How three young Dukes being together at Wittenburg,
to behold the University, requested Faustus
to help them at a Wish to the Town of Muncheon, in Bavaria,
there to see the Duke of Bavaria's Son's Wedding.
Three worthy young dukes, the which are not here to be named, but being students all together, at the university of Wittenburg, met on a time all together, where they fell in reasoning concerning the pomp and bravery that should be in the city of Muncheon in Bavaria, at the wedding of the duke's son, wishing themselves there but one half hour to see the manner of their jollity; to whom one replied, saying to the two other gentlemen, "If it please you to give me the hearing, I will give you good counsel, that you may see the wedding, and be here again to-night, and this is my meaning: let us send to Dr. Faustus, make him a present of some rare thing, and open our minds unto him, desiring him to assist us in our enterprise, and assure ye he will not deny to fulfil our request." Hereupon they all concluded: sent for Faustus, told him their minds, and gave him a gift, and invited him to a sumptuous banquet, wherewith Faustus was well contented, and promised to further their journey to the uttermost: and when the time was come that the three young gentlemen came into his house, commanding them that they would put on their best apparel, and adorn themselves as rich as they could. He took off his great large cloak, went into the garden that was adjoining unto his house, and set the three young dukes upon his cloak, and he himself in the midst: but he gave them in charge, that in anywise they should not at once open their mouths to speak, or make answer to any man so soon as they went out, not so much as if the Duke of Bavaria or his son should speak to them, or offer them courtesy, they should give no word or answer again; to which they all agreed.
These conditions being made, Dr. Faustus began to conjure, and on a sudden arose a mighty wind, heaving up the cloak, and so carried them away in the air, and in due time they came unto Muncheon to the duke's court; where being entered into the utmost court, the marshal had espied them, who presently went to the duke, showing his grace that all the lords and gentlemen were ready set at the table, notwithstanding there were newly come three goodly gentlemen with one servant, the which stood without in the court, wherefore the good old duke came out unto them, welcoming them, requiring what they were, and whence? But they made no answer at all; whereat the duke wondered, thinking they had been all dumb: notwithstanding for his honour's sake he took them into the court, and feasted them. Faustus notwithstanding spake to them, "If anything happen otherwise than well, when I say, Sit up, then fall you all on the cloak, and good enough."
Well, the water being brought, and that they must wash, one of the three had some manners as to desire his friend to wash first, which when Faustus heard, he said, "Sit up;" and all at once they got on the cloak, but he that spoke fell off again, the other two with Dr. Faustus were again presently at Wittenburg: but he that remained was taken and laid in prison: wherefore the other two gentlemen were very sorrowful for their friend, but Faustus comforted them, promising that on the morrow he should also be at Wittenburg.
Now all this while was the duke taken in great fear, and strucken into an exceeding dumps, wondering with himself that his hap was so hard to be left behind, and not the rest: and now being locked and watched with so many keepers: there was also certain of the guests that fell to reasoning with him to know what he was, and also what the other were that were vanished away? But the poor prisoner thought with himself, "If I open what they are, then it will be evil also with me." Wherefore all this while he gave no man any answer, so that he was there a whole day and gave no man a word: wherefore the old duke gave charge that the next morning they should rack him until he had confessed; which when the young duke heard, he began to sorrow, and to say with himself, "It may be, that to-morrow (if Dr. Faustus come not to aid me) I shall be racked and grievously tormented, insomuch that I shall be constrained by force to say more than willingly I would do."
But he comforted himself with hope that his friends would entreat Dr. Faustus about his deliverance, as also it came to pass: for that before it was day, Dr. Faustus was by him, and he conjured them that watched him into such a heavy sleep, that he with his charms made open all the locks in the prison, and therewithal brought the young duke again in safety to the rest of his fellows and friends, where they presented Faustus with a sumptuous gift, and so departed one from another.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
How Dr. Faustus borrowed Money of a Jew,
and laid his own Leg in Pawn for it.
It is a common proverb in Germany that, although a conjurer have all things at command, the day will come that he shall not be worth a penny: so it is like to fall out with Dr. Faustus in promising the devil so largely; but as the devil is the author of all lies, even so he led Faustus his mind in practising things to deceive the people, and blinding them, wherein he took his whole delight, thereby to bring himself to riches. Notwithstanding, in the end he was never the richer; and although during twenty-four years of his time that the devil set him he wanted nothing, yet was he best pleased when he might deceive anybody; for out of the mightiest potentates' courts in all these countries he would send his spirit to fetch away their best cheer.
And on a time, being in his merriment, where he was banqueting with other students in an inn, thereunto resorted many Jews; which when Dr. Faustus perceived, he was minded to play a merry jest to deceive a Jew, desiring one of them to lend him some money for a time. The Jew was content, and lent Faustus threescore dollars for a month, which time being expired, the Jew came for his money and interest; but Dr. Faustus was never minded to pay the Jew again. At length the Jew coming home to his house, and calling importunately for his money, Dr. Faustus made him this answer: "Jew, I have no money, nor know I how to pay thee; but notwithstanding to the end thou mayst be contented, I will cut off a limb of my body, be it arm or leg, and the same thou shalt have in pawn for thy money; yet with this condition, that when I shall pay thee thy money again, then thou shalt give me my limb."