Chapter 79

_How Dr. Faustus kept his Shrovetide._

There were seven students and masters that studied divinity, jurisprudentiae, and medicinae. All these having consented, were agreed to visit Dr. Faustus, and to celebrate Shrovetide with him; who being come to his house, he gave them their welcome, for they were his dear friends, desiring them to sit down, where he served them with a very good supper of hens, fish, and other roast, yet were they but slightly cheered; wherefore Dr. Faustus comforted his guests, excusing himself that they had stolen upon him so suddenly, that he had not leisure to provide for them so well as they were worthy. "But, my good friends," quoth he, "according to the use of our country, we must drink all this night; and so a draught of the best wine bedwards is commendable. For you know that in great potentates' courts they use at this night great feasting, the like will I do for you; for I have three great flagons of wine: the first is full of Hungarian wine, containing eight gallons; the second of Italian wine, containing seven gallons; the third containing six gallons of Spanish wine; all the which we will tipple up before it be day. Besides, we have fifteen dishes of meat, the which my spirit Mephistophiles hath fetched so far, that it was cold before he brought it, and they are all full of the daintiest things that one's heart can devise. But," saith Faustus, "I must make them hot again; and you may believe me, gentlemen, that this is no blinding of you; whereas you think that this is no natural food, verily it is as good and as pleasant as ever you eat."

And having ended his tale, he commanded his boy to lay his cloth, which done, he served them with fifteen messes of meat, having three dishes in a mess; in the which were all manner of venison, and dainty wild-fowl; and for wine there was no lack, as Italian wine, Hungarian wine, and Spanish wine; and when they were all made drunk, and that they had eaten their good cheer, they began to sing and dance until it was day. And so they departed every one to his own habitation; at whose departing, Dr. Faustus desired them to be his guests again the next day following.