.

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r;734.
THE

GERMAN NOVELISTS:
TALES
SELECTED FROM

ANCIENT AND MODERN AUTHORS

IN

THAT LANGUAGE:

FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD DOWN TO THE CLOSE OF

THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
TKANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINALS

WIIH

CRITICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.

BY THOMAS ROSCOE.
FOUR VOLUMES.

IN

VOL.

I.

0^-^

LONDON
HENRY COLBUUN, NEW liURLINGTON STREET.
'

1826.

*;

'

er

INTRODUCTION.

The

object of the following publication

to

is

present to the English novel reader a succinct

view of some of the more favourite prose

current

tions

in

Germany, such

been preserved from age

to age,

the invention of printing,

period. It
is

is

well

more attached

even previous to

down

to the present

known, indeed,

that

no nation

to this class of popular

positions, both in a poetical

fic-

as they have

com-

and a prosaic form,

who have

while no country can boast of writers

more abundantly produced, or more zealously

Some of the least national
treasured them up.
of these, whose origin

difficult

it is

to decide,

have already become familiar to us through the

medium
have

of more

naturalized

modern

and seem

versions,

themselves

in

country, whithersoever they have migrated

this character,

Fox, the Horned Siegfried

more

of

perhaps, are the Adventures of

the Travelling Jew, of Fortunatus,

of a

to

almost every

Reynard the

opposed

to others

national cast like Faustus, Howleglass,

INTRODUCTION.

VI

Henry

the Lion, &,c. In respect to their generic

quahties,

as distinguished

countries,

we

more

from those of other

cannot convey an idea of them

clearly than in the

in his Illustrations

words of Mr. Weber,

of Northern Antiquities,

when

treating on the subject of Teutonic poetry

and

romance.

"

When we

compare these Teutonic

mances with those of

Spain,

we

ro-

France, England, and

are immediately struck with the

want

of chivalrous courtesy in the knights, and with

the praises bestowed
ferocious

upon the most savage and

among them.

We have

not here that

constant obedience and attention to the ladies,

who
their

are indeed
lovers.

romances
'J'he

is,

frequently

The

peculiar

more savage than

diablerie

of their

perhaps, their most striking feature.

dwarfs who, by the French minstrels, were

represented as mere naturals, and humble attendants upon the knights, are here exalted into
creatures

of great cunning, having

dominion

over the interior of the earth, consequently possessing incalculable riches, in gold and gems,

and having the stronger but

less sagacious race

of giants entirely imder their controul.

The

history of the creation of those three great classes,

the dwarfs, giants, and heroes,

is

given by the

INTRODUCTIOX.

Book of Heroes

author of the Preface to the

in

the following manner:

"

'

It should

be known for what reason

created the great giants and the

subsequently the heroes.

little

First,

he produced the

mountains lay waste and

dwarfs, because the

and valuable stores of

useless,

God

dwarfs, and

silver and- gold,

with gems and pearls, were concealed in them.

God made

Therefore

the dwarfs right wise and

good and bad,

crafty, that they could distinguish

and

to

what use

They knew

things should be applied.

all

the use of

gems

that

some of them

gave strength to the wearer, others made him

which were called Fog-caps.*

invisible,

fore

God

built

them hollow

gave

and wisdom

art

to

he gave them nobility,

hills;

so that they, as well as the heroes,

and lords; and he gave them great

the reason

why God

they should

some

And

wild beasts

and worms

and thus enable the

the mountains in safety. But

serpents),

dwarfs to cultivate
after

were kings
riches.

created the giants, was, that

slay the

(dragons and

There-

them, that they

lime,

came wicked and

Nebel Kappen.

it

happened that the giants beand did much harm

unfaithful,

In the romances themselves,

tliey are

not

represented as gems, but as a kind of veil, which rendered every

thing covpred by

them

invisible.

INTRODUCTION.

Vni

Then God created the heroes,

to the dwarfs.
who were of a middle rank, between the dwarfs
and giants. And it should be known that the
heroes were worthy and faithful for many years,
and that they were created to come to the assistance of the

dwarfs,

giants, the beasts

The

God made

then waste, therefore

Among

who had

their

battles

many

dwarfs were

the

giants for their servants

land was

strong heroes,

and gave them such a nature, that

was ever bent on manhood, and on
fights.

unfaithful

the

against

and the worms.

mind
and

kings,

for they pos-

mounThe heroes paid

sessed rough countries, waste forests, and

tains
all

near their dwellings.

observance and honour to the ladies, protected

widows and orphans, did no harm

except when their
always ready to
their

was

life

assist

in

to

women,

danger,

were

them, and often shewed

manhood before them, both in spirit and in

It should also be known that the

earnest.

heroes were
earls,

squires

always emperors,

kings,

dukes,

and served under lords or as knights and

;

and that they were

no one was a peasant.

scended

all

And

all

noblemen, and

from them are de-

our lords and noblemen.'"*

Illustrations of Northern Antiquities; Ancient Teutonic

Poetry and Romance,

pp. 41. 2.

INTRODUCTION.

We

llf.

here close our extract, as

tended to make

of the

trial

not

it is

in-

reader's literary

patience or taste for black letter research, at the

expence of more

To com-

ajj^reeable requisites.

bine the two, as far as

was conceived

quite

agreeable to the primary and more popular pur-

poses of

all fiction,

amusing' narrative and novelty

of incident, has been the aim of the following

pages, however inadequately accomplished.

It

would have opened too wide and unbeaten a

field

of enquiry, and would have been too

in unison with the light

little

and popular materials of

the text, to have attempted any detailed analysis

and

illustration

ramifications

of

of
the

the

individual

specimens

and

origin

here selected

from a rich storehouse of traditionary reliques.

Far, therefore, from presuming to encroach upon
the ancient domain

of learned commentators,

either of this or a preceding age,

all

that the

editor has, at most, adventured upon, has

to hover a

little

round the

attempted. to introduce

his

outskirts.

been

To have

readers into

all

the

learned labyrinths of those ancient and secluded

regions of romance, " from time immemorial,
set apart for the old wizards

north,"

would have been on

bitious

an

effort.

and heroes of the

his part far

too am-

INTRODUCTION.

It

to himself, tliat

due, in fairness

is

disclaim any

editor should

the

pretensions to the

more recondite learning and

research

patient

which characterize the pursuits of the genuine

Nor would he

antiquary.

feel himself justified

in calling for that painful attention so requisite

on the part of the reader,

for a

He

tion of such labours.

proper apprecia-

would

not,

however,

be understood to insinuate the slightest depreciation of such works; works, which throw light

and splendour upon by-gone days, and conjure

up forms of
were

He

living beauty, or of glory,

which

fast disappearing in the mists of antiquity.

would rather avow

that he hangs with delight

over the pages of the gifted illustrators of our

old poetry and drama, or of the living successors of our Ritsons and our

who have gone

outlines

far

complete

to

of antiquarian

chalked out by

their

Wartous, authors

learning

those

great

and research

To

predecessors.

the

united efforts of Scott, of

Weber, of Jamieson

of Herbert, of Douce, of

Ellis,

of Percy,

Lockart;

all

of

of

Johnstone,

whom

of Heber,

in unfolding to us the

concealed treasures of the past,

proud

and of

conjointly, or severally,

have so ardently engaged

debted for that

and of Dunlop;

we

distinction

to

are in-

which

INTRODUCTION.

may

Enjiliind

still

XI

lay claim, in the highest walks

of learning, as well as of art

a distinction which

need not shrink from a comparison with that of

famed academicians of France, or the

the most
still

more recondite and laborious

efforts of the

Germans.
It

is

scarcely necessary further to observe, on

the part of the present editor, that he has not

indulged the ambition of aspiring to any share of

those honours, which have been so amply reaped

by names

like

the preceding

though he may

perhaps be held excused for attempting to glean

flowers growing

a few scattered
fields,

in the

same

stretching so widely around the northern

side of the

" Temple of Fame."

" Of Gothic structure was the

nortliern side,

O'erwTought with ornaments af barharous pride.

There huge colossesrose with trophies crown'd.

And

ruin'd characters were graved around

Tliere sat Zamolxis with erected eyes.

And Odin

here in mimic trances dies

There on rude iron columns smear'd with blood,

TIic

honid forms of Scythian heroes stood

Druids and bards their once loud harps unstrung.

I

And

youths that

ditjd to

be by ])oet3 sung."

POPK.

CONTENTS
OP

THE FIRST VOLUME.

PACK

Introduction
Reineke Fuchs. (Reynard the Fox) numerous authors and
editions of

i'

it

The

plea>-ant H'story of Reynard the Fox.

Chap. I. How tlie Lion proclaimed a solemn feast at his
court,

and how Isegrim the wolf and

and

his wife,

made complaints

against Rey-

Grimbard the goat spoke

in favour of

Curtise the hound,

nard the fox

Chap.

How

II.

Reynard before the King

Chap. HI. How Chanticleer the cock complained

14
of

Rey18

nard the fox

How

Chap. IV.

Bruin the bear sped with Reynard the

22

fox

How

Chap. V.

the King sent Tibert the

cat for

Reynard
33

the fox

How

Chap. VI.

Tibert the cat

was deceived by Reynard

37

the fox

Chap. VII. How Grimbard

the goat

was

sent to bid the

40

fox a third time to the king's court

Chap. VIII.

How

Reynard was shrived by Grimbard the

43

goat

Chap. IX.

How

the fox

came

to

the court

and how he

Chap. X. How the fox was arrested and adjudged to death

Chap. XI. How Reynard made his confession before the

55

king

Chap. XII.
all

48
50

How

Reynard the Fox was honoured above

other beasts by the king's express

command

67

CONTENTS.

Xnr
CiiAi'.

XIII. Uovr Kayward the hare was slain by the fox,

who Bent Lim by the ram as a present to tlie king .
.

Cnxp. XIV. How

ram and

Bellin the

his lineage

78

given up to the bear and the wolf

Cii/r.

XV. How

the king took counsel for revenge, and

the

was forewarned by Grimbard

liow Reynard

8^

brock

Chat. XVI. IIow the

confession and

How

Chap. XVII.

fox, repenting his sins,

is

How

How

his
^C>

his defence be-

93

and the king's answer

Reynard apologised

death, and answered

XIX.

makes

absolved by the goat

Reynard the fox made

fore the king,

CiiAP. XVIII.

CriAr.

7S

were

all

for

Kay ward's
101

other imputations

Re^-nard made his peace with the king,

and how Isegrim the wolf accused him again .... 114
Chap. XX. How Isegrim proffered his glove to Reynard
to fight with him, which Reynard accepted, and

how Rukenard advised

the fox to bear himself in the

118

fight

Chap. XXI. The

fierce

encounter between the wolf and

the fox, the event, passages, and victory

Chap. XXII.
things,

how he

How

the king pardoned Sir

made him

12S

Reynard

in all

the greatest lord in the land, and

returned in triumph home, attended by

all

134

bis kindred

Chap. XXllI. Reynard returns to Malepardus

HowLEGLASS, THE Merry .Tester.
Introductory notice

138
14

.-.

IIow Howlegiass was tbreo times baptised on the same day

that he was bom
149

The answers made by Howlegiass

his way

How

little

How

Howlegiass

man who

enquired
1

50

Howlegiass, riding behind his father on horse-

back, shewed

bow he
fall

to a

fell

much cunning and malice

151

from the tight rope into the water, and

took vengeance on those wlio had

made him
]

58

XV

CONTENTS.
Flow

tlie

mother of Howleglass admonisliod

might engage him

How

to learn

liim,

that she

155

an honest trade

Ilowleghiss was kidnapped while he was a-slecp in a

bee house

how

the robbers left him, and he

became
157

a gentleman's servant

How
I

Howleglass hired himself

low Howleglass being

in

to

want

a priest

of ready cash

to

pay

1^2

host, found a substitute

How Howleglass caused

lieve that he

How

the inhabitants of INleyburgh to be-

was going

163

to fly

Howleglass administered physic

hospital of

How

Nuremburgh

in

164

a doctor

to

Howleglass, being a physician, cures

How
How

all

the eick in the

168

one day

Howleglass hired himself as a servant

to

Howleglass served as a castle-warder

Ambal, and next became a eoIJi^ir

a baker.

to the

170

lord of

173

Howleglass journeyed to the landgrave of Hesse, and

175

pretended to be a painter

How

our hero disputed against the

How
How

Howleglass enters into holy orders

rector

and learned

doctors of Prague

Howleglass wishes

be repaid for the trouble he

to

How

Howleglass journeyed

How

Howleglass obtained and carried

How
How
How
How

Howleglass became apprentice to a blacksmith

terview with the

SO

182

took in dining
to

Rome where

he had an

Topo
oft"

84

8g

in-

the parson's horse

189

by making known his confession

193

195
Howleglass hired himself to a shoemaker
Howleglass imposed upon the tavern keeper of Lbeck 197

Howleglass took ujjou himself the business of a spectacle

How

^9

his

201

maker

Howleglass
ijuality of a

entered into a merchant's service, in

cook

How Howleglass was invited to dinner, and what he did

How Howleglass by false witnesses obtained a new piece
cloth

203
20b

of

210

CONTENTS.

Xvi

How

Howleglass took occasion

upon a

to place his hostess

255

seat of hot coals

How

How

Howleglass pretended to bestow twenty

florins

on

213
twelve blind men, as a signal act of charity
to rout by the sight

Howleglass put another landlord

217

of a dead wolf at Islebec

How Howleglass
its

flayed a

skin to

its

little

dog and made a present of

mistress, the hostess, to settle a part

221

of his score

How

Howleglass farther mocked the same hostess, by

making her believe that he was taken prisoner and
225

stretched upon a wheel

How Howleglass deceived a Dutchman with a roasted apple

How Howleglass prevailed upon a woman to destroy her

226

How

228
own earthen ware
Howleglass broke the chapol steps of the holy monks
230
going to sing matins, and what ensued

How

Howleglass grew very

sick at

Mullen

the apothecary, at whose house he

carried to the hospital, and

how he

treated

was how he was

what he

238

said

How

Howleglass once purchased some buttermilk, and the

How

Howleglass entered into the order of

manner in which he paid

236

for it
St.

Antony, and

preached at a village near Barcelona, in Catalonia

and exhibited

relics

to

the people

which he had
237

brought from the Holy land

How Howleglass,

becomiiig a miller, extricated the parson

243
was imposed upon by a blind magistrate,
and how he treated him in his turn
249

of the village out of a great dilemma

How Howleglass
The

subtile

vengeance taken by Howleglass when he em-

braced

the party

of

some Frenchmen against a

250

Spaniard

How Howleglass growing infirm makes his will, and

this life

His Epitaph

."

departs

25S
255

tNTNTS.

XV

DocTon Faustup.
256

Introductory notice

History of that renowned arch sorcerer Doctor J. Faust,&c. 270

Doctor

becomes a physirian and conjures up the

Fiiustiis

274

Devil
Different audiences between Doctor Faustusand the Devil's

277

ambassailor

Second interview between Doctor Faustus and the demon

named

280

.Me|ihostophi!es

Third disputation between Doctor Faustus and

his

demon,
282

relating to the proposed treaty

strange visit from the

demon Mephostophiles, and

his

285

exhibition

288

]VIephostophiks, apjirenticeship to Doctor Faustus

question proposed by Doctor Faustus to his familiar

spirit

292

Mephostophiles

disputation concerning Erebus and its caverns

ijuestion respecting the previous condition of the fallen

294
295

angels

Doctor Faustus farther interrogates his servant Mephostophiles concerning the

disputation relating to

pains and penalties

Doctor Faustus

power of the Devils

Gehenna

still [lersists

its

'J98

proportions,

and

the

301

it inflicts

in extorting

more answers from

his demon Mephostophiles

307
Here follows the second part of the history of Doctor Faus308
tus, the celebrated and unfortunate conjuror

disputation or

two,

concerning

art,

astronomy,

and
309

astrology

new

question from Doctor Faustus

how God

world, the origin of Man,

respecting which his

dtmon Mephostophiles

iS;c.

gives

him a

false

created the

answer

Doctor Faustus obtains a sight of the infernal

their true shape,

whom

some of the

are mentioned by

Doctor Faustus nezt

311

spirits in

chiefs or principals of

Si3

name

visits the infernal

regions

313

CONTKNTS.

XVIll

Doctor Faustus travels through some of the chief kingdomsprincipalities, and states of the known world

3S!7

334
question resf ecting the cause of thunder
Here follows the third part of Doctor Faustus's adventure3.

An

historical

anecdote respecting Doctor Faustus and the

Emperor Charles

'35

Doctor Faustus next bewitches a certain knight by sticking

338
a pair of stag's antlers upon his head
the forenieniioned knight sought to take vengeance

How

33i>
upon the Doctor for the said trick
Doctor Faustus disposes of a waggon load of hay,
311
and the horses, in order to punish a peasant
Doctor Faustus obtained a loan of money from a Jew,

How
How

and how he gave him

leg-bail, cutting

it ofl'

to leave in

3 12

the Jew's possession

How
How

How

315

Doctor Faustus outwits a horse jockey

Doctor Faustus meets another peasant
sells his own load of hay
the Doctor

to

whom

he
.

347

students

How

346

ended a disputation between twelve

Doctor Faustus punished some ebriated countrymen,

who made

too

much

348

noise

Doctor Faustus had an adventure at the court of one

3 19
of the princes of Anholt
Concerning another adventure which Doctor Faustus un-

How

dertook to please the same prince, for

built

How
How

whom

he

a stately castle upon a height

351

Doctor Faustus with some of his boon companions

353
broke into the 13ishop of Saltzburg's cellar
Doctor Faustus kept Ash-Wednesday and the ap356
pointed evening fast
;

How

Doctor Faustus on tho Sunday following conjured up

How

Doctor Faustus punished the surliness of a boor,

the enchanted

Helena

359

whose waggon wheels he sent backwards through

the air

363

CONTENTS.

XIX

Doctor Faustus sendd a present of a butt of wine to the

370

students at I.eipsic

How

Doctor Faustus lectured upon Homer

summoned

tlie

and

at Erfurth,

hades of the Greciaa heroes to ap-

37

pear before his audience

Doctor Faustus wishes

to

bring the lest comedies of Tor-

374
rence and of Flato once more to light
Another anecdote, sliewing how Doctor Faustus enter377
tained the guests at a certain hotel

How

Doctor Faustus opens a public inn, on his own ac-

379

count

How

monk wished

a certain

and

the Doctor to

make

confession

art of

beheading

382

try to ohtain absolution

Concerning four conjurors, who had the

each other, and resuming their heads, whith Doctor

Faustus likewise learnt how

own

to practise at their

385

expence

How

Doctor i'austus rejects the advice of an old

man who

sought to reclaim him from his impious and aban-

doned

life

and how he was treated by Mephosto367

philes

Concerning a noble lord and lady who by means of Doctor

Faustus were happily united in the bands of wedlock, during the seventeenth year of his infernal

How

Doctor Faustus exhibited a variety of herbs and

bond 390
fruits

about Christmas, in his garden, during the nineteenth year of his bond or contract

392

How

Doctor Faustus increased the number of his intrigues,

How

Doctor Faustus

during the twentieth year of his term

twenty

first

Concerning the
in

is

S9

presented with a rare treasure in the

year of his term

last will

ibid.

and testament of Doctor Faustus,

which he leaves his servant Wagenarhis

heir.

395

Doctor Faustus speaks with his Servant VVagenar concerning his w ill

S97

CONTENTS.

XX

How

Doctor Faustus, drawing within one month of his

departure, begins to lament over his diabolical en-

398

gagements, and can take no rest

How

Doctor Faustus further complains of being cut

the flower of his days,
violent

and condemned

off in

to die

so

399

and diabolical a kind of death

How

the base

Now

here follows the cruel and frightful end and departure

demon

reproac-hes the

unhappy Faustus with

400

gibing and malicious words

of Doctor Faustus, from which every Christian

see his

The

last

own

danger, and take timely warning

appeal of Doctor Faustus to his students

may
404
406

REINERE FUCHS.
(rEYNARD THE FOX.)

VOL.

I.

NUMEROUS AUTHORS AND EDITIONS

OP

REINEKE FUCHS.
(rEYX ARD

THF. FOX.)

The

real origin of this very curious

rical

production

kind,

in

is

The

considerable doubt and perplexity.

German copy would appear

earliest printed

been that of the year 1498, written

Lower Saxony
in

comic and sati-

involved, like most faVjles of the

in the dialect

" Historie

title,

Reynaert de Vos," published at Delft,

The former

of

one,

1498, was

High German, and

lated into

of

though there was a Dutch romance,

bearing the same

prose,

to have

in

van

1486.

afterwards trans-

also into Latin.

It

has

been referred to various individuals as the author;

most commonly
his

was not the

to

Henry Von Alkmar; but that

first

story of the kind,

would ap-

pear from his preface, in which he merely assumes

the merit of

its

translation.

who

to

have written

is

stated

Nicholas Baumann,
it

as a satire

chancellor of the duke of J uliers,

to

whom

it

attributed,

1522.

is

upon the

another author

has, with less authority however, been

his edition bearing

In the translation

it

no

is

earlier

a date than

stated to have been

r>:ynard the fox.

borrowed from the Italian and French tonnes, but
its

individual origin

left

in doubt,

is

not pointed out.

It

is

so far

whether the German author copied

from the Dutch publication at Delft, where the sole

remaining copy

still

is

preserved, or whether both

were translated or imitated from the

lian,

some more hidden

or

MSS. have now

At

all

French and

Ita-

which the

materials, of

perished.

Lubec edition of 1498

events, the

so superior in point of power and

skill,

is

a work

as well as

in its

comic incidents and delineations, as to confer

upon

it

com-

the style and character of an original

position.

Its allegorical

scenes are well supported

exhibiting under a picture of the court of beasts, the

various intrigues and interests of a

where every thing

is

most dangerous plans

of a wily favourite.

human

court,

thrown into confusion, and the

are adopted, at the instigation

By such means

loss of his dominions, while

the Lion risks the

Reynard (who

is

sup-

posed by some to represent the duke of Lorraine),

and some other personages, doubtless imitated from

real life,

an old

carry their obnoxious measures.

There

is

English translation, published by Caxton,

which was executed,

it

is

said,

from the Flemish

version or original.

Gthe's version

is

an imitation of the work of

Alkmar, from the Lower Saxon, composed

meter verse, and

From

the

in

in

hexa-

modern phraseology.

number of

editions enumerated by the

REYNAHD THE

FOX.

Comic

learned Flgel, in his History of

German Fox would appear

tlic

Upwards of

with most nations.

lar favourite

Literature,*

have been a singu-

to

among which

three

forty

were

editions are

mentioned,

published

England, besides others which do not

in

appear to have come within the scope of the

The English prose

writer.

German

version of 1694, from

which the following specimen of the work has been

abridged,
tion,

is

one of them, consisting of a free transla-

and occasional abridgment of the edition of 1498,

upon which most of the subsequent

both

in

editions, indeed,

Germany and elsewhere, seem

The German

edition of

to be founded.

1498 appeared

at

Lubec

in

small 4to, accompanied by woodcuts, in a rude style

of illustration and with a preface of four pages, from

Von Alkmar,

the pen of Henry

the work itself con-

sisting of

two hundred and forty-one pages.

composed

in

common

of low Dutch

It

is

heroic metre, the heroic metre

a copy

is still

preserved in the Ducal

Library at Wolfenbttel, with the following motto

Ut

Nun

vulpis adulatio.

iu der

Werlde blyket,

Sic hominis est ratio

Gelyk dem vosse geschicket.

At the
Lubck.

nitz

close
It

is

found the date, Anno Domini, 1498,

was

first

made known by

Geschichte der Komischen Litterator, vol.

and

Leiptic,

1786.

iii.

Professor
p. 40, Lieg'

REYNARD THE
Hackmann,

in

Wolfenbiittel,

FOX.

1709, who printed an edition of

1711.

In the Preface, Henry

it

at

Von
who

Alkmar announces himself

as a schoolmaster,

had borrowed

from the French tongue,

his translation

but without throwing any light upon the real author,

tors

or noticing

among

any Dutch writers or commentaHis name has by

his contemporaries.

some been conjectured

to

be a mere fabrication, and

among others by Henry Lackman, and by Bsching.

Most probably, however, says
born in the city of that name

Flgel,

in

Alkmar was

Holland

he repre-

sents himself as Hofmeister to the-duke of Lothrin-

gen (Lorraine), who died

the Flemish work was

1508, at whose request

in

composed.

first

writer expressly disclaims all title to

though no

prior

French and

its

The Dutch
production,

Italian materials,

"which he professes to have teiken

from

have been dis-

it,

covered.

Gottsched, in his edition,

mar the
feigned

real
its

is

inclined to think Alk-

original author,

and that he merely

Thus some

version from other tongues.

dispute his word, and others his existence;

opinions clash with

still

conjectures are heaped

learned

more learned opinions, and

upon conjectures.

These unfortunately do not appear to have brought

tlie

learned speculators

much

nearer to the truth

the obscure fables of Reynard the

some form

or other, to

Fox, belong,

most nations

in

their peculiar

REYNAUD THE

FOX.

origin losing itself in the mists of antiquity.*

Nei-

ther do they add any thing to the value of the

work

under discussion,

commensurate

at all

dance and ingenuity of the researches

What

abun-

to the

it

has

elicited.

degree of certainty, indeed, can be expected,

when the only true

and the

guide, that of compaiison of dates,

local intrinsic evidence of the

doubtless mystified by the wily

work, has beea

Reynard, who

sir

chose to leave us only vague hypothetical conjectures.

Without presuming

to enter into the

mazes of

anti-

quarian research, which fortunately for the readers

of a work of entertainment,
editor's ambition

as his

as far

lies

skill,

beyond the

he may be allowed to

deduce, from the arguments set before him, the probability of sir

Reynard having brought

his learned

pursuers to fault by his usual ruse de guerre; returning

to his original seat,

so

and

slily

on finding himself hard pressed,

softly, as to

render

best trained scent to track

spot, whether in

Germany,

had

his origin

The names

impossible for the

to his native

French Flanders, Holland,

or in the East.

He may

in the ancient

these last regions

it

him back

Italy,

probably have

Kelila and

Dimna

in

the nurse of oral animals, more

of several of the characters in

Reynard the Fox

occur in some of the verses or serventes of the Troubadours as

early as

and

tlie

Kichard
t

twelfth century.

Thus the name

lleinhart, are found in

I.,

who was

also

of Isegrim the wolf,

two serventes, attributed to king

one of the Troubadours.

See Flgel's History of Comic Literature, vol.

iii.

p.

40

90.

REYNARD THE
especially of a long race

FOX.

of eloquent and politic

foxes, called Chocs, celebrated for the

their

maxims over

countiy,

we must

all

assign to

printed editions of

wisdom of

In justice to our

India.

the priority

it

own

of the

Reynard's histories and ex-

sir

inasmuch as M. Flogel himself, places Caxton's

ploits,

edition the earliest in his long series.

In addition to the early Dutch editions, and some

among

the French and English, without any author's

names, the most esteemed are those of Hackmann,

Gottsched, and Suhl, with the criticisms of other

German
other
relics

in

scholars, all of

whom

have vied with each

national zeal to illustrate the traditionary

of their country.

Swedish and Danish translations are likewise enumerated by M. Flogel, some of which are founded

upon the more modern German

work.
to

Nor

are

editions of the

Hebrew and Latin

crown the reputation of

its

same

versions wanting

favourite hero,

who

appears to have been viewed, during successive generations, as a

To what

model of moral and

prince or minister

it

political sagacity.

was intended

and whether as a compliment or a

main

doubtful.

The

satire,

various suppositions

head are rejected by the best German

to apply,

must

re-

on this

editors,

who,

however, have not attempted to substitute any others

in their place.

THE

PLEASANT HISTORY

REYNARD THE

CHAP.

FOX.

I.

now THE HOy PROCtAIMED A SOLEMN FEAST AT HIS COURT,

AND HOW ISEGRIM THE WOLF, AND HIS WIFE, AND CVnTISE THE HOUND, MADE COMPLAINTS AGAINST REYNARD
THE FOX.

About

the Feast of Pentecost, which

called Whitsuntide,

hood and songs of

clothed in

its

when

commonly

is

the woods are

full

of lusti-

and every

tree fresh

vernal garb of glorious leaves

and sweet-

smelling blossoms;

gallantry,

when

the earth

her fairest mantle of flowers, and

all

is

covered with

the birds enter-

tain her with the delights of their melodious songs

even at this joyous period of the lusty spring, the

lion,

that royal king of beasts, the

monarch of the

ancient woods, thought to celebrate this holy festival,

and

to

keep open court

at his great palace of

b5

San-

REYNARD THE

10

den, with

all

FOX.

triumphant ceremony and magnificence.

end he made solemn proclamation over

To

this

his

kingdom

to all

all

manner of beasts whatsoever, that

upon pain of being held

one

contempt, every

in

should resort to the approaching celebration of the

grand

Within a few days, at the time pre-

festival.

fixed, all beasts,

nite

numbers crowding

tion of

in infi-

to the court, with the

excep-

Reynard the Fox, who did not appear.

Con-

scious as he
gressions
beasts,
life

both great and small, came

was of

many

so

trespasses,

and trans-

and fortunes of other

against the lives

he knew that his presence might have put his

into great jeopardy,

Now when

and he

forbore.

the royal monarch had assembled his

whole court, there were few beasts who had not some
complaint to

make

Isegrim the wolf,

against the fox;

who being

complainant, came with

all

the

but especially

first

his lineage

and principal
and kindred.

Standing uncovered before the king, he said, " Most

dread and dearest sovereign lord the king!
1

Humbly

beseech you, that from the height and strength of

your great power, and the multitude of your mercies,

you

take compassion upon the insuf-

will graciously

ferable trespasses

against

and

injuries

which that unworthy

Reynard the Fox, has

creature

me and my

give your majesty

tliat this

wife,

and

my

lately

committed

whole family.

To

some idea of these wrongs, know

Reynard broke

into

my

house

in

my

ab-

UEYNAllD THE FOX.

me and my

sence, against the will of

finding

my

treated

them

11

wife, where,

children laid in their quiet couch, he malin so vile a

manner, especially about the

eyes, that with the sharpness of the crime they

Now

instantly blind.*

apart, wherein
self,

Reynard should appear

to justify

and make solemn oath that he was

that foul injury;

refused to swear, or rather evaded

ninning into his hole

and your

in

own enormity,

This, perhaps,

laws.

this

it,

by instantly

contempt both of your ma-

some of the noblest beasts

not know: yet

my

dread lord,

resident at your court did

was not enough

to

satiate his

malice, and he continued to trespass against

many

other

him-

guiltless of

but as soon as the holy book was

tendered to him, he, well knowing his

jesty

fell

a day was set

for this offence

things,

which,

however,

me

in

neither your

majesty's time nor patience would suffice to hear.

Enough

that

my

injuries are so great that

can exceed them, and the shame and

has shewn

my

wife,

is

such that

nothing

villany that

he

can no longer suf-

* The moral shews how a vicious man deceives himself by

thinking to esca|)e punishment by absenting himself from the
magistrate's presence.

By

such contempt he only animates his

enemies in their resolution to proceed, and makes them bolder in

their complaints against him.

This

is

more particularly appli-

cable to accusations at court, as appears above, which

not speedily met, must endanger the

life

if

they be

of the accused.
Old. Eng. Comment,

REYNARD THE

12

fer

go unrevenged.

to

it

demand

FOX.

From him

am come

to

and from your majesty compas-

reparation,

sion."

When

wolf had spoken these words there

the

stood by him a httle hound, whose

who now

stepping forth, also

name was

made a

Curtise

grievous

com-

plaint to the king, saying, that in the cold winter

when

season,

was most

the frost

and he was

violent,

half starved by want of prey, having nothing further

him

left

than one poor piece of pud-

to sustain life

ding, that vile

Reynard ran upon him from ambush,

and unjustly seized

it.

Scarcely had these words escaped the hound's

lips,

before in sprang Tibert the cat, with a fierce and angry

countenance, and falling

exclaimed: " Oh,

my

confess that the fox

down

at his majesty's feet,

lord the king,

though

here grievously accused

is

must
;

yet

were other beasts' actions searched, each would find

enough

to

do to clear himself.

plaint of Curtise the hound,

mitted

many

years ago

plain of no injury, yet

his

for I got

it

miller lay asleep.

share thereof,

When
and

it

it

Touching the com-

was an offence com-

and though

myself com-

was the pudding mine and not

one night out of a

mill,

when

If Curtise could challenge

must be derived

solely

the

any

from me."

Panther heard Tibert's words, he stood forth

said, "

Do

you imagine, oh Tibert, that

it

would

be just or good that Reynard should not be accused.

REYNARD TU K
Why,

the whole world

ravisher,

and

a thief;

13

I'OX.

knows he

a murderer, u

is

that he loves not any creature,

no, not his majesty himself; and would

highness to lose both

honour

thoug^ht he could thus obtain so

Let

fat pullet.

me

tell

saw him do only

his creed,

between his

sit

and sing aloud Credo, Credo.

nearer,

in the

and making a good chaplain of

pass that way, and heard the song

note,

he

as the leg of a

now standing

him, he persuaded him to come and

legs,

his

if

Under pretence of teaching poor

king's presence.

Kayward

much

you what

yesterday to Kayvvard the hare,

suffer

and renown,

happened

found that Mr. R,eynard had

and began

left his first

to play in his old key, for he

caught Kayward by the throat, and had

had

not, at that

moment come, he had certainly taken his life,

you may see by Kayward's fresh wound under
throat.

If

my

to

and upon going

lord the king should suffer

as
his

such con-

duct to go unpunished, the peace broken, the royal

dignity profaned,
princely children

and the just laws

many

slander of this evil."

violated, your

years to come, shall bear the

" Doubtless, Panther," cried

Isegrim, " you say well and true;

it

is

only

they should receive the benefit of justice,

to live in peace."

fit

that

who wish

REYNARD THE

14

CHAP.

FOX.

II.

HOW GUIMBARD THE GOAT SPOKE

IN FAVOUll OF

REVNARD

BEFORE THE KING.

Then

son, being

much moved by

are mahcious,
*

who was Reynard's

spoke Grimbard,

and

anger

malice never yet spake well

advance

my

against

you had only

proverb,

that

and what can you

;'

kinsman, Reynard?

encounter the

to

common

is

it

sister's

" Isegrim, you

risk,

wish

that which-

ever of you had most injured the other,

was

hanged, and die a

felon's

I tell

you, were

he here

and

our

monarch's

court,

in

favour as you are,

tion for

you

death; for

much

as

my

bitten

and torn

teeth,

and much oftener than

will recal

is

ever so abandoned, he

for him, especially

times

kinsman with your venomous

some instances

* The moral says, vice

man

be

satisfac-

You have many

beg mercy.

to

in

would be but small

it

to

can reckon

to your

though

Can

shame.*

Be a

never without an advocate.

is

sure to find one or other to plead

where there

is

wealth or greatness to boast

on the side of the offender, or any alhance of blood

to those in

favour, as appears in the case of the goat pleading for the fox.
First,
sist

because he was of kin

him

in his designs

ation of the advocate,

and

who

a good

man

was

rich,

and able

may be observed

to as-

the insinu-

excuses the fox's faults with a

form of penitence, tloking the

brinijs

next, he

lastly

to believe

evils,

and

new

than which nothing sooner

to forgive.

out

E}i{r.

Cmm.

RRYVARD

Tlir.

FOV.

1.

you have forgotten how you cheated him

in regard

which he threw down from the

to the plaice

cart,

while you followed aloof for fear? Yet you devoured

the good plaice alone, and

him nothing but the

left

You

bones, which you could not eat yourself.

ed the same trick with the

fat flitch of

was so good, that you took care

of

it

When my

yourself.

you retorted with scorn

won

young man, you

it

at gi-eat hazard,

as the owner contrived to catch

Such

nard

and

injuries
I

in

away with

hath this Isegrim done to Rey-

beseech your lordships to judge

Again he complains, that

are sufferablc.

man

inasmuch

my kinsman

sack, from which he with difficulty got

life.

shall

and yet you gave him no-

surely have your share,'

thing, although he

devour the whole

to

uncle entreated his share,

Fair

play-

bacon, which

hath wronged him in his wife

they

if

my

kins-

and true

it is,

that Reynard could boast her favour seven years before friend Isegrim did

wed

But

her.

if

my

out of courtesy, did pay her attentions, what

to

him

he

he took her

to complain of

longing to him.
cealed
his

it,

own

for

for better

that

nor ought

any foregoing transaction not be-

Wisdom,

what

and worse

uncle,
is

indeed, would have con-

credit can he get

wife, especially

when she

is

by the slander of
not aggrieved

" Next comes Kayward the hare, with his complaint

in his throat,
will learn to

which seems to me a mere

trifle.

If

he

read and sing, and read not his lesson

REYNARD THE

16

who

aright,

him a

little

FOX.

blame the schoolmaster

will

wholesome correction

for giving

for if scholars are

not sometimes beaten and chastised, depend upon

they

will

never learn.

had

that he

pudding with

stolen a

when

the window, at a season

Would

infinite

it,

complains,
pains out of

victuals are scarce.

not silence better have become such a trans-

action? for he stole

didisti

Curtise

Lastly,

;'

it

was

it

evil

'

Male

blame Reynard

shall dare to

goods from a thief?

qusesisti, et

won, and

It is

lost;

evil

male per-

and who

for the seizure of stolen

reasonable, that he

who

understands law, and can discern equity, being also

my

of high birth as

kinsman

is,

should do justice to

Nay, had he hanged up the hound when he

the law.

took him

in the fact,

he could have offended none but

the king in doing justice without leave.

respect to his majesty he did

small thanks for his labour

vilest calumnies,

uncle

is

not,

it
;

Yet, out of

though he reaps

thus subjected to the

which greatly

affect him.

For

my

a true and loyal gentleman, nor can he en-

dure falsehood

he does nothing without the counsel

of the priest, and

I assert,

that since our lord the

king proclaimed peace, he never dreamed of injuring

any man.

He

meal a day, and

as

lives like
it is

now a

a recluse

only eats one

yeiu since he tasted flesh,

have been truly informed by some of his friends

who saw him

his castle

only yesterday.

He

has moreover

left

Malepardus, and abandoned his princely

REYNARD THE
establishment, confining

He

mitage.

all

17

FOX.

his wishes to a poor her-

has forsworn hunting, and

scattered

abroad his wealth, living alone by alms and good

men's charities
so that he

is

fasting, for

doing

infinite

penance

for his sins,

become pale and lean with praying and

he would

fain be with

God."*

Thus while Grimbard stood preaching, they

ceived coming

down

the

Chanticleer the cock,

hill

who brought upon a

bier a

dead hen, whose head Reynard had bitten clean

and

was brought before the king

it

per-

towards them, stout

off,

to take cogni-

zance thereof.
*

When

-wicked

men

cannot compass tLeir designs by other

means, they study deceits and

Among these
ligion,

with which they impose uj)on the easy faith of the simple

rind lead

them

shipwreck.

and the

shift to entangle their enenaies.

they find none more poweiful than the cloak of re-

silly

into

Thus

dangers from which there

is

no escape but

the foolish cock lent ear again to the sly fox.

We may
now and then ex-

sheep go to the shearing again and again.

also gather, that though an evil

cused for some of his

discovery at last.

man may

faults, yet still

Old Eng.

Comm.

he

be

is

not likely to escape

REYNAKD THE

18

CHAP.
HOW CHANTICLEER TUE

FOX.

III.

REYNARD THE

COCK COMPLAINED OF
FOX.

Chanticleer marching
and smote

hung

foremost,

his feathers piteously, whilst

side the bier

his wings

on the other

his fairest hens, the fairest

went two of

between Holland and Arden.

Each of them bore a

straight bright burning taper,

for they

to

marched, they

cried,

were

sisters

and as they

" Alack, alack,

and well-a-

Goppel that lay dead upon the

bier

day, for the death of Goppel, our sister dear."

young

pullets bore the bier,

and wept so loud

for the

ther, that the very hills

Two

and cackled so heavily

death of Goppel, their mo-

echoed to

their clamour.

On

reaching the presence of the king. Chanticleer, kneeling dovra, spake as follows

lord the king

and redress the

done

vouchsafe,
injuries

me and my

" Most merciful dread

do beseech you, to hear

which the fox Reynard hath

children,

whom

weeping, as well they may.

For

you here behold

it

was

ginning of April, when the weather was

then in the height of

my

pride

in the be-

fair,

being

and plumage, sprung

from great stock and lineage, with eight valiant sons

fair daughters by my side, all of whom
my wife had brought me at a single hatch, all of
whom were strong and fat, strutting in a yard well

and seven

REYNARD THE

19

FOX.

Here they had several sheds,

fenced round about.

besides six stout mastiff dogs for their guard, which

had torn the skins of many wild beasts

children
to those

that false

and dissembling

many

vying their happy fortune,

to be

pity,
til

and they hunted him away.

loosed,

we

lived

at last, he

brought

him, making

bit

price of his theft, as his torn skin bore

Nevertheless

but

me

he escaped, the more the

more quietly some time

came

in the likeness of

a letter to read.

your majesty's royal seal

in

realm, and that no

manner

it

recluse,

part,

beads
to

"

He

Reynard affirmed

to

perform

daily

me and

next shewed

your

were
that,

penance

counted his

he had his books, and wore a hair shirt next

his skin, while in a very

You

all

he was become a monk, a cloistered

and had vowed

for his sins.

un-

found written,

of beasts or fowl

longer to injure one another.

own

was sealed with

It

and

after

a hermit, and

that you had proclaimed peace throughout

for his

en-

assailed the

times

Once, indeed, they overtook and

him pay the

traitor,

desperate manner, that the dogs were

walls in such

witness.

my

to the snares of the world

more exposed

but Reynard,

obliged

so that

secure from any evil that might happen

felt

see,

be afraid of

sir

humble tone he

said,

Chanticleer, you have never need to

me

henceforward

never more to eat flesh.

would only remember

my

for

have vowed

am now waxed

soul

have yet

old,

and

my noon

REYNARD THE

20
and

my

my

leave."

FOX.

evening prayers to say;

He

went, and

must

therefore take

departed, singing his credo as he

saw him

down under a hawthorn.

lie

These tidings made me exceedingly glad

my

further heed, but chuckling

went to ramble outside the

took no

together, I

wall, a step I shall for

For that same

ever rue.

family

devout Reynard, lying

under the bush, came creeping between us and the

gate

then suddenly surprised one of

which he thrust into

row bore away.

our

flesh,

his

maw, and

my children,
my great sor-

For having tasted the sweetness of

hound can protect us

neither hunter nor

from him.

to

Night and day he continues to watch

us with such hungry assiduity, that out of fifteen

children he hath

Yesterday,

upon her
rival

now

me

left

only

daughter Goppel, here, lying dead

bier,

her body being rescued by the ar-

of a pack of hounds, too late, alas

after her

unslain.

four

my

mother, a victim to his

just complaint, which

refer

hath

This

arts.

to

fallen,
is

my

your highness's

mercy to have compassion upon, and upon

my many

slaughtered children."

Then spake

the king

**

Sir

Grimbard, hear you

He

seems to have

this of

your uncle, the recluse

fasted

and prayed with a vengeance

another year he

shall dearly abide

Chanticleer, your complaint

repaired.

is

but

it.

if

I live

For you,

heard, and shall be

We will bestow handsome

obsequies upon

HEYNAUD THE

your daughter dead, laying her

how

in

the earth with

This done, we

solemn dirge and worship due.

consult with our lords

21

FOX.

do you

to

right,

will

and

bring the murderer to justice."

Then began the Flacedo Domine, with

belonging to

vei-ses

too

it,

many

to recite

being done, the body was interred, and over

placed a

fair

the

all

the dirge
it

was

marble stone, polished as bright as glass,

upon which was inscribed the following epitaph

large letters

Reynard the fox has

Mourn,

in

"Goppel, Chanticleer's daughter, whom

reader,

here interred!

slain, lieth

mourn

for her death was

violent

and lamentable.''

The monarch next

counsellors,

sent for his lords and wisest

to consult

how

best

this

foul

committed by Reynard might be punished.

end

it

was concluded that he should be sent

without any excuse be

made

murder
In the
for,

and

to appear before the

king, to answer these charges, and the message be

delivered
sent,
it is

by Bruin the bear.

The king gave con-

and calling him before him,

suid,

" Sir Bruin,

our pleasure that you deliver this message, yet

in so doing,

have a good eye to yourself; for Rey-

nard

of policy, and knows well

is

full

semble,

flatter,

and betray.

He

how

to dis-

has a world of

snares to entangle you withal, and without great ex-

make a mock and

ercise of

judgment

the most

consummate wisdom."

will

scorn of

REYNARD THE

22

My

"

with Reynard
ais

to

answered

lord,"
;

am

fOX.

Bruin, " let

sir

me

alone

not such a truant to discretion

become a mock

And

for his knavery."

thus

of jollity the bear took his departure to fetch

full

Reynard

return be as jovial, there

his

if

is

no

fear

of his well speeding.*

CHAP.

V.

HOW BHUIN THE BEAR SPED WITH REYNARD THB

The

next morning away went

in quest of the

fox,

Bruin the bear

sir

armed against

and deceit whatsoever

FOX.

all

kinds of plots

and as he went along through

a dark forest in which Reynard had a by-path which

he used when he was out hunting, or being hunted,

he saw a high mountain, over which he must pass to
For though Reynard had many

reach Malepardus.
houses,
castle,

Malepardus

his

is

chief and most ancient

and there he resorted both

The king's answer to

ing bad actions

for

as

exjjressed in

The

redound to the de-

monarch we may seethe

bestowed upon Goppel, which

her relations.

the
is

eftects of

honours and

some

man

alleviation for the grief of

shews the

about to be employed against his

enemy, and how frequently such

from Old Eng. Comm.

a good

rites of burial

bear's eagerness to bring the fox

pleasure of a malicious

and

Brock shews the danger of excus-

their being disclosed

fender's shame. In the

disposition,

sir

for defence

ill

hopes miscarry. itmc(

REYNARD THE

When

pleasure.

23

FOX.

Bruin at length came to the place,

he had
he called aloud, " Sir

he found the gates close shut; at which,

knocked,

sittinij

upon

his tail,

Reynard, are you at home

man, sent by the king

to

after

I am Bruin, your kinssummon you to court, to

answer the many foul accusations

laid

at your door.

His majesty hath taken a great vow, that

to appear to the

summons, your

if

you

answer

shall

life

fail

for

your contempt, and your whole goods and honors

become confiscated

crown.

the

to

Therefore, fair

kinsman, be advised by your friend, and come with

me

to

court,

in order to

otherwise overtake you

nard,

who was

:"

shun the

fate that

lying near the gate, as

was

will

Rey-

so said the bear.

his custom,

basking in the sun, hearing these words departed

into one of his holes,
intricate

Malepardus being

full

of

many

and curious apartments, through which he

could pass in case of danger or for objects of prey,

where he determined
awhile

how

to

commune

bear into disgrace, while he added to his

For he detested the bear

said,

"

Is

it

ing
for

my

is,

and at

last

you, dear uncle Bruin

ing welcome, and excuse

the truth

himself

with

best he might counterplot, and bring the

that

vespers,

my

own

credit.

coming

delay in saying so

when you began

to

forth,

you are exceed-

speak

but

was say-

and devotion must not be neglected

any worldly concerns.

done you no good

serv;ice,

Yet
nor do

believe

I
I

he hath

thank him who

REYNARD THE

24

FOX.

hath sent you hither, a long and weary journey,

which your sweat and

toil far

the labour performed.

It

not come,

is

in

exceed the worth of

had you

certain that

had to-morrow attended the court of

mine own accord.

As

it

however,

is,

much diminished, because your counsel

may turn to my double benefit.

time

my

regret

is

just at this

Alas

uncle,

could his majesty find no meaner a messenger than

your noble
Truly

self

to

employ

his royal

self,

we were both

For

from

entire abstinence

strange

my

part,

in

would

at court, as I fear our journey will

To

be exceedingly troublesome.

my

affairs?

trivial

you are of greatest renown, both

point of blood and riches.

that

in these

appears strange to me, especially since, next

it

flesh,

say truth,
I

since

have lived upon

new meats, which have very much disagreed

my body as if it was about to

" Alas! dear cousin," said the bear, " what

with me, and swelled

burst."

kind of meat can

it

be that makes you so

" Uncle," he replied, " what

know

The

will

food was simple and

mean

ill?"

you

avail

it

to

we poor

gentry are no lords you know, but are glad to eat

from necessity what others taste

ness.

honey-combs,

large,

impelled by hunger,
I

for

mere wanton-

Yet not to delay you, that which

was afterwards

full,
I

eat

and very pleasant.

was
But,

eat so veiy immoderately that

infinitely

distempered."

quoth Bruin, " honeycombs, do you say

" Aye

!"

Hold you

REYNARD THE
them
it

help me,

fair

will

for only

a small

be your servant everlastingly."*

" You

me,

with

arc jesting

live;

surely,

uncle;"

" Jest with you," cried Bruin

fox.

heart, then

sir,

the world

in

nephew, to some of these honeycombs,

and command me while

share

Why,

such slight respect, nephew?

in

food for the greatest emperors

is

25

FOX.

for

am

in

the

replied

" beshrew

my

such serious good earnest,

that for a single lick of the same, you shall count

me among
" Nay,

if

the most faithful of your kindred."

you be," returned Reynard, " I will bring

you where ten of you would not be able to eat

the whole at a meal.
for I wish

things

to

desire."

This

have yours

* In this encounter

do out of

in return,

" Not ten of us!"

is

cried

all

the

expressed the dissimulation of two

wicked persons plotting each other's rain

most wily obtain the advantage

at

first,

in which,

though the

the just cause prevails in

In the bear's voracity for honey

the end.

friendship,

which above

we

see the

effects

ill

of a loose appetite, omitting, for the sake of a moment's pleasure,

more important business.

shewn

In the baits held out by the fox

Thus the poor

are adapted to the character and the occasion.

bear

is

is

the triumph of policy, holding out such temptations as

not only

wounded and

in

laughing-stock to his enemies

danger of his

life,

but

made a

while the cruelty practised on

bad man caught

him by the people displays the

fate of a

own

of those he has injured are eager

snares,

when each and

to step forward,

all

and have a blow

themselves for his old offences.

VOL.

I.

in his

at him, in order to revenge

Extract from English

Comm,

REYNAH.D THE FOX.

26

Not ten of us!

*'

bear,

could

impossible;

is

it

had

for

honey between Hybla and Portugal,

the

all

the whole

eat

of

very

it

myself."

shortly

" Then know, uncle, that near at hand, there dwells

who

a husbandman, named Lanfert,

much
and

that you could not

for

this,

consume

it

is

master of so

in

seven years,

your love and friendship's sake,

put into your possession."

Bmin now mad

I will

for the

honey, swore, that for one good meal, he would stop

the mouths of

all

Reynard's enemies. Smiling at his

easy credulity, the latter said

for

" If you would wish

seven ton, uncle, you shall have

it ;"

and these

words pleased the bear so much, and made

it

so

he could not actually stand for laugh" Well," thought the fox, " this is good for-

pleasant, that
ing.

tune

though

shall laugh

we must
such as

lose

more

assuredly lead

will

in reason."

no time, and

He

will

would not undertake

The bear gave him

him

then said

for

thanks, and

he

Avhere

" Uncle,

spare no

any of

pains

my

kin."

away they went

to-

much honey as he could

many stripes as he could un-

gether, the fox promising as

carry

but meaning as

dergo.
sight of

At length they came

which made

Lanfert was
other day

to Lanfert's house, the

This

the bear caper for joy.

brawny

a stout

had brought

carpenter,

into his yard

which he had begun

to cleave,

wedges, so that the

cleft lay

and struck
a great

who

the

a large oak,
into

it

way open,

two
at

REYNARD THE
which

tlio

fox rejoiced, as

27

FOX.

was just what he wished.

it

Then, with a smiUng couutenance, turning to the

bear " Behold now," he said, " dear uncle, and be
:

careful of yourself; for within this tree

so

much honey,

find

that

if

you can ^et

but a

The combs

surfeit

my

redound to

me

harm can happen

can temper

at the end,

With

my

did,

my

" True,

honey."

what

will

all

to

for

you but must

if I

am

not such a fool

can only get at the

was perhaps too bold

best uncle

and you

appetite

prove

would not

" Concern not yourself,

dishonor."

nephew Reynard

faith,

may

always dangerous, and

is

the world, as no

you

are sweet and good,

troublesome on your journey, which

but

contained
it,

immeasurable, yet be cautious, good uncle,

it

and eat moderately.

for

is

to

so

to

say

pray you enter in

shall there find ivhat

you want."

haste the bear entered the tree with his fore

feet forward,

and thrust

over the ears.

When

head

his

into the hole quite

saw

the fox

this,

he instantly

ran and pulled the wedges out of the tree, so that

the bear remained locked

anger

him

now

fast.

availed the bear

in so fast

a prison, that

it

himself by any manoeuvre.

great strength and valour
irritate

and annoy him

nephew had got

was impossible

What

profited

to free

him

his

now ? They only served

and deprived of

he began to howl and bray,

and make such a

Neither flattery nor

for his

to scratch

noise, that Lanfert

to

all relief,

and tumble,

came

runninir

REYNARD THE

28

hastily out of the house, to see

He

FOX.

what was the matter.

held a sharp hook in his hand, and while the

bear lay tearing and roaring in the tree, the fox cried

out in scorn

"

He

not like the honey

much

coming, uncle

is

good

it

Do

Lanfert will give you drink to digest

will

and desired them

neighbours

man, woman, nor

hands on.

The

cross, the clerk

child, but ran to see,

goads,

priest bore the handle of a large

dame JuUock, brought her

had never a tooth

nei-

some

and whatever they could lay

had holy water, and the

to be spinning.

The

was

there

with one weapon, and some with another;

broom-staves,

ran to

fast,

come.

to

tidings spreading through the town,

rakes,

:"
it

set off towards his castle again.

Lanfert finding that the bear was taken

ther

you

not eat too

If your belly

your journey back to court.

full,

having said which, he

his

fear

pleasant things are apt to surfeit, and you

will delay

be too

is

distaff,

priest's wife,

as she

happened

Nay, the old beldames came, that

in their heads.

proach of this army. Bruin

fell

Hearing the ap-

into great fear, there

being none but himself to withstand them

they came thundering

struggled

down upon him, he

and as

so fiercely, that he contrived to get his head out of

jeopardy, by leaving behind the best pait of the skin,

along with his ears, insomuch that never age beheld

a

more

his face

foul

ugly

lieast.

and hands, leaving

For the blood covered

his claws

and skin be-

REYNARD THE

29

FOX.

hind him, so that he could hardly move or see.

was an

ill

market he came

It

too, for in spite of this tor-

ment, Lanfert and his crew came upon him, and so

belaboured
that

it

in misery,

go

to

every

him with

staves

and hooks and rakes,

might well be a warning to every one taken

the

shewing how the weakest must evermore

wall.

This Bruin cruelly experienced,

one venting their

fui-y

Houghlin, with his crooked

the long broad nose
mall,

his

even

hide,

and Ludolf with

the one armed with a leaden

and the other with an

lashed so hard as

upon
leg,

sir

None

iron scourge.

Bertolf with the long fingers,

and none annoyed him more than Lanfert and Ortam, one being armed with a sharp Welch hook, and
the second with a crooked staff heavily leaded at the

end, with which he used to play at stab-ball.

There

was Burkin and Armes Ablequack, Bane the

priest,

with his cross-handle,

and Jullock

his

wife.

these so belaboured the poor bear, that his

in

extreme jeopardy

the massacre

life

All

was

he sat and sighed sadly during

but the thundering weight of Lan-

blows was the most cruel to bear.

For
Podge, at Casport, was his mother, and his
father was Marob, the staple-maker, a passing stout
fert's fierce

Dame

man when

he was alone.

From him Bruin

received

such a shower of stones, at the same time that Lanfert's

brother wielded him a savage blow

pate,

that he could* no

upon the

longer see nor hear;

but

reynaku the

30

made

a desperate plunge

fox.

into the adjoining river,

through a cluster of old wives standing by,

many

of

whom

he threw into the water, which was broad and

deep,

among whom was

striking the bear, crying out, " Help,

Jullock

in

is

the water!

absolve the

or child that saves her, from

gressions, past

Hearing
cour

and

to

all

come and
;

Jullock,

pursued him, crying

I

may be

oh help

left off
;

dame

man, woman,

remit

and transpenance."

all

of the bear to suc-

upon which Bruin cut the stream

with fresh strength, and

turn, that

man

their sins

this, all left the pursuit

Dame

Seeing

the parson's wife.

her floating there like a sea-mew, the holy

swam away.

in

The

priest only

great rage, " Turn, villain,

But the

revenged upon thee."

bear having the advantage of the stream, heeded not

he was proud of the triumph of hav-

his calling, for

ing escaped from them.

tree,

and more

bitterly the

betrayed him, but

face,

and

He

swam about

when he gnew

fox,

made him

his leather gloves

condition he

bitterly cursed the

who had

lose his

from

so very weary that he

The blood

seek a landing.

not only

hood from his

trickled

down

the stream,

was obliged to

down

his

he sighed and drew his breath so short, that

ed as

if

his last

In this

his fingers.

three miles

honey

it

face

seem-

hour was come.

Meanwhile the

fox,

on his way home, had stolen

a fat pullet, and running through a by-path to elude

pursuit, he

now came towards

the river with

infinite

REYNARD THE

13

For he never doubted but the bear was

ioy.

and he

my

FOX.

said; "

therefore

greatest

enemy

My

fortune

at the court

is

dead, and no one

But as he spoke, looking towards

can suspect me."

the river side, he espied the bear lying

his grievous

At

wounds.

this sight

misgave him, and he railed

know how

man," he

to ease

against Lanfert

silly fool,

to kill a bear in a trap.

cried,

down

Reynard's heart

bitterly

the car[)enter; cursing him for a

not

"

that did

What mad-

" would have lost such good venison

so fat and wholesome, and which lay taken to his

wise

man would

which thou,
ting

slain,

made, for

is

like

hand?

have been proud of the fortune

fool,

Thus

hast neglected."

and chiding he came

to the river,

fret-

where he

found the bear covered with wounds, which Reynard

alone had caused.

Yet he said

" Monsieur, Dieu vous garde

villain," said the

in scorn as
!"

"

he passed,

thou foul red

bear to himself, " what impudence

can equal thine?" But the fox continued his speech

" What,
fert,

or

stole ? I

uncle, have

you forgotten every thing at Lan-

have you

paid for the honey-combs you

would rather pay

for

them myself, than that

you should incur any disgrace.

If the

may have

at tlie

good, you

plenty

more

honey was

same

price.

Good uncle, tell me before I go, into what order do

you mean to enter, that you wear this new-fashioned
hood ? Will you be a monk, an abbot, or a

He

friar ?

that shaved yor crown, seems also to have cropt

REYNARD THE

32

your ears

your forelock

FOX.

lost,

is

and your leather

go not bare-headed

gloves are gone.

Fie, sloven

They say you can

sing peccavi rarely."

made Bruin mad with

rage

but because he could

not take revenge, he was obliged to

At

last, to

how

ditate

let

him

talk on.

avoid him, he plunged again into the river

and landed on the other

lost

where he began to me-

side,

best he might reach the court; for he

had

both his ears and his talons, and could scarcely

Yet of necessity he must move forward, which

walk.

he could only do by setting

upon the

his buttocks

ground, and tumbling his body over and over.

manner he

this

and

rested,

rolled

first

rolled another half mile, until

way

ing his
courtiers

gazed upon him as a

it

was the famous

The king himself was

liim,

and he

villains

said

"

It is sir

death as

he

it

he

sir

got."

Bruin the bear.

who

first

Bmin

" O,

my

grievously.

massacre
false,

Behold how

humbly beseech you

malignant Reynard,

what

Where can he

it

let

am

to

bring

us hear what

dread

lord the king," cried out the bear, "

plain

recognized

ray servant

could contive

were back with him

has

Witness-

number of

sort of prodigy, little

have wounded him thus

have been, that

tidings

the

by dint of

to court.

strange method of approach, a

deeming that

In

about half a mile, then

perseverance, he tumbled his

liis

These taunts

sovereign

have to commassacred

to revenge

on that

who hath wrought me

this

REYNARD THE
foul disgrace

and slaughter, merely because

done your royal pleasuie

mons

to court."

he do
will

this

His majesty then said,

thing

how, and

in

his

what way

sion,

have

durst

swear,

the traitor

So forthwith

foul deed."

whole council, and consulted

proceed most efficaciously

to

At

against the wily fox.

make

shall

remember the

summoned

the king

How

'

Now, by my crown

conveying him a sum-

in

take such revenge, as

tremble, and

33

FOX.

length, after

much

discus-

was unanimously concluded, that he should

it

be again summoned to appear and answer his trans-

The

gressions in person.

execute the

summons was

recommended

equally

party

now appointed

Tibert

for his gravity

the

and

cat,

his

to

being

wisdom

an appointment likewise well pleasing to the king.

CHAP.

V.

now THE KING SENT TIBERT THE CAT FOR REVNAHn THE
FOS.

Then
said:

the king called for

"

Sir Tibert,

mon him

you

shall

to other beasts, to

he

fail

go to Reynard and sum-

the second time, and

pear and answer his offences

if

Tibert the cat, and

sir

at the

you he

first

is

command him

for

to ap-

though he be cruel
Assure him

courteous.

summons, that

will

take so se-

c5

REYNARD THE

34

vere a course against him,

and

FOX.

his posterity, that his

example

shall terrify all offenders."

the cat

"

My

thus advised you, for there

can force him

Then

come

to

nothing

is

said Tibert

my

dread lord, thoy were

or to tarry.

which

foes

can do that

do beseech

your majesty send some one of greater power:

small and feeble

am

who was

for if noble sir Bniin,

so

strong and mighty, could not compel him, what will

my

avail ?"

weakness

wisdom,

sir

many
home with

f5trength

turns

" since

it

is

replied

labor lost."

your pleasure,

my

"

when

it

Tibert then

violence re-

" Well," said Tibert,

must be accomplished,

fortune better than

made

By

my

heart

things in readiness and went to

come

In his journey he saw

towards him one of St. Martin's birds, to

not your

!"

Malepardus.*

sending the cat to bring the fox,

ministers,

your

It is

employ, and

prevail with art,

and heaven make

presages

The king
that

Tibert,

who when

flying

whom

the

exprest the care of

is

they have been deceived by the pride and

ostentation of such as they did employ and thought discreet,

they become more careful in selecting truly wise men, capable

of circumventing the
skill.

wise

wisdom

of their enemies

In the cat's unwillingness to go,

man

is to

meddle

is

more than

employ them,
they are able.

it

still

superior

in dangerous matters, especially

they have sense to see, that the party with

to deal is

by

shewn how averse a

their match.

becomes their duty

Yet,

whom they
when

to obey,

Extract from Old Evg.

Comm.

and

when

are about

authority will
to effect

what

ilEY^JARD

cat cried aloud, " Hail

gentle bird

turn thy wings, and Hy on

bird, alas, flew

on the

grew very heavy,

and knew the

for

THU FOX.

my

many

do, he

to Muiepardus,

left side, at

fair

But the

which sight the cat

he was well

skilled

in augiury,

Nevertheless, as

armed himself with

my

beseech thee

right hand."

and

better hopes,

where he found the fox stand-

ing before the castle gates, to

to

sign to be ominous.

went

" Health

35

whom

Tibert said

me

cousin Reynard; the king by

summons you

to the court, in

delay, there

nothing that can prevent your sudden

is

which

if

you

fail

or

and cruel death." The fox answered, " Welcome,

dear cousin Tibert
the king
let

me

my

entreat you to

accept such cheer as

morrow

obey your command, and wish

lord infinite days of happiness.

as early as

the court, for

rest

my

you

will,

we

will

sir

whom

but with you, dear cousin,

up

my

my

would not

for

it

were a thousand

vitals." Tibert replied

a noble gentleman, and

bright as day."

so

person Avith him

will go,

be best to move forward, for the

" let

I trust

who looked upon

Bniin,

the wealth of an empire hazard

like

To-

proceed towards

with that tyrannous cruelty, that

speak

and

There came hither the other day

that treacherous knight

diseases eating

Only

to night,

simple house aftbrds.

have no kinsman

nearly as yourself.

me

me

with

" You

will now perhaps

moon shines as

"^Nay, dear cousin," said the fox,

us take day before us, so that

we may know our

REYNARD THE

36

friends

when we meet the night

is full

pleasure,

of dangers and

Well," said the other, "

suspicions."

said,

FOX.

am

" Truly

content

my

store

what

shall

we

if it

be your

Reynard

eat

small, the best I have

is

is

honey-comb too pleasant and sweet, what think you

of it yourself!" Tibert replied, " It is meat I little
care for, and seldom eat

mouse than

all

had

rather have a single

the honey in Europe."

"

mouse,

dear cousin," said Reynard, " why here dwells hard

by a

priest,

who has a barn

so full of mice, that I

believe half the wains in the parish

them away." "Then, dear Reynard,"

but you lead

so

as that

comes

fox,

mouse

venison, or the best cates on a

me

wards
father,

forgive

in

therefore thither

any of your

my

you now."

is

expression,

better than

prince's table.

and command

affairs.

mother, and

" do you love mice

"Beyond

to ?"

I do," quoth the other, " a

duct

"do

and make me your servant

thither,

" But," said the

for ever."

much

me

would not carry

cried the cat,

all

my

Had you
kin,

me

after-

slain

would

any

Con-

my

freely

REYNARD THE

CHAP

37

FOX.

VI.

UOW TIBEHT THE CAT WAS DFCEIVED

BY

nEVNARD THE

FOX.

" Surely," said Reynard, " you do but jest!" " No

" Well, then, if you be
by my life," replied the cat.
in earnest,

shall

will so contrive this

have your

fill."

"

Is

it

very night, that you

possible ?" said the cat.

" Only follow me," said Reynard, "

speed towards the

with a
fox

mud

had broken

in,

bring you
all

well fenced about

but the night before, the

Now

fat pullet

was so angry,

the priest

before the hole to catch the

coming, which the fox well knew,

thief at his next

and therefore he
is

will

and stolen an exceeding

priest.

that he had set a trap

here

bam,

priest's

wall, where,

from the jolly

So away they went with

to the place presently."

said

cat

the

to

the hole, creep in

It will

"

sir

Tibeit,

not take you a

minute before you find more mice than you are able
to

devour: hear you

back when you are

that

how they squeak?

full

and

we may then proceed

Stay not long,

" But think you

for I
I

will

together towards court.

know my

may

But come

wait here for you,

wife

is

expecting us."

safely enter in at this hole?"

inquired the cat; "these priests are very wily and

subtle,

and often conceal

making the rash

Tibert,"

said

fool

their

snares very

^rely repent."

"

Why,

close

cousin

Reynard, " are you turning coward

REYNARD THE

38

What, man,

you a shadow

fear

the cat sprang quickly

neck

in

?"

Quite ashamed,

and was caught

tried to leap back,

closer, so

and struggled and

greatly rejoiced,

love you mice

Did the

and cried
I

meat very

hope they are

so well, they

quickly.

Isegrim
friends

know

all,

now ?

fat for

to his people,

sing at your

meat

" Up, up

fast,

" The fox

half dressed, he

and running
staff,

is

all

my

was

bed and cried

taken that

these words the priest un-

whole household, and cry-

his

taken

handed

first,

while

cat received

of Martinet

is

and mewed so

for the thief is

At

awaking

luckily rose,

feast together."

caught our hens."

The

your sake.

of your feasting, I

sadly, that Martinet leaped out of his

huge

which he

" Cousin Tibert,

If so, I only wish, that

Meanwhile the poor cat was

ing,

at

stran-

Reynard

the wolf bore you company, that

might

by the

would bring you sauce to your

What, you

the court fashion

was half

that he

in scorn,

Priest or Martinet

know them

fast

which only

cried out piteously.

before the hole and heard

stood

th-at

in,

He

the gin.

brought the snare

gled,

FOX.

the fox

his wife

taken

is

!"

Not

the sacred taper,

he smote Tibert a blow with a

many
many

others followed his example.

deadly blows

for the zinger

so great, that he struck out one of

the cat's eyes, which he did to please the priest, in-

tending to dash out the poor Tibert's brains at a

blow.

Beholding death so near,

sir

Tibert

made a

UEYXARD THE
desperate

39

FOX.

and jumping between the

effort,

When dame

most oxcniciating pain.

wife,

saw

this,

she cried out, and swore

priest's

him the

legs, fastened there in a style that caused

his

Jullock,
in

the bitter-

ness of her heart, and withal cursed the gin, which

she wished, along with

All this while

inventor, at the devil.

its

Reynard stood before the

hole,

and

seeing what passed, laughed so excessively that he

was ready

to burst

and every one

a swoon,

left

During

revive the priest.

off

but the poor priest

foes

over with

all

so busy about the priest,

cord, until he bit

it

for

in

he believed that

But he, seeing

Tibert.

sir

down

in order to

this last scene, the fox set

back again to Malepardus,

was now

fell

the cat,

began to gnaw

He

quite asunder.

it

his
his

then leaped

out of the hole, and went roaring and tumblijig like

his predecessor, the bear,

reached

it, it

back to the

court.

he entered the king's court

in

a most

his bones

of his eyes

lost,

This when the

mangled.

his

council,

Reynard's

owing

and

his skin

rent

and

king beheld, he grew a

He sum-

and debated upon the surest

means of revenging such

the fox.

jelly,

were shivered and bro-

thousand times more angi-y than before.

moned

risen,

pitiful plight.

