of them to lend him some money for a time. The Jew was +content, and lent Faustus threescore dollars for a month, which time +being expired, the Jew came for his money and interest; but Dr. Faustus +was never minded to pay the Jew again. At length the Jew coming home to +his house, and calling importunately for his money, Dr. Faustus made him +this answer: "Jew, I have no money, nor know I how to pay thee; but +notwithstanding to the end thou mayst be contented, I will cut off a +limb of my body, be it arm or leg, and the same thou shalt have in pawn +for thy money; yet with this condition, that when I shall pay thee thy +money again, then thou shalt give me my limb." + +The Jew, that was never a friend to a Christian, thought with himself, +'This fellow is right for my purpose, that will lay his limbs in +pawn for money,' and was therewith very well content. Wherefore Dr. +Faustus took a saw and therewith seemed to cut off his leg, being +notwithstanding nothing so. Well, he gave it to the Jew, yet upon this +condition, when he got money to pay the Jew should deliver him his leg, +to the end he might set it on again. + +The Jew was with this matter very well pleased, took his leg and +departed; and having to go far home he was somewhat weary, and by the +way he thus bethought him: "What helpeth me a knave's leg? If I should +carry it home it would stink and infect my house; besides, it is too +hard a piece of work to set it on again: wherefore, what an ass was +Faustus to lay so great a pawn for so small a sum of money! And for my +part," quoth the Jew to himself, "this will never profit me anything;" +and with these words he cast the leg away from him into a ditch. + +All this Dr. Faustus knew right well, therefore within three days after +sent for the Jew to make him payment of his sixty dollars. The Jew +came, and Dr. Faustus demanded his pawn--there was his money ready for +him. The Jew answered, "The pawn was not profitable nor necessary for +anything, so I cast it away." But Faustus, threatening, replied, "I will +have my leg again, or else one of thine for it." The Jew fell to +intreat, promising him to give him what money he would ask if he would +not deal strictly with him. Wherefore the Jew was constrained to give +him sixty dollars more to be rid of him; and yet Faustus had his leg on, +for he had but blinded the Jew. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +_How Dr. Faustus deceived the Horse-courser._ + + +After this manner he deceived a horse-courser at a fair, called +Pheifering: for Faustus, through his conjuring, had gotten an excellent +fair horse, whereupon he rid to the fair, where he had many chapmen that +offered him money; lastly, he sold him for forty dollars, and willing +him that bought him, that in anywise he should not ride him over the +water. But the horse-courser marvelled with himself that Faustus bade +him ride over no water. "But," quoth he, "I will prove;" and forthwith +he rid him into the river. Presently the horse vanished from under him, +and he was left on a bottle of straw, insomuch that the man was almost +drowned. + +The horse-courser knew well where he lay that had sold him his horse; +whereupon he went angerly to his inn, where he found Dr. Faustus fast +asleep and snorting on a bed. But the horse-courser could no longer +forbear him, but took him by the leg and began to pull him off the bed; +but he pulled him so that he pulled his leg from his body, insomuch that +the horse-courser fell backwards in the place. Then began Dr. Faustus to +cry with open throat, "He hath murdered me." Hereat the horse-courser +was afraid, and gave the flight, thinking no other with himself but that +he had pulled his leg from his body. By this means Dr. Faustus kept his +money. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +_How Dr. Faustus ate a Load of Hay._ + + +Dr. Faustus being at a town in Germany called Zwickow, where he was +accompanied with many doctors and masters, and going forth to walk +after supper, they met with a clown that drew a load of hay. + +"Good even, good fellow," said Faustus to the clown, "what shall I give +thee to let me eat my bellyful of hay?" The clown thought with himself, +"What a madman is this to eat hay." Thought he with himself, "Thou wilt +not eat much." They agreed for three farthings he should eat as much as +he could. + +Wherefore Dr. Faustus began to eat, and so ravenously, that all the rest +of the company fell a-laughing; blinding so the poor clown that he was +sorry at his heart, for he seemed to have eaten more than half of the +hay; wherefore the clown began to speak him fair, for fear he should +have eaten the other half also. Faustus made as though he had pity on +the clown, and went away. When the clown came in the place where he +would be, he had his hay again as he had before, a full load. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +_How Dr. Faustus served the Twelve Students._ + + +At Wittenburg, before Faustus's house, there was a quarrel between seven +students, and five that came to part the rest, one part stronger than +the other. Wherefore Dr. Faustus, seeing them to be over-matched, conjured +them all blind, insomuch that the one could not see the other, and he +dealt so with them, that they fought and smote at one another still; +whereat all the beholders fell a-laughing; and thus they continued +blind, beating one another until the people parted them and led each one +to his own house, where being entered into their houses, they received +their sight presently again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +_How Dr. Faustus served the Drunken Clowns._ + + +Dr. Faustus went into an inn wherein were many tables full of clowns, +the which were tippling can after can of excellent wine; and to be +short, they were all drunken; and as they sate, they so sang and +holloaed, that one could not hear a man speak for them. This angered Dr. +Faustus; wherefore he said to them that called him in, "Mark, my +masters, I will show a merry jest." + +The clowns continued still holloaing and singing; he conjured them +that their mouths stood as wide open as it was possible for them to +hold them, and never a one of them was able to close his mouth again; +by-and-by the noise was gone; the clowns notwithstanding looked earnest +one upon another, and knew not what was happened. One by one they went +out, and so soon as they came without, they were all as well as ever +they were, but none of them desired to go in any more. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +_How Dr. Faustus sold five Swine for six Dollars apiece._ + + +Dr. Faustus began another jest. He made ready five fat swine the which +he sold to one for six dollars apiece, upon this condition, that the +swine-driver should not drive them into the water. Dr. Faustus went +home again, and as the swine had fouled themselves in the mud, the +swine-driver drove them into the water, where presently they were +changed into so many bundles of straw, swimming upright in the water. +The buyer looked wistfully upon them, and was sorry in his heart; but +he knew not where to find Faustus; so he was content to let all go, and +lose both money and hogs. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +_How Dr. Faustus played a merry Jest with the Duke of Anhalt in his +Court._ + +Dr. Faustus on a time went to the Duke of Anhalt, who welcomed him +very courteously. This was in the month of January; where sitting at +table, he perceived the duchess to be with child; and forbearing himself +until the meat was taken from the table, and that they brought in the +banqueting dishes, Dr. Faustus said to the duchess, "Gracious lady, I +have always heard that women with child do always long for some +dainties; I beseech therefore your grace, hide not your mind from me, +but tell me what you desire to eat." + +She answered him: "Dr. Faustus, now truly I will not hide from you what +my heart doth much desire; namely, that if it were now harvest, I would +eat my fill of grapes and other dainty fruit." + +Dr. Faustus answered hereupon: "Gracious lady, this is a small thing for +me to do, for I can do more than this." Wherefore he took a plate and +set it upon one of the casements of the window, holding it forth, where +incontinent he had his dish full of all manner of fruit, as red and +white grapes, pears, and apples, the which came from out of strange +countries. All these he presented to the duchess, saying: "Madam, I pray +you vouchsafe to taste of this dainty fruit, the which came from a far +country, for there the summer is not yet ended." The duchess thanked +Faustus highly, and she fell to her fruit with full appetite. + +The Duke of Anhalt notwithstanding could not withhold to ask Faustus +with what reason there were such young fruits to be had at that time of +the year? + +Dr. Faustus told him: "May it please your grace to understand, that the +year is divided into two circles of the whole world, that when with us +it is winter, in the contrary circle it is notwithstanding summer; for +in India and Saba there falleth or setteth a sun, so that it is so warm, +that they have twice a year fruit; and, gracious lord, I have a swift +spirit, the which can in a twinkling of an eye fulfil my desire in +anything; wherefore I sent him into those countries, who hath brought +this fruit as you see;" whereat the duke greatly admired. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +_How Dr. Faustus, through his Charms, made a great Castle in the +presence of the Duke of Anhalt._ + + +Dr. Faustus desired the Duke of Anhalt to walk a little forth of the +court with him; wherefore they went together in the field, where Dr. +Faustus (through his skill) had placed a mighty castle, which when the +duke saw he wondered thereat, so did the duchess and all the beholders, +that on that hill which is called Rohumbuel, should on the sudden be so +fair a castle. At length Dr. Faustus desired the duke and duchess to +walk with him into the castle, which they denied not. This castle was so +wonderful strong, having about it a great deep trench of water, the +which was full of fish, and all manner of water-fowl, as swans, ducks, +geese, bitterns, and such like; about the wall was five stone doors, and +two other doors also; within was a great open court, wherein was +enchanted all manner of wild beasts, especially such as was not to be +found in Germany, as apes, bears, buffes, antelopes, and many more +strange beasts; also there were harts, hinds, roebucks, and does, and +wild swine; all manner of land-fowl that any man could think on, which +flew from one tree to another. + +After all this he set his guests to the table, being the duke and +duchess, with all their train, for he had provided them a most sumptuous +feast both of meat, and also of drink; for he set nine messes of meat +upon the board at once. And all this must his Wagner do, to place all +things on the board, the which was brought unto him by the spirit +invisibly, of all things their hearts could desire, as wild-fowl, +venison, and all manner of dainty fish that could be thought on. Of wine +also great plenty, and of divers sorts, French wine, Cullen wine, +Crabashir wine, Renish wine, Spanish wine, Hungarian wine, Waszburg +wine, Malmsey, and Sack; in the whole there was one hundred cans +standing round about the house. + +This sumptuous banquet the duke took thankfully, and afterwards he +departed homeward; but to their thinking they had neither eat nor drank, +so were they blinded while they were in the castle. But as they were in +their palace, they looked towards the castle, and beheld it all on a +flame of fire, and all those that saw it wondered to hear so strange a +noise, as if a great ordnance had been shot off. And thus the castle +burned and consumed clean away; which done, Dr. Faustus returned to the +duke, who gave him great thanks for showing of him so great a courtesy, +and gave him a hundred dollars, and liberty to depart or stay there at +his own discretion. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +_How Dr. Faustus, with his Company, visited the Bishop of Salisburg's +Wine-cellar._ + + +Dr. Faustus having taken leave of the duke, he went to Wittenburg, +near about Shrovetide, and being in company with certain students, Dr. +Faustus was himself the God of Bacchus, who having well feasted the +students before with dainty fare, after the manner of Germany, where it +is counted no feast unless all the bidden guests be drunk, which Dr. +Faustus intending, said, "Gentlemen, and my guests, will it please you +to take a cup of wine with me in a place or cellar whereunto I will +bring you?" They all said willingly, "We will;" which, when Dr. Faustus +heard, he took them forth, set each of them upon a holly-wand, and so +was conjured into the Bishop of Salisburg's cellar, for thereabouts grew +excellent pleasant wine. There fell Faustus and his company a-drinking +and swilling, not of the worst, but of the best. + +And as they were merry in the cellar, came to draw drink the bishop's +butler; which when he perceived so many persons there, he cried with a +loud voice, "Thieves, thieves!" This spited Dr. Faustus wonderfully, +wherefore he made every one of his company to sit on their holly-wand, +and so vanished away. And in parting, Dr. Faustus took the butler by the +hair of the head, and carried him away with them, until they came to a +mighty high-lopped tree; and on the top of that huge tree he set the +butler, where he remained in a most fearful perplexity. + +Dr. Faustus departed to his house, where they took their valete one +after another, drinking the wine that they had stolen in their bottles +out of the bishop's cellar. The butler, that had held himself by the +hands upon the lopped tree all the night, was almost frozen with the +cold, espying the day, and seeing the tree of huge great highness, +thought with himself, "It is impossible to come off this tree without +peril of death." At length, espying certain clowns passing by, he cried, +"For the love of God help me down!" The clowns, seeing him so high, +wondered what madman would climb up so huge a tree; wherefore, as a +thing most miraculous, they carried tidings to the Bishop of Salisburg. +Then was there great running on every side to see him on the tree, and +many devices they practised to get him down with ropes, and being +demanded of the bishop how he came there, he said that he was brought +thither, by the hair of the head, by certain thieves that were robbing +of the wine-cellar, but what they were he knew not; "for," said he, +"they had faces like men, but they wrought like devils." + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +_How Dr. Faustus kept his Shrovetide._ + + +There were seven students and masters that studied divinity, +jurisprudentiae, and medicinae. All these having consented, were agreed to +visit Dr. Faustus, and to celebrate Shrovetide with him; who being come +to his house, he gave them their welcome, for they were his dear +friends, desiring them to sit down, where he served them with a very +good supper of hens, fish, and other roast, yet were they but slightly +cheered; wherefore Dr. Faustus comforted his guests, excusing himself +that they had stolen upon him so suddenly, that he had not leisure to +provide for them so well as they were worthy. "But, my good friends," +quoth he, "according to the use of our country, we must drink all this +night; and so a draught of the best wine bedwards is commendable. For +you know that in great potentates' courts they use at this night great +feasting, the like will I do for you; for I have three great flagons of +wine: the first is full of Hungarian wine, containing eight gallons; the +second of Italian wine, containing seven gallons; the third containing +six gallons of Spanish wine; all the which we will tipple up before it +be day. Besides, we have fifteen dishes of meat, the which my spirit +Mephistophiles hath fetched so far, that it was cold before he brought +it, and they are all full of the daintiest things that one's heart can +devise. But," saith Faustus, "I must make them hot again; and you may +believe me, gentlemen, that this is no blinding of you; whereas you +think that this is no natural food, verily it is as good and as pleasant +as ever you eat." + +And having ended his tale, he commanded his boy to lay his cloth, which +done, he served them with fifteen messes of meat, having three dishes in +a mess; in the which were all manner of venison, and dainty wild-fowl; +and for wine there was no lack, as Italian wine, Hungarian wine, and +Spanish wine; and when they were all made drunk, and that they had eaten +their good cheer, they began to sing and dance until it was day. And so +they departed every one to his own habitation; at whose departing, Dr. +Faustus desired them to be his guests again the next day following. