Historia & Tale of Doctor Johannes Faustus
HISTORIA & TALE OF DOCTOR JOHANNES FAUSTUS (1587) J. W. Worthy, translator Used by Permission The sorcerer, wherein is described specifically and veraciously: His entire life and death, How he did oblige himself for a certain time unto the Devil, And what happened to him, And how he at last got his well-deserved reward. Rare revelations are also included, for these examples are most useful and efficacious as a highly essential Christian warning and admonition, that the laity, in order to protect themselves from similar maculations of the most shameful sort, have especial cause to heed and to avoid such a desperate fate. I. Here Beginneth Doctor Faustus His Vita & Historia – Of His Parentage and Youth Doctor Faustus, the son of a husbandman, was born in Roda in the Province of Weimar. His parents were godfearing and Christian people with many connections in Wittemberg. A kinsman who dwelt there was a citizen and possessed of considerable wealth. He reared Faustus for the parents and kept him as his own child, for, being himself without issue, he adopted this Faustus, made him his heir, and sent him to school to study theology. Faustus, however, strayed from this godly purpose and used God's Word vainly. Therefore we shall blame neither his parents nor his patrons, who desired only the best (as do all pious parents), nor shall we mix them into this Historia. For they neither witnessed nor experienced the abominations of their godless child. One thing is certain: that these parents, as was generally known in Wittemberg, were quite heartily delighted that their kinsman adopted him.
[Show full text]