How Dr. Faustus made a Marriage between two Lovers.
In the city of Wittenburg was a student, a gallant gentleman, named N. N. This gentleman was far in love with a gentlewoman, fair and proper of personage: this gentlewoman had a knight that was a suitor unto her, and many other gentlemen, which desired her in marriage, but none could obtain her. So it was that in despair with himself, that he pined away to skin and bones.
But when he opened the matter to Dr. Faustus, he asked counsel of his spirit Mephistophiles, the which told him what to do. Hereupon Dr. Faustus went home to the gentleman, who bade him be of good cheer, for he should have his desire, for he would help him to that he wished for, and that this gentlewoman should love none other but him only: wherefore Dr. Faustus so changed the mind of the damsel by the practice he wrought, that she could do no other thing but think on him whom before she had hated, neither cared she for any man but him alone. The device was thus: Faustus commanded the gentleman that he should clothe himself in all the best apparel that he had, and that he should go unto the gentlewoman and show himself, giving him a ring, commanding him in anywise that he should dance with her before he departed; who following his counsel, went to her, and when they began to dance, they that were suitors began to take every one his lady by the hand; this gentleman took her who before had so disdained him, and in the dance he put the ring into her hand that Faustus had given him, which she no sooner touched, but she fell presently in love with him, smiling at him in the dance, and many times winking at him, rolling her eyes, and in the end she asked him if he could love her, and make her his wife. He gladly answered that he was content; whereupon they concluded, and were married by the means and help of Faustus, for which the gentleman well rewarded him.
CHAPTER LI.
How Dr. Faustus led his Friends into his Garden at Christmas,
and showed them many strange Sights,
in the nineteenth Year.
In December, about Christmas, in the city of Wittenburg, were many young gentlemen, which were come out of the country to be merry with their friends, amongst whom there were certain well acquainted with Dr. Faustus, who often invited them home unto his house. They being there on a certain time, after dinner he had them into his garden, where they beheld all manner of flowers and fresh herbs, and trees bearing fruit, and blossoms of all sorts; who wondered to see that his garden should so flourish at that time, as in the midst of the summer, when abroad in the streets and all the country lay full of snow and ice; wherefore this was noted of them as a thing miraculous, every one gathering and carrying away all such things as they best liked, and so departed, delighted with their sweet-smelling flowers.
CHAPTER LII.
How Dr. Faustus gathered together
a great Army of Men in his extremity, against
a Knight that would have Conjured him on his own Journey.
Dr. Faustus travelled towards Evzeleben, and when he was nigh half the way, he espied seven horsemen, and the chief of them he knew to be the knight with whom he had jested in the emperor's court, for he had left a great pair of hart's horns upon his head; and when the knight now saw that he had a fit opportunity to be revenged of Faustus, he ran upon him, and those that were with him, to mischief himself, intending privily to slay him; which when Faustus espied, he vanished away into a wood that was hard by them, but when the knight perceived that he was vanished away, he caused his men to stand still; but where they remained, they heard all manner of warlike instruments of music, as drums, flutes, trumpets, and such like, and a certain troop of horsemen running towards them; then they turned another way, and were also met on that side; then another way, and yet were freshly assaulted, so that which way soever they turned themselves, they were encountered, insomuch that when the knight perceived that he could escape no way, but that his enemies lay on him which way soever he offered to fly, he took good heart, and ran amongst the thickest, and thought with himself better to die than to live with so great infamy; therefore being at handy blows with them, he demanded the cause why they should so use them? But none of them would give him answer, until Dr. Faustus showed himself unto the knight; whereupon they enclosed him round, and Dr. Faustus said unto him, "Sir, yield your weapon and yourself, otherwise it will go hard with you."
The knight knew no other but that he was conjured with a host of men, whereas indeed they were none other but devils, yielded; then Faustus took away his sword, his piece, and horse, with all the rest of his companions. And farther he said unto him: "Sir, the chiefest general of our army hath commanded me to deal with you, according to the law of arms; you shall depart in peace, whither you please." And then he gave the knight a horse, after the manner, and set him thereon, so he rode, the rest went on foot, until they came to their inn where he being alighted, his page rode on his horse to the water, and presently the horse vanished away, the page being almost sunk and drowned, but he escaped; and coming home, the knight perceiving the page to be bemired, and on foot, asked where his horse was; who answered, that he was vanished away. Which when the knight heard, he said, "Of a truth this is Faustus his doing, for he serveth me now, as he did before at the court, only to make me a scorn and laughing-stock."