For his body was beaten and bruised to a

to the fox's craft

ken, one

Before he

was wide day, and the sun being

injuries

upon the head of

After long consultation Grimbard the goat,

sister's son, said to

the rest of the king's

HEYNARD THE

40

my

" Good,

council,

twice as bad as he

enough against

is

my

though

lords,

uncle were

represented, yet there

remedy

is

you do him

of his rank, by

summoning

the justice due to a

man

him a

and then

nounce him guilty of

and

it is fit

his mischiefs,

third time,

FOX.

all

that

" But," said his majesty, "

be time to pro-

will

it

laid to his charge."

is

who

will

now be found

so desperate as to hazard his hands, his ears, nay,

his very

life,

with one so tyrannical and irreligious ?"

" Truly," answered the goat, "

jesty, I

am

to carry the

my

message to

vour highness

CiTlIMBAnD

subtle

*
THE KINc's COUUT.

and malicious."
is

known

of argument,

he

Grimbard thanked

his

it is

most

may win him

to be a prevailing orator.

com-

for

kindred, as cunning as himself,

and

shewn the policy of employing

prevailed upon by no other means,

affection

for

yet take good heed of Reynard,

In the missioa of the goat

own

if

Vll.

When

the vicious man's weapons against himself.

of his

ma-

venture

will

most subtle kinsman,

EX said the king, " Go, Grimbard,

mand you
is

please your

who

THE COAT WAS SENT TO BID THE FOX A

TIIinD TIME TO

Til

it

but command me."

CHAP.
HOW

if

that desperate person,

be can be

politic to

who
over

send one

by the display of
;

as affection

Extract from Old Eng.

is

Comm.

REYNARD
majesty
to

and so taking

TMF, F0\.

41

humble

his

leave,

he went

Malepardus, where he found Reynard, and Er-

mclin, his wife, amusing themselves with their chil-

Having

dren.

saluted his aunt and uncle, he

first

" Take heed,

said,

your absence from

fair uncle, lest

court cause more mischief than the offence deserves.

Indeed,

it

is

high time to appear, for delay brings

only greater danger and punishment.

The complaints

against you are infinite, and this

your third sum-

Your wisdom may

mons.

is

therefore

tell

no hope of mercy can longer remain

yours

days your castle

within three

leaguered and demolishod, your kindred

and you yourself reserved

Do,

my

better

dear uncle, then,

wisdom, and

court.

perils,

for

be be-

will

made

slaves,

example.

public

me

forthwith to the

doubt not but your discretion

;

that

you and

beseech you, recal your

return with

words to excuse you

wonderful

for

you,

for

will find

you have surmounted many

and brought your foes to shame, whilst

the innocence of your cause hath often borne you

spotless from the tribunal."
said,

and go with you

cause

counsel.

my

ear,

will

be advised,

not to answer for offences, but be-

know that the court

Nor do I doubt the

once gain his

and

Reynard answered and

" Nephew, you say true

stands in need of
king's

mercy

if I

my
can

though mine offences were double,

sins as red as scarlet

for

know

the court

cannot stand without me, and that his majesty shall

REYNARD THE

42

Though

truly understand.

enemies,
shall

yet

it

confound their

me

troubles

injuries as

leave the court

wits cannot disgrace

oppress me.

Still,

me,

my

by opposing the king, he

great injury,

Dame

will

and

my
I

is

my

fore

my

at last

for

love

it

and though
patiently."

and

said,

children, especially

he has much of

my

them both
if I

my

Rssel

steps.
truly.

There-

should escape,

love shall requite you."

words Ermelin wept, and could not say

At these

fai'ewell,

and

her children howled to see their mother's sorrow

for their lord

dus

left

and children

to his wife,

my

have an eye upon them, and

doubt not but

wife

bear

will follow in

too promises well, and

may

go with you to

too powerful

I will ever

youngest boy,

hope he

Their envy
their shallow

enemies to their face, for

Ermelin, take care of

Reynikin,
love,

though

their multitudes

Having thus spoken, he turned

"

shall learn to

relation.

for

not hazard the welfare of

me

many

innocence

They may harp

with.

my
;

nephew,

the court, and beard

he do

my

long as they please, but the pith of

the affair must rest upon

will

have

and they

inquiries,

Reynard cannot be dispensed

made me

know

not, for

that in high matters of state and policy

their cost,

upon

FOX.

and provider was gone, and Malepar-

unvictualled.

HEYNARD THE

CHAP.

way

BY CRIMBARD THE COAT.*

Reynard and Grimbard had proceeded some

on

journey,

their

the

said, " Fair nephew, blame

is

43

VIII.

HOW REYNARD WAS SHRIVED

When

FOX.

very heavy, for

that to blot out

great a burden,

by you.

my
my

Hfe

me

stopped

not

say

if I

are holy

and having received

my

within me."

Grimbard bid him proceed.

my

sin,

soul

said the fox, " Confitebor

it

Brock, "

in English, that

resumed
*

When

gious.
all

evil

who cannot

tibi,

if

"

men f;\ll

be more quiet

will

have

" Then,"

" Nay,"

pater."

you

will shrive to

may understand

Reynard,

13y nping a

heart

Would

manifold sins and cast off so

penance for

ternipted the

my

great jeopardy.

in

and

might here repent and be shriven

know you

is

former

" Then,"

you."

offended

grievously

into dangers tliey are always

shew

of penitence, they try to

in-

me, do

most

move

reli-

pity in

penetrate the folds of their knavery and deceit.

Thus, however bad, they contrive to keep a good name, and

By

impose upon the good opinion of the public.

given to the fox,

is

how

seen

brought to believe a knave's penitence, and

forgive

upon any signs of

round by

tlie

how

The

contrition.

man may be

ready he

is

to

fox taking the goat

monastery, and seizing upon the capon, shews that

where vice has become

out, in spite

the absolution

soon an honest simple

of all

habitual,

it

the hypocrisy

will

knave will be a knave Tiot\yithstanding

counsel to the contrary.

still

employed
all

continue to break
to

conceal

it.

persuasion and good

Extract from Old Eng.

Comm,

REYNAKD THE

44

against

the beasts that

all

and Tibert the

massacred,

and

live,

mine uncle Bruin the bear,

cruelly ensnared in a gin.

FOX.

have trespassed against

and have devoured

Chanticleer and his children,

many

Nay, the king has not been safe

of them.

my

from

malice

respected the

for I

name

have slandered him, and not

of the queen.

Isegrim the wolf, while

no part of

monk

called

his blood ran in

of Esinane, where

my

bind his foot to the

have betrayed

him

uncle, though

veins.

became

him open

only to do

order,

especially against

whom I lately almost

cat, whom I no less

mischief,

made him

him

rope to teach

l)ell

made him a

also one of the

to ring

have cost him his

but the peal had

like to

parishioners beat

and wounded him so very

After this

taught him to catch

soundly beaten for

moment.

led

sorely.

but he got

beareth the stripes to this

into

a rich priest's house to

bacon, where he eat so much, that unable to

steal

get out where he

him

and

it,

him

fish

the

life,

came

and while the

upon a

in, I

raised all the

priest ran

fat fowl, while the priest

from

and

fell

down

as

if

At

to

were

last the

until they

an old ditch, where they threw him

There he lay groaning

thence

seized

he had been dead, and they

dragged his body over rocks and stones

came

his people

busy cudgelling the sides of Isegrim.

wolf

town upon

table,

know

not.

all

night,

in.

and how he ever got

Another time

led

him

to a

HEYN ARD TUE

place, where

him there were seven coiks and

told

perched together

hens

went laughing
said,

thing.'

and

replied
if

venture for them.'

farther,

and pushing forward, he

into the

and

cried out,

has

fallen

me
'

here

for

uncle,

no-

is

they must be

have them, you must

this the wolf going a

little

fell

house with such an infernal noise and

who were
'

What

asleep in the house awoke,

dreadful noise was that

from the trap-door V

a

lighted

all,

I,

will

At

in,

joy

gave him a push forward, so that he

clatter, that all

and

you

much

Isegrim with

to the door,

Then,'

'

farther in

down

he could contrive to creep

fowls.

Reynard, you deceive

'

we

door, upon which

false

said that if

he should have the

condition,

excellent

in

all

and hard by stood a

climbed.

45

lOX.

So they

what

rose,

candle, and espying him,

one
took

such measures that they wounded him almost to

Thus

death.
of his
will

life,

brought the wolf into

more than

many

can well remember

hazards
;

but

repeat them to you hereafter, as they occur to

me.

have also most grievously offended against

dame Erscwinde,
me, as
said

it

his wife, of

was highly

Grimbard," you make your

hardly understand you."

phew

which

women

but you know

;

it is

my company

much

shrift

repent

" Uncle,"

to her discredit."

imperfect;

" Pardon me, sweet ne-

dislike casting aspersions

on

simply that she liked me, and preferred

to that of Isegrim.

Thus

have told

REYXARD TUE

46

you

ray wickedness

all

seem best."

as shall

FOX.

and now order

Now

my

penance

Grimbard being both

learned and wise, broke a switch from a tree, and

said,

" Nephew, you

body with

rod

this

times strike your

shall three

then lay

it

ground, and spring three times over

it

up and

kiss

it

gently, in sign of your

sins

committed

meek-

when you

ness and obedience to your penance,

be absolved of your

the

without stum-

it

This done, you shall

bling or bending your legs.

take

down upon

to this

At

pronounce you a clear remission."

day

this

will
for

the

fox was exceedingly glad, and then Grimbard said,

" See that henceforth, uncle, you do good works

holydays

all
life.

give alms,

and keep

vigils,

and abandon your

sinful

read your psalter, go to church,

Avoid theft and treason

fast,

so

that by doing

these things, no doubt you shall obtain mercy from

the king."

and so they

All these the fox promised,

went journeying together towards the court.

Not

far

from the road side there stood a dwelling

of holy nuns, where

seen

many

geese and capons were

wandering without the

As they were

walls.

conversing, the fox giadually drew Grimbard out of

the right path, and finding the pullets picking near

the 1>arn,

among which was

strayed a

little

way from

spring and caught

about his ears

a fine fat capon that

the rest, he

him by the

made

feathers

yet the capon escaped.

had

a sudden

which flew

At

this sight

REYNARD THE

47

f'OX.

Griiubard cried out, " Accursed wretch, what would

you do?

you

will

me, dear nephew

Init

entreat your forgiveness,

still

and

my

him

bones, and

little

The

that

way

for the

evil

as long as

if it

his heart

he could see

again said, " For

goat, aware of this,

me

The

fox

replied, "

wrong, you mistake

my

fered."

looks

for

have slain before

" Well," said Grimbard, "

your glances

are very

after the

Nay, nephew, you do

saying a paternoster for the souls of

and geese which

were

was bred

shame, dissembler, why wander your eyes

fowl ?"

do

bridge, the fox

stuck fast to his flesh

it

carried his eyes

them.

to refrain

eye shall not wan-

glancing his eye towards the pullets as

impossible for
in his

into all

Call

had forgotten myself:

They then went over a

der."

again

for a silly pullet

To which Reynard answered, " Pardon

your sins?"

it

suspicious."

was merely

all

the pullets

my

piety inter-

may be

so; but

Now

by this

time they had regained the high way, and pushed on

more speedily
saw than

knew

to the court,

his heart

began

which the fox no sooner

to

too well the crimes he

were indeed

infinite

quake

had

and heinous.

to

He

for fear.

answer

for

they

REYNARD THE

48

CHAP.
HOW THE

As

FOX.

IX.

FOX CAME TO THE COURT AND

HOW HE FAKED.

Fox

soon as the tidings spread, that Reynard the

and

kinsman Grimbard, were arrived

his

at court, all

ranks, from the highest to the lowest, prepared ac-

His heart quaked within

cusations against the fox.

him, but his countenance was, as usual, calm and

and he bore himself

confident,

as proudly as before.

His nephew attended him through the

been the king's son, and

whatsoever.
state in

When

free

which the king

sat,

from every imputation

he stopped and said

princes of the earth.

enemies
that
if

than

will die.

many

For,

" Hea-

than

faithful servant

now am, and

are plotting

and renown, above

assure your majesty that

no monarch had ever a more

have been

he had

if

he came opposite the chair of

ven long give your majesty gloiy

all

and

streets,

he walked as gallantly into the court as

so in spite of

my dread liege
my destruction

lord,

my

know

in this court,

they could prevail with your majesty; but. you

scorn the slanders of malice

days

and though

flatterers succeed in princes' courts,

with you, nor will

for their

reward."

in

it is

these

not so

they reap any thing but shame

But the king

cut

him short

at

REYNAIID THE VOX.

49

these words,* and cried, " Peace, treacherous Rey-

nard!

your

know your

Think you

need.

smooth words

dissimulation, and can

now

yet both shall

flattery,

No,

The peace which

it

has but too often deceived me;

And as

!"

cried the king, " let

me

me, and

seest

all

life shall

fox

employed him
honey

wounds,

his

" what,

yea,

am

to

did he not take

;

was not

In the lion
terrible

whose wounds yet

and

is

my

dread lord,

that to

me ?

If

if

to

it

blame

where he got

If revenge he sought

himself; he

is

strong and puis-

be considered as

my

to every offender

weakness.

in particular, such as

the consciousness of sectet guilt within them.

The

deportment, shows the impudence of old malefactors,

rail

Bruin's

your majesty

here expressed the lawfulness of justice, and

is

it is

which thy

for

at the carpenter's house,

sant

how

among

a message, which he neglected, to

in

why

it

devil

soon answer." " In nomine Patris"

crown be bloody, what

steal

the

wretched creatures

these

bloody defiance at thee

cried the

lost

Chanticleer,"

Thou

proceed.

ready to disprove thy words

dearest

have

still.

with what face canst thou say thou

the innocent,

spit

how

" Be

benefit of that noble peace !"

to,

was proceed-

the king

Chanticleer cried out: " Oh,

lovest

your

have proclaimed and swora

that have you broken

ing^,

at

be taken with the music of

will

expound

you

fail

against others

have

fox's bold

who

try to

but truth and justice cannot be hoodwinked.

Ex. from Old English Comm.

vol..

I.

REYNARD THE

50

As

the cat,

for Tibert

friendship,

against
life,

he would

if

my

advice,

whom

and there

lose his eyes,

Was

Oh,

you may do your royal pleasure

ing

my

die

perfect innocence,

for I

am

your mercy.

dread

me

to

know your

strength and

my own

death would yield you small satisfac-

tion, yet

whatever your good

me

my

notwithstand-

you may adjudge

weakness

that to

nay his

your poor vassal, and look only for

I

my

all

barn

Tibert's keeper ?

or the guardian of the great bear?

lord

with

received

steal into the priest's

what have I oftended

in

FOX.

shall prove

and pleasure

will

be,,

most acceptable."

While he thus spoke,

Bellin the

ram stepped

forth,

along with his ewe-dam Olcway, and besought the

king to hear their complaint

bear with

all his

and next Brain the

lineage, followed

by Tibert the

cat,

Isegrim the wolf, Kayward the hare, Paulter the boar,

and neaily

all

the other beasts of the court,

rose with one accord, crying for vengeance

fox, with

such clamour that the king was induced

to order the fox to be there secured

CHAP.
HOW THE

Upon

who

upon the

POX

and

arrested.

X.

WAS AHRESTED AND ADJUDGED TO DEATH.

this arrest

a cabinet council was summoned,

and every voice was

in favour of Reynard's execu-

THK FOX.

llliYNAHD

lion

though he answered every accusation

with a wonderful
all

de^ee of

art,

was condemned and judg-

He was

ment recorded.
till

down

seriatinif

to the admiration of

Witnesses however were examined, the

the court.

proofs established; the fox

neck

51

he was dead

his head,

at

to be hans^ed

which sentence the fox cast

his jollity

all

up by the

was

and no

fled,

flattery

or smooth words any longer availed.

This being resolved, Grimbard his nephew, and

several others nearest

him

unable to endure

in blood,

the sight of his death, took leave of the king and

left

When

the court.

the

lant gentlemen depart,

monarch saw so many

all

gal-

sad and weeping, being

near in blood and alliance to the prisoner, he said to

himself, " It behoves
I

am

many

me

about, for though

friends

and more

to take

sir

in the

Isegrim

and hedges

sir

faults,

Bruin, "

it

is

near evening, and

is

so great, that

if

all

the prisoner

the art in the

world will never again entangle him.

If

will

him, proceed quickly. It

before the gallows can be made."

exclaimed,
is

are

execution of your sentence, and you

to execute

Isegrim

Why

See you not there are many bushes

escape, his subtlety

" There

he has

As the king was

virtues."

thus pondering, Tibert said to

you so slow

good counsel what

Reynard has

suddenly

you mean
be night

At these words

recollecting

himself,

a pair of gallows hard by ;" at the

time he fetched a deep sigh

same

" What, are you afraid,

REYNARD THE

52

Isegrim

sir

or

said Tibert, "

kinsmen was

FOX.

this execution against

is

your mind!"

remember the hanging of both your

Had you now

his work.

a proper sense

of justice, you would hang him for the same and ot

stand

Isegrim, half angiy, answered,

trifling thus."

" Your anger puts out the eye of your better reason,

though

we had a

if

halter that

remained

my

pain

silent, said
sir

would

" Yes,

beseech you to shorten

at the priest's house,

got between the holy man's legs and bit

so dreadfully.

credit both to sir

Bruin and

own nephew.*

for

sir

am

it

him

would be a

dis-

Isegrim,

sorry

him

let

Besides, he can climb well

mount and be my executioner

treat their

we

his neck,

Tibert has a cord strong enough, in

which he himself was hanged

when he

fit

Reynard, who had long

would soon despatch him."

I live

thus

to

to see it;

my hangmen, play
Go before, uncle Bruin,
me Isegrim my cousin, and

but since you are resolved to be

your parts

and delay

and lead the way

beware
"

it is

follow

"

escape not."

the best counsel

The

say well," said Bruin,

shews, that

shews the malice of great persons

to execution,

against their enemies.

when men

The

fox's patience

and mild temper, also

are in extremity, they must

their virtues, especially

itself into

You

ever heard you give."

violence of the bear, the wolf, and the cat, pursuing

Reynard even

all

not.

make

use of

meekness, which most insinuates

men's good opinion, and

excites compassion

while

rudeness and violence only increase the mischief. Et ._/rom Old

Enir,

Comm,

53

IIEYN.VRD TIIK FOX.

So

forth they went,

and Isegrim and

all his

friends

guarded Reynard, leading him by the neck and other

parts of his body, at

self to all this trouble,

I

which usage the fox

Yet he said meekly, "

dismayed.

my

felt

Why

best kinsman

quite

put your-

Believe me,

could well entreat your forgiveness, though you re-

my

joice in

sufferings.

Still

me

thus cruelly tormented, were

affection's

But do with me

sake.

must endure the worst

my

leave

it

no

is

worst, fortune

wish

terror.

it

therefore familiar to me."

"

gi'im,

sir

let

us

make

haste,

upon mc by delaying

light

will

;"

and death

were already past, for

my

saw

and how quickly he vanished

is

only for old

you

and Tibert,

as for Bruin

know my

can come but once.

me

it

as

revenge to justice, and to you the reward

of traitors.

to

my

was passing, she would not

aunt, your wife, see wliat

see

know, that did

brave father die,

The worst of death

" Then," said

for his. curse

so

he on one

sir

Ise-

shall not
side,

and

Bruin on the other, they led the fox to the gal-

lows

On

Tibert skipping before

them with

the halter.

reaching the place of execution, the king, the

queen, and

all

the fox die.

dismay, was

the nobility took their place, to behold

Reynard, though
still

full

of sorrow and

busy thinking how he might es-

cape, and again triumph over his proud enemies, by

drawing the king over

to his party.

king," he said to himself,

"'

" Though the

be offended with me, as

REYXAR.D THE FOX.

54

lie

has reason enough, heaven knows, yet

haps Uve to become

bosom

his

cogitating, the wolf said, "

your mjuries

for

you

us

and

not,

every thing
fox spoke

will

now

my

Oh,

my

and gentlemen, here assembled

sovereign lady the queen, and

beseech you grant

Let

me

my

soul of

unbuvthen

may be

its

my

me

this

all

you,

to see

me

one charitable boon.

sins, so that hereafter

accused or executed for

This done, death

will

doubt not, to the skies."

no man

my

secret

come more easy

and the assistance of your prayers

soul, 1

eyes,

heart before you, and cleanse

manifold

unj^istly

misdeeds.

my

dread lord the king,

my

lords

when

heart be heavy, for

naked horrors before

cannot escape.

your

This being done the

and you,

nie,

make

will of

is

and

Tibert,

the ladder

place

may my

well

in all his

day

for the

Go,

Bruin, that he eludes

sir

be complete."

Now

"

death stands

will

per-

Bruin, remember

have your

shall

Take heed, good

die, I

may

While thus

the gallows-tree with the rope, and

enemy.

sir

so long looked for.

running noose,

and

Now,

revenge yourself well

come we have
mount

friend."

will lift

to

my

REYNARD THE

CHAP
HOW REYNARD MADE

FOX.

XI.

HI3 CONFESSION BEFORE

THE KINO.

All now

took compassion on the fox, and beseeched

the king

to

And

then the fox spake

see no

man

here

" Help

whom

was not from

this

which was done.

request;

grant his

me

heaven

evil inclination

for in

my

was accounted as virtuous as any breathing

ed with the lambs

and the

But once

into the

in

my

This

the bleating of the young kids,

two more, which made

me

pullets.

my

slew one, and after

began

to

Thus my crime growing

all

was

fish

In the winter season

he was

my

uncle,

and

and
laid

friendship,

have rea-

for then, indeed, began the history of

our thefts and slaughters.

and

bit one,

so plain, that from that day forth

we became companions.
son to curse

humour drew

so hardy, that

net.

me how

down

the pedigree

play-

as he lay under a hollow tree,

met with Isegrim,

he unfolded unto

where, hearing

by habit, the fancy so possessed me, that

that was caught in

play

evil

woods among the goats

murder geese and

Yet

youth

was so sweet, that ever

taste of its blood

since I could not forbear.

me

for I

day long, and took delight in

all

their pretty bleating.

have not offended.

the small

He

stole the great prizes

he murdered nobles and

meanest subjects; imd

the

in all these actions his share

REYNARD THE

56

was ever the

When

greatest.

FOX.

he caught a

calf,

ram, or a wether, his voracity would hardly afford

me

When

the bones to pick.

he

a cow,

family, nothing remaining,

bones.

being well

known

that

coin, than twenty carts

his vile

speak of this

is

"

fox answered

you; though

queen here

it

the

it

but only to shew

king heard him

grew inflamed

life,

that treasure you speak of?"

My lord,

will gladly

inform

and

be tnie the wealth was stolen,

it

would have cost your

which heaven long preserve."

The

said in great dismay, "

What

started,

are these dangers

mand

When

not been so stolen

majesty his

but the bare

and, intemipting the prisoner, he said

The

it

his

have more plate, jewels, and

infinite wealth, his heart

;

" Reynard, where

had

me

all

having been in want,

would carry

ingratitude."

with avarice

say, for

state not this as

he mustered an ox or

served himself, his wife, and

first

and

you speak

of,

Reynard

do com-

ye to unfold these doubtful speeches, and to

keep nothing concealed that

dread lord

affects the life

of

my

go on."

The fox, with a sorrowful countenance, replied

" Oh, my dread sovereign lady, I would that I might
now die, did not your commands and the health of

my own
charge

soul

my

what

I will

True

it

is,

so prevail with

me, that

must

dis-

conscience, and yet speak nothing but

make good

at the

that the king

was

hazard of damnation.
to have

been cruelly

REYNARD THE
despatched by his own people

yea

my

the king

command me

do

to

must confess by

some of my nearest kindred, whom

cuse, did not the health of

soul,

Reynard, what you say

if

small a sand

dissemble not

my

is left in
;

soul perish ?"

looked so

pitifully,

my

all his

had revealed

all

what dissembling can

and saying

lies

stand

this

avail

me,

he trembled and

that the queen took pity upon him.

for the safety of his

on the

fox,

subjects to hold their peace,

and

to

till

he

This was done, and the

he knew.

fox proceeded as follows

my

much

be true,

it

poor glass to run.

royal person to take compassion

of

Can

fox answered, " Alas,

She humbly besought the king

command

fealty to

king,

dread lord, you see the case in which

how
will

my

The

so."

The

?"

would not, ac-

and

perplexed at this discovery, said, "

my

57

FOX.

" Since

it is

the pleasure

dread lord the king, and that his royal

in the

balance with

freely unfold this foul

guilty person for

and

my

present breath,

capital treason, sparing

my

no

Know

then,

my dread

father, by accident turning up the earth,

found king Eraietick's treasure

calculable

life

will

any respect whatsoever, however high

in greatness, blood, or authority.

lord, that

mass of

riches, with

an

infinite

down upon

beasts of the forest with contempt, even

lengtli

in-

which he became so

vain and haughty, that he looked

men and companions. At

and

upon

all

the

his kins-

he caused Tibert the

cat to go into the forest of Arden to Bruin the bear,. and

u5

REYNARD THE

58

to render
it

him

his

homage and

FOX.

fealty

saying, that

if

would please him to be king, he must come into

Flanders, where

he sent

my

him

father received

Grimbard

for his wife,

my

These

Isegrim the wolf, with Tibert the cat.

coming between Gaunt and the

Next

nobly.

nephew, and

for
five

village called Elfe,

they held solemn council for the space of one night,

in

my

which, instigated by the devil, and confident in

father's riches,

it

was concluded, that your majesty

They took a solemn oath

should be murdered.
this

effect

in

the

Grimbard, and Tibert,

father,

grim's crown,
to place

him

way

following

and swore

sir

Ise-

king

their

Aeon, and

in the chair of state at

set

That should any

the imperial diadem on his head.

my

hands on

laid their

make Bruin

to

to

my

Bruin,

was

to hire assassins

that should utterly chase and root

them out of the

oppose the scheme,

forests.

After this

it

father

my nephew

happened, that

Grimbard being one day heated with wine, made a

Dame

disco veiy of this damnable plot to

wife,

commanding her

she too, as

women

with me, charging

moreover gave

me

also to kept

will,

me

to reveal

such

cause the very hairs of

while

my

only kept
it

proofs of

my

it

But

until she

met

no one

She

to
its

head to

Slopard his

secret.

it

truth, as

to

start upright,

heart sunk cold and heavy within me, like

a piece of lead.

Indeed

story of the frogs,

it

led

me

to call to

who complained

mind the

to Jupiter that

RETNARD THE

59

FOX.

they had no kin^ to e^ovcrn them, and he presently

sent

them a

which eat and devoured them up

stork,

and by whose tyranny they became the most miserable of

for

Then they

creatures.

all

redress,

but

was too

it

cried unto Jupiter

for those that will

late;

not be content with their freedom, must consequently

Even

be subjected to thraldom.*

might happen

to us

and

so

my

your majesty, though you respect not

The ambition of
vernment come
would

the bear

is

your majesty

is

into his hands, the

commonwealth
Besides,

witlial,

that

have been a damnable exchange, to

in sir Bruin

know

it

woxdd

have seen a

the throne of the royal lion

sit in

and

sorrows.

of that royal and lofty lineage, so

mighty, gracious, and merciful

ravenous bear

whole generation there

his

is

* The fox's confession displays a three-fold subtlety

his pitiful narrative

by accusing
for

awakens the

his nearest

tliirdly,

first,

secondly,

by implicating the monarch's

that he

into

who would

his mischief,

The whole contrivance

disgrace.

obtain credit for his siory

appeal to pity, and having obtained

to.

compassion

for

the conspiracy, he alarmed the fears of the queen, and

brought his enemies

shews

(jueen'd

more

nds and relatives, he obtained credit

fri(

what he advanced;

life in

it

such that should the go-

a sacrifice to his tyranny.

fall

feared

grieved for the fate of

which a wise man

belief,

like the lion, will

But the queen's persuasions and

his better

his

must

first

begin to jierpetrate

own

not give ear

avarice blinded

judgment, and he gave into the snare which the fox

aid for him.

Extr,

from

old

Eng, Ccmm.

REYXARD THE

60

FOX.

prodigal looseness and inconstancy than in any beast

whatsoever.

might

therefore

my

foil

who sought

began to meditate how

father's false

to elevate a traitor

and a

height of your imperial throne.

slave to the

was aware that

was

as long as he held the treasure, your majesty

danger, and

So

treasure

was concealed

and day,
open

eyes, there

where the

resolved, if possible, to find

;

To whatever
was

and

watched him night

woods, in the hedges, and

in the

fields.

in

giew exceedingly troubled and per-

plexed.

and treacherous designs,

my

spot

sure of detecting

I,

in the

father tinned his

him one time

or

other in the fact.

"

One

ground,

day, as
I

very thievish look

was lying

down upon

flat

him coming out of a

spied

he gazed round about him to see

he was observed, and thinking the coast

up

stopped

the

with a

hole,

the

hole

sand

with

clear,

and

even

so

if

he

smoothly that the most curious eye could discern no

difference between

it

and the other

Then,

earth.

where the print of his foot remained, he stroked

over with his

tail,

and smoothed

that no person could perceive

jnany other subtleties

time.

When

it

it.

Indeed, that and

learned from hini at that

he had thus finished, he went away

towards the village about his private

affairs,

proceeded towards the hole, and

spite

cunning

it

with his mouth so

in

quickly found the entrance.

while

of

all his

Then

en-

IIEYNARD THE FOX.

tered

where

cavern,

tlie

quantity of treasure

along with me,

found an

it

safe from

every

innumerable

and taking Ermelin,

my

wife,

we both laboured day and night

to another place,

convoying

61

human

were thus employed,

it

During the time we

eye.

my

in

where we deposited

was

father

deep consul-

in

tation with the rest of the traitors to compass his

majesty's death.

It

wolf should traverse

all

was concluded that Isegrim the

the kingdom, and promise to

all

the beasts that would take wages, and acknow-

ledge Bruin for their sovereign and defend his

year's

full

father

accompanied him, bearing

to that purport,

prived of

scheme.

all

little

title,

In this journey

pay beforehand.

suspecting

my

patent signed

letters

that

he was de-

the wealth with which to promote his

When

this negociation

was concluded be-

tween Elge and Soam, and a vast body of soldiers

raised for action against the next spring, they re-

turned to Bruin and his party, to

clared the

dom

many

perils

whom

they de-

they had escaped in the duke-

of Saxony, where they were pursued by hounds

and huntsmen.

They next shewed Bruin

which pleased him exceedingly;

the musterfor here

he

found about twelve hundred of Isegrim's lineage,

all

rolls,

sworn

for action, besides the bear's kindred, the cats

and the dassens,

all

an hour's notice.
authority;

and the

which would be

All

this

[)lot

in readiness at

discovered from good

becoming

ripe for

execu-

REYNARD THE

62

tion,

my

father

What was

went

to the

his infinite

place open and

and

for this I

ransacked

He became

me

under

desperate,

the next tree,

and

was defeated,

while those two false traisit

in the king's privy

my

with great authority, procure

trample

foot.

have

coun-

disgrace,

my

lost

and

father

your majesty's cause, and what stronger proof

can be tendered of
in

to

Bruin's treason

suffer,

Bruin and Isegrim,

tors.
cil,

in

skill,

now

cave for his treasure.

agony and trouble to find the

and soon afterwards went

hanged himself.
" Thus, by my

FOX.

my

loyalty?

have

lost

my

life

defending yours."

The king and queen indulging a hope of

inestimable

down from

the gibbet, and entreated

unfold
fox,

its

treasures,

place of concealment.

" shall

him

"What,"

possess-

Reynard

ordered

ing these

farther to
replied the

make my worst enemies my heirs?

who take away my life, and at-

Shall these traitors,

tempt your majesty's, become possessed of the

tune

Reynard, the king

shall henceforth

his majesty."
if

to

for-

" Then," said the queen, " fear not,

enjoy?"

shall

save your

life,

and you

swear faith and true allegiance to

The

fox answered, " Sovereign lady,

the king, out of his royal nature, will give credit

my

truth,

and

forgive

my

offences,

never king so rich as he will be."

there

was

Then the king

interrupting the queen, said, " Fair consort, will you

REYNARD
Know

believe the fox?

to

and

to steal,

lie,

TIIF.

that

to

him;

may

have been

my

accuses

his

own

laid his

me

he and his

w ill

though

thus

shall,

for

he be ever found

the smallest offence, botli

in

when

my

domi-

the king spake

withal he rejoiced within himself, and he said,

should

lord,

it

were a huge shame in me,

dare to speak any untruths in this august

presence."

Then

the king taking a straw from the

ground, pardoned the fox

which either he
mitted.
life

or

all

No wonder

the fox

was most sweet

their mercies,

make them

for all

the transgressions

his father before

to

before the king and queen,

for

if

fox looked sadly

" Most dread

for

Were

give free pardon to the fox,

be utterly rooted out of

shall

The

nions."

and

and not on those he loves best."

yet under this condition, that

tripping again,

now

imputation

" Well, madam," replied the king, " you

this time, rule

is

father,

Grimbard, his dearest nephew and kinsman

beasts,

he

of deceit

full

you see he

prosperity,

he dissembling, he might have

upon other

But

may

dear lord, you

however

for,

in his

Why, he

changed.

his chief excellence

it is

impose upun others."

the queen said, " Yet now,

freely believe

63

fOX.

him had com-

now began

him; and he

to

smile,

fell

down

humbly thanking them

and protesting that he would

the richest princes

in

the world.

At

these words the fox took up a straw, and proffering

it

the king, said to him, "

My

dread lord,

beseech

REYNARD THE

64

your majesty to receive

FOX.

pledge of entire surren-

this

der unto your majesty of the great king Ermetick's

treasure, with
free will

and

which

present you out of

freely

The king

and pleasure."

smiling, gave the fox great thanks

which the

at

chuckled heartily to think of the grossness of

latter

From

imposture.

the

my

received the straw,

council so

the fox

much

that day

and confiding

cious lord, you

no one's

forward

prevailed with the king as that of

in this

he

"

said,

My

gra-

must understand that on the west

wood called Husternamed Crekenpit: this

side of Flanders there stands a

loe,

near which runs a river

a wilderness so vast and impassable, that hardly

is

throughout the year there crosses a

over the place.
thither

go

know

of none

besides your

growing by the

you

it,

pit,

consisting

see two

will

and there you

Bruin the bear was

when you

to

many

your

birchen trees

With

and the

this

have been crowned,

to

crown
if

his

expectation

costly stones, of which,

are possessed, then

your poor servant, Reynard."

Sir

and

shall find the trea-

had succeeded according

there too you will find

"

woman

highnesses

of coin, precious jewels,

crown v/hich king Ermetick wore.

treason

or

When

dare trust in so great a design.

majesty reaches

sure,

it I

man

this treasure,

should wish your majesty and the queen to

for

whom

In

have hid

remember the

love of

The king answered,

Reynard, you must yourself help to dig up

this

REYNAUD THE
treasure, for else

see

65

FOX.

shall never find

have

it.

heard of such places as Paris, London, Aeon,

CuUen, but Crekenpit

you dissemble."

fear

words

will

The

fox

so doubtful of

still

bluslied

these

at

my

faith

nay, then,

words by public testimony ;" and

my

approve

and

never heard of; therefore

a bold countenance he said, " Is

yet with

your majesty
I

he called forth Kayward the hare, com-

with that

manding him

come before

to

and queen,

the king

to

answer truly to such questions as he should ask him.

The hare answered, "

things, though

"

said,

will

Know you

not where

" Yes," replied Kayward, "

dozen years;

stands in a

it

Besides,

the

have known

the

false coin for the benefit of

I

" you have spoken

the fox,

opinion?

The king
suspicion

wrong.

"

:"

so

My

am

said,
;

it

sufficiently

away went the

hare.

himself

and Ring

hound became companions." " Well,"

place again

these

both of hunger and

and his brethren; yet that was before

fox,

it

called Husterloe

was there where father Simony,

it

made

friar,

all

Crekenpit stands ?"

wood

much torment

have endured

cold.

in

Then Reynard

and wild wilderness, where

to be sure, amidst a vast

I

answer truly

die for the same."

said the

go

to

Then

sovereign lord the king, what

is

your
said

your

worthy of your confidence or no?"

" Yes, Reynard, and pray excuse my

was

Therefore

my

ignorance

make speedy

which did

thee

preparation to ac-

REYlfARD THE FOX.

66

company us

to the pit

fox answered, "Alas

I

would not

fain

where

do you imagine that

go with you,

if

without your dishonour, which

you must understand, though

that

when Isegrim

would needs grow

meat which was

portion of
little

him

for

that, being

He

alone.

my

kinsman,

could venture

be to

my

the devil's name,

monks was

for six

compassionated his case,

sunrise

Rome, and from Rome

and excom-

am

to journey

till I

expiated

my

that

sins,

may

attend on your

" Since you stand

accursed by the censures of the church,

have you about

me

and therefore

I will

ward the hare and some others with me

1

far

ma-

The king

honor and reputation."

hearing this pious design, said,

only

my native

have done so much good, and so

jesty's person with

pit;

deter-

towards

intend to cross the seas for

Holyland, and will never return again into

country

For

did.

municated under the pope's sentence, and

at

too

complained so piteously,

this reason I at present stand accursed

to-morrow

disgrace,

and play the monk, the

and advised him to run away, which he

mined

For

cannot do.

it

the wolf, in

religious,

The

this treasure lies."

my lord,

must not

take Kayto

Creken-

conuuand you, Reynard, as you value

our favour, to clear yourself of his holincss's curse."

" That

is

the reason,

neither will

absolution."

I rest,

my

lord, of

night or day,

my
till

going to
I

" The course you take

Rome

have obtained
is

good," said

REYNARD THE
the king-, " go on and

67

FOX.

prosper in your fair intent,

and return home better than you went."

CHAP.

XII.

HOW nEVNAHDTIIE FOX WAS HONOURED ABOVE ALL EEAST9

By THE king's express commands.

As soon

conference was

as the

ended,

the royal

king mounted upon his high throne, raised

made

of a scaffold,

manded thence a

general silence

among

form

and com-

all

his sub-

Every one was to take his place according to

jects.

his birth
sat

of fair square stone

in the

or dignity in office

except the fox,

spoke

''

Hear

you noblemen, knights, gentle-

all

men, and others of

one of the supreme
misdeeds had

who

The king then

between the king and the queen.

inferior quality

officers of

my

Sir

Reynard,

household, whose

brought him to his

Hnal

account,

standing between those two quarrelsome mistresses,

law and justice, hath

this

He

hath

worthy service to the

state,

grace and

my

favor.

queen are bound

do command
your dearest

from

all

only to

him

done that noble and

that

both myself and

for ever.

Henceforth

of you, upon pain and hazard of

lives,

this day, to

to

day recovered our best

that you hencefonvard

show

all

Reynard himself,

fail

not,

reverence and honor, not

but to his whole family.

REYNARD THE

68

may happen by

wherever you

Nor

with them.

let

him, for he

will

night or day to meet

any one hereafter be so auda-

my

cious as to trouble

FOX.

ears with complaints against

no more be guilty of doing wrong.*

To-morrow very

he

early

on a pilgrimage

sets out

Rome, where he means

and indulgence from the pope, and afterwards

Now when

proceed to the holy land."

raven heard this speech, he flew to

grim, and Tibert, and said; "

how

are your fortunes

courtier, a chancellor,
rite

Reynard

en-

now a

all

be-

Isegrim answered

impossible, Tisellen, nor can such an

is

abuse be suffered."

"

ceive yourselves,

as true as that I

Then went

is

and you are

trayed and sold unto bondage."

it

creatures,

nay prime minister and favo-

his offences are forgiven

" Nay,

Bruin, Ise-

sir

how can you

Why

to

Tisellen the

Wretched

changed

dure to hear these tidings

to

pardon

to purchase a free

it is

I tell

the wolf and

you

it

can

Do

not de-

now speak

it."

the bear to the king, but

the cat refused, and was so sore afraid at what she

tlieii

It thus

app

ars, that

when

policy and

wisdom triumph over

enemies, they neverrest until they convince us of the great-

ness of their ambition, extenuating their crimes, and keeping

their foes in

awe by a shew

complaint

shewn the

how

they

the wolf

is
fly

of grace

and

favor.

By

in time of trouble to the heads of factions

and the bear's arrest we

learn, that

the mischief.

E.r.

and by

when men complain

of their wrongs unseasonably, they only aggravate

mending

the raven's

jealousy and fear of the weaker sort

Old Eng. Comm.

instead of

REYNARD THE

69

FOX.

heard, that to have purchased the fox's favor once

more, she would have forgiven not only the injuries

she had

But

have run a second hazard.

received, but

Isegrim, with

much

confidence and pride, ap-

peared before the king and queen, and with the most
bitter

words inveighed against the fox

and

in so

passionate and impudent a

manner

king was roused to anger

and ordered both the

wolf and the bear to be arrested

withal, that the

high treason.

for

This was forthwith done with every mark of violence

and indignity
foot, tluit the

the place

bound hand and

the prisoners were

could not

stir

a limb, nor a step, from

where they were couched.

having thus entangled them, he so

the queen, as

to.

much

obtain as

would make him a large

For the fox

far prevailed

with

of the bear's skin as

scrip for his journey.

This

being put in force, he wanted nothing but a strong

pair of shoes to defend his feet from the stones while

he
"

travelled.

Madam,

Again, therefore, he said to the queen

am

your poor pilgrim

please your majesty but to take

it

deration, you will perceive that

sir

pair of excellent long lasting ones,

vouchsafe to bestow upon me,

majesty's soul during
mission.

my

travels

Also mine aunt,

and
into

if it

would

your consi-

Isegrim wears a

which would you

w.>uld pray for your

upon

my

charitable

dame Ersewind,

hath

other two shoes, which would your majesty bestow

upon me, you would be doing her

little

injury, as she

KEYNARD THE

70

The queen replied, " Yes,

seldom ventuies abroad."

Reynard,

journey

it is

believe
full

you

VOX.

will

want such shoes

for

your

of labour and difficulty, both re-

specting the stony

hills

and the gravelly highways.

Therefore, be sure, you shall have, though

their life never so nearly,

it

touch

a pair of shoes from each

of them, the better to speed and accomplish your

So Isegrim was taken, and

journey."

pulled off in the most cruel manner.

thus tormented,

dame Erse wind,

his

was

his wife,

ed in the same manner as her husband

shoes

After being
treat-

and had the

cat been there, he would doubtless have experienced

the same fate, in addition to the cruel mockery of

The next morning

the fox.

his shoes to be well oiled,

well,

early

Reynard caused

so as to

make them

fit

and then he went before the king and queen,

"

My

and

said,

ject

bows himself down before you, humbly beseech-

dread lord and lady, your poor sub-

my

scrip

according to the custom of pilgrims."*

The

ing your majesties to permit

and

staff

king then sent

him

to say

"

to take

BelHn the ram, and commanded

solemn mass before the fox, and to de-

hver him his

saying,

for

me

My

pope's curse."

staff
lord,

and mail;
I

but Bellin refused,

dare not, for he

But the king

said,

"

is

* In the cruel treatment of the wolf and bear

malice of a wicked and triumphant enomy,

vantage to utter ruin and destruction.

under the

What
is

of that

shewn the

who pursues

Old E^. Comm.

his ad-

BEYNAIID THE FOX.

have not our doctors told us that
all

the sins in the world, yet

do penance, and walk

him, that

all

is

Reynard done

am

loth to

majesty
delor
will

if

if

as the priests shall instruct

?"

him

and hath not

Bellin answered,

meddle with such points

will protect

man commit

he repent, be shriven,

clearly forgiven

all this

71

me

" Sire,

yet

against the bishop of Preun

and against the archdeacon of Loofwind,

execute your commandment."

grew wrath, and

And when

to you."

"

said,

your

if

Sir,

Bellin

At

king

this the

scorn to be beholden

saw

his majesty so of-

fended, he shook with fear, and ran quickly to the

altar,

and sung mass, using many ceremonies over

the fox,

who had

respect for

little

When

wish to enjoy the honour.

finished,

made
staff.

them beyond
Bellin the

his

ram had

he hung his mail round Reynard's neck,

of the bear's skin, and presented

Thus equipped,

wards the king, as

sir

he had been loth to go

if

feigned to weep, though

whole court were not

to-

he

sorrow was that the

his

all

in as

He

wolf and the bear.

him with the

Reynard looked sadly

bad a predicament as the

took leave, with requesting

that each and every one would pray for his soul, as

he would
his

for theirs

own knavery

king said,

for in fact

that he

" In truth,

sir

There

is

no remedy,

my

to

Reynard,

must part thus suddenly."

*

he was so sensible

was eager

be gone.
I

But the

lord

am
fox

o'

The

sorry

we

replied,

we ought not

to

be

REYNARD THE

72

slow in

fulfilling

manded

all

Reynard some part of

his journey.

cut a very gallant figure, he was inwardly

smiling at his

own

villainy,

and the king,

his attendants,*

most grossly deceived with wicked

companied him

like his

After proceeding

he affected the

while

For his enemies were now be-

utmost demureness.

come

Then the king com-

holy vows."

the lords present, except the bear and the

wolf, to attend

Though he

FOX.

whom

he had

now

also ac-

lies,

famihar friend.

some way, the fox

seech your niajesty,

trouble

"

said,

yourself no

be-

farther;

consult your ease and the safety of your royal per-

son

for

you have arrested two

capital traitors,

who

should they recover their liberty, the danger would

be great."

This said, he stood upon his hinder feet

beasts

and entreated the

lordly

company once more

to pray for

who were

him

after

in his

which he

took leave of the king with an exceeding sad and

heavy countenance.

Then turning towards Kayward

the hare, and Bellin the ram, with a smiling countenance, he said, "

My

best friends,

soon? Surely you

will

not leave

By

the fox's hypocrisy

is

religion while perpetrating the

His grand escort shews the

of people laying thek services

whom

flattery

at the feet of a

they had before opposed an

Emr. Comm.

part thus

With you

yet.

seen the dissimulation of worldly

men, who assume the cloke of

worst deeds.

we must

me

despised.

and baseneSg

new

.t.

favourite

from Old

UEYNAU TUE

73

FOX.

never offended: your conversation

Wiis

able to

me

agree-

is

for you are mild, loving, and courteous,

and

religious withal,

myself was when

counsel, just

of wise

full

led the

life

of a recluse.

as

If

you

have a few green leaves and herbs, you are as well

contented as with

the bread and fish in the world,

all

you are temperate and modest."

for

profusion

of the

these two to

same

accompany him.

CHAP.

XIII.

KAYWARD THE HARE WAS

l;OW

Thus with a

flattering v.ords he enticed

SI.AIN

BY T H

TOX,

I-,

WHO

SENT HIM BV THE RAM AS A PRESENT TO THE KING.

The

three

they

came

him

while

witness

ellin said he
into

gates of Reynard's

to the

without,
to

together

said to the ram, " Pray, cousin,

Then he
here

journeyed on

friends

my

and Kayward go

pleasure at meeting

would

untrl

own house.
keep watch
in

my

wish

family."

and the fox and the hare went

Malcpardus, where they

found lady Ermelin

sorrowing exceedingly for the absence of her hus-

band.

But when she saw him, her joy knew no

bounds

and she expressed her astonishment on be-

holding his mail, his

staff,

and

his shoes.

" Dearest

husband," she cried, "

how have you

nard then related his

adventures at court, adding

VOL.

I.

fared ?"

Rey-

REYNARD THE

74

FOX.

that he was going a pilgrimage, having

and Isegrim

in

pledge for him

till

Bruiu

left

As

his return.

for Kayward, he added, turning towards him, the

king had bestowed him upon him to do with as he

pleased, as

Kayward had been the

complain

to

first

Hear-

of him, for which he vowed deadly revenge.

ing these words.
tried to fly

and

quite appalled,

but the fox had placed himself between

him and the

Kayward

Kayward was

him by the neck.

door, and soon seized

had

cried to Bellin for help, but the fox

cut his throat with his sharp teeth before he could be

heard.

This done, the

to

upon him

feast

mock me

the pleasant story,

fear,

tell

When

to

Rey-

me how

he told her

how he had imposed upon the

king and queen with a

not exist.

began

his blood

you love me,

as

you sped at the king's court."

hat did

his family

and drank

Ermelin then said, "

the king's health.

nard, you

and

traitor

merrily,

promise of treasures

false

" But when the king finds out

the truth, he will take every

means of destroying us

therefore, dear wife," said he,

" there

no remedy

is

;
i

we must steal from hence into some other forest,

where we may live in safety, and find more delicate
fare,

clear

wholesome
I

have got

springs, fresh
air.

rivers,

Here there

my thumb

is

cool

and now

out of the king's mouth,

no more come within reach of his

talons."

said his wife, "

desire,

we have

all

we

and

shades,

no abiding

will

" Yet here,''

and you are

KEYNARD THE
over

lord

you survey; and

all

75

FOX.

dangerous to

is

it

Should

for better hopes.

exchange a certain good,

we have a

the king here besiege us ever so closely,

thousand passages and side holes, so that he can

Why

neither catch, nor deprive us of our liberty.

then,

beyond seas

fly

not at that

spite of his majesty,

my

array

will

it,

be forsworn, and remain in

will

where

policy.

am.

Against his power

will

guard myself well,

insomuch, that being compelled to open

him not blame me,

let

own

stock,

Bellin stood waiting at the gate, ex-

ceedingly wroth and impatient

and the hare, he

at the fox

Reynard
softly

"

to come.

Good

So

you
is

but

will

foot,

and swearing both

called loudly for sir

last

at

he went and said

will

What

" But

Happening

to

for

" True

heard Kayward

cry for help, forsooth? do you

I will tell

inform

is

say, that

overtake you

imagine he can meet with any injury

" No."

Kayward

and speedier than you."

thought," said Bellin, " that

cry for help." "

and he bids me

walk forward, he

hght of

be not offended

Bellin,

conversing with his aunt

if

my

he hurt himself with his

if

fury."

Meanwhile

he

and that

the more forsworn, the less forlorn, you

therefore

but you have sworn

" Nay, madam," cried Reynard, " grieve

vexes me."

know

in

my

house

!"

you liow you were deceived.

my

wife of

my

intended

pil-

grimage, she swooned away, and Kayward, in great

REYNARD THE

76

FOX.

come help my aunt

alarm, cried out

dies! she dies!'"

"Then I mistook the

"

You

'

Bellin,

Reynard

did," said

" and now

You may

business, good Bellin.

king and council intreated

me

she

cry," said Bellin

let

us talk of

recollect that the

to write before

set

out for the pilgrimage, upon some matters important

" In what shall

to the state,"

most

vided for you," replied Reynard

my

scrip

carry these papers

" That

safely," enquired Bellin.

already pro-

is

" for you shall have

which you may hang round your neck

and take care of

it,

they are matters of great im-

Then Reynard returned

portance."

into the house,

and taking Kay^'ard's head, he thrust

scrip,

and enjoined the ram not

it

to look into

into the
it,

as

he

valued the king's favour, until he reached the court

adding, that he might rest assured that his presenta-

would pave the way

tion of the letters to the king,

to his great preferment.

Bellin thanked the

he had

on

otlier

affairs to

his journey alone.

found the king

bility.

ft)x,

and being informed that

impart to Kavward, set out

When

in his palace,

he arrived at court, he
seated amidst his no-

The king wondered when he saw

in with the scrip

"How now

made

Bellin!

where

is

sir

have got his scrip with you ?" "

Bellin, "

wheji

after

Bellin

repose,

Reynard, that you

My

dread lord," said

have escorted the noble fox to his

short

come

of Bruin's skin, and he said

he desired

mc

castle,

to

bear

UKYNARD THE

77

FOX.

certain letters to your majesty, of vast importance,

which he enclosed

manded

in his

own

his secretary,

who understood

Bocart, an excellent linguist,

read them publicly.

languages, that he might

he and

The king com-

scrip."

the letters to be delivered to

all

So

Tibert the cat took, the scrip from Bellin's

sir

neck, and opening the same, instead of

letters,

drew

out the bloody head of Kayward, at which sight

out in huge dismay

they

cried

what

letters

hold

here

is

Kayward."

happy king that

the

!"

grief,

fox

this,

the

am, ever

monarch

his royal locks,

thus troubled

Firapel

sir

"

At

Why

shaking

last

are

such mischief

is

beyond endurance.

false villain,

who

replied

has

the stout

sir

not

all

subject

" Yes, cousin, but

made me

and subjects, even those of

:

king's

such sorrow might become the queen's

The king

blood

the

your majesty

is

do beseech you assuage your anguish.

?"

my

anger,

head a good

his

your power

friends

with

leopard,

the
:

Are not you king and master

by a

" Un-

he made such a tremendous noise,

nearest kinsman, and said

to

the lords of the forest trembled with fear.

Then spake

funeral

cried

And overwhelmed

and shame, he held down

all

be-

have given credit to

to

space, as well as the queen likewise.

that

alas

lord,

nothing but the head of poor murdered

Seeing

traitor

Woe, and

Oh, dread

you these.

call

"

Bruin, and

am

my
sir

betrayed

my

best

council

and

oppress

L<cgrim the

REYNARD THE

78

Yet had

wolf.

FOX.

not heaped upon myself this foul dis-

honour, but for the queen's tenderness, which wrought

upon me, and

" What of all
seated above
the greatest

for

which

shall

evermore

this ?" replied the leopard

all

injuries,

and one smile can salve

wound upon your honour.

power to recompense and

grieve.''

" you are

to punish,

You have

and you can

destroy or restore reputation as you please.

if

wind

their

you may

shoes,

in

What

dame Erse-

the bear lost his skin, the wolf and

recompense,

since

has confessed himself a party to this foul

Bellin

murder, bestow him and his substance

party aggrieved.

As

for

upon the

Reynard, we can go and

besiege his castle, and having arrested his person

hang him up by law of anns without

and there

is

further trial,

an end."

CHAP. XIV.
HOW

BELIIN THE RAM, AND HI3 T.INEACE

WERE CIVEN UP

TO

THE BEAR AND TUE WOLF.

The

king consented to this motion, and despatched

Firapel to the prison, where the bear and the wolf

were

in

durance.

"

My lords,"

he said, "

bring a free

and general pardon from his majesty, as well as his

good wishes, and recognition of your

some recompence he

is

injuries.

pleased to bestow

As

upon you

REYNARD THE

79

FOX.

out of his princely bounty, both Bellin the ram, and

whole generation with

his

you

are to hold

and devour

power

is

These

they possess.
to

slay, kill,

you meet them,

tliem wherever

doomsday.

in

woods,

The same

granted you over Reynard and the whole

of his lineage.

warded

all

commission

full

mountains, until

or

fields,

with

Letters patent will shortly be for-

and Bellin now awaits your pleasure."

to you,

Peace being thus restored between the king and his

nobles, Bellin

was forthwith

ing up his enmity to

and

aftei-wards,

slain,

him and

(the wolf follow-

his race in perpetuity

;)

the king proclaimed a grand feast,

which was held with

all

due solemnity during twelve

days.

When

these princely festivities, attended by the

lords botli of earth

and

day, about high noon

air,

had reached the eighth

came Laprel the coney,

before

the king and queen as they sat at feast, and with a

lamentable voice he said

my

misery, and attend

" Great king, have pity on

my

complaint of the force

and murder which Reynard the fox had nearly committed,

He

as

passed by the castle of Malepardus

stood outside his gates, attired like a pilgrim, and

thinking

might pass quietly, he crossed

my way^

saluted him.

He, returning no answer, stretched out

his right foot,

saying his beads so devoutly, that

and gave me such a blow upon

as

if

my

my

neck, that

head had been smitten from

my

felt

body, but

REYNAKD THE

80

yet

One

of

my

was

ears

in his

left

no longer permit

will

afflict

senses sufficiently, to start out of

though very grievously hurt and wounded.

his claws,

you

my

retained

FOX.

this

grasp

and

trust

bloody murderer to

your poor subjects."

While the coney was yet speaking,

in

came

flying

Corbant the rook, wlio, coming before the king,

said

me.

" Great king,

I

went

this

beseech you vouchsafe to hear

morning

Sharpbeak

Avith

my

wife,

on the heath, and there we found Reynard

to recreate

the fox laid on the ground like a dead carcase, his

eyes staring, his tongue lolling out of his

Wondering

a dead hound.

we began
head

to his

wife (poor careful soul) and laid her

mouth

to see whether

villain

head

mouth, and

into his

shrieked out

derer

'

woe

wife in so terrible a

death to me, as

it

was

whence
stile,

repeat

it,"

clean

when

!'

rush at

deadly intent, so that

into the air,

bit

me

is

made a sudden

mounting

he drew any breath

seeing the time, snatched her

but the foul

like

and he seemed quite dead.

to touch him,

Then went my

mouth

strange plight

at his

off'.

At that

the foul mur-

me

with

glad

to

the most

escape by

saw him devour

my

that the veiy thought

is

UEYNAR THE

FOX.

CHAP. XV.
now THE KING TOOK COUNSEL FOIl HEVKNGE, AND HOW
nCYNAUD WAS FOREWARNliU BY GRIMBAUL THE BIIOCK.

When

he heard these complaints of the coney

and the rook,

beams of

tlie

king's eyes darted

his majesty, so

that his countenance

By my

crown, and the truth

my

queen

wife,

mitted against

I will

my

was

At length he spoke

dreadful, and cruel to behold.

"

amidst the

fire

evermore owe to the

revenge these outrages com-

dignity,

until

virtue shall again

adore me, and the wicked shall die with the remem-

brance

his falsehood

and

flattery shall

no more de-

ceive me.

"

Is this his

Are these the

journey to Rome, and to the Holy land ?

fruits of his scrip,

and

staff,

Well, he

ornaments becoming a devout pilgrim?

shall find the
all

owing

first

reward of his treasons

though

queen's persuasion

nor

to the

that has been deceived

many

and other

by that

am

was

the

soft gender, since

great spirits have fallen through their entice-

ments."

This said, he

and worthies of
counsel,

how

his

commanded

court, to

best to

assist

avenge the

all

the nobles

him with

insults

feel

their

oii'cred

the royal dignity, that every offender might

and

it

to

know

the heavy price of his unj.ust actions.

Isegrim and Bruin, hearing the king's words, were

e5

REYNARD THE

82

greatly delighted,

and hoped

revenge upon Reynard

yet

FOX.

to

The king observing them mute,

their full

satiate

they kept silence.

still

as

if all

were afraid

of giving their opinions, he began to hang his head.

But the queen,

is

solemn reverence, said

after

"

Sir, it

not the part of any excellent wisdom to believe or

protest

rent
to

any thing,

until the matter

be made appa-

neither should the wise turn both their ears

any complaint, but receive one

to entertain the

For many times the

defence of any one accused.

accuser exceeds the accused in injury

audi alteram partem

fore

justice.
for

my

However

for

it

have erred,

is

and there-

only an act of

had good ground

persuasion, for whether good or bad, you

have no right to proceed against Reynard, except

When

according to the laws."

spoken, Firapel the leopard said

spoken

and

If

let

Reynard take the

him be summoned.

he appear not before the end of the

festival, to

submit to your mercy, then your majesty

ceed against him, as

it

shall

Isegrim the wolf replied

part,

my lord

your counsel.
sir

Yet

may

pro-

appear best,"

" Sir Firapel, for

think none of this assembly, so that

approved by

had thus

" The queen hath

first let

and therefore

well,

benefit of the laws,

the queen
:

it

my own
only be

the king, can presume to oppose

this I

Reynard may feign

dare maintain, that however

to clear himself from these

a thousand other charges, yet

and

have that lodged

in

REYNARD THE
my bosom

which

But

his Hfe.

approve that he hath forfeited

shall

absence

in his

83

FOX.

from speech

will refrain

except

in

regard to the treasure which he has in-

formed

his

majesty

at Crekenpit in

lies

than which there never came

mouth of any
lie

to injure

Husterloe

falser

words from the

creature, as the whole

was a malicious

me

and the bear

ravage and destroy

all

and obtain license

to

that approach near his castle.

Nevertheless, let evei"y thing be done in God's name,

most pleasing
only

will

and

to his majesty,

say that

if

to you, sir Firapel

he had meant

to

have appeared

he would have been here long before, upon the sum-

mons of the

last king's

messenger."

The king made answer " I will have no other

summons but that of my people's allegiance. Let all
:

who

respect mine

honor equip themselves

for the

me

war, and at the end of six days appear before

with their bows, guns, bombs, pikes and halberds,

some on horseback, some on

Malepardus instantly

his generation for ever.

turn his back that

And

they

all

foot,

for I will besiege

and destroy Reynard and

This

if

any

dislike, let

all

him

may know him

for

my

"

we

are ready to

cried with one voice,

enemy."

attend your majesty."

Grimbard the Brock, hearing

grew exceedingly

sorry,

sembly, he ran with

all

and

this determination,

stealing out of the as-

possible speed to Malepardus,

neither sparing bush nor brier, pale or rail

and as

REYNARD THE

84

he went, he said to himself

Reynard, into what dangers

step between thee

and

FOX.

" Alas,

art

dear uncle
only one

Well may

perdition.

thee, since thou art the top

for

my

thou fallen

I grieve

and honor of our

house, art wise and politic, and a friend to thy friends

when they stand

in

need of counsel;

language can enchant

more

thy sweet

for

though

creatures,

all

it

will

no

avail thee."

With such lamentations, Grimbard reached Malepardus, and found his uncle Reynard standing at
the castle gate, eating two young pigeons which he

had caught

as they were

ing his nephew, he

first

said

trying to

Grimbard, the most esteemed of

surely

What

at court?" "

How ?"

you

you have

The king

estate.

innumerable

tidings,

forfeited
is

up

in

against you

murderer

your

your honor, and

life,

arms, with horse and foot

and Isegrim and Bruin are

I

am
;

in greater

with you.
their

envy rages

and Corbant

made heinous complaints

against you

no escape from death." " Tush !" said the

there

is

"my

dear nephew,

come,

It is

you are posted up as a thief and a

besides Laprel the coney

the rook have

the squai'es

Grimbard, " exceeding bad

high time you look to your safety

all

man? how run

replied

favour with his majesty than

you

my beloved
my kindred?

you must have run very hard, foryou sweat ex-

ceedingly.

for

Behold-

fly.

" Welcome,

let

if

this

be the worst,

let

it

fox,

not alarm

us be cheery and pleasant together

HEYN ARD TU
What
you

if

the kin<^ and

and

what boots

along with

me

meat of pure and

wit

which

There can be
they

almost be swallowed whole, their bones are

little

receive

come along

before his majesty,

yet.

for

if

and

my

have feasted,

my

some of

have only to beg that you

will

your service." "

my life

will

enemies

stand by

one kinsman ought by another," " Doubt

Grimbard, " both

wife will

can only get to speak

will gall

tender

say,

When we

you kindly.

go with you to court,

it

and property

as

not," re-

shall

thank you, nephew, and you

me

be at

shall

not

me ungrateful." " Sir," said the Brock," trust boldly

to this,

when you appear

to

answer before the

not a hand shall dare to arrest you

for true

you enjoy the favor of the c^ueen." " Then

to supper

found

and they entered the

!"

Dame

what think you of

nardine and Rssel

family.

hope they

They promise

well

that

care not a

coriie let us

castle

where they

"

Ermelin and the family.

said the fox, "

lords,

it is,

"

hair for their worst malice," said the fox

go

my

for

other than blood

find

they are

till

fat pigeons,

light digestion.

when young and

nothing better,

plied

Let

Fear nothing, nephew, but come

have a pair of

death

all.

court nor the kingdom can

policy, neither the

may

them

Without the aid of

it ?

long hold together.

are

my

the court swear

exalted above

prate and jangle together in counsel

them
tired

all

me

shall live to see

85

FOX.

F.

my

will

Nephew

children,

do

!"

Rey-

credit to our

assure you; for one

KEYNARD THE

86
lately

caught a chicken, and the other actually

a pullet

my

killed

they are both good duckers, and can de-

ceive the lapwing

them

FOX.

and the mallard.

at a distance from

instructions

how

me, and

can now trust

I shall

soon finish

and

to escape gins,

to foil all

their

enemies so as to leave both hounds and hunts-

men

at fault.

In fact, they are of the right stamp,

nephew, and resemble

quality

me

both in countenance aud

they play grinning, intangle soothing, and

kill

smiling.

and

in this

This

is

the true nature of our blood,

they are perfect, which

is

a great pride and

consolation to me."

CHAP. XVI.
HOW THE FOX REPENTING HIS SINS, MAKES HIS CONFESSION,
AUD IS ABSOLVED BY THE GOAT.
" Uncle," said the goat, " you

have such toward children, and I

are of my blood." After supper
willing to have time to reflect
said,

"

may be proud you

rejoice

because they

was concluded, the fox

upon

his

new schemes,

know your journey must have made you

weary, nephew ; you had better retire to rest."

they

all slept

At

the

And

soundly except the wily cogitating fox.

first

dawn of day he

arose,

with Grimbard towards the court

and proceeded

after

having taken

an affectionate leave of his wife and family.

As they

REYNAUD THE

87

FOX.

journeyed over the heath, Reynard said, " Nephew,

the accidents of this world are various and unavoidare always subject, spite of the best con-

we

able,

certed scheme, to the strokes of fortune.

was last

shriven,

many

have committed

Since

sins; there-

me make my confession before

pass with less trouble through
may
you, in order that I
my worst dangers. Then I confess, it is too tme
that I gave the bear a grievous wound in causing him

fore

beseech you,

let

to lose part of his hide.

wife of their shoes.

lies;
life

stripped the wolf

and his

appeased the king only with

for I feigned a conspiracy against his majesty's

by

existed
terloe,

sir
;

Isegrim and

sir

was

dame Sharpbeak,
" Finally,

to death

now.

slew Kayward,

wounded and

killed

the rook's wife.

forgot to mention at

great piece of deceit which

it

reported at Hus-

as fabulous as the rest.

and betrayed Bellin

reveal

when no such idea

Bruin,

while the great treasure

Once, as

my

last shrift,

committed

but

went talking with

will

sir Ise-

we

grim the wolf, between Houthlust and Elverding,

beheld a goodly grey mare, grazing with a black foal

by her

side,

which was quite

and

fat

Sir

playful.

me

Isegrim being almost dead for hunger, intreated

to inquire

whether the mare would

which the mare

money.

When

replied, that she

I

her foal

to

would willingly

for

sell

asked her the price, she said

written on her hinder foot, and

if

L pleased,

it

was

might

RKYNARD THE

88

come and read

'Of a

said;
to

buy your

let the

him

But

it.

saw

FOX.

cannot read, neither do

foal

am

So

satisfaction.'

the

mare

went

'

the mare's foot.

o.n

'

and

to the wolf

'

Then

will give

and

told

him he might have

said, assuring

a bargain, provided he could read

written

'

desire

only ^ messenger.'

purchaser come,' said the mare,

him what

and

into her design,

truth

was

for the price

Cousin,' quoth the wolf,

can read both Latin and Greek, English, French, and

Dutch.

have studied at Oxford, and argued with

many

doctors.

cited,

and

have heard many stately plays

sat in the place of

judgment.

re-

have taken

degrees in both the laws, and can decypher any kind

of writing.'

Thus

saying, the boasting blockhead pro-

ceeded to the spot, and intreated the mare to

read the price.
litely,

She held up her hind

newly shod with strong

iron,

let

him

foot very po-

and

as the wolf

was inspecting, smote him so exactly upon the

fore-

head, that she threw him head over heels, and he lay
in

a dead swound, as long as a

a mile and

with her colt, and

wounded.

When

a dog: then went

man might have ridden

This done, away trotted the mare

better.

left

the poor wolf

all

to him,

and

said

'

dear uncle,

how do you ? have you eaten

the colt

Pray give

bloody and

he came to himself, he howled

me

too

for I

like

Isegrim,

much

of

went on

Surely you have outslept

your message honestly.

your dinner, good uncle

a small share,

sir

was

it

prose or rhime you

&

UF.YNAHD THE FOX.

found written on the mare's foot?

have been a song,
your schohirship
"'Alas,'

for

heard you sing

think

nay, you shew

cried the wolf,

'

am

extremely

the nails for letters; verily,

me

my

think

ill

mistook

skull

is

cloven;

such a cursed kick just as

reading.' 'Aye, aye, uncle,' cried

I,

hurt.

damned mare

has an iron hoof upon her long leg, and

was

the most learned

'

clerks are not the wisest

men, you know.

sometimes outstrip them

in

is,

it

in all the arts.'

Forbear to disdain me, Reynard, for the

she has hit

must

Poor men

judgment, and the reason

you great scholars study so much, that you grow

much

dull with over

"

And now,

science,

fair

nephew,

have unloaded

and delivered myself of

remembrance.

as I can call to
fore,

labour.'

let

me

as

then come what may,

am

of

my conmy sins

beseech you there-

and penance, and

absolution

receive

many

thrice

armed against

dangers and mischances at court."

Grimbard

all

re-

plied

" Your trespasses, Reynard, are great and hei-

nous

yet what

main dead, so

is

done

I freely

is

done

the dead

absolve you, upon

must

re-

assurance

of repentance; only the contempt you shewed the

king, in sending
lie

him Kayward's head,

heavy on your soul."

that will live in the world,

"

Why I"

No man

fear,

he

seeing one thing, hearing

another, and learning a third,

affliction.

will I

said the fox, "

is

sure to

can touch honey, but

meet with
will

have

REYNARD THE

'90

to lick his fingers after.

