_How Dr. Faustus played a merry Jest with the Duke of Anhalt in his
Court._
Dr. Faustus on a time went to the Duke of Anhalt, who welcomed him
very courteously. This was in the month of January; where sitting at
table, he perceived the duchess to be with child; and forbearing himself
until the meat was taken from the table, and that they brought in the
banqueting dishes, Dr. Faustus said to the duchess, "Gracious lady, I
have always heard that women with child do always long for some
dainties; I beseech therefore your grace, hide not your mind from me,
but tell me what you desire to eat."
She answered him: "Dr. Faustus, now truly I will not hide from you what
my heart doth much desire; namely, that if it were now harvest, I would
eat my fill of grapes and other dainty fruit."
Dr. Faustus answered hereupon: "Gracious lady, this is a small thing for
me to do, for I can do more than this." Wherefore he took a plate and
set it upon one of the casements of the window, holding it forth, where
incontinent he had his dish full of all manner of fruit, as red and
white grapes, pears, and apples, the which came from out of strange
countries. All these he presented to the duchess, saying: "Madam, I pray
you vouchsafe to taste of this dainty fruit, the which came from a far
country, for there the summer is not yet ended." The duchess thanked
Faustus highly, and she fell to her fruit with full appetite.
The Duke of Anhalt notwithstanding could not withhold to ask Faustus
with what reason there were such young fruits to be had at that time of
the year?
Dr. Faustus told him: "May it please your grace to understand, that the
year is divided into two circles of the whole world, that when with us
it is winter, in the contrary circle it is notwithstanding summer; for
in India and Saba there falleth or setteth a sun, so that it is so warm,
that they have twice a year fruit; and, gracious lord, I have a swift
spirit, the which can in a twinkling of an eye fulfil my desire in
anything; wherefore I sent him into those countries, who hath brought
this fruit as you see;" whereat the duke greatly admired.