_How Doctor Faustus made his journey through the principal and most
famous lands in the world_
[Illustration: THE RIDE PAST THE GALLOWS After P. Cornelius]
Doctor Faustus having over-run fifteen years of his appointed time, he
took upon him a journey, with full pretence to see the whole world:
and calling his spirit Mephostophiles unto him, he said: thou knowest
that thou art bound unto me upon conditions, to perform and fulfil my
desire in all things, wherefore my pretence is to visit the whole face
of the earth visible and invisible when it pleaseth me: wherefore, I
enjoin and command thee to the same. Whereupon Mephostophiles answered,
I am ready my Lord at thy command and forthwith the Spirit changed
himself unto the likeness of a flying horse, saying, Faustus sit up, I
am ready. Doctor Faustus loftily sat upon him, and forward they went:
Faustus came through many a land and Province; as Pannonia, Austria,
Germania, Bohemia, Slesia, Saxony, Missene, During, Francklandt,
Shawblandt, Beyerlandt, Stiria, Carinthia, Poland, Litaw, Liefland,
Prussia, Denmarke, Muscovia, Tartaria, Turkie, Persia, Cathai,
Alexandria, Barbaria, Ginnie, Peru, the straits of Magelanes, India,
all about the frozen Zone, and Terra Incognita, Nova Hispaniola,
the Isles of Terzera, Mederi, S. Michael’s, the Canaries, and the
Tenorrifocie, into Spaine, the Mayne Land, Portugall, Italie, Campania,
the Kingdom of Naples, the Isles of Sicilia, Malta, Majoria, Minoria,
to the Knights of the Rhodes, Candie, or Creete, Ciprus, Corinth,
Switzerland, France, Freesland, Westphalia, Zeland, Holland, Brabant,
and all the seventeen Provinces in Netherland, England, Scotland,
Ireland, all America, and Island, the out Isles of Scotland, the
Orchades, Norway, the Bishopric of Breame, and so home again: all these
Kingdoms, Provinces, and Countries he passed in twenty-five days, in
which time he saw very little that delighted his mind: wherefore he
took a little rest at home, and burning in desire to see more at large,
and to behold the secrets of each Kingdom, he set forward again on his
journey upon his swift horse Mephostophiles, and came to Treir, for
that he chiefly desired to see this town, and the monuments thereof;
but there he saw not many wonders, except one fair Palace that belonged
unto the Bishop, and also a mighty large Castle that was built of
brick, with three walls and three great trenches, so strong, that it
was impossible for any prince’s power to win it; then he saw a Church,
wherein was buried Simeon, and the Bishop Popo: their Tombs are of
most sumptuous large Marble stone, closed and joined together with
great bars of iron: from whence he departed to Paris, where he liked
well the Academy; and what place or Kingdom soever fell in his mind,
the same he visited. He came from Paris to Mentz, where the river of
Mayne falls into the Rhine; notwithstanding he tarried not long there,
but went to Campania in the Kingdom of Neapolis, in which he saw an
innumerable sort of Cloisters, Nunneries, and Churches, great and high
houses of stone, the streets fair and large, and straight forth from
one end of the town to the other as a line, and all the pavement of the
City was of brick, and the more it rained in the town, the fairer the
streets were; there saw he the Tomb of Virgil; and the highway that he
cut through that mighty hill of stone in one night, the whole length
of an English mile: then he saw the number of Galleys, and Argosies
that lay there at the City head, the Windmill that stood in the water,
the Castle in the water, and the houses above the water where under
the Galleys might ride most safely from rain or wind; then he saw the
Castle on the hill over the town, and many monuments within: also
the hill called Vesuvius, whereon groweth all the Greekish wine, and
most pleasant sweet Olives. From thence he came to Venice, whereat he
wondered not a little to see a City so famously built standing in the
Sea: where, through every street the water ran in such largeness, that
great Ships and Barks might pass from one street to another, having
yet a way on both sides the water, whereon men and horse might pass;
he marvelled also how it was possible for so much victual to be found
in the town and so good cheap, considering that for a whole league off
nothing grew near the same. He wondered not a little at the fairness of
Saint Mark’s place, and the sumptuous Church standing therein called
Saint Mark’s; how all the pavement was set with coloured stones, and
all the rood or loft of the Church double gilded over. Leaving this,
he came to Padoa, beholding the manner of their Academy, which is
called the mother or nurse of Christendom, there he heard the Doctors,
and saw the most monuments in the town, entered his name into the
