Anonymous: Late 16th Century
The author of the socalled Chapbook of Dr. Faust was in all probability a Lutheran pastor. The first known edition appeared in 1587. It is a loosely constructed collection of incidents more or less remotely centred in the actual career of Dr. Faust, who died some fifty years before.
It is a “curious patchwork of genuine folk tales that were really current about Doctor Faust… and learned demonological rubbish taken from preexistent treatises.” A version of this chapbook fell into the hands of Christopher Marlowe; to this we owe Dr. Faustus, as well as the Faust of Goethe.
The present version, translated by Thomas Roscoe, is reprinted from Roscoe`s German Novelists, London, no date. It is one of the separate incidents in the Life. It bears only a long description by way of title.
Doctor Faust And The Usurer
From The History of Dr. J. Faust…, etc.
It used to be an old saying that the conjuror, “charm he never so wisely,” for the year together, was never half a stiver richer in the world for his pains. Now Doctor Faustus began to experience the truth of this, inasmuch as the grand promises made by his demon in their first contract were mere bubbles, well worthy of their proprietor —a liar and the father of lies.
For he had led the Doctor to believe that he was compelled into the service and overreached by him, so that vast riches would flow in upon him. Four years of his demon`s apprenticeship had yet to run, though he was still not a whit the richer either in gold or goods, for all that Mephistopheles had done. It was agreed likewise he was to partake only of the best fare that could be obtained at princes` courts wheresoever he should travel, as we have already seen.
On this account he had held a variety of disputations with his familiar demon, which generally ended, however, by his inviting some boon companions to come and banquet with him. At length, finding himself in want of ready cash, he was compelled to apply to a certain Jew, with whom in the first instance he agreed for sixty dollars, which he promised to return in the space of one month.
This being expired, the Jew went to demand his dollars with the interest which was become due, when the Doctor replied to his application as follows: “Jew, I have no money; and I have no means, just now, of rocuring any. However, if you are willing to accept good security, think we can come to terms.
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