Chapter 46
_How Dr. Faustus would have married, and how the Devil had almost killed him for it._
Dr. Faustus continued thus in this epicurish life day and night, believed not that there was a God, hell, or devil: he thought that soul and body died together, and had quite forgot divinity, or the immortality of the soul, but stood in that damnable heresy day and night, and bethinking himself of a wife, called Mephistophiles to council: which would in no case agree, demanding of him if he would break the covenant made with him, or if he had forgot it. "Hast thou," quoth Mephistophiles, "sworn thyself an enemy to God and to all creatures? To this I answer thee, Thou canst not marry, thou canst not serve two masters, God and my prince; for wedlock is a chief institution ordained of God, and that thou hast promised to defy as we do all, and that hast thou not only done, but moreover thou hast confirmed it with thy blood, persuade thyself that what thou dost in contempt of wedlock, it is all to thy own delight. Therefore, Faustus, look well about thee, and bethink thyself better, and I wish thee to change thy mind, for if thou keep not what thou hast promised in thy writing, we will tear thee in pieces like the dust under thy feet. Therefore, sweet Faustus, think with what unquiet life, anger, strife, and debate thou shalt live in when thou takest a wife. Therefore change thy mind."
Dr. Faustus was with these speeches in despair; and as all that have forsaken the Lord can build upon no good foundation, so this wretched doctor having forsook the rock, fell into despair with himself, fearing, if he should motion matrimony any more, that the devil should tear him in pieces. "For this time," quoth he to Mephistophiles, "I am not minded to marry." "Then dost thou well," answered his spirit.
But within two hours after Faustus called again to his spirit, who came in his old manner like a friar. Then Faustus said unto him, "I am not able to resist or bridle my fancy; I must and will have a wife, and I pray thee give thy consent to it." Suddenly upon these words came such a whirlwind about the place that Faustus thought the whole house would have come down; all the doors of the house flew off the hooks. After all this his house was full of smoke, and the floor covered with ashes; which, when Dr. Faustus perceived, he would have gone upstairs, and flying up he was taken and thrown down into the hall, that he was not able to stir hand nor foot; then round about him ran a monstrous circle of fire, never standing still, that Faustus cried as he lay, and thought there to have been burned. Then cried he out to his spirit Mephistophiles for help, promising him he would live, for all this, as he had vowed by his handwriting. Hereupon appeared unto him an ugly devil, so dreadful and monstrous to behold, that Faustus durst not look on him. The devil said, "What wouldst thou have, Faustus? How likest thou thy wedding? What mind art thou in now?" Faustus answered, he had forgot his promise, desiring of him pardon, and he would talk no more of such things. "Thou art best so to do;" and so vanished from him.
After appeared unto him his friar Mephistophiles, with a bell in his hand, and spake to Faustus: "It is no jesting with us; hold thou that which thou hast vowed, and we will perform that which we have promised; and more than that, thou shalt have thy heart's desire of what woman soever thou wilt, be she alive or dead, and so long as thou wilt thou shalt keep her by thee." These words pleased Faustus wonderful well, and repented himself that he was so foolish to wish himself married, that might have any woman in the whole city brought him at his command, the which he practised and persevered in a long time.