The Judgment of God shewed upon one John Faustus,
Doctor in Divinity. Tune of, Fortune my Foe.
|
ALl Christian men give ear a while to me,
|
How I am plungd in pain but cannot die,
|
I livd a life the like did none before,
|
Forsaking Christ, and I am damnd therefore.
|
At Wittenburge, a town in Germany,
|
There was I born and bred of good degree,
|
Of honest Stock which afterwards I shamed,
|
Accurst therefore for Faustus was I named.
|
In learning loe my Uncle brought up me,
|
And made me Doctor in Divinity:
|
And when he dyd he left me all his wealth,
|
Whose cursed gold did hinder my souls health.
|
Then did I shun the Holy Bible book,
|
Nor on Gods word would ever after look,
|
But studied accursed Conjuration,
|
Which was the cause of my utter Damnation.
|
The Devil in Fryars weeds appeared to me,
|
And streight to my Request he did agree,
|
That I might have all things at my desire,
|
I gave him soul and body for his hire.
|
Twice did I make my tender flesh to bleed,
|
Twice with my blood I wrote the Devils deed,
|
twice wretchedly I soul and body sold,
|
to live in peace and do what things I would.
|
For four and twenty Years this bond was made,
|
And at the length my soul was truly paid,
|
time ran away, and yet I never thought
|
How dear my soul our Saviour Christ had bought
|
Would I had first been made a Beast by kind,
|
then had not I so vainly set my mind;
|
Or would when reason first began to bloom,
|
Some darksome Den had been my deadly tomb.
|
Woe to the Day of my Nativity,
|
Woe to the time that once did foster me,
|
And woe unto the hand that sealed the Bill,
|
Woe to myself the cause of all my ill.
|
THe time I past away with much delight
|
Mongst princes peers, & many a worthy Knight,
|
I wrought such wonders by my Magick Skill,
|
that all the world may talk of Faustus still.
|
the Devil he carried me up into the Sky,
|
Where I did see how all the world did lie;
|
I went about the world in right Daies space,
|
And then returnd unto my Native place.
|
What pleasure I did wish to please my mind,
|
He did perform as bond and seal did bind,
|
the secrets of the Stars and Planets cold,
|
Of earth and sea with wonders manifold.
|
When four and twenty years was almost run,
|
I thought of all things that was past and done;
|
How that the Devil would soon claim his right,
|
And carry me to Everlasting Night.
|
then all too late I curst my wicked Deed,
|
the Deed whereof doth make my heart to bleed,
|
All daies and hours I mourned wondrous sore,
|
Repenting me of all things done before.
|
I then did wish both Sun and Moon to stay
|
All times and Seasons, never to decay;
|
then had my time nere come to dated end,
|
Nor soul and body down to Hell descend.
|
At last when I had but one hour to come,
|
I turnd my glass for my last hour to run,
|
And calld in learned men to comfort me,
|
But faith was gone & none could comfort me.
|
By twelve a Clock my glass was almost out,
|
My grieved Conscience then began to doubt;
|
I wisht the Students stay in Chamber by,
|
But as they staid they heard a dreadful cry.
|
then presently they came into the Hall,
|
Whereas my brains was cast against the wall,
|
Both arms and legs in pieces torn they see,
|
My bowels gone, this was an end of me.
|
You Conjurors and damned Witches all;
|
Example take by my unhappy fall:
|
Give not your souls and bodies unto Hell,
|
See that the smallest hair you do not sell.
|
But hope that Christ his Kingdom you may gain,
|
Where you shall never fear such mortal pain:
|
Forsake the Devil and all his crafty ways,
|
Embrace true faith that never more decays.
|
|
|
|
|
|