FOX.

often feel touches of re-

pentance, but reason and our will are ever at variance; so that

cry out against

my

often stop as

Yet soon the world and

and when

my

in

find so

The world

trap.

its

many

am

enough

what with

and

find their

From them

lords at courts
ladies, priests

my

For

and

the truth
I

it

learn

clerks,
It

is

fills

natural

have

lose

my

am

only

hear priests singing,

all

words and actions

I

my

for

among

kinds of
totally at

and from

lying,

of a truth,
all

lords,

creatures,

an offence to

use

great

tell

and he that cannot dissemble, cannot

have often heard

always adorn
lies will

at others I

and making

flattery

most dissimulation.

men

you, nephew,

I assure

and

and wickedness.

variance.

my

devil,

ground one day,

piping, laughing, playing,

live.

again

were in a

it

and the

flesh

If I gain

to do.

as

fast,

so that

with, the

sometimes a saint

for hell

mirth

me

enchants me, and then

good resolution the next; thus

am

detest them.

catch

vanities

and

wit's end,
1

rubs and stumbling blocks

taken

first

with covetousness

disposition,

my

at

way, together with the example of rich and

crafty prelates,

me

if

feeling that

sins,

men speak

truth

yet they

with falsehoods of their own.

push themselves

discourse, whether

we

quite natural to us.

which keeps always

in

a way, as

will or

no

it

For

were into our

indeed they

come

Falsehood hath a pretty dress,

in the fashion,

a fashion to

flatter,

REYNARD THE
to sooth, to threaten, to pray

POX.

91

and to curse

do any thing that may keep the weak

and those who do

He

other\vise,

that has learnt to

subjection

thought

are

scarlet, grey, or purple, as

he

he pleases

may wear

he

shall gain

both by the laws spiritual and temporal, and

off victorious

who imagine
fails

them

in

every scheme.

they can do
so that

it

are

method mar
give his he a
it

and

blunt
all
fit

neatly, but their

But there

makes

is

is

no

and

foolish,

their discourses

the

it

speaking the truth

art in
:

to

lie

well

right, to

sure to

rubs in his way.

is

it

never

make mountains out

to make them
;

nephew,

this,

Yet evermore

come misery and

truth, shall

affliction

find

There are so many, that

nephew, that every trespass hath

there

and

and with a grace,

an art valuable beyond expression.

though he who speaks always

fair

of our admiration.

juggle and look through their fingers

is

who can

like truth,

man worthy

up wrong above

at the close,

se-

want of

for

but he

of mice, and build castles in the air

is

cunning

and apt conclusion, can pronounce

the devil laugh

to raise

come

many

the next trenchers.

slip to

without rattling, and make

amiable, that

There are

when they think they have

cured the fat morsels, they

Others

simple.

and impose upon us with-

lie

may do wonders

out stammering,

in fact, to

in

its

it is

most
well,

mercy, just as

no wisdom but what at times grows

dull."

" Uncle," said the goat, " of a truth, you are so wise,

REYNAKD THE

92

that you cannot

fail in

FOX.

any purpose

am delighted
my under-

with your precepts, though they surpass

There

standing.

shriven

the confessor
that

it is

is

for yourself
;

such

is

no longer need that you be

may

play both the priest and

your experience of the world,

impossible for any

man

to stand

up against

you."

With

these and similar conversations, they held

on their journey towards the court.

heart, in spite of

all

his fair

Yet the

fox's

shew, was sad

and

heavy, while the smiles of hope and confidence were

in his face.

He

passed without any apparent agita-

tion through the press of the court, even

into the king's presence, while his

him

at

his

side

uncle, for fortune

" Bear

is

till

he came

nephew whispered

yourself

bravely,

dear

ever enamoured of the brave."

" You say true," cried the

fox, as

he went on, casting

whom he did not like, as

much as to say " Here I am what dare the
proudest of you object against me ?" He beheld many
of his kindred whom he loved not, and many too,
disdainful looks on those

who

loved him.

As soon

view of the king, he

spoke as follows.

fell

as he

was come

down on

his

in full

knees, and

REYNAttD THE FOX.

CHAP

XVII.

now REYNAIIU THE i OX M A D t

KINO,

"

May

93

DEFLNCE BETRE

IIIS

that divine power from which

my

be hidden, save the lord

and

king,

nothinj^ can

my

who has wTong

has right, and

shews

and

written on

that
his

uttermost of

knew me

Yet
every

substance

as well as

it

late, to

my

enemies,

yet

know

devote

To

who envy me
have indeed,

who have

my

that

the

majesty

your majesty's service.

cause to cry shame upon those

me

me

cost

or that your

stood

trespass
it

your majesty's grace and favour.

belied

many

were openly re-

do myself, and how

owe the malice of

wish

creature's

forehead, although

my

myself early and

this

for there are

the world, and the countenance be-

in

trays not the heart.

vealed,

sovereign

know who

lady the queen, and give them grace to

false

TIIL

AND THE KINg's AN&Wtlt.

so deadly

sovereign lord and

lady will not be imposed upon by their malicious false-

Your majesties

hoods.

will

consider

cording to the right of your laws

look

for,

shall

one,

it

is

be seen before

things ac-

all

only justice

and desire that the guilty may

weight of his punishment.

it

feel the full

Believe me, dear lord,

leave your court,

who though he cannot

flatter,

who

will

shew

am

his

face with unshrinking eye, ai.d an unblemished fore-

head."

KEYNARD THE

94

FOX.

All that stood in the royal presence were amazed,

and looked

each other, when the fox spoke so

at

But the king with a

boldly.

replied

" Sir Reynard,

fallacies;

but words

lieve this

day

will

no longer

be the

disgrace; therefore

cause

will

intend you shall

There

an ancient saying

the water, but will

now pay
At

these words,

He

betide.

away

far

accusers,

it,

therefore said

but justice that

for

were

from the accused.

with

have never

shall

my

stricken with fear,

My

"

you hear me,

my
I

faults

sovereign lord

answer to

in

for

calls

and may do so
in

others shrunk from your side.

complain.

hearing

have done the state some

counsels,

my

more heinous than

deserted your majesty

It

must

whatever fortune might

mies then utter slanders, have

luring

;'

the end

in

yet he found he

any can make them, equity

when

eiurth.

long to

long successful,

so

Reynard was

put the best face upon

vice

on

life

may go

pot

the penalty with death."

and wished himself

it is

'

The

coney and

to the

come home broken

and your crimes though

be-

short a time.

shewn

your reward shall be a short

is

avail you.

not chide you much, be-

live so

love you bear me, has been

the rook

are expert in

your glory and your

last of

will

stately countenance,

know you

not

ser-

still.

eriiergencies,

If

my

ene-

a right

to

was once otherwise, and time may

round the old course,

for

the actions of

good

9'

IIEYNAR THE FOX.

servants ought not to be forgotten.

of

my

kindred and friends,

see here

many

who now make no ac-

count of me, but can ventjure to deprive you of the

Had

best servant you possess.

I

luntarily, in the very

my

have dared to have made

been

guilty, should

appearance thus vo-

throng and press of

my

enemies.

That would have been madness, indeed, more espe-

when

cially

thanked

was

at

them, innocent as

am.

the censure of the

appeared
tidings,

where

Had

church,

my

but when

not laboured under

would have

uncle

sooner

me

brought

the

was wandering sorrowfully on the heath,

met

but heaven be

lilKTty;

full

know my enemies, and dare encounter

my

uncle Martin, the ape,

ceeded any other

who

priest, in his pastoral duties,

far ex-

having

been chaplain to the bishop of Cambrick, these nine

me

Seeing

years.

he said

'

Why

such great agony of heart,

in

heavy in

so

spirit,

dear cousin

and

why is your countenance so sad? Think grief is easy to

can-y when the burden is divided among many friends.'
"

answered

indeed
is

my

fortune

You say

'

true, dear uncle,

not that

am

guilty, yet

sucli is

sorrow

me without cause. Those whom I

among my best friends, accuse me as you

heaped upon

ranked
will

when

hear.
I

Lately

at

was keeping

our hearts,

'

Et vos

the

fast;

feast

a time

of Whitsuntide,

we must prepare

estote parati,'

you know;

in

UEYNARU

96

came Laprel

My

away what he

youngest son Rssel came

left, for

him on

the

fool fell

down

dine

my

come

his rescue.

to

Thus am

him.

brought into danger

rook, flying to

my

demanding what
dead.

my

then gave

but Laprel hastened to

to

and

who have most occasion to

after came 'Corbant the

accused

unjustly

Not long

accuse others.

is

him,

slain

and accused me of having sought

king,

destroy

little

him by

the coney, caught

son correction for his fault

the

The

a swoon, on seeing which, Reynar-

and would questionless have

not

in

the coney smote

teeth bled.

his

till

eldest son ran at

the ears,

had

mouth

the nature ot children

when

ever eating and craving,

is

FX.

the coney, and refreshed himself along

with the children.

to take

TilJi

house with a sad noise, and on

he said

ailed him,

There was a dead hare

'Alas

my

wife

of moths and

full

vermin, lying on the heath, of which she has eaten

so

much

worms have gnawed her

that the

And

asunder.'

having said

reported forsooth, that

she

flies in

uncle, you

haps, for

more
*

the
see

my

air,

old

hoods.'

shall

go

slain his wife

walk on

am

away he

foot.

and therefore

sins,

to

court,

'Alas uncle,'

and

though

it

bear

is
it

the ape

and disprove

replied, 'the

throat

flew,

Thus, dear

slandered, but

Then my nephew

patience.'

You

and

how

had

this,

.their

per-

with
said

false-

archdeacon has

RKY.VAHD THK lX.

hid under

pope's curse, because

tlip

wolf to forsake his

much

Of

fasting.

my

since he has repaid

and

stirring his

endure that

to

advice

this,

Rome

my

and so

repent me,

with

the worst

all

In fact, dear uncle,

wit's end,

as

for

what

for absolution,

strict life

now

me

majesty against

my

tlie

love with nothing but malice,

slanders he can invent.

brought to

advised

when he complained

lioly orders,

was unable

that he

97

am
to

may happen

injuries

my

wife and children in

must hasten

absence, through

to

the

malice of such bloody- minded wretches as the wolf

Were
court,

but quit of the pope's curse,

my own

and pleading

could go to

cause might turn their

malice against themselves."

" 'Then pray, cousin,' replied the ape, cast off your
*

sorrow, for

know

the

am

way

to

experienced

Rome

bishop's clerk, and

well.

will

matters, and

in these

For

am

called the

hasten thither and enter a

plea against the archdeacon, trusting, in spite of him,

to bring

you a well sealed absolution from the pope.

Why, man,
Simon and
all

of

have

many

great friends

as

others, Pen-stout, Wait-catch,

whom

will

Nor

stand by me.

my

uncle

and the rest,

will I

go un-

furnished with money, for the law has no feet to walk

on without money.

and you

shall find

aside your grief,

will
\

now
OL.

A
me

true friend

one without

say,

known

in need,

difficulty, so cast

and proceed to court, as

do, on your behalf to

1.

is

Rome.

Meanwhile
V

I
I

98

UEYXARD THE

absolve you of

all

FOX.

your sins and offences; and on

reaching court you shall meet there

ray wife, her two sisters

and our three

children, be-

Salute them from me,

sides others of the family.

My

and explain what has passed.

know

Dame Rukenard

wife

is

prudent,

her to be faithful, and like me, she will never

Yet should your

leave her friends in danger.

require

not to dispatch

it fail

me

tidings

affairs

and there

not an enemy, from the king and queen to the

is

lowest of their subjects;

shall

Such an

not an enemy of yours, but

be placed under the pope's curse.

instantly

interdiction shall be issued against the

kingdom, that no holy or royal duty

formed

till

you be restored to right and

" 'This, he continued,

perform, for his holiness

shall

justice.

rest assured,

'

is

very old, and

teemed, while Cardinal Pare-gold bears

in the country,

being young and rich in

whom

Besides he has a mistress of

whole

be per-

all

can

easily

little

es-

the sway

many friends.

he

is

so greatly

enamoured, that he denies her nothing which she de-

mands.
I

This lady

request her

is

so you

my

niece,

may go

and

will

do whatever

boldly to the king, and

charge him to do you justice, cousin, which

he

will, as

the use of

" When
jesty,

know

he understands that the laws are made

all
I

for

men.'

heard him speak thus, please your ma-

smiled, and with great joy

relate tlie truth.

Therefore

if

came

hither to

your majesty or any

THK lOX.

RliY.NAKU

lord within this court,

can charge

pass whatsoever, and prove the

99

me

with any tres-

same by testimony, as

the law requires, or will otherwise oppose himself to

me

person to person

lists,

when

provided he be
is

in

grant

maintain

will

my

me
my

but a day and equal

innocence in combat,

equal in birth and degree.

a law that has never been put aside, and

me,

me, or by me,

for

The whole

it

shall not

of the assembly stood

This

trust that

now be broken."

dumb and amazed

much bold-

at hearing these words, not expecting so

As

ness.

for the

coney and the rook they stood so

scared that thoy durst not speak, but stole

vately out of court.

When

they had gone a

away

pri-

little

way

they said, " This devilish murderer has such art in his
falsehood, that no truth has any chance of contending

with
there

It is far better for

it.

is

us to save ourselves while

yet time."

Sir Isegiim the wolf,

and Bruin the bear, were

when they saw

these two desert the court:

very sad

while the king said, " If there be any

peach the fox,

let

him

Yesterday we were laden with complaints

heard.

where are they to-day ? behold here

to answer for himself."
fox,

"My

is

sovereign

the fox ready

lord,*'

said the

" absence makes impudent accusers bold when

the accused's presence daunts

sees.

who would im-

step forth, and he shall be

O, what

cowards

it is

them

as your majesty

to trust to the malice of these

and how" soon they may confound

good

IlEYXARI) THE FOX.

100

As

men.

me

for

behind me,
enemies;

and

me

matters not, only had they asked

it

forgiveness, I

had quickly cast

my

revenge

I will

bles the

outward shew

their offences

but

if

Then

said the king,

the inward heart resemfear your grief

"It

it."

my

Heaven,

safely confide to

justice to your majesties."

" Reynard, you speak well,

great as you express

all

never more complain of

for I will

far surpasses

is

not so

it,

sire,"

replied the fox sorrowfully. "

I

must charge you with

had pardoned

No !" quoth the king, " for

one false treason
When I
:

your sins and ofiences, and you

all

Holy Land

promised to go a pilgrimage to the

when
all

had furnished you with

and

scrip

stafi'

and

you shewed

things requisite to the holy order,

your utter contempt of them by sending back with

ram the head of Kayward, a thing

Bellin the

wholly reflecting upon

could be fouler.

my

Bellin

my

so

honour, that no treason

This you cannot

aflPect

to deny, for

made known

chaplain at his death

the

whole transaction, and the same penalty which he

then paid shall

On

now

fall

to

and scarcely knew what

to say.

woeful countenance upon

round him

hand

either
said,

your share."

hearing this sentence Reynard grew sore afraid

*'

his color

all

He

went and came

Oh, thou false dissembling

The

who

stood

but none lent

The king then

or foot to help him.

thou thus struck dumb?"

looked with a

his kindred

traitor,

fox

being

why
full

art

of

RF.YNAUD

ano^iish,

IUI'.

FOX.

heaved a deep sigh, as

breaking; so that

all

Dame Rukenard

and being a great

up the

the queen she took

heart was

if his

the beasts present except the

wolf and bear truly pitied him.

particular shed tears,

101

in

favorite of

fox's defence,

in so elo-

quent and pathetic a strain as to melt the hearts

ail

ot

The queen then

present, not excepting the king.

followed her favorite friend the ape's wife, until observing the relenting

who had

flattered

to clench

mood

of his sovereign, the fox,

himself with this result, proceeded

the nail and strike the iron while

it

was

hot.

CHAP.

XVIII.

now nEYNARO APOLOGISED FOU KAYWARD's DEATH, AND

ANSWERED ALL OTHER IMPUTATIONS, BESIDES 11ECOVIHIVO
TOE king's favor BY AN ACCOUNT OF CERTAIN JEWELS.
'I'll

EN Reynard again held up

" Alas,

my

sovereign lord, what

his head,
is

good Kay ward the hare then dead

Bellin the

ram

What did Bellin bring to your majesty at

my part I delivered him three rich
I

majesty for

all

was directed

for

said:

where then

These are strange tidings

for

jewels, which

and

that you said? Is

is

hecU".

his return

inestimable

would not have detained from your

the wealth of India.

my

One

of

lord the king, the other

them

two

fur

REYNARD THE

102

my

FOX.

"

sovereign lady the queen."

Yet. I received

no-

thing" said the king, " but the head of poor murdered

Kay^va^d, for which

done by

my

executed

ram

chaplain the

as he confessed the crime to have

instantly,

and counsel." " Can this be true ?"

his advice

cried the fox

" then woe

been

is

me, that ever

was born

the finest jewels that ever were possessed by

earthly prince are lost and gone.

any

had rather have

died before your majesty should be thus defrauded

and

know

will never

that

it

be the death of

will

more put

cried the ape's wife; " let

after transitory wealth

of them

it

if

them go

you

my

wife, she

me." " Dear nephew,"

trust in

why

will give

sorrow thus

us a description

may

be just as good, and from that we

will

perhaps be able to find them.

If not

we can

order

the magician Alkarin to consult his books, and search

all

corners

the

detains

them

shall restore

Besides, whosoever

of the earth.

shall

them

be cursed

in all parishes until

" But whom," said the fox, "

shall

we

corrupt age, when even sanctity itself walks

in disguise ?"

Then heaving another deep

his dissimulation,

you belonging
describe

to

he

to the king's majesty."

he proceeded.

my

"

Now

trust in this

masked and
sigh to gild
listen

stock and lineage, for

all
I

of

will

what these jewels were, of which both the

king and myself have been defrauded.

them intended

for his majesty,

pure gold, and within

it,

was a

Tlie first of

ring of fine

and

next the finger, were engraven

103

Ur.YN.AKI) TJIE lOX.

letters

enamelled with azure, and

three

Hebrew names.

neither read nor spell

them

part

could

but Abron of Trete, the

who knows

excellent linguist,

containing

labels,

my own

For

the nature of

ner of herbs, animals, and minerals, assured

all

man-

me

that

they were those three names which Scth brought out

of Paradise
the

oil

when he presented
Whoever

of mercy.

his father

shall

names about him

shall never be hurt

lightning, neither

shall

power to charm him, he

sin (would

each of

Adam

with

wear these three

by thunder or

any kind of witchcraft have

shall not

my

be tempted to any

enemies had one to wear)

neither will heat or cold ever

annoy him.

Upon

it

was enchased a most precious stone of three diver

The

colors.

Hre,

first

like red

chrystal,

glittering with

and that with such brightness, that

if

one had

occasion to journey by night, the light thereof was as

Their color was a clear

great as that at noonday.

burnished white, the virtue of which would cure any

blemish or soreness in the eyes
grieved part,

all

manner of

also

by stroking the

swellings, head-achs, or

any sickness whatever, whether of venom, weakness

of stomach, cholic, stone, strangury, fistula or cancer, either

outwardly applied as before shewn, or in-

wardly by steeping the stone

it.

Again as

and

if

water and swallowing

fasting, into

whatever

would make him

infinitely

he should be exoosed naked

in a vast

far as

one bore

company the wearer went

beloved

in

it

it

REYNARD THE

104

wide

FOX.

against an hundred armed enemies, yet

field,

come

should he stand firm and

as the ring confers

ish disposition;

any who

no virtue upon

Now

not a true gentleman.

is

keep

it;

therefore

sent

to you,

it

these

all

unworthy

virtues considered, I thought myself quite

to

and

off with honor

Yet he must be nobly bred, and of no churl-

victory.

my

lord the

king, knowing you to be the most excellent of

living beings,

and one on

depend, most

all

all

his subjects' lives

be guarded then by so rich a

to

fit

whom

jewel.

" This ring

also a

found

They were both

to have.

were intended

tliese

grace and mercy

comb was made

Panthera,

my

partakes of

all

lives

all

queen, because of the

The

extended towards me.

between the

He

is

is

so sweet
all

India

greater

so beautiful, that he

the loveliest hues under heaven

very savour cures

cian of

my wife begged

of the bone of a noble beast called

which

the smell of him

and

father's treasure;

jewels of great worth, and

for the

she

and earthly Paradise.

fair

in

comb, and a glass mirror, which

and

and wholesome, that the

infirmities.

He

is

the physi-

animals that follow him; he has one

bone broad and thin,

in

which when

slain, are

contained the whole virtues of the animal.

It

can

never be broken nor consumed by any of the ele-

ments

and

it

yet

it

is

will receive

so light that a feather will poize

fine polish.

The comb then

it,

re-

REYNAIID THE FOX.

silver; the teeth are

sembles fine

105

small and straight,

and between the great teeth and the small, there

is

very cunningly wrought :tnd

many an image

engraven

The

enamelled, about with fine gold-

quered with sables and

che-

field is

and therein

silver,

con-

is

how Venus, Juno, and Pallas congolden ball upon mount Ida, and how

tained the story

tended for the

Paris was to present

it

them.

to the fairest of

" Paris, at that time, was a shepherd, and fed his

flocks along with

Onone on

promised that

he would bestow

if

that

hill

would make him the richest man

might have

las said, that if she

the wisest

among

all

against his enemies.

and

it

it

But Venus
;

art

most fortunate

said,

'

What

boots

thou not Priam's son

and Hector's brother, who sway

and

Pal-

he should become

Asia

all

not one of the heirs of mighty Troy ?

ball,

Juno

her, she

in the world.

mortals, and the

wealth, wisdom, or valour

first

upon

art

Give

thou

me

the

will give thee the sweetest creature the

world can boast, the fairest lady of

all

breathing

she whose like no sun shall ever more behold.

Thus

thou shalt be richer than with riches, and tower above

all in

Then

all

be wealth none (;an praise

is

that heavenly elixir

things into delight.'

presently Paris gave her the ball, confirming

her the fairest

was

will

since such beauty

which turns
"

Thine

pride.

much

too

figured,

among the goddesses; and another place

shewing how he won Helen, and brought

1-5

REYNARD TH

106

OX.

her to Troy, with the solemnity of the marriage,

honour of the triumphs, and

tlie

appertaining to

all else

that grand story.

"

Now for the mirror, it was not inferior to

either of

the preceding; for the glass was of such rare virtue

that

men might

within a mile

thing he
therein,

and know whatever was done

see

whether the actions of animals or any

Whoever gazed

should desire to know.

was cured of every malady

manifold were
tears over

its

virtues that

The

its loss.

and indeed so

wonder not

value of the

if I

wood

shed

far ex-

ceeded that of gold, greatly resembling the wood

Hebenus, of which king Crampart made a horse, for

love of the most beautiful daughter of king
diges.

whoever rode on

might speed above an hundred

it

an hour

miles in less than

king's son proved to his cost.

and being strong and

lusty,

breast of the engine,

dows

like

first

much

it

which Clamades the

Not

believing in

it,

he leaped upon the horse,

when Crampart turning a pin

the

Morca-

This horse was so artfully constructed, that

that was fixed in the

went through the palace win-

a shot, and carried him ten miles at least

minute.

afirighted,

At

this

miracle,

Clamades was

and imagined, as the story goes,

that he should never return again

length his infinite joy,

when he had

but what was at

learned to guide

and manage the wonderful beast!

" Strange histories in gold and

silver

were deoy-

UEYNAUD TUR
phered on
rynope,

which colors were very curiously

all

and

sables, yellow, a/ure

wood with

tlie

107

FOX.

interlaid

with each other, and the words under each history

were so

finely

engraven and enamelled, that any

might read the whole

man

In truth the world never

story.

lustre, or pleaRuie.

produced a thing of greater worth,

In the upper part stood a horse in his natural glory,

and

fat, fair,

fiery,

Finding he could not overtake the

run before him.

hart, at

stately hart that

which vied with a

which he was

with disdain, he went to

filled

a herdsman near at hand, and told him that

if

he

would help him to take a hart, he should have the

profit of

man

it

Then

horns, skin, and flesh.

the herds-

asked him what means he should use to get him.

The horse
bear you

said,
after

Mount upon my back, and I will

him, till we have tired him down.'
'

The herdsman accepted

the offer, and bestriding the

But he

horse, pursued the deer.

gained so

much

and bade the herdsman

awhile.

thy head and spurs on

as seems

alight, for

No,' the herdsman said

servant, neither

fled so fast,

and

ground, that the horse grew weary

wdl

best to

my

heels

he would rest him

'

have a bridle on

so thou art

now my

part with thee, but govern thee

my

pleasure.'

Thus the horse

brought himself into thraldom, and was taken in his

own

net;

ttmn

its

for

own

no creature
envy, and

downfall of others,

fall

upon

a greater

lias

many

adversiu-y

while aiming at the

their

own

ruin.

UEYNARD THE

108

FOX.

" In another part was represented the

story of

my

father andTibert the cat, how they travelled together,

and had sworn by

their troth, that neither for love

nor hate would they deseit each other.

they were journeying

as

hunters coming over the

at

Then

happened

with a pack of hounds

fields

apace.

fled

said the fox, seeing their lives in danger,

bert, whither

espied us
readiness,

shall

we

my

part,

for

no need

sigh,

and was sore afraid

one, and that

in the lurch

'

at

he said,

my

need

tree, leaving

fled with a

and hunters crying,

'

kill

'

in

shall

But the cat began

Alas,'

must help me

who then

Ti-

have

have a thousand wiles

to fear them.'

he clambered up a

his heels,

'

turn, for the hunters

and as long as we keep together, we

liave

that,

It

they encountered

from which they both

heels,

their

along,

to

have only

;'

and with

my noble

father

whole kennel at
the fox,

kill

the

fox.'

" Tibert also mocked

cousin,
if

it is

your wit

perish.'

my father,

high time to try

fail

you,

from a friend

in

whom

time to listen to them.

it

will

For the dogs were so close

luckily

met with a hole

must have gone hard with him.

many

for

huit at these reproaches

thus see the false faith of the cat, like

are

Now,

he trusted, only he had not

upon him, that had he not

hand,

your whole body

fear

My father was much

saying

your hundred wiles

living at this time,

whom

and though

at

You may
this

there

might

REVN AllD TUU

me

well excuse

from

and charity bind

109

FO.V.

loving- the cat,

my

no harm, though

soul's healtli

and

nie to the contrary,

wish him

confess his misfortunes would not

grieve me.

"

On

the

same mirror was written the

how he found a dead

wolf;

whose

horse upon the heath,

being eaten away, he was fain to

flesh

Swallowing them too

the bones.

of the

histoi-y

hastily,

choked him.

across his throat, and almost

gnaw

one stuck
In this

extremity, running and crying every where for a sur-

geon to ease

his torments,

the crane, and besought

wards.

At

his throat,

you hurt
again.'

but

said,

you are whole.

dence

I suffer,

this?

'

sir

Do

it

How
it

in

my

to complain,

you forget that

mouth, and yet that

me

is

who ought

to

spared

call

You
for

are

some
^

reward.'

" These three

to great pain,

allowed you to take your head out again.

ungrateful

'

Isegrim, be joyous

and have cause

Yes, though you put

life.

not do

only look for the pro-

yet you want to be rewarded.

your head was

will

How!' cried the wolf! 'what impu-

mised reward.'

'

is

you

forgive you, if

Then the crane

frolick,

your

re-

and l)rought up the long bone.

wolf started and howled out

this pull, the

and

neck and

Believing him, the crane put in his long neck

down

quite

his long

and he would give him great

to help him,

bill,

the end he met with

in

him with

rarities

vov^-ed

to

send to your

REYNARD THE

110

ox.

and could think of no better messengers

majesties,

than Kayward the hare and Bellin the ram.

Little

Kaywaid was

so near

did
liis

then imagine that good

end. Yet

find the

may

be, he

search the whole world, but

I will

murderer
is in

murder cannot be

for

who knows what

this presence

come of Kayward, although he conceal

it,

is

walk

all is,

and which troubles me most, that

like saints.

many

for

my

and not

father,

my

lord the

myself, ever

But weighty affairs may well produce

did good.

It

be-

Yet the greatest wonder of

devils

king should say that

I will

hid.

for-

getfulness in kings, or your majesty might call to

mind how when the king your

father lived,

were a prince not above two years old,

came from the school

all

its

principles,

father

where he had

at Montpelier,

studied the ait of physic five years, and

expert in

and you

my

became so

and so famous

in those

days, that he wore clothes of silk and a golden girdle-

Now when

he arrived at court, he found the king in

great extremity, which grieved him, for he loved the

old king your father;

and the king

presence, and would not suffer

He

said,

my

sickness increasing.'

'

Reynard,

lord, here is

for

am

you are

in.'

rejoiced

at his

to quit his side.

exceeding sick, and

My

father answered,

an urinal ; as soon as

of your kidneys,
state

him

will give

you

The king did

My

behold the color

my

opinion of the

as he

he trusted not any equal to him.

I feel

was advised,

Then

said

my

rOX.

RI'.YNAIII) TIIF.

father,

'

My

best lord,

if

you

will

Ill

be eased of your

disorder, you must needs take the liquor of a wolf of

seven years old, or else your disease

The wolf

but said nothing

father,

served

incurable.'

whereupon the king ob-

Isegrim, you

Sir

is

happened to stand by yoor

at that time

hear there

nothing

is

me besides your liquor.' The wolf

Not so, my lord, for I am not yet full five
Irieplied
'let
It is no matter,' answered my father
years old.'
which can cure
:

'

'

him be opened, and when

you

if it

see the liquor,

will tell

The wolf was then

be medicinable.'

and

howling to the kitchen,

his

which the king took, and was soon cured of

order.

manded

Then
all

the king thanked

his subjects

hour to give him the

him with the

my

carried

extracted,

liquor

father,

his dis-

and com-

upon pain of death, from that

title

of

sir

Reynard, presenting

Malepardus and the neigh-

castle of

bouring waiTens, besides a number of orders and

to boot.

Yet he

consulted in

all

still

things

titles

abode with the king, and was

he was presented with a gar-

land of roses to wear like a crown upon his head.

But the remembrance of

gone, and his
led,

his sei-vices

enemies are advanced

and innocence

ness and avarice are

is

all

virtue

past and
is

tramp-

in sorrow.
For when basemade masters, they neither know

lies

themselves, nor consider the lowliness whence they

sprung.

They have no

the poor man's cause.

hearts for pity, nor ears for

Gold

is

the goal they run to,

REYNARD THE

112

and

FOX.

What

the god which they worship.

gifts

great

man's gate does not look towards covetousness

where

not rank flatteiy entertained

is

prince takes hate at his

" This was,

my

your youth and you

boasting,

think

own

lord,

me

and

what

praises ?

an accident which

may easily forget it

may say, I, as well

have consulted your honor and

from

to repeat these things,

befell

yet,

as

my

father,

Far be

service.

subject,

which

and nature

when

am

ever

But

to pay.

the wolf and

is

it

would not upbraid

your majesty who are always worthy of more than

can render my uttermost

in

without

but the rent of a loyal

bound by the laws of God

I

must say that so

was,

it

together had gotten a swine

under us, and on account of his extreme loud crying

were compelled to bite him to death
your royal
saying

self

came out of a

grove,

at that time

and saluted us

that you and the queen your consort, were

both exceeding hungry, and intreated of us to give

you

murmured something, but

Isegrim

part.

out aloud

better than

'With
it

all

is, it

my

my

heart,

were too mean

lord,
for

spake

and were

it

your deserts.'

But Isegrim taking half of the swine went grumbling

away.

" This, and many such actions as

for

are

your majesty's sake

all

too

expunged from memory

loyalty, will

one day,

this, I

have done

They

painful to repeat.

trust,

but time and

recall

them.

my

have

IIF.YNARD TIIK

seen the day

when no

my

at court without

same

policy

moment was

of

concurrence

transacted

and though the

and judgment are not now so highly prized,

circumstances

may

same reputation
at justice.

affair

113

I'OX.

bring

them

as heretofore

For

if

into action with the

as long as

aim only

any one can assert or prove the

contrary, here I stand to endure the worst the law

inflict.

But

can

malice only slander me, without wit-

if

ness, I crave the

combat according

to law

and usage

of the court." " Then," said the king, " Reynard, you

know

say well: and nothing

of

Kay ward's death

save the bringing of his head hither by Bellin the

ram

My

'

and so

acquit you of that savage deed."

dear lord," said the fox, "

ber

how heavy my

humbly thank you,

cannot so easily pass over his death.

yet

heart

felt at his

remem-

departure, which

take to be a certain presage of the loss which sub-

sequently happened."

These words, and the sad looks of the fox amazed

all

the beholders, insomuch that they could hardly

refuse to believe

what he had

said,

and

in fact every

one lamented his loss and pitied his sonow.

The king and queen were the most

affected of any,

and then intreated him that he would make diligent

search for the discovery of those precious jewels, his
praises having excited the royal curiosity

beyond measure.

And

had intended those

and avarice

because he affirmed that he

rare

articles

for

them, though

REYNARD THE

114

they never so

much

as great thanks as

as saw them, yet they gave

him

they had been in their safe

\->o-

if

session, (so gratified

sired tliat

FOX.

was

he would use

their vanity)

all

means

and they de-

to recover them.

CHAP. XIX.
now HEYNAKD MADE

HIS PEACE

WITH THE KING, AMD HOW

ISEGRIM THE WOLF ACCUSED HIM AGAIN.

Sir Reynard understood

meaning exceeding

their

meant

what they

well, and,

though he

intreated,

he thanked the king and queen, vowing not

little

to perform

to rest, either night or day, until

he had found what

was become of those precious jewels.

his majesty that

if

He

beseeched

they should be concealed in places

where entrance was forbidden by force, his majesty

would

assist

cerned him.
should be

him, as their discovery so nearly con-

The king

replied, "

known where they

ance should be wanting."

That as soon as

it

were, no help or assist-

Having thus obtained

all

the success he aimed at by his false tales and flattery,

he thought he might go whither he pleased, and that

none would dare to oppose him.

But

sir

Isegrim had

stood by the whole of this time infinitely displeased,

and no longer able to restrain his anger, he cried

" Oh, my dread lord, is it possible your majesty
:

should be so weak and credulous, as to credit the

HF.YNAUD TMK KOX.

They

of this arch impostor.

falsehoods

IlJ

are onlv

shadows and chimeras which he holds out to mislead

you

but be not deceived by him, he

a wretch

is

covered with blood and treason, and he mocks and

scoffs

But

your majesty to your face.

and

are here together in your royal presence,

the

we

glad

intend

such a peal of justice over his head that

to ring
all

am

he can invent,

lies

shall not bear

him

aivay

with safety.

" Not long since, this smiling but bitter-hearted

traitor

how

persuaded

to catch fish

my

wife that he would teach her

as many

one cold winter's morning

as she pleased.

and having

hole in the ice, he told her that

tail

hang

in the

she would

let

her
fish

seize

them upon

hold of

if

it,

when she might

This the simple fool did

land.

and stood there so long that her

teril

was frozen hard

was not able

to the ice, so that all the force she had,

to pull

it

out.

Well might she

upon the brine of her own

had

was

made a

water a good while, numbers of

would come and

easily pull

It

first

tears,

shriek, cry,

but

all

to

and feed

no purpose,

not providentially been passing near.

So

went unto her with much sorrow and heaviness, having a world of labour ere
her,

and

in despite

of

all

could break the ice about

my

cunning, yet she was

compelled to leave a piece of her

and, indeed,

we both escaped

tail

behind her

haurdly with

our

lives.

For by reason of her groat anguish, she barked so

RF.YXARD THE FOX.

116

loud, that the people of the next village rose up,

so fiercely assaulted us, that

how

heard

At
said

me

this

"

in

sir

were true,

If this

near

and justice."

right of your law

charge

this serious

gracious lord, you have

hath used us, and against

traitor

same we crave the

the

my

Thus,

rate a taking.

and

never was in so despe-

Reynard answered and

confess

honour and reputation

would touch

it

God

but

forbid

that such a slander should be proved against me.

confess

did teach her to catch

when she heard me name

ness so transported her

that she ran

among

frozen,

though she had eaten as much as would have

twenty reasonable beings

fied

saying

'

that have

ice.

miss

all will

got fastened in the

it,

the pieces of ice without any

and stopping too long she was

direction,

but her greedi-

fish,

but

all

;'

is

it

and so the lady

was employed

in charita-

bly lending her

my

furious Isegrim,

and most basely slandered me.

assistance

satis-

a general

when up came

the

At

the same time he cursed bitterly, instead of thanking

me

for

my

goodness

than his threats

and more

went

my

to avoid his

blasphemy

Truth

is

my badge,

my

ancestors,

way.

and hath ever been the device of

and

if

any scruple

days' liberty, that

sel,

when

my

woi"ds.

him

I will

it is

As

my
may

assertion,

confer with

all

require but eight

my

learned coun-

with oath and testimony

for sir Isegrim,

already

known

what have

that he

is

make good
I

to

do with

an abandoned

REYNAKD TUE

117

FOX.

ma-

notorious villain, false both to heaven and your

and now

jesty,

his

if

witness that he

is

Let the matter be referred to his

base slanderer.
wife

own words

she accuse me,

me

let

be held guilty

pro-

vided she be not overawed by the tyranny of her

husband."

"

to the

fell

" recollect when you

Villain," cried sir Isegrim,

bottom of the

wife hearing thee

moan

and

well,

didst persuade her to lower herself

into the

v/ell,

lay

in peril,

my

Then thou

ran to assist thee.

down by

the bucket

leaping at the same time into that hang-

ing by the other pulley at the bottom,

when thou

being lighter than she, didst reach the top and she

"When she complained

heavily to the bottom.

fell

you only said

as one

Nay,

it is

but the fashion of the world

comes up, another must get down

;'

and so

saying, you leaped out of the bucket and ran away."

To

this the fox replied

"

have been there than myself,

better able to endure hunger.
sity

wife

you are stronger and

At that hour of neces;

and

taught your

wisdom and experience, that she should neither

when our own

peril is in

for nature teaches us to love our

and he who does not

title

for

both of us could not escape

trust friend nor foe,

tion

had rather you should

of folly."

is

own

ques-

welfare,

crowned with nothing but the

Hi

REYXARU THE

FOX.

CHAP. XX.
HOW ISEGRIM PROFFERED HIS GLOVE TO REYNARD TO HC.llT
WITH HTM, WHICH REYN.iRD ACCEPTED: AND HOWRUKtNARD ADVISED THE FOX TO BEAR HIMSELF IN THE >IOHT.

Sir Isegrim waxing

very wroth, answered the fox:

"

thy mocks and scorns

thou

Villain as

pise,

art,

but thy injuries

have helped

me

in

with hunger, but thou

gave

me

gnawed

will

my

You

not bear.

need,

when

liest in

des-

say you

was almost dead

You

thy throat.

never

you had

better than a

bare bone,

well yourself.

This you say, to injure

it

reputation,

after

my

and again, you accuse me of treason

against the king, for the sake of thy false treasures

and slandered

at Husterloe, besides having injured

my

wife,

we

are

escape

which

will

continue to stahi our

avenged.

Therefore look

here, before

my

affirm

my blood,

name

for

and you

my

and

ap-

that thou

will

Reynard

the Fox, art a false traitor and murderer, as

make good upon thy body

field, until

body, and

our
life

strife

to

shall

life.

within the

have a

Witness

down my glove, which I dare thee

may have right for my injuries, or

me

will

of the

lists

fatal end,

for

until

longer

lord the king,

noble friends and kinsmen,

prove to the last drop of

no

body

here,

to

cast

to take up, that I

die like a recreant

and coward."

Reynard was somewhat perplexed when

it

came

REYNARD
to this

wolf,

he

knew himself much

and feared

come

to

oil'

119

FOX.

Till',

weak

too

witii

suddenly recollecting the advantage he had

wolfs fore claws being pulled

not

" Whoever says that

am

Poor

would have

it;

in

proof of which

and throw down mine,

traitor, as

to reply

a false traitor and mur-

thou art ending the

fool,

the

in

especially Isegrim above all

derer, lies in his throat,

others.

But

and which were

off,

mustered courage

he

healed,

yet

the

fur

the worst.

as

affair

take up thy gage

to prove thou

and

art a liar

of old."

This said, the king received their pledges, and admitted the battle,
surety that the

commanding each

combat should be

Then stepped forth

tried

to

put in his

on the morrow.

the bear and the cat, and

sureties for the wolf;

and

for the fox

appeared Grini-

When

bard the brock, and Betclas.

became

all

ceremonies

were finished, the ape's wife taking Reynard aside,

said

me

"

this

beseech you, look to yourself in

be bold and wise.

Your uncle taught

once a prayer of singular virtue for any com-

batant

and

Nephew

battle,

which he learnt from that excellent scholar

clerk,

the abbot of Budelo.

If

you utter that

prayer with great devotion, fasting, you shall never

he

utterly vanquished,

field.

however hard pressed

in the

Therefore, good nephew, be not afraid

t-o-morrow

will

read

it

wolf shall never prevail."

to

you fasting;

for

and the

Reynard, grateful as he

120

RKYN A Un

IJ

FOX.

F,

said, for her favours, swore that his quarrel

and honest, and that he had no doubt of

The whole of

who sought

Dame

that night he tarried with his kinsmen,

amuse him with pleasant

to

llukenard was

advantage

suaded him

to

also

him

and afterwards anointed

made him

This

oil.

so

his

besides,

much

he was round and plump, which

She next advised

to his advantage.

much, that he

that night to drink exceeding

might be more able

to blind his

enemy

in the

morning,

but by no means to waste his ammunition

came

"

to close quarters in the field.

see the

body

smooth and

that the wolf could scarcely hope to keep

slippery,

was

suggesting something for

still

have the whole of his hair shaved off

tail,

over, with olive

his hold

discourse.

the approaching battle; and she per-

in

from head to

was good

his success.

moment, take your bush

well in the villain's eyes, until

But

plexed and blinded him.

till

he

Then when you

and

tail,

strike

it

you have quite perin the

intervals

keep

your bush between your legs, as close as you can,

lest

he catch you by

ground.

it,

Take sharp heed

elude them, nephew, and

after

you

in

vain.

and

you with the

level

at first to

shun his blows

make him

Lead him where there

of dust, and having

first

your advantage
smite

is

plenty

besprinkled him, kick

the dust in his eyes with your heels.

when he can no

longer

and bite him most mischievously,

and sweat

toil

up

Then take
see,
still

and
con-

KEYNAllD TUE VOX.

121

tinuing to mystify both his sight and understanding,

by brushing him

Thus put him

wearied him out

face from

the

in

to

the

torture

and

fear not,

strong and stout, his heart

nephew,
courage

my

time

though he be

for

and weak.

is little

may

reap, both

and family, by accomplishing

this great

prevails

art

therefore look

Now

feat.

to

it,

the charm which

for

his

as follows

it is

head

Then

from

free

whatsoever.

some

all

Go

for action,

then to

gave her

laid

rest,

for

infinite

He

down.

near day, and

the better disposed

thanks,

then laid himself

came

otter

brought him a
all this

it is

saving,

to her a servant for ever,

under a green tree on the grass,

when the

now you

she

and that

confidence in the excellent rules she

felt entire

had

There, nephew,

on the great and eventful morrow."

fox

had bound him

he

in-

hand upon

powers of mischief and danger

make your body

sleep will

The

make you

laying her

she cried, " Blaerd, Ihay, Alphenio, Ras-

bue, Gorsons, Arsbuntro.

are

as

learnt from your

uncle Martin, and which will help to

vincible,

This,

and think

advice

wealth, honour, and reputation you

for yourself

to time.

you have quite

much as
how nmch

is

till

fat

till

it

down

to rest,

was sun-rise,

awake him, saying he had

to

young duck

to eat.

"

have toiled

blessed night," he said, " to get this present for

you, dear cousin, which

take and eat

VOL.

I.

it,

fur

it

took from a feeder.

will give

Here,

you vigour and cou-

REYNARD THE

122

The

rage."

him

fox thanked

FOX.

kindly, and said

lucky hansel, assuring his friend, that

that day, he would requite

it

was

he survived

if

Reynard then eat

it.

the duck without bread or sauce, except his hunger,

and

to

He

he drank four great draughts of water.

it

then hastened to the appointed place of action, where

^

the

lists

stood, with

When
oiled,

his kindred attending

all

on him.

the king beheld Reynard thus shorn and

he said to him

you are very

" Well,

sir

own

careful of your

Reynard,

safety

respect for booty, so you escape danger."

little

fox answered not a word, but

queen, and proceeded into the

same time the wolf was

with

many

also ready,

field.

anu the Loss.

of the

These

last

lists

and stood boasting

was a

he would prove on

traitor

his

The

were the Libbard

brought forth a book on

which the wolf swore, and maintained

that the fox

and

At the

proud, and vain-glorious speeches.

marshals and rulers

The

bowed himself humbly

to the ground before their majesties, the king

the

see

you have

his assertion,

and a murderer, which

body, or be accounted a

recreant.

When
of the

these ceremonies were over, the marshals

field

held them to their devoir.

one abandoned the

lists

save

stood by

the fox, reminding

battle she

had given him.

And

then every

dame Rukenard, who

him of the

She bade him

rules of

recollect

how, when he was scarcely seven years old, he had

RETNARD THE
wisdom enough
on

way

to find his

123

to his father's castle

darkest night without any lanthom, or even the

tlie

light

FOX.

of the moon.

That

was much

his experience

wisdom more frequent

greater, and his reputation for

with his companions than any other

and that he

ought therefore to make double exertions to win the

day, which would be an eternal

To

his family for evermore.

"

My

best aunt, be assured

forget a

will

of your counsel.

tittle

friends shall reap honour,

actions."

To

this the

monument to him, and

this the fox

do

and

my

my

answered,

best,

and not

doubt not but

foes

shame by

my
my

ape said amen and so de-

parted.

CHAP. XXII.
THE FIERCE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE POX AND THE WOLF,
THE EVENT, PASSAGES, AND VICTORY.

When
lists,

none but the combatants were

and the

towards

sir

signal

Reynard with

thinking to catch his

left

in

the

was given, the wolf advanced

enemy

infinite

in

rage

and fury

his fore feet, but the

fox

leaped nimbly aside.

The wolf then pursued
him, and there began a tedious chase, on which the

friends

on both sides gazed with earnestness.

huge leaps and

strides,

sir

Isegrim

Taking

soon overtook

REYNARD THE

124

and

him,

up

lifting

his

FOX.

feet

to

Reynard

strike,

avoided the blow, and smote his adversary on the

face with his

was almost

It told so well,

tail.

stricken blind

in fact,

Reynard did not

loose

and threw

feet,

enemy, close under

;

a feat

for

he scratched up the dust

it

boldly in the eyes of his

his nose,

sir

he was thus em-

as

which called

This dust tormented

brush,

compelled

he cleared his eyes, an advantage which

to rest while

ployed

Isegrim

sir

was a complete

He was

damper, and smarted excessively.

with his

that
it

forth

loud applause.

Isegrim worse

than the

and he ventured to follow him no longer.

His eyes smarted so

sorely, that

he sought to wash

the dust away, at which Reynard ran in upon him,

and gave him three severe wounds upon

his

with his teeth, saying, " Have

Isegrim

a lamb, and

me

many an

the credit of

your knavery.

it,

bit

you,

You have

soon bite you better.

1 will

sir

gatory, for thy

wilt

kneel

many

killed

innocent beast, and would give

but you shall find the price of

am now

sent to punish thy sins,

and I will give thee thy absolution bravely.

thou use patience.

head

I will

life will

down and

It is

good

make

a hell of thy pur-

my

Yet

be at

mercy.

if

thou

forgiveness, confessing

crave

thyself vanquished, though thou art the vilest creature living,

that
sir

am

Isegrim

will spare

thy

life,

loth to kill thee."

mad and

for

such

is

my

pity

These words made

desperate, so that he could find

UEYNARD THE
no vent to

wounds

For his

his fury;

and

smarted,

125

FOX.

bled, his eyes

whole frame was oppressed.

his

In the height of his fury he raised up his foot,

and

hit

him

to the

the

severe

fox so

But

ground.

sir

a blow, that he felled

Reynard being nimble,

quickly rose, and fiercely encountering the wolf, a

dreadful and

Ten times

doubtful combat began.

the wolf leaped upon

Reynard,

sir

in

the hope of

catching or killing him, but his skin was so slippery

and

he could not hold him.

oily that

Nay, so ex-

tremely active was he in the fight, that

when

the

wolf thought he had him in the surest, he would shift

himself between his legs, and under his belly, each

time dealing the wolf a bite, or a brush on the face

with his

duced

tail,

that poor

Isegrim was almost re-

sir

to despair.

Various wounds and bitings passed on either side,

the one achieved by cunning, the other by violence,

At

the one expressing fury, the other temperance.

length

sir

Isegrim enraged that the combat had con-

tinued so long, for had his feet been sound

have been

much

shorter,

make an end of this

know my very weight
pieces.

am now

with him at

all."

ther severe blow

to the

ground.

it

he said to himself, "

fight,
is

losing

it

is

enough

my

would
I

will

too long; and I

to crush

him

to

reputation in fighting

This said, he struck Reynard ano-

upon

his head,

and again

felled

him

Ere he could recover himself and

UEYNAUD TUE

126

he caught the fox in his

arise,

him under him, he

weight thinking to

Now
sir

FOX.

whole

to be seriously alarmed, while

but the fox

Isegrim's friends shouted for joy;

though he ceased

his

him.

stifle

Reynard began

and thrusting

feet,

upon him with

lay

defended himself manfully

to joke,

with his claws stretched as he was upon the ground.

When

the wolf thus pressing and biting him, sought

to put an

end

in the belly,

him with

and repelled

his attempts

his fore claws, so that

skin between the wolf's eyebrows.

his face

in great extremity,

at worrying

he actually tore the

His ears bled and

one of his eyes was hanging out of

howled out

him again

to his existence, the fox bit

head

his

he

and as he was wiping

Reynard took an opportunity of regaining

after

him

again caught him in his arms, and held him

fast.

his legs.

But the wolf

Never was Reynard

in

striking furiously

such

was now the struggle between them.

the wolf forget his smart

and

fierce

Passion

made

straits before,

and griping the fox under

him, he got his hand into his mouth and nearly bit
off.

Then spoke

sir

Isegrim to Reynard

it

" Yield

thyself vanquished, or else I will certainly slay thee

neither thy dust, thy brush, thy mocks, or any

subtle

inventions shall

utterly desperate."

thought there was

be his ruin.

now

When
little

save

the fox

choice

left,

But there being no time

thee

heard

more

thou art
this,

he

as either would
to lose,

he said

REYNARD THE
" Dear uncle, since fortune

your commands

Land
any

will so

have

or any other sort of pilgrimage

service

yield to

it, I

you to the Holy

travel for

will

127

FOX.

yea, or perform

most beneficial to your soul and the souls

of your forefathers

will

obey you, as

the king; or our holy father the pope.

would obey

my

hold

will

lands and tenements from you as well as the rest of

my

You

kindred.

none

shall

many

be a lord of

move against you.

shall dare to

lords,

and

Whatever,

catch, whether pullets, geese, partridges, or plover,

your wife and children, shall ever

flesh or fish, you,

have the

Again, we

choice.

first

so near

are

in

blood that nature forbids there should be any long

enmity between us
against you had

and

would not have fought

appealed and then of necessity

yet even in this battle

and not acted as

know

it

is

my

must do

first

utmost,

have been courteous to you

should to a stranger

for well I

the duty of a nephew to spare his uncle,

which you might

from you.

You

been sure of victory.

easily perceive

from

my

running

might have often hurt you when

re-

fused, nor aie you any worse except for the blemish
in yoiu: eye, for

happened.

which

therefore

am sony and

will

permit poor Reynard to

kill

me, but what

never

dred?

live

will that avail

live in safety for fear

Temperance

in

wish

it

had not

humbly beseech you that you

;

know you might

you,

when you can

of the revenge of

wrath

is

my

kin-

an excellent thing,

REYNARD THE

128

while rashness
uncle,

the mother of repentance. You,

is still

know

to be valiant, wise,

To

and revenge."

dissembler

my

the badge of

servitude.

It is well

in the world

not, nor believe a

am no

thee

have armed

my

me

shall not

did'st not

will

now

thee.

even give

in

feet,

But

purchase th^

esteem them
uttered.

to credit

Thy innumerable
;

every

deceits

and look upon me and

if thovi

me

hast spared me.

time to l>reathe, nor

give thee time to repent in

me

from

have wit to look both on this

wounds, and then say

dishonored

Thou

bush, chaff cannot deceive

against thee

Thou
I

this submission.

would'st triumph bravely were

and beyond

side

hme

but know that

you

understand

word of what thou hast

bird for thy

Thou

me.

free

thou wert safe on thy

if

For thee and thy friends

ransom.

rephed, "

this sir Isegrim

thou would'st soon forswear

aU the wealth

discreet,

thou wouldst fain be

and know that

thee,

and

and good fame than blood

rather seek honor, peace,

infinite

FOX.

mode thy

thou hast

for

villainy

could

devise."

Now

whilst

sir

Isegiim was thus prating, Reynard

was thinking how he might best get

his othtr
belly,

ind

hand which

he caught

wrung him

sir

free, so

Avas at liberty

his other

his

Isegrim fast between the legs,

so extremely,

that he

shriek and howl out with anguish.

drew

thrusting

down under

hand out of

his

mouth,

made him

Then

the fox

for sir

Isegrim

ntYNAUO
was

III

F.

129

FOX.

such wondrous torment that he was only a

in

few degrees from swooning, and completed the torture he

was

no more,

Human

inflicting.

Isegrim

sir

nature could endure

over in a deadly

fell

and

fit,

He

Reynard dragged him by the

legs

about the

then struck, wounded and

him

in divers places, so

bit

lists.

he

that the whole field might behold the punishment

inflicted.

Isegrim's

Sir

transfixed with

were

the king, praying him to

to

appease the combat and take

Their suit was gi-anted,

and Loss, entered the

meanwhile

and despair, so they went

sorrow

weeping and lamenting

friends

own hands.

into his

it

and the marshals Libbard

lists,

and

told the fox that the

king would speak with him, that the fight should

and that he would take

cease,

to determine

it

into his royal

hands

adding that his majesty did not wish

to lose either of them,

though the whole

had

field

given the fox the victory.

**

will

humbly thank

his majesty," said the fox, "

obey his commands,

my

farther than to be proclaimed victor.

then, let

my

friends

reasonable, and then

sir

Grimbard her

sisters.

and

Next

came

lord, lady

Bitelas

beseech you

come and attend me

according as they advise."

and

ambition extending no

They answered

will

do

it

was

forth lady Slopard,

and

Rukenard with her two

and Fullrump her two sons,

Malicia her daughter.

Hundreds more who

would not have ventured, had the fox

lost the battle,

G 5

REYNAKD THE

130

to condole with him,

fOX,

now advanced to

greet him, seek-

him who has

ing to become his attendants, for to

earned honor fresh honors and graces will flock in, while
losers

meet only with contempt. Alas, poor Isegrim

there

now

followed

the

in

of Reynard,

train

'.

the

Beaver, the Otter, and both their wives, Pauntecrote

and Ordigale, along with the Ostrole, the Martin,

and the Fitchews, the

bers

Ferret, the Squirrel,

more than we can name,

victor.

Many who had most

all

and num-

because he was the

complained of

bitterly

him, swore they were nearest of kin, and proffered

their services to

him with

the fashion of the world

will

all

For such

humility.

he who

rich

is

never want abundance of friends

and

is

in favor

every one will

pretend to like him, and imitate his folly and

retail

his falsehoods.

Accordingly there was a solemn feast proclaimed

on the part of Reynard's

honors

were

to

which

friends, at

be heaped

upon him

all
;

kind of

trumpets

soimded, cornets winded their horns, and the music

was followed by thanksgivings

Sir

Reynard received

all

for his glorious victory.

his friends with courtesy,

and returned thanks, with evident

dehght.

He

gratification

whether or not he should yield

his

the king's hands, instead of taking

sir

to

which his

answer :

and

concluded by requesting their opinion

faithful

" Yes, by

all

relation lady

means, cousin

victory

Isegrim's

Slopard
it

is

into
life ?

made

a point of

UEYNARD TUR

FOX.

131

do not see how you can

honor, and

rest agreed,

and the marshals then

The

refuse."

led the

way

into

the king's presence, escorting Reynard on each side,

with trumpets,

fites

and

timbrels, playing as the pro-

cession went along.

When

Reynard came before the king, he

sir

his knees

but his majesty bade him

" Sir Reynard, you may well

day won
you and

set

sure leads

and

will

On

signal honor.

you
all

free

to

rise,

you have

rejoice for
this

account

on
:

this

discharge

go whither your own plea-

former quarrels

take upon myself,

have them well discussed by the wisest heads

kingdom, as soon as Isegrim's wounds,

in the

fell

and said

At that time

shall be cured.

I will

if

ever,

take care to ac-

quaint you, and then proceed to judgment in these

matters."

" Most excellent and dreaded

plied the fox,

"

am

that shall please you

never injured,

king

!"

re-

well satisfied with every thing

yet

when

majesty's court, there were

whom

lord, the

I first

many

came

to your

malicious persons

who sought my life. They beme by uniting with my

lieved they should overpower

worst enemies, for they imagined that the wolf was

more

in favour with

was the ground of

shewed

your majesty than

myself. This

their indignation, wherein they only

their simplicity,

which was unable to avert the

catastrophe that followed.

Such men, my

lord, are like

a great kennel of

132

REYNARD THE

hounds, which

FOX.

once saw standing upon a dunghill

near a great lord's house, where they were waiting for

what they could catch

not far

lord's kitchen with a

But the cook was

throw a
ters,

expecting their feeders were

Shortly they saw a

off.

pail

though

good

how much

and got so close as to

in pursuit,

of hot scalding water upon his hind quarlike a stout dog,

he

still

kept hold of his

has doubtless given thee that

But the dog

You

see

me

fine

replied,

according to what you see

you do not

thou indebted to the good cook

art

flesh.'

of the

beef in his mouth.

His companions beholding him, said

prey.

with

hound run out

fat rib of

'

speak, friends,

not according

the smarting

O,

who

bone so well lined

You

with this good bone in

feel

'

upon

as

I feel.

my mouth, but
my buttocks.

Please only to look upon

me

behind, and you will

find the price

for

it.'

perceived

have paid

how badly he was

hide were flayed clean away

and sorrowful

at the

scalded

His friends then

;

both hair and

and they looked aghast

torment he suffered

in his loins.

Finding, too, he was such an unlucky dog, they re-

nounced
away.

all

So

farther acquaintance with him,

likewise,

my

lord,

do these

false

and ran

and un-

worthy beasts, when they are made lords, and gaining

their desire, think they

Then they begin

become mighty and renowned.

the faces of the poor and

to grind

needy, eating them up like hungry and savage hounds

for these are

the dogs with bones in their mouths,

RF.YNARD

though they deserve to get

Yet no man must dare

them
assist

may

them

133

their buttocks well scalded.

meddle with them,

to

but rather praise

FOX.

TIIF,

all

or offend

their actions, while

many

in their unlawful actions in order that

they

be allowed to lick their fingers for some share of

men walk

my

Oh,

their extortions.

dear lord

safely while thus bUndfold

expect any thing but a shameful

such uncertain steps

works come to

their

Neither can

light;

how can such

how can they

fall,

we

when taking

pity

them when

perpetual curses and re-

proaches must follow them to their graves after their

ruin

namely

and have none

their

Many

accomplished.

is

jackets

of these have lost their

their friends, like the thievish

to cover their misdeeds

left

hound,
while

former companions desert them as the whole

skinned hounds did the scalded dog.

My

"

gracious lord,

moral example

and

beseech you remember this

will

it

no way impair the great-

ness of your virtues, for doubtless

many

of these ra-

venous extorting creatures are under your subjection,

both

towns,

in

are they

and

who

cities,

and great

outface the poor

privileges,

own

judgment

These

barter their freedom

and accuse them of actions of wliieh

they never dreamed:

their

lords' houses.
;

private

in reserve for

ignominious end

all

projects.

for

to

make up

the

sum

But Heaven has

of

still

them, when they reach their

they are guilty of errors of

which none can justly accuse me, or any of

my

kin-

REYNARD THE

134

died

we

same.

can always acquit ourselves nobly of the

no

fear

the fox will

still

creature's accusations

adore above

all

devices divert

my

For you,

mortal beings

me

the last gasp.

not

moment

its

of

for

from you

Malice,

am

dread lord,

you

nor shall any art or

will

abide by you to

aware, has belied me,

told your majesty the contrary, yet I

disproved

be the fox, though a host of foes try

to outswear me.

and

FOX.

have always

accusations and so will do to the last

my

existence"*.

CHAP.

XXIII.

UEYNARD ALL THINGS; MADE

HIM THE GREATEST LORD IN THE LAND AND BOW HE
RETURNED IN TRIUMPH HOME, ATTENDED BY ALL HIS

now THE KING PAnDONED

SIR

KINDRED.

His majesty then made answer as follows: " Sir

Reynard, you are one, I think, who owes me homage
* In
father,

like

who

maimer, we are informed by

enjoyed the high

late lion king's

extracted

sir

reign

office

its

that his father's treasury

Ed.

medicinal property.

was hereditary

and possessed by the hero of the

terloe.

Reynard that

had equally well succeeded

Isegrim's liver for

less the chancellorship

sir

bis

of lord chancellor under the

in sir

story, as

was concealed

and even
Doubt-

Reynard's family,

he himself declares

at Crekenpit neai

Hus-

REYNARD THt
and

fealty,

ever subject did

if

shall live to enjoy

you one of

elect

do not shew any

my

and long

trust

will

or any

backsliding-,
;

for

am

unworthy han-

about to place you

I

administer justice equitably and truly*.

long- as

and

actions,

you

are a star

you apply your policy to right views

so long the court will cherish you, for

whose

lustre

exceeds

others, espe-

all

and preventing

cially in prying into mischief

member,

Take hoed you

privy council.

power and authority as you formerly were.

hope you

For as

13^

Here, for your past services

it.

kering after old tricks

in full

lOX.

therefore, the moral

it.

Re-

you yourself related to

me, and attach yourself to truth and equity.

" Henceforward 1 will be governed by your wis-

dom, and not any subject breathing throughout

kingdom
but

I will

through

shall

you the

highly resent
all

it.

least

the

office

This you shall proclaim

of lord high

here freely confer upon you, and

may

my

insult or injury,

the nation, of which you shall

chief minister;
I

otlt'r

become

chancellor

know

that you

reap great honor as well as piuht thereby."

All Reynard's friends and kindred

humbly thanked

the king, -wlien he informed them that

* From

this

it

wouU

indeed appear that

it

sir

was much

Reynard had

before presided over the court of equity, an office from which he

must have been pro-tempore suspended, owing

to the

heavy ac-

cusations brought against him, over which he finally triumphed,

Ed.

REYNARD THE

136

what he intended

short of

time advising them

careful of his faith

obsen'ed

and

for

for

my

should he

no danger, we should

fail

all

them, at the same

admonish Reynard

be

to

Lady Rukenard then

loyalty.

" Believe me,

that point

do

to

to

all

FOX.

lord,

we

will

there, of

not

fail in

which there

is

The fox

renounce him."

too thanked the king with fair and courteous words,

saying, " Nay,

not worthy
yet

I will

my

gracious lord and master

my

shall

this said,

am

from worthy of these high honors,

far

ever study with

them, nor

And

my

best service to deserve

best advice ever be wanting."

he took his humble leave of the king,

and then departed with the

rest

and

of his friends

kindred.

Meanwhile Bruin the bear, Tibert the

Isegrim's wife, with her children,

ployed
the

in

field.

cat,

had been

and

sir

em-

busily

conveying their vanquished relation from

They

laid

him upon

soft litter

and hay;

covered him very warm, and dressed his wounds, to the

number of twenty-three,
skilful

surgeons.

assisted

He was

weakness was such that

all

by some of the most

exceeding

sick,

and

sense of feeling was

his

lost.

So they rubbed and chafed him on the temples and

under the eyes,

till

he recovered from

bowled so loud, that

amazed

him

all

and

His physicians instantly gave

to hear him.

cordials, with

his swoon,

stood equally shocked and

a sleeping draught to allay the

sense of his torments

at the

same time

tliey

con-

IlEYNARD THE FOX.

l37

was no kind of danger

soled his wife, assuring her there

from his wounds, tnough they mightlong prove trouble-

So the court broke up and eveiy beast

some.

But

re-

own home-

turned to his

among

chief,

the departures,

Reynard the

sir

fox took his leave of the king and queen, both their
majesties requesting that he would not
sent from them.

make

To

long be ab-

he answered, that he should

a point of being ready at their service, as

bounden duty

his

this

was

and not only he himself, but the

Then craving

whole of his fr:ends and kindred.

of his majesty, with

all

leave

due solemnity, and smooth

speech, he departed from the court.*

And was

successfully

there ever courtier flattered

Me

master of the eight

liberal sciences

ritual or temporal, but

Nor

language.

he has

left his

deed, he

who

did

lord,

would have an ear open

Reynard

sir

whether spi-

for his

pleasant

die without issue, inasmuch as

successors in almost
is

and no

more bravely and

much, might well be

that could boast as

all

parts of the world.

In-

not in some degree allied to him in the art of

simulation and dissimulation will hardly prosper as the world

goes

for

though he may want the

fox's hair, if

he have his

heart, he will be pretty generally accepted.

Plain dealing
his vacant

is

prince's court being

Money

now

teueniepts

is

in exile, while avarice

neither

the

exempted from

now become

and fraud occupy

pope's palace, nor the

their visits.

the great favourite of the age, the idol

of the church, and the country's worship

for

it

can purchase

things, defend all things, and confound all things.

men

travel all over the

world

all

Thus mad-

in pursuit of this folly

and

this

REYNARD THE

138

FOX.

CHAP. XXIV.
Along
to^

with Reynard,

amount of

the

his

friends

took

their

all

forty,

and kindred,
leave

of the

king, and accompanied him; being proud that he

had

and stood so

so well sped,

fair in

the king's favor

For now he had power enough to advance

pleased,

l)est

and

pull dowTi

whom

he

any who envied his

fortune.

After a pleasant tour,

Reynard and

sir

his friends

approached the castle of Malepardus, where each in

noble and courteous guise, took leave of the other,
while
to

sir

Reynard himself shewed

each and

love

He

all.

especial politeness

thanked them

for the singular

and honor he had received from them, and pro-

tested that they might always count

faithful

fasbdon

upon him

and humble servant; bound

and

lie

who

is

not a true fox,

is

to serve

as their

them

in

but a beast of low esti-

mation, go whither he will.

This
in,

is

the world's custom,

the wise

man can

and what

it

heartily pray that the

With

us,

and

and

of the

Most High will defend

this 1 conclude, as these are

to treat of, since at the

account upon his

own

and ambition

hand with judgment. From which I

aths which are agreeable to piety

hand

lead us to walk in those

virtue.

in

knows

only he

that such heinous sins as falsehood, theft, murder,

can never walk but hand

end

will at length

neither judge nor imagine

last day,

not

every one

responsibility.

Old Eng.

for

me

sure to give

an

fit

is

themes

ConiTn.

REYNAKI)

all

TlIK

things, as far as his hfe

FOX

139

and property might be

serviceable.

these words, he shook hands, and hastened

With

great tenderness.
at

who welcomed him home with

lady Ermelin,

to rejoin

large

the

all

To

her and his children he related

wonders he had gone through at

court, not omitting the minutest circumstance.

all felt

proud of his high fortune, and that they were

Henceforward the fox

him.

so nearly related to

much

spent his days with his wife and children as

possible, with infinite joy

more or

ever shall aver

here heard,

only

heard or read, you

Nevertheless,
heretical

than you have

may

any

if

which you have already

this

believe as

refuse,

nmch

as you please.

he shall not be accounted

and contumacious, since only he who said

can give

many

less of the fox,

as

Now who-

and content.

would not have you place much reliance

on his report;

it,

They

full

credit to

it,

though

it is

certain that

in this world believe the things they

have not

seen.*

* Thus there are many plays both of a comic and moral kind
representing matters that never were, merely for the benefit of

shewing how

men may

best shun vice and pur-

the example

sue virtue.

In the same manner this book, containmg matters

of jest,

may

struction

yet

if

seriously considered, supply

much moral

and wisdom. Well worth your consideration.

goodness nor good

men

will be found discredited

all

in-

Neither
things are

spoken of generally, and every one may take his own share as
his conscience shall best instruct him.

If

any here

find himself

REYNARD THE

140

too like himself, let

blance, and

if

him mend

any other be

avoid stumbling.

So

if

his

FOX.

ways, and remc^e the resem-

clear, let

him hold on

any take offence or

his path,

distaste,

let

and

him

likewise not blame me, but the fox, inasmuch as both the lan-

guage and the morals are his own.

Old Eng, Comm.

141

HOWLEGLASS,
THE MERRY

JESTER.*

It would be difficult to assign bounds to the popularity of this ancient representative of the practical

jokes and accomplishments of his countrymen; more

especially at a period

and

when

the people were

all serfs,

hamlets laid waste by the robber knights,

their

while they languished under the oppression of their

own

feudal lords.

son,"

from

less

reprints

We

That the adventures of the " Boor's

became thus
its

early familiar,

and versions

are informed by

would appear no

general currency than from

into other

M. Grres,t

"Der Wiedererstandene

its

repeated

tongues or dialects.
that Eulenspiegel

Eulenspiegel, \c.

and rare History of Thyl Owlglass, a peasant's

he wonderful
son,

who was

born in the land of Brunswick, here rendered from the Sa:xon

dialect into

good High Dutch, and

improved, with several quaint

now newly augmented and

figures,

being altogether very

pleasant to read, as well asadajjted for pleasing instruction."

Such
it i

is

found
t

the title of the popular

iu the Folksbiicher of

Account

of

Book

of this rustic hero, as

rres.

German popular works, such

as they have been

preserved by accident or by merit, from the earliest period to

the present.

Heidelberg, 1807.

HOWLEGLASS.

