_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."