University of the German nation, and wrote himself Doctor Faustus the
insatiable Speculator: then saw he the worthiest monument in the world
for a Church, named S. Anthony’s Cloister, which for the pinnacles
thereof and the contriving of the Church, hath not the like in
Christendom. This town is fenced about with three mighty walls of stone
and earth, betwixt the which runneth goodly ditches of water: twice
every twenty-four hours passeth boats betwixt Padoa and Venice with
passengers, as they do here betwixt London and Gravesend, and even so
far they differ in distance: Faustus beheld likewise the Council house
and the Castle with no small wonder. Well, forward he went to Rome,
which lay, and doth yet lie, on the river Tybris, the which divideth
the City in two parts: over the river are four great stone bridges, and
upon the one bridge called Ponte S. Angelo is the Castle of S. Angelo,
wherein are so many great cast pieces as there are days in a year, and
such Pieces that will shoot seven bullets off with one fire, to this
Castle cometh a privy vault from the Church and Palace of Saint Peter,
through the which the Pope (if any danger be) passeth from his Palace
to the Castle for safeguard; the City hath eleven gates, and a hill
called Vaticinium,[26] whereon S. Peter’s Church is built: in that
Church the holy Fathers will hear no confession, without the penitent
bring money in his hand. Adjoining to this Church, is the Campo Santo,
the which Carolus Magnus built, where every day thirteen Pilgrims have
their dinners served of the best: that is to say, Christ and his Twelve
Apostles. Hard by this he visited the Church-yard of S. Peter’s, where
he saw the Pyramid that Julius Cæsar brought out of Africa: it stood
in Faustus his time leaning against the Church wall of Saint Peter’s,
but now Papa Sixtus hath erected it in the middle of S. Peter’s Church
yard; it is twenty-four fathoms long and at the lower end six fathoms
four square, and so forth smaller upwards, on the top is a Crucifix
of beaten gold, the stone standeth on four Lions of brass. Then he
visited the seven Churches of Rome, that were S. Peter’s, S. Paul’s,
S. Sebastian’s, S. John Lateran, S. Laurence, S. Mary Magdalen, and S.
Marie Majora: then went he without the town, where he saw the conduits
of water that run level through hill and dale, bringing water into
the town fifteen Italian miles off: other monuments he saw, too many
to recite, but amongst the rest he was desirous to see the Pope’s
Palace, and his manner of service at his table, wherefore he and his
Spirit made themselves invisible, and came into the Pope’s Court, and
privy chamber where he was, there saw he many servants attendant on
his holiness, with many a flattering Sycophant carrying of his meat,
and there he marked the Pope and the manner of his service, which he
seeing to be so unmeasurable and sumptuous; fie (quoth Faustus), why
had not the Devil made a Pope of me? Faustus saw notwithstanding in
that place those that were like to himself, proud, stout, wilful,
gluttons, drunkards, whoremongers, breakers of wedlock, and followers
of all manner of ungodly exercises: wherefore he said to his Spirit,
I thought that I had been alone a hog, or pork of the devil’s, but
he must bear with me yet a little longer, for these hogs of Rome are
already fattened, and fitted to make his roast-meat, the Devil might
do well now to spit them all and have them to the fire, and let him
summon the Nuns to turn the spits: for as none must confess the Nun
but the Friar, so none should turn the roasting Friar but the Nun.
Thus continued Faustus three days in the Pope’s Palace, and yet had
no lust to his meat, but stood still in the Pope’s chamber, and saw
everything whatsoever it was: on a time the Pope would have a feast
prepared for the Cardinal of Pavia, and for his first welcome the
Cardinal was bidden to dinner: and as he sat at meat, the Pope would
ever be blessing and crossing over his mouth; Faustus could suffer it
no longer, but up with his fist and smote the Pope on the face, and
withal he laughed that the whole house might hear him, yet none of them
saw him nor knew where he was: the Pope persuaded his company that
it was a damned soul, commanding a Mass presently to be said for his
delivery out of Purgatory, which was done: the Pope sat still at meat,
but when the latter mess came in to the Pope’s board, Doctor Faustus
laid hands thereon saying; this is mine: and so he took both dish and
meat and fled unto the Capitol or Campadolia, calling his Spirit unto
him and said: come let us be merry, for thou must fetch me some wine,
and the cup that the Pope drinks of, and hereupon Monte Caval will we
make good cheer in spite of the Pope and all his fat abbey lubbers.
