_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.