]42

first

appeared in 1483,

in the

although this

first

edition

The

one

now

earliest

Augsburgh,

is

Lower Saxon

no longer

extant,

to

that published at

is

mentioned by Koch, and

in 4to, 154(),

preserved in the Wolffenbuttel library.

translated into

Franciscan

was

It

who flourished about the period of the

From the large old edition, complete

in 4to, published at Strasburg, 1543,

it

would seem

Howleglass took both sides of the question,

and bestowed equal

ribaldiy

and abuse upon both

an eccle-

religious parties, turning his witticisms into

siastical

side,

channel

insomuch

that,

on the Lutheran

he added ten more practical jests upon the ad-

ventures of

Pope and

priestcraft, to the ninety

After " beating the

two, his usual number.

ecclesiastic" alternately
parties, the

tions,

to

to other na-

and he assumed a French dress as

others, his adventures appeared in

sin

tricks

:"

1613,

van Thyl

Schalcke Boeverijen, die im

bedreven heeft see ghe noech

figuren

Iam-

Among

Low Dutch,

at Rotterdam, under the title of " Historie

van

early as

into Latin

and subsequently into other tongues.

Ulenspiegel,

and

drum

the annoyance of both

fame of Howleglass spread

1559; besides being twice converted

bics,

first

High Dutch, by Thomas Murner, a

friar,

reformation.

that

dialect,

be met with.

lije,

met schoone

History of Tyell Howleglass, of his roguish

and adventures, &c.

to have proved

But above

most acceptable

all

he seems

to the peasantry in

H0WLEGLA8S.

143

the interior of Switzerland, those stout genuine

whose whole

dustry, and

moun-

whose superior strength, cheerful

tain dwellers,

spirit

continue

in-

so ex-

still

which prevails

actly congenial to the species of wit

throughout the work; the same happy ribaldry, in

the good sense of the word, which

conferred,

is

and

which can only be conferred, by nature.

" Bold, genuine, and

continues Grres, "

composed

is

the

characteristic

stuff"

of

storehouse

national

humour,"

of which the work

is

amusement

from which each successive generation has largely

drawn; a true family expositor of merriment, well

adapted to catch the popular
cessant laughter.

and keep up

ear,

It is quite clear

from

its

in-

tone and

form, however rhapsodical, that the whole work

is

the result of a concatenation of fables, throughout

different times

of which

it

the representation of an entire class,

forms the monument, gradually raised by a

combined national
an

like

edifice

which no

think

until

tricks

we

hand could possibly

among whom

see, converse,

we seem

it

affords con-

and even

and devices, and that peculiar

own.

took

it

its rise

jest with

them

to join with their famous hero in his

baldry which the

their

single

of the ornamental coloring and display of the

people's characteristics,

we

and humor of the people,

Hence the entertainment

complete.
sists

spirit

German

satire

and

ri-

peasantry acknowledge for

114

liOWLEGLASS.

" Here too we have the rude untutored kind of

and flow of

wit, rather the result of sheer strength,

than of

spirits,

by higher
really

authorities

never

and which

reflection,

falls

pronounced

is

unseemly and low, although

into

it

scurrility or obscenity in its

jests.

" Should we even imagine we trace such a tendency,

let

us recollect that the comic scenes of Aristophanes,

are

scarcely

and that the

of a higher character,

whole Athenian public scrupled not to hasten from

the statues and temples of their

Gods

whimsical creations of the poet in

And

power.

truly

to enjoy the

all

naked

their

inasmuch as our contracted edu-

cation has gradually brought us to an absurd degree

of nicety and affectation, which in opposition to nature, pretends to blush at her gifts, while

abstain from indulging

as those

it

condemns,

it

does not

in quite as inelegant pursuits

for

such our hero Howleglass

would form a good antidote

and make a good

iron-

apostrophe to the contempt of the proud and

ical

arrogant, in order to remind

are formed of flesh

them that they

likewise

and blood, and belong

to the

earth."

The humor

of the work, however,

of a low and rustic kind

it

is

not invariably

often rises to the rank of

genuine facetiousness and wit, as in the

venture with the beehive

men

to

whom

ir .nry

ad-

and with the twelve blind

the hero pretends to give twelve florins.

now
"These

mens of

i,i;g

145

LASS.

arc only a few arnonj^ Howlcglass's speci-'

and worth.

wit

personifies as

it

Indeed he represents and

were, with

and

siiiij'ular trntli

felicity,

the peculiarities of each rank and profession, in a

rustic garb;

and while he indulges throughout an

ironical seriousness of expression, there

some

to follow

is

always sure

cross or contradictory action, calcu-

lated to entertain us afresh.

" In this way he runs the gauntlet through

all

ranks

of society, not even sparing courts, though he soon

withdraws again from these

last

he

single master, but piques

will

engage himself

to

no

he stops no where,

himself upon being a rogue wholly upon his

He

count.
fool of a

HE

is

earlier date,

times,

ac-

never forgetting that

whom

people's fool,

it

his office to

is

As such he has been handed down

amuse.

own

somewhat

the

own

stands in proud opposition to the court-

to our

and though great princes have long been

of opinion, that the office

is

now become superHuous,

the people are of another opinion, and have not per-

mitted their popular tribune with the caps and bells

to lose his station.

It

would indeed be doing them

the highest injustice in this respect, to cast the least

aspersion,

upon

much more

so to lay the

their favourite fool

hand of power

and champion, by ejecting

him from the sanctuary he has

so long enjoyed.

Surely no one would be so cruel as to wish to destroy

the

only

VOL.

I.

little

edifice

he has dedicated to }K)pular

II

now LEG LASS.

146

merriment,

amidst

obelisks of pride

rounded."

the

it

every where sur-

is

Grres Deutcher Folksbuchcr,

In regard t& Howleglass himself,

it

p.

195-200.

is

supposed

that he ceased to jest about the year 1380,

tomb-stone

may

and

innumerable temples

by which

and

his

be seen to this day, at Mollen near

Lbeck, under a large lime

tree,

with

its

appropriate

device of an owl and a looking glass, carved upon

the stone.
rical

This symbol, together with his allego-

name, plainly enough betoken

sonality

his

want of per-

while the owl, which he advanced as his

emblem, furnishes us with a pretty correct index to

his character
in

its

being remarkably sly and mischievous

way, sportive and quick-sighted, as a good

mouser ought

to be,

and as brisk and thievish as the

patron of thieves himself.

To

this national

may be

eulogy upon his merits,

added some further notice of them, contained

in

very able and amusing critique upon the antiquities

of nursery literature,* from which

it

will

be seen that

the fame of our light-footed hero, had early

made

the tour of Europe, and excited emulation wherever

it

went.

" Howleglass stands as the leader of a

Tom Tram

merry troop;
Winter,

Tom

carrier of the

whose penny

men

and

Tom Long

the

of Gotham, follow in his train,

histories,

See No.

Mother

the son-in-law of

Stitch the tailor,

all

imitated from his

41, of the Quarterly

Review.

'

merrye

HOW LEG LASS.

are

Jeste'

Copland,

In

'

land

the

throughout

state,

of Sassen,' says

in the village of Keeling, there

named Wyneke,

all

old

dwelled a

that laye a child bed in the

and that childe was born

village,

and named

Tyell Howleglass.

detail his fearful jokes

was buried with

to christen-

were long to

It

which sometimes brought him

him from the

gallows, yet saved

to the

belong to the

all

was named Nicholas Howleglass, that had

that

same
ing,

'

church and

in

Christendom.

a wife

Tlicy

which has obtained such pre-eminence

Fi)ol,

and dignity

man

introuvables.

and noble, and widely dispersed family of

ancient,

Tom

now

147

his cotKn standing

the visitants at the abbey believe of

He

halter.

on one end, as
.

Ben Jonson.

" Our English translation of the 'Merry Jeste' of

a

man

that was called

and of many

Howleglass,

maiTelous thinges and jestes that he did

in

Eastland

streete,

at the

was imprinted
Vintre,

in

at

London

in

his lyfe

in

Tames

Three Craned Warfe, by

Wyllyam Copland.
" According to the technical phrase,
into

English from the High Dutch.

it

was done

There

is

also

a Flemish translation, which, well purified from

aspersions on holy church,
Flanders.

The Flemish

not to purchase

'

is

now

faithful are earnestly

The shameful

Amsterdam, by Brother Jancz,

all

a class book in

warned

edition printed
in the

at

Burgwal, at

HOWLEGLASS.

148

the sign of the 'Silver Can,' the same being calculated to vex and scandalize

The

to be found at the British

is

all

good

mentioned

translation here

catholics."

the reviewer,

l)y

Museum, and

is

supposed

to be an unique but imperfect copy. It likewise differs

in its

arrangement from other translations, as appears

from a French copy which professes to be a

municated to the

Douce.

editor,

by the kindness of Mr.

Along with the old

of

Howie-

such as Eglamoure of Artoys,

chivalric cast,

Tryamoure, &c. with the

sir

translation of

appear several other ancient traditions of a

glass,

more

literal

German, and which was com-

version from the old

Virgilius,

likewise

further informed

more ancient

still

imperfect.

The

by Mr. Douce, who,

Howleglass above mentioned, refers to

story

editor

is

in his

French

the

known

all

authorities respecting him, that there exists a set of

cuts intended for the work, in

niet's

The

Proverbs.

i?rMe^

ii.

some copies of Lag-

28.

introduction to the work, inserted in the old

English translation of

Wyllyam Coplande, with which

we

here conclude, as our best apology, will be found

to

run as follows

terion of

its

affording a pretty accurate cri-

general style.

" For the great desyring and praying of

friends

and

not deny them

I
;

the

first

writer of this

thus have

my

good

boke might

compiled and gathered

now m:ci LASS.

much

149

knavishness and falseness of one Howleglass,

made and done

within his hfe, which

Howleglass

died the year of our Lord, m.ccccl.

Nowe

syre to be pardoned both before ghostly

and worldly,

right lowly

or reade this,
fable

is

women

requyte

(my

who

those

all

shall hear

For

ig-norance to excuse.)

not only to renewe the mindes of

of

all

de-

and lowe, afore noble, and unnoble.

as fore high

And

this

men

or

degrees, from the use of sadnesse, to

passe the tyme with laugliter or myrthe

and

for be-

cause the symple knowing personnes should beware,

if

folks

can

Methinke

see.

tyme with such a mery

doo no synne, than
let

us heare howe

it

jeste,

for to

be better to passe the

and laugh

thereat,

wepe and do synne.

and

So

Howleglass, as he was borne, was

chrystcned thre tymes upon one daye."

now HOWLEGLASS WAS

Til U E t TI.M ES B A

DAY THAT

In the land of Saxony,

lit

at a place called

near the river of the same name,

in

the

first

Nicholas,

place,

PT IstD

His

born.

and that of

his

O.V Til E

SA M E

WAS BORN.
Cavelling,

Howleglass was,

father's

name was

mother Aiuie

Uibeke.

They

carried tluir son to

tism,

and gave him the name of Thyl Howleglass.

Ampleuvent

to receive

bap-

After being baptised, he was carried into a tavern,

where the whole party, as

in

many

places

is

the

HOW LEG LA SS.

150

custom, were very merry over the said child's baptism, gossips, godfather,

The good cheer

and godmother and

all.

ended, nurse was carrying the

young gentleman home again

but whether from a

drop too much, or some other cause,

it is

certain that

she tripped in crossing the bridge, and dropped with the

Both would

said infant, into the water.

been drowned
ance.

As

infallibly

had they not obtained speedy

have

assist-

was, however they reached the house

it

in safety, prepared a cauldron of hot water, in

haste, and

all

by way of antidote, gave the child a warm

bath, which he required no less for the very bespattered condition he

awful

By

muddy

was

in

such means

the

(and indeed

it

was an

Howleglass was baptised three

times upon the same day

river,

place into which both had fallen.)

and once

in a

once at church, once in

warm

bath.

THE ANSWr.nS MADE BY HOWLEGLASS TO A BIAN WHO

INQUIRED HIS WAY.

One

day

Howleglass's

leaving him, while

in the house.

It

still

parents

a very

little

were
fellow,

gone

out,

by himself

happened that a certain knight was

jogging along that way, or rather out of his way, and

seeing nobody, he went to the door, and thrusting

himself half

way through, he

no one there

inquired

if

there were

"Yes," retorted Howleglass, " there

is

II

man and

OWL EG LASS.

151

a half, and the licad of a horse

for

are half in and half out, with your horse's head

am

here

are thy father

"

man.

my

and mother,

Why, my

worse, and
loss."

and
" And where the deuce

a whole man."

my

father

mother

is

is

making a bad road worse

to

keep

oft'

his field

if

she cheat folk

think)
it

will

make bad

so ?" " Sir,

he

and

is

my

Now,

get a loan of some bread.

kind lender less (as

churl ?" cried the

seeking either shame or

is

and

little

just gone to

The man inquired, " How

folks

you

it

mother
if

my

father

delving ditches
is

gone to

she return her

be a great shame,

will

be worse."

The person next asked whether he could go comfortably that way ? " Aye, aye
go where the goose
;

goes," returned the lad, pointing to a flock of geese.

On

turning his horse's head, the

man saw the geese

Why, you
" You
the pool."

take to the water, and he exclaimed, "

rogue,

the geese are flown into

should go where the goose was then going,

not where she flew."

To

this the

traveller

say,

had no

answer to make, but obeyed, wondering at the subtle

answers of a mere child.

now

LITTI.E

HOWLEGLASS, HIDINO BEHIND IHS

FATHER ON

HORSEBACK, SHEWED Ml'CH CUNNING AND MALICE.

Soon

there

came

bitter complaints,

almost every day

repeated, by the neighbours, to Master Howleglass's

HOW LEG LASS.

152

father, assuring

was
.

for

him what a malicious rogue

and even shewed

hide his

head under the bed clothes, turn up

odd leaps and

grew so numerous and

plaints of the

witnessed

ever

antics

But when he had reached

his

ihat every

wretch

?"

How

body

calls

it

little

Howleglass, in his defence, declared that

say they will

you wish to be

if

own

eyes, let

and

jogged

Howleglass

along,

neighbours approach, pulled

a

salutation

" There's a malicious

them

to

went by

said to his father, "

You

me

his

So

seeing

some

coat be-

they

passed.

they

you,"

for

his

and

horse,

little

as

knave

little

cried aloud, as they

yet they will call

up

me

dare

continue to find fault."

still

mounted him behind him, on the

as

comes

you such a malicious

behind you, on your old Dobbin

hind,

child.

and the com-

intolerable,

convinced, father, and believe your

they

neighbours so loud, that his father

he did no body any harm, " But

father

in

ten years old, his tricks

took him roundly to task, saying, "

as

He would

his malice in the cradle.

where his head should be, and make the most

legs

ride

his son

he was wicked from the time he could walk,

upon which the urchin

see I did

them no harm, and

nick names."

His father next placed him before him, as they

rode along,

when Howleglass began

most ugly faces ever seen,

to

mocking and

tongue at every body, as they went by

pull
lolling

all

the
his

which

153

lIOVVLECiLASS.

" Look at that wicked

Kis father could not see.

little

wietcli

quite
in

!"

losin<;-

was the cry

j)iiticn(e,

an unhicky

liour

thee,

all revile

And upon

said

though thou

for

and though

this his father

" Aye, thou wert born

thou

liold tiiy

sit

lamb, the children run out of thy way."

his father, quite

vexed at such

tongue

as quiet as a

Soon

injustice,

after,

changed

his

abode, going to a village near Magdeburgh, to which

his wife

belonged

and no long time

Howleglass's

died.

after this,

mother continued to

live

he

with

her son, eating and drinking what they could get

for his

glass

mother shortly grew very poor, and Howie-

would learn no trade: only at the age of sixteen,

he had learnt
other

to

dance upon a rope, along with some

mountebank

tricks.

HOW HOWLIGLASS FELL FROM THE TIGHT HOPE INTO THE

WATER, AND HOW HE TOOK VENGEANCE UPON THOSE WHO
HAD MADE HIM
It

J'ALL.

happened one day, as Howleglass was amusing

himself with dancing upon his tight rope which he

had made
shew

fast across a

pool of water, the better to

number of idle urchins had

One of them bethought him

his dexterity, that a

gathered round to see.

of a trick, and taking out his knife he cut the cord at

one end, and Howleglass went souse into the water

11

to

HOWLEGLAi3S.

154

who

the great merriment of the rest,

out as he best could.

and very angry, but he held

it

left

him

made him both

This

to get

very dirty

his peace, declaring that

was a good joke, and that he would come again

the next morning and shew them

This he did
hibited

some time upon

"

you

Now

he said

me here

true,

time,

you

his right shoe."

who were

and curious

could be, gave them to him

some

having ex-

his rope, he said to the boys

of the parents of the children

for

after

shall see a wonderful thing, if

only each of you hand

lieving

something new.

morning

for the next

when,

there, be-

learn

to
after

what

each to take his own.

all

in

general struggle then took

kicking, one laughed, another cried,

selves

mixed

It

and some good pitched

was now Howleglass's turn

and mocking them

he bade them

try

on

swimmer he eluded

exclaiming

mine, until the parents them-

in the affray,

battles were fought.

to laugh,

is

and

one tore his

hair, another pulled his companion's, all

mive and that

cla-

a heap, telling

place, one falling over another, fighting, biting,

this is

it

keeping them

and the young urchins becoming

morous, he threw them back

will

Some

to his heart's content,

their shoes,
all

and being a

pursuit and escaped.

capital
Still

his face

among them

again for some weeks, remaining in

a very quiet

he did not venture to shew

domestic way at home, with his mother,

to see such a change,

who

rejoiced

and thought he was on the point

HOW LEO LASS.

of rcforminj^,

155

knowing the malicious

little

trick that

he had played.

now THE MOTHER

THAT

OF IIOWLEOLASS ADMONISHED HIM,

SHE MIGHT ENGAGE HIM TO LEAUN AS HONEST TRADE.

Dame

Ulbeke, Howleglass's mother, more and more

deUghted to observe her son's

retired

demeanour, forthwith thought

to take

it,

and besought him

ways

abandon

to

and peaceable
advantage of

his former perverse

which brought her no money, as might have

How-

been the case by learning some honest trade.

leglass then said

the bone will not

that which

"

My

dear mother, what

come out

man

" That, indeed,"

by."

his life

to,

is

that

what a man thinks

all

he

stick

bred in

of the flesh, and what

should dispose himself

would abide by him

will

is

answered his

mother, quite despairing, "seems to be the case; there

has been no bread

and

if this is

in the

house these four days past,

to continue only half one's

one had better be dead."

man

know

my

words, for a
will fast the

no resemblance

fast of St. Nicolas,

he enjoys a feast on
it is

when he has nothing to eat

glass " that bears

poor

life,

" No, no," said Howieto

and when he has enough to

St. Martin's evening;

with you, mother."

eat,

and thus

156

HOWLEGLASS.
now HOWLEGLASS OBTAINiD

But

he saw his mother really without any

v,'hen

bread, Hovvleglass began to think

of providing her with some.

walked into the

a baker

FOR HIS MOTHER.

BI'.EAD

it

was time to think

For this purpose, he

of Sastard, where he entered

village

shop, and inquired whether he had

objection to let his master have eighteen

rolls

He

of bread, half white, and the other half, brown.

then mentioned a gentleman's

with
hotel,

on

whom

hole in

town,

which the baker was well pleased.

Howleglass's
it,

one of the loaves into the mud.

slip

Then throwing down

"

to

bread basket, a bag, had a

through which he contrived, as he was

going along, to

home

in the

adding that his master would of course pay him

Now

name

he said he had just come to a certain

delivery, with

boy

any

twopenny

the basket he said to the baker's

dare not for the

my

master

life

of

me

carry this loaf

run back and change

wait for you here."

it

will

So away ran the baker's boy,

and away ran master Howleglass exactly the other

road.

When

the boy returned, his customer was no

longer to be seen
,

and

after looking for

him

Then

while he went back to his master.

his

little

master

without even waiting to thrash him, ran to the inn

mentioned by Howleglass, but no one knew who or

where our hero was.

had been

well choused,

Upon

this the

and that

ever likely to be paid for his bread.

this

baker found he

was

all

he was

now LEG LASS.

In this way,

Dear mother,

and remember always to

it,

57

Howlej^lass provided his motlier with

plenty of bread, sayinj^, "

you have

fast

when

eat

when you

are without."

UOW

H0WLGLAS3 WAS KIDNAPPED AWAY WHILE HE WAS

ASLEEP IN A DEE-IIOUSE; how the OUBEnS LEFT HIM, AND

HE DECAMK

One

OfNTLEMAN's SfcRVANT.

day Howleglass went along with

his

mother to

the dedication feast, where he got quite fuddled at

dinner and wished to go to sleep.

out some nice

([uiet

He

tried to find

place where he might sleep in

safety without interruption

and he wandered

to the

back of a Jew's garden, a place where there was a

number of bee-houses.
he got into

it,

Having selected one of

and slumbered soundly

so that his mother thought he

villains to steal the

"We

must have gone home

This same night there came two

before her alone.

other,

these,

until midnight,

Jew's honey, and one said to the

must judge by the weight; the heaviest

store house will be the best."

" Yes, we must steal

by the weight," returned

companion laughing,

^^fair weight ;"

his

and they proceeded

to try

them

all

round.

Now

these bee-houses were long and deep, quite

different to

what are made

when they came

to that

in

this

country

and

which contained Howleglass,

IIOWLEGLASS.

158

feeling its superior solidity, they joyfully

with

at

it

once.

motion, heard

all

made

off

Howleglass awaking with the

that they said, for

was so dark

it

So stretching out

that they could see nothing.

his

hand Howleglass took the

leader of the two thieves

him a

gentle pull, at which the

by the

hair, giving

other cursed his companion

answered

this the latter

who came

or are you walking in your sleep

should

be pulling your wig, when

To

behind.

" Are you dreaming, man,

?

how

can hardly hold

the deuce

the hive ?"

Upon

How

"
I

who

and you

load,

"

Howleglass gave the

this

a twinge,

said,

" Here

are lugging

you

me by

are

puUing

me

all

tug, as to bring along with

my

under

!"

it is

first;

you your-

the while;" and in this

it

the

first

so severe a

a handful of hair

an

which so enraged him, that flinging down the

whole concern, he

fell

regular battle ensued.

took to

upon

his

companion

till

walked out of

morning, which

his dormitory,

h.e

and a

a domestic.

One day

did.

He

then

and seeing a gentle-

man's house near at hand, he went

self as

Hearing a noise within, they

leaving Howleglass to sleep quietly in

flight,

the bee-house

the hair

you know

way they went on disputing.

At length Howleglass gave
insult

gentleman

latter

I toiling

the devil can that be?" exclaimed the

can scarcely get along

self;

am

in

as he

and hired him-

was journeying

159

IIOWLEOLASS.

with his master by a

field

hemp, the

of growing

latter

ordered him to spoil and root up

field,

for

supplying

hempen cords

the man's

for the

purpose of

binding thieves and robbers upon the wheel

Howleglass did

also treating the

man's

was one of those robber

highways and

villages,

to that kind of herb

and

felt

which
with

His lord,

the greatest indignity in his power.

truth,

field

who

kniglits

in

infested

a particular antipathy

but not content with treating

the man's field of hemp in this manner, Howleglass be-

stowed the same sort of compliments upon his master's

property, both in and out of doors

being one day justly

prudently

made

in

upon which,

dread of his resentment, he

his escape

from the castle and re-

turned no more.

HOW HOWLEGLASS NEXT HIKED HIMSELF TO

After

A PRIEST.

Howleglass had brought himself clean

off,

he journeyed towards the land of Buddenslede; and

at the

illage

vice of a priest

of Brusedent he entered into the ser-

who knew nothing

of him.

master informed him that he would have a

of

it,

His new
fine

or the servant-maid,

and that

all

he would have to do

would be easy work, indeed only half-work.

Howleglass, pleased to hear

do

it

time

that he should eat and drink as well as himself,

well.

Now

this, said that

Then

he would

he soon obsened that the

priest's

HOWLEGLASS.

160

servant-maid had only one eye

she was then pre-

paring a couple of fowls for dinner, and she bade

Howleglass turn the

spit.

She went about her work

roasted he sat

down

and when the fowls were

him he was

very hungry, and the priest had told

eat of the best as well as he did

When

stop for sauce.

the

girl

came back
"

"

My

good

with to complain to the priest

mocking me

is

see but one fowl

he says

though

glass,

who had

but

told her that if she

The

at

which

She ran

forth-

" Your new servant,

have only one eye

put two to roast." Howle-

followed her,

would see both."

the

is

?"'

" open your

them both,"

the servant went into a great rage.

sir,

spit

replied Howleglass,

girl,"

other eye, and you will then see

to take

Where

two roasting upon the

I left

to

and he did not

dinner up, she said to Howleglass,

other fowl;

he was

to eat one of them, for

now

" That

said,

is

true;

would open both eyes, she

priest replied

" That

out

is

of the question, for she has only one." " There," cried

Howleglass, " you have said

it;

but not

events," rejoined the priest, " there

eat one

and

you said

his muid,

the thing which

and
is

was
I

and you had chanced

my

to live as well as

was

not,

if

afraid

lest

all

a fowl miss-

" but

" Yes," answered Howleglass,

ing."

" At

I."

is

only

master

you should say

both had gone up to table,

to eat both.

might perjure your own soul

was

therefore

afraid

eat."

you

The

HOWLEGLASS.

priest

laughed and was

follow,

am

chicken

Howleglass said, "

to do."

My good

"

satisfied, saying,

not to be disheartened for the loss of a

my maid

but always do what

161

I will

enjoins you

do what-

willingly

Yet from that time

ever she requires of me."

forth,

he made a point of doing only just half of what she

commanded

liini

for

water, he would bring

she wanted a pitcher

if
it

only half full;

him clap a couple of faggots

only one

if

had only one

draw a jug of

beer,"

if

she said, " Howleglass,

it

solved to

make another complaint

to

Howleglass

mind:

"

What! my
I

tell

you

Howleglass answered

you ordered

me

engaged

me

heartily
;

rogue
It

"
in

full

last re-

girl at

to the priest,

who

no very Christian temper of

servant
to

finds

still

fault

with

do whatever she bid you

" Sir,

you told

that

would only be

fume

in

her only half

The

else.

came

did not

he threw on

to the fire,

he brought

and thus with every thing

of

she bade

she told him to give two feeds of hay to

the cows, they

you

if

me

have done

all

at the time that

should have an easy place

The

half work."

priest

that

you

that

it

laughed

but his servant-maid exclaimed in a great

Sir, if

you resolve to keep

your service any longer,

was no question with the

this

mischievous

must leave

priest

it."

how he was

to

decide, and Howleglass received warning on account

of the chamber-maid, at which he was not sorry for

he said he hated to be eternally scolded by a blind

now LEG LASS.

162

chamber-maid, who wanted him

the work

HOW HOWLEGLASS BEING

Howleglass

IN

in

legs, that

no time

his quarters at one of the

days, however, he

he

felt

son

at length getting

him

to

little

be no loser by

town

all his

cash, at which

had soon run up a long

was

to the

at the

In about eight

first inns.

his

by, doth not appear.

have a

he made

he arrived

and boldly took up

had expended

against Howleglass and

came

master,

uncomfortable, and not without rea-

little

for his host

OF READY CASH TO PAY

his last

left

such a good use of his

city of Halberstadt

WANT

POUND A SUBSTITUTE.

niS HOST,

When

do both halves of

to

both his and her own.

bill,

both

which how he

Finding that his host

angry with him, he intreated

more patience, and that he should

Howleglass then sent a message

it.

crier,

horse

with a handsome

fee, for

him

to

who had brought

animal made something like

proclaim the arrival of a stranger,

along with him a curious

a horse, but which had

ought to
tail to

its

head placed where

Meantime Howleglass

be.

tied

its tail

his horse's

the manger, and before the crowd had assem-

])led,

he had got out some

high

stile,

his

new

came running from

little

hand-bills, puffing in

exhibition.

all sides,

The tow n's-people

thinking to behold some

monster, or at least some rare sight.

Before permit-

HWLEGLASS.

163

ting a single soul to enter the stable, he

had secured

a penny a head, without making any abatement for

children.

As

wittily they

fast

as they

came

in

and found how

had been deceived, they could not help

laughing at the hoax, in which Ilowleglass joining,

earnestly introated
let

them not

those laugh at them

to ruin his fortunes,

who had

the secret to the town's people on the outside.

they

all

and

not paid, by telling

This

promised, and as soon as they got home, each

advised his neighbour to go and see the

great sight.

In this way, Howleglass raised a good round

money, paid

his host,

sum

of

and rode out of the town

passing a meriy time of

it

as long as his finances

held out.

HOW HOWLEGLASS CAUSED THE INHABITANTS OF MEVBURGH

TO BELIEVE THAT HE WAS GOING TO FLY.

After

having visited several places, Howleglass

came

Meyburgh, where he gave out that he was

to

prepared to exhibit

a very novel performance, to

which he was invited by the magistrates.

On

asked what

his inten-

tion to

it

was, he answered that

mount the top of the council

it

was

hall,

being

one of the

highest houses in the place, whence he intended to

fly

down without being

At

hurt.

these tidings, the market place was

people,

eagerly watching our hero,

filled

with

who with

out-

164

IIOWLEGLASS.

spread arms, was seen on the roof of the house.

When

he saw the crowd, he laughed and said aloud

"

you

all

sworn that you could have flown,

have believed you, while you believe a single

but

see the place

me,

selves told
I

is full

of them.

say, that

could

fly

faith in

so

fools,

see all of

you

one who persuaded you that he

I will, if

you

then disappeared, leaving

disappointment,

yet

fool

you had your-

you were such great

would not have believed you

can put

If

Had

would not

w'ill

all

give

me

wings."

He

the people to chew their

who went home, some

laughing, some

swearing, and others observing that he was a malicious rogue,

who

him

had

nevertheless

that he was willing to

fly

down,

told the truth, for

if

they would lend

wino's.

HOW HOWLEGLASS ADMINISTERED PHYSIC

Our

hero's

fame

A DOCTOR.

reached count rumon

at length

Quickforth, the bishop of Meyburgh, and other great

lords,

who had

humorous
his cast

board.

a regard for

tricks.

off"

suits

him on account of

The bishop
and

in particular

his

gave him

surplices, besides paying for his

In the bishop's family, there likewise lived a

doctor of medicine, no great favourite with the rest of

the household, because he had taken an aversion to

Howleglass, declaring that he was mad.

So when-

ever he saw our hero at the court, he said to the bi-

now LEG LASS.

shop and his i^entlomcn, that
invito philosophers

wise

men ought

it

165

would be better

thun fools to attend there

mix with wise men, and reason

to

wisely; and fools consort with fools, and

Moreover, that

if

to

that

great lords would

talk folly.

have the

last

about their persons, they nnisi be content to go shares

in their

The

fame.

senting this, replied

])ishop's

gentlemen highly

" There

is

that reasoning, however

hear

folly,

may

for

in

whoever wishes not

to

Where

depart from fools.

easily

re-

no great wisdom

and many who imagine

lords be, there will be fools;

themselves mighty wise, are liable to be imposed upon

even by

fools.

Thus

it is

proper for lords and princes

be surrounded by characters of

to

among

kinds;

all

one

another, they contrive to dispel ennui and

melancholy, and therefore where great lords are, fools

like to be."

Now

these

same gentlemen repeated

glass the dispute they

cerning him, adding, that

some kind of
him.

He

then
;

if

"

left the bishop's

his quarters.

and was himself compelled

assistance.

My

so, 1 will serve

and came again

he took up

he wished to play him

they would be glad to second

Howleglass said

consent to do

weeks

trick,

Howie-

to

had had with the doctor con-

good

sirs, if

him out

court for

tlie

in

you

good

space of four

to Genequestaigne,

Well
in

will

stile."

the doctor

where

fell

sick,

turn to seek advice and

So the bishop's gentlemen stepped

for-

llOWLEGLASS.

166

ward and

said, they

knew

of an expert practitioner,

just arrived in the neighbourhood,

for exhibiting a

Then

long

the doctor sent to invite Howleglass to his

lodgings, and did not recognize

said, " If you,

He

disguise.

ing a cure of me,

hope

do

to

who was famous

of cures.

list

in his

can succeed

sir,

recompence you

I will

so," said

him

Howleglass

quaint
in

mak"

well."

" but you must sub-

mit to have a very good sweating, by the event of

which,

I shall

plaint.

I will

so that

The

you

what

easily recognize

your com-

is

then take other measmes with you

will

me

not need to apply to

ever again."

doctor believed every thing he said, and forth-

with took, at one draught, a strong emetic and cathartic to begin with,

reluctance

and without the

imagining that

it

The doctor was then put

draught.

least signs of

was only a perspiring

head turned towards the wall

to bed, w^ith his

which position

in

from the pangs which soon attacked him

in the ab-

dominal viscera, he thought he must have given up

the ghost.

It

doctor passed

was indeed, a
and

it

terrific

seemed as

if

night whicli the

the ghosts of

all

upon him

all

his patients were revenging their injuries

at once.

"
as

Ah

doctor," cried

he entered the room, "

it is

with you

copious

Howleglass,
I

think

next morning

can perceive how

the perspiration must have been veiy

my system,

see,

works well." " Alas

my

ilOWLEGLASS.

dear
fact

sir," replied

the doctor, "

167

But Howleglass assured him that

best

and

after

that

it

in

fled.

was

it

all for

the

would be a sharp remedy but a short one

persuading him to take another dose, ex-

actly of the

and

and

feel very ill!"

he was so bad that he could not hold up his head.

same

The

him

strength, he left

bishop's

to his fate,

gentlemen next came to

condole with the doctor on his hapless condition, inquiring

how he found himself?

under the

effects of the

Already laboring

second application, the doctor

was very nearly speechless, and

faintly

answered,

" That he feared he had fallen into bad hands," and

began to

relate the cruel sufferings

The bishop and

his attendants,

adventures, replied, " Yes, yes

you according to your words

are apt to

them.

become

has happened to

for

you declared we

fools,

glass have his fling,

because wise

fools in their intercourse with

Sometimes, however, people

wisdom by means of a

at his

this

ought not to keep company with

men

he had undergone.

much amused

fool;

and been a

you would not have become

may be

had you

for

little

let

more

his patient,

We

rienced the taste of his tricks.

well

taught

Howlepatient,

and expe-

knew how

he would deal with you, but we held our peace,

because we were aware that you were desirous of
learning wisdom, at

all

events,

and were so wise that

you deserved to be deceived by a

man, however

wise,

who ought

fool.

not to

There

know

is

no

the na-

HOWLEGLASS.

168

ture of a fool

he

The

should he appreciate

make no

doctor could

a fresh spasm

felt

how

otherwise,

men?"

wise

and though he recovered, he

never afterwards ventured to

HOWLEGI.ASS, BEING A

answer, for

fall

out with a

fool.

PHYSICIAN, CURES ALL THE SICK IN

THE HOSPITAL OF NUREMBI'IIGH IN ONE DAY.

It so happened that Howleglass paid a

place,
gates,

the

On

Nuremburgh.

city of

he caused placards

the

visit to

the day he entered the

to be posted

on the church

and trumpeted through the town, informing

inhabitants

mighty expert
cipe for

all

of the

in his art,

of a

arrival

About

kinds of maladies.

doctor,

great

and who had an

infallible re-

time there

this

were lodged at the hospital, which contains the lance

which pierced the

relics,

was

The keeper

required.

having

side of our Saviour,

a number of patients,

many

for

and other holy

whom

of the

very obstinate patients upon

told Howleglass, that being so learned a

would contrive

"

Sir, if

you

hundred crowns from the sick fund,

of the patients

hospital,
his hands,

man,

if

he

them, he should be well paid,

to cure

Howleglass then, said

his advice

said

but mark me,

will
I

give

me

will rid

do not ask a

before I shall have cleansed the hospital of

you

shilling

them

all."

This was a joyful hearing to the keeper, and to the

governor, as well as to the subscribers at large, and

now LEG LASS.

upon Howleglass receiving a sum of

lliey insisted

money

1.69

He

to begin with.

then paid a

to the

visit

place, with a stout carpenter at his back,

and. in-

quired of each patient apart, what was his complaint,

at the

same time conjuring him to keep secret what

" You know that I am come
to state.

he was about

me

here to cure you

all

do

having the body of one of you to

that, without

burn

in order to

edive,

the rest are to take.

the fellow

"Wednesday

way

impossible for

is

make a powder
The more

choose one

sick

my

am

when

to

who cannot

come with

I shall call

out, as the last

man

of

it,

to

which

and diseased
purpose, and

walk.

Next

the keeper and the

over the

and when they must

patients,
their

it

the better he will suit

is,

I shall certainly

governors,

but,

all
is

names of

make
to

all

the

the best of

be powdered for

the rest."

On

the appointed day, the patients were

all

on

the alert ; they had girded up their loins, and not

a single one sat unbreeched, or unshod,

for

none

wished to remain behind, either to make or to take

Then came Howleglass with the governors

powders.

and the committee,

to call over their

rogues would not stop to be called

names, but the

:

rapidly towards the doors, even those

all

proceeded

who had been

bed-ridden for the last ten years.

After the coast was quite cleared, Howleglass de-

manded
VOL.

his fee,
I.

which was handed him, and he deI

llOWLKGLASS.

170

In the course of three days, how-

parted thence.

ever, the whole of the patients returned,

complaining

Then the

of their infirmities, as bitterly as ever.

keeper said

"What

paid a handsome

you

all

is

sum

the meaning of

new

to the

this?

doctor, to have

" True," they replied with one voice,

cured."

" but did you know that he threatened

last of us,

all

who should remain

in bed,

make powders

for the rest?"

gan

he had been hoaxed

to see, that

Then

to

burnt

have the
alive, to

the keeper be;

but he could

obtain no redress, and the patients were obliged to

be admitted in-door patients as before

to the

no

small regret of the governor and contributors to the

fund.

now hwleglass hired himself

HowLEGLASS, having

as a seuvant to a baker.

taken himself off to some dis-

tance from the hospital, next entered into the ser\ice of a baker

in

town.

another

ensuing day, when preparing to

ordered

to

come

sieve

should want a candle, as

But the baker

with candles

replied,

the

flour

Be

it

rest for

Early on

the

bread, he

was

and he said he

it

was almost dark.

"

never trust

my

servants

they are always accustomed to boult

by the light of the moon."

'*

make

so, I will

do so

too."

Howleglass then said,

The master went

to

some hours, during which time Howleglass

HOWLEGLASS.
took the boulting-bag and hun^^

171

it

then he boulted the flour which

out of the window,

garden

into the

tell

In the morning the

below, as hard as he could boult.

He

baker rose early to begin the process of baking.

found Howleglass
\vhat he

be thrown in that

know

work

at

still

was doing there

wheit

it

stile

is

" Dolt

will

light,

to

you

" Sir,

moon

said his

by moon

said

I will

as

master,

and not

collect

it

to-

there will be no dough."

"but

Howleglass,

your neighbour's paste

go and borrow

it

thyself! to the gallows with you,

is

"

me

let

ready for the

Then

you."

for

baker flew into a rage, and said

the

Go and hang

and

see

what you

" Very well, master," said Howle-

will find there."

glass,

do

" Yes," said his master, " but

too late to bake to day

oven,

it

!"

no great damage done,

"True, master;"
advise you

" Well," cried Howleglass,

villain !"

gether again shortly."

it is

made

flour

light of the

in the

it

" you ought to have sieved

" There

and

upon the ground

you ordered me to do."

light,

" Was

cost ?" Howloglass answered

have been sieving

in the

inquired hastily

and set out

to the public

gallows, where he

found a robber's remains which he carried back to his

master
in

" Here,

what way

still

shall

more angry,

have brought what

I

go to work with

said

"

will

it

lay

found for you

?"

The

baker,

an information

against you for defrauding public justice," and

away

HOWLEGLASSi

172

he went, followed by Howleglass, to the market-place

where the magistrates

When

sat.

the baker began to open the case to the

judge; Howleglass opened two such eyes as fairly dis-

concerted his master: so large and rolling that no

could resist them

visible faculties

and the

plaintiff

could not get through with his charge.

"What

do you want?" "Nothing," said Howie-

glass, " only you were going to complain of me, in

my

presence, before the judge

my

open

The baker then

I

replied

thought you were a

wretch

me -so,"

in

and

was obliged

my

" Go, get out of

to

eyes at least." "

sighted as you are."

my

Aye

" but

they often call

if

was

in

you would not be quite so

The

sight,

but you are a malicious

dolt,

cried Howleglass,

eyes, baker, I think

was a

eyes to see you."

your
clear-

magistrate, seeing that

foolish business, quitted his seat

it

upon which

Howleglass turning up his coat-skirt to his master

said

" Master,

if

you want to bake

can you bake such a loaf as

him the
tions.

slip,

he ran and

left

this ?"

him

I.read, behold,

and then giving

to his

own

reflec-

now LEG LASS.

HOW HOWLEOLASS SERTED

AS A CASTLE

173

WARDER TO THE tORD

OP AMBAL, KEEPING A LOOK OUT AT THE TOP OP A TOWEJl

TO DLOW THE HORN FOB THE ENEMV, AND NEXT BECAME A

SOLO

Kit.

came

It

to pass that

service of the count of

to

keep a look out

enemy.

The

he one day enlisted into the

Ambal

as a

watch and warder,

and blow

for the couriers

for the

count had a number of these enemies,

and was under the necessity of employing a considerable body of

Howleglass being

armed men.

sta-

tioned upon the top tower was frequently forgotten at

mess time when the others were enjoying good

Now

making an

the enemy,

fare.

incursion, carried off a

of cattle, Howleglass giving no alarm

great herd

but the count hearing a noise, went and saw Howleglass supporting himself against the

The count

nmsing posture.

said

window,

What

"

matter with you?" Said Howleglass, "

dance

for

such a

dare not

besides there

is

more, they

oft'

all

full

your cows, and

will besiege

you

not

enemy

?"

no need," replied his

warder, " your fields are already

are driving

shall

the

" What," said the

festival as this!"

count, " will you not sound the horn for the

"

in

is

at

of them

if I

blow

for

they

any

your castle gates.''

Shortly afterwards, the count's stock of provisions

fell

sion

short,

upon

and he was compelled

his neighbours

in

to

make an

incur-

which he got very good

174

IIOWLEGLASS.

Plenty of boiled and roast beef was the con'

booty.

sequence.

The count being

men

seated with his knights and other

at arms, at a well furnished table, Howleglass

blew a

shrill blast

arms, and

upon wh'ch the company ran

made

for the

gates

Meanwhile Howleglass

enemy.

to

but there was no

left

his station

and

proceeded to the banquetting room, where he provided himself with as

returned

much good
The men

carry and departed.

enemy when

there

is

villain,

none

and

shall lose

est

of our hinds."

your

means pleasant

office,

that you blow for

be seen

to

they are here, you give no alarm

self fairly

he could

as wise as they went, the count said to

Howleglass: " Are you mad,

the

fare as

at arms, having all

yet

when

so you are a traitor

and work with the mean-

This arrangement was by no

to Howleglass,

and he wished him-

out of the castle, but he could not get

though he always contrived when there was any

fighting, to be the very last to leave the gates
first

to

and the

come back.

Obsei-ving this, the count said

" Were you afraid

of being well beaten, that you were the last to go out

and the

first

to

come in again ?" He

replied," Pray,

my

when you and your men at

arms were making good cheer, I was fasting on the

lord,

do not be angry

top of the tower.

for

This has brought

me

very

weak

IIOWLEGLASS.

and low

but give

with better fare

to

me

will see

last to

count said: " But you

my strength
me among the first

time to recover

and you

and the

attack,

175

will,

make

The

a retreat."

perhaps, take as long a

time to put you into fighting condition, as you were

better find another service,"

and paid Howleglass

rejoiced,

assault

MOW

for

You

horn upon the top of the tower.

in playing the

had

off";

at

added the count,

which he was greatly

he had a great horror of a desperate

upon the enemy.

JOURNEYED TO SEE THE LANDGRAVE OP

AND PUETENDl.D TO BE A PAINTER.

IIOWLFGI.ASS

HESSE,

There

was now not a place

in all

Saxony, which

had not heard something of the famous

So that

Howleglass.

tricks of

as he found he could

no lon-

ger practise where he was, he determined to change

his quarters
trict

and

find

On

of Hesse.

approach of an

some new custom

his arrival

he proclaimed the

extraordinary personage, as

which brought him an introduction

who

enquired

in the dis-

to the

what was the great news

lord," said Howleglass, "

usual,

Landgrave,
?

"

My

you see before you not only

one of the most famous, but the most famous painter in the world,
all

the

who

nearly transcends the merits of

professors of the

art

put together."

The

HOWLEGLASS.

176

Landgrave said
skill

" Have you no specimen of yont

about you?" on which Howleglass said he had.

and displayed
with him

several paintings

which he had brought

They pleased

from Flanders.

ship greatly, and he shortly said

and what

you take

will

grand hall

in

the

paint the whole of

to

Howleglass, " to be sure." " True

will," said

my

" As much as you

style?"

first

lord-

his

" Well, master^

but you

must paint the genealogy of the whole of our Hessian

family,
tors

along with their wives

have been

allied

and as our ancesand, princes,

to great lords

should wish you to produce one of your most

Then Howleglass

nificent master-pieces."

"

My

dear lord,

it

florins
'<

shall

it

the price

it,

and we

depend upon

me

cost

a hundred

The Landgrave

in colours only."

Then go about

replied,

be executed as your lordship

shall

best approves, though

mag-

it

rejoined

shall not dispute

you

schall

about

be well remu-

jierated."

So Howleglass commenced
the Landgrave to advance
florins to

buy the

colors,

his labours

and engage

his labors

requesting

assistants.

The next morning he appeared with

began

him only the hundred gold

three;

and

but he insisted on no one being ad-

mitted to inspect them before a certain period, in

order not to be interrupted.

when Howleglass and

his

This was granted; and

companions found them-

selves comfortably seated in the state hall, they spent

HOWLEGLAS.

177

the whole of their time in playing at tric-trac with

the gold florins,

One day

much

to their satisfaction.

the Landgi'ave took

it

head to

into his

look at the progress of the great undertaking, and

said to his painter

" Master, suppose you just

see a specimen of your art as you proceed."

wiUingly," replied

Howleglass, " only

let

must warn

you of one thing before you see the work, which

this,

that no one who

birth,

is

can see any thing

The Landgrave
extraordinary

is

not of undoubted legitimate

my

in

painting at

all."

" That would be a very

replied,

thing,"

us

" Most

and

Howleglass entered the hall

then

The

accompanied by
latter

had hung a

large white piece of sheeting before the wall

he was painting; and drawing

it

on which

solemnly on one

side with his cane, he pointed to a supposed figure,

adding, " There,

my lord,

you see the

Landgrave

first

of Hesse Homl)ourgh, sprung from the house of the

Colonna
tinian

at

Rome.

Duke

peror of

His lady was daughter to Jus-

who was

of Beyerent,

Rome.

Em-

afterwards

From him sprung

Adelphus

this

Adelphus begot Wilham the Black; William the

Black begot his son Louis

own honored

and so on down

know, that there

is

detect a blemish in

not

my

single

work,

it

to your

Now

dignity and beneficence.

artist

who

well

can

so exceedingly

is

superb, of such astonishing grace, and fine colouring."

Our Landgrave who could

distinguish nothing but

I

IIOWLEOLASS.

178

the whited
surely be

within

said

wall,

of doubtful

"

himself:

extraction

for

must

can see

nothing but the wall:" Yet to shew hi* confidence and

good

me

taste,

well

He

alone."

how
I

he answered

but

" Master, your work pleases

can scarcely form a judgment upon

it

then retired, and his Countess inquired

the painter had succeeded; " For, to say truth,

have a poor opinion both of him and his work."

But her

lord replied

good work and pleases

will give

"

Madam, his work

me and when our
;

you permission, you

The lady then

his painting

to her as

painter

shall see it."

entreated Howleglass to let her see

and

very

is

after giving the

he had done to

lier lord,

same explanation
he exhibited the

wall with the supposed figures of the Landgrave's

Now

had before done.

family, just as he

the coun-

had brought eight maids of honor along with

tess

and a female
figures

fool,

whom

none of

her,

could discern the

which Howleglass was describing, though

none liked to say

so,

and cast an aspersion upon the

family honor.

The
I

fool

alone observed

can see no picture here

ter,

is

fit

for

me

The Countess

to

left

lady,

me be thought daughwhom you will.'' Then

thought Howleglass, since fools can

it

my

let

and a day, of

for ever

" Bless me,

tell

decamp, and he began

the truth,
to laugh.

the hall, and hastened to find the

Landgrave, who inquired hov/ she had been pleased

179

irowLF,(;i-Ass.

she replied, "

little

lord

Truly,

ladies.

I fear,

my

;"

fool here

can see no picture, and the same with

for she

young

does not please our

it

my

" However that be,

the painting.

"with

lord, that

my

it is all

piece of imposture;" and the Landgrave began to

think

was indeed

it

his courtiers

enough
tlieir

ing

He

for

the whole of

to find

adding, that

if

he should be lucky

any illegitimate rascals among them,

goods and chattels would accnje to him.

this,

Howleglass went to the

another hundred of gold florins

ants,

informed his

then

were to be admitted the next morning,

work

to see the

so.

must use despatch,

painter, that he

who

master.

all

Then

tO'

pay

to his assist-

took French leave, along with their

the Landgrave, accompanied by his

courtiers, entered the

and enquired

state hall,

Howleglass and his assistants

courtiers,

Hear-

i;^peiver general, for

He

what they thought of the new paintings,

thinking to catch them on the horns of their

gitimacy, but they

all

though there

is

this, said

"

We

see too

ocular demonstration of them.

deed paid two hundred

all

have before heard

of the famous exploit^ of Howleglass

henceforth,

now

no picture, that we have

been grossly imposed upon.

now

ille-

of them held their tongues.

The Landgrave upon

well

for

next asked his

florins for

but we have

We

have in-

the sight

but

we pronounce upon him, the sentence

HOWLEGLASS.

180

of a malicious wretch, and banish

him

for ever

from

our dominions."
Howleglass, hoA^ever, was akeady at some distance, but he did not again resume the profession of

a painter.

HOW OUR HERO DISPUTED AGAINST THE nECTOR AND LKAUNED

DOCTOUS OF PRAGUE.

After

this last feat,

Howleglass retired to Prague,

a city of Bohemia, where there was then established

He

an university of doctors and students.

affixed

a notice on the gates of the churches, declaring that

he was prepared to answer any questions that could

He

be put to him.

some

next went with his host and

the university, and boldly inquired

others, to

whether the students were agreeable to

the learned chair

This was granted

let

him mount

and Howleglass

soon found himself seated in cathedra, while the

rector

many

proceeded to question liim.*

1st.

"

How

buckets of water are contained in the sea ?"

Howleglass said

" Stop the tides and

will

measure

them, and give you a very satisfactory account!"

Piirt of the scene that follows wouUl appear to have been

borrowed from the Fourth Novella of Sacchetti,

ler

in

which a mil-

answers the questions of Messer Bernabo lord of Milan,

imagined he was questioning a certain abbot.

Translator.

who

IIOWLECILASS.

The

rector expressed his

he next inquired

from the time of Adam,

inability.

How

2nd. "

181

dashed)

Httle

uuiny days have flown

to the present ?"

" Seven, to

be sure," repHed Howleglass, " and no more, for

when seven
it

will

are

" where

then," cried the rector,

To

world?"
to be sure

even of an inch,

*'

How

far

may

it

" This house,

honoured

it,

you know

the rector granted

this,

Now

sir,

and should there be a mistake,

will let

measure

to

3rd. "

the centre of the

is

Howleglass replied

this,

you ought

with^ a long cord,

do

seven begin again, and so

finished,

continue to the end of the world."

Sooner than

it."

him the question.

be from earth to heaven?" "

It

4th.

must

be pretty near," returned Howleglass, " for when we

chaunt ever so low

sir,

if

above

will

you can hear

6th. "
is,"

But

said

broad,

church,

it is

heard plain enough,

now

sing small,

The

rector confessed his inability.

yet," cried he, "

how

and you

large

" twelve

Howleglass,

andren thousand

thousand

high, and

and count the

and you

After

jilanets

will see

this

and

tlie

whether

they had no

stars

am

more

shall try

heaven." "

is

if

me, go and see; take the

believe

all,

!"

in

you

It

leagues
will

not

sun and moon,

measure them

not right."
;

but ad-

mitted that Howleglass -was in the right;

and had

say

to

returned very satisfactory answers to such questions.

He

then dismounted ex cathedra

place, apprehensive lest

and

left

the

something disagreeable might

HOWLEGLASS.

182

occur, in consequence of the triumphant answers he

had returned.

HOW HOWLEGLASS ENTERS

When
all

name

the

of our hero

the adjacent states, and

him,

INTO HOLy ORDERS.

for his excessive

all

had spread through

agreed

in

a new method of levying money, with

For

trouble.
plice,

banishing

malice, he bethought

he

this purpose,

and began as a

clerk.

stole

little

him of
risk or

priest's sur-

In this capacity he

looked out for a memento mori, or dead man's

skiill,

in the

church-yard, and taking one from a handsome

vault,

he got

it

furbished up,

mented with gold and

and elegantly orna-

With

silver.

this

he journeyed

into the land of Pomerania, in order to levy offerings,

where the

priests use

greater diligence in drinking,

than in preaching.
In short, throughout

all

the villages where there

were any indulgences, any nuptials, any funerals, or

congregations of any kind going forward, Howleglass
to be

was sure

found there.

most part ignorant rogues, were

and cared
for,

not,

The
all

priests,

for the

agreeable to this,

so that they might only go shares,

upon the whole of the

offerings

made, the curates

are always allowed one half.

When

the

mounted the

congregation was ready,

pulpit,

and took occasion

Howleglass
to

mention

II0WLEGLAS9.

J83

that no offerinpjs would be received by him, but such

and

as were pure

from suspicion

free

and that none

of those of the female part of his congregation, would

who were

be acceptable,

on any

Pf

carrying on, or had carried

intrigues.

he continued, "

trutli,

adulteress,

if

who

to stay behind; for, let all

to

me, see

failing."

recommend

to

it,

that they are

He then

bring their offerings

not obnoxious to this

bestowed his benediction upon the

and leaving the pulpit took

asscmVjlage,

to every

unhappily there should be such present,

his station

before the altar.

Soon

there flocked persons both

good and bad, to

bestow their offerings.

The poor women gave

into the snare

them by Howleglass, firmly

laid

believing, that the

for

one who should

offer

no

easily

tribute,

could be no better than she should be, but rather

worse.

They

all

vied

therefore

with each other, in

presenting their tribute at the altar, thinking

the only

Some

way

to continue in

there were,

who

it

was

good repute.

the better to be seen, re-

peated their offer two or three times; and the worse

they were,
Howleglass.

the more eagerly did they flock round

Such was

his dexterity in raising

mo-

ney, both from the good and bad, that he found himself possessed of a considerable

the whole of these

sum.

After receiving

peace offerings, he forbade them,

under pretence of excommunication, ever to accuse

HOWLEGLASS.

184

each other of the least

frailty

were

for that they

absolved and clear; had there been a single

frail

all

one

among them, he would by no means have allowed her

Upon hearing this, the whole of the feoffering.
male congi-egation looked upon Howleglass as a very
devout preacher, because they were unable to penetrate into his

cunning

tricks.

THE TROUBLE

JlOW UOVVr.ECLASS WISHES TO BE REPAID FOR

HE TOOK

One

came

day, Howleglass

from Bamburgh
into a

IN DIXIXO.

Nuremburgh, not

to

and being very hungry, he entered

house of entertainment where he saw a

hostess.

saw by

She
his

far

told

him he was very welcome

jolly

for she

equipment that he was a boon companion,

and a wonderful knight of the

merry guest.

When

stirrup

in short,

dinner was set upon the table,

our hostess inquired whether he woidd take his repast

with them, or dine at the usual price alone

"

Howleglass said,

You

see

am

panionable fellow, that will bless heaven

any thing to eat."

money

" Aye, aye, but

it

a poor comif

he can get

must be with

go to the butcher and baker, see whether

they will give you any thing for the love of heaven

We

eat here for the

love of

money

must go without your dinner."

who had words always ready

if

Now

to serve

none, you

Howleglass,

two purposes,

HOWLEOLASS.
aid

" Good

It

else.

is

mean

hostess, I

all

ask

for

think of dinin^ upon nothing

money come how much

do you ask

six."

is

" Then the most

me," cried Howleglass, as he made

world

is

be for

it

The

?"

table

nothing;

the

ff)r

no, no, let

made answer " The gentlemen's

the next

money and

would not

185

hostess

eightpence,

is

the best for

for

a large well-

furnished board, where he eat to his heart's content.

He went

had

to the hostess as soon as he

and begged her

pay him, as she had

to

finished,
said,

for

that he was a poor man, and could not afford his

time for nothing.

"

" you have to give

me

give

was

woman,

eightpence, and then you are

eightpence, and then you shall be quit of

You

declared

money, and that

it

me

friend," replied the

" No, no," cried Howleglass, " you are to

quit,"

me.

My

to

we were

to eat here for love of

for dining at the

be eightpence.

gentlemen's table,

Certainly, as

told you, I

did not intend to dine upon nothing, nor for nothing;

but

expected to get eightpence

have worked hard and performed

it

go

!"

can do no more, give

The

me

think you have eaten as

away with you, a meal

if I

assure you

the money, and

let

me

You have said well, for

much as any four; yet

That would be strange indeed

me

best to deserve

hostess replied, "

you have the conscience to ask

tiike

and

my

pay you too

is

me

not

to

pay you

But you

are a

for

it.

wag

much but deuce

me uj). And hark

for eating

HOWLEGLASS.

186

you

come

to

my

no more; unless you come

table

to

pay to-day's reckoning with it a pretty trade,

come

should drive, marry

up,

might very soon shut up shop."

his

on these terms.

I
I

So Howleglass took

departure, not without saluting her, before she

had worked
" Well
bour

if

herself into a great

fume

and adding

you can, on your conscience, take

for nothing, fare

my

la-

you well

HOW HOWLEGLASS JOURNEYED TO ROME, WHERE HE HAD AN

INTF.nVIEW WITH THE POPE.

After

Howleglass had practised his arts

length of time,

which says; "

come back

Go

to

Rome, my honest man, and

Rome thy manners

Home again thy life to

For true

it is,

to

amend-

end."

that neither a good horse nor a

their condition

by going to

visit

first

shewed

his wit

by taking up

bad

Rome.

Forthwith then, our hero set out for that

where he

some

a rogue again."

" To

man, mend

for

he bethought him of the proverb

city,

his resi-

dence at the house of a rich widow, who seeing so

handsome a young man, inquired whence he came.

He said,

" From the country of Saxony, and that he

was purposely come

to

have an interview with the

Pope."

" Then,"

said she, "

my

friend,

you may indeed

IIOWLEGLASS.

see him, but to speak with

matter,

especially

For

say.

my

solid ducats to

part,

ducats
jolly

if I will

widow

do

a very different

is

as

you

would give a hundred or two of

any one who

ference with him."

him

you be a stranger,

if
I

187

" That

it?"

boldly, for she

me

obtain for

will

" Will you give

me

will,"

little

a con-

a hundred

repeated the

imagined that he

could bring about such an interview without paying

a number of

fees.

Howleglass now watched the time when the holy

procession was accustomed to proceed to the church

of St. Giovanni (the Lateran) in order to celebrate

mass.

Observing the procession go by, Howleglass

contrived to pass into the chapel along with the rest,

edging up as near to the chair of

When

possibly could.

elevation of the host, he turned his back

altar,

his holiness

just as

fixed his eye

position until the whole

finisiied,

Holy

Pontiff,

who had

raised

upon the

the chalice, and

same

cardinals, keeping the

upon the

being

as he

St. Peter

the time drew nigh for the

ceremony was

over.

TVIass

one of the cardinals acquainted the

that there was a

young man present

turned his back upon the holy sacrament.

The Pope commanded

that he should be instantly

secured and brought before him as he would banish

him

for

an example

to

all

bad Christians

and

Howleglass speedily found himself seized and confronted with the mighty pontiff himself.

HOWLEGLASS.

]88

He

first

what was the nature

inquired of our hero

rephed, "

am

a Christian, and

observe just the same faith as

my

hostess ;" and he

of his creed

He

then mentioned her name, which was pretty well

known.

The good dame was

instantly sent for, in order to

throw light upon the mystery

and the pope

quired of what faith she was

holy Catholic

faith,

to be siu-e

that the holy church chooses to

bid."
all

"

How came

it

great sinner, and

I felt

as

if I

dear, of the

So do

confession."

Hearing

such being the case,

permitted him to go

it

won

confirmed

believe

Pope.

am

a very

were not worthy of be-

this,

was

to

the pope said, that

only did him credit, and he

after

bestowing his benediction

on Howleglass and his hostess.

glass

all

?" said the

holding the holy sacrament, before which

make

in

or to for-

you turned

then, that

" Most holy father

first in-

believe

command

your back upon the holy sacrament

Howleglass replied

Oh
I

cried out, "

Then Howleglass

that too."

"

In this

way Howle-

the widow's hundred ducats, and remained

in his

malice more than ever; being in no

degree amended by his pilgrimage to the holy city

of Rome.

HOWLEOLASS.
HOW

II0WI.EGLA9S OBTAINED

189

AND CAnRIEO OFF THE PARSOn's

HOUSE UY MAKING KNOWN HIS CONFESSION.

In the

Rosseinberg there lived a curate

'village of

who had

a veiy pretty chamber-maid,

Now

horse which he highly prized.

and a good

Duke

the

of

Brunswick had a great desire to purchase the said

horse,

and sent more than once to know whether the

parson would be induced to dispose of him

for

he

did not venture to seize him because the parson held

his living

upon the

Brunswick.

Still

make any bargain

ears,

territories

which coming

he said to the Duke

give me,

if I will

deliver

the

with

village,

Howleglass's

you

will

"

will give

you
all

my

em-

So forthwith Howleglass
and not only

set out to the

but on his arrival walked straight into the

parson's house.
there,

to

how much

and a grand mantle,

pearls."

took leave of the duke

?"*

Duke made answer

rich robe of red satin,

broidered

" Sir

you the parson's horse, safe

and sound into your hands

Then

of the counsellors of

the parson obstinately refused to

For though he was pretty

well

known

he received an honest welcome considering

who and what manner

of

man he

was.

After he had sojourned there about three days, he

pretended to

fall

sick,

and took

at

which

much

vexed.

to his bed,

both the priest and his servant-maid were

In spite of this, however, Howleglass kept getting

IIOWLEGLASS.

190

worse and worse, so that at

whether he would

last the priest

enquired

be confessed, and receive

like to

the sacrament of holy church, to which Howleglass

Upon this

expressed his readiness.

confession,

and questioned him

exhorting him to save his soul by

most

contrition for his faults,

the priest took his

well, at the

same time

expressing- the ut-

doubting

that he

had

passed off some notable tricks and impostures in his

time.

Howleglass replied, " That there was only one

which he did not

rather

do

it

like to confess

to another holy

sin,

and that he would

man

than to him, for

should he inform his then confessor, he might, per-

But the good man

haps, be very angry."

" Friend,

it is

said

should you unluckily die in the

mean time we

both of us become sinners in the sight of heaven

haste to inform

me

great for absolutit)n.

me

and

Whether

or not, need not trouble

and

it

enrage you

it,

so

will

not be too

happens

to displease

it

we

are forbidden to

though

for all

concerns yourself."

more urgent than ever

said

it

you

shall

" Well," said Howleglass,

should like to confess

will greatly

me

trust

publish our confessions."

"

too far to send for another priest; and

it is

much

fear

it

no great offence,

The parson now became

to learn

what

it

was

and he

" Whatever petty theft or grand larceny yon

may have committed, your

confessor

who

stands be-

au W LEG LASS.
you

fore

you

will forgive

he

is

191

much

too

a Christian

to hate you."

Yes," said Howleglass, " but

*'

you

be greatly oflcnded

will

going so very fast that

The

truth

good

is,

know

but

still

too well that

feel

am

have no time for demurring.

sir,

that

have

five

times fallen

from the paths of grace, owing to the temptations of

The parson

your servant-maid."
hastily granting

went

summon

to

him
his

absolution,

bit his lips

the

left

say
**

it

but the priest

from confession from a dying

and was therefore bound

sinner,

"

had heard

to believe

it.

say no," cried the maid, " you are not

Yes"

and

the dialogue

making use of

priest

the poor

his staff,

shoulders.

girl's

!"

"

am !" " No"

became so warm that the

retorted her master, "

yes,"

and

At the mention

chamber-maid.

of the charge she was justly indignant

said he

room and

began

to lay

it

about

The malicious rogue hear-

ing the uproar as he lay in bed, laughed wickedly in

his sleeve, at the idea of having deceived the priest

but he lay

still

until evening.

Then

getting up as

if

nothing had been the matter, he asked the parson,

"

How much

he had spent during his malady ?" Both

the master and his nvaid were heartily glad to see

upon

his legs,

on any terms

But
"

as

him

and walking towards the door, rejoiced

to be rid of

him.

he went out, Howleglass said

Sir, recollect that

to the priest

you have published

my

confes--

HOWLEGLASS.

1^92

sion

am

going to Holnstadt, and

The parson hearing

the bishop."

shall

int'orm

suddenly grew

this,

calm, and even supplicated Howleglass that he would

not serve him such an

go as
if

ill

He declared he would

turn.

twenty crowns to purchase his secresy

far as

he would not breathe a

syllable of

" No, no," replied Howleglass, "

what had passed.

would not accept

a hundred to have

I shall

bishop as

In great perplexity

it

my tongue tied
behoves me to do."

inform the

the poor parson then brought the servant-maid to use

her utmost influence, on any terms, to prevent so fatal

a catastrophe.

At

last,

tears, Howleglass said

take your horse

keep no

terrr.s

offers of

I will

the parson in

consent, then, to

will say nothing.

to bribe

If not I will

The parson made

with you."

money

resolution ; to

and

when he saw

" Well

several

Howleglass from his cruel

which he would not listen

and he

finally

rode away on the parson's horse, which he presented

to the

Duke

For

of Brunswick.

this

mightily praised and recompensed

him the

fine robe

feat

he was

the duke gave

and on hearing further particulars

The parson was

bestowed upon him another.

pair at the loss of his steed

in des-

and again vented

his

anger upon the poor chamber-maid, so that she was

compelled to seek safety in

flight.
,

In this cruel manner, was the poor priest deprived

of his horse and his maid-servant together, Howleglass having so mischievously

worked a complete revo-

HOW LEG LASS.

193

lution in licr master's mind, thus leading

and maltreat her

whom

him

to hate

he had so tenderly regarded

Ijcfbre.

now HOWLfGLASS BECAME APPHENTICE

TO A BLACKSMITH.

It happened that at a certain village in Eastland,

named Rosteck,

several bellows in his forge

was

which Howleglass took a

So he hired himself; and blew

fancy to blow.

Now

whenever he bade him.

his master

in the habit of

me

and

having made

me

as

Howie-

master were thus engaged, the

after

his

" Come,

One day

with the big bellows."

glass

this observation

latter,

" Come, follow

with the bellows," walked into his garden. Howle-

down

glass taking

the large bellows, followed him,

and when he reached the place said: " Where

them down, master, while

" Thou dolt," cried his master, "

to

for

the master

working a small pair of these bel-

lows himself; saying as he puffed away:

follow

who had

there lived a blacksmith

set

do

this

carry

them back

for

go

for the

did not

shall
rest."

mean thee

thy pains."

This same master thought to make his concern an-

swer well by rising soon after midnight to rouse his

journeymen
to

to their work,

bed again.

selves,

said

and then afterwards going

men murmuring among them" What is the reason we are roused so

His

confounded early ? we are not accustomed to that

VOL.

I.

sort

IIWLEGLASS.

194

of thing at

"

all."

"

will enquire the reason."

" and thou shalt

"

" If you like," observed Howleglass,

lie

Do

so!" they

Then Howleglass went and said to

Good master, how comes it that you

plaguy early

day

in the

replied his master,

" that

said

all

longer a-bed."

little

"

his

master

stir

us up so

a rule with me,'

It is

for the first

my

seven days

journeymen should sleep only half the night." Howleglass answered not a word, nor did

But the next morning when

their

came down

as usual to their task, Howleglass

with his bed upon his shoulders

were flying about on

all sides, fell

any of the

rest.

master set them

all

stairs

and the sparks that

some of them upon

the bed. " Arc you gone mad," cried his master, " that

you bring your bed

it for,

may

to

Howleglass, " when

to take luy

such a place as

I ask ?" " It

I

is

this ?

what

is

a rule with me," replied

have slept only half the night,

bed along with me, and

let it rest

the re-

maining half upon me."

" Carry thy bed speedily back again, rogue, and

up there quick, out of my house."

said Howleglass, as he

ladder, he

went

off;

mounted through the

way through

" All very right,"

and then taking a

roof,

breaking his

the sky

-light,

without saying adieu to

The master hearing

every

now and then something

floor,

ran up with some of his

any one.

heavy

falling

workmen

on the

to see;

and found the wood, and

glass,

and

now LEG LASS.

plaister,

spread on

all sides,

195

but our hero had already

More enraged than

disappeared.

ever at this sight,

he seized a sword and was going up

after

him

had

not some of his joiu'neyraen prevented him, observing

" Master

him

to

He

house.

commanded

he has only done what you

do by mounting up there

quick, out of your

has disappeared, as you see ;" and the

master was compelled to chew the cud of his anger

as he best could.

