m as I am, what wouldst thou do to please both God and man?"

Whereat the spirit smiled, saying, "My Faustus, if I was a man as thou
art, and that God had adorned me with those gifts of nature which thou
once hadst, even so long as the breath of God were by and within me,
would I humble myself unto his majesty, endeavouring all that I could to
keep his commandments, praise him and glorify him, that I might continue
in his favour, so were I sure to enjoy the eternal joy and felicity of
his kingdom."

Faustus said, "But that I have not done."

"No, thou sayest truth," quoth Mephistophiles, "thou hast not done it;
but thou hast denied the Lord thy Maker which gave thee the breath of
life, speech, hearing, sight, and all other thy reasonable senses, that
thou mightest understand his will and pleasure, to live to the glory and
honour of his name, and to the advancement of thy body and soul. Him, I
say, being thy Maker, hast thou denied and defied; yea, wickedly hast
thou applied that excellent gift of understanding, and given thy soul to
the devil; therefore give none the blame but thine own self-will, thy
proud and aspiring mind, which hath brought thee unto the wrath of God
and utter damnation."

"This is most true," quoth Faustus; "but tell me, Mephistophiles, would
thou be in my case as I am now?"

"Yea," saith the spirit (and with that fetched a great sigh), "for yet I
would so humble myself that I would win the favour of God."

"Then," said Dr. Faustus, "it were time enough for me if I amended."

"True," said Mephistophiles, "if it were not for thy great sins, which
are so odious and detestable in the sight of God, that it is too late
for thee, for the wrath of God resteth upon thee."

"Leave off," quoth Faustus, "and tell me my question to my greater
comfort."

CHAPTER XVII.

HERE FOLLOWETH THE SECOND PART OF DR. FAUSTUS HIS LIFE AND PRACTICES,
UNTIL HIS END.

Dr. Faustus having received denial of his spirit to be resolved any more
in such questions propounded, forgot all good works, and fell to be a
calendar-maker by the help of his spirit, and also in short time to be a
good astronomer or astrologian. He had learned so perfectly of his
spirit the course of the sun, moon, and stars, that he had the most
famous name of all the mathematicians that lived in his time, as may
well appear by his works dedicated unto sundry dukes and lords, for he
did nothing without the advice of his spirit, which lear