_How Dr. Faustus feasted his Guests on Ash Wednesday._
Upon Ash Wednesday came unto Dr. Faustus his bidden guests, the students,
whom he feasted very royally, insomuch that they were all full and
lusty, dancing and singing as the night before; and when the high
glasses and goblets were caroused one to another, Dr. Faustus began to
play them some pretty feats, insomuch that round about the hall was
heard most pleasant music, and that in sundry places: in this corner a
lute, in another a cornet, in another a cittern, clarigols, harp,
hornpipe, in fine, all manner of music was heard there in that instant;
whereat all the glasses and goblets, cups, and pots, dishes, and all
that stood upon the board began to dance. Then Dr. Faustus took ten
stone pots and set them down on the floor, where presently they began to
dance, and to smite one against another, that the shivers flew round
about the whole house, whereat the whole company fell a-laughing. Then
began he another jest: he set an instrument upon the table, and caused a
mighty great ape to come among them, which ape began to dance and skip,
showing them merry conceits.
In this and such pastime they passed away the whole day. When night
being come Dr. Faustus bid them all to supper, which they lightly agreed
unto, for students in these cases are easily intreated; wherefore he
promised to feast them with a banquet of fowl, and afterwards they would
go all about with a mask. Then Dr. Faustus put forth a long pole out of
the window, whereupon presently there came innumerable numbers of birds
and wild-fowl, and so many as came had not the power to fly away again;
but he took them and flung them to the students, who lightly pulled off
the necks of them, and being roasted, they made their supper, which
being ended, they made themselves ready for the mask.
Dr. Faustus commanded every one to put on a clean shirt over the other
clothes, which being done, they looked one upon another. It seemed to
each one of them that they had no heads; and so they went forth unto
certain of their neighbours, at which sight the people were most
wonderfully afraid; and as the use of Germany is, that wheresoever a
mask entereth the good man of the house must feast him, so as these
maskers were set to their banquet, they seemed again in their former
shape with heads, insomuch that they were all known whom they were; and
having sat and well eat and drank, Dr. Faustus made that every one had
an ass's head on, with great long ears, so they fell to dancing and to
drive away the time until it was midnight, and then every one departed
home; and as soon as they were out of the house, each one was in his
natural shape, and so they ended and went to sleep.