These words pleased Faustus wonderful well, and repented himself that he was so foolish to wish himself married, that might have any woman in the whole City brought to him at his command; the which he practised and persevered in a long time.
CHAPTER X
Questions put forth by Doctor Faustus unto his Spirit Mephostophiles
Doctor Faustus living in all manner of pleasure that his heart could desire, continuing in his amorous drifts, his delicate fare, and costly apparel, called on a time his Mephostophiles to him: which being come, brought with him a book in his hand of all manner of Devilish and enchanted arts, the which he gave Faustus, saying: hold my Faustus, work now thy heart’s desire: The copy of this enchanting book was afterward found by his servant Christopher Wagner. Well (quoth Faustus to his Spirit) I have called thee to know what thou canst do if I have need of thy help. Then answered Mephostophiles and said, my Lord Faustus, I am a flying spirit: yea, so swift as thought can think, to do whatsoever. Here Faustus said: but how came thy Lord and master Lucifer to have so great a fall from heaven? Mephostophiles answered: My Lord Lucifer was a fair Angel, created of God as immortal, and being placed in the Seraphims, which are above the Cherubims, he would have presumed unto the Throne of God, with intent to have thrust God out of his seat. Upon this presumption the Lord cast him down headlong, and where before he was an Angel of light, now dwells he in darkness, not able to come near his first place, without God send for him to appear before him as Raphael: but unto the lower degree of Angels that have their conversation with men he was come, but not unto the second degree of Heavens that is kept by the Archangels, namely, Michael and Gabriel, for these are called Angels of God’s wonders: yet are these far inferior places to that from whence my Lord and Master Lucifer fell. And thus far Faustus, because thou art one of the beloved children of my Lord Lucifer, following and feeding thy mind in manner as he did his, I have shortly resolved thy request, and more I will do for thee at thy pleasure. I thank thee Mephostophiles (quoth Faustus) come let us now go rest, for it is night: upon this they left their communication.
CHAPTER XI
How Doctor Faustus dreamed that he had seen hell in his sleep, and how he questioned with his Spirit of matters as concerning hell, with the Spirit’s answer
The night following, after Faustus his communication had with Mephostophiles, as concerning the fall of Lucifer, Doctor Faustus dreamed that he had seen a part of hell: but in what manner it was, or in what place he knew not: whereupon he was greatly troubled in mind, and called unto him Mephostophiles his Spirit, saying to him, my Mephostophiles, I pray thee resolve me in this doubt: what is hell, what substance is it of, in what place stands it, and when was it made? Mephostophiles answered: my Faustus, thou shalt know, that before the fall of my Lord Lucifer there was no hell, but even then was hell ordained: it is of no substance, but a confused thing: for I tell thee, that before all Elements were made, and the earth seen, the Spirit of God moved on the waters, and darkness was over all: but when God said, let it be light, it was so at his word, and the light was on God’s right hand, and God praised the light. Judge thou further: God stood in the middle, the darkness was on his left hand, in the which my Lord was bound in chains until the day of judgment: in this confused hell is nought to find but a filthy, Sulphurish, fiery, stinking mist or fog. Further, we Devils know not what substance it is of, but a confused thing. For as a bubble of water flieth before the wind, so doth hell before the breath of God. Further, we Devils know not how God hath laid the foundation of our hell, nor whereof it is: but to be short with thee Faustus, we know that hell hath neither bottom nor end.