_How Doctor Faustus shewed the fair Helena unto the Students upon the
Sunday following_
The Sunday following came these Students home to Doctor Faustus his
own house, and brought their meat and drink with them: these men were
right welcome guests unto Faustus, wherefore they all fell to drinking
of wine smoothly: and being merry, they began some of them to talk of
the beauty of women, and every one gave forth his verdict what he had
seen and what he had heard. So one among the rest said, I never was
so desirous of anything in this world, as to have a sight (if it were
possible) of fair Helena of Greece, for whom the worthy town of Troie
was destroyed and razed down to the ground, therefore saith he, that in
all men’s judgment she was more than commonly fair, because that when
she was stolen away from her husband, there was for her recovery so
great bloodshed.
Doctor Faustus answered: For that you are all my friends and are so
desirous to see that famous pearl of Greece, fair Helena, the wife of
King Menelaus, and daughter of Tindalus and Læda, sister to Castor and
Pollux, who was the fairest Lady in all Greece: I will therefore bring
her into your presence personally, and in the same form of attire as
she used to go when she was in her chiefest flowers and pleasantest
prime of youth. The like have I done for the Emperor Carolus Quintus,
at his desire I shewed him Alexander the great, and his Paramour:
but (said Doctor Faustus) I charge you all that upon your perils you
speak not a word, nor rise up from the Table so long as she is in
your presence. And so he went out of the Hall, returning presently
again, after whom immediately followed the fair and beautiful Helena,
whose beauty was such that the Students were all amazed to see her,
esteeming her rather to be a heavenly than an earthly creature. This
Lady appeared before them in a most sumptuous gown of purple Velvet,
richly embroidered, her hair hanged down loose as fair as the beaten
Gold, and of such length that it reached down to her hams, with amorous
coal-black eyes, a sweet and pleasant round face, her lips red as a
Cherry, her cheeks of rose all colour, her mouth small, her neck as
white as the Swan, tall and slender of personage, and in sum, there
was not one imperfect part in her: she looked round about her with a
rolling Hawk’s eye, a smiling and wanton countenance, which near hand
inflamed the hearts of the Students, but that they persuaded themselves
she was a Spirit, wherefore such fantasies passed away lightly with
them: and thus fair Helena and Doctor Faustus went out again one with
another. But the Students at Doctor Faustus his entering again into the
hall, requested of him to let them see her again the next day, for that
they would bring with them a painter and so take her counterfeit: which
he denied, affirming that he could not always raise up her Spirit, but
only at certain times: yet (said he) I will give you her counterfeit,
which shall be always as good to you as if your selves should see the
drawing thereof, which they received according to his promise, but soon
lost it again. The Students departed from Faustus’ home everyone to his
house, but they were not able to sleep the whole night for thinking
on the beauty of fair Helena. Wherefore a man may see that the Devil
blindeth and enflameth the heart with lust often-times, that men fall
in love with Harlots, nay even with Furies, which afterward cannot
lightly be removed.
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