HORSE-C. Oh, Lord, sir, let me go, and I'll give you forty dollars more!

MEPH. Where be they?

HORSE-C. I have none about me: come to my ostry*, and I'll give them you.

MEPH. Be gone quickly. [Horse-courser runs away. FAUST. What, is he gone? farewell he! Faustus has his leg again, and the Horse-courser, I take it, a bottle of hay for his labour: well, this trick shall cost him forty dollars more.

Enter WAGNER.

How now, Wagner? what's the news with thee? WAG. Sir, the Duke of Vanholt doth earnestly entreat your company.

FAUST. The Duke of Vanholt! an honourable gentleman, to whom I must be no niggard of my cunning+.-Come, Mephistophilis, let's away to him.

[Exeunt.

Enter the DUKE of VANHOLT, the DUCHESS,
and FAUSTUs‡.

DUKE. Believe me, Master Doctor, this merri

ment hath much pleased me.

Enter the Duke of Vanholt, the Duchess, and Faustus] Old ed.;

"Exeunt.

Enter to them the Duke, the Dutchess, the Duke speakes." In the later 4tos a scene intervenes between the " Exeunt" of Faus

FAUST. My gracious lord, I am glad it contents you so well. But it may be, madam, you take no delight in this. I have heard that great-bellied women do long for some dainties or other: what is it, madam? tell me, and you shall have it.

DUCHESS. Thanks, good Master Doctor: and, for I see your courteous intent to pleasure me, I will not hide from you the thing my heart desires; and,

tus, Mephistophilis, and Wagner, and the entrance of the Duke of Vanholt, &c.—We are to suppose that Faustus is now at the court of the Duke of Vanholt: this is plain, not only from the later 4tos,-in which Wagner tells Faustus that the Duke "hath sent some of his men to attend him, with provision fit for his journey,”—but from The History of Doctor Faustus, the subjoined portion of which is closely followed in the present scene. 'Chap. xxxix. How Doctor Faustus played a merry jest with the Duke of Anholt in his Court. Doctor Faustus on a time went to the Duke of Anholt, who welcommed him very courteously; this was the moneth of January; where sitting at the table, he preceived the dutchess to be with child; and forbearing himselfe untill the meat was taken from the table, and that they brought in the banqueting dishes [i. e. the dessert], Doctor Faustus said to the dutchesse, Gratious lady, I have alwayes heard that great-bellied women doe alwayes long for some dainties; I beseech therefore your grace, hide not your minde from me, but tell me what you desire to eat. She answered him, Doctor Faustus, now truly I will not hide from you what my heart doth most desire; namely, that, if it were now harvest, I would eat my bellyfull of grapes and other dainty fruit. Doctor Faustus answered hereupon, Gracious lady, this is a small thing for me to doe, for I can doe more than this. Wherefore he tooke a plate, and set open one of the casements of the window, holding it forth; where incontinent he had his dish full of all manner of fruit, as red and white grapes, peares, and apples, the which came from out of strange countries: all these he presented

were it now summer, as it is January and the dead time of the winter, I would desire no better meat than a dish of ripe grapes.

FAUST. Alas, madam, that's nothing!-Mephistophilis, be gone. [Exit Mephistophilis.] Were it a greater thing than this, so it would content you, you should have it.

Re-enter MEPHISTOPHILIS with grapes.

Here they be, madam: wilt please you taste on them?

DUKE. Believe me, Master Doctor, this makes me wonder above the rest, that being in the dead time of winter and in the month of January, how you should come by these grapes.

FAUST. If it like your grace, the year is divided

the dutchesse, saying, Madam, I pray you vouchsafe to taste of this dainty fruit, the which came from a farre countrey, for there the summer is not yet ended. The dutchesse thanked Faustus highly, and she fell to her fruit with full appetite. The Duke of Anholt notwithstanding could not withhold to ask Faustus with what reason there were such young fruit to be had at that time of the yeare. Doctor Faustus told him, May it please your grace to understand that the yeare is divided into two circles of the whole world, that when with us it is winter, in the contrary circle it is notwithstanding summer; for in India and Saba there falleth or setteth the sunne, so that it is so warm that they have twice a yeare fruit; and, gracious lord, I bave a swift spirit, the which can in the twinkling of an eye fulfill my desire in any thing; wherefore I sent him into those countries, who hath brought this fruit as you see: whereat the duke was in great admiration."

into two circles over the whole world, that, when it is here winter with us, in the contrary circle it is summer with them, as in India, Saba *, and farther countries in the east; and by means of a swift spirit that I have, I had them brought hither, as you see.How do you like them, madam? be they good?

DUCHESS. Believe me, Master Doctor, they be the best grapes that e'er I tasted in my life before. FAUST. I am glad they content you so, madam. DUKE. Come, madam, let us in, where you must well reward this learned man for the great kindness he hath shewed to you.

DUCHESS. And so I will, my lord; and, whilst I live, rest beholding + for this courtesy.

FAUST. I humbly thank your grace.

DUKE. Come, Master Doctor, follow us, and receive your reward.

Enter WAGNER‡.

[Exeunt.

WAG. I think my master means to die shortly,
For he hath given to me all his goods §:
And yet, methinks, if that death were near,
He would not banquet, and carouse, and swill
Amongst the students, as even now he doth,

Saba] i. e. Sabea.

+ beholding] i. e. beholden.

Enter Wagner] Scene, a room in the house of Faustus. § he hath given to me all his goods] Compare chap. lvi. of The History of Doctor Faustus," How Doctor Faustus made his will, in which he named his servant Wagner to be his heire."

Who are at supper with such belly-cheer
As Wagner ne'er beheld in all his life.
See, where they come! belike the feast is ended.
[Exit.

Enter FAUSTUS with two or three SCHOLARS, and
MEPHISTOPHILIS.

FIRST SCHOL. Master Doctor Faustus, since our conference about fair ladies, which was the beautifulest in all the world, we have determined with ourselves that Helen of Greece was the admirablest lady that ever lived: therefore, Master Doctor, if you will do us that favour, as to let us see that peerless dame of Greece, whom all the world admires for majesty, we should think ourselves much beholding unto you.

FAUST. Gentlemen,

For that I know your friendship is unfeign'd,
And Faustus' custom is not to deny

The just requests of those that wish him well,
You shall behold that peerless dame of Greece,
No otherways for pomp and majesty
Than when Sir Paris cross'd the seas with her,
And brought the spoils to rich Dardania.
Be silent, then, for danger is in words.

[Music sounds, and Helen passeth over the stage ||.

|| Helen passeth over the stage] In The History of Doctor Faustus we have the following description of Helen. "This lady appeared before them in a most rich gowne of purple velvet, costly imbrodered; her haire hanged downe loose, as