ne of the gates, in a conspicuous place, caused the
following verses to be written--

"In my distress, religious aid I sought:
But my distress relieved, I held it nought.
The wolf was sick, a lamb he seemed to be;
But health restored, a wolf again was he."

Interrogated as to the meaning of these enigmatical lines, the knight at
once explained them, by relating his own story, and added, that in eight
days time the thirty years would expire.

He invited all his friends to a feast at that date, and when the day was
arrived, the guests placed at table, and the minstrels attuning their
instruments of music, a beautiful bird flew in at the window, and began
to sing with uncommon sweetness. The knight listened attentively and
said, "I fear this bird prognosticates misfortune." He then took his
bow, and shot an arrow into it, in presence of all the company.
Instantly the castle divided into two parts, and, with the knight, his
wife, and all who were in it, was precipitated to the lowest depth of
the infernal regions. The story adds, that on the spot where the castle
stood, there is now a spacious lake, on which no substance whatever
floats, but is immediately plunged to the bottom.

A DISCOURSE
OF THE
MOST FAMOUS DR. JOHN FAUSTUS,
OF WITTENBURG, IN GERMANY.
CONJURER AND NECROMANCER;

_WHEREIN IS DECLARED MANY STRANGE THINGS
THAT HIMSELF HAD SEEN AND DONE IN
THE EARTH AND AIR, WITH HIS
BRINGING UP, HIS TRAVELS, STUDIES, AND LAST END._

THE FAMOUS HISTORY
OF
DOCTOR FAUSTUS.

CHAPTER I.

_Of his Parentage and Birth._

John Faustus, born in the town of Rhodes, being in the province of
Weimar, in Germany, his father a poor husbandman, and not able well to
bring him up, yet having an uncle at Wittenburg, a rich man, and without
issue, took this Faustus from his father, and made him his heir,
insomuch that his father was no more troubled with him, for he remained
with his uncle at Wittenburg, where he was kept at the university in the
same city, to study Divinity; but Faustus being of a naughty mind, and
otherwise addicted, plyed not his studies, but betook himself to other
exercises, which his uncle oftentimes hearing, rebuked him for it; as
Eli oftentimes rebuked his children for sinning against the Lord, even
so this good old man laboured to have Faustus apply his study to
Divinity, that he might come to the knowledge of God and his law. But it
is manifest that many virtuous parents