His Spirit hearing this, departed towards the Pope’s chamber, where
he found them yet sitting and quaffing: wherefore he took from before
the Pope the fairest piece of plate or drinking goblet, and a flagon
of wine, and brought it to Faustus; but when the Pope and the rest of
his crew perceived they were robbed, and knew not after what sort,
they persuaded themselves that it was the damned soul that before had
vexed the Pope so, and that smote him on the face, wherefore he sent
commandment through all the whole City of Rome, that they should say
Mass in every Church, and ring all the bells for to lay the walking
Spirit, and to curse him with Bell, Book, and Candle, that so invisibly
had misused the Pope’s holiness, with the Cardinal of Pavia, and the
rest of their company: but Faustus notwithstanding made good cheer with
that which he had beguiled the Pope of, and in the midst of the order
of Saint Barnard’s bare-footed Friars, as they were going on Procession
through the market place, called Campa de fiore, he let fall his plate
dishes and cup, and withal for a farewell he made such a thunder-clap
and a storm of rain, as though Heaven and earth should have met
together, and so he left Rome, and came to Millain in Italie, near the
Alps or borders of Switzerland, where he praised much to his Spirit the
pleasantness of the place, the City being founded in so brave a plain,
by the which ran most pleasant rivers on every side of the same, having
besides within the compass or circuit of seven miles, seven small Seas:
he saw also therein many fair Palaces and goodly buildings, the Duke’s
Palace, and the mighty strong Castle, which is in manner half the
bigness of the town. Moreover, it liked him well to see the Hospital of
Saint Mary’s, with divers other things. He did nothing there worthy of
memory, but he departed back again towards Bolognia, and from thence
to Florence, where he was well pleased to see the pleasant walk of
Merchants, the goodly vaults of the City, for that almost the whole
City is vaulted, and the houses themselves are built outwardly, in
such sort that the people may go under them as under a vault: then he
perused the sumptuous Church in the Duke’s Castle called Nostra Donna,
our Lady’s Church, in which he saw many monuments, as a Marble door
most huge to look upon: the gate of the Castle was Bell metal, wherein
are graven the holy Patriarchs, with Christ and his twelve Apostles,
and divers other histories out of the old and new Testament. Then went
he to Sena, where he highly praised the church and Hospital of Santa
Maria Formosa, with the goodly buildings, and especially the fairness
and greatness of the City, and beautiful women. Then came he to Lyons
in France, where he marked the situation of the City, which lay between
two hills, environed with two waters: one worthy monument in the City
pleased him well, that was the great Church with the Image therein; he
commended the City highly for the great resort that it had unto it of
strangers. From thence he went to Cullin, which lieth upon the River
of Rhine, wherein he saw one of the ancientest monuments of the world,
the which was the Tomb of the three Kings that came by the Angel of
God, and their knowledge they had in the star, to worship Christ: which
when Faustus saw, he spake in this manner. Ah, alas good men how have
you erred and lost your way, you should have gone to Palestina and
Bethelem in Judea, how came you hither? or belike after your death you
were thrown into Mare Mediterraneum about Tripolis in Syria; and so
you fleeted out of the Straits of Giblaterra into the Ocean Sea, and
so into the bay of Portugal; and not finding any rest you were driven
along the coast of Galicia, Biskay, and France, and into the narrow
Seas, then from thence into Mare Germanicum, and so I think taken up
about the town of Dort in Holland, you were brought to Cullin to be
buried: or else I think you came more easily with a whirlwind over the
Alps, and being thrown into the River of Rhine, it conveyed you to this
place, where you are kept as a monument? There saw he the Church of S.
