_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.