_How Doctor Faustus conjured away the four wheels from a clown’s waggon_
Doctor Faustus was sent for to the Marshal of Brunswicke, who was
greatly troubled with the falling sickness. Now Faustus had this use,
never to ride but walk forth on foot, for he could ease himself when he
list, and as he came near unto the town of Brunswicke, there overtook
him a Clown with four horses and an empty waggon, to whom Doctor
Faustus jestingly to try him, said: I pray thee, good fellow, let me
ride a little to ease my weary legs; which the buzzardly ass denied,
saying: that his horses were also weary, and he would not let him get
up. Doctor Faustus did this but to prove the buzzard, if there were
any courtesy to be found in him if need were.
But such churlishness as is commonly found among clowns, was by Doctor
Faustus well requited, even with the like payment: for he said unto
him, Thou doltish Clown, void of all humanity, seeing thou art of so
currish a disposition, I will pay thee as thou hast deserved, for the
four wheels of thy Waggon thou shalt have taken from thee, let me see
then how canst thou shift: hereupon his wheels were gone, his horses
also fell down to the ground, as though they had been dead: whereat
the Clown was sore affright, measuring it as a just scourge of God
for his sins and churlishness: wherefore all troubled, and wailing,
he humbly besought Doctor Faustus to be good unto him, confessing he
was worthy of it, notwithstanding if it pleased him to forgive him, he
would hereafter do better. Which humility made Faustus his heart to
relent, answering him on this manner, well, do so no more, but when
a poor weary man desireth thee, see that thou let him ride, but yet
thou shalt not go altogether clear, for although thou have again thy
four wheels, yet shalt thou fetch them at the four Gates of the City,
so he threw dust on the horses, and revived them again, and the Clown
for his churlishness was fain to fetch his wheels, spending his time
with weariness, whereas before he might have done a good deed, and gone
about his business quietly.