BOW HOWLEGLASS HIRED HIMSELF TO

Our

A SHOEMAKER.

hero next entered into the service of a shoe-

maker,

a man who was fonder of spending

in walking to the

One day Howleglass

ter, in

his time

Hall, than of working at

what fashion

said to his master

shall I cut

home.

" Pray mas-

these?" " Cut up

all

you see a porker drive

the hide, big and

little,

his pigs through

the gate !" Forthwith he began to

just as

cut the leather for pigs, oxen, horses, sheep, claws

and hoofs.
In the evening

when

his master returned

he was

astonished to find his leather cut up in so strange a

style,

and was naturally very angry.

Howleglass, "

me ;"

but his master said

bade you cut up

" Why," said

have only done as you commanded

my

" Nay, not so,

leather into shoes for

never

beasts

IIOWLEGLASS.

196

nothing of the sort

into small

Howleglass, "

would

but that you should cut them

and large

you had told

if

willingly

me

have done, and

every thing you can direct

me

ever, the master cut

;"

irp

quoth

that, master, so I
will

still

do

it,

and

upon which condi-

;"

The next day how-

pardoned him.

tions his master

" Aye

men."

sizes for

out himself, and gave Howie-

glass the shoes to stitch, the large with

the small.

His master wished to see how he would go to work

when proceeding

directly as

he had been

told,

he very

solemnly began to sew together one of the small shoes

with a large one.

Remarking

this his

chastise him, "

You

every thing to the

master said, as he began to

are a

as

letter,

cried Howleglass, " that

good servant, for you do

you are bidden." " Then,"
a

is

friend,"

continued his master

would learn how

to

make

large pair of shoes.

more than

more

nie,

leather

it

If

will

good reason why

vei-y

" That

you should not cudgel me."

" but

first

never do.
I

true,

wish

my
you,

a small and then a

you mind

cut others as

is

my

exact words,

See here

is

some

have told you again and

again."

Having occasion

to leave him, the master returned

again in about an hour, not a

little

anxious, as he re-

collected having told Howleglass to cut out in one

fonn

first

small

heap of leather

and
all

tndy he found an immense

cut into small shapes

besides

197

IIOWLEGLASS.

they were the whole of them

one

"

foot.

Oh

you

lefts,

villain !"

made

only to

cried his master

fit

"

is

there not a right shoe as well as a left."

Without

being the least disturbed, Howleglass said

to be sure,

as left

if

you want them,

me

but you ordered

to cut first

" Friend," cried his master,

last."

" Yes,

can cut right as well

"

if

upon one
were to

make you my foreman, you would soon send me

the devil

to

me for the leather you have

and you may go try your fortune else-

come, pay

already spoiled,

" For that, master," replied Howleglass,

where!"

" you must ask the tanner to supply you with more
leather

is

it

none of

my

business

!"

and

he forth-

with ran out of the shop and out of the town.

now HOWLEGLASS IMPOSED UPON THE TAVERN-KEEPER

OF

LBECK.

A SHORT

time afterwards, Howleglass went to L-

beck; but he stood upon his good behaviour, as the

police

was

Now

especially active at that place.

there

good vaults

was a certain tavern-keeper who kept

for the great

men

of the town, and

who

was very proud, declaring that no one could outwit

him

but his conceit made him

place.

project for undeceiving

For

this

many enemies

in the

This coming to Howleglass's ears, he laid a

him

in his

own good

opinion.

purpose he took two drinking vessels of the

IIOWLEGLASS.

198

same

size,

one

full,

and the other empty, which he cai-

When

ried secretly under his cloak.

he went

he

in,

handed the empty one, bade the tapster draw him a

quart of wine which he took and put under his mantle,
at the

same time placing that which was under,

of water very dexterously in

its

full

place, as he turned

aside.

" What

eightpence

"

Howleglass

is," cried

it

here.

It

What! would you have

for

it

it,

my

table."

nothing?" exclaimed

you don't

if

have only

dear for

too

is

" The deuce

less."

" why, man,

the fellow in a great huff; "

can leave

Howleglass?

your charge," inquired

is

" Ten-pence," said the man, " no

like

you

it,

can't you ?"

Thought Howleglass, no, I will not do that but

he said aloud, " I wish I could make eight into ten,
!

but as
wine

for

cannot do so you had better

them, than lose the

sale."

me

let

Then

have the

the tavern-

keeper coming up in a great passion took Howleglass's

vessel of water,

and threw

stood by, imagining that

fool

for

it

into a large

was the wine.

it

you are," he continued

cried Howleglass
is

no one so

"

it

full

money

Saying

this

for."

you who are the

fool

What
" to

call

" Stop there,'

of wisdom, but he

be deceived even by a
be."

is

"

to Howleglass,

wine which you cannot pay

there

wine vat that

fool

may

for

at times

however wise he

may

he departed, with the wine and his

both, concealed under his mantle.

The man,

now

I,

Ef;

I,

199

A SS.

however, suspicious of something wrong, even from

his

own words,

sent

constable

after

him

and

Howleglass being overtaken and the wine found upon

him, he was thrown into prison.

Many

observed that he well deserved a halter for

his pains; while others maintained that

an ingenious

trick,

it

was only

and that the conceited tavern-

keeper ought to have taken better care of himself; in

particular, considering that

done

it

he challenged any one to

Howleglass, moreover, might only have

deceive him.

to mortify the

man's pride and arrogance, but

the tavern-keeper's party declared that he was an arrant

rogue, and

that the

insisted

sentence of the law,

that of hanging, should be carried into full effect.

When

the day was come, on which he was to be

carried to the gallows, the matter

was quickly spread

through the town of Lbeck, and

men on horseback

and on

foot were seen collected to witness the

Howleglass's wonderful

life.

None

end of

believed that he

possessed the art of necromancy in a sufficient degree

to efibct his release, but the greater part
lingly

While they were bearing Howleglass

of execution, he said not a word

when he

to the place

and the people

round said that he was more dead than

ever

would wil-

have enjoyed the sight of his deliverance.

alive.

How-

arrived under the gallows, he said he

wished to have a word with the

sheriffs,

and very

meekly intreated that they would be pleased to grant

him

his last petition

a prayer offered neither for his

IIOWLEGLASS.

300

life,

nor for silver or gold, but only for a very small

might be granted him without

This

matter.

in

the least injuring any one, and each of the sheriffs

and counsellors present could

spending a farthing.
affair, it

After

execute

was concluded that such a

who were

could be he wished

from a

petition

poor dying wretch might be safely granted.

were a number

without

it

debating the

shortly

Now

there

curious to learn what

for, after

many

excepting so

it

other

important points.

" For none of these," continued

Howleglass, " do

favor

much

so

entreat you; but for the small

desire, pray let

oath and assurance that

it

shall

The counsel made no

went on

to say

me have
be

fulfilled."

and our hero

difficulty,

" Now, as

your solemn

solemnly adhere to your engagement,

that you

my

and

lords

you

feel certain
I

do

will

enjoin,

counsellors, beginning

first

with the provost, and proceeding in degree to the

rest,

will,

Then they
ing one and
chnest.

come and

kiss

all,

that

it

spit;

agree-

was by no means a

fair re-

council of Lbeck, to bear so

for

fidelity

lightly sport withal

decease,

me."

began to laugh, and to

all

" Yet," cried Howleglass, "

reputation

my

during three mornings after

before taking breakfast,

and

good and honest a

justice,

but that

hold the famous

all

as

will

it

keep

will

not

me

that

same promise which they have sworn by word of

mouth." After
deliberate

this appeal, the council

upon the

affair,

agam went

to

and at length concluded

HOW LEG LASS.

201

that the most fair and satisfactory

in^,

would be

and so

to leave

mode

of proceed-

alive

as

Howleglass

he was,

release themselves as well as him, each from

a very disagreeable operation

way.

in its

now HOWLEGLASS TOOK UPON HIMSELF THE

EUSI.NES9 OF A

SPECTACLE MAKER.

happened, that the electors were one day at

It

Rome, and

variance in their choice of an emperor of

the

Count of Supplemburgh was

But there were others who wished

by force of arms

and

it

was

elected.

finally

to elect themselves

requisite for the

newly

chosen potentate, to station himself, during three

the town

weeks, before

attack of any who chose

of

Frankfort, waiting

the

Owing

to encounter him.

to this, a vast concourse of people

had assembled

hearing of which, Howleglass said

" There

grand assemblage of
will

surely give

me

be a

and great people, who

lords,

something ; were

medal; and most certainly

will

it

will go."

only a silver

So when he

arrived near Frankfort, he there found the bishop of

Treves, who observing him

who he might be ?

Howleglass then replied

spectacles

so oddly habited, inquired

"

Sir,

am coming now

can no where find any custom

worth nothing."

"

am

maker of

from Brabant, but

;

our trade

is

become

should think on the contrary,"

k5

HOVVLEGLASS.

202

said the bishop, " that your business ought to go

daily

improving;

for,

Therefore they ought to apply

sighted every day.

to

you

for

you

lord,

say very true

thing hurts our trade, which

I

it

man, and

boldly,

The bishop

most hurts our

future

it

will

reason, that

said

trade,

be good

"

is

My

replied

we

nothing;

fear

pretty well accustomed to hear such

Then Howleglass

but one

would mention, were

not afraid of offending you."

"Say

My

Howleglass replied: "

spectacles."

much honored

on

men grow more weak-

truly

men

are

as you."

reverend lord, what

the apprehension that in

And

for nothing.

we observe you and

this

for

other great lords

along with popes, cardinals, bishops, emperors, kings,

dukes, justices, and governors of

whom God amend

through

their

fingers,

all

lands

all

of

have got a trick of looking

(instead

and

of spectacles)

hiding their eyes from the sight of justice, except she

come arrayed

in gold,

and precious

stuff.

" Formerly great

order to learn to

do

right.

At that

men used to study

whom to administer

Priests too, studied

than now, and spectacles indeed were

At

is

in

present, they read their lessons

and never open a book,

fault

and

period, they wore spectacles,

our business flomished.

quest.

the laws, in
justice,

for

and

more

great re-

by heart

weeks together.

This

so frequent throughout the country, that even

the peasants themselves study through their fingers."

IIOU

Now
gloss

I.F.C.

203

I.ASS.

the bishop could read this text without any

so he

Frankfort

give

I will

Howle^lass

said to

my

you

arms and

him

with

Howles^lass .remained

" Follow

to

and

emperor

the

until

me

livery,"

was inaugurated, and afterwards returned

the

into

land of Saxony.

HOW HOWLl-GLASS

ENTEREll INTO A MEIlCriANT

SERVICE, IN

QUALITY OF A COOK.

In the town

HerdcUcm,

of

resided a

there

rich

merchant, who, happening one day to be walking

one of his own

fields,

way out

a short

He

saw Howleglass lying on the green.

who he was

'(

To

this,

Howleglass replied

cook without a master, and

servant

othei-wise a

The merchant

place for hie."

become my

scullion

servant,

I will

for

my

wife

all

is

name,

to

Bartholomew.
too long,

but that
said

give you

"

"

is

If

now

you

not a

like to

good board and

shall

you

have a

Howleglass promised

and

his

trial,

to

do

his

new master asked him

which our hero

replied,

that

it

was

" The name," said the merchant, "

shall

"

be called Dot."

Howleglass, "just as you like best,

well."

am

continually bickering one after another

her cooks."

best to please him

his

inquired

"

have been a cook's

wages, besides your clothes; you

with

in

of the city,

Then come," added

it

Sir,"

is

said

pleases

me

"you

are

his master,

IIOWLEGLASS.

204

man

the sort of

want

us go directly into

let

mf

garden, to gather herbs for the young boiled chickens,

as to-morrow

make merry

the house, and

come

in,

have a party coming, and we must

So they went

with the best cheer."

when

she said

" Heyday, master mine, what

kind of a servant have you brought us here

you

afraid

mouldy? what

my

the

lest
is

bread should be

he for?" " Oh, you

dear, to-morrow;

and follow me

Away

left

Are

grow

to

shall see that,

here, Dol, take this pannier,

to the shambles."

they went, and the merchant bought some

pieces of roasting

Dol, remember

meat

saying on his return

when you put

morrow, that you leave

it

may put on a good deal

this sirloin

do coolly

to

so as not to catch, or singe

"

Now,

down

to-

at a distance,

the boiling piece you

earlier."

" Very good, master," said Howleglass, "

be done."

to

them

the merchant's wife saw

So the next morning he

brought the meat he was to

it

rose betimes

shall

and

But

boil near the fire.

that which he intended to roast he stuck upon the

spit,

and placed

it

at a cool distance as

told (namely, in the

beer)

from the

fire.

cellar

Now

before

guests had assembled, he went

going on well
lady)

in

he had been

between two barrels of

to

the

merchant's

see that

all

was

the kitchen, (for his wife was a fine

and he enquired whether the dinner was almost

ready, to which Howleglass

made answer

" Yes,

now LEG LASS.

205
" Every thing but

eveiy thing but the roast beef."

excUiimed the merchant

is

on the

spit,"

" and where

answered Howleglass
as you desired,

cool, at a distance

place in the house, which

"

that ?"

is

"

is

it

It

doing

the coolest

in

You

the beer cellar.

is

!"

did not say

when you would

While

master was discussing this point with

his

like to

have

Howleglass the guests began to arrive

it

to

roasted."

whom

he

candidly related the incident, at which some looked

grave and others laughed

all

while his lady was least of

Indeed she proposed an

satisfied with the joke.

ejectment of the new cook from the premises forthwith.

"

My

" give yourself no

love," said the merchant,

kind of luieasincss al)out that

to Gollai

to-morrow

me

and he must see

there,

am

They then

return he shall be discharged.

going

but on
all

my
pro-

ceeded to dinner, and made as good cheer as they

could upon what they had got.
all

was

In the evening

over, his master called Howleglass,

" Dol, see that

my

morrow morning,
far as Gollai;

greased."

coach

for

so look

and the

Accordingly when

it

priest are going as

he well cleaned

and

merchant and the

slip

went the

priest

out.

priest

and

the whole family were

abed, Howleglass proceeded to grease

well both inside

in readiness early to-

is

that

when

and said

And

in the

mounted

wherever he

the

chariot

morning our

to drive oft';

laid his

hand

but

or foot;

206

HOWLEGI-ASS.

and he had many a time nearly broken

"What

they drove along.

" can

it

be, that

is

so thick

So they stopped and

passion, enquiring

the

and greasy

neck as

he cried,

?"

called Howleglass in a great

what

vile

work he had been doing,

and swore and threatened dreadfully.

waggon load of straw

his

deuce,"

luckily

Just then a

went by, and the un-

happy party purchased a small quantity with which

purify the well bedizened chariot.

the merchant cried out

rascal

!"

and soon

to

Quite enraged,

" Off to the gallows, you

Howleglass saw one not far

after

from the road

side,

underneath

he was proceeding very leisurely to

it,

and driving the chariot

What

"

unharness the horses.

"

villain !" said his master.

*'

did not you order

where

thought

me

was

is

Why,"

that you are about

replied Howleglass,

to drive off to

the gallows

you down."

to set

right

On

look-

ing up, the priest and the merchant sure enough saw
the gibbet

a panic

away

upon which

his master being seized with

commanded him

to

back, and

drive

right

as hard as he could flog.

Hearing

this,

Howleglass dashed neck and nothing

through the mud, so that

tearing, the vehicle

came

part remaining with the

liy

the horrible pulling and

straight in two, the hinder

merchant and the

priest

stuck in the mud, and the other proceeding with

Howleglass and the horses just as

happened.

if

nothing had

At length with much shouting and run-

HOW LEG LASS.

207

ning the merchant overtook his driver, and was beginning to

when

inflict

the priest

summary

this fashion they contrived to

ney, and so

how

upon him

home

again.

Well

cried the merchant,

safely returned."

in

enquired

his wife

now

'

"

'.

Oh

we are

that

They then called Howleglass, saying:

To-night eat and drink

to-morrow you

and

accomplish their jour-

the merchant had enjoyed his journey

delightful,"

'

venu;cance

came up and prevented him

to your heart's content,

this house.

(juit

you are too great a malicious

rascal for

right, master," said Howleglass,

for

cannot keep you,

and

" All

me."

in the

morning

when the merchant went out he again said, " Eat and
drink, take as
find

much

you here when

as you like, but do not let

me

come home from church."

So

while the family was at church, Howleglass proceeded

as he had been ordered to take what he liked

and

very shortly he had almost completely gutted the

house.

In short the merchant

met him with a whole

load of his goods in the street as he was coming from

church. "

Ha! my honest cook," he

you dressing now

cried, " what ai-e

" What you commanded me to

do," replied Howleglass, " you informed

might take what

me

that

hked, and rid the house of me."

" Leave these things where they are," exclaimed the

merchant,

" and

Howleglass said
ters order

go

to

"

do every thing that

me, and yet

the

devil

cannot

if

live in

you

please."

my

mas-

peace."

So

HOWLEGLASS.

208

he quitted the merchant

met

sorry again to have

his

whom

a hufF,

in

he was

had

with, while the former

goods conveyed back to the house.

HOW HOWLEGT.ASS WAS INVITED

TO DINNER, AND

WHAT HE

DID.

In the town of Luxembourgh, there hved a certain

maker of

who had

flutes,

Being

in Howleglass's

long beaten up the

so

whole country round, as to be

kind of tricks.

Tip to all

company, he one day

said to

him, " Let us some day have a drinking bout

pose you were to come and dine with
if

you are

" That

able."

Howleglass

though he did not

The next

words.

day, however,

come, he proceeded

What was
fast,

to the

sup-

to-morrow,

easily do," said

rightly

when

hear his

the hour was

house of the flute-maker.

his disappointment to find the house doors

and no answer

trials,

can very

me

to his calls

and

after

many

vain

he was compelled to kick his heels backwards

and forwards,

in

hopes the host might return, until

the afternoon being far spent, he was compelled to

own

himself a fool and went reluctantly home.

On

the ensuing day, he

flute-maker, in the
friend,

the

when you

met

market,

invite

his acquaintance, the

"My

and said;

any one

to dinner, are

habit of shutting your house door

ready ?"

The other answered

right, I asked

" If you

good

you

when

it

in
is

will recollect

you to come and dine with me,

if

you

noWLEGLASS.

were able

coming
I

but the house door being shut, and no one

to open,

able, therefore

Howleglass, sadly nettled at being

the subject of a trick like his own, replied, "

thank you,

may

seems you were not

it

excuse you."

made

209

sir;

did not think of that

and learn something."

still live

but

The

laughed, and added: " But jesting apart,

now go

to

my

house,

I will

we

see

other then
if

you

will

soon follow, and you shall

have an excellent dinner of roast and boiled, with no

one but yourself."

So Howleglass went, and found every thing

had

As

dinner.

as

he

man's wife busily directing about the

said, the
it

was

cpiite

ready, the girl went to look

out for her muster; his wife too finding she lingered,

went

after her to the door, while

had stepped

just as they

them

He had

both.

Howleglass following,

out, shut the

door upon

them that the master was

told

home a fine sturgeon, and both

now hastened to meet him.

carrying
servant

wife

and

Seeing them running so quickly, he said, " Whither

and

so fast?"

sturgeon
it?"

his wife

and

at our house,

where

Much

within doors

made answer: " Howleglass

told us that

is it,

that

vexed, the
;

we may

man

depend upon

Tnie enough, when they

said:

is

fine

help you to carry

"Why

not stop

he has tricked us

it

!"

arrived, they found all the

entrances secured. " Aye, this

come

you had bought a

to fetch," cried the

is

the sturgeon you are

husband, as he knocked

210

IIOWLEGLASS.

again and again

shoes yesterday

" and so Howleglass stood in our

verily

we

fear

shall dine as

he

" Leave off knocking there," cried Howleglass

did."

from within, " and go about your business ; for the

good host assured me that

you may come

was to dine here alone, but

after dinner."

mean

said so, but did not

The flute-maker said "

;

so ;" but he

go to the house of one of his neighbours

was obliged to
until

it

pleased

Howleglass to admit him into his own house, where

he was enjoying himself dining with no one but himself,

he had been

as

told.

Afterwards, he opened the doors as a great favor,

and admitted the

hungry

host,

who

" Howleglass, this

shut the owners out of their

way was

now

only said, for he was very

is

a bad habit of yours to

own houses

!"

and

in this

the trick of the host doubly requited.

IIOWLIGI-ASS BY FAT.SE VVITNESStS OBTAINED A

NEW

PIECE OF CLOTH.

Now

as Howleglass belonged to that class of quiet

citizens

who

are not at

same time loving a

to be continually

bibendum,'

to

little

Ibnd of hard work

good cheer

on the look out

what

day he went

all

'

he was obliged

quid cdcudum, quid

he should cat and drink.

fair,

at the

One

where he saw a countryman

who was buying a large linen sheet. Howleglass

began to think how he might have it instead of him,

now LEf. LASS.

after letting

him pay

for

it,

211

which he

time you must

Avhom he said

to

himself,

like

assist

me and

being as-

"

Now

is

the

only maintain that the

and

color ofthat fellow's cloth is blue,

this

and a malicious

certained, he next accosted a priest,

rogue

Accosting

did.

him, he inquired where he Uved? and

I will

give

you

him, for your pains." Then Howie-

florin, if I trick

glass hastening after the

man, with the

priest

and

his

whom

companion following at a distance, both of

were instructed to appear when he should make signal,

he joined the devoted countryman.

" Well, friend, where did you buy that blue cloth?"

The man answered,

that

Howleglass said: "

It

"

eyes."

You have

it

is

was green, and not

blue sure enough, in

got the blues

if

then," said the countryman. " But,

glass, "

that

1 will
is

it

lay

blue,

you twenty

and

let the

man

"

Sir,

we two

of

we

priest's

to

will

man we

it

meet

signal,

it

the

tell

us truly

what you think

Quoth the

" There can be no doubt of that

any who have eyes

" The devil

shall

Said the coimtry-

abide by your opinion."

companion

Howle-

are disputing about the color of

this here piece of cloth

it

cried

florins against this cloth,

first

companion joined them.

priest's

sir,"

when Howleglass making

my

not the jaundice,

" Done," cried the man, and

decide the point."

was agreed

blue.

it is

piece of blue cloth."

be!" exclaimed the man; " then you

are a couple of rogues

who have

conspired together,

HOW LEG LASS.

212

to pass such a skit

plied

"I

comes a
shall

lie ;"

form us what

Why, my

see that

he

for

the Lord's priest and surely

is

which the man agreed.

to

came up, Howleglass

the priest

"

is

"

said:

So when
pray in-

Sir,

the color of this piece of cloth

friends," replied the priest,

afraid of

gainsaying the priest directly added, " That

but these other fellows told

priest said

"

whether

it

" Only,

sir,

What

to

be black or blue

" Man,

except that

this

?"

The man answered,

piece of sheeting

"

it."

all

The

is

blue."

you were not a

if

lie,

three a set of malicious rascals

it is

my

and he reluctantly gave up the

villains

The

can say nothing to the bu-

but because you are a priest,

;"

true,

is

lied."

should say that you had told a horrid

and that you were

you

do with your quarrel;

" Then," cried the countryman,

priest, I

that

that you would please to decide

priest replied
siness,

have

me

?''

" don't you

The poor countryman

blue ?"

it is

re-

however, here

consent to end the matter as he

priest, I will

judge best

he will not

But Howleglass

upon me."

say nothing of that

will

duty to believe

cloth,

which the

cut up into wearing apparel for the winter,

leaving the
necessity.

unhappy

rustic

and

his

family in great

313

liOWLEGLASS.

now HOWLEGI.A88 PRETENDED TO BESTOW TWENTY FLORINS

VPON TWELVE BLIND MEN ASA SIGNAL ACT OP CHARITY.
In the town of Hanover, where Howleglass was then
a number of wonderful tricks,

residing, he effected

famous

for their rare ingenuity,

lowing was one.

proceeding along the road,

they

came

and of which the

One day he saw

of

all

a dozen

whom stopped when

tleman by the sound of his horse's

and

said

was a gen-

opposite, thinking Howleglass

heard him stop, they

" Good

made
we

sir,

from town, where a rich

When

feet.

is

it

weary

are

man

travellers

you

left.

Here are twenty

florins,

yourselves,"

the

enjoy

so go

back

at

to the inn

" Well,"

The

at.

blind

all

it

which

is
I

enough

have just

with which you

may

same time giving them

nothing; and mentioning the

had been

coming

has just given up the

shocking cold,

to kill

they

a most humble obeisance,

ghost, for the purpose of collecting alms."

said Howleglass, "

fol-

Wind men

name of

the tavern he

thanked him, each sup-

posing that the other had received the

florins,

and

then they turned back to stop at the place which

Howleglass had pointed out.

said, as they entered,

horseback

who has

"

Good

host,"

they

" we have met a gentleman on

given us twenty florins to spend

with you during the winter season."

The

landlord being an avaricious dog, received

them with

kind

welcome, without ascertaining

which of them was the treasurer ; so ushering them

214

IIOWLKGLASS.

a room, he said they should have the best he

into

Accordingly he gave them good fare,

could afford.

and plenty of strong drink,

until

he had made out a

sum

bill

amounting

He

then went to know whether they would

to

the exact

to

which the blind answered, " Yes

settle

"

him who received

let

of twenty florins.

host for change."*

the florins, give

Here was the

them

difficulty

all

the

rest,

when they began

to

to our

first

and then another denied having received any

with

like

adding,

;"

one

and so

to scratch their

heads, and look very foolish at the good host.

They

declared that they had been sadly imposed upon

when

after

some vain reproaches, the host began

consider that

them go

if

it

would be worse

to detain

than to

he were to keep them at his inn.

to
let

Yet,

having resolved to be paid his money, he compounded

the matter, by disposing of them in a large pigstye
for a prison,

and sent them a

little

hay and straw to

feast upon.

When

Howleglass imagined the blind

men must

almost have spent their money, he rode back towards

the inn

saw

and

in

going to the stable with his horse, he

his blind friends in their

costing the host he said

"

Then

new abode.

What

ac-

can be the reason

* This incident has been frequently worked up and become

current in a number of stories, in particular

It forms the subject of

a Tale of Sacchetti

wise given by Sozziai. Translator.

among
and

the Italians.

lias

been like-

now LEG LASS.

215

up there

that you have got those poor fellows shut

hogs? have you no bowels of compassion?"

like

" Would," cried the

with

" that the

host,

of their pack, and

tlie rest

was paid

were

rascals

for their

entertainment;" at the same time telling Howleglass

how he had been imposed

hero, " could

you not take

"

man,

said the

let

wretch,"

Howleglass, "

cannot be done

for

you to

" That," said the curate, "

willingly, but

whom

in

we must wait a few days

hurry,"

" Good," said

the meanwhile,

in

will

will

will

So Howleglass went back and

do

Howleglass

will see

" Let
to it."

said to the hostess,

have found good bond for your husband,

me

be

we must do

you may commimicate our intention."

you go with

Sir,

work

bring his wife, to

her come," said the curate, " and

let

"

beseech

you can exorcise them, and you

rewarded."

" and

to a pious

think he hath a legion of devils

try if

nothing

hath suddenly become pos-

mine host of the

sessed

hand

it

and he has-

love of charity,"

entreat you will lend your

You

see whether

will

tened to the 'curate's house and said to him

1

good

have

to

the pigs out of the stye." "

bond, and then

said

" Yes,"

?"

them

for

be glad

should

" But," said our

upon.
bail

if

to speak to the party."

he

"

will

This

being agreed they went to the curate, and Howleglass said

what

" Here

is

the man's wife

you have promised.''

now

let

her hear

" Very good," repcd the

HOWLEGLASS.

216

curate.

'

"

you

If

two, good dame,

hope

to set

him

upon your husband, and

I will call

" That

at rest."

who

a good hearing,"

acquaint

to

satisfied of the curate's respecta-

men

permitted the blind

bility gladly

is

and hastened home

said the hostess,

her husband,

have patience a day or

will only

to

go

free.

Howleglass having thus settled matters with the

host took his departure

leaving the curate and

him

Then on

to decide the question as they best could.

the appointed day, the hostess waited upon the curate

to receive the
tlie

amount of the blind mens' bill. Then

" It is by your husband's order

curate replied

"

you, are come?" to which she assented.

so," said the holy

him

talk of

you

sir,

money."

man, "

it is

God

that he

thought

makes

he himself who wants the

" Aye," said he, "

am

devil has prevailed with him, though

grace of

the devil that

" Nay," said his wife, " please

money."

not the devil

is

it

may

well," said the hostess, "

told
I

see

how

the

trust with the

yet be restored."

that

it is

disposed people are averse to pay, they

" Well,

when illmake these

;

inventions;" and she went home, complaining bitterly

of what the curate had said.

But the host himself was

so enraged, that he ran

out of the house with a piece of roast beef which he

had upon the

the curate's,

spit, in his

who

hand, and hastened towards

seeing his approach

made

the sign

of the cross, and calling his neighbours to his aid, he

liWLELASS.

217

hM

man was

the

tluit

tliern

running towards him cried

shall pay,

you

shall pay."

priest,

bein;^ spitted

was with much

difficulty driven

man

host

" You

who

ran a nai

away.

All the efforts

proved in vain to dispossess him of

the bad spirit that

made him

continually harp upon

the curate's money; which he never ceased

mand, though the former assured

his

solemnly that he owed him nothing.

to de-

neighbours
Still

he

re-

peatedly tried to rout the evil spirit without success

and the

strife

by the demoniac, who

row chance of

of the holy

All present crossed them-

and stood round the

selves,

The

possessed.

a loud voice

in

continued between them as long as the

parties lived.

now

IIOVVIF.GLASS PVTS
^JCIlr OK A

At

ANOTHER LANDLORD TO KOUl BV THE

KAD WOLF AI ISLKBEN.

that place there dwelt a proud and spiteful land-

lord,

who also piqued himself greatly upon his

Howleglass arrived at
season in a great

fall

his

of snow.

from Saxony, likewise arrived

ing.

"

The host

Where

the

same even:

the deuce can you be coming from at this

met

heavy

VOL.

Three merchants

late in the

casting a sidelong glance observed

The merchants

time of night ?"

luckily

courage.

house during the winter

I.

a wolf in the way,

fall

said they

had un-

which together with

of snow had delayed their arrival.

218

On

HOW LEG LASS.

hearing

host became more free in his

this, the

remarks than before, ridicuHng the idea of being

scared by a wolf.

" were

,"

would not budge a

foot.

a man, and not go out of

manner he went on

this

my

Fr

to encounter a

he continued,

part,"

dozen in the open

I

fields, I

would engage them

my way

jeering

like

them

you

till

;"

like

and

in

nightfall.

Howleglass being present, and having heard the

whole history, said not a word, but proposed

to.

occupy

the same room as the strangers, which they agreed for

When

with the host.

they had retired to the cham-

ber they began to consider

their host for

all

how they might

the ridicule which he

requite

had heaped

upon them.

Then Howleglass spoke out

" Gentlemen,

see

this fellow is

a great braggadocio, hardier in word than

deed

will

but

put him to the proof,

" Nothing could be more agreeable

" and we

will

moreover pay you

Our hero answered

affairs,

and return here

shall see

go about your

in the evening.

pared, and draw a draft

which we

you please."

your trouble."

for

" To-morrow

if

to us," said they;

I will

be pre-

upon the valour of our

how he

will

honor."

host,

So the mer-

chants did, and paid both for themselves and Howleglass

while the host on his side, did not forget to

warn them to take heed of the wolves, and shouted

They thanked

after,

mocking them

him

observing that if the wolves should eat them.

as they went.

219

HOWLBGLASS.
they would be

in

no condition

to return in the evening

sayingwhich, Howlcglass and they rode different ways.

at the time appointed they were true to the hour

But

while Howleglass meantime had the good fortune to

meet a wolf which he

killed

ingenious thief of the two.

become hard with the

house

into the host's

and

frost,

most

the wolfs hide

he conveyed

who had

flayed, being the

When

it

had

secretly

recourse to his old

still

bravados when he saw the merchants return.

They

many

wolves

only replied

"

As you can encounter

at a time, suppose you were to

kill

so

one just to shew

your valour."
In a great passion he swore that there was nothing which he said that he was afraid of doing
the merchants soon after went into their

Then Howleglass
take care,

only
shall

be at

said

" Pray,

when

rest, to

kitchen

me

deal with

be on the watch."

Howleglass went down

skin, quite

let

the host and his

stairs,

and

him

household

At that time

and took the wolf's

hard and frozen, and placed

fire in

own room.

it

before the

an upright position, supported by sticks

so as to look perfectly natural, with his jaws stretched

.wide with another stick, into

old shoes, as

which he had stuck two

some sign of the hunger he

felt.

done, Howleglass returned to the merchants

rectly

lord,
host.

began
I

say

to rouse
!"

"

This

who

di-

their host: " Landlord, land-

What do you want?"

answered the

" Want!" retorted they, " we want something,

220

IIOWLEGLASS.

Up with your tapster, your chambermaid,

to be sure.

or

yourself;

we

will

The host

tomorrow."

settle

vexed at being thus disturbed, swore

custom to drink during the night

in

was not the

it

Saxony.

Still

he called the bar-maid, bidding her carry what thev

wanted

So she got up and ran

into their room.

light her candle.

Seeing the wolf at the kitchen

to

fire,

she ran into the garden, imagining he had already

Next the host

eaten the children in the cradle.

and he too went down

his tapster

called

to light his lanthorn,

which he did before he got a sight of the wolf; and

supposing he must have already devoured the

Now

hid himself in the cellar.

he

girl,

Howleglass called the

host himself for the third time, vociferatir.g that the

merchants were dying

for drink

any rate to

or at

bring them a light and they would go and draw for

themselves.

Supposing his servants must have

mine host

and went

at length rose,

In going to the

light his candle.

the wolf before he saw him, that

down with

fright,

beast's paws,

fallen asleep,

like

tire,

the others to

he got so near

when he

did, he

fell

thinking he was already in the

and uttering

cries for help.

As

the mer-

chants drew nigh, he howled out most piteously

"

Oh

haste, haste,

bar-maid

he

is

he has eaten the tapster and the

just swallowing her shoes !"

As he

uttered these words, Howleglass and the merchants

with peals of laughter ran

in

exclaiming, " Here

is

now LEG LASS.

the brave

man who would

zen wolves, and yet he

his

own house

221

clear the country of a do-

is

afraid of being shut

When

with a dead one."

up

in

the host

found himself tlms tricked, he was quite at a nonplus,

being taken so very short, so that he had not a word
to throw at a dog,

well that

had

much

previous

his

lost all their lustre

less at a

He saw

wolf now.

proud looks

and boastings

dead

at the apparition of a

wolf; and he sneaked back to his bed-room.

morning the merchants

in

Next

high triumph settled their

own and Howleglass's account with the humbled host,,'

who never more ventured to boast of his peculiar vaand they then departed.

lour;

H(;W

AND MADE A P R ETHE HOSTESS, TO SETTLE

IIOWLILGLASS FI.A\F,D A I.ITTLE DOG

-ENT OF ITS SKIN TO ITS MISTKESS,

A I'ABT OF UIS SCORE.

HowLEGLASS

having next taken up his quarters at

Aslar, where he lodged with a person

other lodgers, except a

little

who had no

dog, to which she was

mightily attached, our hero had a quarrel with her,

which arose as
her

favorite at

near the

fire,

follows.

She was always cherishing

Howleglass's expence,

treating

him

to tit-bits

seating

him

and teaching him

to drink beer out of a porringer.

Now
began

to

added

whenever Howleglass was drinking, the dog

make
"

You

his court,
see, friend,

and the hostess uniformly

what he wants

give

him a

222

drop

HOWLEGLASS.

in his porringer

he

is

asking you

;"

and

this

was

repeated that he shared with Howleglass

so often

every thing there was on table, until being quite

he stretched himself again before the

full,

At length

fire.

being both well fed for a length of time, Howie-

after

On

glass inquired for a settlement.

" Now,

he said

thing.

If

victuals,

my

looking

you had a guest, who should eat

and drink your

beer,

pay you, how would you

over,

it

me

good hostess, answer

all

one
your

and had no money to

The dame,

like it?"

think-

ing he spoke of himself, and not about her dog,

said

"I

money
"

am

give no credit here

pledge from

or

content for

my

must have

either

Howleglass replied

share, let

Then on

to his own."

all."

finding a

my companion
fit

look

occasion, in her

absence from the room, he took the dog, and going

into the stable
after

he put him to death, and flayed him

which he returned

he

"

said,

into the

Then

skin under his coat.

Now, madam,

house, with the

good lady,

calling to the

think

we can

settle."

So

she presented him again with the account; which

he soon handed her back again, taxed with half

costs.

She eagerly

other half?

" Not so,

for

inquired,

"

Who

you have had the whole

madam,"

replied Howleglass,

pay the

to

is

yourself."

" there was

one more, and he had no money to pay his share.

However, he

The

is

willing to leave his pledge."

hostess said

"

Who

can that be

?"

"

He

223

IIOWLEGLASS.

will leave

you,"
;"

said

had

to

little

dog's jacket.

is

wear

Howleglass, " the best suit he

at the

same

the best suit of clothes, by

who

the fellow

it,"

way

he

"

said,

this

of pledge, which

cat and drank with me, can leave

The poor dame was

you."

shewing her the

time,

" Here take

dreadfully shocked at

beholding the favourite's jacket in such hands, and

she cursed Howleglass from the bottom of her heart.

He
all

replied

" Your maledictions are of no use

your ov/n

fault, for

and drink

to eat

you enjoined

to your

little

cur

me

it is

to give plenty

and

kept telling

you that he had no money, though you would not

believe

Now,

me.

leave his coat

as

he has no money, he must e'en

pray accept

for

it

his part of

the

score."

The

hostess at this, was more angry than before,

and shrieked out: " Away,

villain,

and never shew your face again

" No," cried Howleglass, "
I will

ride

away

horse, saying,

;"

out of

march,

will

house,

march."

not march,

but

saying which, he sprang upon his

" Good hostess, take precious care of

your pledge, until you get the money

come back

my

sir,

for

shall

again, and hope to taste the flavour of

your wine, without paying any thing at

all."

IIOWLEGLASS.

'i'24

now JIOWI.FGLA.'S FARTHER MOfKKD THE SAME HOSTESS, BV

MAKING i;er believe that he was taken prisoner, and
.STRETCHED UPON AWHEEL.
Ix

more than a week

little

after

adventure,

this

Howleglass came to lodge at a village near Aslar,

where he

and changing

left his horse,

Now,

former hostess.

to see his

his dress,

went

there happened to

be a wheel lying before the door, upon which he

seated himself, and bade the hostess good day.

He

then asked whether she had yet heard tidings of

Howleglass? "

What should
for me

wretch too horrible

"

Why,"

said our hero,

you are so very angry

hear," said she, " of a

to hear

even named

!'

" what has he done, that

Don't you know that he

never leaves any place, without committing a number

" That," replied the hostess, "

of wicked tricks ?"

can well aver

since

for

he flayed

is

it

my

little

dog, and himself gave

the hide for what he said he had drunk."

glass said

" That was not well done."

said the hostess, "

it

will

come home

has already got his deserts

" But,"

some of

he

is

stretched

upon a

" Praised be the Lord," cried the hostess

" and had

for the

to him,

me

Howle-

"True, hostess," said Howleglass, "he

these days."

wheel."

wheel

not more than eight days

been there,
;

and

if I

broken his legs and

would gladly have paid

had the power,

arms with

would have

my own

hand."

now LEG LASS.

*<

22

Then," said Howleglass, " we have said enough

upon

this subject

said ;" for he

however,

it is,

true that

all

was then leaning upon a wheel

have

and

bidding her farewell, he hastened from the spot, nor

ever returned to

again.

it

HOW HOWLECLASS TOOK OCCASION TO PLACE

A SKAT OF

After

HIS HOSTESS

UPOV

HOT COALS.

Howleglass's departure, he went to quarter

himself upon a house, where the landlord was absent;

and

to begin, he inquired of his

knew any thing

" but

she,

hound."

of Howlcglass.

have heard that he

"

know him!" "

is

I," said

a mischievous

plains of him."

madam,

wonder,

that you don't

have no wish," she replied, "

every body repeats

hear

Then Howleglass

said

as far as

it,

for

and com" Madam,

he have done you no harm, why do you abuse him

so?

You

only

know him

from hearsay."
it

whether she

Howleglass however, again addressed her

with fair words

if

wife,

" No, not

you just as

to

besuch

a malicious rogue,

" Yes," said the woman, "

heard

it,

my

from

Howleglass held his tongue.

lodgers;" at which,

The next morning,

however, he rose early, and finding the embers

warm

in the kitchen,

he kindled them up a

and then went

arid carried the hostess,

a sound sleep,

down

stairs,

and

tell

still

little,

who was

laid her

l5

in

upon the

HOWL-EGLASS.

226

made her smart

hot coals, which

Then Howleglass

awoke.

may say from

you

your own experience,

than hearsay, that Howleglass

for

you have had a

before she

well,

" Now, indeed, dame,

said:

began to cry murder, and stop

tricks."

The

hostess

his escape; adding,

say

ill

"This

is

with

thief, stop thief,

as loud a voice as she could, but [lowleglass

who

better

a malicious rogue

is

taste of his

much

way

the

made

to serve people,

of one by heai'say, though one never did

them any harm, nor even

so

HOW HOwr.EGtASS DECEIVED

much

as

saw them."

DUTCHMAN WITH A ROASTED

APPLE.

A SHORT
tavern

time afterwards, Howleglass went into a

where there were a number of Dutchmen.

Being disgusted with them, he ordered a dozen eggs

to

be boiled, and

One of the Dutch-

set before him.

men, however, taking Howleglass

for a simple rustic,

took the eggs one after another, and devoured them

all

obsei-ving

has

shell before

each time setting a

slipt

" Here,

out."

and Howleglass
as if

sir,

The

is

the husk, but the kernel

rest of the

likewise,

Howleglass, and

company laughed,

staring at

he had been moon-struck.

them

like

fool,

But hear the sequel

In the evening, Howleglass called for a roasted

apple, which he emptied as adroitly as the

had done the eggs

Dutchman

leaving only the pippins within

227

HOWLKGLASS.
up
which he added a goose quill cut
and
took
then
he
bits upon a trencher

into several

to

laid

it

upon

the table, with sugar and

ginger, as

if

he had been

leaving the room, he

going to make a feast; and
He was no soouer
mtie'ntly awaited the result.
took his apple, and
gone, than the same Dutchman

devoured
return

it

but

hastily, to
lo

in

empty the

a minute or

so,

apple, before his

he was seized with

pangs and vomitings, and bethe most excruciatipg

and his comextremely sick, that the host

came

so

'' Alas,"
infallibly die.
panions believed he would
well."
you
fare
the man, "I am poisoned;

cried

" No," replied Howleglass, " you are not poisoned ;

very strong emetic,
but you are labouring under a

stomach is sometimes
such as the great gourmand's
first informed me that
to. Had the Dutchman
subject

I could have told

he was about to devour the apple,
In
boiled eggs.
him that it would not agree with
other
each
are bitter and sweet enemies to

fact,

they

they cannot remain

roof, so

With

five

minutes under the

you see they are compelled

some difficulty, the

same

to part."

Dutchman recovered;

" Eat in future,

and he then said to Howleglass
with you,
meddle
never
whatever you like best; I will
:

you again."
nor ever invite myself to sup with

HOWLEGLASS.

228

now

PREVAILED I'PON A WOMAN TO DESTROT

liOWI.rctASS

UR OWN EARTHEN- WARE.

One

day Howleglass went

pay a

to

had spent many a merry hour

as they

having

to

visit

Bishop of Bremen, who had a great regard

the

him

for

So

together.

lodged his horse in the bishop's stable,

first

and ordered him good provision of hay and

hastened into the palace.

good bishop expressed a wish

of his ingenuity

oats,

he

Bidding him welcome, the

some specimens

to see

but Howleglass wore a very grave

countenance, and slowly repeated his Pater Noster, to

which his friend the bishop listened rather impatiently.

Now

Howleglass had just before been with a

and had made a bargain

a crockery-ware woman,
with her for
bribed, with

her crockery ware, which she was

all

suicidal hand,

to break to pieces, at a

by Howleglass.

signal to be given

The bishop now

enquired of him where he had last been

glass answered

"

very solemn," said the bishop

to

make one laugh

Howleglass, "
place,

you

ware, and

if

will

you

see a

and Howle-

"

will

you do nothing

" Please your Grace," replied

will

come

as far as the market-

woman who

who without

is

selling earthen-

saying a word,
fall

and break them

The bishop

to pieces."

should like to see! but

will

when

upon her own

a secret sign to you, shall

" Indeed, you are

to church."

said

make
wai'es,

" That

bet you thirty gold

229

IIOWLEGLASS.

crowns

What!

she

tliat

such

do no

will

break her own

thing.

foolish

pots! impossible."

So the bargain was made; and the bishop went

who pointed

along with Ilovvleglass to the market,

out the

woman where

she stood, and just as they had

made

reached the steps of the town-hall, he

a sign

as he had said, and the bishop looked attentively to-

wards the spot.

The same moment

if

the crockeiy-woman got

passion, and began to

in a great

up as

smash her wares

with a huge stick, until the whole were demolished.

All the spectators burst out a laughing as well as the

bishop and his people

said

to

me, and

"

Howleglass;

possess the
I

woman

will

and on

How

their return the

own crockery ?

to break her

pay you the

your Grace," said Howleglass, "

chance nor ignorance

them."

The

bishop

it

the truth

began

was not done by

is

had bought

laugh,

to

tell

" Please

crowns?"

thirty

bishop

deuce could you

the

and gave

Howleglass the thirty crowns, only making him promise

that he would not
in

amuse any one

else

with the story;

which case, he would give him a good

and Howleglass very joyfully took

The bishop being

of the crockery woman's conduct

" If you

will

beeve

seated at table with his gentle-

men, informed them that he had

shewed great

fat

his departure.

curiosi'ty to

know

each of you give

it.

me

learnt the

secret

and the whole party

The bishop

said

a fat becve for

my

230

HOWLEGLASS.

kitchen,

The whole party

have no objection."

agreed to give one

most of them indeed two, each

When

to the value of six crowns.

the beeves were

came forward and declared that

collected, Howleglass

" No," said the

one half of them belonged to him.

bishop, " only

one of the

what

finest,

promised you

which Howleglass drove

The bishop then

said

" Listen and

that malicious

woman

calling his lords

will

rogue

in order to

keep

fallen

for

this,

my
me

impose on

promise

When

it

bribed

was
the

the rest

your

the whole

com-

they were quite ashamed and chap-

they repented having bartered their oxen

on such terms, but they were obliged

tongues.

off.

and gentlemen

who

Howleglass

sagacity will account for."

pany heard

and he selected

;"

The bishop on

his

better than Howleglass, for

self the thirty

side,

to hold their

had even done

he not only repaid him-

crowns, but cleared a

much

larger

sum

by the sale of the beeves, of which our hero obtained

one.

The

chagrined

lords
at

and gentlemen indeed were sadly

having been thus tricked

bishop, but there was no help for

by

their

it.

HOW HOWLFGLASS BHOKE THE CHAPEL

STEPS OF THE HOLY

MONKS GOING TO SING MATINS, AND WHAT ENSUED,

Howleglass

being

now

pretty far

advanced in year

began to think of repentance, and turned

his thoughts

231

IIOW'LEOLASS.

to religion, with the hope of reforming his evil ways.

For

this

purpose he went to the Abbot of Mariendal

in the land of

Saxony,

whom he

intreated to find

was a facetious man,

wlio

a place, but

it

do something
here.

Both

replied

nmst not be a
for

your

and

doing something, and

"Reverend Father,"

"

will give

resting place

you

you must

we have no sinecures

living,

my

him

The abbot

a resting place, as a sort of lay brother.

brethren are

all

engaged

in

here do as they are bidden."

all

said Howleglass, "

what pleases

you will please me well." Then the abbot said

" Yet I see pretty well that you do not much like
:

work, so you

you

will

si i all

have a station at the gates, which

only have to open and shut, and to con-

" Reverend Father," replied

verse with civil people."

Howleglass, " Heaven reward you,

will assuredly

do whatever you command, and leave undone, whatever you please to forbid.
"

Then"

said the abbot,

be sure not to admit

all

and

that knock at our gates, but

pnly three or four at the most

idling rogues abroad, that if
all,

can say no more."

" here are the keys

for there are so

we were

to

the gourmands would eat up our

Howleglass made answer

" Reverend

many

admit them
monastery."
Father,

would willingly prevent that."

Now

it

monks were

one day happened that a party of the

returning with a convoy of provisions for

the convent, and Howleglass would permit only four

H0WLEGLAS3.

232

to enter, leaving the rest to kick their heels

outside.

abbot, he said to Howleglass

wag, and

monks

is

" Oh,

see

" Father,"

you

the

are a

my

monastery ?"
said Howleglass, "

admitted as

abbot, " you

malicious rogue

have played the rogue, the

and you

are

no longer worthy to be

So he put another

called our porter."

many

" Nay,"

commanded me, and no more."

said the

to

that the reason you would not admit

into the

as you

on the

made

complaint of this being

in his place,

feeling quite assured that he would never abandon

his old tricks,

and transferred him

to another post.

who came

This was to take a muster of the monks

to matins; "

and mark," added the abbot, "if you be

tripping here,

shall give

muster

ther, this taking

many

are you,

the abbot

for

wonder

you notice and

Howleglass said

convent of you."

be a heavy job;

will

!"

"

Do

it

as

number

able to

must not come

all

how

say," repeated

he had already wished to get

Then thought Howleglass,

him.

rid the

" Reverend Fa-

shall

rid of

never be

They

these sheep by the head.

So he went and

to matins too fast.

broke some of the staircase steps leading into the

place

and

down, the

first

prior,

habit of leading the

upon the
the

steps.

rest of

the

and

came,

first

did

plump

go,

an ancient holy man, who was

way

to matins,

He made

and broke

in the

his leg

such piteous moans, that

monks ran

in

a body to see

what

MOW LEGLASS.
could be the matter, and
prior they all full

down

233

in their zeal

to save the

the steps from top to bottom.

Howleglass was standing near counting them as they

with a piece of chalk upon a slate, and just as

foil,

the abbot got up, he observed

have

not

muster of the monks

answered

wag

as

"

you are

now

so

it

is

" Reverend Father,

it

have taken a

Then

is."

the abbot

the part of a malicious

!"

budge speedily hence

Howleglass

Mllen, where

had time

here

You have played

was, that

it

your orders

well fulfilled

took

his

no wonder that he

to repent of his late

iiowiECit.Ass GfiFw vF.ny

impious

for

and

sick,

fell

tricks.

how he

SICK AT mui.i.en;

llttAlLU THE Al'OTHECAnV, AT

Then

departure

WHOSE HOUSE HE WAs;

how he was cakhieo to the h0sp1t4i., and what he

when he could do no mohe mischief in his old

said:

wA y

At
sick,

Mllen,

marched

asked

for

Howleglass feeling himself grievously

straight to the house of an apothecary,

some medicine, and walked up

stairs

bed, bidding the doctor to attend to his case.

what vexed

at this

he could pay

to

Some-

want of ceremony, yet supposing

well,

the

minister sharp medicines

doctor determined to ad;

which being taken, very

speedily compelled Howleglass to get

up

again.

Be-

ing in the night, however, he began to advise with

IIOWLEGLASS.

234

himself,

what was best

he found

stairs,

to

the doors

all

into the doctor's shop, into

True

fast,

except that
still

him what

was

just

tor's

drug boxes

will give

lose nothing

shall

have neither

is, I

it

but

below

made

which he entered,

good apothecary

events, this

all

going down

and reasoning within himself: "At

gTcatly puzzled,

by me.

On

be done.

silver

nor gold,

And now he

have."

on the point of replacing one of the doc;

when

the doctor hearing a noise

suddenly entered.

stairs,

On

how

finding

matter stood, he went into a passion, and vowing

Howleglass should stay no longer in his house, he

had him conveyed

his

to the hotel of

mother hearing that he was at

San

where

Spirito,

his last hour, be-

ing very poor, and believing he might have some

money
to

"

was soon

to leave,

weep and lament over

My

his condition, she said

poor son, where are you so unwell ?"

glass replied

mother, " speak to

sweet and pretty words, dear son

:

" Honey, honey

then said

"

My

is

!"

that a sweet thing ?"

all

my

"

?"

think nobody will find them

you, mother,

me

Howleglass re-

good Howleglass, where

money, and where are your goods

safe, I

Howle-

" Here, mother, between the wall and

the bed." " Nay," said his

plied

Beginning

in attendance.

is

They
but

She
your

are so

leave

goods, just straight and crooked

as they are."

Howleglass now

fast

getting worse,

was asked

now

23'

EU LASS.

I,

whether he would not like to have a confessor, and

take the sacrament, to which he agreed

he

felt

for

he said

enemy the

that he should never give this last

" Never mind," said an ancient Beguine nun,

slip.

" you have only to repent, in order to smooth your

way out of the

"

for repenting of

my

more smoothly, nor pleasantly,

sins, for

takes a good deal to

it

make no

will

have sinned against

will

death

it

nations,

Those

have injured, you

it

above
either

and as

for

However,

only re-

they should be any thing wrong, and

other

fifty,

I ?

that they

whenever

" You may think

Howlcglass, " but they

saw any one picking

regret at not having put something

The

should

individuals,

have any way be-

teeth with a knife, or any thing else,

it.

besides

have never been able to

as you please," replied

are as follow

all

death

repent of the rest of your sins."

of

Why

and

" Nay," said the old nun, " rather

accomplish."
if

hard and bitter

may depend

not hold their tongues.

I

my

after

pent of two things, which

be joyful,

is

one, good or bad

confession.

all

found them.

nefited, will speak of

such as

kill

private

wherever

" Nay," quoth Howlcglass,

world."

neither

shall die

is,

that whenever

felt

felt

his

infinite

on the point of

saw un old

woman

great inclination to have her

burned or drowned,

to

rid the

world of her."

" Then heaven take care of you," said the old nun,
" for I no longer will; I am myself sixty years old."

HOWLEGLASS.

236

" Yes," said Howleglass, "

"

Oh

it is

!"

that that vexes me."

cried the

her sick patient, in a great

left

"

the devil fetch you

said Howleglass, "

Ah !"

vout

sister,

offence

in

or she

my

find she

would not so

opinion, she

is

nun

huflP,
is

and she

to

himself.

not atruly de-

lightly

have taken

worse than the devil."

now HOWLEGLASS OJiCE PU RCriASEU SOM E BUTTE ri-.M H.K, AND

THE MANNER IN M'lIICII HE PAVED FOR IT.

We

must not here

forget to mention, that before

Howleglass went to the monastery of Mariendal, of

which there has already been an account, he arrived

on occasion of a

festival at

He

Bremen.

number of countrywomen coming

perceived a

cann-

to the fair,

ing buttermilk, and he marched up to them as

had been a public

and ordered them

officer,

upon a

if

he

empty

marking down the con-

their milk into a large vessel,

tents of each,

to

slate,

in

order to obviate

all

abuse.

Supposing they were

the

women

to

stood waiting

that he would settle with

they

all

the

be paid

them

scramble,

all

for their milk'

told

them

after,

when

and Howleglass

them the week

ran to take their milk back

glass told each of

now

while Howle-

to take her own.

Great was

were drenched and painted

from head to foot with butter-milk, and flung their

HOWLEGLASS.

237

jugs at one another's heads, making a most hideous

din.

When they
whom to take

recovered, hardly

little

Howleglass, crying out, "

for

rogue,

who pretended
The

is

Do

is

may duck him

you see how

when

order of St.

day

it."

sr.

antony,

NEAIl BAIICKLONA, IN CATA-

the time

What

enteuld into the oder of

iiovvi.ioat.Ass

AND LXHIUiTED KELICS TO THE

HAD BHOUGHT FHOM IHK HOLY LAND.*

At

the mash-

has been raining butter-

it

AND PUFACHEI) AT A VILLAGE

LONIA

in

"

that passed,

all

milk? the streets are swimming with

now

that malicious

spectators of this scene were greatly

amused, observing to
it

Where

measure and take our milk ?

to

Let us have him that we

ing tub."

knowing on

vengeance, they sought every where

PEOl'LE,

Ilowleglass was a

WHICH HE

monk

of the

Antony, and called the Rev. Father

Anastasius, he was often in the habit of going to

collect alms, as

much

as the simple were pleased to

give him, at least once

a year.

It will be observed, that portions

Now

Howleglass

of this and the next

chapter, are almost identical with similar descriptions in the

Italian Novelists,

and

in

some

direction the current of fiction

stance to say, but

we

parts of Friar
first

ran,

Gerund.

it is difficult

In

what

in this in-

are inclined to think that Howleglass

has occasionally arrogated

to

himself, the exploits of others.

Translator.

238

IIOWLEGLASS.

was a

squat figure, with a sharp keen visage

little

red head and beard, and one of the best jokers and
ralliers

Though he had no

in the world.

learning,

he was so perfect and prompt a speaker, that any one

not acquainted with him, Would hswe called him a
great orator

equal to Cicero or Quintilian

he was gossip to most

welcomed by

lated to or

went there

practice, he

in

re-

According to his old

all.

the

one Sunday morning when

and indeed

same country, and

in the

month of August

all

and

the good people were

about to go to mass, in the grand church, he ad-

vanced when he thought

said

"

Good

ladies

it

was the

and

right time,

and gentlemen,

is

it

a custom

with you, as you know, to send some small part of

your products every year to the poor followers of

St.

Antony, each according to his power and

By

these

means only

will St.

piety.

Antony consent

to be the

guardian of your beeves, your pigs, and asses, and

your flocks

duty marked down to be paid once a year,

Now

books of our

fraternity.

superior, our

good Abbot,to

here

am

I,

collect these

so that with the Lord's blessing, you will

you hear the

will preach

to

all

besides which, you have to pay the small

bells, as

you a

the

my

little

'dues;

come when

you go out of church, and

discourse, such as will be pleasant

the ears of the disciples of St.

shall kiss the cross

in

sent by

and moreover,

very precious and holy

relic,

which

Antony.

I will
I

You

shew you a

myself brought

239

IIOWLEGLASS.

from the Holy Land, beyond sea, no

than one of

less

the feathers from the wing of the angel Gabriel, which

he dropped

Came

to

when he

the chamber of the Virgin,

in

make

Hav-

the nnuniation at Nazareth."

ing announced this, he ceased, and returned to hear

mass. But now at the time

when he made

modest

this

proposal, there \veve present two boon co*mpanions,

both of whom, though intimate with Howleglass, no

sooner heard his intention, than they resolved to play

him one of

was

his

own kind

Knowing

of tricks.

that he

that day dining with one of his friends t the

castle, they

no sooner saw him seated

they slipped down into the

to liis lodgings;

street,

and while

at table, than

and went forthwith

one amused

tlie

vant, the other contrived to find the famous

feather

which he secretly secured, leaving every thing

exactly as he found

it.

They were

what Howleglass would say

found the loss of his

relic

which they had deprived him.

they

likewise

substituted

from which they had taken

time, they went to see

it.

When hk

parrcrt's featTier,

To complete

some

coals

in

the

how Howleglass would look

presence of

the people.

said, the simple

box

At the appointed

the coals instead of the feather

been

"tff

the joke,

when he found
all

else

to heft-

curion's

to the people,

the

ser-

it)

After grand mas-s

audience waited

in the

the

had

utmost

state of excitation for a sight of the angel Gabriel's

feather.

Every one repeated the approaching mi-

240

IIOWLEGLASS.

and dinner was no sooner

racle to his neighbour,

over, than they

begun

to collect

pressions of the greatest piety

numbers, Howleglass

to the

while

on

let

little,

much

difficulty, assisted

after

sending word to

Gucchio Imbrate that he should bring the

after

and

his wine,

rose very quietly,

and the besaces, v/hich

To add

them wait a good

he eat a good dinner, took

sitting

with ex-

all sides,

and wonder.

little bells

having unwrapped with

by the scullion and Nutto

the servant, he proceeded to the place of exhibition.

He

ordered his attendants to go to the church gate

and ring the

people being

bells

now

with

all in

all

And

their might.

the

readiness, Howleglass uncon-

scious of his loss, began his discourse, which he very

artfully

led

to

his

particular purpose.

At length

wishing to display the angel Gabriel's feather, having

first

concluded his devotional confession, he ordered

two torches

to be lighted

and then unfolding the

wTapper, and taking off his monk's cowl, he pro-

nounced a grand panegyric upon the angel Gabriel

and

his relic.

torum of

Now

his box,

he opened the sanctum sanc-

which he found

full

of coals, and

inwardly cursed his valet's negligence, in having suffered such a trick to be played

had not wit

to think of

for

he knew that he

such a thing himself.

How-

ever, without in the least betraying his confusion,

raised

up

his

hands and eyes to heaven, and

voice he exclaimed

"

How

in

he

aloud

great and miraculous

!"
!

HOW LtG LASS.

24i

and shutting up the box, he again went on with

discourse

" Good ladies and gentlemen,

inform you,

my
do my

tliat

when

was very young

superior into the east, in order that

by

ful

was sent
I

should

utmost to discover the privileges of St.

tony, which, though they cost nothing, are

to others than

to us.

took

my

lu.-.

must now

An-

more use-

route from

Venice, through the Grecian city, and the kingdom

Here

of Algarve.
Messire, to
'

Do

whom

found

said,

I.

father

waited upon him,

not be otiended, most worthy patriarch of Jeru-

salem

and he, out of reverence

;'

bore the

hal)it of

for every

one who

our patron St. Antony, wished

to behold that holy saint's relics,

Of

venerable

the

when

shewed me so many, that

these, indeed, he

were to attempt to give you an account of

if I

all,

However, he had some

should never have done.

bottled rays of the star

me

which he possessed.

which appeared

to the three

eastern kings, and a small phial, containing St. Michael's

drops of sweat, which poured down, in his

combat with the

sound of the

He

devil.

bells,

had, also, some of the

belonging to the grand temple

of Solomon, and the feather of the angel which

have mentioned, with the coals which roasted the

blessed St. Lawrence
to bring

back with

would never pemiit

been clearly
VOL.

I.

all

me

certified,

of which

True

nie.

to

it

is,

was permitted

that

my

superior

exhibit them, until

that

it

had

they were the genuine

llOWLEGLASS.

242

things

now

but

from undoubted miracles, which

they have wrought, as well a from

letters lately re-

ceived from the patriarch of Jerusalem,

we

are here

authorised to exhibit some of them, which

always

carry about me, being afvaid of trusting them to any

The

one.

angel

and

small box,

Gabriel's

feather

another the coals

in

secure in

with

which

Lawrence was roasted; and both boxes bear

St.

so striking a resemblance that I often take one for

the other, as has happened in the present instance.

that instead of having brought that contain-

I find,

ing the feather,

which

I firmly

And

so

days

it

have here brought the box of coals,

owing

my

less to

in-

than to some miraculous interposition.

advertency,

two

believe has been

is

for

now

it

occurs to me, that within

from this time

Lawrence

day

after

to-morrow

that

it is

Yes,

is

it

St.

is

and you

the festival

of

St.

Lawrence's day, only the

my good

see,

friends,

intended to awaken your piety against the

occasion, to turn your hearts to him, by the sight of

Approach nearer, and behold

these precious coals.

them, saturated as

humour of the

it

were with the unction and good

saint

approach nearer

say,

for

whichever of you shall be marked with the sign of

the cross by one of these coals, he will be sure to
live

during the whole year, and no

him wheresoever he
Then,

after

fire

shall

harm

shall be."

singing

hymn

to the

saint,

he

now LKc; LASS.

opened the box, and shewed the

243

coals,

which, when

the stupid people had admired to their heart's con-

they

tent,

all

their tribute,

began

and

round Howleglass

to press

to be

marked with the

cross.

witli

This

he did, with huge figures upon their clothes and

dresses, remarking that

was

lost

when

whatever quantity of cai'bon

by the process, would be again supplied,

the coal was returned

having

in this

way

as well

Certaldi,

had hoped

fleeced

the box.

into

all

the good people of

as disappointed

But

the

rogues

who

upon missing the

to enjoy his confusion

feather, he took his leave.

After

his

companions were

so greatly amused, and astonished at the ingenuity

and resources he displayed, that they were almost

convulsed with laughter.

When

the immense assembly had dispersed, these

wags went

to find

finite jests

and

Howleglass, to

railleries,

whom, with

in-

they discovered the trick

which they had just before played upon him, at the

same time
in the

restoring

him

his parrot's

feather, which,

ensuing year, proved as lucrative to him, as

the coals

had before done.

HOW HOWLF.GUSS, BECOMING

MILLin, EXruiCATED THE

PAIISON OF THE VILtAOE OUT OF A

During

GUEAT DILEMMA.

the time that Howleglass was playing the

miller, there

was a certain

lord

who had

the reputa-

244

H0WLEGLAS3.
and

tion of being at once extremely eccentric

and was

in

cruel,

Happen-

possession of a large domain.

ing to hear that the parson of his parish piqued him-

upon the shrewdness of

self

his divining faculties,

which the simple country people looked upon with

same horror they

the

felt

for

astrology;

judicial

whereas the poor parson was only of an inquisitive

of fine and rainy

turn, calculating from almanacks,

weather, according to the conjunction of the planets,

which most frequently join to deceive those who

trust

the

them

hearing of

manor determined

Now,

his

pa-

a power, only

this lord ridiculed

them

those whose superstition led

come

For though

of professions,

any man possessed the power of

to

say, the lord of

him.

maintained, that he was a great di-

well as a divine.

viner, as
all

still

we

this,

summon

made no kind

the parson
rishioners

all

to

to believe that

foretelling

what was

exercised by the Almighty

and forthwith the parson was ordered

to

appear be-

fore him.

Trembling he obeyed
that

whom

lordship,

made

his

for

he knew the reports

vination
:

kind;

me

in bed.

am

to believe that

To

!"

" No,
I

he found

my

this the

lord,

only a

little

his

The moment he

appearance, he said to the parson

they want

swer

had been spread, and the strange humour of

" So,

you meddle with di-

unlucky parson made an-

make no

profession of the

curious in matters of judicial

now LEOLASS.
By means of the

astiX)logy.

245

stars,

we

are sometimes

enabled to form a judgment according to their pecuhar aspects, conjunctions, and influences."

being

This lord

extremely ignorant, and not a whit the

in fact

wiser for the parson's explanations, told the parson

that he thought he

my

friend,

must be mad. " And

now mark me
I

mitted for contempt of

my

most severe

shall

me

be com-

person, and treated to the

an astrologer calto excuse

" No, no," said his lordship, " you must

my

questions, or feel the strap

to cut matters short,

First:

are:

you

The poor parson wished

either consent to solve

and

shall ask,

flagellation that ever

culated upon."
himself.

unless you can solve

four questions, such as

to cure you,

Where

I will

the middle of the world?

is

you what they

tell

Se-

What am I worth ? Third What do I think

Fourth What do I believe ?" " Oh, my lord," cried

cond

unhappy parson, " Heaven alone can see into the

" Well, well, my friend," said his
hearts of others."
the

lordship; " but you think to trap poor simple people

by your usual

Come,

tricks

however, they

will

not do here.

confess that you are an impostor, and

hold you highly contemptuous, or read

me my

shall

riddles

aright,"

The parson knowing

this lord's strange

and savage

temper, saw there would be no further use in contesting the point; and

all

that he could

do was

to delay

the fatal hour, by begging time to consider and con-

HOWLEGLASS.

246

suit his

ephemevides until the next day.

to the parsonage,
his

he met Howleglass, who observing

downcast mien, inquired what was the matter?

Then

the

other

related

between him and

glass observed
will deliver

me

On his return

" Let

all

that

his lordship;

me

had just passed

upon which Howie-

deal with the brute, and I

you out of his hand. You have only to lend

your gown and cope; and as he has never seen

me, and was

bound he

bed when he spoke to you,

in

will

not recognize me.

name, not your

wits,

and

doubts,

the gentleman's

I shall

will

be able to resolve

shall
I

be

assume your

doubt not."

Now

all

the

parson, aware that Howleglass was extremely subtle

and ingenious, and being quite

at a loss as to

what

he should answer on the morrow, determined to be

wholly guided by him.

posal

He

gladly accepted his pro-

and the same evening sent him

his

gown, his

cowl and hood, with his best red bonnet.

Accordingly, the next morning, Howleglass ar-

rayed himself in the parson's long flowing habiliments,

nor would any one
less

who met him have taken him for

arts.
Thus attired, he waited

than a master of

upon the great

lord,

and sent

in his

name by

the

footman, adding, " that he was come to answer for

himself, as he

had been commanded."

brought him into his lordship's presence,

This soon

who

in-

quired whether he was able to resolve him the questions

he had proposed?

Howleglass answered, " That he

JIOWLEGLASS.

was, upon peril of his

lord said

" Tell

world ?" "

you stand

then, where

where

It is just

for you,

Rejoiced to hear

life."

me

247

is

you prove that ?" said his lordship.

you

to prove that

Hog me

How much

" Something under

glass boldly " you

"

trayed for thirty."

Now
you

lordship

"

is

for

right again,

friend.

own

will

" Yes,

am

sir, I

will

than of

profit

satisfied

you

" but

how

am

is it

"

your curate ?"

I

gain

fear your

you

fourth, think you! will

" Well, but

am

you

quoth he, "

true," said the other

believe ?"

?"

you get over the next,

have pretty well

you get over the

you believe that

"

are
if

lord,"

imagine

" That

me what
the lord.

You

thinking more of your

is

mine, and
there."

