never left eating till he had eat up all my load of hay. All. Oh, monstrous! eat a whole load of hay? Clown. Yes, yes, that may be; for I have heard of one that has eat a load of logs. Horse. Now, sirs, you shall hear how villainously he served me: I went to him yesterday to buy a horse of him, and he would by no means sell him under forty dollars; so, sir, because I knew him to be such a horse as would run over hedge and ditch and never tire, I gave him his money; so when I had my horse, Doctor Faustus bad me ride him night and day, and spare him no time; but, quoth he, in any case, ride him not into the water: now, sir, I thinking the horse had had some quality that he would not have me know of; what did I, but ride him into a great river; and when I came just in the midst, my horse vanished away, and I sat straddling upon a bottle of hay. All. O brave Doctor! Horse. But you shall hear how bravely I served him for it; I went me home to his house, and there I found him asleep; I kept a hallooing and whooping in his ears, but all could not wake him I seeing that, took him by the leg, and never rested pulling till I had pulled me his leg quite off; and now 'tis at home in mine hostry. Clown. And has the Doctor but one leg, then? That's excellent! for one of his devils turn'd me into the likeness of an ape's face. Cart. Some more drink, hostess. Clown. Hark you, we'll into another room and drink awhile, and then we'll go seek out the [Exeunt omnes. Doctor. Enter the DUKE OF VANHOLT, his DUCHESS, FAUSTUS, and MEPHOSTOPHILIS. Duke. Thanks, Master Doctor, for these pleasant sights; nor know I how sufficiently to recompense your great deserts in erecting that enchanted castle in the air: the sight whereof so delighted me, as nothing in the world could please me more. Faust. I do think myself, my good lord, highly recompensed in that it pleaseth your grace to think but well of that which Faustus hath performed. But, gracious lady, it may be that you have taken no pleasure in those sights; therefore, I pray you pray you tell me, what is the thing you most desire to have; be it in the world, it shall be yours: I have heard that great-bellied women do long for things are rare and dainty. Lady. True, Master Doctor; and since I find you so kind, I will make known unto you what my heart desires to have; and were it now summer as it is January, a dead time of the winter, I would request no better meat than a dish of ripe grapes. Faust. This is but a small matter: go, Mephostophilis; away! [Exit Mephostophilis.] Madam, I will do more than this for your content. Enter MEPHOSTOPHILIS again, with the Grapes. Here now, take ye these; they should be good, for they come from a far country, I can tell you. Duke. This makes me wonder more than all the rest; that at this time of the year, when every tree is barren of his fruit, from whence you had these ripe grapes. Faust. Please it, your grace, the year is divided into two circles over the whole world; so that when it is winter with us, in the contrary circle it is likewise summer with them; as in India, Saba, and such countries that lie far east, where they have fruit twice a year; from whence, by means of a swift spirit that I have, I had these grapes brought as you see. Lady. And trust me they are the sweetest grapes that e'er I tasted. (The Clown bounceth at the gate, within.) Duke. What rude disturbers have we at the gate? Go, pacify their fury, set it ope, And then demand of them what they would have. (They knock again, and call out to talk with Faustus.) A Serv. Why, how now, masters; what a coil is there; What is the reason you disturb the Duke? Dick. We have no reason for it, therefore a fig for him. Serv. Why, saucy varlets, dare you be so bold? Horse. I hope, sir, we have wit enough to be more bold than welcome. Serv. It appears so; pray be bold elsewhere, and trouble not the duke. Duke. What would they have? Serv. They all cry out to speak with Doctor Faustus. Cart. Aye, and we will speak with him. Duke. Will you, sir? Commit the rascals. Dick. Commit with us; he were as good commit with his father as commit with us. Faust. I do beseech your Grace, let them come in, They are good subject for a merriment. Duke. Do as thou wilt, Faustus, I give thee leave. Faust. I thank your Grace. Enter the CLOWN, DICK, CARTER, and HORSE COURSER. Why, how now, my good friends? Faith, you are too outrageous; but come near, I have procur'd your pardons: welcome all. Clown. Nay, sir, we will be welcome for our money, and we will pay for what we take: What, ho! give's half a dozen of beer here, and be hanged. Faust. Nay, hark you, can you tell me where you are? Cart. Aye, marry, can I, we are under heaven. Serv. Aye; but, Sir Sauce-box, know you in what place? Horse. Aye, aye, the house is good enough to drink in: zounds! fill us some beer, or we'll break all the barrels in the house, and dash out your brains with your bottles. all Faust. Be not so furious; come, you shall have beer. My lord, beseech you give me leave awhile, Our servants and our court's at thy command. Faust. I humbly thank your Grace; then fetch some beer. Horse. Ah, marry! there spake a Doctor, indeed! and faith, I'll drink a health to thy wooden leg for that word. Faust. My wooden leg! what dost thou mean by that? Cart. Ha, ha, ha! dost hear him, Dick? he has forgot his leg. Horse. Aye, aye, he does not stand much upon that. Faust. No, faith; not much upon a wooden leg. Cart. Good Lord! that flesh and blood should be so frail with your worship! Do not you remember a Horse-courser you sold a horse to? Faust. Yes, I remember I sold one a horse. Cart. And do you remember you bid he should not ride him into the water? Faust. Yes, I do very well remember that. Cart. And do you remember nothing of your leg? Faust. No, in good sooth. Cart. Then, I pray, remember your curtesie. Faust. I thank you, sir. Cart. 'Tis not so much worth: I pray you tell me one thing. Faust. What's that? |