_How Dr. Faustus made a Marriage between two Lovers._
In the city of Wittenburg was a student, a gallant gentleman, named N.
N. This gentleman was far in love with a gentlewoman, fair and proper of
personage: this gentlewoman had a knight that was a suitor unto her, and
many other gentlemen, which desired her in marriage, but none could
obtain her. So it was that in despair with himself, that he pined away
to skin and bones.
But when he opened the matter to Dr. Faustus, he asked counsel of his
spirit Mephistophiles, the which told him what to do. Hereupon Dr.
Faustus went home to the gentleman, who bade him be of good cheer, for
he should have his desire, for he would help him to that he wished
for, and that this gentlewoman should love none other but him only:
wherefore Dr. Faustus so changed the mind of the damsel by the practice
he wrought, that she could do no other thing but think on him whom
before she had hated, neither cared she for any man but him alone. The
device was thus: Faustus commanded the gentleman that he should clothe
himself in all the best apparel that he had, and that he should go unto
the gentlewoman and show himself, giving him a ring, commanding him in
anywise that he should dance with her before he departed; who following
his counsel, went to her, and when they began to dance, they that were
suitors began to take every one his lady by the hand; this gentleman
took her who before had so disdained him, and in the dance he put the
ring into her hand that Faustus had given him, which she no sooner
touched, but she fell presently in love with him, smiling at him in the
dance, and many times winking at him, rolling her eyes, and in the end
she asked him if he could love her, and make her his wife. He gladly
answered that he was content; whereupon they concluded, and were married
by the means and help of Faustus, for which the gentleman well rewarded
him.