Ursula, where remains a monument of the thousand Virgins: it pleased
him also to see the beauty of the women. Not far from Cullin lieth the
town of Ach, where he saw the gorgeous Temple that the Emperor Carolus
Quartus[27] built of Marble stone for a remembrance of him, to the
end that all his successors should there be crowned. From Cullin and
Ach, he went to Geuf, a City in Savoy, lying near Switzerland: it is a
town of great traffic, the Lord thereof is a Bishop, whose Wine-cellar
Faustus, and his Spirit visited for the love of his good wine. From
thence he went to Strasburg, where he beheld the fairest steeple that
ever he had seen in his life before, for on each side thereof he might
see through it, even from the covering of the Minster to the top of the
Pinnacle, and it is named one of the wonders of the world: wherefore he
demanded why it was called Strasburg: his Spirit answered, because it
hath so many high ways coming to it on every side, for Stras in Dutch
is a high way, and hereof came the name, yea (said Mephostophiles) the
Church which thou so wonderest at, hath more revenues belonging to it,
then the twelve Dukes of Slesia are worth, for there pertain unto this
Church fifty-five Towns, and four hundred and sixty-three Villages
besides many houses in the Town. From hence went Faustus to Basile
in Switzerland, whereat the River of Rhine runneth through the town,
parting the same as the River of Thames doth London: in this town of
Basile he saw many rich Monuments, the town walled with brick, and
round about without it goeth a great trench: no Church pleased him but
the Jesuits’ Church, which was so sumptuously builded, and beset full
of Alabaster pillars. Faustus demanded of his Spirit, how it took the
name of Basyl: his Spirit made answer and said, that before this City
was founded, there used a Basiliscus, a kind of Serpent, this Serpent
killed as many men, women, and children, as it took a sight of: but
there was a Knight that made himself a cover of Crystal to come over
his head, and so down to the ground, and being first covered with a
black cloth, over that he put the Crystal, and so boldly went to see
the Basiliscus, and finding the place where he haunted, he expected
his coming, even before the mouth of her cave: where standing a while,
the Basylike came forth, who, when she saw her own venomous shadow in
the Crystal, she split in a thousand pieces; wherefore the Knight was
richly rewarded of the Emperor: after the which the Knight founded this
Town upon the place where he had slain the Serpent, and gave it the
name of Basyl, in remembrance of his deed.
[Illustration: THE SEVEN CHIEF CHURCHES OF ROME Second Half of the 16th
Century]
From Basyl Faustus went to Costuitz[28] in Sweitz, at the head of the
Rhine, where is a most sumptuous Bridge, that goeth over the Rhine,
even from the gates of the Town unto the other side of the stream: at
the head of the River of Rhine, is a small Sea, called of the Switzers
the black[29] Sea, twenty thousand paces long, and fifty hundred paces
broad. The town Costuitz took the name of this; the Emperor gave it to
a Clown for expounding of his riddle, wherefore the Clown named the
Town Costuitz, that is in English, cost nothing. From Costuitz he came
to Ulme, where he saw the sumptuous Town-house built by two and fifty
of the ancient Senators of the City, it took the name of Ulma, for
that the whole lands thereabout are full of Elms: but Faustus minding
to depart from thence, his Spirit said unto him: Faustus think on the
town as thou wilt, it hath three Dukedoms belonging to it, the which
they have bought with ready money. From Ulme, he came to Wartzburg
the chiefest town in Frankelandt, wherein the Bishop all together
keepeth his Court, through the which Town passeth the River of Mayne
that runs into the Rhine: thereabout groweth strong and pleasant wine,
the which Faustus well proved. The Castle standeth on a hill on the
North side of the Town, at the foot whereof runneth the River: this
Town is full of beggarly Friars, Nuns, Priests, and Jesuits: for there
are five sorts of begging Friars, besides three Cloisters of Nuns.
At the foot of the Castle stands a Church, in the which there is an
Altar, where are engraven all the four Elements, and all the orders
and degrees in Heaven, that any man of understanding whosoever that
hath a sight thereof, will say that it is the artificiallest thing
that ever he beheld. From thence he went to Norenberg, whither as he
went by the way, his Spirit informed him that the Town was named of
Claudius Tiberius the Son of Nero the Tyrant. In the Town are two
famous Cathedral Churches, the one called Saint Sabolt, the other
Saint Laurence; in which Church hangeth all the reliques of Carolus
Magnus, that is his cloak, his hose and doublet, his sword and Crown,
his Sceptre, and his Apple. It hath a very gorgeous gilden Conduit
in the market of Saint Laurence, in which Conduit, is the spear that
thrust our Saviour into the side, and a piece of the holy Cross; the
wall is called the fair wall of Norenberg, and hath five hundred and
twenty-eight streets, one hundred and sixty wells, four great, and
two small clocks, six great gates, and two small doors, eleven stone
bridges, twelve small hills, ten appointed market-places, thirteen
common hothouses,[30] ten Churches, within the Town are thirty wheels
of water-mills; it hath one hundred and thirty-two tall ships,[31] two
mighty Town walls of hewn stone and earth, with very deep trenches.
