_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."