How Doctor Faustus dreamed that hee had seene hell in his sleepe, and how he questioned with his Spirit of matters as concerning hell, with the Spirits answer. Chap. 11.
THe night following, after
Faustus his communication had with
Mephostophiles, as concerning the fal of
Lucifer, Doctor
Faustus dreamed that he had seene a part of hell: but in what maner it
was, or in what place he knew not: whereupon he was greatly troubled in minde,
and called vnto him
Mephostophiles his spirit, saying to him, my
Mephostophiles, I pray thee resolue me in this doubt: what is hell,
what substance is it of, in what place stands it, and when was it made':
Mephostophiles answered: my
Faustus, thou shalt knowe, that
before the fall of my Lord
Lucifer there was no hell, but euen then was
hell ordained: it is of no substance, but a confused thing: for I tell thee,
that before al Elements were made, and the earth seene, the Spirit of God moued
on the waters, and darkenes was ouer all: but when God said, let it bee light,
it was so at his word, and the light was on Gods right hand, and God praised
the light. Iudge thou further:
God stood in the middle, the darkenes was on his left hand, in the which my
Lorde was bound in chaines vntill the day of iudgement: in this confused hell
is nought to finde but a filthie, Sulphurish, firie, stinking mist or fog.
Further wee Diuels know not what substance it is of, but a confused thing. For
as a bubble of water flieth before the wind, so doth hell before the breath of
God. Further, we Diuels know not how God hath laid the foundation of
our hell, nor whereof it is: but to bee short with thee
Faustus, we
know that hell hath neither bottome nor end.