My

worth

our Saviour was be-

have nearly saved your bones

will

something."

will

for

us see once more,

let

am

in the

to the

have no reason to complain,

at twenty-nine

if I state it

and

answered Howie-

pieces,"

thirty
will

pass

think

How

It is for

him

to prove

let this

do you

"

and you may

that,

Being unable

to death."

wrong, he said, " Well,

second

do

"

else."

will

false

the

stand for me,* and where

and so with eveiy one

it is

this,

the middle of the

tell

not tnie

do," said

not," replied Howleglass,

only your miller.

So

have answered

all."

* The Translator has here slightly altered and curtailed the

original, in order to avoid

quite too stale

much absurd

and obsolete

for

modem

discussion
ideas.

and

puerility

Translator.

HOW LEG LASS.

248

In this

way did Howleglass by

his

subtilty,

not

only save the poor parson's jacket from a severe dust-

but gave this whimsical and harsh landlord a

ing,

liearty laugh,

his

odd and

which served

atrabilious

to banish for a season

humour.

now HOWLEGLASS WAS IMPOSF.D UPON BY A BUND

TRATE, AND HOW HE TREATED HIM IN HIS TURN

MAGIS-

In the city of Rouen, there was a certain tax levied

upon

all

those

who

chose to set up public houses of

entertainment, called the sign tax

crown piece being required

four francs, or a

for permission to hoist

become a pub-

sign.

Now, Howleglass wishing

lican,

as well as a sinner, could never obtain per-

to

who

mission from a certain blind officer,

office,

unless he would consent to give

pistole, for

they had formerly had a dispute together.

This he was at

last constrained to do,

out making an inward

repent

its

vow

but not with-

that he should live to

exaction.

So the moment he obtained

glass

held the

him a whole

his licence,

Howle-

had a sign painted, representing a blind tax-

gatherer, in the act of receiving a pistole

was written underneath;

" To the
who saw

blind rogue

"Au

who receives."
knew of the

the sign, and

and there

Borgne qui prend,"

Now

every one

previous quarrel,

was almost convulsed with laughter

at the sight

HOWLELASS.

until

it

came

249

to the turn of the blind magistrate to

hear of what he could not so well see

and mightily

scandalized

he was.

So forthwith he prosecuted

Howleglass

for a

libel

who when examined, and

cross-examined upon the point, confessed that

true he

had

set

up

it

in derision of the

was

it

man, who had

exacted from him double of what was due, before he

would give him a

license.

Upon

tliis

the plaintiff, after

being put to his oath, reluctantly owned that

true,

was

and consented
finally

decreed

Howleglass should

he afterwards did

to
;

up the

give

and

the

at

same

This

time, that

alter the sign of his house,

in the following

was

it

surplus.

which

manner, by merely

striking out one of the letters, a single P, in his sign;

leaving the whole painting just as before.

was

It

now " Au Borgne qui rend ;" " To the blind rogue
who restores," alluding farther to the judicial settlement of the

affair.

Moreover,

it

is

from

true, that

which the blind signman stood,

ascertain whether he
-giving the

was

ends of justice.

that

And

in

tlie

fact,

court,

in
to

difficult

that Howleglass

he had thus

plaint being brought forward

was dismissed by

the posture

was

the act of takin"- or

in

money; insomuch

stoutly maintained

it

satisfied

now
the

on the second com-

by the blind rogue,

it

which had detected his

former malversation.

M 5

250

IIOWLEGLASS.

THE SUBTTE VENGEAKCF. TAKEN BY HOWLEGLASS, WHEN HE

EMBRACED HIE PAIUV OF SOME FUENCHMEN AGAINST A
SPANIARD.

When

Howleglass took his departure from Germany,

with the intention of going to travel in difterent

places,

more

particularly in Spain,

he went through

France, in order to shorten his journey.

tered into the former country, he

who

asked him somewhat rudely,

he came, and what he wanted

''

arn a

German,

the world, and

want
I

to

go."

know

As he en-

met with a

native,

who he was, whence

Howleglass answered

come from

travelling through

want none of your company.

the manners of the people, wherever

" Faith!" said the Spaniard, "

prised to hear, that you,

who

are

am

sur-

German and

doubtless a catholic, should visit France, a country

where there

is

so

little religion,

bless themselves withal

and hardly a saint to

while in Spain here they

as innumerable as the hairs on one's head."

said

"

Howleglass,

of the story, as

ai-e

" But,"

heard a very different version

was passing through France

for

there they stoutly maintained that their saints were

at the

head of the calendar."

Upon

this,

the Spa-

niard flew into a great passion, and asked Howleglass

if

he meant to espouse the French party, to which

our hero replied, that he did.

rose

high, respecting

the

The

dispute then

prerogatives of the two

HOWLEGLASS.

nations

and the Spaniard finding that he had tho

worst of

Ifl

it,

the French having an evident advantage

over the Spaniards, began to rest his argument upon

the
<*

will

as

you meet

France, with true devoutness, such

in

you witness here?

country, where

when
it is

borne by a single
little

sheep

Now, behold

in

so

is

with a

priest,

when

Spain,

torches blaze

what honour

it

little

followed by no

bell,

and majesty

honoured, that

little

administered to the sick,

is

is

clerk,

kmd

what pomp and

with

accompanied

How

the holy

what a concourse of people follow

is

on

sides

all

shewn

insomuch, that

may have

passengers, whatever pressing affairs they

in

who

of train.

the holy sacrament pro-

through the streets;

ceeds
train,

have traversed that wicked

religion

the holy sacrament

rings a

" Where," said he,

rehgion.

merits of their

hand, are bound to join the procession

even the

king and his mighty grandees themselves, think

it

favout to be allowed to support one of the staffs of

the holy cloth, with which

said Howleglass,

France, religion

" that
is

it is

covered."

all this is

celebrated by

vout ministers, and stands in

parade and ceremony

its

little

as you

afraid, if

*'

How,"

own,"
but

in

need of

all

this

while in Spain, where you

I

suppose

you

you did not make a strong party,

went along; and

muster so strong,

ancient and de-

have such an abundance of Jews,

would be

"

very grand

lest

this

is

the reason that you

you should be

cried out the Spaniard,

still

crucified ?"

more inflamed

HOWLEGLASS.

252
" do

yoii

presume to enter into competition with us,

even in religion

why,

more

there have been

sir,

saints canonized here in Spain, than there are hairs

in

my

" Very Hkely," said

beard."

" but there

more

are

in

Howleglass,

France;" and the dispute

who

continued in the presence of a number of people

So Howleglass pursued

had assembled.

more boldly
more than

" More saints than there are hairs in

indeed

your beard,

Why,

beard and head put

us at once come to the proof!

let

Only consent that

France there are

in

my

the hairs of

all

But

together.

his victory

at every

French saint

name,

your long beard, and you

shall extract a hair out of

do the same for every Spanish saint, with

" Oh, very good," replied the Spaniard
mine."
" for very shortly, you poor wretch, you will not
shall

have a hair

to

left

number

with."

pretty

wager being staked, Howleglass was the

gin,

first

round
to be-

by plucking a hair from the Spaniard's beard,

pronouncing the name of

St.

Denis.

next returned the compliment in the name

Howleglass followed with

Ignatius.

The

Martin.

Howleglass then gave him

The Spaniard gave

Bruno.

St.

was

next

Spaniard's

pull

in

The Spaniard
of St,

that

of

St.

Xavier.

for

St.

St.

Louis.

Howleglass, St.

Isidore.

But now the Spaniard, snatching two

hairs

which made poor Howleglass smart,

cried,

at a time,

" St. Cosmo,

St.

Damien, St

glass interrupted him, for,

."

Here Howle-

desirous of revenging

tlie

HOWLEGLASS.

253

pain of his two hairs, he seized the Spaniard's whole

moustache

in

cried out in

his

tlie

hand

name

and with a

fierce

tug,

For such

which speedily ternainatcd the contest.

was the agony that the poor Spaniard endured, as

compel him to leave the

do

field,

difficulty in

thousand

Howleglass's eleven

to

which he was glad to

some

as he would have found

ing

he

of the eleven thousand virgins,

virgins,

matchwith

single saint.

MOW HOWLECLASS OROWINO INFIRM MARES

DEPARTS

HowLEGLASs now daily

his will,

his property into three paits.

The

third to

AND

feeling himself getting worse

and worse, proceeded to make

friends, the

HIS WILL,

Tills LIFE.

and thus divided

first

he

left to his

second to the council of Mllen, and the

the parson of that place.

He

that after he should have slipped his

also desired

breath, they

should inter his body in holy ground, and that they

should say

tlie

service as

peace of his soul.

He

on other occasions

for the

then went on to describe the

place where he kept a large

money

chest, in

which

the whole of the property he had bequeathed was to

be found, secured with four heavy locks

to be di-

vided exactly into the stated portions.

This chest was found and put into the care of

the public authorities
solid

and

in truth

it

was heavy and

enough, awakening agreeable anticipations on

HOWLEGLAGS.

254

the part of the legatees.

Shortly after this dispo-

of his effects, Howleglass departed this

sition

and being wrapt

coffin,

in his

and carried upon two

While the

priests

biers to his last

were busy

placebo over his remains, there

little

life,

winding sheet, was placed in his

singing

home.

dirges

and

came a sow with her

and beginning

pigs into the church-yard,

to

scratch herself against the side of the supporters, she

unluckily upset Howleglass together with the bier,

making such a

horrible clatter, that the priests,

it

being in the night, all took to their heels thinking

he

had come

to life again, leaving our hero uninterred.

The Beguine monks, however, came and placed him

upon the supporters, though with

his face downwax'ds,

insomuch that being thus placed

in the earth, his

fancy was accomplished, as

In about a

month

will.

money

On

own

were by accident.

the three parties

the contents of the great

the tenor of the

it

met

to divide

chest, agreeably to

being opened with

all

due

form and ceremoi^y, what was their vexation to find

only a heap of stones.

They

cast angry looks at

each other, the parson imagining that the temporal

authorities

had

pillaged the chest; while the magis-

trates conjectured

that his

own

friends

open during Howleglass's

must have

broken

it

friends

on the contraiy thought that the priest had

illness.

His

committed the burglary, during the time that Howleglass

was making

his confession.

was highly exasperated against the

In fact each party

other.

The

par-

HOWLEGLASS.

255

son and the council were for disinterring the body,

and having

it

deposited in a

when they began

old gibbet; but

saluted

fitter

to

remove him, he

them with such an uncommonly strong odour,

that they could no longer support

him up and

to cover

and were glad

it,

leave hiin where he was.

Howleglass was buried

latter

place under the

in the

year

350, and his

end was almost as odd and eccentric as

his

life.

For as they were lowering him again into the grave, one
of the ropes supporting the feet gave
coffin in

upon

still

said

be as queer

let

else

us leave him as he

when he was

now he

is

Accordingly they

he had

left

the

Those who were present then

his legs.

" Come,

no body

like

way and

an upright position, so that Howleglass was

fallen,

alive,

is,

for as

he

is

he was

resolved to

dead."
left

Howleglass bolt upright as

and placing a stone over

his head,

on

which was cut the figure of an owl with a lookingglass under

its

inscribed round

claws, the device of his name, they

it

the following lines

HOWLEGLASS'S EPITAPH.

HERE

LIES HOWLEGLASS,

BURIED LOW,
THE GROUND,
WE WARN THE PASSENGER THAT SO
HE MOVE NOT THIS STONe's BOUND.*
HIS BODY

IN

IS IN

THK YEAR OF OUR LORD MCCCL.

There was a drawing of Howleglass's mouumeut taken not

long ago by an English lady, during a tour in Germany, answer

ing the above description of

it.

256

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.*
This

facile

Princeps of magicians, Dr. John Faust,

the hero of so

many

old dramas besides the

more

modern ones of Lessing and of Gothe, was according

to the best calculations of historians born towards the

commencement of

the

6th century, and said to be

But possessed of

the son of a peasant.

singular

genius, he succeeded in obtaining a degree of Doctor

in

Theology, until

searches, (a very

finally

wearied with rehgious re-

bad symptom) he betook himself

to the study of medicine

and

astrology,

which

finally

conducted him to that of magic.

His extensive learning soon acquired for him the
reputation of a necromancer,

he became invested

with the attributes of popular superstition, conjured

up the prince of darkness, as we

shall

forced one of the infernal spirits, by

topheles, into his service.
into
*

shew, and

name Mephis-

Dr. Faust farther entered

an agreement with him

for the space of twenty-

Des durch

die

und Zauberers

D.

bundniss, &c.

Cologne on the Rhine and Nuremberg.

There
British

1727.

is

Ganze Welt berufenen Erzschwarz knnstlers

J.

Fausts mit

dem

a copy with part of the same

Museum.

It is in

'J

eufel, aufgerichtetes

title

preserved at the

8vo. with the date of Brunswick,

257

DOCTOR FAt'STUS.

four years,

that he might enjoy

in order

to explore the earth, to

&c.

celestial regions,

up

his soul pro

bono

descend into

leisure

full

hell, traverse

the

which he was to deliver

after

inferno-

There are a number of traditions extant

many, most of them of

in

Ger-

a popular character, connected

with the feats of Dr. Faust, and there are others (in

which the magician Virgilius appears more pre-emiwhich long preceded the doctor's

nent)

Among
and

first

and

fer

exploits.

the work mentioned by Gorres,

by Koch, containing " The Fall of Luci-

cited
his

is

Companions: and how one of these same

bound himself apprentice

spirits

him

these too

Bamberg, 1493.

well."

and served

to a knight

4to.

Theophilus

is

ano-

ther fiction of the kind, in which the hero on certain

terms signs away body and soul to the devil, the bond
being consigned to
period
ever

when

the

infernal

records

should become due.

it

was not so

tragical as

until

the

His end how-

Dr. Faust's; by timely

repentance he obtained grace with the Holy Virgin,

and

she

snatched him

nick of time.

Of

from perdition just

a more remote date

is

in the

the history

of Virgilius, contemporary with the early fathers of

the

church, and there

is

still

sion of the original, entitled, "

van

Virgilius,

van

z'ijn

extant a Dutch ver-

Een Schone

Historie

Leven, Doot, ende van zijn

wonderlijcke werken, di hy dcede by Nigromantien,

ende by dat behulpe des Duyvels.

T'

Amsterdam,

to

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

"A

by H. S. Mller, 1552/'

Pleasant History con-

cerning the Life and Death of Virgilius, and of the

wonderful works he did by Necromancy, and with

Here

the help of the devil."

it

seems

that,

young man, he discovered an imp intended

when a
be

to

tain,

set

unless

him

some mortal should meanwhile

free.

He

luckily

addresses Virgilius by name, in-

and promises

treats his assistance,

gratis in the rides of the

instruct

to

Black Art.

devil a

who having squeezed himself through with

him

gular dexterity stands before

portions.

Virgilius

expresses his

him

Virgilius con-

and then opens the

sents, takes lessons,

out,

in-

moun-

carcerated until the last day in a hole in the

in his

full

way
sin-

pro-

that so

surprize

imposing a personage should have issued through

such a very
his

own

eyes.

narrow

outlet,

Piqued

at his

and

refuses to credit

want of

offers to repeat the experiment,

faith the

imp

and having squeezed

himself back again, Virgilius dexterously closes up

the hole, and consigns

he subsequently

him

to his old abode.*

built a castle,

How

enchanted the whole

army of the emperor who beleaguered

it,

outwitted

* lu this adventure we recognize the origin of the escape of

" Le Diable Boiteux," and so many others who have followed
It is popular in Switzerland, among other inciVirgil's Imp.
except that the demon is there
dents from the same source
;

confined in a hollow tree, from which he

is finally

freed by

Theophrastus, on condition of instructing the latter in magic.

Grres Folksbucher,

p.

226.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

conjured up Eastern palaces

expert magicians,

less

259

and gardens more beautiful than the Hesperides, and

founded the city of Naples, are

finally

upon which we must not presume

exploits

We
more

may

airy,

forbidden

all

to touch.

remark, however, that the whole has a

romantic, and southern aspect, than the

northern tradition of Faust, which embraces

both of a comic and tragic character than

decessor in the magic
strong traces of his

famed

some
first

exploits

met with

Salvatio

in

the Gesta

Roma?, and

which very

Greek

their existence to
writer,

and were

Frequent coincidences are

recorded in Italy.

to be

descent, and his far-

Italian

or

pre-

Virgil indeed betrays

class.

most probably owe

Italian, Spanish,

more

its

in

the

clearly indicate

Romanorum,

as

the

Seven Wise Masters,

the early origin of the

work, perhaps anterior to the twelfth century.

The popular work

relating to Dr. Faust,

is

abridgment of a more extensive one bearing the

an
title

of " First Part of the veritable Historie of the la-

mentable and execrable Sins and punishment, together with

many wonderful and

rare adventures of

Dr. Johannes Faustus, a fur-fumcd Sorcerer and Practitioner in the

evil

practises

Black Art, throughout the whole of his

until

his

final

Along with useful comments

trations,

with

many

matters

of warning and instruction."

and honible doom.

and beautiful
interspersed

illus-

by way

Explained by G. R.

260

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

Widman.

Published at Hamburgh, 1599, 4to.

cond Part, Third Part.

last,

as

it

supposed,

is

Se-

Earher however than

an edition

is

in 8vo.

this

which

appeared at Berlin as early as 1587.

That Faustus

and flourished towards

really lived

the close of the fifteenth century,

dent from

which there
nesses,

number

are not wanting a

who we

of their travels.

are assured

He was

among

had seen him

in the

course

still

more renowned

Melancthon mentions him

Cornelius Agrippa.

and Conrad Gessner alludes

temporary of

of eye wit-

the contemporary and friend

of Paracelsus, no less than of the

Letters,

sufficiently evi-

is

a mass of historical testimonies,

Manlius too,

his.

Locorum Communium, openly

to

him

in his

in his

as a con-

CoUectanes

states, p. 38,

"Novi

quendam nomine Faustum de Rundling, quod

parvum oppidum

patriae

mese vicinum.''

acquainted with one Faust of Rundling which

small town not far from

my

native place.

est

was aca

is

Widman

in his introduction cites various opinions entertained

respecting

him by Luther, and concludes by saying

" These and

many

conversations,

me,

it is

my

other amusing and freely spoken

drawn from

authorities well

known

to

wish to relate."

" In truth, although there

flicting

is

a good deal of con-

evidence in regard to the particular spot where

he was born and flourished, there

his being an historical personage,

is

little

doubt of

and one who had

wit to take advantage of the times in which he lived,

nOCTOTl FAUSTUS.

whose superior

intellect

and adroitness outstripped

the superstitious fears and

men,

which

to

lie

261

prejudices of his country-

was indebted

for so

much

of his

The Reformation had newly awakened

notoriety.

religious zeal, to

which Faustus, long familiar with the

quietism and insipidity of the northern character, was

so far from giving the rein,
fervors of pious

and entering
that

transcendentalism,

into all the

he rather

turned polemic, and by venturing to dissent and to oppose, drew

down upon himself

rence of the saints.

the anger and abhor-

Shortly, Faustus appeared con-

spicuous in history as the

common

mischievous magicians, guilty of

Their

door

sins,

kind of diablerie.
all

schisms,

point of approach in a man,

had boasted of

fluence in the

From

it

all

his infernal connections

nether

lands."

it

were

found a

who during

frequent tour, and his intercourse with

people,

at his

laid

faith falling as

to pieces, divided into ferocious

common

all

throughout centuries, were

and when the general

representative of

his

ranks of

and

in-

Grres.

the earliest period, the people delighted in

deceiving themselves with similar fictions of diablerie,

no

less of

a comic than of a tragic cast, intimately

connected, as they were, with the more bewitching

world of

faerie, spirits

of the

fountain

and of the

whom

green, of mountain dwarfs

and of

were more or

with the powers of mis-

chief,

less invested

and drew

their origin

elves, all of

from below rather than

DOCTOR

262

I'AUSTUS.

They entered

from above.

into league,

jnortals into their confidence

faithful

familiars,

and admitted

they even became their

and Zoroaster, Socrates, Demo-

Magnus, Para-

critus,

and Empedocles,

celsus

and Agrippa of a more modern date, had

like Albertus

all

And however much

demons.

their jespective

in-

clined to turn their infernal counsel to good account,

we

himself upon

who piqued

are told that Zoroaster,

being the prince of magicians, was in spite of

drowned by the

art, at last

devil.

Robert, surnamed also the Devil,

mandy, was

in the habit,

tamorphosing himself,
beast he chose
absolution,

by

his

Duke

of Nor-

about the year 768, of me-

like

Faust, into any kind of

a freak for which, though he received

and soundly repented, he was carried

namesake

in the air,

his

all

in the end,

who swung him

and gave him a severe

Baian

fall.*

off

aloft
too,

Prince of Bulgaria, in the time of Lothar, was as un-

lucky a dabbler

in

the

art, for

though he

and was guarded by the Pope himself,

Rome,

fled to

in the identical

chains of St. Peter, the devil nevertheless found an

opportunity of wringing his neck out.

Even Popes

themselves, as witness the heroic Sylvester

II.,

bond with the same personage, who

to

pany him

was
*

in the

La

terrible

had a

accom-

shape of a great shaggy hound, and

at the trouble of carrying

lequel apres fat

vised

et

ojOP

his holiness out of

merveilleuse vie de Robert Le Diablo,

homme

de bien.

A Troyes.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
when he had

the churcli-yard,

263

finished his career.

Popes John XIII. XIX. XX. XXI., seem to have

fared Httle better; while Gregory VII. was entrapped

by making and breaking a vow of perpetual celibacy,

and borne away by

priate

his sable majesty,

in the

appro-

little

bottled

form of a huge blackamoor.

Benedict IX. was served by seven

imps at his elbow;

with his

Paul

own thumb's

and became

life,

signed himself away

blood, to a

richer than

most scandalous

II.

grey man^

little

any Pope before him

and when

his

led a

time was come,

was

carried off from the side of his mistress, without

the

least

note

of preparation,

" unanointed,

un-

anealed."

Thus, every age would appear to boast

Faust, upon

whom

it

its

own

delighted to confer the honour

of supernatural martyrdom, exemplifying in his person,

the popular

ideas

upon the subject

until

at

length, these scattered examples acquired full force

and
us,

perfection, in the adventures of the hero before

of the real historical Faustus,

MSS,

Memoirs, Letters,
his friend

He

and

his

who

left his

servant, the faithful

Wagner.

has thus become the representative of

ceding magicians;

one who,

like Csesar,

too,

all

pre-

the master spirit of the circle,

may

and written the history of

and hke him

own

house and furniture, to

be said to have conducted,

his

own

infernal

campaigns,

he was assassinated by his

familiar.

264

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

There

is

however,

little,

for

Doctor's Memoirs,

the

in

which has not been ascribed

to elder practitioners

though he feasted the Emperor Maximilian, and

him

treated

Jeux de Diable, Albertus Mag-

to a few

nus enjoyed a similar honour,

in

Emperor William, and

midst of frost and

snow,

exhibited a rich

and flowers

in

leaf

full

in

the

summer

and blow, enlivened by the

Nor was

Abbot of Fulda, a

behind-hand

in

in

magic

his

the habit of conjuring up excellent dinners,

and tapping the

trees for luxurious wines

There

description.

beheaded,

for

also

is

who

Frankfort jugglers,

ancient

Erolfus, the jolly

which he turned to substantial account,

illusions,

being

the

garden, with trees

song of nightingales.
jot

with

1248,

suffered

the company's

recorded

custom,

of every

the narrative of the four

themselves to be

amusement

a very

by Simon Magus,

and

by Johannes Teutonicus, canon of Halbcrstadt,

1271.

The

indeed, beheaded one of his

latter,

congregation

his

in

head upon a dish,

who

ran one and

study,

in

own

and handed down the

to his guests in the dining room,

all

to behold the

scene of action,

and again ran out of the study, shocked at the sight,

and found
in the

their

deceased friend sitting very quietly

dining room, with his head upon his shoulders.

HondorfF confirms
of

all

good

trious feat,

this

believers,

account, to the satisfaction

and

relates

a no

less

illus-

on the part of a Flemish gentleman, who

UUCTR l'AUSTUS.
own page

openly brought his

into the

where he smote off his head, which,

half hour at his feet, he

He

sembling that

ambassadors

some

air,

with a whole pack

he cheered to the chace,

exhibited
it

market place,

after lying

re-adjusted to the bust.

then mounted into the

of hounds, which

265

will

by Faust

the

to

re-

Italian

be found to correspond, likewise,

with similar feats of Scotus, of Zoroaster, and Robert

the Devil, of

to

Normandy.

invokes

too

the

Emperor Charles,

the

gratify

In the same

way

shade of Alexander

as Faust

so

Great

the

the old

in

French Chronicle we find that Robert the Devil

summoned Charles

the Great by dint of a magical

writ.

And though the Doctor asserted his

nality,

claim to origi-

by devouring a cart load of hay

for a sallad,

he was

still

Erolfus,

who, not content with disposing of the whole

rivalled

of his host's dishes,

hostess

by his predecessor, the Abbot

ended

his meal, with eating his

and had the further malice

pay his

to

reckoning, by returning him the said wife and provisions, not the least

Neither

is

damaged by the voyage.

the narrative of eating the whole of

the host's family unrivalled

in its

way

for,

when

Charles IV. celebrated his nuptials with the Bavarian Princess

Sophia, the bride's father brought a

waggon load of magicians with him

city of

VOL.

Prague.
I.

Two

of the

to

enliven the

chief artists were seJJ

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

266

lected

by the court to contend with each other

when

diablerie;

the great

Bohemian

after a desperate trial of skill,

seized the Bavarian

master, Gouin, and opening his jaws from ear

ear, eat

him up from top

he came

his

to

these, he spit

be cleaned.
the

same

in

there

is

whom

he

must

rival to life

from

truth,

pelled each

with

and other

these

resem-

Faust and his predecessors,

Dr.

summoned

formidable necromancers to his

is

first

he had eaten him.

every appearance of his having

these less

to

until

all,

liking the flavour of

Next, he restored his

blances between

and

out, declaring that they

facility as

And,

to toe, hide

Not

shoes.

them

in

Sorcerer, Zytho,

aid,

the sole historical survivor, and

and

to relinquish

to supply

of

com-

him with

whatever he judged most essential to his own fame,

as the prince of necromancers,

word

for

them

Nor

all.

is

it

who might

pass his

improbable, as

we

have before stated, that he was the compiler of his

own

history and adventures, in great part borrowed

from the traditionary reliques of his country.

Widman's work
declares,
his

library

flections,

his

is

founded, as the editor himself

upon an autograph of Faust, discovered in

after

his death,

though

demon, concerning heaven and

abode of condemned
plied

the moral re-

and a number of Faust's disputations with

spirits,

by another hand.

earth,

and the

appear to have been sup-

It is

certain that Faust in-

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
Wagner, not

structcd his friend and pupil

his secrets,

by feigning

dumb when

Equally true

it

and

is,

in

him

that he left

he

a conversation

shortly before his decease, said to

"

have also particularly

art,

until long after

my MSS.

then, from

my

within doors.

the whole of his

with

hatl

my

death

him,

him very earnestly

to intreat, that

nothing concerning

reveal

to betray

abroad, and per-

when

mitted him to rattle away only

books,

267

you

will

transactions in the

but that you will

assiduously apply yourself, in

WTiting and arranging a full narrative, in which your

demon

will

stances

assist,

memory.

and remind you of any circum-

may happen

that

My

have escaped your

to

history will thus prove

very accept-

able to the world from your pen."

Respecting Wagner himself, there appeared some

biographical accounts of a later date, such as were

here requested from him by his master: and entitled,

" The Life and

actions

of

by Dr. Scotus Totel, written

by P.

S.

M.

vauiped up

Berlin, 1712."

article,

Wagner,

Christopher

and what he did by power of magic.

in the
It

Weyland,

German

is,

tongue,

however, a mere

commenced long

aftei-wards,

and

without any claim to notice.*

In addition to the above testimonials of the

Doc-

existence, there might here be

sub-

tor's

veritable

mitted those of an English gentleman

*

Grres, Folksbucher, p.

who

2205.

resided in

DOCTOR rAUSTUS.

2b8

Germany during some

we can only

part of the 16tli century

afford space for

From their local

conclusive and authentic.

but

one or two of the most

details

and

accuracy they go far to establish the biographical facts

and anecdotes contained

and

history,

pel

all

are fully sufficient,

further doubts,

They

ever.

the Doctor's lamentable

in

and

we apprehend,

to dis-

set the question at rest for

are extracted from an old English

work

" The Second Report of Doctor John Faus-

entitled,

tus, containing his appearances,

Wagner.

in Wittenberg,

an University of Germany,

Published for the delight of

novelties,

and the deedes of

Written by an English gentleman, student

all

in

Saxony.

those which desire

by a friend of the same gentleman.

Lon-

don, printed by Abell Jeffes, for Cuthbert Burby,

and are
fred's

"

to be sold at the middle shop, at Saint Mil-

Church by the Stockes.

First, there

is

1594."

yet remaining the ruins of his

house, not fane from Mclancthon's house as they

call,

at the towne's end of Wittenberg, right opposite to

the schooles.

" Secondly, there

great

is

gromancy

to

to reade

to his schoUers, not farre from

very remote place, which

mony

yet to be scene his tree, a

hoUowe truncke wherein he used

any reasonable

eare.

which have been there, see

Notwithstanding,

thinke

is

And

towne

ni-^

in

sufficient testi-

enquire of them

they will not affirme

it.

doe not goe, by these meanes

I,

if

DOCTOR FAUST US.

to entreate

men

to

as

care not whether

certifie

you of the trueth

beleeve, for

they do or no, but onely to

269

myselfe would bee.

" Next,

his

tombe

is

at

Mar's Temple, a three

miles beyond the citty, upon which

is

written on a

marble stone, by his owne hand, this Epitaph, which

is

somewhat

old,

by reason of his small

skill

in

paving.
HIC JACEO JOHANNES FAUSTUS, DOCTOR DIVINI
JURIS INDIGN1SS[MUS, QUI PRO AMORE MAGI;E DIABOLIC/E SCIENTI.r,, VANISSIME CEDIDI AB AMORE
DEI. O LECTOR, PRO ME MISERRIMO DAMNATO HOMINE NE PRECERIS, NAM PRECES NON JUVANT QUEM
DEUS CONDEMN AVIT. O PIE CHRISTIANE, MEMENTO
MEt,

ETSALTEM SUAM PRO INITDUCIA MEA LACHRYCUI NON POTES MEDERI, EJUS

MULAM EXPRIME, ET

MISERERE, ET IPSE CAVE.

" The stone was found

was

fulfilled

and he

lieth

fir

where

this

There

is

erected."

is

a copy of

his will

betwixt a heap of three

trees, in the fort of the

thirty

and

in his study,

this

hill, in

and

a great hole,

old English

work pre-

served in the very select and valuable library of Mr-

Douce, which he kindly submitted

to the Editor.

270

HISTORY
OF THAT

RENOWNED ARCH SORCERER,

DOCTOR

J.

FAUST,

&c.

Doctor Faustus was

the son of a peasant

who

dwelt at Rot, near Jena, in the domain of the city of

Weimar

and he was born of honest pions parents

He

the year 1491.

lations in the

had, hkewise, a number of re-

town of Wittemberg,

good kind of people, and

who

all

in particular

of

them decent

one of his uncles

resided there, a very respectable good-hearted

He

man.
every

in

way

it

was who educated young Faustus, and

treated

him

as

if

he had been his own son.

Indeed, having no children of his own, he took particular notice of

him, sent him to college, and placed him

under the best theological masters of the time, conceiving he would

holy church.
set at

some time prove an ornament

Faustus, however, soon

nought his uncle's pious

intentions,

early to deride God's holy word,

parents

who had

ever

to the

ungraciously

by beginning

insomuch that

his

shewn him the utmost kindness

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

271

and forbearance, as well as greatly exerted themselves

for his advantage,

way
their

were greatly

names

therefore

will

following history

as those

afflicted,

They were good

to be blamed.

not

be

though

in

no

and

parents,

found in the

who had never

and

seen,

never could have believed, the cruel and fatal depra-

They only knew previous

vity of their son.

decease, that his uncle had adopted

him

to their

for his son,

which gave them the more pleasure as they were well

aware of his astonishing memory and intelligence, so
that like Job they
fare of

greatly interested

felt

their offspring,

walk uprightly before the Lord his God."

so

it

the wel-

should

Yet

(c. 1.)

often hap|)ens that devout parents are afflicted

with froward godless children

case of Cain (Gen.

also

" Desiring that he

that

father.

of

iv.)

Absalom,

so

know

as

it

was

also in the

of Reuben, (49.) and

dearly

have here to add a

instance, though

in that

still

by

beloved

there are persons

who

tach blame to his parents, (whom, however,

-persist

in

his

more unfortunate

at-

must

pronouncing innocent,) by declaring that

he incurred his

fate

through their means, by their

permitting him to indulge in his froward and wilful

conduct, instead of correcting him betimes and bringing him up to honest pursuits which might have reflected credit

upon

their exertions.

His friends too, remarking his strong powers of

mind, urged him,

like his uncle, to

embrace the study

DOCTOU FAl'STUS.

272

of theolog)'.

To

however, he had no indination

this,

while there soon got abroad

among

the people, an

impression that this Faustus was after no good, and

even beginning to dabble in sorcery

finally

grew so strong that

his friends

selves authorized to speak to

subject; often admonishing

thought them-

seriously

upon the

him of the dangers of so

For he had already greatly dis-

impious a pursuit.

among

tinguished himself

much

him

a report that

that he imbibed

all

his fellow-students, inso-

the knowledge and answered

the most learned interrogatories of the

earning away the whole honors from

head class

He had

consisting of sixteen collegians.

masters,

first

his

thus far

benefited by his situation, and soon acquired a de-

gree of

D.D.

His success now made him more proud

and headstrong

he looked

for still

higher things, and

soon obtained for himself the name of the great speculator.

At length

too he mingled in bad society,

and was even seen to throw the holy scriptures behind the door, or under the table, with an
seemly
less

levity.

This was followed by a

and abandoned, as

will sufficiently

air

of unheart-

life

appear

in

the

course of the following unhappy pages.

In short, he began to shew the truth of a very

well-known proverb

that

stopping or turning aside a

is

in

vain to think of
is

set

upon nm-

this stage of his career

Doctor

met with some contemporaries of

similar

iiing to tiie devil.

Faustus

At

it

man who

273

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
no

pursuits,

less

in

physical science, than in Chal-

dean, Arabic, and Greek characters, with strange

and incantations, and supernatural

figures

influences,

acquired by the most unholy means, though none

reached to such a pitch as he did. All which pursuits

are no other than these

Dardian Artes, Nigrimantia,

Carvina, Veneticum, et Incantatio

names of the

sorcerers'

books

similar

to the

and these were such

as most pleased Doctor Faustus, so that he would

sit

absorbed in the study of them, both night and day.

He no

longer took pride in his theological eminence,

which of a truth had never any touch of

it

he sighed

he took the

for distinction as

title

of

M.D. aiming

man

real piety in

of the world,

at equal celebrity as

a doctor of medicine, the better to disguise his astrological

and mathematical

characters

very celebrated

it

it

not, shall be beaten with

many

" Forsake not the Lord your God."

no heed

tus gave

to these things,

which he

is

no way

and thus,

to be excused, as

if

stripes

in time,

One

he had

in

fallen

same through ignorance and inadvertency.

N 5

:"

But Faus-

lirought his soul into the snares of the Evil

ioto the

in

was impossible for him to mistake

of heaven " He that knoweth the law of God

and doeth
also,

many

he was eloquent too, and so well versed

scripture that

the will

In this way he

labors.

rendered medical assistance to

DCTOK lAUSTUS.

i74

nOCTOU FAUSTUS BECOMES A PHYSICIAN, AND CONJUES VP

THE DEVIL.

Proceeding
this

and bad practices

not,

the

in

same

we have

track, as

said,

proud doctor farther attached himself to his bold

;

he did those things which he ought

and omitted the things which he ought

to do,

pursuing his dangerous speculations both day and

night.

There was nothing either

heaven or on

in

earth that could escape the boldness of his profane

inquiries

he mounted, as

his audacious questions

it

were, on wings, carrying

and calculations

to such a

length, by means of unhallowed processes, such as

gical figures, characters,

ma-

and other forbidden means,

that soon he determined to invoke the devil, in order

to assist

And
walking

him
so

in his diabolical sorceries.

it

happened,

in a thick

for as

he was one evening

dark wood, a short way from Wit-

temberg, which he afterwards found was called the

Spesser Voud,

it

suddenly came into his head that

that would be the right place to begin his magical

circles.

Forthwith he boldly marked out a cross in

fourfold figures, containing a large circle, with his

wand, and within these he drew two smaller

in

one of which he himself stood.

It

was

circles,

in the

of evening, between the ninth and tenth hour,

dusk

when

the Prince of Darkness, well aware of the whole pro-

ceeding, laughed outright for triumph, and said within

himself: "

Ha ha
!

must cool

this

mood

of vours

275

DOCTOR FAU3TUS.
if

you

that

will

only approach a

little

nearer the brink, so

we may catch you both body and

With

this view,

he

artfully sent

soul."

a messenger, as

if

he were himself unwilling to appear, and avoided his

conjurations,

which had the

ettect of further

provok-

At the same

ing the doctor's wishes and curiosity.

time, as he continued to invoke, the devil raised a

great hurly-burly over his head, as
to burst his confines

bowed down
began

their

and

sail

he were about

if

into view.

The

trees

heads to the ground, and the wood

demons, who drew near and

to be filled with

nearer to the circle with a hideous din and uproar,

like the rushing of swift chariots, lighted with a thou-

sand

fiery trains,

around.
all

that shone like a conflagration

Then commenced

all

the diabolic rout, with

kind of dancing and waltzing; a scaramouche

encoimter of spears and swords was heard clattering

far

and wide

and

this

continued so long that the

doctor was on the point of leaping out of the circle

to

decamp.

mained

firm,

But mustering
and with

sunnnoned the

still

fresh

courage, he re-

more impious

devil repeatedly to appear.

eflPorts,

Upon

he
this

the latter began to exhibit a variety of strange delusions

first, it

seemed as

if

a vast brood of birds' or

dragons' wings were flapping overhead

and then, as

the strongest conjurations concluded, the strange ap-

pearance drew nigh with piteous lamentations, and

again vanished.

In a short while afterwards, there

DUCTOR VAUSTS..

276

fell

fiery

faggot close to him, which again mounted

into a sheet of flame,

which hung hke a canopy

ovei'

the spot where he stood.

At

this

though he

even Fanstus began to tremble,

sight

also exulted

in the idea that

he was thus

compelling the devil himself to obey him, and he

earnestly pursued his unhallowed labors, bent

knowing the

upon

result.

In this fatal design, he doubtless succeeded, as he

Avas afterwards

known,

a certain society, to have

in

boasted that he had brought under his power, and

command

could
in the

upon

the services, of the chiefest potentate

One

wide world.

this observed

of the students in company,

" That there was no greater po-

tentate than the emperor, the pope, or the king, ac-

knowledged upon earth."

retorted

"

Sir, the

than any of these

But the Doctor warmly

one under

!"

as

if

my

orders

is

greater

he wished to allude to the

sixth chapter of the

apostle Paul to the Ephcsians

" The Prince of

World," &c. but he would ex-

this

plain himself no further.

And

in truth, after several

more invocations of the

to

him

in the

wood, began to send forth a flame of

fire,

which

kind, the figure which

mounting

human

had appeared

to the height of a

man,

at last

assumed a

shape, and bounded round the circle

Faustus stood.

Then

the

demon assumed

in

which

the form

of a monk, and entered into a dialogue with the Doc-

277

DOCTOR FAUSTU3.

tor, inquirins^ hastily,

To

"

What might

Doctor answered, that

this the

be his pleasure?"
it

was

his plea--

upon him on the ensuing

sure that he should attend

night at his house, exactly at twelve o'clock

demon

at first the

flatly

which

refused to do.

Then Faustus again invoked him by the power of

his superior, that he should

accede to his proposal,

and obey him too when he came

was

infernal spirit

at length

all

of which the

compelled to do.

DiriV.UENT AUDIENCES BETWEEN DOCTOlt FAUSTUS

AND THE

devil's AMBASSADOn.

When

Doctor Faustus returned to his own house

he found the demon seated,

early in the morning,

uninvited, in his chamber,

who

candidly said, he had

appeared to know what the Doctor's commands were.

Now

is

it

very extraordinary, but very true, that

when heaven has wholly abandoned a man

evil

machinations, a

ing off

all

own

such tricks upon him, coming like a trouble-

some servant uncalled

when he

to his

has thus the power of play-

spirit

is

called.

for,

and often refusing

such evil-minded persons

Forthwith

come

will see the devil in spite

themselves, here and there, and at

when they want

to

So that as the proverb has

all

it,

of

times except

his assistance.

in

his turn, the

valierly dismissing the

demon,

Doctor somewhat caset to

work with

his

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

278

magical arts afresh in order to give him the troubleof returning, like an ill-humoured master ringing for his ser-

vant before he h as well got

down stairs

him the

the Doctor shewed

The next time

articles of the

compact

which he had drawn up, namely: Imprimis, That the

demon should obey him

in every thing

he required,

or chose to exact, during the whole term of the

tor's natural life.

Doc-

Secondly, That he should be bound

upon every subject put

to answer ever)' question,

him, without any quibble or demur

he must there reply

Thirdly,

to

That

to all the different interrogatories

that the Doctor chose to trouble

him

with.

This the

infernal spirit flatly refused to do, excusing himself

by declaring that he had no such authority from the

prince under
articles.

"

to venture

whom he

held office to sign any such

out of

It is quite

on such a step

master himself."

"

my

power, friend Faustus,

it

remains with our royal

What am

to understand

this?" inquired the Doctor, " do you

do

it,

do you say

spirit.

" Let

must know,

me

V*

" That

hear the reason, then,

supreme power over

Legion

am
in

to

do indeed," replied the

Faustus," said the other,

we have our

whom

from

want power

now

!"

" You

"that there

is

us, as there is over the earth

a
:

governors, officers, and catch-poles, of

*

one and

fact ours

is

many

;'

we name

ourselves

a kingdom of legions

be-

cause when Lucifer himself, owing to his pride and

aiTogance,

fell

with fierce downfall and punishment,

279

DOCTOtt FAUST US.

alone; with

he broue^ht

him a legion of

devils called

Prince of the Orient from his holding dominion over

He

those eastern regions.

south, in the north,

"

And inasmuch

his influence

so

and

in

likeveise

holds sway in the

the west.

as Lucifer the

fallen,

holds

we demons had

it

our power to render our-

left in

selves subservient and serviceable to mankind.

this not so,

it

would be impossible

messengers as he has now sent

we have never

me

yet acquainted

real nature of our state

Were

any mortal to

for

who then sends

bring Lucifer under his power,

that

all

and empire under the sway of heaven,

to you.

his

It is true,

mankind with the

and government

not even the

among you can fathom them a knowledge

which is reserved for those only who travel thither
on their own account." The Doctor was not a little
wisest

and

startled at hearing this,

to earn

that

pleasure."

perhaps

evil

heart and

not help you

life

the

have no desire
for

your

end;

in the

for

your

have already merited condemnation."

:

" You

catching good St. Valentine

As

"

knowledge and be damned

Doctor Faustus replied

away

" Will you not?" replied the spirit; " that

will

off

said

may

as soon think of

so take yourself speedily

!"

demon was

departing, the

Doctor seized

with some fresh doubts, again called him back, and

enjoined

him

to appear in the evening about vespers,

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

280

to hear

something farther which he had to propose, ta

which the

spirit assented,

From

this

imagination

and took

his departure.

scene the abandoned heart and

first

of this

man

although the devil had

fairly

and

evident

and

warned him by singing

the " song of poor Judas," as

to his diabolical thoughts

made

are

we

say,

he

still

clung

projects.

SECOND INTERVIEW BETWEEN DOCTOR FAUSTUS AND THE

DEMON NAMED M EPUCSTOPIJILES.

Towards
again

the appointed evening the same busy fiend

made

o'clock.

his appearance,

He now

between three and four

promised entire service and obe-

dience, according as he

had received permission from

his master; adding, that

he was enjoined to carry back

word of the Doctor's

hear, Faustus,

moning me

" Yet

intentions.

what was your object

into

your presence?"

must

first

again sum-

in

Doctor

Faustus

gave him a mysterious, but at the same time very

dangerous answer, as concerned his soul

him
plete

plainly that

demon, or

for

he told

he desired to become either a comto enter into league with

demons

in

addition to which he mentioned the articles which

here follow
First,

That he might

freely

shape whenever he judged proper.

assume a diabolical

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
Secondly, Thai his

281

demon should bind

himself to

perform every thing that the Doctor thoui^ht

and

fit

expedient.
Thirdly,

That he should ever be

and

faithful

obedient to him.
Fourthly, That he was to hold himself ready to

appear at the doctor's house at the slightest notice,

and

in

such shape as should prove most convenient

and agreeable.
Fifthly,

That he should perform

his household

duties invisibly, or appear only to the doctor, as he

judged

In respect to these several articles and

best.

conditions, the

mission
clauses,

demon promised

when every

gociation

difficulty in the

would be removed.

touch upon the leading points

Imprimis

and

unconditional sub-

except that he wished to add some slight

sign, that

It

way of the

will

be right

in these clauses

ne-*

to

Let Doctor Faustus swear, promise,

he holds the said service and obedi-

ence from the devil, upon a lease of years, to have

and to hold.

Secondly, that the Doctor, for further

assurance of the same, shall sign and witness

his

own hand and

blood.

clare all Christians to

with

Thirdly, that he shall de-

be his natural enemies. Fourthly,

he must forswear the Christian

faith.

he must watch and pray, that no one

upon him

it

to return to

it.

Fifthly, that

may

prevail

Before the signing and exe-

cution of these conditions, a certain

number of years

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

-82

to

be mentioned, at the expiration of which the demon

was

Doctor away.

to return to fetch the

Now

should he

choose to accede to these conditions, there was nothing

which heart could

be his

desire

and he would

invisible or diabolic

upon earth that should not

also

be at liberty to assume an

shape whenever he pleased.

Doctor Faustus exulted greatly on hearing these

much

terms, so

that he paid not the least heed to the

demon
upon him

safety of his immortal soul, while the wily

took advantage of his eagerness to impress

the

of stoutly maintaining these

necessity

articles

to the rigor of the

imagined, like

many

letter.

several

For the Doctor

other children of this world,

that the devil

was probably not quite

fnvored as he

is

so black

and

ill-

described, nor his place of residence

so uncomfortable as

we

suppose.

THinD DISPUTATION BETWIEN DOCTOR FAtlSTUS AND HIS

DEMON, RELATING TO THE PI.OPOSED TREATY.

After
tor

having executed the proposed deed, the Doc-

summoned

ordering

and

him

skellet,

announce

what was

name

is

business,

his familiar

to appear as

and also

to give

his approach.
his

name;

to

this

to his

presence,

friar,

with hood

some token by which

.

He

to

next inquired of him

which the

Mephcstophiles."

when

demon
a minor

spirit replied,

"My

They then proceeded

audacious and godless

man

to

con-

283

DOCTOR FAU8TUS.

firmed his abantlonnient of the true faith and the true

God; even

the Creator

his birth.

He

fashioned him from

who had

entered into this devihsh league, the

causes of which were his towering pride and

sole

ambition, discontented with

and known, and

fable,

to

all

he hud already seen

aspiring, like the giants of

heap mountain upon mountain

heathen

until they

should mount to the skies. Yes, even like his master,

that

bad angel who would have

Lord

set himself

above the

arrogance which drove him

boldness and

with shameful flight from his heavenly abode, shewing

how

who

those

climb the highest shall be sure to

will

incur the heaviest

impelled Faustus

executed

which

This headstrong ambition

fall.

to

meet

all

the demon's wishes,

contracts duly signed and sealed,

in

terrific

discovered in his house after his death.

are

what

are

here described

timely wanning to
in order that they
devil

all

their lives

in

and souls

last

good and prudent Christians,

or in

affording the

any way sporting with

a madness which brought those

Faustus into such

devilish servitude, never to

bitter

jeopardy and

have an end.

After each of the parties had

their

These

history, as

this

may be deterred from

any advantage,

of Doctor

all

deeds, along with other writings, were

become bound

in

mutual contract, Faustus, taking a sharp knife,

hand, of which

opened a vein

in his left

asserted, there

was afterwards

these words

"

Homo

it

read, branded

has been

upon

it,

Fuge, Shun him, oh man.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

284

and do that which

let

In this

right."

is

way

the Doctor

himself blood into one of his crucibles, which he

then placed as an experiment upon a hot coal

and

finally

To

wit

"

fire,

wrote therefrom the following testimonial

I,

Johannes Faustus, D. D.

my own

hereby acknowledge with

farther assurance of

tliis

M. D,

et

hand, for the

deed, that in consideration of

the manifold services and instructions of every kind,

not to be obtained from any living mortal,

for

my

familiar

and

faithful

accept

demon, the demon hight

Mephostophiles, late Charge d' Affaires to the infernal

Prince of the Orient, but

mands.

On

Item,

and bind myself

now

subject to

the other hand,

handle,

to
to

deal with

my

cing

life

me

soul,

Christian

all

as

he

shall

and to misguide

and

my

in

this deed, that

all

my

communion upon

that appertains
blood, renoun-

earth,

and

" As additional confirmation of the same,

witness below, in

and

he

to govern,

all

hope

con-

Amen.

sent to sign this contract with

will

de-

do hereby hire

judge best

good and

of celestial inheritance.

time, of sound

my

to him, after the expiration of four

and twenty years from the date of

may

all

my own

my own

hand, as

blood, being at this present

mind and understanding,

rightly to

to bequeath, &c.

Subscribed,

Johannes Faustus, D.D.

et

M.D.

Doctor of Divinity, and of Medicine, &c.,

experienced in

all

the Elements and Arts.

285

DOCTOll I'AUSTUS.

Here follow

some

very

verses,

applicable

to

Doctor Faust's arrogance and fool-hardy audacity.

"

He whose rank

and dark audacious

pride,

will,

In devilish arts, set nets to catch his soul,

Bereaving soul and

life

of heavenly weal

For temporal gains, must bear eternal dole

Wherefore guard well your ways

Those

for

who may

save

wilful ones, that rush into the flames

Or waters round them ? Who weep o'er

Who fall amid their own unholy aims ?
The

must burn, the waters

fire

A STP. ANC;E

o'er

Visn FHOM THE DE.MON M

their grave.

them

P llOST'l Pll

roll."

tS,

AND

UliJ

KX IIMMTION,

At

the third dialogue.

nounced
in

the

his

approach

following

Doctor Faust's demon an-

in a

somewhat humorous

style,

He first went roaming

like a man on fire, so that the

manner.

through the whole house,

beams and flames darted from him

like arrows.

And

he was followed by a monkish procession, singing

hymns, though no one could imagine what kind of a

song it was they sung.
But Faustus being greatly

amused with

this sort of exhibition, desired that the

demon would not

enter into the chamber, until he

had seen an end of the whole of

forthwith

was heard a

battle,

this

scene.

Then

rout of swords and

2S6

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

spears, as

as

if

if

at

some mig:hty

the whole house

so that

siege,

seemed

it

was on the point of being

assaulted and carried by storm.

Next came

riding

by a splendid scene of hunters and of hounds,

eager for the chace
started

forth,

all

the horns blew, and a deer

which was pursued

until

it

sought

refuge in the Doctor's room.

Then

there rushed in after, a lion

to dispute the
fierce

and bloody

sistible

strife.

strength and

come and

slain

and a dragon,

which presently commenced a

prey,

The lion appeared full

spirit,

and yet he was at

by the other.

of irre-

last over-

Doctor Faust's page

afterwards said, that he had only seen a linkworm

creeping over his book, quite jet black, and

it

crawled

along the walls of the chamber, until at last chamber

and

disappeared.

all

Next were seen a

peacock and pea-hen, as

and

it

Soon a great horned beast ran

him

the Doctor, threatening to throw

down and vanished

just as

he was crying out stoutly

it

in

one

they separated and then they folded again

first

together.

deed

beautiful

were wreathed

alarmed him not a

it

for

tilting at

aloft,

reached his

but

feet,

fell

and

Mephostophiles.

little

In-

but next a large

ape ran up and presented his paw to the doctor.

It

then sprang over his head and danced out of the

room, at which he laughed heartily.

Then followed

a strong fog, which enveloped the whole room, so

that he could hardly see.

When

this vanished,

he

287

DOCTOR TAUSTUS.
found lying on the

two huge bags, one

floor,

An

and the other of gold.

silver

full

of

organ now began

followed by a harpischord, a lute, a violin,

to play,

a harp, a base

of other

variety

adapted to

horns, drums, trumpets, with a

viol,

instruments,

celestial voices, so

modulated and

all

much

so that Doctor

Faustus began to think that he was

Paradise.

in

This music continued above an hour, and produced

such an

effect

upon the Doctor's

rather exulted than

felt

uneasy

that he

spirits,

step he

at the

had

just taken.

All these illusions,

we may remark, were got up by

the devil in order to confirm Doctor Faustus in his

purpose, to harden and to lead

had not so much

fernal

society into

to

him

to

fancy that he

dread as to enjoy

the in-

in

which he had entered.

This ex-

hibition being closed, Mephostophiles hastened into

the

Doctor's

apartment,

monk, and Faustus

indeed treated

said, with

to

some

These are what

scenes.

me

me

well.

semblance of a pious

in

like,

than

a master."

and they have pleased

me

you

in

hope, than
part of the

this,

rather

Mephostophiles

" Oh, there was nothing to admire here

serve

have

and merry

Only continue such mad work as

Mephostophiles, and count upon

friend

"You

a smile,

right strange

my

as a

replied
;

shall

more important matters by and by,

these,

provided you only

engagement

sights

observe your

which

will

excite

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

288

The Doctor answered

your utmost astonishment."

by presenting him with a copy of the contract

while

Mephostophiles, on his side, insisted that Faustus

should preserve another copy by him, to prevent

chance of

all

litigation or mistake.

MEPHOSTOPHILFS APPRENTICESHIP TO DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

All good

Christians

may

easily conjecture

what was

the situation of the Doctor, deserted by the Lord and

all

the heavenly host, after having delivered his blood-

signed contract into the demon's hands, a contract

which no honest pious householder would put

name

his

being more like the act of a fiend than of a

to,

mortal.

Doctor Faustus now resided

in the

house which had

and which the

latter

had bequeathed

l>ecn his uncle's,

to him.

There too he had taken into

young student as

his

secretary

knowing rogue of the name of

who

liked the sort of sport

his service a

and attendant, a

ChristofFel

Wagenar,

he saw, too

easily im-

who promised to make

And this was no difficult

bibing his master's example,

him an expert
task, as like

fellow.

most young people he was well ipclined

to avail himself of such lessons as his master taught.

Excepting

this hopeful

youth and his familiar demon,

.Faustus would have no boarders in his house.

Me-

289

UOCTOR J-AUSTUS.

])liostophiles

attended upon his master in

still

the

shape of a monk, and he was accustomed always to

summon

him, as he sat in his study, which he con-

stantly kept closed.

The Doctor next began to indulge

living, feasting
uiily

upon

rarities,

in

veiy luxurious

and eating and drinkmg

For whenever he wished

of the best.

to

have

the best wine, he sent his familiar to the cellars of the

most distinguished personages of the place

of a certain prince, of the

Duke

as those

of Beijiren, and of

the Bishop of Salzburgh, whereby they were

siderably diminished.

By

the

all

con-

same method he ob-

tained the most costly meats, cooked by the same

magical

as his

arts,

demon could convey them with

the swiftness of a bird, and dart as quickly through

an open window.

Thus

all

the houses and palaces of the neigh-

bouring counts and princes, and

all their

nished tables were laid under contribution

that the Doctor

and

his secretary

apparel, the cl(jthes

and

upon commission by

his

at

Nuremburg,

silks

best fur-

insomuch

appeared in elegant

having been ordered

demon who

at Strasburg,

visited the

the night, taking very long credit for his pains.

same happened
others

among

to

the shoemakers, and

the operatives,

shops

and at Frankfort,

who have

all

in

The

numerous
so strong

a prejudice against this kind of sale of their articles

during the night.

VOL.

I.

And,

in short,

though they were

o

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

290

were always something excellent and

stolen, they

good

way; while Mephostophiles evaded

in their

all

informations and pursuits.

For these services

his

familiar

was

to

receive

twenty-five crowns per week, amounting to an annual

income of thirteen hundred, with which Mephostophiles

was

night

and

Doctor Faustus now continued to

quite content.

lead the
;

life

of a confirmed epicurean both by day and

until

he

lost all notion of

flattered himself that life

Heaven and

Hell,

and soul would

alike

His familiar had long been per-

perish together.

suading him to enter into a demoniacal association,

previous to naturalizing himself in the infernal state,
to

which

his master,

than an

idle

little

more

imagination, or mere fudge, at length

consented, and said

" Let

my name

be entered

your books, friend Mephostophiles, come what

soon as you please."

him

but

heedless of every thing

good cheer, and conceiving the whole

to think of

in

will as

Mephostophiles next advised

adding to his establishment by taking

to himself a wife.

" Stop," cried Faustus, laughing,

" that

is

require

some more discussion

a more serious consideration, friend ;

;"

it

will

and the demon joined

heartily in his laugh.

Scarcely, however,

had he adopted

his first pro-

when a

violent storm

posal and finished these words,

of wind shook the house, as

to fall topsy-turvy.

if

every thing was about

The doors and windows sprang

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

2dl

and there was so strong a smell of sulphur that

ajar,

any one

wouW

have thought the whole house was on

nm down

Doctor Faustus attempted to

fire.

stairs,

but found himself seized by a strong arm and pushed

back into the room, with so much violence that he

could move neither hand nor foot.

encircled

him on

him, and he cried out

might, to

this the devil

What is

(juite

the meaning of

"howling there

The

and

himself appeared

and savage forms as

"

Mcphostophiles with

for

to save,

assist,

fire

his

Upon

but in such grisly

terrified

Doctor:

the

exclaimed Satan

a dog? what think you now?"

like

upon

all

obey him.

to

all this,"

doctor, aware that he

infringed

blaze of

ready to consume

sides, as if

all

must have

in

some way

compact with Mcphostophiles,

his

very humbly intreated the devil's pardon, to which

the Prince of Darkness briefly replied

you better to
you

!"

and

it,

and with

this

said

engagements, you

" Then see

I

advise

he disappeared.

Mcphostophiles now
" As long,

stick to your promise,

sir,

attended his master

and

as you continue tnie to your

may

always rely upon

my

antici-

pating your wishes, in every thing most agreeable;

and

in proof of this

you

shall eveiy evening

be pre-

sented with a lady of such surprizing beauty, as not

to

be exceeded by any thing you have ever seen in

this city.

and

whom

Cast your eye on

you

will,

all sides,

choose where

the same shall be sure to attend

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

292

upon your pleasure."

regretted that he

and unsociable
full

had

so long continued in his single

Henceforward

state.

of nothing but beautiful

insomuch that the

night,
in

This proposal consoled and

Doctor Faustus exceedingly, and he greatly

pleased

devil

his

head was

women

both day and

had no

farther trouble

keeping him to his promise,

Doctor had

(for the

just before been plotting to save himself by retiring

to a

monastery and leading a chaste single

had

so greatly enraged the devil,) whereas he

considered the whole of his previous

by the charms of female

One

lost.

favorite

life,

life,

which

now

unenlivened

society, as little better tlian

succeeded to another, he never

dreamed of one and the same during four-and-twenty

hours, and the devil triumphed in the success of his
plan.

UESTION PROPOSED BY DOCTOR

FAXJSTl'S

TO HIS FAMILIAR

SPiniT MEPHOSTOPHILES.

When
in the

Doctor Faustus had become a great proficient

forementioned species of devilry, his

demon one

day handed him a great book, which appropriately

contained a description of
sorceries,

all

kind of enchantments,

necromancy, and so

confirm him

in

his

lost

state.

forth, the

better

to

These Dardania:

Aries were afterwards found in possession of his sei-

293

DOCTOK FAUST VS.

Wagenar; and when

vant

them a

little

had studied

the doctor

while, his infernal hardihood increased,

and he determined to ask a few more and bolder questions of his

demon than he had

Wagenar

he told

this view,

With

before done.

to prepare his study,

as

he was going to hold a dialogue with Mephostophiles.

This done, he was summoned, and the Doctor said
"
a

My

good

spirit

fellow,

you are

strapper,

?"

my

say the truth,

tell

me once

Mephostophiles replied

dear master,

am

what kind of

for all

"

To

but an under-

and that with Heaven's leave

am

a kind

of ambassador or errand boy on important occasions,

as you see."

Doctor Faustus said

nfemal master
the

come by

that great

How

fall

my

did your

of his from

top of heavenly bliss where he once

" Know," replied the demon, " that

fer

"

stood i"

prince Luci-

was created a beautiful angel, and such was his

power over the

Hierarchy.

He

saints that

he was himself named a

likewise enjoyed the titles of Sera-

phim, of Cherubim, and of Throne Angel, with a

governorship over lower orders, some of

governed and protected mankind.

highest class, as
prince,

prince,

we know

whom

But a

again

third

and

to our cost, are called arch-

and prince-envoys, angels of chief

wonders and miracles, ambassadors of most important tidings, and angelic governors of infinite care

and prudence.

Now

beautiful angels

under these

Lucifer was one of the most

;

the most beautiful of

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

294

whom was

Raphael

Michael.

And

the other two were Gabriel and

can inform you of here."

this is all I

A DISPUTATION CONCERNING EREBUS, A"ND ITS CAVERNS.

Doctor Faustus,
be more

after this last adventure,

inquisitive as to the

site

the infernal abode, and dreamed,

nothing

demon

else.

He

in regard to

its

the

affirnied, of

is

particular situation, customs

especially, as to

Of

and purposes.

came by

its

primal

these Mephostophiles gave

following explanation

master, Lucifer,

it

therefore questioned his familiar

and manners, and more

origin

began to

and substance of

namely, that when his

his

fall,

he found the place

ready

made

lake,

where he was bound down by chains, sur-

for

him

rounded by a thick
similar combustibles.

mon, " we could not

even his dormitory on a dark

fog,

fire,

well have

we had been accommodated

sidence, constructed
art,

And

this is all

pitch,

and

become

which

devils, unless

with an appropriate re-

upon those

discovered, heaven only

"

sulphur,

" In fact," continued the de-

diabolical rules of

knows how.
I

have at present

in

my

power to say;" upon which the demon ceased speaking,

and disappeared, before the Doctor, who had

another question to propose, had time to

back.

call

him

Back, however, Mephostophiles was shortly

compelled to come, and further answer the Doctor's

nOCTOU FAUSTUS.
questions

the laws and government, as

respcctine:

well as the residence of his

said

spirit

and

"

its rivers

My

295

form the

The

demons.

iellow

dear master,

the

bare

country

places of residence

sole

we

possess, which are about as wide as your world above

They con-

them, or as heaven above your world.

sist

of ten governments, some of which are superior

in point of

chief

power and influence

among them

are

to the

1.

Lucus Mortis.

6.

Gehenna.

2.

Stagium

7.

Herebus.

3.

Terra Tenebrosa.

8.

Barathrum.

Ignis.

9. Styx.

4. Tartanis.

10. Acheron.

5. Terra Oblivionis.

These are generally

name

of Plegeron

Lucifer

governs

known

demons under the

to our

and four of these divisions are

much upon

royal principalities,

is

The

rest.

in the

east

the

in the north, Belial's in the south,

in the

west.

Yet

all

same plan that

Beelzebub's province

and Astaroth's

these governments continue

under the dispensation of the Lord of Hosts.

And

they constitute the whole government of our king-

dom, of which you

will learn

more

hereafter."

A QUESTION RESPECTING THE PREVIOUS CONDITION OF THE

FALLEN ANGEL.

DoctouFaustus

speedily resumed his interrogatories

with his demon.

He

inquired in what

way

Lucifer

296

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

passed his time, and what situation he occupied, previous to his

Mephostophiles requested to be

fall ?

allowed three days to prepare his answer, which being granted,

"

My

on the

third,

he replied as follows:

master, Lucifer, as he was formerly

was then arrayed

in

worn only by the chief angels

light,

and stood

called,

a clear sky-blue garment of

as high in authority

or chenibims,

and influence as he

did in stature above most of the heavenly hosts

sparkling in gold and diamonds, and raised, in his

own

opinion, above the sun

been placed by his Creator,

and the

stars.

He had

head of a prin-

at the

but as soon as ever he discovered an am-

cipality,

bition to

aggrandize himself by assuming the

title

of Prince of the East, he was hurled from his princely

seat,

and driven with hideous rout from the confines

of heaven.

Banished into the regions of dolorous

and doomed

to

and sorrowful

so-

pain, divested of his princely crown,

rule only over sulphureous shades,

he has there established his kingdom

journs,

eternity."

When

for

Doctor Faustus had learnt these

things from his demon, he proceeded to speculate, in

his

own manner, upon

replied not a
spirit,

word

but,

a variety of opinions.

he went and shut himself up

But the

He

turning his back upon the

in

his

study.

result of all his cogitations was, that lie re-

tired that night,

He mused

sighing and lamenting to his bed.

sadly upon what he

had heard

respect-

DCTOU FAL'STUS.

inj^

297

from heaven, and the honour

Lucifer's expulsion

which he had before enjoyed at the hands of

And

Maker.

him; he had been

so with

his

richly en-

dowed, and he mi^ht have insured an inheritance

in

now

heaven, but he had

pride and

fatal

the

believe

things

passions, bad

my

and

hope

soul.
I

For

my

my

Alas,

if I

And

my own

as

if,

evil

brought myself!

reason and cun-

have committed

must

believe, alas

my own
have no

and spend the

Lucifer,

like

Alas,

predicament have

a miserable
It

all

these

could outwit the powers of

existence in eternal durance.

what

into

can no longer dis-

for ever.

fear I

must become

whole of
alas,

me

added

dreaming that

darkness, whereas
life

seen.

blood, the flesh and the devil, with

were not enough

;

for

have

hc^'m to see the pre-

stand

have ruined

pride,

ning

my

ho cried, " upon

!"

ambition.

upon which

cipice

incurred the penalty of

" Woe, woe

eternal wrath.

were better had

never been

born."

Thus unuvailingly did the unhappy Faustus complain, for

felt

hope expired as his

that no expiation could

the grace of God.

"

far as the

retrace

my

" Yet

faith

will try,"

devil hath transported

steps,

and pray

revived,

and he

again reconcile him to

to

he exclaimed

me,

will try to

be restored to heaven

and to the holy church.

"I

will

struggle hard with the

bad

o5

spirits

tliat

DOCTOR

298

f AUSTVS.

my

have laid strong siege to

and perhaps

soul,

But while he

al|

may

yet be well."

still

half dubious and unbelieving, while his infernal

he was

said this,

him

adversaries were doing every thing to entangle

faster in the net.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS FAUTfllli INTERROGATES HIS SERVANT MErHOSTOIHlLES CONCERNING

As soon
little,

as

HE POWER OF THE DEVILS.

Doctor had

the

his spirits

rallied

he again questioned Mephostophiles respecting

the government, councils, influence, and temptations

how he

of the devil, and

prerogatives.

To

this

first

acquired these royal

demon answered

his

dear master, such a history would lead us too

"

My

far,

and

only give rise to vain misgivings and regrets on your

part
it

better therefore

you shoidd not

insist

upon

the same time,

must not

refuse to

satisfy

it

At

belongs to the mysteries of our government.

you as

far as I

am

his

fall,

became

He

then commenced that tyrannical system which he

able;

and

first

alike the

know, that Lucifer,

enemy

of

has ever since acted upon, as you

afteu

God and man^

may

still

perceive

from those daily occurrences of men jumping out of

four story windows, hanging, drowning, sticking, and

drinking themselves to death in despair.

was created perfect

rebel

and

to sin

until the devil taught

For

man

him how

to

as witness the history of your old

299

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

father

Adam and his wife Eve, with so many of their

whom he seduced from the grace of

posterity, all of

God.
" Exploits

like these,

my dear

may call the tyranny and

What did he do with Cain

It

and commit adultery with heathen women ?

he put an end

name

laid siege to the soul

all

kind of

We

to his existence.

folly, until

have another of

who tempted seven great men

Our demon Chagon was the cause

of Asmodeus,

commit adultery.

of thirty thousand

men being

utterly lost

King David

Behal's treatment of

his tribes of people,

and

slain, be-

Who can ever forget

sides losing the ark of the Lord.

number

we

and who persuaded the

of Saul, and made him commit

to

think

temptation of the devil.

;

was one of our demons who

the

worship strange gods to offer sa-

Israelitish tribes to
crifices

master,

how he made him

by which he

lost

twenty

thousand at a stroke.

There was another of our

busy devils did no

by King Solomon

less

little

friends or imps,

and scandal of

They

all

are despatched

for

he

to our

to sin

until they

regular divisions over the

in

their attacks

both openly and in

undermine the fabric of Christian

people's faith, persuade

thefts

idols.

kinds, they are almost innumerable.

whole earth, and make

ambush,

And as
who tempt common men

even brought him to worship

them

to all kinds of petty

and crimes, and likewise

numbers of them end

tiieir

to blaspheme, until

days upon the gallows.

DOCTOR i-AlSTUS.

300

" Moreover, we harden the hearts of princes and

more

rulers,

especially against the ministers of the

gospel, and this, Faustus, you are learned

enough

in

theology to know."