The walls have one hundred and eighty Towers about them, and four
fair platforms, ten Apothecaries, ten Doctors of the common law,
fourteen Doctors of Physic. From Norenberg, he went to Auspurg, where
at the break of the day, he demanded of his Spirit whereupon the
Town took his name: this Town (saith he) hath had many names, when
it was first built, it was called Vindelica: secondly, it was called
Zizaria, the iron bridge: lastly by the Emperor Octavius Augustus,
it was called Augusta, and by corruption of language the Germans
have named it Auspurg. Now for because that Faustus had been there
before, he departed without visiting their monuments to Ravenspurg,
where his Spirit certified him that the City had had seven names,
the first Tyberia, the second Quadratis, the third Hyaspalis, the
fourth Reginopolis, the fifth Imbripolis, the sixth Ratisbona, lastly
Ravenspurg. The situation of the City pleased Faustus well, also the
strong and sumptuous buildings: by the walls thereof runneth the River
of Danubia, in Dutch called Donow, into the which not far from the
compass of the City, falleth nearhand threescore other small Rivers and
fresh waters. Faustus also liked the sumptuous stone bridge over the
same water, with the Church standing thereon, the which was founded
1115, the name whereof is called S. Remedian: in this town Faustus went
into the cellar of an Innholder, and let out all the Wine and Beer that
was in his Cellar. After the which feat he returned unto Mentz[32] in
Bavaria, a right princely Town, the Town appeared as if it were new,
with great streets therein, both of breadth and length: from Mentz to
Saltzburg, where the Bishop is always resident: here saw he all the
commodities that were possible to be seen, for at the hill he saw the
form of Abel[33] made in Crystal, an huge thing to look upon, that
every year groweth bigger and bigger, by reason of the freezing cold.
From hence, he went to Vienna, in Austria: this Town is of so great
antiquity, that it is not possible to find the like: in this Town (said
the Spirit) is more Wine than water, for all under the Town are wells,
the which are filled every year with Wine, and all the water that they
have, runneth by the Town, that is the River Danubia. From hence, he
went unto Prage, the chief City in Bohemia, this is divided into three
parts, that is, old Prage, new Prage, and little Prage. Little Prage is
the place where the Emperor’s Court is placed upon an exceeding high
mountain: there is a Castle, wherein are two fair Churches, in the one
he found a monument, which might well have been a mirror to himself,
and that was the Sepulchre of a notable Conjurer, which by his Magic
had so enchanted his Sepulchre, that whosoever set foot thereon, should
be sure never to die in their beds. From the Castle he came down, and
went over the Bridge. This Bridge hath twenty and four Arches. In
the middle of this Bridge stands a very fair monument, being a Cross
builded of stone, and most artificially carved. From thence, he came
into the old Prage, the which is separated from the new Prage, with an
exceeding deep ditch, and round about enclosed with a wall of Brick.