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +_How Dr. Faustus feasted his Guests on Ash Wednesday._ + + +Upon Ash Wednesday came unto Dr. Faustus his bidden guests, the students, +whom he feasted very royally, insomuch that they were all full and +lusty, dancing and singing as the night before; and when the high +glasses and goblets were caroused one to another, Dr. Faustus began to +play them some pretty feats, insomuch that round about the hall was +heard most pleasant music, and that in sundry places: in this corner a +lute, in another a cornet, in another a cittern, clarigols, harp, +hornpipe, in fine, all manner of music was heard there in that instant; +whereat all the glasses and goblets, cups, and pots, dishes, and all +that stood upon the board began to dance. Then Dr. Faustus took ten +stone pots and set them down on the floor, where presently they began to +dance, and to smite one against another, that the shivers flew round +about the whole house, whereat the whole company fell a-laughing. Then +began he another jest: he set an instrument upon the table, and caused a +mighty great ape to come among them, which ape began to dance and skip, +showing them merry conceits. + +In this and such pastime they passed away the whole day. When night +being come Dr. Faustus bid them all to supper, which they lightly agreed +unto, for students in these cases are easily intreated; wherefore he +promised to feast them with a banquet of fowl, and afterwards they would +go all about with a mask. Then Dr. Faustus put forth a long pole out of +the window, whereupon presently there came innumerable numbers of birds +and wild-fowl, and so many as came had not the power to fly away again; +but he took them and flung them to the students, who lightly pulled off +the necks of them, and being roasted, they made their supper, which +being ended, they made themselves ready for the mask. + +Dr. Faustus commanded every one to put on a clean shirt over the other +clothes, which being done, they looked one upon another. It seemed to +each one of them that they had no heads; and so they went forth unto +certain of their neighbours, at which sight the people were most +wonderfully afraid; and as the use of Germany is, that wheresoever a +mask entereth the good man of the house must feast him, so as these +maskers were set to their banquet, they seemed again in their former +shape with heads, insomuch that they were all known whom they were; and +having sat and well eat and drank, Dr. Faustus made that every one had +an ass's head on, with great long ears, so they fell to dancing and to +drive away the time until it was midnight, and then every one departed +home; and as soon as they were out of the house, each one was in his +natural shape, and so they ended and went to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +_How Dr. Faustus the Day following was feasted by the Students, and of +his merry Jests with them while he was in their Company._ + + +The last bacchanalia was held on Thursday, where ensued a great snow, +and Dr. Faustus was invited unto the students that were with him the day +before, where they prepared an excellent banquet for him, which banquet +being ended, Dr. Faustus began to play his old projects. And forthwith +was in the place thirteen apes, that took hands and danced round in +a ring together; then they fell to tumbling and vaulting one after +another, that it was most pleasant to behold; then they leaped out of +the window and vanished away. Then they set before Dr. Faustus a roasted +calf's head, which one of the students cut a piece off, and laid it on +Dr. Faustus his trencher, which piece was no sooner laid down but the +calf's head began to cry mainly out like a man, "Murder, murder! Out, +alas! what dost thou to me?" Whereat they were all amazed, but after a +while, considering of Faustus's jesting tricks, they began to laugh, and +they pulled asunder the calf's head and eat it up. + +Whereupon Dr. Faustus asked leave to depart, but they would in nowise +agree to let him go, except that he would promise to come again +presently. Then Faustus, through his cunning, made a sledge, the which +was drawn about the house with four fiery dragons. This was fearful for +the students to behold, for they saw Faustus ride up and down, as though +he would have fired and slain all them that were in the house. This +sport continued until midnight, with such a noise that they could not +hear one another; the heads of the students were so light that they +thought themselves to be in the air all that time. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +_How Dr. Faustus showed the fair Helena unto the Students upon the +Sunday following._ + + +The Sunday following came the students home to Dr. Faustus his own +house, and brought their meat and drink with them. Those men were right +welcome guests unto Faustus, wherefore they all fell to drinking of wine +smoothly; and being merry, they began some of them to talk of beauty of +women, and every one gave forth his verdict what he had seen, and what +he had heard. So one amongst the rest said, "I was never so desirous of +anything in this world as to have a sight (if it were possible) of fair +Helena of Greece, for whom the worthy town of Troy was destroyed and +razed down to the ground; therefore," saith he, "that in all men's +judgments she was more than commonly fair, because that when she was +stolen away from her husband there was for her recovery so great +bloodshed." + +Dr. Faustus answered: "For that you are all my friends, and are so +desirous to see that stately pearl of Greece, fair Helena, the wife to +King Menelaus, and daughter of Tyndarus and Leda, sister to Castor and +Pollux, who was the fairest lady of all Greece, I will therefore bring +her into your presence personally, and in the same form and attire as +she used to go when she was in her chiefest flower and choicest prime +of youth. The like have I done for the Emperor Carolus Magnus; at his +desire I showed him Alexander the Great, and his paramour. But," said +Dr. Faustus, "I charge you all that upon your perils you speak not a +word, nor rise up from the table so long as she is in your presence." + +And so he went out of the hall, returning presently again, after whom +immediately followed the fair and beautiful Helena, whose beauty was +such that the students were all amazed to see her, esteeming her rather +to be an heavenly than an earthly creature. This lady appeared before +them in a most rich gown of purple velvet, costly embroidered; her hair +hanging down loose, as fair as the beaten gold, and of such length that +it reached down to her hams; having most amorous coal-black eyes; a +sweet and pleasant round face, with lips as red as any cherry; her +cheeks of a rose colour, her mouth small; her neck white like a swan, +tall and slender of personage; in sum, there was no imperfect place in +her. She looked round about her with a rolling hawk's eye, a smiling and +wanton countenance, which near hand inflamed the hearts of all the +students, but that they persuaded themselves she was a spirit, which +made them lightly pass away such fancies; and thus fair Helena and +Faustus went out again one with another. + +But the students, at Faustus entering in the hall again, requested him +to let them see her again the next day, for that they will bring with +them a painter to take a counterfeit, which he denied, affirming that he +could not always raise up his spirit, but only at certain times. "Yet," +said he, "I will give unto you her counterfeit, which shall be as good +to you as if yourself should see the drawing thereof;" which they +received according to his promise, but soon after lost it again. The +students departed from Faustus to their several lodgings, but none of +them could sleep that night for thinking of the beauty of fair Helena; +therefore a man may see how the devil blindeth and inflameth the heart +oftentimes, that men fall in love with harlots, from which their minds +can afterwards be hardly removed. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +_How Dr. Faustus conjured the four Wheels from the Clown's Waggon._ + + +Dr. Faustus was sent for to come to the Marshal of Brunswick, who was +marvellously troubled with the falling sickness. Now Faustus had this +quality, he seldom rid, but commonly walked afoot to ease himself when +he list; and as he came near unto the town of Brunswick there overtook +him a clown with four horses and an empty waggon, to whom Dr. Faustus +(jestingly, to try him) said: "I pray thee, good fellow, let me ride a +little to ease my weary legs;" which the buzzardly ass denied, saying +that his horse was weary; and he would not let him get up. + +Dr. Faustus did this but to prove this clown if there were any courtesy +to be found in him if need were; but such churlishness is usually found +among clowns. But he was well requited by Faustus, even with the like +payment: for he said to him, "Thou dotish clown, void of all humanity, +seeing thou art of so churlish a disposition, I will pay thee as thou +hast deserved, for the four wheels of thy waggon thou shalt have taken +from thee; let me see then how thou canst shift." Whereupon his wheels +were gone, his horses fell also down to the ground as though they had +been dead; whereat the clown was sore affrighted, measuring it as a +just scourge of God for his sins and churlishness. Wherefore with a +trembling and wailing he humbly besought Dr. Faustus to be good unto +him, confessing he was worthy of it; notwithstanding if it pleased him +to forgive him he would hereafter do better. Which submission made +Faustus his heart to relent, answering him on this manner: "Well, do so +no more; but when a poor man desireth thee, see that thou let him ride. +But yet thou shalt not go altogether clear, for although thou have again +thy four wheels, yet thou shalt fetch them at the four gates of the +city." So he threw dust on the horses and revived them again. And the +clown for his churlishness was fain to fetch his wheels, spending his +time with weariness; whereas if before he had showed a little kindness +he might quietly have gone about his business. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +_How four Jugglers cut one another's Heads off, and set them on again, +and Faustus deceived them._ + + +Dr. Faustus came in Lent unto Frankland fair, where his spirit +Mephistophiles gave him to understand that in an inn were four jugglers +that cut one another's heads off: and after their cutting off sent them +to the barber to be trimmed, which many people saw. + +This angered Faustus, for he meant to have himself the only cook in the +devil's banquet, and went to the place where they were, to beguile them, +and as the jugglers were together, ready one to cut off another's head, +there stood also the barber ready to trim them, and by them upon the +table stood likewise a glass full of stilled waters, and he that was the +chiefest among them stood by it. Thus they began; they smote off the +head of the first, and presently there was a lily in the glass of +distilled water, where Faustus perceived this lily as it was springing, +and the chief juggler named it the tree of life. Thus dealt he with the +first, making the barber wash and comb his head, and then he set it on +again. Presently the lily vanished away out of the water; hereat the man +had his head whole and sound again. The like did he with the other +two; and as the turn and lot came to the chief juggler, that he also +should be beheaded, and that this lily was most pleasant, fair, and +flourishing green, they smote his head off, and when it came to be +barbed, it troubled Faustus his conscience, insomuch that he could not +abide to see another do anything, for he thought himself to be the +principal conjurer in the world; wherefore Dr. Faustus went to the table +whereat the other jugglers kept that lily, and so he took a small knife +and cut off the stalk of the lily, saying to himself, "None of them +shall blind Faustus." Yet no man saw Faustus to cut the lily; but when +the rest of the jugglers thought to have set on their master's head, +they could not; wherefore they looked on the lily, and found it +bleeding. By this means the juggler was beguiled, and so died in his +wickedness; yet no one thought that Dr. Faustus had done it. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +_How an old Man, the Neighbour of Faustus, sought to persuade him to +mend his Life, and to fall unto Repentance._ + + +A good Christian, an honest and virtuous old man, a lover of the Holy +Scriptures, who was neighbour to Dr. Faustus, when he perceived that +many students had their recourse in and out unto Dr. Faustus, he +suspected his evil life, wherefore like a friend he invited Dr. Faustus +to supper unto his house, to which he agreed, and having entered their +banquet, the old man began with these words: + +"My loving friend and neighbour, Dr. Faustus, I am to desire of you a +friendly and Christian request, beseeching you would vouchsafe not to be +angry with me, but friendly resolve me in my doubt, and take my poor +inviting in good part." + +To whom Dr. Faustus answered, "My good neighbour, I pray you say your +mind." + +Then began the old patron to say, "My good neighbour, you know in the +beginning how that you have defied God and all the host of heaven, and +given your soul to the devil, wherewith you have incurred God's high +displeasure, and are become from a Christian far worse than a heathen +person. Oh! consider what you have done, it is not only the pleasure of +the body, but the safety of the soul that you must have respect unto; of +which, if you be careless, then are you cast away, and shall remain in +the anger of the Almighty God. But yet it is time enough, O Faustus! if +you repent, and call upon the Lord for mercy, as we have example in the +Acts of the Apostles, the eighth chapter, of Simon in Samaria, who was +led out of the way, affirming that he was Simon homo sanctus. This man +notwithstanding in the end, was converted, after he had heard the sermon +of Philip, for he was baptized and saw his sin and repented. Likewise I +beseech you, good brother, Dr. Faustus, let my rude sermon be unto you a +conversion, and forget thy filthy life that thou hast led, repent, ask +mercy, and live: for Christ saith, 'Come unto me all ye that are weary +and heavy laden, and I will refresh you.' And in Ezekiel, 'I desire not +the death of a sinner, but rather that he will convert and live.' Let my +words, good brother Faustus, pierce into your adamant heart, and desire +God for his Son Christ his sake to forgive you. Wherefore have you lived +so long in your devilish practices, knowing that in the Old and New +Testament you are forbidden, and men should not suffer any such to live, +neither have any conversation with them, for it is an abomination unto +the Lord, and that such persons have no part in the kingdom of God." + +All this while Dr. Faustus heard him very attentively, and replied: +"Father, your persuasions like me wondrous well, and I thank you with +all my heart for your good will and counsel, promising you, as far as I +may, to allow your discipline." Whereupon he took his leave, and being +come home, he laid him very pensive on his bed, bethinking himself of +the words of this old man, and in a manner began to repent that he had +given his soul to the devil, intending to deny all that he had promised +to Lucifer. + +Continuing in these cogitations, suddenly his spirit appeared unto him, +clapping him upon the head, and wrung it as though he would have pulled +his head from his shoulders, saying unto him, "Thou knowest, Faustus, +that thou hast given thyself, body and soul, to my lord Lucifer, and +thou hast vowed thyself an enemy to God and to all men; and now thou +beginnest to hearken to an old doting fool, which persuadeth thee as it +were to good, when indeed it is too late, for thou art the devil's, and +he hath great power presently to fetch thee. Wherefore he hath sent me +unto thee to tell thee, that seeing thou hast sorrowed for that which +thou hast done, begin again, and write another writing with thine own +blood; if not, then will I tear thee in pieces." + +Hereat Dr. Faustus was sore afraid, and said, "My Mephistophiles, I will +write again what thou wilt." Then presently he sat him down, and with +his own blood wrote as followeth: which writing was afterwards sent to a +dear friend of Faustus, being his kinsman. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +_How Dr. Faustus wrote the second time with his own Blood, and gave it +to the Devil._ + + +I, Dr. John Faustus, _do acknowledge by this my deed and handwriting, +that since my first writing, which is seventeen years past, I have right +willingly held, and have been an utter enemy to God and all men; the +which I once again confirm, and give fully and wholly myself unto the +devil, both body and soul, even unto great Lucifer, and that at the end +of seven years ensuing after the date hereof, he shall have to do with +me according as it pleaseth him, either to lengthen or shorten my life +as it pleaseth him; and hereupon I renounce all persuaders, that seek to +withdraw me from my purpose by the word of God, either ghostly or bodily; +and farther I will never give ear to any man, be he spiritual or +temporal, that moveth any matter for the salvation of my soul. Of all +this writing, and that therein contained, be witness my blood, which +with my own hands I have begun and ended. Dated at Wittenburg, the 25th +of July._ + +And presently upon the making of this writing, he became so great an +enemy to the poor old man, that he sought his life by all means +possible; but this good old man was strong in the Holy Ghost, that he +could not be vanquished by any means; for about two days after that he +had exhorted Faustus, as the poor old man lay in his bed, suddenly there +was a mighty rumbling in the chamber, which he was never wont to hear, +and he heard as it had been the groaning of a sow, which lasted long: +whereupon the good old man began to jest and mock, and said, "Oh! what +barbarian cry is this? Oh, fair bird! what foul music is this? A fair +angel, that could not tarry two days in this place? Beginnest thou now +to turn into a poor man's house, where thou hast no power, and wert not +able to keep thine own two days?" With these and such like words the +spirit departed; and when he came home, Faustus asked him how he had +sped with the old man, to whom the spirit answered: "The old man was +harnessed so, that he could not once lay hold upon him;" but he would +not tell how the old man had mocked him, for the devils can never abide +to hear of their fall. Thus doth God defend the hearts of all honest +Christians that betake themselves to his tuition. + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +_How Dr. Faustus made a Marriage between two Lovers._ + + +In the city of Wittenburg was a student, a gallant gentleman, named N. +N. This gentleman was far in love with a gentlewoman, fair and proper of +personage: this gentlewoman had a knight that was a suitor unto her, and +many other gentlemen, which desired her in marriage, but none could +obtain her. So it was that in despair with himself, that he pined away +to skin and bones. + +But when he opened the matter to Dr. Faustus, he asked counsel of his +spirit Mephistophiles, the which told him what to do. Hereupon Dr. +Faustus went home to the gentleman, who bade him be of good cheer, for +he should have his desire, for he would help him to that he wished +for, and that this gentlewoman should love none other but him only: +wherefore Dr. Faustus so changed the mind of the damsel by the practice +he wrought, that she could do no other thing but think on him whom +before she had hated, neither cared she for any man but him alone. The +device was thus: Faustus commanded the gentleman that he should clothe +himself in all the best apparel that he had, and that he should go unto +the gentlewoman and show himself, giving him a ring, commanding him in +anywise that he should dance with her before he departed; who following +his counsel, went to her, and when they began to dance, they that were +suitors began to take every one his lady by the hand; this gentleman +took her who before had so disdained him, and in the dance he put the +ring into her hand that Faustus had given him, which she no sooner +touched, but she fell presently in love with him, smiling at him in the +dance, and many times winking at him, rolling her eyes, and in the end +she asked him if he could love her, and make her his wife. He gladly +answered that he was content; whereupon they concluded, and were married +by the means and help of Faustus, for which the gentleman well rewarded +him. + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +_How Dr. Faustus led his Friends into his Garden at Christmas, and +showed them many strange Sights, in the nineteenth Year._ + + +In December, about Christmas, in the city of Wittenburg, were many young +gentlemen, which were come out of the country to be merry with their +friends, amongst whom there were certain well acquainted with Dr. Faustus, +who often invited them home unto his house. They being there on a certain +time, after dinner he had them into his garden, where they beheld all +manner of flowers and fresh herbs, and trees bearing fruit, and blossoms +of all sorts; who wondered to see that his garden should so flourish at +that time, as in the midst of the summer, when abroad in the streets and +all the country lay full of snow and ice; wherefore this was noted of +them as a thing miraculous, every one gathering and carrying away all +such things as they best liked, and so departed, delighted with their +sweet-smelling flowers. + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +_How Dr. Faustus gathered together a great Army of Men in his extremity, +against a Knight that would have Conjured him on his own Journey._ + + +Dr. Faustus travelled towards Evzeleben, and when he was nigh half the +way, he espied seven horsemen, and the chief of them he knew to be the +knight with whom he had jested in the emperor's court, for he had left +a great pair of hart's horns upon his head; and when the knight now saw +that he had a fit opportunity to be revenged of Faustus, he ran upon +him, and those that were with him, to mischief himself, intending +privily to slay him; which when Faustus espied, he vanished away into a +wood that was hard by them, but when the knight perceived that he +was vanished away, he caused his men to stand still; but where they +remained, they heard all manner of warlike instruments of music, as +drums, flutes, trumpets, and such like, and a certain troop of horsemen +running towards them; then they turned another way, and were also met on +that side; then another way, and yet were freshly assaulted, so that +which way soever they turned themselves, they were encountered, insomuch +that when the knight perceived that he could escape no way, but that his +enemies lay on him which way soever he offered to fly, he took good +heart, and ran amongst the thickest, and thought with himself better to +die than to live with so great infamy; therefore being at handy blows +with them, he demanded the cause why they should so use them? But none +of them would give him answer, until Dr. Faustus showed himself unto the +knight; whereupon they enclosed him round, and Dr. Faustus said unto +him, "Sir, yield your weapon and yourself, otherwise it will go hard +with you." + +The knight knew no other but that he was conjured with a host of men, +whereas indeed they were none other but devils, yielded; then Faustus +took away his sword, his piece, and horse, with all the rest of his +companions. And farther he said unto him: "Sir, the chiefest general of +our army hath commanded me to deal with you, according to the law of +arms; you shall depart in peace, whither you please." And then he gave +the knight a horse, after the manner, and set him thereon, so he rode, +the rest went on foot, until they came to their inn where he being +alighted, his page rode on his horse to the water, and presently the +horse vanished away, the page being almost sunk and drowned, but he +escaped; and coming home, the knight perceiving the page to be bemired, +and on foot, asked where his horse was; who answered, that he was +vanished away. Which when the knight heard, he said, "Of a truth this is +Faustus his doing, for he serveth me now, as he did before at the court, +only to make me a scorn and laughing-stock." + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +_How Dr. Faustus used Mephistophiles, to bring him seven of the fairest +Women he could find in all the Countries he had travelled the twenty +Years._ + + +When Dr. Faustus called to mind that his time from day to day drew nigh, +he began to live a swinish and epicurish life. Wherefore he commanded +his spirit Mephistophiles to bring him seven of the fairest women that +he had seen in all the times of his travel; which being brought, he +liked them so well that he continued with them in all manner of love, +and made them to travel with him all his journeys. These women were two +Netherland, one Hungarian, one Scottish, two Walloon, one Franklander. +And with these sweet personages he continued long, yea, even to his last +end. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +_How Dr. Faustus found a Mass of Money, when he had consumed twenty-two +of his Years._ + + +To the end that the devil would make Faustus his only heir, he showed +unto him where he should go and find a mighty huge mass of money, and +that he should find it in an old chapel that was fallen down, half a +mile distance from Wittenburg. There he bade him to dig, and he should +find it, which he did; and having digged reasonable deep, he saw a +mighty huge serpent, which lay on the treasure itself; the treasure +itself lay like a huge light burning; but Dr. Faustus charmed the +serpent, that he crept into a hole, and when he digged deeper to get up +the treasure, he found nothing but coals of fire. There he also saw and +heard many that were tormented; yet notwithstanding he brought away the +coals, and when he was come home, it was turned into silver and gold; +and after his death it was found by his servant, which was almost, by +estimation, one thousand guilders. + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +_How Dr. Faustus made the Spirit of fair Helena of Greece his own +Paramour in his twenty-third Year._ + + +To the end that this miserable Faustus might fill the lust of his flesh +and live in all manner of voluptuous pleasure, it came in his mind, +after he had slept his first sleep, and in the twenty-third year past +of his time, that he had a great desire to lie with fair Helena of +Greece, especially her whom he had seen and shown unto the students at +Wittenburg; wherefore he called his spirit Mephistophiles, commanding +him to bring to him the fair Helena, which he also did. + +Whereupon he fell in love with her, and made her his common companion, +for she was so beautiful and delightful that he could not be an hour +from her; if he should therefore have suffered death, she had stolen +away his heart, and to his seeming in time she had child, whom Faustus +named Justus Faustus. The child told Dr. Faustus many things which were +done in foreign countries, but in the end, when Faustus lost his life, +the mother and the child vanished away both together. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +_How Dr. Faustus made his Will, in which he named his Servant Wagner to +be his Heir._ + + +Dr. Faustus was now in his twenty-fourth and last year, and he had +a pretty stripling to his servant, which had studied also at the +university of Wittenburg. This youth was very well acquainted with +his knaveries and sorceries, so that he was hated as well for his +own knavery as also for his master's, for no man would give him +entertainment into his service because of his unhappiness but Faustus. +This Wagner was so well beloved of Faustus that he used him as his son, +for do what he would, his master was always therewith contented. + +And then when the time drew nigh that Faustus should end, he called unto +him a notary and certain masters, the which were his friends and often +conversant with him, in whose presence he gave this Wagner his house and +garden. Item, he gave him in ready money sixteen thousand guilders. +Item, one farm. Item, a gold chain, much plate, and other household +stuff, that gave he to his servant, and the rest of his time he meant to +spend in inns and students' company, drinking and eating, with other +jollity. And thus he finished his will at that time. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +_How Dr. Faustus fell in talk with his Servant, touching his Testament, +and the Covenants thereof._ + + +Now when this will was made, Dr. Faustus called unto his servant, +saying, "I have thought upon thee in my testament, for that thou hast +been a trusty servant unto me, and faithful, and hast not opened my +secrets. And yet farther," said he, "ask of me before I die what thou +wilt, and I will give it unto thee." + +His servant rashly answered, "I pray you, let me have your cunning." + +To which Dr. Faustus answered, "I have given thee all my books, upon +this condition, that thou wouldst not let them be common, but use them +for thy own pleasure, and study carefully in them; and dost thou also +desire my cunning? That thou mayst peradventure have, if thou love and +peruse my books well." + +"Farther," said Dr. Faustus, "seeing that thou desirest of me this +request, I will resolve thee. My spirit Mephistophiles his time is out +with me, and I have nought to command him, as touching thee. Yet I will +help thee to another if thou like well thereof." + +And within three days after he called his servant unto him, saying, "Art +thou resolved? wouldst thou verily have a spirit? Then tell me in what +manner or form thou wouldst have him." To whom his servant answered that +he would have him in the form of an ape. Whereupon appeared presently a +spirit unto him in manner and form of an ape, the which leaped about the +house. + +Then said Faustus, "See, there thou hast thy request; but yet he will +not obey thee until I be dead, for when my spirit Mephistophiles shall +fetch me away, then shall thy spirit be bound unto thee, if thou agree, +and thy spirit shalt thou name Aberecock, for so he is called. But +all this upon a condition, that you publish my cunning and my merry +conceits, with all that I have done (when I am dead) in an history, and +if thou canst not remember all, the spirit Aberecock will help thee; so +shall the acts that I have done be made manifest unto the world." + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +_How Dr. Faustus having but one Month of his appointed Time to come, +fell to Mourning and Sorrowing with himself for his devilish exercise._ + + +Time ran away with Faustus, as the hour-glass; for he had but one month +to come of his twenty-four years, at the end whereof he had given +himself to the devil, body and soul, as is before specified. Here was +the first token, for he was like a taken murderer, or a thief, the +which finding himself guilty in conscience before the judge has given +sentence, fears every hour to die; for he was grieved, and in wailing +spent the time, went talking to himself, wringing of his hands, sobbing +and sighing. His flesh fell away, and he was very lean, and kept himself +close; neither could he abide, see, or hear of his Mephistophiles any +more. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +_How Dr. Faustus complained that he should in his lusty Time, and +youthful Years, die so miserably._ + + +The sorrowful time drawing near, so troubled Dr. Faustus, that he began +to write his mind, to the end he might peruse it often and not forget +it, which was in manner as followeth:--"Ah! Faustus, thou sorrowful and +woeful man, now must thou go to the damnable company in unquenchable +fire, whereas thou mightest have had the joyful immortality of thy soul, +the which now thou hast lost! Ah! gross understanding and wilful will! +What seizeth upon thy limbs, other than robbing of my life? Bewail with +me, my sound and healthful body, will, and soul; bewail with me, my +senses, for you have had your part and pleasure as well as I. Oh! envy +and disdain! How have you crept both at once upon me, and now for your +sakes I must suffer all these torments! Ah! whither is pity and mercy +fled? Upon what occasion hath heaven repaid me with this reward, by +sufferance, to suffer me to perish? Wherefore was I created a man? The +punishment I see prepared for me of myself, now must I suffer. Ah! +miserable wretch! There is nothing in this world to show me comfort! +Then woe is me! What helpeth my wailing?" + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +_How Dr. Faustus bewailed to think on Hell, and the miserable Pains +therein provided for him._ + + +Now thou Faustus, damned wretch! how happy wert thou if, as an unreasonable +beast, thou mightest die with a soul? so shouldest thou not feel any +more doubts; but now the devil will take thee away, both body and soul, +and set thee in an unspeakable place of darkness; for although other +souls have rest and peace, yet I, poor damned wretch, must suffer all +manner of filthy stench, pains, cold, hunger, thirst, heat, freezing, +burning, hissing, gnashing, and all the wrath and curse of God; yea, +all the creatures God hath created are enemies to me. And too late I +remember that my spirit Mephistophiles did once tell me there was great +difference amongst the damned, for the greater the sin the greater the +torment; as the twigs of a tree make greater flames than the trunk +thereof, and yet the trunk continueth longer in burning, even so the +more that a man is rooted in sin, the greater is his punishment. Ah! +thou perpetual damned wretch! how art thou thrown into the everlasting +fiery lake that shall never be quenched! there must I dwell in all +manner of wailing, sorrow, misery, pain, torment, grief, howling, +sighing, sobbing, running at the eyes, stinking at the nose, gnashing of +teeth, snare to the ears, horror to the conscience, and shaking both of +hand and foot? Ah! that I could carry the heavens upon my shoulders, so +that there were time at last to quit me of this everlasting damnation. +Oh! what can deliver me out of the fearful tormenting flame, the which I +see prepared for me? Oh! there is no help, nor can any man deliver me; +nor my wailing of sins can help me; neither is there rest for me to be +found day or night! Ah! woe is me! for there is no help for me, no +shield, no defence, no comfort; where is my help? Knowledge dare I not +trust; and for a soul to Godwards, that have I not, for I ashame to +speak unto him; if I do, no answer shall be made me; but he will hide +his face from me, to the end that I should not behold the joys of the +chosen. What mean I then to complain, where no help is? No, I know no +hope resteth in my groanings; I had desired it would be so, and God hath +said, Amen, to my misdoings; for now I must have shame to comfort me in +my calamities. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +_Here followeth the Miserable and Lamentable End of Doctor Faustus, by +which all Christians may take an Example and Warning._ + + +The full time of Dr. Faustus, his four-and-twenty years being come, his +spirit appeared unto him, giving him his writing again, and commanding +him to make preparation, for that the devil would fetch him against a +certain time appointed. + +Dr. Faustus mourned and sighed wonderfully, and never went to bed, nor +slept a wink for sorrow. + +Wherefore his spirit appeared again, comforting him, and saying: "My +Faustus, be not thou so cowardly minded; for although thou lovest thy +body, it is long unto the day of judgment, and thou must die at the +last, although thou live many thousand years. The Turks, the Jews, and +many an unchristian emperor are in the same condemnation; therefore, my +Faustus, be of good courage, and be not discomforted, for the devil hath +promised that thou shalt not be in pains, as the rest of the damned +are." This and such like comfort he gave him, for he told him false, and +against the saying of the Holy Scriptures. + +Yet Dr. Faustus, that had no other expectation but to pay his debt, with +his own skin, went (on the same day that his spirit said the devil would +fetch him) unto his trusty and dearly beloved brethren and companions, +as masters and bachelors of art, and other students more, the which did +often visit him at his house in merriment; these he intreated that they +would walk into the village called Rimlich, half a mile from Wittenburg, +and that they would there take with him for their repast a small +banquet; the which they agreed unto; so they went together, and there +held their dinner in a most sumptuous manner. + +Dr. Faustus with them, dissemblingly was merry, but not from the heart; +wherefore he requested them that they would also take part of his rude +supper, the which they agreed unto; "for," quoth he, "I must tell you +what is the victualler's due;" and when they slept (for drink was in +their heads) then Dr. Faustus paid the shot, and bound the students and +masters to go with him into another room, for he had many wonderful +matters to tell them; and when they were entered the room, as he +requested, Dr. Faustus said unto them as followeth: + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +_An Oration of Dr. Faustus to the Students._ + + +"My trusty and well-beloved friends, the cause why I have invited you in +this place is this: forasmuch as you have known me these many years, +what manner of life I have lived; practising all manner of conjurations +and wicked exercises, the which I obtained through the help of the +devil, into whose devilish fellowship they have brought me; the which +use, the art, and practice, urged by the detestable provocation of my +flesh and my stiff-necked and rebellious will, with my filthy infernal +thoughts, the which were ever before me, pricking me forward so +earnestly that I must perforce have the consent of the devil to aid me +in my devices. And to the end I might the better bring my purpose to +pass, to have the devil's aid and furtherance, which I never have wanted +in my actions, I have promised unto him at the end, and accomplishment +of twenty-four years, both body and soul, to do therewith at his +pleasure. + +"This dismal day, these twenty-four years are fully expired; for night +beginning, my hour-glass is at an end, the direful finishing whereof I +carefully expect; for out of all doubt, this night he will fetch me to +whom I have given myself in recompense of his service, body and soul, +and twice confirmed writings with my proper blood. + +"Now have I called you, my well-beloved lords, friends and brethren, +before that fatal hour, to take my friendly farewell, to the end that my +departure may not hereafter be hidden from you, beseeching you herewith +(courteous loving lords and brethren) not to take in evil part anything +done by me, but with friendly commendations to salute all my friends and +companions wheresoever, desiring both you and them, if ever I have +trespassed against your minds in anything, that you would heartily +forgive me; and as for those lewd practices, the which these full +twenty-four years I have followed, you shall hereafter find them in +writing: and I beseech you let this my lamentable end, to the residue +of your lives, be a sufficient warning, that you have God always +before your eyes, praying unto him, that he will defend you from the +temptation of the devil, and all his false deceits, not falling +altogether from God, as I wretched and ungodly damned creature have +done; having denied and defied baptism, the sacrament of Christ's body, +God himself, and heavenly powers, and earthly men: yea, I have denied +such a God, that desireth not to have one lost. Neither let the evil +fellowship of wicked companions mislead you, as it hath done me: visit +earnestly and often the church; war and strive continually against the +devil, with a good and steadfast belief in God and Jesus Christ, and use +your vocation and holiness. + +"Lastly, to knit my troubled oration, this is my friendly request, that +you would go to rest, and let nothing trouble you: also if you chance to +hear any noise or rumbling about the house, be not therewith afraid, for +there shall no evil happen unto you; also I pray you rise not out of +your beds; but above all things, I intreat you, if hereafter you find my +dead carcass, convey