To

the

this

and you have

not

for as

satisfied

The demon

truth ?"
I

Doctor replied

You

say

told

me

"

why

should

have

got possession of your

Faustus, and led you to form designs which

to

welly

me; but have you

replied

soon as

"

draw you on nearer and nearer

all

the

heai't,

tended

to the devil

we

then inspired you with greater ambition and deeper

speculations than before, so that you could get no

yourself by overt

began
and

to conjure us up,

resolute, that

we made you

than be thwarted and aban-

your

mad

harden and

you laboured how you might

career,

On

bring one of us into your power.

into a contract for

formation of which

"That

it

to

your ambition, until unaljle to check yourself

irritate

so fool hardy

suffer yourself to

Thus we continued

don your design.

you

Then, when you

you would sooner

devil,

you committed

until

acts of sorcery.

be seduced by the

in

nor day,

neither night

sleep

see, for

is

life

would have been a

our part

tried to

Doctor; "

it

must be

Had

so,

encourage holy thoughts,

difficult task,

though

have only

to thank myself for the hateful predicament

kept the

we got

soul, a piece of in-

need not remind you."

true," said the

even had

and

besj.

commandments,

the devil

am

in.

would not

301

DOCTll FAUSTUS.

done

" That

and

offers, to barter hfc

to deserve his

by his

to prevail with me,

SO soon have been able

tempting

mahce

The demon

?"

leave you to find out

O, what had

soul.

:"

replied

and Doctor Faustus

turned sorrowfully away.

A niSPl'TATION

Ever

since

TO GEHENNA

ni'.LATINC;

AND THE

I'AINS

AND PENALTIES

I'nOPOtlTIONS,

ITS

IT INFLICTS.

he had been so roughly handled, for

trying to elude his contract, Doctor Faustus felt considerable regret at having so lightly implicated his
soul,

by bond and signature, but

that of Cain and Judas.

was more

It

was

his remorse

like

like despair of

the grace of God, than a wholesome sorrow which

mends the

heart.

Thus, though he saw heaven as

were lying before him, and longed to reach

Yet he

kept walking the other way.

it,

he

at times flat-

tered himself that by dint of long disputations

interrogatories

it

still

and

with his ghost, he might finally hit

upon some method

some

loophole,

by which to

escape, and so reconcile himself to heaven.

he deluded himself;

so deep, that the Doctor

still

In this

had struck

his fangs

persisted in

summon-

for the devil

ing Mephostophiles to his examinations, and his whole

thoughts and dreams turned upon infernal matters.

He

inquired therefore of his

pains of hell were like

demon what

First, as to

hell

and the

what kind of

la-

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

302

mentation the damned in general made ?

Secondly,

whether they had any hope of expiation, and of being

restored to grace

no

reply, only

To

demon made

these questions his

he said

My

"

good master

these questions respecting Erebus, with

geographical position, you had just as well

let

them

Consider whither they will lead you in the

alone.

end

as to

moral and

its

For granting

it

were in your power to climb as

high as the seventh heaven, depend upon

it,

could

follow,

and hurl you down again

into the infernal

abyss

because though

am now

yours, you are to

be mine

you belong to our courts.

" Away then,

my

dear Faustus, with these absurd

inquiries about the place, but speak within compass,

upon other

topics.

of having wasted so
in the end,

so pray

speculations."

I insist

have
all,

it,"

for

want

names,

you

abandon them

say,

will only

for

more

profitable

" But

replied,

though

it

repent

upon them

cost

me my

upon your informing me." " Well then,

cried the
it

to

me

precious time

Doctor Faustus

must know them,

life

Believe

much

can do

demon, a

me no manner

know what

signs,

nettled;

little

Hell

and tokens.

It

is ?

" hear

of harm.

You

goes by manifold

You may

call

times ravenous and thirsty, inasmuch as

it

it

some-

debars

its

inmates from the least refreshment, even a drop of

water.

It is also justly said, that hell is

situated not far from Jerusalem

a large vale,

inasmuch as

it is

of

DOC 10 R FAUST US.

303

equal breadth and depth, with that called Heaven's

Seat, in which reside the blessed of the heavenly Je-

rusalem.

"

moreover, appropriately

It is

named a

place of

which none who go there can see the end either

point of time or space

and

the burning lake, because

comes

tuity

So the
they

is

souls of the

are

tortured

consumes every thing

is

hell

is

it

burnt in the

damned burn

and plagued

in perpe-

continually

though they cannot be quite destroyed.

same reason

in

as properly called

contact witli, as a faggot

in

oven.

it

it

For the

called eternal perdition, everlast-

ing pain, which though

it

has a beginning has neither

hope nor end.

"

and

It is

gulf,

rigidity

known and

because

it is

and hardness

it

of Petro, or a rock, for

Then

souls.

it

is

felt also as

the bottomless pit

quite unfathomable.

it

its

contains reckless and stony

surrounded and braced on

sides, like a chain of projecting cliffs

interior fastnesses.

From

has come under the name too

all

embracing their

it boasts is the name of

damned lying everlastingly
known also by the names of

Another

Career, on account of the

confined in

it.

It

is

Damnatio, Eritum, Consultatio, Damuatia, Condemnator,

"

&c.

Of

its

despair and pains and penalties, you

gather some idea from scripture, which

letter to

me

is

may

a sealed

as likewise of the species of lamenta-

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

304

weeping and gnashing of teeth.

tion they elicit, such as

And you may

on the correctness of what

rely

hitherto explained to you

perturbed

spirits

in

fine,

have

the noise of the

a very disagreeable crying,

like

is

howling, shrieking, moaning, groaning, and adjurations

mercy and

for

for help, all

like the fierce din of a field of battle

beings

know

cileable

that they are

enemies to

some, however, are

wretched

for the

become sworn and

iiTecon-

God and man. The pangs

much more severe than those

others, in proportion

may have

mingled together

to the sins

and

ofi'ences

of

they

committed. There are damned souls which

complain as

much

and as much over

of the intense cold as of the heat,

thirst

and insufferable stench and

brimstone, as over fogs and pools and springs

much from
from the

of

tedious and

terrific

empty vanity and

countenances of the

whom

despair that visits those to

as

idleness, as

devils,

and the

hope never comes.

They

bite their

roar,

blaspheme, and tear their hair, vainly attempt-

own tongues

for spite

and smart, they

ing to put an end to their existence.

seem

to

increase instead

of diminishing, for

even

my

dear

death refuses to relieve then).

master, this

terrific

the wrath of God,

ture for the

Their pains

In

fact,

place was planned according to

how

best to produce the greatest tor-

damned and

the greatest possible space

amidst sad and dreary deserts, icy shores and promontories, bleak hail and storm, and fiery sleet and

305

nocToii I'AUSTus.

drenching thaws,

ments

and ignominious punish-

painful

all

to satiate the

mockery and

as well as

scorn,

the vengeance, of the powers above.

Now

"

as to your

question which concerns

final

Most High, whether

the reach of mercy in the

among those condemned souls,

by expiation they may be restored to grace
mingle a

instruction with

once

I will

You

enquire whether the

little

be restored to grace
all

we

Hellites, or

rated from grace,

bation to

damned

progress,

we had reached

as

doomed

An

a state of repro-

in

half

guilty of backsliding

way up

ever hope to escape;

much

pray and repent as

cannot get

being once sepa-

the heavenly

as ourselves can those

little

Because

flatly, no.

Even supposing we could

we should be

make

For

answer.

are ever likely to

spirits,

must remain

eternity.

all

before

And

answer

damned

my

ex-

it

so that

tend to any

let

who

them weep and

as they please.

rid of their conscience,

hill.

are fore-

For they

do what they

will.

emperor, king, duke, count, or any other kind of

ruler,

may

easily say

'

ATi

wish

such a monstrous tyrant, and driven

a pitch

!'

what an
haughty

A.

rich

man may

avaricious

man

the dissipated

'

Ah

wretch

character:

Oh

had not been

tilings to

such

Good God,
have been.'
The

exclaim

vain fool,

woe

'

to

me

!'

ye heavens!

And
what

a villainous seducer, gambler, and lilaspheming wretch

I

have been.'

But what

avail all these vain regrets

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

306

The predestined and the damned,

certain length, have
is

no

sort of reason

about them, far

no more to

after

proceeding a

There

fear or to hope.

why Heaven

less pity or assist

should trouble

them

itself

Why should

not they be allowed to remain there, as the dead are

also permitted to

"Then
on

this

do

in their graves

give yourself no farther concern, Faustus,

head

and

now

tell

you frankly once

no longer give ear

that in future

questions

us converse on other subjects."

let

will

for all,

to such idle

But Doctor Faustus turned away from Mephostophiles without

mood.

making any answer,

He

endeavoured to turn his at-

tention to other matters, and

banish the
it

no very happy

Indeed his uneasiness and remorse bordered

almost on despair.

but

in

was

final

by every other means to

prospect he had in view from his

in vain.

He dreamed

mind

of nothing else, for

the devil had so very successfully tempted, betrayed,

blinded, and grappled him, that he no longer ven-

tured to struggle to get

began

to

entertain

when he was
to flight
his

For instance,

free.

serious

and

alone, the devil

religious

was sure

to put

by throwing some veiy beautiful

way, which had the

if

he

thoughts

them

woman

in

effect of banishing all holy

thoughts, and destroying the foundation of the re-

formation he had commenced.

nOCTOR FAUSTUS.

307

POCTOn FAUSTUS STILL PEIISIST8 IN EXTORTING MORE ANSWERS

FROM

Very

HIS

shortly the

DEMON MEPHOSTOPIIILES.

Doctor again summoned

which
"

however,

What
"

he.

demon

the

want an answer

"and

order to reconcile

Why,"

said

and you a
would
ciful

to

listen

as*

this:

you were

If

long as

as
I

in

re-

my

I mean
God and man."

what would you do ?

yourself to

Mephostophiles, " If

devil,

to.

?" said

to a certain question,"

is

it

place, Mephostophiles,

"

refused

can you possibly want with nie a^ain

plied Faustus,

in

his fa-

upon another point

miliar in order to satisfy himself

you

were a man,

my

will be,

good master,

had breath cry unto the all-mer-

God, vowing never more

to offend,

or to break

the least of his commandments, but ever to do his

to

will,

heart,

kneel and pray

and

to

love

with humble and gi'ateful

and revere him,

until I

might be

rendered acceptable into some portion of his grace,

evermore content and happy, provided

my

could secure

eventual salvation and escape from doom."

"

And have

not,

have

Doctor Faustus, eagerly. "

" that you have not;

far

not done

No

!"

from

all

that?" cried

retorted the

it,

demon,

you have denied

your creator, you have despised his holy

will

and

word, the salvation which he proffered you, and the

gifts

of nature he bestowed upon you, insomuch that

you have no one to accuse besides

evil

yourself, your

own

pride and passions, which have deprived you of

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

308

your best

gifts

and the robes of righteousness you

might have worn."

" That

tor Faustus, " but

would you, Mephostophiles, take

my

is

place in a mortal shape,

demon, sighing

replied the

much about

" Yes,"

we should not

dispute

should

be restored to grace."

Faustus, "

ought to be

it

myself as far as
said the

'*

am

demon, "

my

able in the

as far as

its

make every

still

" Ergo," exclaimed

endeavour to better
" Yes,"

same way."

Heaven

but

it

is

now

vengeance hath passed over your

head and hath smitten you." "

cried the Doctor, as

me

might have

you have a chance of ex-

piating your offences towards

quite too late

Doc-

you could."

if

For however greatly

that.

sinned against Heaven,

effort to

too true," rephed

Go

alone," retorted the

me alone,"
And leave
pester me with

leave

he turned away.

demon, " nor

"

such questions any more."

HElir.

FOLLOWS THE SECOND PART OF THE HISTORY OF DOCTOR

FAUSTUS, THE CELEBllATED AND UNFOUTUNATE CONJURER.

As Doctor Faustus now found

no further

satisfaction

that he could obtain

from his demon, as to

spiritual

matters, he asked him no more questions.

He next began to make almanacks, for he was

one of the best astrologers and almanack-makers of
his time;

setting

knows.

well versed in calculating

down

Nor was he

nativities,

and

the

world well

less celebrated as

a mathema-

prognostications,

as

I'oR

i)()(

tician, as

309

lALsrus.

appears from his history, no less than from

Thus,

his writings.

all

those events

of"

which he

gave warning to different princes and lords,

gard to which, he possessed a particular
failed to

happen

as he

had descrihed them,

His almanacks were sought

end.

in re-

gift,

those of any other astronomer

never
in the

beyond

after,

because he set

down

nothing in his calculations, but what happened as

he had written

it,

both concerning fogs, wind, snow,

and thunder, and

all

changes of the weather,

that his almanacks were superior to any others,

more correct
likewise

changes of
states

astrological

in

pointed

out

the

kinds were

all

For he

calculations.

precise

time

to occur,

and kingdoms, whether about

so

and far

in

which

applicable to
to

be visited

with war, famine,' or peslilence, such as the devil

could best contrive to manufacture out of the sinful

lives

of men,

for the

plague of governors

and of

their people.

A DISPUTATION on

TWO, CONCERNING

ART, ASTRONOMY,

AND ASTUOLOGY.

WiTEN Doctor

Faustus had been for the space of two

years employed in

more summoned
his opinion,

and

his

making

demon

his almanacks,
to inquire

and proficiency

astrology, in the

in

he once

what might be

regard to astronomy

manner the mathematicians were

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

310

accustomed to consider them

replied

"

Why,

in

my

To

demon

this his

opinion, Doctor, your star-

gazers have no certain knowledge, nor fixed prin-

For

ciples.

subjects, of

you

in truth, these are secret

which heaven

mortals cannot penetrate

knowing

spirits do,

and mysterious
and

jealous,

is

the

in

who sweep through

into

which

manner we
the

air,

and

under the heavens, and can grasp some of their mysteries in

spirits,

our ken

because

we

are old experienced

and have more ample scope

for our excursions

through the sky.

" For instance,

my

good master,

you some prognostications

a long reckoning of

know)

for

is

to

come

distinct from the

so as to exhibit

in preparation.

could easily cast

almanacks, or make

that has gone before, and give

all

youths proceeds of what

several year

fit

describing each

rest (as

in

fact

you

shadows of the events that are

This we old

spirits

can do; and

might say in justice to your ancestors of old time,

who had

the advantage of five or six hundred years

leisure, that

they too lived long enough to obtain a

thorough acquaintance with such subjects

course of years, the great leap year was

which

their calculations

were enabled to

illustrate

for in the

fulfilled,

were founded.

upou

Thus they

and arrange the

arts

acquired upon certain known principles, whereas

experienced astrologers
prognostics upon

make

their calculations

mere hazard, the

they
less

and

result of false

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
prophecy and mere guess-work

;"

311

which Faustus

to

agreed.

Again, in regard to winter and summer,

the Doctor not a

little

to

account

it

puzzled

the manner in

for

On

which Heaven had divided and created them.

this

head his demon explained them as follows

"

My

good master, cannot you as a physician, and with

the help of the sun's course, divine these matters

You must know

then, that with the exception of the

moon, the remainder of the heavenly constellations

are all
is

composed of

frozen, cold

The

fire.

earth on the contrary

and hard throughout

portion as the sun

mounts higher

shines, the hotter

it

summer.

But

grows, and that

as the

wards the earth, then

while in pro-

heavens and

in the

the cause of

is

sun declines horizontally to-

becomes colder and colder

it

until winter at length ensues."

NEW QUESTION FROM DOCTOR FAUSTUS HOW GOD CREATED

THE WORLD, THE ORIGIN OF MAN, &C. RESPECTING WHICH
HIS

One

DEMON MEPHOSTOPHILES

day Doctor Faustus

rowful,

GIVES HIM A FALSE AN3WEB.

feeling very

and enquired what

it

was that pressed upon

But the Doctor returned no answer

demon

heavy and sor-

summoned his demon who began to console him,

persisted in his enquiry

will reply

his spirits.

upon which the

and said

"

candidly upon this point, and

beg you
will

do

DOCTUR FAl'STLS.

312

my

every thing in

Faustus answered
I

up your opinion

Mephostophiles,

who was

servant, one

required, instead of

demon

against mine, and refuse to

very

w'ell

replied

that

To

" INIy good master, you

set

your

fill

this

know

have never willingly opposed you,

your questions, however disagreeable

for in regard to

and improper,

to per-

which you

place as a faithful servant ought to do."

the

Doctor

relieve you."

to

" You know,

my

engaged you as

form every thing

power

have

though

alv/ays,

confess, answered them,

and proved

my

reluctantly, I

obedience."

" Therefore good master mine, speak boldly and

truly,

what

replied

is it

that you

now want ?" Doctor Faustus

" That he wished to be more particularly

informed respecting the creation of the world and of

the

first

Upon

man."

hearing

secretly resolved to pass

oft"

this,

Mephostophiles

a false and profane ac-

count upon the Doctor, and he said; " The world,

my

dear Faustus, to say the truth, never was created,

or without form,

nor

same

man,

in regard

to

will

it

ever perish.

tinued from eternity, and

it

is

all

very well have engendered

of its

own

just as

if

And

the

nothing that you

hear of his origin, and in fact the earth

hot sun.

And

his evil generation has con-

itself

may

him with the help of a

the sea separated itself from the earth

accord, and they mutually exchanged places,

they were able to converse together upon

the subject."

31^

OOCTUR FAUSTUS.
" The earth

for instance

requested from the sea a

certain dominion, as of mountains, woods,

meadows,

Besides this there are four other

and herbs.

trees

dominions, consistin,^ of the elements, of earth,

air

There

and water.

is

the great fish and the

the sea and

little

is

But

immemorial

only heaven and the angels

these must be in
farther than

some kind of subjection

this

left,

and

to the rest.

cannot satisfy you

fire,
it is,

which eat one an-

fish

other, a practice continued from time

so that there

that in

all

in short

know."

it is all I

Doctor Faustus proceeded to speculate upon what

he had heard, though he could not easily credit

For he had read Genesis,

Moses had given a

Hence he
liar,

felt

1.

different version of the matter.

had been described

in

holy writ,

though he took care not to accuse him of

so

much

as to

shew that he had observed

DOCTOri FAl'STUS OBTAINS A STOUT OF

IN

THEIR TRUE SHAPE,

OF

WHOM ARB MENTIONED

One

day

it

it.

and was aware that

convinced that the devil was a great

as he

just

c.

SI

it,

nor

it.

THE INFERNAL SPIRITS

VEN OF THE CHIEFS OR PRINCIPAI-S

BY NAME.

pleased the prince and rightful master of

Doctor Faustus to appear in person, which was so

horrible as to excite
in the

no

little

alarm.

Though

it

was

middle of summer there blew so cold a blast

VOL.

!.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

314

from the side he came on, that the Doctor shivered

The demon who was no

with cold.

other than Belial

spoke to Doctor Faustus, and said

awoke, Doctor, about midnight,

thoughts, and they were these

spirits,

in

my

you

was reading your

first

you should

have a sight of some of the leading infernal

like to

which

that

When

"

and secondly
I

to inquire

how they

fared ;

upon

thought to oblige you by appearing forthwith

proper

Doctor Faustus

shape."

" Well, and where are the

rest of

replied

" They are

you?"

waiting your pleasure there without," said Belial

who

himself appeared to the Doctor in the shape of a

great black bear, with huge overhanging ears, and

He had

eyes shining like burning coals.

sharp teeth, and a

and upon

And

his

tail

long white

about three yards in length,

neck he had three

fleet

wings or pinions.

thus he approached the Doctor, followed by the

rest of his train, until the

could not
the Doctor

all

who

after another

room was

be seated.

by

Belial

so full that they

now

explained to

they were, and introduced them one

their

names.

the chiefs or principals

came

In this

way seven of

in review, with Lucifer

at their head, the Doctor's rightful master, with

whom

he had entered into the contract, and he was about

the size of a

common man.

Beelzebub bearing a huge

ass's

After

him followed

head with two large

horns, red and hairy as a beast, with two great wings

nOCTOK FAU.STUS.

315

as sharply edged as the thistles of the

half

field,

green half yellow, while both from under and above

the wings shot forth fierce

Next
in the

to

beams of fire.

him advanced Astaroth

the study

into

shape of a large snake poised upon his

and

he had no

feet,

smooth as

glass.

his bulk

was

tail, for

and

thick, white,

Next came and next did go Za-

thanas, dressed in iron grey, bearing a bull's head upon

his front,

and

nether end, a

at his

cat, with claws to his

feet

tail like

a tiger-

about a yard in length.

Anubius followed him, dog-headed and of a motley

black and white
like a

with huge feet and sloucliing ears

hound, and he was four yards high.

About a

yard's length too

form of a bird, most

like

neck was green and speckled.

upon four short

feet, in

came Dithyranus

in

a large partridge, only his

Drachus crawled next

shining green from tip to toe,

except his head which was of a dazzling blue, and a

red fiery

tail.

The seventh

in order

was

and Ketele the eighth, both arrayed

self,

splendid style as the former.

train

Belial

him-

in the

same

The remainder

of the

were of the same unsightly and brutish form

some as hounds,

bears,

and wolves, others

goats, harts, buffaloes, asses,

and the

In such form and order did the

to the Doctor,

as apes,

like.

demons appear

and so numerous that some were com-

pelled to remain outside his study.

was very much astonished

Doctor Faustus

at their appearance,

and

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

316

he inquired of the seven chief demons, why they had

not appeared in more agreeable shapes

they

made

which

to

answer, that they could not assume any

other in the infernal regions, where they were

Yet they were

and unseemly than they then were.

always at liberty to assume the

served that

might

Faustus ob-

was enough that the seven principal

it

ones should remain

retire

human form when-

Doctor

pleased on earth.

ever they

all

and snakes, only much more horrible

hellish beasts

study, while the rest

in the

which they immediately assented.

to

The Doctor then requested

him some proof of

their powers,

that they would give

which they forthwith

did by assuming the forms of different animals at

their pleasure,

and

next inquired

if

of the

also

he seemed much amused

cut.

him

They answered

He

figure.
;

for

at the fantastic figure they

that he could

and they threw

a conjuring book, in order that he might

the experiment
it.

human

he could do the same thing

secundum artem

make

and he managed

Before they took their departure, Doctor Faus-

tus could not refrain from

winged

asking,

insects, poisonous animals,

why

and

all

kind of

birds of prey

were made? They then informed him that they had

been sent

in order to

after the fall

to poison the

air,

and

plague mankind,

injure his possessions.

"

We

are ourselves enabled," they continued, " to metar

morphose ourselves into

all

kinds of winged insects

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
and

torture

317

you as much as you please."

Faustus laughed, and said he should

change again, and

Soon

after

Doctor

them

like to see

this too they forthwith did.

they had taken their leave, Doctor

Faustus's study began to

swarm with

all

kinds of

poisonous insects, such as gnats, scorpions, hornets,

wasps, &c. &c. insomuch that his whole house was

with them, and what was worse they began to

filled

torture him, not as the chief

demons had

facetiously

threatened, but by actually biting and stinging

in such a

turn himself. In fact,

believe they were all so

young demons, who had watched

when

their chiefs

enjoy

him

their

of his

sport,

had

and continued

fallen

to

upon
him

to bepester

a degree that he was compelled to

own

many

their opportunity

had departed, and, determined

share of the

quite unawares

to such

him

manner, that he hardly knew which way to

nm

out

house.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS NEXT VISITS THE INFERNAL REGIONS.

The

Doctor had now reached the eighth year of the

term

set

down

in his contract, so that

he was slowly

but surely proceeding towards the end of his career.

The
tions

greater part of this time he

and disputations

uneasy and

to

had spent

and he again began

dream about

hell.

Upon

moned Mephostophiles and bade him

this

in

to

ques-

grow

he sum-

to inform his

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

118

master Belial or Lucifer himself, that he should

to

see

one of them as early as convenient.

message

his servant delivered,

when

it

like

This

was agreed

to

who soon
what were the Doctor's comrequested to know whether it

despatch Beelzebub in preference to either,

arrived

mands.

and inquired

The

latter

would be agreeable to his

demon

master to send him a

as a guide to conduct

him

into the lower

world in order to observe the nature of the country,

its

inhabitants,

and

its

most remarkable productions,

which he was desirous of seeing.

replied Beelzebub, "

fetch

I will

" Yes, certainly,"

return about midnight and

you myself ;" and so he departed.

Accordingly when

it

grew quite dark, towards twelve

o'clock, Beelzebub again appeared, carrj'ing an easy

chair wrought out of pure bone upon his shoulders.

It

was a round arm-chair with a guard

before, into

which the Doctor mounted, and was borne away.

But hear what a

trick the devil played

him

in order

that he should not be able to inform any one

the route he went.

He

found the chair so easy,

so gently through the air, that

and was conveyed

could not help falling asleep, just as

lying in his

bed

at

else of

if

he

he had been

home.

Shortly he approached a high mountain, which was

as large as a vast island, and which cast

but sulphur, pitch,

and

fire-brands,

up nothing

and with such

violence and hurly-burly of a racket that

it

frightened

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
the Doctor out of his sleep.

and entered the

who

back,

fiery

But

his

319

demon

ima^^ined that he

had jumped

all

out of bed into the middle of the infernal

fierce
felt

held on,

cavern with the Doctor on his

at

pit.

once
Yet

and glaring as were the flames around him, he

no

sort of pain nor heat, only

he heard a boom-

ing and lashing of the hot billows, as

if

he had been

at sea.

He

also heard all kinds of musical instruments,

whi(;h clanged and resounded in a surprising manner,

though with the help of the grand illumination around

him, he could discover neither the instruments, nor
the musicians^ nor any orchestra where they were
placed.

Still

he ventured not to inquire whence the

music came, having been warned before-hand to ask

no needless questions, and three other demons now

As he

joined Beelzebub with no very inviting looks.

was descending lower down, there came behind him

at full speed a large stag with vast antlers threaten-

ing to hurl

him

into the infernal cavern that

yawned

below, upon which Faustus shrieked out in the devil's

name

for

help,

when

the three

round and frighted the

demons turned sharp

fierce beast

The Doctor now hastened

gion beneath that he had just

away.

to reach the next releft,

whose dimensions

however, he could not ascertain for the vast number

of flying dragons, snakes, and animals of

which impeded

his view.

One

all

kinds,

of the oldest and most

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

320

mischievous of these beasts, came ramping and bel-

lowing towards Beelzebub, as

if

intending to upset

both him and the Doctor, so that with the sudden

alarm he

and was

lost his balance,

hideous outcry and

uproar, into

pits; but luckily before

large old ape,

he reached the bottom, a

who happened

upon a walnut

tree,

to

be cracking hot nuts

kindly stretched out a

saved him from perdition.

fernal guide,

precipitated, with

one of the deepest

But he had

paw and

lost his in-

and there rose so thick a fog from the

adjacent pools, that

it

was long before he could see

his way.

Suddenly was heard a loud nimbling

there issued two

noise,

and

huge dragons from the dense clouds

with a chariot yoked at their

tails.

It

was attended by

black footmen in flame-coloured livery, one of whom

called out,

down

" Doctor Faustus's coach

the steps, and the old

tor in.

It

"

another

monkey handed

the

let

Doc-

then grew so dark that he could distin-

guish neither the chariot nor the dragons, though he

could

feel that

Soon

it

began

they went at a devilish hard pace.

to

lighten

manner, that the Doctor

such a tremendous

in

felt

his teeth chatter,

and

the more as he heard the sound of a tempestuous sea

and down went the dragons

Still

into the

the water was not cold, but rather

pleasant, though the waves

chariot that

came

vasty deep.

warm and

so heavily over the

the Doctor was unfortunately thrown

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

321

overboard and went down, leaving horses and chariot

behind him,

like

By

a piece of lead.

sinking and

sinking he sunk into a kind of cavern, where he con-

and sat dripping upon a rock,

trived to stick fast,

more dead than

There he could see and hear

alive.

nothing but the booming of the water

served a light, and thought to himself, "

wend, now that these

deserted

me

whether must

Which way

infernal lascals

am

fool, for

Then mustering

?"

have

throw myself down the

cavern here into the water, or die like a

pains, where

his ears,

the interior, he ob-

until turning his eyes towards

shall

in

my

his courage,

though mixed with no small degree of apprehension,

he made a bold leap into the cave

was

safe

crying out: "

body

(for

until his twenty-four years'

or soul,

Now, ye

little

he who

first

however, he was
said this,

in

he knew he

bond expired,)

infernal imps, catch

can

huge dismay.

!"

at the

me,

same time,

He had

no sooner

than down he went, and such a

terrific

thunder-clap and infernal hurly-burly followed as to

split

the neighboviring stone quarries and mountains.

When

he came near enough to cast anchor at the

bottom, he found something worth his notice.

These were the shades of many mighty heathens,

fierce

and

and

stately forms

their lords.

ready equipped
stood near the

Item,

of emperors, kings, princes

Many dozen

for battle.
fire,

in

armies, as

pool of cold

if

water

which some of them drank

V 5

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

522

and some bathed, though such was the intense

that they soon leaped into the

Doctor Faustus
to catch one

stepped into the

first

damned

of the

cold,

again.

fire

souls

fire,

and

tried

by the hair of

his

head, but just as he imagined he had got him safe

between

his

fingers,

he always

slipt

and

through,

warm to stay in
long, he was just turning back, when who should
meet him, but Beelzebub with the chair, who inFinding

vanished.

vited the Doctor to

it,

however, too

mount again and

soar-

set off;

ing into a higher region, because the sulphur,

smoke,
too

hail,

much

fire,

and heat, and cold together, were rather

for

Besides the horrid noise,

Faustus.

lamentation, and swearing of the

condemned

souls,

were beginning to affect his nerves.

Having now been a good while absent from

his

house, his faithful servant well knowing the errand

which

his master

was on, began

to think

have met with something more than he

he must

liked,

and

might be detained there longer than he expected

when, just then,

in

comes Faustus, borne

safely in his

chair asleep, in which state he was carried to his bed.

When
in

he awoke

in

the morning, he lay thinking

bed concerning the tragedy he had seen acted

the night before

a place as

He was

at least

the devil

he now

hell, for

felt

certain there

was such

he had been there and seen

no longer a sceptic; though

had merely played him a knavish

it.

after all,
trick,

de-

DOCTOR lAUSTUS.

ludinj^

for

him with a

he had

32<

phantasmagorian picture,

sort of

been admitted into none of his

really

and as he afterwards suspected,

diabolical mysteries,

had only been tormented with a representation of

the sake of adding to his uneasiness,

its sutterings, for

by

For, had he really visited

striving to avoid thera.

the genuine

Pandemonium, he would not

have returned home

and some remarks to the above

purport were found in

from which, with other

of his

life

so easily

one of his magicnl books,

MSS.

this

and other passages

have been compiled.

DOCTOR FAUSt's TRAVEtS THROUGH SOME OF THE CHIEF KINGDOMS, PRINCIPALITIES, AND STATES OF THE KNOWN WORLD.

About

the

Faustus

felt

sixteenth

of

year

his

bond,

a great inclination to travel

end he summoned Mephostophiles

company him.

He came

in

Doctor

for

which

order to ac-

and forthwith took the

shape of a horse, only with the adtlition of wings,

and with the mildness of a dronudary, he went

whith(Msoever his master
his

commanded him.

Upon

back the Doctor traversed a few countries, to

wit, Eastland,

Saxony,

Pannonia, Germany, Bohemia,

Meizen,

Deuringen,

Frankland,

Silesia,

Swabia,

Beirland, Lultow, Lyfland, Prussia, Muscovy, Friesland, Holland, Westphalia,

Zieland, Brabant, Flan-

324

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
Hungary, and

ders, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland,

from the

back to Deuringen.

last place,

He was

and four days away

three weeks

much

did not see near so

as he

and

had expected, which

induced him to retrace his steps until he came to

And

the city of Trier.

very interesting

there

met with nothing

there he

was a wonderful palace, cu-

riously constructed of bakstone,

and so compact and

strong as to stand in fear of no enemy.

Well! he saw the church

where brother

too,

Simon and the Bishop Papa

lay buried,

was

stones, admirably knit

built

of

immense

large

and which

together.

Next he
the

great

pleased

arrived in Paris, a city in France, where,

From

well.

Mentz, where the

he did not

the disputations, and

schools,

him

river

Main

tarry long, but

state of Neapoli,

and monasteries

there

for

the

castle,

in the

which he found many churches

very lofty, and beautiful houses

There was also a mag-

which surpassed

its

Rhine

Campagnia

in

number of

splendour of

to

all

that excited his admiration.

nificent

into the

falls

went

museums

he proceeded to

its

halls

decorations.

all

others in Italy,

and towers, and the

Near

it

lay

Mount

Vestius (Vesuvius) covered with vine gardens, olive

trees,
tsuste.

and other frugiferous

He

plants, delightful to the

next bethought him of Venice, and was

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

325

so proud a city lying in the

quite surprised to see

midst of the sea, and crowded with a forest of

which brought merchandize from

to

with

barter

the

all

world.

sails

far eastern lands

was

It

moreover

adorned with noble temples and towers, whose foun-

where Adria

dations were in the deep,

is

wedded

to-

the Doge.

Thence he

the learned city of Padua, to

visited

hear what was disputing in the schools

and he saw

three double hanging towers, and dolphins spouting

up water

besides a grand cathedral and a council

any

beautiful as

hall as

There too

the world.

in

is

Saint Antony's church, whose grandeur equals any

other in

all

Tiberius,

city

and on the

seven mountains
hill

named

Peter,

Journeying forwards, he reached

Italy.

Rome, whose

it

Vatican,

and near

it is

is

watered by

hath

also,

where

eleven gates,

to

seen

the

it

is

lieth

holiness,

all

the apostolick church, whence

temples,
describe.

St.

all

round about.

the church of the Lateran, wherein

beauty of

to

and a

tomb of

the

it

and
is

it

the

is

be

seen

the ruins

of

is

called

most ce-

lebrated throughout the whole Christian world.

too, were

called

seen the palace of the Pope,

very splendid, with a pleasure court

Next

river

side of the river there stand the

Here

many heathen

more awful and numerous than we can

After having

long contemplated

these,

Doctor Faustus approached the Pope's palace,

first

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

32C

rendering himself invisible, by which means he passed

more agreeably through a throng of

tiers.

As he drew

wonder

his

pomp and

Mephostophiles,

to

pride

in

which

the

at

prodigious

Holiness sat arrayed

his

" Ah, Mephostophiles," he

the devil

and cour-

officers

nigh, he could not help expressing

" why could not

cried,

make me a Pope !" Never

before

had Doctor

Faustus seen any thing equal to the courteous pride

and magnificence of such a scene, added

to all the

bold and licentious practices exhibited in the lives

of the Pope, and his conclave of princes and prelates,

whose excessive arrogance, luxury, incontinence and

gambling, quite surpassed his
" Oh, Mephostophiles

own

child,

indeed he
so

much

of

but he
so

felt

Rome,

he leaves

much

He

belief.

thought

me

far

interested,

exclaimed,

was the

behind

devil's

!"

And

and had heard

that he remained invisible during

the next three days, in the Pope's palace, amusing

himself with his magical tricks.

So

greatly

was he

taken up with them, that he forgot either to eat or

drink during the whole lime, always taking his invisible station

right opposite to his Holiness.

One

day, as he was thus standing, the Pope had occasion

to

draw the

figure of a cross,

and

in

the instant

Doctor Faustus appeared, staring him close in the

face.

The Doctor began

by every one

in

the hall.

to laugh, so as to

be heard

Then he would begin

squeak and to cry, and enjoyed to see them

to
all

DOCTOK FAUSTUS.
know

puzzled to

wliat

it

327

could mean.

ness assured his attendants, that

soul praying for remission of

As
coui"se

this

his Holi-

its sins.

happened during dinner, and the

was now coming

feel very

But

was a condemned

it

in,

hungry, stretched out his hands, upon which

the dishes flew towards him, and he and his

disappeared with them together.

their

last

Doctor, beginning to

the

station

upon the top of

where they dined with no

little

Doctor shortly despatched

his

Thence the

zest.

demon

to

fetch

some of the Pope's best wine, bidding him

same time not

spoons.

No

some

forget

to

for the

damned

during the whole night;

prevent the

silver

him

at the

and

bowls

sooner was his Holiness aware of the

extent of these thefts, than he

and masses

demon

They then took

Mount Capitolium,

commanded

soul

up

which, however, did not

Doctor's feasting

and tippling

The church

Holiness's expence.

prayers

to be oftered

plate

at

and other

his
ar-

ticles which he thus purloined, were discovered in

the Doctor's possession, after his death.

Feeling at length

more took
at

flight

ipiite

rofrcshed,

Faustus once

with his demon, and alighted next

Milan, which appeared to him a pleasant and

much
He was

many

healthy abode, being

cooler than

places in

Italy.

delighted with the

rivers, tlie

noble temples and

other edifices,

other
fine

such as

the great castle, and the hotel of the eleven lovely

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

328

women.

His next

was

visit

Florence,

to

where

amidst

all

of

he most admired the beautiful scene of

art,

the wonderful products both of nature and

St.

the grand ornaments of the castle

Mary's garden,

church, and the grand marble doors over the entrance gates, which exhibit copper engravings from

New

the history of the Old and

than the

less

both

and

in

commerce.

Thence he proceeded
tween two mountains

two

rivers,

in

From

where he saw what

is

within which

who

to Lyons, a city lying be-

Frankland

begirt also with

and boasting a cathedral surpassing any

other of the kind.

kings

no

which the inhabitants displayed

skill

in the arts

The

Testament.

there he thought excellent,

wine too produced

here he took wing to Kiel,

termed the high canon church,

said, that the

it is

remains of the three

the star of Christ, are interred.

hailed

" Oh, you good men," cried Doctor Faustus, when

he

heard

this,

you were born

lehem

at

"

how have you

contrived,

moved

Palestine, to have

Were your

bodies,

to

wonder, thrown into the

and has the great Rhine caught them

sea,

since

Beth-

course, and brought

them up

be buried?" There

too,

to Kiel

he saw

St.

in

on purpose

his
to

Ursula's tonib

with seventy one thousand virgins.

The beauty
sion

upon him.

city of

of the

women made

Going a

little

a great impres-

farther

he reached the

Aken, belonging to the emperor, where he

329

DOCTOR FAUSTU8.
saw the grand marble temple

magne,

founded by Charle-

greater magnificence, the imperial crown.

sume with

He

first

successors might there as-

in order that his

next touched at Geneva in Savoy, not far from

Swisseriand, where he again met with very fine wine,

was a certain bishop there celebrated

for there

He

taste.

some time

also sojourned

at

for his

Basle

in

Swisseriand, where the Rhine flows through the city

which his demon informed him was called

which had once

basilisk,

its

after

Many

dwelling there.

old rivers and fruitful land were seen around, besides

its

grand university and

its

stance was the next place he

single

came

Con-

cloister.

where he ad-

to,

mired the beautiful bridge across the Rhine, and

which

his

demon informed him was

called after the

city of Constantinople.

Next he alighted

at

Ulm, where he was

pleased with the parish church of St.

greatly

Martin's,

very magnificent building, begun in the year 1377,

and which contains

tiful

fifty-two altars,

besides a beau-

chapel for the sacrament attached to

it.

Doctor Faustus was now preparing to proceed

ther, his

demon

turning towards him said

As
far-

" Let us

pass over the castle and episcopal city of Murtzburgh,

where there are so many orders of minor

friars,

of

saints,

till

St.

we

Benedict,

arrive at

St.

Stephen,

Nuremburgh.

must know has borrowed

its

and other

This city you

name from Claudius

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

t?30

Tiberius Nero, and in the church of St. Lawrence

cro^vn of Charlemagne.

beautiful golden fountain

adorns the market-place, where

is

it

said that the

now

pre-

Holy Cross.

In

spear which pierced our Saviour's side

served along with a piece of the
this there are

no

than

less

is

and

preserved the mantle, the sword, the sceptre,

five

is

hundred and twenty-

eight streets, six magnificent gates, two smaller ones,

four towers, eleven stone bridges, twelve

churches,

ten

thirteen baths,

large market-places,

and as many preachers, besides other

ten

hills,

rare

and stu-

pendous works."

Next morning on
tus enquired of his
city

and from

his arrival at

demon

whom

it

Augsburgh, Faus-

the whole history of the

took

its

name ?

"It had

six

names," replied Mephostophiles, " before'it received

the last from Augustus Octavianus."
likewise put the

same questions

to

The Doctor

him respecting

Regensburg and the other places through which he

travelled, being always inquisitive to hear

new.

stantinople, a city

which was named

Emperor Constantine.
palaces,

it

Rome, and

may
lies

well

From
deserve

pleasantly

its

grand Sultan's

seraglio,

One evening

after the great

grand towers and

to be called a

new

upon the side of the sea.

Doctor Faustus spent several days

power.

something

Shortly he extended his tour as far as Con-

and

in

admiring the

his exceeding

as his

pomp and

Turkish majesty was

UOCTOll FAUSTL'S.

331

enjoying his repast, the Doctor played off one of his

old tricks, and suddenly the hall of state appeared as
if

in a blaze of fire, so that every

began

in

a great

overhead

it

thunder and lighten in an astonishing man-

to

At the same time he

ner.

one ran
while

hurry to extinguish the flames,

bedevilled the Sultan in

such a way that he could neither

rise

from his seat,

nor be carried out of the place, which shone

more

brightly than if

made

the Doctor

his appearance before the Sultan,

arrayed like the Pope himself, and thus spoke

hail, great Sultan,

even
to

I,

you

your
!"

far

Then

had been high noon.

it

who

" All

hast been found worthy that

own Mahomet, have made myself visible

Having pronounced which words he as

Such was the

suddenly disappeared.

enchantment that the Sultan

fell

upon

force of the

his knees,

and

devoutly cried out to Mahomet, praising and thanking

him

for

having deigned to appear to him.

suing morning Doctor Faustus paid a

Sultan's seraglio, where

The enthe

visit to

no one besides the guards

are permitted to appear, in the presence of his beautiful

wives, euid ladies of

all

countries,

imprisoned to suit his choice.

the whole apartments
himself, in
his

who

are there

But the Doctor threw

into so thick a mist, that

the shape of

the

he

Prophet, along with

demon, could not be perceived.

Here he con-

tinued to amuse himself during six days, which to-

332

DOCTOR PAUSTUS.

much

gether with the mist so

commanded

that he

up

to be offered

puzzled the Sultan,

formal prayers and ceremonies

to clear the atmosphere in all his

Meanwhile the Doctor,

mosques.

in excellent

hu-

mour, was partaking of every pleasure which the world

When

could afford.

weary of amusing himself

at

the Sultan's expence, he flew aloft in his Popish

habiliments, high above the seraglio, so as to be seen

by

all

After

below.

he had taken himself clear

away, and the fog had somewhat dispersed, the Great

Turk ventured

summoning

to

make

his appearance,

and then

the whole of his ladies together, he very

anxiously enquired what could be the meaning that

his seraglio

had been so long

they one and

all

to

a fog?

At

this

assured him that the great Prophet

Mahomet had appeared

them

lost in

to

them and commanding

submit to his wishes, had declared that in

future a

more

lofty

and heroic race would thence

The Sultan

appear upon the theatre of the world.

took this in the light of a great compliment bestowed

upon him, but

his Muftis

to give ear to

it,

would have had him not

Mahomet had

maintaining that

was a

spirit.

that whether he were a

spirit

nothing to do in the business, but that

The

ladies

or no, he

replied,

had conducted himself

and agreeable

in

it

a very friendly

manner, while with them.

different versions of the story puzzled

These

the Sultan a

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
good deal, and
he

tations,

still

what he ought

333

after all his

enquiries and consul-

remained

great perplexity as to

to think of

in
it.

Doctor Faustus meanwhile was pursuing his way

Alcairo

to the capital

the

Memphis, and

called

same which was formerly

also

Egyptian Sultan holds

Chackum, where

his court,

the mighty stream, which overleaping

the whole land.

easterly,

and again towards the west

city of

which same

Osen,

in

until

pool of water which produces gold and

This Hungarian city

kinds of metal.

his

way

he came

the royal state of Hungary,

a very fruitful city, as

is

channels

its

Thence he winged

fertilizes

to the

the

and where flows

it

contains a

silver,

is

and

all

defended by

a powerful castle, and ornamented with other noble

works.

The Doctor next

touched at Lbeck,
episcopal see, and

in

it is

visited

Meedenburgh, and

The former

Saxony.

is

an

said to be in possession of one

of the vessels in which our Saviour changed the water

into wine.

From

university,

back

Lbeck

this last

is

he went

and

from

to Wittenburgh.

also a bishoprick in
to Erfurth,

Erfurth,

Saxony.

where there

he bent

his

is

an

way

Though he had been absent

only just half a year, he had seen a great variety

of prospects, and studied the manners of diflerent

countries.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

334

A QUESTION RESPECTING THE CAUSE OF TIlUNDtlt,

While

at

Wittenburg

in the

month of August, there

blew a great hurricane, attended with

much thunder

and lightning, as Doctor Faustus was standing

in

the market-place with several other physicians. These

last took occasion to

sudden tempest
a tempest
signs

is

to

inquire into the cause of this

which the Doctor

replied, "

Such

not always accompanied by the same

but when the wind has long been up, the

clouds of heaven are driven together, and instead of

thunder, they sometimes burst in floods of rain.

And

about the time that the tempest begins to gather

most strength, the

spirits

of the air mingle in the

lower sphere, and encountering each other from the

four quarters of the world with fierce

the echo of the shock that

when

way

the wind

is

get vent, and

we

terna

it

strife,

if

it

could so escape,

the wind most fiercely blows.

it

would be
in

which

Because from that side

the tempest begins to rise, and in the

it

is

But

too powerful, the thunder can in no

borne upwards according to the direction

perceive that

such

thunder.

same way we

more frequently comes from the south,

than from the west, the north, or the east."

335

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

9
HERE FOLLOWS THE THinO ANBLAST PART OF DOCTOR FAUSTS
THICKS
NECROMANTIC
THE
OF
ACCOUNT
AN
AND
ADVENTURES,
WHICH HE PERF >HSIED IN THE COURTS OF SOME GKKAT POAND
TENTATES. IT CONTAINS LIKEWISE HIS LAJIENTADLE

TERRIFIC DEPARTURE, AND SAD END.

AN HISTORICAL ANICDOTE RESPECTING DOCTOR FAUSTl'S AND

THE EMPEROR CHARLES THE FIfTH.
It so happened that the Emperor Charles, attended

by his whole court had occasion

at the time that

The

latter

had

place, for
feats

exliibited different

by them

Yksbruck,

being acquainted with several of the free

and others of the

lords

to visit

Doctor Faustus was staying there.

court.

to

whose pastime he

of his art, was invited

The emperor hearing he was

there,

inquired what sort of a personage he was.

When

informed that his

one day

name was Doctor

after dinner, during the

Faustus,

summer, he sent

for

him into his cabinet, and inquired whether he were

really so well

out,

versed in the black art as fame gave

and had brought a

mand ? That

in

familiar spirit

under his com-

such case he, the Emperor, would be

glad to see him exhibit some proof of his

moreover required him so

rial

to

do

skill,

in respect to his

and

impe-

crown, which might otherwise endanger the Doc-

tor's safety.

in the

Upon

this,

Faustus entreated his majesty

most humble manner, as

if

he wished to excuse

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

336

himself. "

Now

Emperor; "

my

me

hear

once

for all,"

exclaimed the

have often wished to learn

how some

of

great predecessors achieved such wonderful feats,

and arrived

cedon

of fortune and renown,

at such a pitch

Ma-

the great Alexander of

in particular respecting

that bright star of heroism, and example of

true royalty, as

we read

He

history.

in

it

was who

amassed such great wealth, power, and dominion, as

throw

to

the shade.

that you should

sire

shades,

into

my

me and my

and

successors,

his

cessors, all into

forthwith

his

appeared in their regal

attire

de-

summon from

the

forms

the

presence,

mous Alexander, and

suc-

my

It is therefore

of this

fa-

queen, just as they once

and

will

then believe

that you are an experienced master of your art ?"

" Most gracious sovereign," replied Faustus, "

well prepared,

ing your

and

imperial

am

also delighted to think of gratify-

majesty

in

this

matter.

The

ancient forms of the great Alexander and his queen

shall present themselves in as

my

ait will admit.

imposing a manner as

Yet though

pear clearly to view,

their

image

will

ap-

must acquaint your majesty

that their bodies have not really risen from the dead,

because that would be quite impossible.

seen Alexander and his

power of assuming
shall

their

There

are,

who have often

queen, and who possess the

however, a few old experienced

spirits

forms, which your majesty

soon perceive." Having

said this, Doctor Faus-

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

337

tus left the Emperor's apartment in order to consult

with his

demon Mephostophiles.

After a

little

while

he again returned to the Emperor, and acquainted

him that he could execute what he had undertaken

upon

one condition

majesty would be

that his

pleased to ask no questions, nor even speak, during

the whole scene.

The Doctor then opened

in

the door,

and ushered

Alexander the Great arrayed exactly

uniform,

air,

and character

during his life-time.

as

He was

he

the

in

same

had exhibited

a thick

set,

but well

shaped man, with red beard and complexion, and

sharp

fiery

He marched

eyes like a basilisk's.

the room in

full

dress,

and armed from top

into

to toe.

Advancing courteously towards the Emperor, he made

him a profound obeisance, on which the Emperor

rose and offered to embrace him
but the Doctor
;

would not permit

it.

After Alexander had walked

round the Emperor a few times, he turned towards

the door,

when

also saluted the

the

Queen made her appearance, and

Emperor with a low courtesy.

She

wore a blue dress, richly ornamented with pearls and

precious stones.
licate,

Her complexion was extremely de-

being of a mingled rose and milk colour; her

look was thoughtful, and her face and person were

altogether graceful

and

beautiful.

While gazing

tently

upon them both, the Emperor thought

self

Now

VOL.

I.

have seen two beings

whom

to

in-

him-

have long

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

338

wished to behold, and

self into

such a form,

And

within himself:
this

more

in order

impossible but that

is

like

the

woman

Samuel from the

raised the Prophet

such was the

it

fully to

of

Endor who

.lead.

convince himself that

the Emperor farther considered

fact,

Now

same mirror of

it is

he spake of has changed him-

really so, if the spirit

have read, that

recollect to

chivalry

and royalty had some-

thing of a twist in his neck

upon which he ap-

proached nearer to him, and perceived that he actually

had a kind

of twist

with a wart on his neck, so

that having satisfied himself upon this point, directly

afterwards his unearthly visitants disappeared.

DOCTOR FAUSTS NEXT BEWITCHES A CERTAIN KNIGHT BY STICKING A PAIR OT STAG'S ANTLERS UPON HIS HEAD.

When

the Doctor had thus, as

Emperor

greatly entertained the

much

we have

in the

himself with watching the

and then

out.

courtiers

place to breathe as

much

day was exceedingly

name, as he

as they
table,

went

first in

While thus employed he perceived

one of the knights lying

bom

so

wished, towards evening he began to amuse

backwards and forwards to the royal

his

said, so

manner he

is

hot.

fast asleep
air as

under a window

he could, because the

But

shall not

now dead, and was

mention

besides a free-

gentleman, which had the effect of turning the

UUCTOK KAtSTLS.

339

His familiar demon

adventure into greater ridicule.

Mephostophiles had a particular hand

delusion, for he caused a

in this

wicked

huge branch of horns to

out of his forehead as he lay asleep in the

spring-

After nodding his head a few times,

window-place.

the poor knight, began to rub his eyes to the infinite

and

diversion of the spectators,

horns, he

awakened

at last feeling the

in a great fright.

For the window

having been closed, he could get his antlers neither

backwards nor forwards, which the Emperor perceiving began to laugh; while'
equally

amused

extricate himself.

round, some

all

his

attendants were

at witnessing his curious

The whole

efforts to

court soon gathered

mocking, and some compassionating

him, but few being able to refrain from laughter until

it

pleased Doctor Faustus to release the poor knight

from his perilous enchantment, and take his departure thence.

now THE rOREMENTIONED KNIGHT SOUO HT

TO TAKE VENGEANCE

UPON THE DOCTOR FOR THE SAtD TRICK.

After Doctor
court,

after the

example of the Emperor, the Knight and

his friends

him

Faustus had taken his leave of the

where every one had sought to shew him honor

in

began

his turn.

to

scheme how they might

He

hail

trick

scarcely proceeded half a

mile upon his journey before he perceived seven horse-

men make

their

appearance from an old wood, at

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

340

whose head rode the Knight, who had borne the

stag's antlers

nigh, they raised

hands

their

in

and spurred towards him

ture,

which he rode away as

clump of
treat,

As

on his forehead.

if

not far

trees

the Doctor drew

a threatening ges-

at speed,

on seeing

to conceal himself in a small

off.

Emboldened by

suddenly the place appeared

with spears in

rest, all

Knight and

sight the

his

filled

when

with armed knights

ready to run a

tilt.

comrades turned

At

this

their horses

heads, and spurred as hard the other way.

full

his re-

they were proceeding to surround him,

But

their

speed availed them nothing, for in a few moments

they found themselves surrounded by a troop of fierce

looking

and

men

solicit

Upon
ter,

to

whom

they were glad to surrender,

the Doctor's mercy.

this the great

magician granted them quar-

though not without the conditions of making each

of them wear a pair of horns for the space of a month

afterwards, while their steeds were graced during the

same period with those of bullocks

to the

no small

annoyance of the grooms, as a mark of the Doctor's

displeasure.
effect

And

lost his courage,

vice.

this last

punishment took such an

upon the Knight's imagination, that he quite

and was no longer

At the same

fit

for active ser-

time, the noise of the affair at

court served to spread the Doctor's reputation, and

he began
squires.

to be held in great

awe by the knights and

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

MOW

341

DOCTOR FAUSTUS DISPOSES OF A WAGGON LOAD OP HAT,

AND THE HORSES,

IN

ORDER TO PUNISH A PEASANT.

It next happened that the Doctor was journeying to-

wards the

some

city

of Gotha, where he had to transact

This was

business.

in the

June, when the countrymen were

pleasant

month of

busily

employed

all

As he drew near with some

in getting in their hay.

of his companions towards the city gates, being ra-

saw a simple looking peasant,

ther merry with wine, he

whistling his

team

joUily along.

make thee

will

change that tune, thought Doctor Faustus,

like

not

Hereupon he threw

to see a boor so heartily merry.

himself into the man's way, and crossed him which ever

way he attempted
some

trials,

angry, exclaiming

nor

to pass, until the poor fellow after

seeing into his malice, began to grow

th' other.

" Wilt not go neither on one side

What would

be at ?"

Doctor Faus-

having already drunk rather too much, made

him this answer. " Now I shall see whether you

tus,

are

to

make way

for

me, or

hearing these words began to

ened the Doctor hard,

" What, thou boor,"

dare to scoff at

me ?

if

thee,

it

man, "

pleases

retorted the Doctor, " dost thou

for

little

more

well,

would devour
"

all."

as soon as thou wilt

me

threat-

he were not allowed to pass.

thy waggon, horses, and hay ynd

replied the

The boor

for you."

wax wroth, and

eat and be d

Do

if it

that,"

pleases

ned."

So

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

342

forthwith the Doctor began to mistify and delude the

poor man's senses in such a way, that he imagined

And

the Doctor grew as high as a church steeple.

he

first

laid his

hands upon the horses, and next upon

waggon and hay,

the

faster

than a

man

all

which seemed

takes his meat,

At

wide and ponderous jaws.

to disappear,

down

the giant's

this sight, the poor

waggoner uttered a dreadful howl, and ran haif out

of his wits to the house of the Burgomaster, where

he related the dreadful event

in piteous lamentations

The Burgomaster ran along with

his

officers, as fast as possible to the spot, curious to

be-

and dismay.

hold so strange a scene.

On

reaching the place,

however, what was the poor waggoner's surprize, to

find his load of hay,

and team of horses standing very

quietly at the city gates where he

had stopped them.

HOW DOCTOR FAUSTUS OBTAINED A LOAN OF MONEY FROM A JEVT,

AND HOW HE GAVE HIH LEG-BAIL, CUTTING IT OFF TO lEAVE
IN

THE JEw's POSStSSION.

It used to be an old saying that the conjuror, " charm

he never so

was never

wisely," for the year together,

Now

half a stiver richer in the world for his pains.

Doctor Faustus began

to experience the truth of this,

inasmuch as the grand promises made by

in their first contract

of their proprietor

his

demon

were mere bubbles, well worthy

liar

and the father of

lies.

For

DOCTOR FAUSTU8.

343

he had led the Doctor to believe that he was compelled into his service and overreached by him, so that

vast riches would flow in upon him.

Four years of his

demon's apprenticeship had yet to run, thou<^h he was

still

all

not a whit the richer, either in gold or goods for

that Mephostophiles had done.

likewise that he

was

to

It

was agreed

partake only of the best fare

that could be obtained at prince's courts wheresoever

he should

we have

travel, as

already seen.

On

this

account, he had held a variety of disputations with his

familiar

demon, which generally ended, however, by

his inviting

some boon companions

quet with him.

At

to

come and ban-

length, finding himself in

want

of ready cash, he was compelled to apply to a certain

Jew, with

whom

in

the

first

instance, he agreed for

sixty dollars whicli he promised to return in the space

This being expired, the Jew went to

of one month.

demand

his dollars with the interest

which was be-

come due, when the Doctor replied to his application

" Jew
and I have
I have no money
as follows
:

no means, just now, of procuring any.

you are

willing

can come

to accept

to terms.

I will

good

However,

security, I think

if

we

give you either an ai'm or

a leg, which ever shall best please you, and which

shall be

made

though under
shall

over to you as a pledge or mortgage

this

one condition

that as soon as

have the money forthcoming, you

pared to restore to

me my

leg."

Now

will

be pre-

the Jew, being

POCTOR FAUSTU9.

344

naturally every good Christian's enemy, thought to

himself:

am

glad of

this,

singular genius to think of

but he must be a most

pawning me

money

blood for the sake of

?

tus taking out a saw

was very

illusion) repeating the

to return

the

it

contract,

moment he should

he had kept
think

limb

What

So the Jew not a

marched

if I

it

was

all

little

obtain the

to set

in its

it

pleased with his

off with the Doctor's leg.

When

however, a short time he begem to

it,

shall I

carry

and

do with

condition, that he

same

money, as he the Doctor knew how

place again.

life

sawing off his

leisurely

which he handed to the Jew (though

mere

was

But meanwhile, Doctor Faus-

such security as this

leg,

his

what can

it

do with this

rog-ue of a Christian's

about with me,

shall

be poisoned

with the stench, besides

its

being of no farther use to

him when he

it,

however good a security

for

shall

want

what more could he give ? Being

puzzled in which

way

at length quite

one day as

to act for the best,

he was crossing over a bridge, weary with calculating

pro et contra, he threw the Doctor's leg into the
water, and thought himself well rid of

Faustus
to the

fully

Jew

to repay

that he

it.

Doctor

aware of what had passed, sent notice

three days afterwards, that he

him the money.

had been

The

latter

was ready

now repented

so hasty, but he went.

The

first

question put by the Doctor was, what he had done

with his pledge.

"

What

have

done

!"

replied the

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
Jew.

and

"What

could

threw

away."

it

do with

it!

345

it

was of no

The Doctor on hearing

use,
this,

took the Jew roundly to task, declaring that he must

have his

le-^

a^ain,

Jew, must look

come what would

or that he, the

Alarmed

to the consetjuences.

at the

violence of the Doctor's threats, the unlucky Israelite

by farther

at lens^h consented to adjust the matter

advancing sixty

dollars,

avoid the terrors

in order to

of the law.

HOW DOCTOR
Im

like

FAUSTL'S OUTWITS A HORSE JOCKEY.

manner the Doctor succeeded

upon a horse dealer

at

an annual

ber of merchants and other

For he appeared riding

some and

fair

all

in

imposing

where a num-

chapmen used

to resort.

upon a hand-

into the place

richly caparisoned steed,

most cunning jockeys

which brought the

about him, and at

last

he

the noble-looking animal for

agreed with one to

sell

fourteen guineas.

At the same time he cautioned

the dealer

how he ventured

he was a very tickle beast.

upon

his mettle,

to the inn, he
side,

to ride

him

to water, as

This only put the jockey

and when the Doctor had adjourned

mounted and rode him

to the water

which he had no sooner reached, before the

good steed disappeared from under, leaving the poor

fellow in the pool, astride of a saddle of straw, gazing

round

in

equal tenor and surprize.

On

recovering

q5

DOCTOR FAUSTtS.

346

and thinking of

himself, however,

hastened

he

his bargain,

he could into the inn, to find

as fast as

Doctor Faustus, though not knowing Avhether he was

He was

dreaming or awake.
tor's

directed into the

room, where he found him lying

slept so soundly that the dealer perceiving

offer

to rise

when he spoke

Doc-

fast asleep.

He

he did not

him by

to him, took

the foot, and giving him a gentle pull, was surprized

to find the Doctor's leg

hanging

in

uttered a cry of horror, and at the

He

hand.

his

same moment

Doctor Faustus jumped up and began to cry murder

as loud as he could.
to

The man, without venturing

ask for his money, flung the leg upon the table

and ran out of the

place, thinking himself

escape the gallows.

In this

happy

to

way Doctor Faustus

pocketed another sum of money.

HOW DOCTOR FAUSTUS MEETS ANOTHEU PEASANT

SELLS HIS OWN LOAD OF HAY.

His money, however, was

all

TO

WHOM HE

spent before he reached

the city of Zwickau, where he was hospitably entertained by the magistrates.

as

he walking out

in

Having an eye

goner driving along his team, of

how much he would

ask for as

he, the Doctor, liked to eat.

for

half a

stiver

to more,

the evening he met another wag-

he

whom

much

he enquired
of his hay as

The man

should have as

replied that

much

as

he

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
pleased, believing that the whole

347

was a mere

But suddenly the Doctor appeared

jest.

be devouring

to

the whole concern, with so hearty an appetite as to

excite the

had

wonder of

all

the spectators.

When

he

finished about half his meal, the poor waggoner,

alarmed
fate,

same

the remainder should share the

lest

and

cried out lustily for mercy,

promise with the Doctor

much he would
him the hay.

com-

offered to

enquiring in his turn

how

take to give up his bargain, and leave

At the same time he

Doctor a gold piece, which the

pocket, and permitted the

man

latter

offered

the

put into his

to drive

away.

By

the time he reached the end of his journey, he found

on coming
there

to unload, that the

for the delusion

whole of his hay was

which the Doctor had raised

was vanished.

HOW THE DOCIOR ENDED

A DISPUTATION BETWEEN TWELVE

STUDENTS.

One

day

at

Wittenburg, there was a disputation

held before the Doctor's house between seven stu-

dents against
it

came

five.

During the heat of the argument

into the Doctor's

head

to play

them a

and forthwith he cast such a mist before

trick,

their eyes,

that no longer able to distinguish their opponents,

they grew more and more angry, until at length from

words they came to blows, which soon brought a

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

348

crowd of spectators around them, not a

amused

deluded their senses, that they fought

licious conjuror

and reeled

little

So completely, indeed, had the ma-

at the scene.

But

drunken men.

like

argumentum ad hominem, appeared

to

'as this novel

be coming no

nearer to a conclusion than that of their tongues, the

spectators were at length obliged to interfere, and the

poor deluded students were each of them conducted

homes, where on their

to tlieir

their senses

and

arrival they recovered

their sight.

HOW DOCTOR FAUSTUS PUNISHED SOME EBRIATED COUNTRYMEN, WHO MADE TOO MUCH NOISE.

Another

day, as the Doctor was regaling himself at

a certain publican's, where a number of peasants were

assembled who were likewise making merry, he said

that they
less

amazed him, and ordered them

noise.

began

to

So
sing

far,

to

make

from obeying, they

and shout, and hoot, and whistle

Upon

louder than before.

to his

however,

companion

this the

Doctor observed

"

Now mark

way which they

ye

will

soon stop
expect."

their whistles,

in

So accordingly

just as the poor fellows were in the

little

middle of a loud chorus, they came to a halt as suddenly as

if

they had been gagged, each staring at his

companion with

his

utter a word.

No

jaws extended, without power to

longer able to

distinguish

one

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

349

another, they rose up and separated one by one, only

intent
sible.

upon getting out of the place as

And no

fast as pos-

sooner were they fairly rid of

it,

and

proceeding upon their way, than they recovered the

use of their speech and again recognized one another,
to escape

home

ment, except the

fright.

happy

with no other detri-

again

HOW DOCTOR FAUSTUS HAD AN ADVENTUIIE AT THE COURT OP

ONE OF THE PRINCES OF ANHALT.

Once upon

a time, in the

month of January, Doctor

Faustus had occasion to go to the court of the Prince

who shewed him

of Anhalt,

and kindness.

While seated

all

kind of hospitahty

he remarked

at table,

that the princess looked very thoughtful and melancholy.

On

this

account as soon as the cloth was

removed, the Doctor said

My

"

gracious lady,

have always understood that gentlewomen of your

melancholy temperament, required some strange and
novel sights to beguile tedious thoughts.
entreat of your Highness to acquaint

would

me what

kind

of amusement might chance to prove most acceptable

to you."

Doctor,

The Princess made answer

I will

about the middle of last winter

ito

"

My

good

not pretend to disguise from you, that

partake of some fresh

indulged a great wish

summer fruit and flowers, and

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

350

now

again begin to wish that they were mine."

Doctor Faustus rephed

Highness

you

"

in this respect

much

be presented with as

shall

As he

heart could wish."

was come

the time

window, and brought with him the

to the

which he

silver dishes

as

up the

dishes outside, he

silver

When

again resumed his seat.

hour

of both

said this he threw

window, and placing two

he went

can easily gratify your

for in another half

laid

great was the Princess's joy

upon the

How

one of them was

for

table.

heaped up with beautiful white and blue plums, and

the other

of apples and pears

full

with the most odoriferous flowers,

"

You

both wreathed

wet with the

Presenting them to the Princess, he

morning dew.
said

still

your Highness need not be afraid

see,

to eat, they are just arrived

clime, where the

summer

is

from a warm and mellow

but

The Princess took some and

now upon

the wane."

them

relished

tremely, though she could scarcely restrain her

der at beholding them

while the Prince observng

her curiosity, boldly asked the Doctor

brought

it

courteously

that the year

"
is

My

it

is

gracious

lord,

very

you must know

divided between two portions of the

world, as in two
winter,

how he had

The Doctor answered him

to pass ?

ex-

won-

circles,

summer

in

so

that

when

another part

it

is

here

because the

heavens are roxmd, and the sun has now arrived at

his perhelion in that quarter.

For the same reason

351

DOCTOR FAUSTU9.
we have now only
But

around.

it is

short days, and bleak winter

as in Zaba, where the

and where two

night here

is

down below
ocean

fruit

summer

command,

that

to

one of those

just

to give the

now dispatched my
imp

his due,

sun

is

Our

it

would

it

is

my

gone

not obein

upon which we now

far lands,

glow,

full

Yet the vast

part of the earth.

stant engulph the earth

was

for the great

higher in the world, and were

lies

dient to the supreme

It

in

the year.

seasons load

their daylight
this

now

is

all

and the west,

not so in the east

an

in-

stand.

gracious Prince,

familiar

demon, who

a pretty swift-footed

spirit,

and he can moreover assume any other form he

pleases.

He

it

was who brought your gracious con-

sort the dish of fruit at

my

command."

particular

Both these royal personages listened

tor's

to the

Doc-

words with exclamations of wonder, and were

greatly delighted at his answering

number

them

so frankly a

of other curious questions.

CONCERNING ANOTHER ADVENTURE WHICH DOCTOR FAUSTUS

UNDERTOOK TO PLEASE THE SAME PRINCE, FOR WHOM HE
BUILT A STATELY CASTLE UPON A HEIGHT.

As Doctor Faustus was

preparing to take his leave

of this court, he said to the Prince

ness would grant
far

me

" If your High-

the honor of your

as the city gates, I think I could

company

as

shew you a

BOCTOR FAUSTUS.

352

which has been erected

castle

service during the last night."

your Highness's

for

Greatly surprized at

accompany him,

these words, the Prince consents to

attended also by the Princess and other ladies and

When

lords of the court.

they had arrived outside

the gates, they beheld upon a mountain which

Rombuddel, a very

called the

distance,

solely

He

hand.

the work of this

then

entreated

would allow him

hibit

to

that

to

magician's

great
their

conduct them

more narrowly,

it

is

beautiful castle in the

Highnesses

thither,

which they*

and ex-

easily

con-

This castle was so wondrously wrought by

sented.

power of magic, as
lake, in

which were

to be quite surrounded
all

kinds of

fish,

by a deep

and water-fowl,

such as swans, wild ducks, &c. forming altogether a

a most novel and enchanting spectacle.

From
five lofty

vast

the surface of this beautiful lake, there rose

towers, with two grand gates enclosing a

wherein were

court,

animals
apes,

almost

buffaloes,

unknown

found every variety of

to

Germany,

such

and other foreign

bears,

as

species.

Birds too of the most varied song and colour were

seen

flitting

beheld

all

from tree to

tree.

When

the party

had

them

into

these rarities, the Doctor shewed

the castle, and invited

consisting of

all

them

to sit

down

to a repast,

kinds of delicacies, and the most

choice wines in the world.

Numerous courses were

served up to table on the Pope's plate of gold and

353

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

silver,

by a crowd of domestics at whose head was

Wagenar

afTording;

the

choice

richest

ahke

in

stewed, in boiled, and roasted, of flesh, offish, and

of game.
In particular the turbot and the venison were

esteemed most exquisite, or excelled only by the

These

flavour of the rarest wines.

some of a more

besides
to

last

French, Russian,

Rhenish, Spanish,

more than a hundred

delicate

were chiefly

Malaga, &c.

kind, amounting

Such indeed was

varieties.

the abundance and splendor of this festival, as to

call forth

the liveliest expressions of gratitude from

the Prince,

whom

the Doctor conducted back to his

palace in the same splendid style, flattering himself

that he had never before enjoyed so luxmnous a ban-

But he had hardly reached

quet.

when the whole

castle

on the

his

hill

own

court,

blew up, and

disappeared amidst clouds of flame.

