Chapter 80
_How Dr. Faustus feasted his Guests on Ash Wednesday._
Upon Ash Wednesday came unto Dr. Faustus his bidden guests, the students, whom he feasted very royally, insomuch that they were all full and lusty, dancing and singing as the night before; and when the high glasses and goblets were caroused one to another, Dr. Faustus began to play them some pretty feats, insomuch that round about the hall was heard most pleasant music, and that in sundry places: in this corner a lute, in another a cornet, in another a cittern, clarigols, harp, hornpipe, in fine, all manner of music was heard there in that instant; whereat all the glasses and goblets, cups, and pots, dishes, and all that stood upon the board began to dance. Then Dr. Faustus took ten stone pots and set them down on the floor, where presently they began to dance, and to smite one against another, that the shivers flew round about the whole house, whereat the whole company fell a-laughing. Then began he another jest: he set an instrument upon the table, and caused a mighty great ape to come among them, which ape began to dance and skip, showing them merry conceits.
In this and such pastime they passed away the whole day. When night being come Dr. Faustus bid them all to supper, which they lightly agreed unto, for students in these cases are easily intreated; wherefore he promised to feast them with a banquet of fowl, and afterwards they would go all about with a mask. Then Dr. Faustus put forth a long pole out of the window, whereupon presently there came innumerable numbers of birds and wild-fowl, and so many as came had not the power to fly away again; but he took them and flung them to the students, who lightly pulled off the necks of them, and being roasted, they made their supper, which being ended, they made themselves ready for the mask.
Dr. Faustus commanded every one to put on a clean shirt over the other clothes, which being done, they looked one upon another. It seemed to each one of them that they had no heads; and so they went forth unto certain of their neighbours, at which sight the people were most wonderfully afraid; and as the use of Germany is, that wheresoever a mask entereth the good man of the house must feast him, so as these maskers were set to their banquet, they seemed again in their former shape with heads, insomuch that they were all known whom they were; and having sat and well eat and drank, Dr. Faustus made that every one had an ass's head on, with great long ears, so they fell to dancing and to drive away the time until it was midnight, and then every one departed home; and as soon as they were out of the house, each one was in his natural shape, and so they ended and went to sleep.