_How Doctor Faustus fell into despair with himself: for having put
forth a question unto his Spirit, they fell at variance, whereupon the
whole route of Devils appeared unto him, threatening him sharply_
Doctor Faustus revolving with himself the speeches of his Spirit, he
became so woeful and sorrowful in his cogitations, that he thought
himself already frying in the hottest flames of hell, and lying in
his muse, suddenly there appeared unto him his Spirit, demanding what
thing so grieved and troubled his conscience, whereat Doctor Faustus
gave no answer: yet the Spirit very earnestly lay upon him to know the
cause; and if it were possible, he would find remedy for his grief,
and ease him of his sorrows. To whom Faustus answered, I have taken
thee unto me as a servant to do me service, and thy service will be
very dear unto me; yet I cannot have any diligence of thee farther than
thou list thyself, neither dost thou in anything as it becometh thee.
The Spirit replied, my Faustus, thou knowest that I was never against
thy commandments as yet, but ready to serve and resolve thy questions,
although I am not bound unto thee in such respects as concern the
hurt of our Kingdom, yet was I always willing to answer thee, and so
I am still: therefore my Faustus say on boldly, what is thy will and
pleasure? At which words, the Spirit stole away the heart of Faustus,
who spake in this sort, Mephostophiles, tell me how and after what sort
God made the world, and all the creatures in them, and why man was made
after the Image of God?
The Spirit hearing this, answered, Faustus thou knowest that all this
is in vain for thee to ask, I know that thou art sorry for that thou
hast done, but it availeth thee not, for I will tear thee in thousands
of pieces, if thou change not thine opinions, and hereat he vanished
away. Whereat Faustus all sorrowful for that he had put forth such a
question, fell to weeping and to howling bitterly, not for his sins
towards God, but for that the Devil was departed from him so suddenly,
and in such a rage. And being in this perplexity, he was suddenly taken
in such an extreme cold, as if he should have frozen in the place
where he sat, in which, the greatest Devil in hell appeared unto him,
with certain of his hideous and infernal company in the most ugliest
shapes that it was possible to think upon, and traversing the chamber
round about where Faustus sat, Faustus thought to himself, now are they
come for me though my time be not come, and that because I have asked
such questions of my servant Mephostophiles: at whose cogitations, the
chiefest Devil which was his Lord, unto whom he gave his soul, that
was Lucifer, spake in this sort: Faustus, I have seen thy thoughts,
which are not as thou hast vowed unto me, by virtue of this letter,
and shewed him the Obligation that he had written with his own blood,
wherefore I am come to visit thee and to shew thee some of our hellish
pastimes, in hope that will draw and confirm thy mind a little more
stedfast unto us. Content quoth Faustus, go to, let me see what pastime
you can make. At which words, the great Devil in his likeness sat him
down by Faustus, commanding the rest of the Devils to appear in their
form, as if they were in hell: first entered Belial in form of a Bear,
with curled black hair to the ground, his ears standing upright: within
the ear was as red as blood, out of which issued flames of fire, his
teeth were a foot at least long, as white as snow, with a tail three
ells long (at the least) having two wings, one behind each arm, and
thus one after another they appeared to Faustus in form as they were
in hell. Lucifer himself sat in manner of a man, all hairy, but of a
brown colour like a Squirrel, curled, and his tail turning upwards on
his back as the Squirrels use, I think he could crack nuts too like
a Squirrel. After him came Beelzebub in curled hair of horse-flesh
colour, his head like the head of a Bull, with a mighty pair of horns,
and two long ears down to the ground, and two wings on his back, with
pricking stings like thorns: out of his wings issued flames of fire,
his tail was like a Cow. Then came Astaroth in form of a worm, going
upright on his tail; he had no feet, but a tail like a slow-worm: under
his chaps grew two short hands, and his back was coal-black, his belly
thick in the middle, and yellow like gold, having many bristles on his
back like a Hedgehog. After him came Chamagosta, being white and gray
mixed, exceeding curled and hairy: he had a head like the head of an
Ass, the tail like a Cat, and Claws like an Ox, lacking nothing of an
ell broad. Then came Anobis; this Devil had a head like a Dog, white
and black hair in shape of a Hog, saving that he had but two feet, one
under his throat, the other at his tail: he was four ells long, with
hanging ears like a Bloodhound. After him came Dythycan, he was a short
thief in form of a Pheasant, with shining feathers, and four feet: his
neck was green, his body red, and his feet black. The last was called
Brachus, with four short feet like an Hedgehog, yellow and green: the
upper side of his body was brown, and the belly like blue flames of
fire; the tail red, like the tail of a Monkey. The rest of the Devils
were in form of insensible beasts, as Swine, Harts, Bears, Wolves,
Apes, Buffs, Goats, Antelopes, Elephants, Dragons, Horses, Asses,
Lions, Cats, Snakes, Toads, and all manner of ugly odious Serpents and
Worms: yet came in such sort, that every one at his entry into the
Hall, made their reverence unto Lucifer, and so took their places,
standing in order as they came, until they had filled the whole Hall:
wherewith suddenly fell a most horrible thunder-clap, that the house
shook as though it would have fallen to the ground, upon which every
monster had a muck-fork in his hand, holding them towards Faustus as
though they would have run a tilt at him: which when Faustus perceived,
he thought upon the words of Mephostophiles, when he told him how the
souls in hell were tormented, being cast from Devil to Devil upon
muck-forks, he thought verily to have been tormented there of them
in like sort. But Lucifer perceiving his thought, spake to him, my
Faustus, how likest thou this crew of mine? Quoth Faustus, why came
you not in another manner of shape? Lucifer replied, we cannot change
our hellish form, we have shewed ourselves here, as we are there; yet
can we blind men’s eyes in such sort, that when we will we repair unto
them, as if we were men or Angels of light, although our dwelling be
in darkness. Then said Faustus, I like not so many of you together,
whereupon Lucifer commanded them to depart, except seven of the
principal, forthwith they presently vanished, which Faustus perceiving,
he was somewhat better comforted, and spake to Lucifer, where is my
servant Mephostophiles, let me see if he can do the like, whereupon
came a fierce Dragon, flying and spitting fire round about the house,
and coming towards Lucifer, made reverence, and then changed himself
to the form of a Friar, saying, Faustus, what wilt thou? Saith Faustus,
I will that thou teach me to transform myself in like sort as thou
and the rest have done: then Lucifer put forth his Paw, and gave
Faustus a book, saying hold, do what thou wilt, which he looking upon,
straightways changed himself into a Hog, then into a Worm, then into
a Dragon, and finding this for his purpose, it liked him well. Quoth
he to Lucifer, and how cometh it that all these filthy forms are in
the world? Lucifer answered, they are ordained of God as plagues unto
men, and so shalt thou be plagued (quoth he) whereupon, came Scorpions,
Wasps, Emmets, Bees, and Gnats, which fell to stinging and biting
him, and all the whole house was filled with a most horrible stinking
fog, in so much, that Faustus saw nothing, but still was tormented;
wherefore he cried for help saying, Mephostophiles my faithful servant,
where art thou, help, help, I pray thee: hereat his Spirit answered
nothing, but Lucifer himself said, ho ho ho Faustus, how likest thou
the creation of the world, and incontinent it was clear again, and the
Devils and all the filthy Cattle were vanished, only Faustus was left
alone; seeing nothing, but hearing the sweetest music that ever he
heard before, at which he was so ravished with delight, that he forgot
the fears he was in before: and it repented him that he had seen no
more of their pastime.