After

the

conclusion

of

Doctor Faustus waited upon

leave,

who then

dollars,

this

splendid

scene,

the Prince to take final

presented him with several hundred

and they parted.

HOW DOCTOR FAVSTU9 WITH SOME

OF HIS BOON COMPANIONS

BROKE INTO THE DISHOP OF SALTZBURg's CELLAR.

Having

thus taken his departure from court, the

Doctor began to wish

for

more merry company with

DOCTOR FAUSTVS.

354

companions, and he next repaired to

his old college

Wittembuig.

It

being fast-day eve, he resolved to

disguise himself asBacchus, and

many

of the students

After they had feasted together for

went to see him.

a while, being d'^sirous of witnessing some of his

new

bacchanalian tricks, he persuaded them to go with him

and pay a

a certain wine cellar, where he

to

visit

would present them with something better than they

ever tasted in their lives

and they should no longer

envy the nectar of Homer's gods.

The

collegians did not require

and Faustus

much

persuasion,

seizing a ladder that lay in his court,

and exclaiming " With this we heroes of Bacchus

;

will

scale the Bishop's cellars;" he ranged the students

either side of

it,

on

while seating himself in the middle,

they bore him in triumph to the place of ambush.

The same

night they

made

their attack,

ing in effecting a breach, they boldly

ladder,

and descended

and succeedlet

into the Bishop's

down

the

wine vaults,

where they found a collection of the choicest kinds.

The Doctor presided

and guaging the
an exciseman.

make

very merry

their

for

he dragged him

joint

lamp, and were beginning to

when

made

was prepared

hair,

cups, tasting

different vats with the expertness of

trimmed

tor

filled their

They seated themselves round a

stool,

bishop's butler

while they

the door

opened, and the

his appearance.

But the Doc-

him, and seizing him by the

into the cellars, just as

he be-

355

DOCTOll FAUSTUS.

s^an to cry, thieves

hand and

foot,

and

thieves

vats they drank to the

There they bound him

him upon one of

seatins;-

own

his

good Bishop's health, cruelly

compelling him to witness their depredations upon

some of

most

his

favorite wines.

When

they had

all

caroused to their hearts' content they broke up, carrying the poor butler along with them

him up the
In this

way they

proceeded home

ceiving a high tree at a

moonlight, the Doctor

to halt.

little

hoisting

distance, for

butler,

mentations, which quite

it.

it

was

the whole party

supposing that he

to be hanged, uttered the

the collegians,

first,

again, until per-

comnumded

Here the unhappy

was going

and next binding him across

ladder,

most piteous

la-

moved the heart of some of

who began

to intercede in his behalf.

" Nay," quoth the Doctor, " we must hoist him up, he

must swing

ladder,

infinite

tree,

howbeit, he

save his

to shift

This being done to the unlucky butler's

alarm and reluctance, they pulled the ladder

again, and with shouts of bacchanalian triumph

bent their course home.

wards gave several

treats

There the Doctor

with

Meanwhile the unhappy butler

the whole night in the tree, in

and almost

stai-ved to

after-

the Bishop's wine,

which he had brought back with him

fall,

may

but mount him up there upon the

and leave him among the branches

for himself."

down

in the

he please

life, if

in flasks.

sat perched during

momentary

fear of a

death with the cold.

When

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

350

it

began to grow light, perceiving that

it

would be

i-un-

ning too great a risk to attempt getting down, he

kept watch for the countrymen as they went to work,

whose assistance he earnestly entreated,

piteous adventure with

many

The peasants being

sight,

and alarmed

sighs

and

relating his

tears.

greatly surprised at such a

at hearing that

it

was the Bishop's

butler himself, instantly despatched one of their

num-

ber to the court of Salzburg, while the rest proceeded

The

to lend all the assistance in their power.

tidings

caused a great sensation at the court, numbers of

people hastened to the spot,

with ladders

but

all

bishop's butler in the tree.

however, and
as

little

Who

he had caught them

caught him,

in his

ropes,

some

the thieves were,

they had put him there, he

as the bishop himself, only

said, that

left

why

some with

eager to get a sight of the

it

was

knew

or rather they

master's cellars

he

certain,

had

where they had

not a single vat of wine unbroached.

now DOCTOn FAUSTUS KEPT ASH-WEDNESDAY; AND THE

APPOINTED EVENING FAST.

Upon the
evening
to

ensuing Ash- Wednesday, appointed for the

fast,

the fore-mentioned students again went

the house of Doctor Faustus, whither they

been invited expressly

for the occasion, after

feasted their friend the Doctor in their own.

had

having
It

was

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
a noble feast, and they did

357

it,

singing

and dancing during great part of the night.

After

full

justice to

the bowl had frequently circled round, the Doctor

enlivened the party by some of his magical exhibi-

most amusing kind of buffoonery.

and the

tions,

The most whimsical dialogues were heard proceeding

from voices

band

struck

sometimes a harp,
sometimes

and

solo,

flute,

wrought cups and

upon the
and

to

floor,

organ,

or

in concert.

viol;

When

glasses

which he arranged
to dance,

each other, making the room ring

sound, until they smote each other into

pieces, to the

After this

piano,

and which presently began

strike

with the

others

at

an

sometimes

up,

Doctor took a number of curious-

this ceased, the

ly

Next a

no one could comprehend.

tliat

of music

great entertainment of the spectators.

commenced

monkey dance, in which an old

ape figured as the dancing master, beating time to the

music, and drilling the party from time to time with

At length the night being

his

fiddle

far

advanced with various

clared

stick.

that they

must stay

sports, the
to

supper, to which they

would come back the better prepared,

been at the new comedy.
turn, the

window

number of

again.

after

having

Accordingly on their re-

Doctor took a limed stick which he placed

outside the
a

pretty

Doctor de-

and soon

rare birds,

it

was covered with

and the Doctor drew

This he repeated several times,

it

in

until finding

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

358

himself well stocked with game, he requested the assistance of his guests

to

wring their necks out, after

which operation he handed them

order to have them dressed.

magical

art,

the Doctor next

each other, as

if

they had

to Wagenar in
By a fresh stretch of his
made his guests appear to

But

shewed themselves.

heads

all lost their

much that they terrified the people

inso-

sadly wherever they

as soon as the supper

was

announced, and the guests found themselves seated at

table, they each of

them assumed

one another as before.

their natural fea-

and conversing with

tures and appearance, laughing

They had

not, however, con-

versed long before they underwent a

still

propriate and amusing metamorphosis,

for

more apthey were

each of them presented with an ape's head and ears

instead of their own.

Still

they continued the con-

versation as before, only in a

somewhat harsher and

discordant tone, questioning and replying in their

new

character, which produced the most solemn

also a calf's

head

set before

one of the collegians,

and the Doctor requested him

moment he began
bio he sio
all

Oh

the students

finding that

it

and

At supper there was

singular effect in the world.

the operation

it

to carve

The

it.

exclaimed " Mor-

how you cut my veal !" At which

jumped up in great alarm, but on
!

was only one of the Doctor's

tricks,

they began to laugh, and resumed their seats.

To

complete the evening's amusement, he next ordered

359

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
a sledge

the shape of a huge dragon to be brought

in

to the door,

and mounting upon

the students to follow him,

on

its

who

its

neck, he invited

seated themselves

back, while behind them stood a large old

ape who acted as the guard, and blew the horn.

And away went

the sledge at the Doctor's

command,

turning in every direction, obediently to the Doctor's

voice.

Such too was

imagined they

speed, that the students

its

were flying

through

the

air,

and

its

vast

nothing except the sound of

conld hear

wings as they fanned the heavy clouds.

HOW DOCTOR FAUSTUS ON

THi:

SUNDAY FOLLOWING CON-

JMRED UP THE ENCHANTED HELENA.

The

next

visit

which the forementioned collegians

paid their friend the

Doctor, was to sup with him

one Sunday evening.

On

their

own

this occasion they

brought

wine, and other delicacies along with them

an arrangement which served to make

only the more agreeable.

their

company

Their conversation happen-

ing to turn upon the most beautiful ladies

who had

ever appeared in the world, one of the students said,

that there was no princess he could so .much have

wished to behold as the famous Helen of Greece,

whose beauty caused- the

be levelled with the dust.

and said

"

It

is

stately

towers of

Ihum

to

Doctor Faustus spoke,

certain she

must have been very

360

DOCTOR

t'AUSTUS.

been torn from the arms of one

beautiful to have

monarch, to excite the envy and animosity of so

many others and as you all seem to express a wish

know what kind of a beauty she really was, I will,
if you please, summon her to appear before us in
;

to

when she

the same lovely form, as

stood by the side

of King Priam on the walls of Troy.

aware that

For you are

Emperor

have already gratified the

Charles in a similar manner, by exhibiting Alexander

the

Great and his

Doctor then commanded

the whole

keep silence, and

still,

to

quite

sit

company

followed

On

the room.

left

by the lovely

charms seemed quite

collegians,

who

to

arrayed in a red

and he

again entering he

whose

queen,

wonder.

in

purple habit

was

surpassing

dazzle the eyes of the

stood lost

to

without attempting

approach her when she should appear

then

The

Queen, not long ago."

young

She was

her bright auburn

tresses flowed loose over her shoulders, his eyes

were

of a sparkling black, and her whole features irre-

Her brow was

sistibly attractive.

and round, her

cherries, her

moist

full

lips

exquisitely Avhite

redder than the

summer

neck white and elegant as the swan's,

warm sunny brown, and

her complexion was of a

her whole expression of an enchanting kind.

person she was

tall

and

rounded and somewhat

without a blemish

In

graceful, yet withal finely

full

in short

she was beauty

beauty that might well rouse a

DOCTOR lAUSTUS.

367

She approached

world of princely heroes to arms.

as far as the middle of the room, where she stopped

and

whereupon

gi-acefully saluted the noble students,

they would willingly have arisen

profound

admiration

and

spirit, their

express

their

But suddenly

and beholding her only as

recollecting themselves,

a beautiful

to

respect.

curiosity

ceased; which the

Doctor perceiving, beckoned to the

queen, and

fair

she followed him out of the chamber.

When he returned, the whole

party eagerly crowded

round him, entreating that he would permit an

to be sent for,

and once more

artist

recall the beautiful

Helena

in

Doctor

Faustus refused to do, and said that he

But

order to obtain her portrait.

did not like to disturb her

spirit in

them a

that he would procure

that

likeness,

way

this

but

which they

might give to some sculptor to take models

for

them.

This he did, and several of them were sent to different

places, which were very rarely executed

But how Doctor Faustus himself

first

by the

came

artists.

to obtain

such portrait of her, no one of his acquaintance ever

knew.
Late at night when these noble young students

went to

And in
of men
VOL.

they were repeatedly haunted imtil morn-

rest,

ing with

tlie

this
;

same bright

manner the

tluis
I.

vision of the lovely Helena.

devil often deceives the hearts

seeking to excite their

evil

passions by

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

36

dreams and tokens, followed by wicked and most

vil-

lainous undevtakingSjwhich at length bring- their souls

into the snares of the Evil

One.

HOW Docron faustus punished the surliness

of a boor,

WHOSE WAGGON' WHEELS HE SENT BACKWARDS

THI'.Ot'GH

THE AIR.

Doctor Faustus came

had been

time he went on foot.

this

distance from the city, he

empty waggon
ride with

you

friendly tone.

"

Brunswick, whither he

to

invited to the house

to
?"

whom
and

" Boor

he enquired

may

Now

in

may

a very

not," replied the boor,

have burdens enough to bring from the

horses will think

and

yet a good

met a peasant with an

he said

this

" No, you

of a marshal

As he was

citv

my

them heavj enough without vou."

the Doctor did not want to ride, but only to

try the

humour of the

of him.

fellow, to see

So being detennined

what he thought

to

reward his un-

courteous conduct, Doctor Faustus said

" You base

clodhopper, you ass, since you have chosen to shew

this

want of manners, and as

have reason

to

think that you behave as badly to other people, and

would give nobody a

ride, I will

ness upon your own

pate.

your wheels carry me, you

now

visit

your rude-

As you would not

shall carry

them, as

fixr

let

as

369

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

Saying which,

from the city gates of Brunswick."

the

through the

back again

air

saw

he

waggoner thought

wheels

his

flying

while at the same time

upon the ground, and the unlucky

his horses fell

peasant began to bemoan himself

bitterly.

gave him to understand that

had

it

through his own rudeness and

Faustus

happened

all

upon

pervcrseness,

which the repentant boor fell upon his knees, and with
uplifted hands,

besought the Doctor to pardon his

wickedness, declaring at the same time that he had

well-merited his fate, but that he would never treat

any

Doctor

gentleman so disrespectfully again.

Faustus at
" There

is

last

taking compassion upon him, said

no greater

fault

you drivers

in

and

waggoners than want of courtesy towards us foot

passengers, and

other time.

you

get

this

better

an-

For the present you must take some

of this sand, throw

will

believe

shall

up."

it

This

upon your horses, and they

they

and

did,

Doctor, " As your fault must not

added

the

go wholly un-

punished, please to go as far as the four city gates

of Brunswick, where

you

wheels, and when you

pleasure of driving

me

your waggon

find

will

return,

you

as far as

shall

please."

have the

With a

a good deal of pains the unlucky boor accomplished

his task,

and

special care
civilly as

after parting
for

from the Doctor, he took

the future, never to behave so un-

he had done on

this occasion.

DOCTOR I'AUSTUS.

370

DOCTOR

ArSTU3 SENDS A PRF.SrNT OV A BUTT OF WINE TO THE

STUDFNTS AT

There

Fl I'SIC.

were some students from Hungary', from Po-

and Eastland, who had become acquainted with

land,

Doctor Faustus

and who now be-

at Wittenberg,

sought him to travel with them as far as the Fair of

where they were going

Leipsic,

to

make

purchases, and

the same.

So he consented

Upon

ciety.

versity

to look

about them,

to receive certain monies at

make one

to

of their so-

their arrival, they proceeded to the uni-

and other places

in the city

they were wandering about the

which as

after

streets,

they came to

a wine vault, where they saw a number of persons

trying to heave a large vat out of the cellars, which

Doctor Faustus seeing

they could not do.

gan to laugh heartily and said

to stand gaping at

as

you are?

self, if I

this,

"

one another there

know

man who

this be-

How come

you

such a number

could do

it

all

him-

were to send forhim." The workmen, hearing

began to wax wroth, and retorted upon him as

such persons generally do

time to

whom

they spoke.

not aware at the same

But the chapman himself

here stepping forward, said to the Doctor and his

workmen: " Come,

pute,

it

who can
it

may

as this

the cause of your dis-

is

easily be decided.

Let the

first

man

hoist the cask out of the cellar himself, carry

away with him

for his pains

it

shall

be his." Doc-

DOCTOR FAU3TUS.
tor Faustus readily accepted the

and setting

offer,

it

had been

he forthwith mounted out of the

cellar, to

himself astride
his horse,

37l

upon the wine

vat, as if

the great astonishment of the beholders.

But the

chapman was most alarmed, when he thought on the

terms which he had proposed, as he conceived the
thing to be quite impossible.

him

at his

The Doctor had taken

word, and he must keep

it,

for the great

conjuror marched away with his prize, the best part

of which he presented to his friends,

who had many a

merry bout, and drank the Doctor's health at several

parties,

where the wine circled quickly round.

now DOCTOrt FAl'STUS LECTURED UPON IIO.MEII AT EHFUt'.TH,

AUD SUMMONED IIIE SHAUESOF THE GRECIAN HEROES TO
APPEAR IIEFORE

HIS AUDIENCE.

Doctor Faustus

dwelt during several

Erfurth, where he lectured at the

met with many adventures

as there are

the time these pages are inditing, a

who can
table,

power.

testify

who

years

at

High School, and

now

living, at

number of persons

often eat and drank at his

and witnessed many wonderful proofs of

There too he held classes to

whom

his

he ex-

pounded the work of the princely Greek poet Homer,

which describes among other matters of the ten years*
siege of Troy, (caused by the beautiful Helena) the
history of the princes

and heroes of Greece and Troy

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

372

such as Menelaus, Achilles, Hector, Priam, Alexander, Ulysses, Ajax,

Agamemnon, and

other celebrated

chieftains.

Now all the collegians and other persons

whom he thus described the persons and actions

to

of

the heroes were so greatly delighted, that they longed

also to behold

ceptor,

them, and at

last

beseeched their pre-

were possible, that he would grant them

if it

such a proof of his friendship and good

Faustus hearing

this,

at his next lecture

summon

all

he would have

among

such

will.

no" objection to

these deceased heroes, as

they more particularly desired to behold.

tice procured

of the

Doctor

gave them to understand, that

him a very

This no-

large audience, particularly

young students and other people of the

who have

city,

a greater curiosity to witness this species of

sorcery,

than to see and to learn any thing that

good.

At

the appointed hour,

commenced

peared and

when

his lecture,

larger audience than usual, or than

he saw a much
he could indeed

have expected, which led him to observe

dle of his lecture

that

you

"

My

are all intent

warriors of

whom

is

the Doctor ap-

in the

dear students, as

mid-

perceive

upon beholding these famous

our poet thus speaks in his history,

and desirous to learn how they

lived

and fared

you

have only to look towards the door, and your wishes

will speedily

in

be gratified."

After he had said this,

a few moments, in marched a throng of ancient

heroes in

all their

panoply of war, advancing towards

373

DOCTOll lAUSTUS.

the

lecturer

regular

in

temptuous glances on
at

all

sight which

made

if

indignant

followed by the great

one-eyed giant Polyphemus, with

man

beard, and with a piece of a

con-

casting

sides of them, as

They were

what they saw.

but

order,

a long flaming
in his

mouth, a

the students' hair stand on end, and

such was their alarm, that they were very nearly

leaping off their seats and running away.
sight the Doctor burst into a loud laugh,

over

all

names one

their

another.

after

At

this

and called

And,

after

having summoned them to appear in review before

him,

in this

manner, he commanded them to take

themselves off in the same order, which they were

all

compelled to do, except the

mus,

with his

his head,

who

still

an agony of

Polyphe-

all

He declared that
men before he went,

kept his place.

he must cat two or three

which threw

fierce giant

huge eye flaming out of the centre of

little

the students

fright,

who

especially

sat near him, into

when they saw him

shake his huge infernal beard, as thick as a weaver's

beam, upon the ground, a sight

whole assembly

like

an

which shook the

But Doctor

electric shock.

Faustus fixing his eye steadily upon him, beckoned

with his finger, and the terrible giant with
followed

him out of the room.

Doctor concluded
tifying to the
V.

little

his lecture in a

On

many threats

his return, the

manner highly gra-

whole audience, who were likewise not

rejoiced at having escaped

with the mere

374

DOCTOll FAUSTUS.

and anxiety of being eaten up

fright

whom

most dreadful giant

by the

alive,

commemo-

history ever

rated.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS WISHES 10 BRING THE LOST COMliDIES OF

TERENCE AND OF PLATO ONCE MORE TO LIGHT.

Soon

after,

promoted

being" farther

same

professorships in the

one of the

to

university,

became a

it

among the philosophers, how far it would

be useful to make a version of the comedies of
question

Terence from the Latin tongue, and to print the

same

in aid of

the belles lettres, already established

For certain

benefit of youth.

for the

comedies shew us a picture of

and

of

also

to see into

we

if

each of

conditions of man,
characters,

and how

it

patient

reading.

their lives

day,

made

as clear to

and what

acts with respect

and

all

There

it

is

to other

is

more

mouldminds

which may be gathered from

actions, as

though

whose

we seem

In like manner

hearts.

what manner the human mind

and circumstances,

this

their

the poet had read them

find in

ed,

all

evil

thoughts and sentiments are

as

us,

good and

are so particularly described that

qualities

tlieir

all

these

is,

it

is

no

we

an account of

less

see the

was written

years before the birth of Christ.

same

several

in

men

to

hundred

375

nocToii FAUSTUS.

How much

tlien

is

it

excellent comedies to the

eight, were so

and

to

be lamented that these

number of one hundred

unluckily wrecked at sea

a loss

which Terentius so greatly bemoaned himself,

at

took to his couch

that according to Ausonius he

and

died.

and were considered

for schools.

one comedies,
or

mischance

whose writings were not

Plato,

Terence
books

similar

all

also related of

is

than those of

less

as

good

Because there were at

standard

least forty-

of which perished either by water

fire.

Now

Doctor Faustus hearing so much of these

conversations,

and how greatly these mighty poets

were regretted, while at the same time he knew more

upon every subject mentioned by them, than they

themselves ever did, began to

make

extracts from

the lost comedies, which attracting the attention of

the philosophers, they enquired with great surprize

"

How

possible that

is it

you come to know what was

those rare comedies ?"

To this he
"
answered
That they were neither drowned nor
burnt;" and added, " I am now prepared to restore

contained

in

all

those poetical productions which have long been

supposed
light."

lost,

in all their pristine excellence to

Doctor Faustus, was submitted

fessors

the

This important proposal from the learned

and

the

to

rectors of the college,

head pro-

who caused

following letter to be sent in answer to

it.

u 5

the

DOCTOR rAUbTU.

37G
"

Doctor Faustus,

Sir

"

The

proposal forwarded by you to us Pro-

fessors, is received,

mularies

but according to our college

we cannot make use of

for-

But as

the same.

soon as you can furnish us with the copy written in

your own hand, we

we

find

then

shall

first

examine

it

and

if

that such poetical writings contain nothing

detrimental to our Holy Religion,

we

gladly

shall

send them to press, and we ourselves inspect the

proofs,

making the necessary

corrections with

our

own hands."
Doctor Faustus, however, on receiving

this

an-

swer, no longer thought of prosecuting his design,

being quite conscious that the poetical works which

he might substitute, would be no

the moral discipline of the

holy religion

itself.

less

Insomuch that

Doctor Faustus did not succeed

to

our

in this instance.

attaining

in

wicked object which he had plainly

MSS. which on

injurious to

students, than

in view.

the

The

he had submitted to

this occasion

the learned professors, were copied at his instigation

by certain notaries and

how
tor

proctors,

to write the Latin tongue

would have contrived

schools.

whose

clerks

knew

and these the Doc-

to disseminate

through the

'^7'

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
ANOTHEH ANECDOTE, SHEWING HOW DOCTOR FAUSTUS
TAINHD THE OUI8T8 AT A CERTAIN HOTEL.

At
by

the city of Prague,

a publican's house

is

FNTFIl-

known

sign of the Anchor, where the Doctor one

tlie

called

he was

as

among

Seating

tour.

day

himself

the travellers, in a short time, he thus ac-

costed them

take of

all

" Gentlemen, would you

like to par-

world?"

kinds of foreign w'nes in the

party with one accord, cried out, " yes,

The whole

" Then

yes!"

upon a

will

you

to taste the French,

first like

Spanish, Rhenish, Malaga, or any other kind ?" continued he, " whichever you most approve."

Upon

this

tor Faustusl!

Doctor,

we

one of the guests exclaimed

" Doc-

whatever wine you please to furnish,

some means of disposing

shall find

Whereupon he begged them

to

provide

of."

him with

plenty of bottles and glasses, and he would supply

the

rest.

This being done, he bored several holes

through the table, and placing a funnel

held the bottles under

it,

as they would contain.

after another,
heartily,

and

As he

stark

them down one

mad

host's son entered the

Doctor:

to the

run rampant, and

were

laid

heartily did they regale themselves.

room, and said

is

he

the delighted guests began to laugh

While thus engaged, the

horse

in each,

and decanted as much wine

is

"Mr. Doctor! your

eating yonder as

if

he

had rather feed twenty other

horses than one such as he

for

he has eatcu almost

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

378

a manger

wincing

of corn, and he

full

for

more."

is

still

neighing and

Doctor Faustus seeing the

low's fright, burst into a loud horse laugh, in

all

" But you ordered me,"

companions joined.

his

exclaimed the man, "

Avould have, so

he cost you

all

I shall

upon the Doctor, ceasing

as

much

as he

on feeding him though

e'en go

the oats

him

give

to

fel-

which

have

in

my

house."

to laugh, replied

Where-

" Nay, do

you
I am sure he must have eaten enough
may go on feeding him till to-morrow before he will have

not so, for

done ;

for

my demon Mephostophiles is a greedy beast."

After a good deal of bantering of the same kind, in

which the evening passed away, and

it

was now nearly

midnight, the Doctor's horse was heard to neigh so

sharply, that

was heard through the whole house.

it

Then Doctor Faustus

and

so,

my

said

"

merry gentlemen,

good morning,

believe."

Now
I

must be going,

wish you

all

But seeing him

good a humour, the guests surrounded him,

a very
in

so

insisting

that he would stay a short while longer, and keeping

fast hold

upon him, he consented

hour with them.

When

steed began to neigh

still

his master

this,

more

to beguile another

however, expired, his

shrilly

than before

yet

sung and drank away another hour at

the company's request

after

which hearing a

still

louder neighing for the third time, he would tarry no

longer.

So the whole party accompanied him

to the

door; whither Mephostophiles was led round from

DOCTOR i'AUSTUS.

379

the stable by the host's son, and leaping upon his

back Doctor P'austus rode

When
rose with

at

speed away.

he had gained a short distance his steed

him

into the air, at so brisk a

was very speedily out of

he had arrived at the

city of Erfurth,

acted what business he had

where he trans-

hand, and brought the

in

most recent tidings from the Imperial

now DOCTOR FAUSTUS OPENS

pace that he

Before break of day

sight.

court.

A PUBLIC INN, ON HIS

OWN

ACCOUNT.

Being now

on his return from Prague, and from the

Austrian court towards his native place, and having

likewise received a

number of

and princes

ferent lords

Doctor began

had enjoyed

rich presents

in the

to regret the

from

dif-

Imperial service, the

merry company which he

and which he now wished to

at Prague,

To

meet with once more.

this

end he engaged a

house, and soon invited them to come and take up

their quarters with

him

for a while.

They came

very

wiUingly, not only for the purpose of revelling, but in

order to see,
as

one

it

after

neither
ing.

if

turned

another

tire,

Still

possible,

some more amusing

out they did.

into the

sights,

For as they entered

place,

they

could

see

nor smoke, nor signs of eating and drinkthey

made no remarks, but were very

merry, thinking to themselves, that the Doctor

knew

DOCTOR FAUSTU9.

380

how

better than they could teach him,

him

behoved

it

to treat his guests.

So when they had

not to take

it

they did.

He

knife,

in

ill

all

arrived,

he entreated them

part, but to seat themselves,

which

then knocked upon the table with his

and a person made

his appearance, as

been his servant, and inquired

your commands."

Dr. Faustus replied

" That can

be handy and quick?"

he had

it'

" Master, what are

"

Can you

I," said the other,

" quick as an arrow out of the bow."

" No, no," re-

" get thee back

to thy old post,

torted the Doctor

thou wilt not suit

my

turn

!"

and the servant went.

Again he struck the board with

another
in his

made

his knife,

same inquiry

his appearance, with the

mouth.

To him

and

Dr. Faustus said

" Tell

He made

me

now, how
" Swift as the wind."

" That," replied his master,

"

swift art thou a foot ?"

is

for

a pretty sharp pace

me

so

nevertheless

it

away with thee back again

will

!"

time Dr. Faustus hit the table with his knife

answer,

not do

The

third

and

forth-

with a third messenger put his head into the room,

but with an

you with me

may you
other.

be

ill

?"
?"

surly look.

He

"

said:

The Doctor answered

How

quick

" Quick as thought," returned the

" Then thou

art the right

man

claimed Dr. Faustus, and he rose and

along with him.

What want

"

He

for
left

me," exthe

room

next despatched him with orders

to bring the best wine

and dainties

in

the world, and

381

DOCTOR FAUST US.

to return quick as thought, in order that he

might

feast his excellent guests.

The
friends

being spread, the Doctor asked his

table
if

they pleased to wash, and then seat them-

This they did, and instantly the lacquey

selves round.

re-appearcd with

had

with

all

fish,

who

assistants,

was the custom

covers, as

were found

two

and three upon the board,

dishes, three

at court.

placed
all

nine

of which

Under them

kinds of delicate meats, and game,

stuft'ed

meats, puffs, pastry, &c. mixed

with a variety of boiled and roasted in every form,

and most

There were seven and

delicately drest.

thirty different dishes, besides

dessert.

The

abundance
fill

plate,

those brought for the

and cups and spoons, were

their glasses, their host inquired

or maJt liquor they would like.

if it

had

just been

to heighten

new

tricks

what kind of wine

The same was

room window,

stantly brought to the dining

as

in

and whenever the guests were about to

drawn from the

cellar.

in-

as fresh

In order

the pleasures of the feast, a variety of

were played

off, in

wliich one of his attend-

ants shewed wonderful dexterity, so that

it

was quite

impossible for any earthly conjuror to cope with him.

For he could himself caiTy on a conversation,

like

whole party, and perform a grand concert of vocal

and instrumental music, such

and the

viol,

sides himself.

as the flute, the harp,

while no performer was to be seen beIn a word, there was nothing wanting

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

382

that could serve to enliven the scene.

ing did

now

spirit

when each

A CERTAIN

FESSION,

These

so

amus-

appear to the Doctor's guests, that they

it

kept up the
light,

And

of the feast until

retired to his

own

it

was

clear day-

dwelling.

MONK WISHED THE DOCTOR TO MAKE CONAND TRY TO OBTAIN ABSOLUTION.

wonderful adventures, and

mad

tricks

made

the Doctor famous not only throughout Erfurth, but

through the whole land.

On

this

account

many no-

blemen, and other distinguished personages

neighbourhood began to court

his

in

the

acquaintance in

the hope of seeing or hearing something entertaining

which they might afterwards

relate

by way of novelty

For the same reason, the assem-

to their friends.

blage of the people became so great, that some were

anxious

up

lest the

to this

young students might give themselves

dangerous kind of necromancy, as they are

too apt to be led away by such seductive practices,

supposing them to be more amusing than dangerous,

and not aware how nearly they

their

final

salvation.

are connected with

Yet about' the same time,

there were not wanting a few sensible men,

who

see-

ing the danger, applied for advice to a certain Doctor

Eluige, belonging to the order of Nuincfreres, being

man

of singular

skill,

and well acquainted both with

Doctor Luther and Doctor Lange, who were likewise

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
as well
it

was

known
their

They declared

Dr. Faustus.

to

unanimous

383

desire that

that

he would earnestly

exhort the latter to think of abandoninjj, while there

was yet time, that

wilful levity,

tice in the black art,

consequences

and diabolical prac-

which might produce such direful

and even

to use severe threats if they

could perceive that there was any well-founded hope

of snatching him out of the devil's clutches, like a

brand from the burning;

indeed the old tempter

if

had not already proved too strong

So
first

By

this

for

him.

good monk undertook the task

he spoke very

civil

and

and at

friendly to the Doctor.

degrees he changed his tone, and spoke out right

He drew

hard and strong.

a fearful picture of the

wrath of God, and the eternal damnation which hung

over

him

for so far

he seemed, he

said, to

have ap-

prenticed himself to the devil, and to have hardened

himself in his infernal purposes.

that

he knew he

He

farther said,

was a very learned man, who

might have stood on a much better footing, both with

regard to worldly honors and celestial grace; and
that he ought

still

to

abandon

which he had been seduced

liar

his wilful levity,

in his

and murderer from the

down and

through

youth by the devil

first

and then

fall

confess his sins before the throne of heaven,

praying incessantly for the blessing of divine grace,

the doors of which stood ever open, ready to receive

repentant sinners into

rest.

384

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
Dr. Faustus listened most attentively to every

thing that the

end of

very good

good

monk

sir!

at heart,

can well

and

until

My

you have

my

believe, tliat

I also well

But

know

all

that you have

have implicated myself too

my

with

ratified

be his property, soul and body

I

full

"

have made a conveyance to the

which has been

can

he had made a

Then he made answer

here stated to me.

deeply

said

his discourse.

blood

that

in perpetuity

devil,
I shall

and how

my

then absolve myself from the penalty of

The monk answered him

oath ?"

" So be that you

pray and cry unto the Lord for grace

morse and make expiation

shew true

confess

before him, in order to gain absolution

afterwards refrain from

abolical

communications

Take heed

safety.

we

will

for

you

all

re-

your

sins

and

ever

all

species of sorcery, and di-

you may

to oppress

and

rely

on your future

injure

no one, and

then assist you by offering up constant masses

in

our monasteries, insomuch that you shall

soon be brought from \inder the dominion of the

devil."

" Not so," replied Dr. Faustus

and always

lost

say,

sir,

strong a hold upon me.

mercy of the Deity,

cal,

and

Maker.

relied

to him, or that I

held in contempt.

" once

lost

engagements lay too

have

wilfully despised the

became aiTogant and atheisti-

more upon the

Wherefore

my

it is

devil than

impossible for

me

upon

my

to return

can ever recover the grace which

DOCTOR I'AUSTUS.
" Besides
it

said that I

it

would not be just nor honorable

had

forfeited

to tlie devil, especially

my own

my word

where

it

to

have

and oath, even

had been

ratified

with

blood, and while he has performed his part

of the bond to me.

shall therefore

give the devil

and behave as handsomely towards him

his due,

can."

38.3

When

the good

monk

grew very indignant, and spoke

even consent to

by force of

fast

let

" Rush on thy own

perdition, thou cursed child of the devil, since

will not

as

heard these words, he

you

us attempt your salvation

and prayer."

After this, the

monk

waited upon the rector of the university, and upon

the magistrate, to

whom

he connnunicatcd the whole

of the Doctor's proceedings, and Doctor Faustus, in

consequence thereof, was banished from the

city of

Erfurth.

CONCERNING FOUR CONJURORS, WHO HAD

UEAOING EACH OTHER, AND RFSUMING

IIIE

OF

A F.T

TIIFIR HEADS,

DOCTOR FAUSIUS LIKEWISE I.EARNT HOW

TO

llt-

WHICH

IM'.ACTISE

AT

THEIR OWN EXPENCE.

He next

proceeded to the city of Frankfort upon the

Maine, where his demon Mephostophiles informed him

that at a certain hotel, near Jew's street, there were
four conjurors,

see

them hew

who brought

large crowds of people to

ofl'each other's heads,

and adjust them

again as easily as upon a barber's block.

Doctor

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

386

Faustus was very indignant at hearing

conceiv-

this,

ing himself to be the greatest magician of the age. So

he hastened

to the spot, in order to see

and there they stood prepared

to

them

exhibit;

decapitate one

them

another, while one acted as the barber to put

Beside them was placed a vessel

into joint again.

containing a liquor which they called the stamen of

life,

and

into

which the chief conjurer who performed

the operation, threw a plant called the

directly

began

to blow.

Upon

this,

lily,

which

he seized hold of

the second conjuror, and smote off his head, which he

handed
liquor,
lily

to the surgeon barber,

promptly adjusted

it

who

dipping

to the bust

it

in the

when the

suddenly disappeared.
In the same manner he operated upon the next,

and upon the

third,

both heads being smitten off and

again glued on in a very few minutes.

came

to the turn of the

head

At length

conjuror himself,

underwent the same operation,

at

Doctor, being jealous of his great

it

who

which sight the

skill,

and the con-

temptuous arrogance which he displayed, just as the

barber was in the act of fitting on the head, ran to
the table where the vessel stood, and struck off the

head of the

was about.

lily,

He

before any one

was aware of what he

then broke the knife to shivers

sight which threw the rest of the sorcerers into the

utmost consternation, and they had in vain recourse

to their usual arts

for the

purpose of rejoining the

387

DOCTll FAUSTUS.

head of

him

signing

Doctor Faustus thus cut

their f>Teat leader.

off in

maliciously con-

the midst of his sins,

him

to the infernal rej^ions, in order that

fate as he

might experience the same

doomed to a reward such

he

was himself

as the devil bestows

upon

his disciples.

Yet

his brother conjurors

were at a loss to ac-

count for the disappearance of the

not being visible at the time

the Doctor

lily,

so that they

still

con-

tinued fumbling with the old sorcerer's head, which

would stick on

BOW DOCTOR

in

no position.

FAI'STUS HIJECTS TUR ADVICl; OF AN 01 D

WHO SOrCMT TO

nF.ClAIM HIM

ABANDONED LIFE: AND HOW

II

()

WAS

II F.

HIS

IMI'IOUS

MAV

ANU

TIIF.ATFD UV MF.PHC8-

T0PHII.F.8.

There was
tus,

a very pious neighbour of Doctor Faus-

an old man, who being concerned to see the

strange bad
out, one

company which was always going

day asked the Doctor

to take

in

and

a humble

meal with him.

After this, he

made him

course out of Scripture

old

man, and took

a long and earnest dis-

for

which he thanked the

his leave, declaring that

he had

been much edified, and would try as far as possible

to profit

by

lU,

as he began to

grow more serious the

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
nearer

Upon

earthly term approached

his

reaching his

own

expiration.

its

house, he reflected deeply on

the advice he had just heard, fully sensible

fully

how

he had implicated both soul and body

fear-

in the

snares which had been laid for him, and wholly given

himself up to the powers of darkness.

Still

solved to follow the old man's good advice,

as he

was thinking of prayer his

evil

and grasping him by the neck

strangled him, he inquired
to sign himself over, or

delivered

it,

as

and yet

if

he would have

who had compelled him

who had drawn

enemy of God

did you not sign the bond with your blood

are

you not now thinking of following the

good Christian

when

it

is

man, and

to

become a

to too late

Know you

not that you are mine, that

I

the bond and

but himself? " Did you not swear," con-

councils of that doting old

soever

re-

just

demon appeared,

tinued the demon, " to become alike the

and man

he

when

will,

and

may

am now come

fetch

you when-

hither to

make an

end of you, unless forthwith you repeat your oath

anew, and sign your name with your own blood. Unless

you moreover swear, that you

will

never permit

any monk or other Christian to aid and abet you

rebellion against your

hege master;

swear

in

this, or

the next moment, you shall be torn into a thousand

pieces."

Doctor Faustus being greatly

out more demurring renewed

all

terrified,

with-

his promises, and

DOC

389

FAUST us.

roil

gave a fresh bond signed with his blood

documents

which were discovered among the Doctor's other papers in his house after his death.

After the deUvery of these fresh deeds, he

became

the good old man's mortal enemy, and persecuted

in every

way he

ment and

could.

But

his Christianlike deport-

frecjuent prayer, along

defied the power of the Evil

him

One

with his holy

to injure him.

life,

On

the evening however, of the second day, as he was

man heard

retiring to rest, the old

which seemed

his house,

ber,

to follow

and continued a long while.

who wanted

phostophiles,

At length the

strange noises in

him

to frighten

man, not a whit

old

into his

And

this

him

cham-

was Meto death.

afraid,

began to

" Oh, what

scofF at the

wicked demon, and said

stupid music

is

like that of a

proud Angel, who has been driven out of

Paradise."

succeeded

On

And
in

with

make

his return,

when

there, for

think

it is

such kind of reproaches, he

driving the

fared with the

mon was

that you

demon out

of his abode.

the Doctor inquired

good old

man

how he had

the disappointed de-

compelled to answer that he could not suc-

ceed with him, nor

inflict

even the least wound, be-

cause he found him armed (he meant with prayer)

"for which reason he only ridiculed me, which enraged

me

exceedingly, in particular as he reproached

with

my

fall."

And

in

me

the same manner, the Lord

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

390

will

take care to protect

all

chaste and holy sort of

men, who watch and pray, and always put

their trust

Him.

in

CONCERNING A NOBLE LORD AND LADY WHO BY 5IFANS OF

DOCTOR TAUSrUS WERE HAPPILY UNITED IN

THF.

BONDS OF

WEDLOCK, DURING THE SEVENTEENTH YF.AH OF HIS INFER-

NAL BOND.

At

the city of

Wittemburg there resided a

certain

young student, of a noble and ancient family the

initials

of whose

name were N. N.

nobleman was deeply

also

of high birth,

number of other

Now

this

young

in love with a beautiful lady

who happened

lovers.

Among

lords of the land, but to none of

to

have a great

many

these were

them would that

cruel lady grant any return of love.

And

to

none

did she shew herself so extremely averse, as to this

same young

lord,

who was

well

with

acquainted

Doctor Faustus, having frequently eaten and drunk

at his table.

Such indeed, was the strength of his

love,

and so great was his disappointment, that he suddenly

grew very
thing.

ill,

and pined himself away almost

When

to no-

Doctor Faustus perceived that

this

noble young gentleman was so sadly sickened as to

be unable to help himself, he one day asked his de-

mon
it,

Mephostophiles, what

it

was that could cause

and what he could be pining about ? The demon

OCTOH FAtSTUS.
then

relcited to

Doctor went

to

him the whole

visit

391

upon which the

affair,

the poor young gentleman, and

acquainted him with the source of

all

his suffering, at

which the unhappy lover shewed great

But

surprise.

Doctor Faustus consoled him, and said that he must

not take

it

so

much

to heart, for that he

Moreover

his friend in the matter.

in

him, that proud lady should

fall

if

would prove

he would

trust

to the share of

no

one but him, and accept his hand with her own good
will.

And

according as the Doctor promised, so

her heart, and

made

her

fall

so desperately in love

with this young nobleman, that she wished

any body

else.

him never

and would pay no attention

to be out of her sight,

to

it

For by force of enchantment, he softened

happened.

Doctor Faustus informed the young

gentleman that he ought to decorate himself in the

best

stile,

and go

an assembly where the lady

to

would be present, with other young women,

to dance, and that he would

same time, he gave him a

must
upon

slip

upon her

to love

and be constant

At the
him he

told

was dancing with her

of which, she would be sure

to

him, and no one

that he would have no need to

talk of marriage, as she

the subject herself.

eager

which he

ring,

finger as he

feeling the touch

all

accompany him.

make any

would be sure

else.

But

proposal or
to introduce

Before they set off to the

ball,

he sprinkled a few magical drops upon the young

man's features which improved them, and his whole

VOL.

r.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

392

On

appearance very surprisingly.

contrived

it

exactly as the Doctor

their arrival

he

had directed him,

and upon touching the ring as she was dancing with

her, the

young lady suddenly

felt

her heart transfixed

with Cupid's bolts, and she could not obtain a wink

of sleep during the whole of that night.

Early in

the morning she sent a message for him, and declared the everlasting love and attachment which she
felt for

him, at the same time offering her hand,

would be her husband.

He upon

if

he

this revealed the

passionate affection he had so long

felt for her,

and

taking her at her word, the marriage was shortly

afterwards solemnized to the infinite contentment of

both parties.

The young nobleman shewed

great

respect to the Doctor ever afterwards, and bestowed

many

UOW

presents upon

him

in

consequence.

DOCTrjH FAUSTUS EXHIBITED A VARIETY OF HERBS

AND

FRUITS, ABOUT CIJRISTMAS, IN HIS GARDEN, DURING THE

NINETEENTH YEAR OF HIS BOND OR COMPACT.

During

Christmas time there assembled at the city

of Wittemburg, a

whom

number of young women

some of

were of distinguished families, and whose sons,

brothers, or

These

nephews were students

last

at the University.

being acquainted with Doctor Faustus,

in order to enliven the visit of their relatives,

him one and

all,

to give

them

his

besought

company, which

DOCTOR FAUS'lUS.
he did.

In return

noblemen and
at his house,

lie

393

invited several of these

young

their female relatives to feast with

and they accepted

him

As

his invitation.

they apjiroached his house they were surprised to see

that though there was then a heavy snow, the

Doc-

court and garden bore not the least traces of the

tor's

wintry season, but were quite green and blooming, as

if in

On

the midst of summer.

the finest herbs and

interspersed

fruits,

sides appeared

all

and the

fresh grass

with a variety of flowers in

full

was

blow.

There was also a beautiful vineyard, abounding with

clusters of fine

ripe

grapes,

abundance of red Provence

figs,

raspberries,

and

They were as

roses.

sweet to the smell as to the eye, and looked so fresh

and sparkling with the dew,

tion

of wonder and

delight.

tempting to be long

resisted,

ventured to pluck any, that

ing a grape or

as to raise

an exclama-

They looked indeed, too

but whenever the guests

moment

instead of find-

a rose between their fingers, they

found that they caught hold of

their neighbour's nose.

This always raised a great laugh at their expence, so

that

it

was long

Ijefore

they could resolve to leave the

Doctor's house, such was the entertainment of various kinds

which they there met with.

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

394

HOW DOCTOR

FAUSTUS INCREASED TBE NUMBER OF HIS

INTRIGUES, DUIII>G THE TWENTIETH YEAR OF HIS TERM.

When

Doctor Faustus now began to

reflect that

had already reached the twentieth year of

gagement, and that

it

was

fast

nation, he sat thinking, day

approaching

luxurious

With

mode of

whom

termi-

had

left to

the most

this view, besides his very

he summoned seven

living,

upon

fernal princesses to attend

each of

its

by day, how he could

best turn the short time which he

pleasant account.

he

his en-

his board

in-

and couch

he imagined looked more beautiful

than the others; and he could hardly express his

astonishment on beholding them.

He

likewise tra-

versed a variety of countries with his familiar demon,

in

order to

women upon

collect

earth,

specimens of the most lovely

among

the choicest of

whom was

one Englishwoman, one Hungarian, two Swabian,

one French, and two from Italy;

much

whom

he valued

more highly than the Sultan's whole collection

which he had seen, or than that of any other great

amateur of the age.

HOW DOCTOR FAUSTUS

IS

PRISENTED WITH A RARE TREASURE

IN THE TWENTY-FIRSr

YEAR OF HIS TERM.

In order that the devil might omit no earthly means

of holding

Doctor Faustus

fast

to his

word, his

395

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
demon Mephostophiles

discovered to

him a

vault in

an old ruined chapel about half a mile from Wittemburg,

sure.

in

which there lay concealed a great trea-

Upon delving

little

below the surface, Faustus

met with an innumerable heap of gold and

coins, besides a quantity of

silver

diamonds and other pre-

cious stones, the splendour of which shone as strongly

upon the eye as a burning

When

torch.

he collected them

difficulty

all

with some

together, on again

inspecting them, he found only a vast heap of charcoal.

At

this sight,

he swore

in the

most indignant

terms, and questioning his demon, declared that he

was not a man

to

smiling requested

Mephostophiles

be thus deceived.

him only

to bear

them

house, where he found they resumed

value and splendour.

to his

all their

His servemt Wagenar proved

after his master's death that this treasure

in value

many dozen

own

pristine

exceeded

of guineas.

CONCERNING THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF DOCTOR

FAUSTUS, IN WHICH HE LEAVES HIS SERVANT

WAOENARHIS

HEIR.

During

the period of his four and twenty years

engagement, the Doctor hired

student

whom

for his

page a young

he met with at Wittemburg.

He

had been witness to the whole of his master's proceedings.

He was

himself an idle varlet,

who

in-

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

396

stead of applying to his

thought only of

studies,

begging and borrowing, but one with

whom no

honest

people wished to have dealings.

So

this said

Wagenar became Dr.

and conducted himself so much

after

having been some time

inclined to adopt

him

for

in

a son.

Faust's varlet,

to his liking, that

his service

And

he was

as the time

of the Doctor's contract was fast drawing to a close,

he sent

for a notary

He

quaintance.
his servant.

and several students of

then

left his

Item, a

sum

of 13,000 guilders

Also an estate, value 8,000.

once.

in ready cash.

at

Item, 9,000

Item, a large golden chain, orna-

mented with a huge diamond, estimated

at

3,000

Item, the whole of his gold and silver plate

crowns.

received in legacies
in

his ac-

house, goods, &c. to

particular

from different noblemen;

and

what he had brought with him from

the Pope's and the Sultan's courts, estimated at the

least at
ticles

40,000 guineas.

Item, various moveable ar-

of furniture, &c. which however were not found,

having been made away with at hotels and other

houses, where he had been accustomed to feast the
students.
will, will

Other particulars of the contents of

be seen in the following chapter.

this

397

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
DOCTOR

SPEAKS WITH

I-AUSTl'S

SERVANT WAOENAR CON-

III8

CliBNING HIS WILL.

three days afterwards Doctor Faustus called

About
his

Wagenar, to whom he promised that

servant

he should have a demon to attend

after his decease

upon him, and that he should likewise be bound to

appear in whatever form he might judge best. Where-

upon
and

his

servant replied

faithful

father,

think.

should

the shape of a monkey, only

From

common ape."

"

much

a variety of odd

Faustus said

this

is

is

form any menial

will

you

will

all his

tricks.

errands,

Doctor

my

whom

shall leave with

not to enter your service, or per-

offices

until after

my

death,

when

And

as

have to bind yourself to him by regular

shall call

have done to mine, on this account

him the Averhaan

was accordingly known.)

that you will not

(by which

name he

have farther to intreat

make known any

gifts, or sorceries,

world.

who

this kind,

no longer see Mephostophiles.

conveyance, as

you

daily

no longer be bound to

will

successor

his

you, though he

you

there

" As you know, Wagenar, that

demon Mephostophiles
me,

sir,

larger than the

leaped with incredible celerity upon

playing

good

to appear in

time forth,

this

appeared to him a demon exactly of

besides

My

him

like

of

my

secret arts,

before I shall have departed this

Afterwards, however, you will be at liberty

to collect, arrange,

and describe the whole of them

DOCTOK FAUSTUS.

398

in a regular history,

demon Averhaan

your memory, he

to escape

take care to recal them to mind.

actions

His
fulfil

For the world

require at your hands an account of

will assuredly

my

which your

in

you, and in such par-

assist

happen

ticulars as shall
will

an undertaking

will

and adventures

so look well to

Wagenar promised

faithful

to

do

the least of his last instructions;

it."

so,

and to

after

which,

taking him by the hand, he thanked him heartily

for all the benefits

and more

especially for having so kindly provided

for

him

he

faithfully

him

which he had conferred upon him,

in his last will

and testament.

And

in short,

promised his excellent master to follow

in a little while, along with his

demon Averhaan.

DOCTOri FAl'STUS, DRAWING WITHIN ONE MONTH OF HIS

DEPARTURE, BEGINS TO LAMENT OVER HIS DIABOLICAL EN-

IIO^V

GAGEMENTS, AND CAN TAKE NO REST.

Dr. Faust's term was now

ing towards a close, for

month of the
ration of

the

four

faster

draw-

and twenty years, on the expi-

which he was to deliver body and soul

About

this

more uneasy and

assassin

and

he had reached the very last

possession of Satan, as

stated.

faster

who

is

it

into

has heretofore been

time he began to grow

much

suspicious, almost like a robber or

fast

approaching the hour of his

execution , and hears his sentence

still

ringing in his

399

DOCTOE FAUSTUS.
ears as he

lies

At len^h growing more

in prison.

moan

anxious, he began to sigh and

would frequently clasp

his

hands

He was

summoned

his

and

agony, insomuch

in

away and

that he seemed to be quite pining

ing.

to himself,

despaii'-

be seen, and no longer even

rarely to

demon

familiar

to appear,

and could

no longer bear his company, whereas he had before

whom he

considered him as his trusty servant,

So

quently called into his presence.

was he dismayed that he no longer sought

his direful lamentations

and

might serve as a warning

down

after his death,

wicked and mis-

fate

to Avhat a bitter destiny

gracious,

my

how

fast

time

flies

am

say,

Yet what

Oh,

am

what

is

all

an unlucky

revenge,

consigned

vain lamentations? nothing in

world can help me.

mine.

is

written

" Ach, ach, ach

wrath, mercy, grace, what shall

all

hoping that they

fears,

to other

as follows

what a desperate hard

do?

to restrain

men; some of which were found

guided

fre-

sorely indeed

shall I
!

Oh

the use of
the wide

man !"

HOW DOCTOR JOHANNES PAU8T0S FAnTHER COMPLAINS OP

BEING CUT OFF IN THE FLOWER OP HIS DAYS, AND CONDEMNED TO DIE SO VIOLENT AND DIABOLICAL A KIND OP
DEATH.

"Oh, thou unhappy

Faustus," he continued, " thou

most deceived and miserable man

What a strange

s5

un-

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

400

safe situation,

Lord,

death

am
am

what a sad dilemma thou

going,

am

man

going to die, such as no

ever died before.

art in

Oh

going soon, and what a sad

Alas for reason,

my

in the world

foolish reason,

my doubts, my wilful speculations and wicked free will.

Ah, blind and heedless
body and

dolt that

was

have sold

life,

Ye

and \vietchedness.

soul, to eternal dole

worldly pleasures, into what a pitiable scrape have ye

me

brought
eyes

now

misguided

spirit

my

from

the scales are fallen

my

Alas for

what has

all

thy speculations and vast knowledge, both of science

and the world brought

wretch

Oh,

my

Oh my

Lamentation
!

unsteady temper, and wilful moods

but

Woe, woe, above

in the

name

of

all

Nay,

it is

how

shall I

other

all
!

alas,

woe
alas,

the saints, shall

ever get rid of this devilish anxiety

hide myself?

must not venture

no other lamentation

like

how

Oh, luckless

to at last?

disappointed hopes

to think of that.

and woe

me

where

shall I

keep out of his clutches?

foolish to try to fly

am

already taken

!"

In this manner the luckless Faustus went on complaining both night and day

so that

it

was with

great difficulty that he could even speak.

IIOWJHE BASE DEMON KEPROACBES THE UNHAPPY FAUSTUS

WITH GIBING AND MAl.lCIOUS WORDS.

In the midst of

this his

woful plight and most tra-

DOCTOH FAUSTUS.
gical lament, the

401

demon Mephostophilcs once more

He advanced

appeared unto his master, Faustus.

towards him

witli

a mockin:;

contemptuous and

and spoke

air,

ironical tone, as follows

you have so well studied the holy

know

a most

" Since

scriptures, as to

that you ought to have worshipped the Lord

alone, to
all

in

have served him only, and loved him with

your heart and soul, without turning either to the

right
self

hand or

to the

left,

any graven images

and without making to your-

and since you basely turned

which he enjoined,

faithless to the duties

from him, and hardening yourself

in

falling

doings, denying him, and conveying over your

soul

and body

into

my

charge

is

evil

own

you must now there-

fore prepare to fulfil your bond.

at best,

away

your own

All that

you can do,

some such

to console yourself with

sorry

song as the following, of which the devil do you good

Hast thou remorse

Now
The

thou hast

won

fault is all thine

be

still,

the will

own,

So be thy patience shewn.

You must your smart with grinning bear,

And to no man speak word of your despair.
It is too late to think of

Who mocks
Your

God,

you with his wrath and rod.

luckless lot

Yet now you're

was youi own doing.

lost,

you

will

be rueing;

Pray be more patient and resign'd,

And

go to

hell

with happier mind.

402

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

my

" Therefore,

"

philes,

and dabbhng

dear Faustus," continued Mephosto-

not good to go feasting with great lords,

it is

the same dish with the devil.

in

For

you now see that they smite you upon the cheek, and
it

would have been

far better if

you had kept

more respectable distance from them

gant

evil

at a

but your arro-

heart carried you away, and you reap a just

Yes, you despised the knowledge you

recompence.

obtained from scripture, and summoning the devil to

your assistance, you thought

to take all for

when

all

very well during

granted that

said,

simple enough

and only smiled

the devil winked at you, until by such cajolery,

he came
round a

to

hang a

about your neck, as they do

bell

cat's.

" The truth

is,

my dear Faustus, there

to the devil's promises

and you are no better

first.

You

at last than

are like the cat too that

and fond of mice

it

is

no trusting

moreover you were bad

grain,

it

it

You were

the last twenty-four years.

will remain.

is

you

in

w^ere at

fond of mice,

Moreover, what

is

that your overweening pride and arrogance have not

made you commit ? In all your travels and transactions, you made boast of the devil's friendship, and
rejoice to think that
in fact

he

monk,

as the

you know,

is less

Lord

is

he

will

never desert you, though

powerful than an abbot or even a

is

supreme over

all.

The labourer,

worthy of his hire; and as you have

sown, so you must reap

therefore be assured that

403

DOCTOR FAUSTOS.
meet with your reward. Lay

you

will

and

instruction to heart, Faustus

and may sing

that you arc lost,

as

you

my

this

for

counsel

as true as

it is

to that tune as

much

please.

" Yet you ought not so readily to have trusted

the devil, as you well
ceiver,

that he was a

and a murderer from the

have been a

more cautious

little

lows repentance

" But he who

for

in

a de-

You should

first.

in

liar,

time

for a gal-

but an unpleasant thing

is

cannot even pray

make

knew

and you

repentance before you swing.

will let lodgings to the devil,

must

his account in having a sharper for his guest

for truly there

is

required more for the dance than a

red pair of shoes.

Had you

kept Ihe laws of Heaven

before your eyes, and put your talent out to good interest,

you would not have needed

of minuet which you must

sport for the devil.

He

now

to

dance the

learn,

sort

and become

that will deal, however, with

him, has needs to drive a hard bargain, and

even sure to come off with the worst.
signed away your soul with your

own blood

is

then

You have
;

without

heed of Heaven or of yourself."

After the demon,

Mephostophiles, had long tor-

mented the unhappy Doctor

in this

manner, he as

suddenly disappeared, consigning him over to his

inexpressible wretchedness, trouble,

and despair.

own

DOCfOR FAUSTUS.

404

NOW HERE FOLLOWS THE CRUEL AND FRIGHTL END AND

DE-

PARTURE OF DOCTOR FAUSTS, FROM WHICH EVERY CHRISTIAN

MAY SEE HIS OWN DANGER, AND TAKE TIMELY WARNING.

The

whole twenty-four years assigned

were now quite expired.

During the

bond,

week of

made

term, the demon, Mephostophiles, again

his

his ap-

In his hand he held the fatal deed of

pearance.

conveyance signed
holding

in the

last

it

the Doctor's

in

own

blood,

up, he said, that his master,

would himself come

and

the devil,

in the course of the next

day

to

must therefore hold

fetch his debtor's body, and that he

Doctor Faustus ceased not to

himself in readiness.

whine and moan during the whole of the ensuing

whereupon

night,

spoke: "

what
your

Why,

avails

demon again came

all this

such pusillanimity

at all events

to

him and

complaining;

knew you not

and soul were long since

life

an age

his

dear Faustus,

forfeited,

you must die once, though you had yet

Besides, the Turks and Jews, and

to live.

other unchristian kings and heathens must

all die,

be condemned everlastingly as well as you.

it

you imagine

and the

still

his lease

mon
it

will

keep your

and sway."

Mephostophiles

was

false as

it

and

Come,

perhaps not be quite so bad as

take courage,

shall

that

and that

devil has promised that

life

and soul

to be held

With such comfort did

strive to cheer his

was hollow, and

with the holy scriptures.

And

you

under
his de-

master

but

quite at variance

the Doctor saw clearly

405

DOCTOR FAUSTU3.
enough that the only manner

of paying off the

left

account against him, was with his own neck; for had
not his demon declared that the devil himself would

come

to fetch him, even the next night ?

For

he resolved

this reason

send tidings to

to

those masters, students, and other boon companions

with

whom

he had kept company, and intreat that

they would be pleased to join him

as far us the village of

in

a pleasure party,

Himlig, about half a mile

from Wittemburg, where he proposed that they should

To

sup together.

this

invitation

they replied, that

they would willingly assemble for that purpose; and

accordingly a sumptuous feast was
in readiness, with

When

ordered to

be

abundance of delicacies and wines.

they met, the Doctor seemed to welcome

good

his friends in great

wardly heavy and sad.

spirits,

but his heart was in-

He bade them,

however, to

be seated, and to enjoy themselves that evening along

with him, as well as remain there the whole of that
night, as he

had some important business on which

to consult them.
feast with

him

were about

had

They promised, and

to take

down

to

a farewell glass, and Dr. Faustus

settled the score,

tire into

sat

on the conclusion of which, as they

he begged the students to re-

another room with him, as he had something

rather particular to

shewed them
to address

communicate

into another

them

as follows.

to

them.

So he

chamber, and then began

406

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

THE LAST APPEAL OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS TO HIS STUDENTS.

"

My

very loving and

masters

gracious young lords

hear the cause for which

you together

and

have summoned

namely, that which during

many

years

you are acquainted with, as to what kind of a

I

have been, expert

to

what kind of

arts

and

sor-

be acquired under the tuition of the

ceries, only to
devil,

in

man

which devilish inclination

and pursuits

have been brought by keeping bad company, and

sort of dissipation connected with such society,

which

also

have acted the chief part.

I
all

in

my

This,

dear young gentlemen, comes of walking according

to our

wicked

abandoned

and

flesh

will,

and blood, our own impious and

and giving way to those speculating

diabolical thoughts,

which

at length led

me

to

consign myself over to Satan, after the expiration of

and twenty years, both with life and soul.

" Now the said years are already arrived

four

end even

this very evening, so that

ninning quickly out before

come

to claim

signed with
I

me upon

my own

my

eyes,

last

blood for

life

at

and

an

sands are

when he

the strength of

have twice over conveyed to him.

dear masters,

my

will

my bond

soul,

which

Wherefore,

my

have thus affectionately intreated of

you to come and be present

at

my

latter end,

and to

take St. Jan's departing glass with me, while at the

407

T)OCTOU FAUST US.

same time you

will please to

keep secret

my

depar-

my
gracious young masters, to salute on my part my
other friends and acquaintance, assuring them of my
I would likewise require of you,

ture hence.

very brotherly regard for them, that they

regard

my memory,

may have come

my

may

so too

not reproachfully,

forgiveness in every thing where

soliciting their

gard to

kindly and

short

oftended them.

or

most wonderful

In re-

and per-

adventures

formances during the space of twenty-four years, such

will

be found

after

and described

in

my catastrophe
my own house.

accurately recorded

And now

cruel approaching end, sei"ve as a faithful

you,

my young

may keep

the

gentlemen and masters

commandments

and love and pray

pray,

say, that

to

he

him

that you

all,

of the Lord in view,

becomes you

as

my

let

mirror to

to

will please to protect

do

to

you from

the devil's wiles and guiles, upholding you that none

may

fall

away from him,

as

I,

poor impious

man, have so sadly done, denying the

craments of our Saviour,

damned

cross, the sa-

and even the Supreme

Ruler of the world himself.

Be

cautious also

you are led astray by bad company as

how

have been,

but go constantly to church, and manfully

resist

the

devil with a firm faith in Christ, leading an upright

and godly
bours.

life,

to the edification of all your neigh-

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

408
" Finally,
go

to bed,

it is

and

must not alarm

uproar you

my earnest prayer

that you will

Moreover you

try to sleep as usual.

and

yourselves, whatever kind of rout

may happen

you may

to hear, as

rest as-

Do

sured that you will receive no degree of injury.

not even attempt to

good, and

if

rise

mony inasmuch
Yes,

as

it

can do no manner of

it

my

you should find

morning, please to inter

death.

for

dead body

die a

and unchristian

base

most unchristian wretch,

sham repentance, and not

sessing faith half sufficient to inspire

prayer

me

would

freely resign to

could by any means contrive to preserve

my

yourselves easy, and retire to rest

you a very good night

but

for

me,

him,

my

have only once more to intreat that you

and

pos-

with sincere

besides knowing that the devil will have

which indeed

life,

in the

speedily without any cere-

die like a

feeling only a sort of

all

soul.

make

will

therefore
alas,

if I

wish

a very bad

frightful one."

This explanation was made by Doctor Faustus

with a free and resolute
cast

down

could

nf)t

air, in

the spirits of his

order not to alarm or

friends,

who however

sufficiently express their surprize

and con-

sternation at his having canied matters to such a

pitch.

For they had never conceived him capable of

such excessive fool-hardiness, as to venture

soul in pursuit of his vain sorceries

life

and

and speculations.

409

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

On

account, having a sincere regard for him,

this

they

be>,^an

one and

all

lament over his hard

to

and they said " Alas, dear Faustus,

:

dilemma you have brought

all

to us

his

why

by keep-

all

did you not unfold

Ah, we would soon have rescued you from

infernal snares, with the help of our learned

and other doctors

divines

you are too

but

now

di.eply inveigled, both

Doctor Faustus made answer

dear friends,

ter,

fate,

what a cursed

and

yourself!

ing the matter so long secret

it

into

my

all

too late,

soul."

" Reveal the mat-

But

sins.

so,

my

consult you, and to retrace

for

and

dared not, though believe me,

was often on the point of doing

penance

it is

life

wishing

evil

much

steps

to repent, that great

made

his appearance, as

night,

and threatening

an end of you,

he

me

will tear

and do

was seduced from one

kind of sorcery to another, and whenever

good resolutions

to

will

made

Satan forthwith

again do this very

always said

will

make

you piecemeal the moment

you talk of turning to heaven

for help."

Upon

hear-

ing this, the students replied that as there was plainly

no other help
with

all

for

him, he ought forthwith to

his strength

and

heartily to the Lord,

ci"y

out

and

to

his dearly beloved son Jesus Christ, praying for the

remission of his sins, in which good office they would

gladly join him, and cry " Alas, alas, be merciful unto

me, poor sinner! and bring mc not unto judgment,

for too well

know

that

caimot stand before

it.

410

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

What

though the devil may come and claim

mortal body,

who

only thou

is

it

this

my

canst defend and

protect the immortal soul."

Doctor Faustus admitted the wisdom

of this

measure, and that he ought not for an instant to

but at the same time he could not go

cease to pray

through with

it,

as

happened

it

also to

Cain who

that his sins were too great to be forgiven

said,

and the

Doctor could not help exclaiming within himself,

that he was

bound by

his

own bonds, and had

carried

matters too far to retreat.

So the students were

leave of the

did with

at length compelled to take

unhappy master Faustus, which they

many tears,

all retiring

to the

same chamber

and leaving the Doctor by himself.

to

bed as they had been

them could
fully

They

retired

directed, but not one of

close his eyes; for they lay waiting fear-

anxious for the catastrophe.

This happened between twelve and one o'clock

the same night.

First, there

which blew round

all

would have carried

it

was heard a high wind

quarters of the house, as

from

its

if it

foundations, at which

the students leaped out of bed in great alarm.

But

they ventured not out of the chamber, striving to en-

courage each other, but the

actually leaped out of his

adjoining.

terrified

own house

host himself
into

one next

The students' chamber was next to that

of Faustus, and they could plainly hear a grievous

DOCTOR FAUST US.

piping, hissing
full

411

and whining, just as

if

the house were

of snakes, and other poisonous reptiles.

Next

they heard the Doctor's room-door give way, upon

which repeated

cries of help, help

were uttered

a half drowned voice, which grew fainter and

Soon, however,

When

who had

it

still

and

silent

as before.

become broad day, the students

never closed their eyes during the whole of

that fearful night,

went

in a

body

into the Doctor's

But there he was no longer

chamber.

though they found

his

was

all

at length

in

fainter.

different parts of

it

to be seen,

sprinkled with

blood, and traces of his brains were also seen

upon the

neck round,

walls, as if after wringing his

the devil had dashed his head from one side of the room

His eyes too appeared to have staried

to the other.

from their sockets, and a solitary tooth was found

lying here

and

cle indeed.

there,

Seeing

students began to

which furnished a cruel spectaall

these symbols of his fate, the

weep and lament him

nothing was heard

for

some time but

afresh,

their

and

mingled

moarts and sighs.

At length

after a long

and weary search, they

found his corpse lying at a distance from the house,

sadly mutilated and disfigured, in particular about

the face.

The

foresaid students

had been present

body

in the

same

and masters who

at his departure, after interring his

village,

hearts to Wittemburg.

again returned with heavy

First,

they went to Doctor

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

412

Faust's house, where they found his servant

nar,

who was

greatly grieved

own

history

Wage-

also

about

There too they discovered this

his master's death.

his

and anxious

drawn up and described,

in the third

person, by the Doctor's o\vn hand, as already stated,

with the exception of the account of his

ture

and end

final

depar-

which was added by the said masters

and students, though the whole work was arranged

and remodelled by

figure

servant Wagenar, so as

his

form a new book.

On

the

same day,

to

likewise, the

of the enchanted Helena, whose beauty the

Doctor had conjured up from the shades to give zest

to

his

earth.

pleasures, again vanished from the

earthly

And

long afterwards the strange noises and

disturbances which were heard at

house where he had

residing in

lived,

all

hours in the

prevented any one from

Moreover Doctor Faustus himself ap-

it.

peared to his

faithful

Wagenar

in

the night, and

then communicated a number of secret and abstruse

matters,

and he was seen out of the windows often

reading to a late hour.

In this manner here ends the

mous Doctor

histoiy of the fa-

Faust's sorceries, from which each and

may reap instruction, and more

may happen to be of a like bold and
From him let them take example,

every good Christian

specially such as

arrogant mood.

and

learn to fear the

manner

Lord

their

maker

to avoid all

of sorcery and conjurations, also speculating

413

DOCTOR FAUSTUS.
too deeply in matters where the devil
to take advantage of the

ess

of num.

his works,

forbidden

In tine, to avoid having any

to his false flatteries, as

Holding up his sad

fixed

R.uler, with all his

love

and worship,

mind, with

all his

its

heart,

all his soul.

the other hand he shall as earnestly forsake

and eschew

all

devil, so that

own

Doctor Faustus
fate as in a mir-

he did, and thus consigning over

upon heaven, and honor,

and with

his

strictly

soul to the false Tempter, keep his eye steadily

supreme

On

in

every Christian, instead of slipping his neck

into the noose as

own

hand

never to invite or entertain him as a guest,

unhappily did.

his

always eager

which the Lord's comniandment has

;

and give ear

ror, let

is

weakness and short sighted-

the evil works and influence of the

through the Redeemer, he

may

obtain

eternal salvation, to be secured only through

his suffrage

and death.

Such a portion

wish

may

be the reward of every Christian from the very bottom

of

my

heart.

Amen.

END OF VOL.

1.

THOMAS WHITE, PRINTER.

CK\NF. COUKr.