Chapter 72

_How Dr. Faustus ate a Load of Hay._

Dr. Faustus being at a town in Germany called Zwickow, where he was accompanied with many doctors and masters, and going forth to walk after supper, they met with a clown that drew a load of hay.

"Good even, good fellow," said Faustus to the clown, "what shall I give thee to let me eat my bellyful of hay?" The clown thought with himself, "What a madman is this to eat hay." Thought he with himself, "Thou wilt not eat much." They agreed for three farthings he should eat as much as he could.

Wherefore Dr. Faustus began to eat, and so ravenously, that all the rest of the company fell a-laughing; blinding so the poor clown that he was sorry at his heart, for he seemed to have eaten more than half of the hay; wherefore the clown began to speak him fair, for fear he should have eaten the other half also. Faustus made as though he had pity on the clown, and went away. When the clown came in the place where he would be, he had his hay again as he had before, a full load.