Unto this is adjoining the Jews’ Town, wherein are thirteen thousand
men, women, and children, all Jews. There he viewed the College and the
Garden, where all manner of savage Beasts are kept; and from thence,
he fetched a compass round about the three Towns, whereat he wondered
greatly, to see so mighty a City to stand all within the walls. From
Prage, he flew into the air and bethought himself what he might do, or
which way to take, so he looked round about, and behold, he had espied
a passing fair City which lay not far from Prage, about some four and
twenty miles, and that was Breslaw in Sclesia; into which when he was
entered, it seemed to him that he had been in Paradise, so neat and
clean was the streets, and so sumptuous was their buildings. In this
City he saw not many wonders, except the Brazen Virgin that standeth
on a Bridge over the water, and under the which standeth a mill
like a powder mill, which Virgin is made to do execution upon those
disobedient town-born children that be so wild, that their parents
cannot bridle them; which when any such are found with some heinous
offence, turning to the shame of their parents and kindred, they are
brought to kiss this Virgin, which openeth her arms, the person then
to be executed, kisseth her, then doth she close her arms together
with such violence, that she crusheth out the breath of the person,
breaketh his bulk, and so dieth: but being dead, she openeth her arms
again, and letteth the party fall into the Mill, where he is stamped
in small morsels, which the water carrieth away, so that not any part
of him is found again. From Breslaw he went toward Cracovia, in the
Kingdom of Polonia, where he beheld the Academy, the which pleased him
wonderful well. In this City the King most commonly holdeth his Court
at a Castle, in which Castle are many famous monuments. There is a
most sumptuous Church in the same, in which standeth a silver altar
gilded, and set with rich stones, and over it is a conveyance full
of all manner silver ornaments belonging to the Mass. In the Church
hangeth the jaw bones of an huge Dragon that kept the Rock before the
Castle was edified thereon. It is full of all manner munition, and
hath always victual for three years to serve two thousand men. Through
the Town runneth a river called the Vistula or Wissel, where over is a
fair wooden bridge. This water divideth the Town and Casmere, in this
Casmere dwelleth the Jews being a small walled Town by themselves, to
the number of twenty-five thousand men, women, and children. Within one
mile of the Town there is a salt mine, where they find stones of pure
salt of a thousand pound, or nine hundred pound, or more in weight,
and that in great quantity. This salt is as black as the Newcastle
coals when it comes out of the mines, but being beaten to powder, it
is as white as snow. The like they have four mile from thence, at a
Town called Buchnia. From thence, Faustus went to Sandetz, the Captain
thereof was called Don Spiket Iordan, in this Town are many monuments,
as the tomb or sepulchre of Christ, in as ample manner as that is at
Jerusalem, at the proper costs of a Gentleman that went thrice to
Jerusalem from that place, and returned again. Not far from that Town
is a new Town, wherein is a Nunnery of the order of Saint Dioclesian,
into which order may none come, except they be Gentlewomen, and well
formed and fair to look upon, the which pleased Faustus well: but
having a desire to travel farther, and to see more wonders, mounting
up towards the East over many lands and Provinces, as into Hungaria,
Transilvania, Shede, Ingratz, Sardinia, and so into Constantinople,
where the Turkish Emperor kept his Court. This City was surnamed by
Constantine the founder thereof, being builded of very fair stone. In
the same the great Turk hath three fair Palaces, the walls are strong,
the pinnacles are very huge, and the streets large: but this liked
not Faustus, that one man might have so many wives as he would. The
Sea runneth hard by the City, the wall hath eleven Gates: Faustus
abode there a certain time to see the manner of the Turkish Emperor’s
service at his table, where he saw his royal service to be such, that
he thought if all the Christian Princes should banquet together,
and everyone adorn the feast to the uttermost, they were not able
to compare with the Turk for his table, and the rest of his Country
service, wherefore it so spited Faustus, that he vowed to be revenged
of him, for his pomp he thought was more fit for himself: wherefore as
the Turk sat and ate, Faustus shewed him a little apish play: for round
about the privy Chamber, he sent forth flashing flames of fire, in so
much, that the whole company forsook their meat and fled, except only
the great Turk himself, him Faustus had charmed in such sort, that he
could neither rise nor fall, neither could any man pull him up. With
this was the Hall so light, as if the Sun had shined in the house, then
came Faustus in form of a Pope to the great Turk, saying, all hail,
Emperor, now art thou honoured that I so worthily appear unto thee as
thy Mahumet was wont to do, hereupon he vanished, and forthwith it so
thundered, that the whole Palace shook: the Turk greatly marvelled what
this should be that so vexed him, and was persuaded by his chiefest
counsellors, that it was Mahumet his Prophet, the which had so appeared
unto them, whereupon the Turk commanded them to fall down on their
knees, and to give him thanks for doing them so great honour, as to
shew himself unto them; but the next day Faustus went into the Castle
