_How Doctor Faustus dreamed that he had seen hell in his sleep, and how
he questioned with his Spirit of matters as concerning hell, with the
Spirit’s answer_
The night following, after Faustus his communication had with
Mephostophiles, as concerning the fall of Lucifer, Doctor Faustus
dreamed that he had seen a part of hell: but in what manner it was,
or in what place he knew not: whereupon he was greatly troubled in
mind, and called unto him Mephostophiles his Spirit, saying to him, my
Mephostophiles, I pray thee resolve me in this doubt: what is hell,
what substance is it of, in what place stands it, and when was it made?
Mephostophiles answered: my Faustus, thou shalt know, that before the
fall of my Lord Lucifer there was no hell, but even then was hell
ordained: it is of no substance, but a confused thing: for I tell thee,
that before all Elements were made, and the earth seen, the Spirit of
God moved on the waters, and darkness was over all: but when God said,
let it be light, it was so at his word, and the light was on God’s
right hand, and God praised the light. Judge thou further: God stood
in the middle, the darkness was on his left hand, in the which my Lord
was bound in chains until the day of judgment: in this confused hell is
nought to find but a filthy, Sulphurish, fiery, stinking mist or fog.
Further, we Devils know not what substance it is of, but a confused
thing. For as a bubble of water flieth before the wind, so doth hell
before the breath of God. Further, we Devils know not how God hath laid
the foundation of our hell, nor whereof it is: but to be short with
thee Faustus, we know that hell hath neither bottom nor end.