The Tragicall History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus/Scene 16
Enter Clown, Dicke, Horse-courser, and a Carter.
Cart.
Come my Masters, Ile bring you to the best beere in Europe, what ho, Hostesse; where be these whores?
Enter Hostesse.
How now, what lacke you? What, my old Guests? welcome.
Clo.
Sirra Dicke, dost know why I stand so mute?
Dicke.
No Robin, why is't?
Clow.
I am eighteene pence on the score, but say nothing, see if she have forgotten me.
Host.
Who's this that stands so solemnely by himselfe?
What my old guest?
Clo.
O Hostess how do you? I hope my score stands still.
Host.
I there's no doubt of that, for me thinks you make no haste to wipe it out.
Dic.
Why Hostess, I say fetch us some Beere.
Host.
You shall presently, looke up into the hall there, ho.
Dicke.
Come sirs, what shall wee doe till mine hostesse comes?
Cart.
Marry sir, Ile tell you the bravest tale how a Conjuror serv'd me: you know Doctor Faustus.
Horse.
I, a plague take him. Here's some on's have cause to know him; did he conjure thee too?
Cart.
Ile tell you how he serv'd me. As I was going to Wittenberge t'other day with a load of Hay, he met me, and asked me what he should give me for as much hay as he could eate; now sir, I thinking that a little would serve his turne, bad him take as much as he would for three farthings; so he presently gave me money and fell to eating, and as I am a cursen man, he never left eating, till he had eat up all my load of hay.
All.
O monstrous, eat a whole load of hay!
Clow.
Yes, yes, that may be, for I have heard of one that has eat a load of logs.
Horse.
Now sirs, you shall heare how villainously he serv'd mee: I went to him yesterday to buy a horse of him, and hee would by no meanes sell him under forty Dollers; so sir, because I knew him to be such a horse as would run over hedge and ditch and never tire, I gave him his money: so when I had my horse, Doctor Faustus bade me ride him night and day, and spare him no time: but, quoth hee, in any case ride him not into the water. Now sir, I thinking the horse had had some quality that he would not have me know of, what did I but rid him into a great river, and when I came just in the midst my horse vanisht away, and I sate stradling upon a bottle of hay.
All.
O brave Doctor!
Horse.
But you shall heare how bravely I serv'd him for it, I went me home to his house, and there I found him asleepe; I kept a hallowing and whooping in his eares, but all could not wake him: I seeing that, tooke him by the legge, and never rested pulling, till I had pul'd me his legge quite off, and now tis at home in mine hostrey.
Clow.
And has the Doctor but one legge then? thats excellent, for one of his Divels turn'd me into the likenesse of an Apes face.
Cart.
Some more drinke Hostesse.
Clow.
Hearke you, wee'le into another roome and drinke a while, and then wee'le goe seeke out the Doctor.