_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."