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Concerning the Antlers of a Hart
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Concerning the Antlers of a Hart
XXIV
Upon a time soon after Doctor Faustus had accomplished the Emperor's will as was reported above he, hearing the signal for meat in the evening, did lean over the battlements to watch the domestics go out and in. There he espied one who was fallen asleep while lying in the window of the great Knights' Hall across the court (it being very hot). I would not name the person, for it was a knight and a gentleman by birth.
Now with the aid of his spirit Mephostophiles, Faustus did charm a pair of hart's horns upon the knight's head. This good lord's head nodded upon the window sill, he awoke, and perceived the prank. Who could have been more distressed! For, the windows being closed, he could go neither forward nor backward with his antlers, nor could he force the horns from off his head. The Emperor, observing his plight, laughed and was well pleased withal until Doctor Faustus at last released the poor knight from the spell again.
Concerning Three Lords Who Were
Rapidly Transported to the Royal
Wedding in Munich
XXV
Three sons of noble lords (whom I dare not call by name) were students in Wittemberg. They met together on a time and, talking of the magnificent pomp which would attend the wedding of the son of the Duke of Bavaria in Munich, did heartily wish that they might go there, if only for a half an hour. Such talk caused the one of them to take thought of Doctor Faustus, and he said to the other two lords:
Cousins, if ye will follow me, hush and keep it to yourselves, then will I give you good counsel, how we can see the wedding and then be back to Wittemberg again in the self-same night. Here is what I have in mind: if we send for Doctor Faustus, tell him what we desire, and explain our plans to him, giving him a bit of money besides, then he surely will not deny us his aid.
Having deliberated and agreed upon the matter, they called on Doctor Faustus, who, touched by their present and also being well pleased with a banquet which they were clever enough to give in his honor, did consent to grant them his services.
The day arrived when the wedding of the Bavarian Duke's son was to be celebrated, and Doctor Faustus sent word to the young lords that they should come to his house arrayed in the very finest clothing they possessed. He then took a broad cloak, spread it out in his garden (which lay right beside his house), seated the lords upon it, himself in their midst, and at last gave strict command that none should speak a word so long as they be abroad--even though they be in the Bavarian Duke's Palace and someone should speak to them, they should give no answer--the which they all did pledge to obey. This matter being settled, Doctor Faustus sat down and commenced his coniurationes. Presently there arose a great wind which lifted the cloak and transported them through the air with such speed that they arrived betimes at the Duke's court in Munich.
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They had travelled invisible, so that no one noticed them until they entered the Bavarian Palace and came into the hall, where the Marshall, espying them, indicated to the Duke of Bavaria how, although the princes, lords and gentlemen were already seated at table, there were still standing three more gentlemen without who had just arrived with a servant, and who also ought to be received. The old Duke of Bavaria arose to do this, but when he approached and spake to them, none would utter a word.
This occurred in the evening just before meat, they having hitherto observed all day the pomp of the wedding without any hindrance, for Faustus' art had kept them invisible. As was reported above, Doctor Faustus had sternly forbidden them to speak this day. He had further instructed them that so soon as he should call out: Up and away! all were to seize upon the cloak at once, and they would fly away again in the twinkling of an eye.
Now when the Duke of Bavaria spake to them and they gave no answer, handwater was proffered them anyhow. It was then that Doctor Faustus, hearing one of the lords forget himself and violate his command, did cry aloud: Up and away! Faustus and the two lords who held to the cloak were instantly flown away but the third, who had been negligent, was taken captive and cast into a cell. The other two lords did upon arrival at midnight in Wittemberg behave so glumly on account of their kinsman that Doctor Faustus sought to console them, and he promised that the young man would be released by morning.
The captive lord, being thus forsaken, in locked custody besides, and constrained by guards, was sore afraid. To make matters worse, he was questioned as to what manner of vision he been a part of, and as to the other three who were now vanished away.
He thought: If I betray them, then the ending will be bad.
He therefore gave answer to none who were sent to him, and when they saw that nothing was to be got out of him this day they finally informed him that on the morrow he would be brought down to the dungeon, tortured, and compelled to speak. The lord thought to himself:
So my ordeal is appointed for the morrow. If Doctor Faustus should not release me today, should I be tortured and racked, then I needs must speak.
But he still had the consolation that his friends would entreat Doctor Faustus for his release, and that is indeed the way it fell out. Before day break Doctor Faustus was in the cell, having cast such a spell on the watch that they fell into a heavy sleep. Faustus used his art to open all doors and locks, and he brought the lord punctually to Wittemberg, where a sumptuous honorarium was presented him as a reward.
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