forth of the
court with him; wherefore they went together in the field, where Dr.
Faustus (through his skill) had placed a mighty castle, which when the
duke saw he wondered thereat, so did the duchess and all the beholders,
that on that hill which is called Rohumbuel, should on the sudden be so
fair a castle. At length Dr. Faustus desired the duke and duchess to
walk with him into the castle, which they denied not. This castle was so
wonderful strong, having about it a great deep trench of water, the
which was full of fish, and all manner of water-fowl, as swans, ducks,
geese, bitterns, and such like; about the wall was five stone doors, and
two other doors also; within was a great open court, wherein was
enchanted all manner of wild beasts, especially such as was not to be
found in Germany, as apes, bears, buffes, antelopes, and many more
strange beasts; also there were harts, hinds, roebucks, and does, and
wild swine; all manner of land-fowl that any man could think on, which
flew from one tree to another.
After all this he set his guests to the table, being the duke and
duchess, with all their train, for he had provided them a most sumptuous
feast both of meat, and also of drink; for he set nine messes of meat
upon the board at once. And all this must his Wagner do, to place all
things on the board, the which was brought unto him by the spirit
invisibly, of all things their hearts could desire, as wild-fowl,
venison, and all manner of dainty fish that could be thought on. Of wine
also great plenty, and of divers sorts, French wine, Cullen wine,
Crabashir wine, Renish wine, Spanish wine, Hungarian wine, Waszburg
wine, Malmsey, and Sack; in the whole there was one hundred cans
standing round about the house.
This sumptuous banquet the duke took thankfully, and afterwards he
departed homeward; but to their thinking they had neither eat nor drank,
so were they blinded while they were in the castle. But as they were in
their palace, they looked towards the castle, and beheld it all on a
flame of fire, and all those that saw it wondered to hear so strange a
noise, as if a great ordnance had been shot off. And thus the castle
burned and consumed clean away; which done, Dr. Faustus returned to the
duke, who gave him great thanks for showing of him so great a courtesy,
and gave him a hundred dollars, and liberty to depart or stay there at
his own discretion.
CHAPTER XLI.
_How Dr. Faustus, with his Company, vis
|