where he kept his Wives and Concubines, in the which Castle might no
man upon pain of death come, except those that were appointed by the
great Turk to do them service, and they were all gelded. Which when
Faustus perceived, he said to his Spirit Mephostophiles, how likest
thou this sport, are not these fair Ladies greatly to be pitied,
that thus consume their youth at the pleasure of one only man? Why
(quoth the Spirit) mayest not thou instead of the Emperor, embrace
his fairest Ladies, do what thy heart desireth herein, and I will aid
thee, and what thou wishest, thou shalt have it performed: wherefore
Faustus (being before this counsel apt enough to put such matters in
practice) caused a great fog to be round about the Castle, both within
and without, and he himself appeared amongst the Ladies in all things
as they use to paint their Mahumet, at which sight, the Ladies fell
on their knees, and worshipped him, then Faustus took the fairest
by the hand, and led her into a chamber, where after his manner he
fell to dalliance, and thus he continued a whole day and night: and
when he had delighted himself sufficiently with her, he put her away,
and made his Spirit bring him another, so likewise he kept with her
twenty-four hours’ play, causing his Spirit to fetch him most dainty
fare, and so he passed away six days, having each day his pleasure of
a sundry Lady, and that of the fairest, all which time, the fog was so
thick, and so stinking, that they within the house thought they had
been in hell, for the time, and they without wondered thereat, in such
sort, that they went to their prayers calling on their God Mahumet,
and worshipping of his Image. Wherefore the sixth day Faustus exalted
himself in the air, like to a Pope, in the sight of the great Turk
and his people, and he had no sooner departed the Castle, but the
fog vanished away, whence presently the Turk sent for his Wives and
Concubines, demanding of them if they knew the cause why the Castle
was beset with a mist so long? they said, that it was the God Mahumet
himself that caused it, and how he was in the Castle personally full
six days, and for more certainty, he hath lain with six of us these
six nights one after another. Wherefore the Turk hearing this fell on
his knees, and gave Mahumet thanks, desiring him to forgive him for
being offended with his visiting his Castle and wives those six days:
but the Turk commanded that those whom Mahumet had lain by, should be
most carefully looked unto, persuading himself (and so did the whole
people that knew of it) that out of their Mahumet should be raised a
mighty generation, but first he demanded of the six Ladies if Mahumet
had had actual copulation with them, according as earthly men have, yea
my Lord, quoth one, as if you had been there yourself, you could not
have mended it, for he lay with us stark naked, kissed and colled[34]
us, and so delighted me, that for my part, I would he came two or three
times a week to serve me in such sort again. From hence, Faustus went
to Alkar, the which before time was called Chairam, or Memphis, in this
City the Egyptian Soldan holdeth his Court. From hence the river Nilus
hath his first head and spring, it is the greatest fresh-water river
that is in the whole world, and always when the Sun is in Cancer, it
overfloweth the whole land of Egypt: then he returned again towards
the North-east, and to the Town of Ofen and Sabatz in Hungaria. This
Ofen is the chiefest City in Hungaria, and standeth in a fertile soil,
wherein groweth most excellent wine, and not far from the Town there
is a well, called Zipzar, the water whereof changeth iron into Copper:
here are mines of gold and silver, and all manner of metal, we Germans
call this town Ofen[35], but in the Hungarian speech it is Start. In
the town standeth a very fair Castle, and very well fortified. From
hence he went to Austria, and through Slesia into Saxony, unto the
Towns of Magdeburg and Liptzig, and Lubeck. Magdeburg is a Bishopric:
in this City is one of the pitchers wherein Christ changed the water
into wine at Cana in Galile. At Liptzig nothing pleased Faustus so well
as the great vessel in the Castle made of wood, the which is bound
about with twenty-four iron hoops, and every hoop weigheth two hundred
pound weight, they must go upon a ladder of thirty steps high before
they can look into it: he saw also the new church-yard, where it is
walled, and standeth upon a fair plain, the yard is two hundred paces
long, and round about in the inside of the wall, are goodly places
separated one from each other to see sepulchres in, which in the middle
of the yard standeth very sumptuous: therein standeth a pulpit of white
work and gold. From hence he came to Lubeck and Hamburg, where he made
no abode, but away again to Erfort in Duringen, where he visited the
Freskold, and from Erfort he went home to Wittenberg, when he had seen
and visited many a strange place, being from home one year and a half,
in which time he wrought more wonders than are here declared.
[Footnote 26: A mistake for _Vaticanum_.]
[Footnote 27: This should be Carolus Magnus.]
[Footnote 28: i.e. Constance, which, however, is not in Switzerland.]
[Footnote 29: A mistranslation of the German _Bodensee_.]
[Footnote 30: i.e. hot baths.]
[Footnote 31: Probably a mistranslation of a German word ending in
_-schaft_.]
[Footnote 32: A mistake for Menchen (Munich).]
[Footnote 33: Perhaps “a bell.”]
[Footnote 34: Embraced.]
[Footnote 35: This is Buda. The statement that the Hungarians call
the town “Start” springs from a misunderstanding of his source by the
author of the _German Faust Book_.]