_A question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit concerning
Astronomy_
Doctor Faustus falling to practice, and making his Prognostications,
he was doubtful in many points: wherefore he called unto him
Mephostophiles his Spirit, saying: I find the ground of this science
very difficult to attain unto: for that when I confer Astronomia and
Astrologia, as the Mathematicians and ancient writers have left in
memory, I find them to vary and very much to disagree: wherefore I
pray thee to teach me the truth in this matter. To whom his Spirit
answered, Faustus, thou shalt know that the practitioners or
speculators, or at least the first inventors of these Arts, have done
nothing of themselves certain, whereupon thou mayest attain to the true
prognosticating or presaging of things concerning the heavens, or of
the influence of the Planets: for if by chance some one Mathematician
or Astronomer hath left behind him anything worthy of memory: they
have so blinded it with Enigmatical words, blind Characters, and such
obscure figures; that it is impossible for an earthly man to attain
unto the knowledge thereof, without the aid of some Spirit, or else the
special gift of God; for such are the hidden works of God from men:
yet do we Spirits that fly and fleet in all Elements, know such, and
there is nothing to be done, or by the Heavens pretended, but we know
it, except only the day of Doom. Wherefore (Faustus) learn of me, I
will teach thee the course and recourse of ♄. ♃. ♂. ☉. ♀. ☿ and ☽.[21]
the cause of winter and summer, the exaltation and declination of the
Sun, the eclipse of the Moon, the distance and height of the Poles,
and every fixed Star, the nature and operation of the elements, fire,
air, water, and earth, and all that is contained in them, yea herein
there is nothing hidden from me, but only the fifth essence, which once
thou hadst Faustus at liberty, but now Faustus thou hast lost it past
recovery; wherefore leaving that which will not be again had, learn
now of me to make thunder, lightning, hail, snow, and rain: the clouds
to rend, the earth and craggy rocks to shake and split in sunder, the
Seas to swell, and roar, and over-run their marks. Knowest not thou
that the deeper the Sun shines, the hotter he pierces? so, the more
thy Art is famous whilst thou art here, the greater shall be thy name
when thou art gone. Knowest not thou that the earth is frozen cold
and dry; the water running, cold and moist; the air flying, hot and
moist; the fire consuming, hot and dry? Yea Faustus, so must thy heart
be enflamed like the fire to mount on high: learn, Faustus, to fly
like myself, as swift as thought from one kingdom to another, to sit
at princes’ tables, to eat their daintiest fare, to have thy pleasure
of their fair Ladies, wives and concubines, to use their jewels, and
costly robes as things belonging to thee, and not unto them: learn of
me, Faustus, to run through walls, doors, and gates of stone and iron,
to creep into the earth like a worm, to swim in the water like a fish,
to fly in the air like a bird, and to live and nourish thyself in the
fire like a Salamander; so shalt thou be famous, renowned, far-spoken
of, and extolled for thy skill: going on knives, not hurting thy feet;
carrying fire in thy bosom, and not burning thy shirt; seeing through
the heavens as through a Crystal, wherein is placed the Planets, with
all the rest of the presaging Comets, the whole circuit of the world
from the East to the West, North and South: there shalt thou know,
Faustus, wherefore the fiery sphere above ♄ and the signs of the Zodiac
doth not burn and consume the whole face of the earth, being hindered
by placing the two moist elements between them, the airy clouds and the
wavering waves of water: yea, Faustus, I will learn thee the secrets of
nature, what the causes that the Sun in summer being at the highest,
giveth all his heat downwards on the earth; and being in winter at
the lowest, giveth all his heat upward into the heavens: that the snow
should be of so great virtue, as the honey; and the Lady Saturnia ♓
[22] in Occulto more hotter than the Sun in Manifesto. Come on my
Faustus, I will make thee as perfect in these things as myself, I will
learn thee to go invisible, to find out the mines of gold and silver,
the fodines[23] of precious stones, as the Carbuncle, the Diamond,
Sapphire, Emerald, Ruby, Topaz, Jacinth, Garnet, Jasper, Amethyst, use
all these at thy pleasure, take thy heart’s desire: thy time Faustus
weareth away, then why wilt thou not take thy pleasure of the world?
Come up, we will go visit Kings at their own courts, and at their most
sumptuous banquets be their guests, if willingly they invite us not,
then perforce we will serve our own turn with their best meat and
daintiest wine: Agreed, quoth Faustus; but let me pause a while upon
this thou hast even now declared unto me.
[Footnote 21: The symbols of Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus,
Mercury, and the Moon.]
[Footnote 22: The symbol of Pisces in the Zodiac.]
[Footnote 23: Mines.]