it unto the earth, for I die both a good and bad +Christian, though I know the devil will have my body, and that would I +willingly give him, so that he would leave my soul to quiet; wherefore I +pray you, that you would depart to bed, and so I wish you a quiet night, +which unto me, notwithstanding, shall be horrible and fearful." + +This oration was made by Dr. Faustus, and that with a hearty and resolute +mind, to the end he might not discomfort them; but the students wondered +greatly thereat, that he was so blinded, for knavery, conjuration, and +such foolish things, to give his body and soul unto the devil, for they +loved him entirely, and never suspected any such thing, before he had +opened his mind unto them. + +Wherefore one of them said unto him, "Ah! friend Faustus, what have you +done to conceal this matter so long from us? We would by the help of +good divines, and the grace of God, have brought you out of this net, +and have torn you out of the bondage and chains of Satan, whereas we +fear now it is too late, to the utter ruin both of body and soul." + +Dr. Faustus answered, "I durst never do it, although often minded to +settle myself to godly people, to desire counsel and help; and once my +old neighbour counselled me, that I should follow his learning, and +leave all my conjurations: yet when I was minded to amend, and to follow +that good counsel, then came the devil, and would have had me away, as +this night he is like to do: and said, so soon as I turned again to God, +he would dispatch me altogether. Thus, even thus (good gentlemen and +dear friends) was I inthralled in that fanatical bond, all good desires +drowned, all piety vanished, all purposes of amendment truly exiled, by +the tyrannous oppression of my deadly enemy." + +But when the students heard his words, they gave him counsel to do +nothing else but call upon God, desiring him, for the love of his sweet +Son Jesus Christ his sake, to have mercy upon him: teaching him this +form of prayer: "O God! be merciful unto me, poor and miserable sinner; +and enter not into judgment with me, for no flesh is able to stand +before thee; although, O Lord! I must leave my sinful body unto the +devil, being by him deluded, yet thou in mercy may preserve my soul." + +This they repeated to him, yet he could take no hold; but even as Cain, +he also said, that his sins were greater than God was able to forgive, +for all his thought was on the writing: he meant he had made it too +filthy in writing with his own blood. + +The students and the others that were there, when they had prayed for +him, they wept, and so went forth. But Faustus tarried in the hall; and +when the gentlemen were laid in bed, none of them could sleep, for that +they attended to hear if they might be privy of his end. + +It happened that between twelve and one o'clock of midnight, there blew +a mighty storm of wind against the house, as though it would have blown +the foundation thereof out of its place. + +Hereupon the students began to fear, and go out of their beds, but they +would not stir out of the chamber, and the host of the house ran out of +doors, thinking the house would fall. + +The students lay near unto the hall wherein Dr. Faustus lay, and they +heard a mighty noise and hissing, as if the hall had been full of snakes +and adders. With that the hall door flew open wherein Dr. Faustus was. +Then he began to cry for help, saying, "Murder, murder!" but it was with +a half voice, and very hollow. Shortly after they heard him no more. + +But when it was day, the students, that had taken no rest that night, +arose and went into the hall in which they left Dr. Faustus, where +notwithstanding they found not Faustus, but all the hall sprinkled with +blood, the brains cleaving to the wall, for the devil had beaten him +from one wall against another. In one corner lay his eyes, in another +his teeth, a fearful and pitiful sight to behold. + +Then began the students to wail and weep for him, and sought for his +body in many places. Lastly, they came into the yard, where they found +his body lying on the horse dung, most monstrously torn, and fearful to +behold, for his head and all his joints were dashed to pieces. The +forenamed students and masters that were at his death, obtained so much, +that they buried him in the village where he was so grievously +tormented. + +After the which they turned to Wittenburg, and coming into the house of +Faustus they found the servant of Faustus very sad, unto whom they +opened all the matter, who took it exceedingly heavy. There they found +this history of Dr. Faustus noted, and of him written, as is before +declared, all save only his end, the which was after by the students +thereunto annexed. Farther, what his servant noted thereof was made in +another book. And you have heard he held by him, in his life, the spirit +of fair Helena, who had by him one son, the which he named Justus +Faustus: even the same day of his death they vanished away, both mother +and son. The house before was so dark that scarce anybody could abide +therein. The same night Dr. Faustus appeared unto his servant lively, +and showed unto him many secret things which he had done and hidden in +his lifetime. Likewise there were certain which saw Dr. Faustus look out +of the window by night as they passed by the house. + +And thus ended the whole history of Dr. Faustus, his conjuration, and +other acts that he did in his life, out of which example every Christian +may learn, but chiefly the stiff-necked and high-minded, may thereby +learn to fear God, and to be careful of their vocation, and to be at +defiance with all devilish works, as God hath most precisely forbidden. +To the end we should not invite the devil as a guest, nor give him +place, as that wicked Faustus hath done, for here we have a wicked +example of his writing, promise, and end, that we may remember him, that +we may not go astray, but take God always before our eyes, to call alone +upon him, and to honour him all the days of our life, with heart and +hearty prayer, and with all our strength and soul to glorify his holy +name, defying the devil and all his works; to the end we may remain with +Christ in all endless joy. Amen, amen. That wish I to every Christian +heart, and God's name be glorified. Amen. + + + + +THE END. + + + +FOOTNOTES + + 1: The names of four of these cities were--Ubeda, Abela, Baeza, and + Granada. + + 2: There is another ballad which represents Gayferos, now grown to be a + man, as coming in the disguise of a pilgrim to his mother's house, and + slaying his stepfather with his own hand. The Countess is only satisfied + as to his identity by the circumstance of _the finger_-- + + El dedo bien es aqueste, aqui lo vereys faltar + La condesa que esto oyera empezole de abracar. + + 3: Sansuena is the ancient name of Zaragoza. + + 4: The arms of Leon. + + 5: The arms of Castile. + + 6: The arms of France. + + 7: "Per ecclesias proclamare fecit." This may either mean that a notice + was fastened to the church door, or given out from the pulpit. The last + is most probable. + + 8: As these are probably the only verses on record of the devil's + composition (at least, so well authenticated), I transcribe them for the + information of the curious. + + "Nexus ovem binam, per spinam traxit equinam; + Laesus surgit equus, pendet utrumque pecus. + Ad molendinum, pondus portabat equinum, + Dispergendo focum, se cremat atque locum. + Custodes aberant; singula damna ferant." + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE + +Contemporary spellings have been retained even where inconsistent; +missing punctuation has been silently added. The following additional +changes have been made to the text: + + let it brought before these Sees let it be brought before these Sees + + Durenda Durendal + + Thou till shouldst prop Thou still shouldst prop + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Mediaeval Tales, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEDIAEVAL TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 28094.txt or 28094.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/0/9/28094/ + +Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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