446: Doctor John Faustus (Chapter 29)

The Emperor Carolus, the fifth of that name, was personally with the rest of his nobles and gentlemen at the town of Innsbruck, where he kept his court.

Unto the which also Dr. Faustus resorted, and being there well known of diverse nobles and gentlemen, he was invited into the court to meet, even in the presence of the Emperor, whom when the Emperor saw, he looked earnestly on him, thinking him by his looks to be some wonderful fellow.

Wherefore he asked, one of his nobles whom he should be? he answered that he was called dr forster's whereupon the emperor held his peace until he had taken his repast after which he called unto him forster's into his privy chamber Whither being come, he said unto him, Forsters, I have heard much of thee, that thou art excellent in the black art, and none like thee in mine empire.

For men say that thou hast a familiar spirit with thee, and that thou canst do what thou list.

It is therefore, said the Emperor.

My request of thee, that thou let me see a proof of thine experience, and I vow unto thee by the honour of my imperial crown, none evil shall happen unto thee for so doing.

Hereupon Dr. Forster's answered his majesty, that upon these conditions he was ready in anything that he could to do his highness' commandment in what service he would appoint him.

Well.

Hear then what I say, quoth the Emperor.

Being once solitary in my house, I called to mind mine elders and ancestors, how it was possible for them to attain unto so great degree of authority, yea, so high, that we, the successors of that line, are never able to come near.

As, for example, the great and mighty monarch of the world, Alexander Magnus, was such a lantern and spectacle to all his successors, as the chronicles make mention of so great riches conquering and subduing so many kingdoms, the which I and these that follow me, I fear, shall never be able to attain unto.

wherefore forsters my hearty desire is that thou wouldst vouchsafe to let me see that alexander and his paramour the which was praised to be so fair and i pray thee show me them in such sort that i may see their personages shape gesture and apparel as they used in their lifetime and that here before my face to the end that i may say i have my long desire fulfilled and to praise thee to be a famous man in thine art and experience?' Dr.

Forster's answered, My most excellent lord, I am ready to accomplish your request in all things so far forth as I and my spirit are able to perform, yet your majesty shall know that their dead bodies are not able substantially to be brought before you.

But such spirits as have seen Alexander and his paramour alive shall appear unto you in manner and form as they both lived in their most flourishing time.

and herewith I hope to please your imperial majesty.

Then Faustus went a little aside to speak to his spirit, but he returned again presently, saying, Now, if it please your majesty, you shall see them, yet upon this condition that you demand no question of them, nor speak unto them, which the emperor agreed unto.

Wherewith Dr. Faustus opened the privy-chamber door, where presently entered the great and mighty Emperor Alexander Magnus, in all things to look upon as if he had been alive, in proportion a strong, thick-set man of a middle stature, black hair, and that both thick and curled, head and beard, red cheeks, and a broad face, with eyes like a basilisk.

he had a complete harness burnished and graven, exceeding rich to look upon.

And so passing towards the Emperor Carolus, he made low and reverent curtsy.

Whereat the Emperor Carolus would have stood up to receive and greet him with the like reverence, but Faustus took hold of him, and would not permit him to do it.

Shortly after, Alexander made humble reverence and went out again.

And coming to the door, his paramour met him.

She, coming in, made the emperor likewise reverence.

She was clothed in blue velvet, wrought and embroidered with pearls and gold.

She was also excellent fair, like milk and blood mixed, tall and slender, with a face round as an apple.

The Emperor Carolus, the fifth of that name, was personally with the rest of his nobles and gentlemen at the town of Innsbruck, where he kept his court.

Unto the which also Dr. Faustus resorted, and being there well known of diverse nobles and gentlemen, he was invited into the court to meet, even in the presence of the Emperor, whom when the Emperor saw, he looked earnestly on him, thinking him by his looks to be some wonderful fellow.

Wherefore he asked, one of his nobles whom he should be? he answered that he was called dr forster's whereupon the emperor held his peace until he had taken his repast after which he called unto him forster's into his privy chamber Whither being come, he said unto him, Forsters, I have heard much of thee, that thou art excellent in the black art, and none like thee in mine empire.

For men say that thou hast a familiar spirit with thee, and that thou canst do what thou list.

It is therefore, said the Emperor.

My request of thee, that thou let me see a proof of thine experience, and I vow unto thee by the honour of my imperial crown, none evil shall happen unto thee for so doing.

Hereupon Dr. Forster's answered his majesty, that upon these conditions he was ready in anything that he could to do his highness' commandment in what service he would appoint him.

Well.

Hear then what I say, quoth the Emperor.

Being once solitary in my house, I called to mind mine elders and ancestors, how it was possible for them to attain unto so great degree of authority, yea, so high, that we, the successors of that line, are never able to come near.

As, for example, the great and mighty monarch of the world, Alexander Magnus, was such a lantern and spectacle to all his successors, as the chronicles make mention of so great riches conquering and subduing so many kingdoms, the which I and these that follow me, I fear, shall never be able to attain unto.

wherefore forsters my hearty desire is that thou wouldst vouchsafe to let me see that alexander and his paramour the which was praised to be so fair and i pray thee show me them in such sort that i may see their personages shape gesture and apparel as they used in their lifetime and that here before my face to the end that i may say i have my long desire fulfilled and to praise thee to be a famous man in thine art and experience?' Dr.

Forster's answered, My most excellent lord, I am ready to accomplish your request in all things so far forth as I and my spirit are able to perform, yet your majesty shall know that their dead bodies are not able substantially to be brought before you.

But such spirits as have seen Alexander and his paramour alive shall appear unto you in manner and form as they both lived in their most flourishing time.

and herewith I hope to please your imperial majesty.

Then Faustus went a little aside to speak to his spirit, but he returned again presently, saying, Now, if it please your majesty, you shall see them, yet upon this condition that you demand no question of them, nor speak unto them, which the emperor agreed unto.

Wherewith Dr. Faustus opened the privy-chamber door, where presently entered the great and mighty Emperor Alexander Magnus, in all things to look upon as if he had been alive, in proportion a strong, thick-set man of a middle stature, black hair, and that both thick and curled, head and beard, red cheeks, and a broad face, with eyes like a basilisk.

he had a complete harness burnished and graven, exceeding rich to look upon.

And so passing towards the Emperor Carolus, he made low and reverent curtsy.

Whereat the Emperor Carolus would have stood up to receive and greet him with the like reverence, but Faustus took hold of him, and would not permit him to do it.

Shortly after, Alexander made humble reverence and went out again.

And coming to the door, his paramour met him.

She, coming in, made the emperor likewise reverence.

She was clothed in blue velvet, wrought and embroidered with pearls and gold.

She was also excellent fair, like milk and blood mixed, tall and slender, with a face round as an apple.