V
The Wagner Book
The first edition of the German Wagner book was published anonymously, without mention even of its place of origin, in 1593, under a title of which the following is a translation:—
Second part of D. Johann Faust’s History, in which is described the Pact of Christopher Wagner, Faust’s former Disciple, contracted with the Devil, called Auerhan, who appeared to him in the form of an Ape, also his adventurous Ribaldries and Pranks, which he performed with the Aid of the Devil, and fearful End which at last overtook him.
Together with an excellent Description of the New Isles, what People live therein, what Fruits grow there, what Religion and Idol-worship they have there, and how they are captured by the Spaniards, all drawn from his posthumous Writings and, for it is very amusing to read, put into Print. By Fridericus Schotus Tolet: Now at P. 1593.
Unlike the publisher of the Faust book, the author of the Wagner book appears to have taken all precautions to hide his identity, for Fridericus Schotus is a pseudonym, and Tolet is Toledo, where there were supposed to be celebrated schools of magic. At the end of his book the author declares that he has translated from a Spanish original, printed seventy years ago, which he received from a Brother Martin of the Order of St. Benedict. That is obviously false, since the Faust legend did not exist in 1523, and certainly could not have been in print in Spain. The author also declares that he has refrained from saying anything that might be considered detrimental to the Church of Rome, but this promise he has not kept very successfully. In an edition which appeared in the following year, the town of origin is given as “Gerapoli,” which is fictitious and may contain an anagram of “Prague,” since the first edition states that it was published at “P.”
The Wagner story is essentially a paraphrase of the Faust legend, and the author keeps to the outline of his hero’s character which is given in the Faust book. The sole difference is in some of the external incidents.
The English Wagner book was licensed about six months after the German Wagner book, according to an entry in the Stationers’ Registers under the 16th of November, 1593, and the date on the title-page is 1594. It is not a translation of the German Wagner book, but an extremely faint imitation, into which the author has introduced many new details. He appears only to have taken the basic idea, though there are occasional quotations from the German book, and it is practically an independent work. The 1680 edition was, in fact, translated into German and published in Scheible’s Kloster.
William Rose.
1925.
THE
HISTORIE
of the damnable
life, and deserved death of
Doctor John Faustus,
Newly imprinted, and in convenient
places imperfect matter amended;
according to the true Copie printed
at Franckfort, and translated into
English by P. F. Gent.
Seene and allowed.
BY WISDOM PEACE
BY PEACE PLENTY
Imprinted at London by Thomas Orwin, and are to be
solde by Edward White, dwelling at the little North
doore of Paules, at the signe of the Gun. 1592.
HERE FOLLOWETH THE CONTENTS
OF THIS BOOK
| Page | |
| Of the parentage and birth of Doctor Faustus. | [65] |
| How Doctor Faustus began to practise in his Devilish art, and how he conjured the Devil, making him to appear and to meet him on the morrow at his own house | [67] |
| The conference of Doctor Faustus with the Spirit Mephostophiles on the next morning at his own house | [70] |
| The second time of the Spirit’s appearing to Faustus in his house, and of their parley | [72] |
| The third parley between Doctor Faustus, and Mephostophiles, about a conclusion | [74] |
| How Doctor Faustus set his blood in a Saucer on the warm ashes and wrote | [76] |
| How Mephostophiles came for his writing, and in what manner he appeared, and his sights he shewed him, and how he caused him to keep a copy of his own writing | [77] |
| The manner how Faustus proceeded with his damnable life, and of the diligent service that Mephostophiles used towards him | [79] |
| How Doctor Faustus would have married, and how the Devil had almost killed him for it | [81] |
| Questions put forth by Doctor Faustus unto his Spirit Mephostophiles | [84] |
| How Doctor Faustus dreamed that he had seen Hell in his sleep, and how he questioned with the Spirit of matters concerning Hell, with the Spirit’s answer | [86] |
| The second question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit, what Kingdoms there were in Hell, how many, and what were the rulers’ names | [87] |
| Another question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit concerning his Lord Lucifer, with the sorrow that Faustus fell afterwards into | [88] |
| Another disputation betwixt Doctor Faustus and his Spirit of the power of the Devil, and of his envy to mankind | [90] |
| How Doctor Faustus desired again of his Spirit to know the secrets and pains of Hell, and whether those damned Devils and their company might ever come into the favour of God again or not | [92] |
| Another question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit Mephostophiles of his own estate | [98] |
| The second part of Doctor Faustus his life, and practices until his end | [100] |
| A question put forth by Doctor Faustus to his Spirit, concerning Astronomy | [101] |
| How Doctor Faustus fell into despair with himself: for having put forth a question unto his Spirit, they fell at variance, whereupon the whole rout of Devils appeared unto him, threatening him sharply | [104] |
| How Doctor Faustus desired to see Hell, and of the manner how he was used therein | [110] |
| How Doctor Faustus was carried into the air up to the heavens to see the world, and how the Sky and Planets ruled: after the which he wrote a letter to his friend of the same to Lyptzig, how he went about the world in eight days | [115] |
| How Doctor Faustus made his journey through the principal and most famous lands in the world | [121] |
| How Faustus had a sight of Paradise | [144] |
| Of a certain Comet that appeared in Germany, and how Doctor Faustus was desired by certain friends of his to know the meaning thereof | [146] |
| A question put forth to Doctor Faustus, concerning the Stars | [147] |
| How Faustus was asked a question concerning the Spirits that vex men | [148] |
| How Doctor Faustus was asked a question concerning the Stars that fall from Heaven | [149] |
| How Faustus was asked a question concerning thunder | [149] |
| The third part, how the Emperor Carolus quintus requested of Faustus to see some of his cunning, whereunto he agreed | [150] |
| How Doctor Faustus in the sight of the Emperor conjured a pair of Hart’s horns upon a Knight’s head that slept out of a casement | [154] |
| How the Knight sought to be revenged of Faustus | [155] |
| A merry conceit of Faustus with three young Dukes | [156] |
| How Faustus borrowed money of a Jew | [160] |
| How Faustus deceived an Horse-courser | [162] |
| How Doctor Faustus ate a load of Hay | [164] |
| How Faustus played a jest with twelve Students | [165] |
| How Faustus served the drunken Clowns | [165] |
| How Faustus sold five Swine | [166] |
| How Faustus played a merry conceit with the Duke of Anholt | [167] |
| How he made a Castle in the presence of the Duke of Anholt | [168] |
| How they robbed the Bishop of Saltzburg his Cellar | [171] |
| How Faustus kept his Shrovetide | [172] |
| Faustus his feast to his friends on the Ash-Wednesday | [174] |
| How the next day he was feasted of his friends | [176] |
| How he shewed his friends the fair Helena of Greece | [177] |
| How Faustus conjured away the four wheels of a Clown’s waggon | [180] |
| How he deceived the four Jugglers | [182] |
| How an old neighbour of Faustus gave him counsel to amend his life | [183] |
| How Faustus wrote again the second time, with his own blood, and gave it to the Devil | [186] |
| How he made a marriage betwixt two Lovers | [188] |
| Of his rare flowers at Christmas in his Garden | [189] |
| How he gathered together a great army of men | [190] |
| How he gat for himself seven fair Ladies | [192] |
| How he found treasure in the 22. year of his time | [193] |
| How he made fair Helena his Paramour | [193] |
| How he made his Will | [194] |
| His talk with his servant | [195] |
| Five complaints of Doctor Faustus before his end | [197] |
| His miserable end, with his Oration to his friends | [201] |