Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-09

IS
place to begin his magical circles. Forthwith
he marked GU, cross in fourfold figures, con
tanning large, circle, with his wand, and with.
in these he drew two small circles, in one OF
which he himself stood. 1t was in the dusk Of
the evening, between the ninth and tenth hour
when the Prince of Darkness, well aware of the
whole proceeding, laughed outright for trl-
umph, and said within himself,-'Ha! ha
must cool this mood of yours; if you will on
~ approach little nearer the brink, so that we
may catch you both body and soul
"With this view, he artfuy ser messenger,
as if he were himself unwilling to appear, and
avoided his COMPUTATIONS, which had the effect
Of further provoking the Doctors wishes and
curiosity. At the same time, as he continued
to invoke, the Devil raised a great hurry burly
over his head, as if he were about to burst his
confines, and sail into view. The trees bowed
down their heads 10 the ground, and the wood
began to be filled with demons, who drew near
err and nearer 10 the circle with hldeous din
and uproar, like the rushing OF. swift chariots,
lighted with a thousand fiery trains, that shone
like a conAagration all around. Then COM
menced the diabolical rout with all kind OF
walzng and dancing; scaramouch encoan-
ter Of spears and swords was heard Gathering
far and wide; and this continued SO long that
the doctor was on the point OF Jumping out OF
the circle TO decamp; but mastering fresh cou-
rage, he remained firm, and with still more i'm
pious efforts. he summoned the devil repeatedly
10 appear Upon this the latter began exhi-
bit, variety Of strange decisions: first, il seem
ed as if vast brood of birds or dragons wings
were tapping overhead; and then, as the strong
est coniurations concluded, the strange appear
ance drew nigh with piteous lamentations, and
again vanished. In short while afterwards
there fell fiery faggot close to him, which "a
gain mounted in sheet of flame, which hung
like canopy over the spot where he stood
cat this sigh, even Faustus began to tremble,
tho he also exulted in the idea that he was thus
compelling the devil himself to obey him, and
he earnestly pursued his unhallowed labors,
bent upon knowing the result +"
At this part of The narrative it is observable
that the writer's imagination or credulty be-
gins 10 falter, and he records the "result" Of
the Doctors invocatons, not with the usual
distinctness of the above splendid passage, but
inferenlaly, on the evidence Of conversation
which is said 10 have passed between the Doc
tor and other Wittemburg studends We shall
give the passage for the sake Of two important
coniectures which easily arise on it.
SIN this fatal design wiz of conuring up the
tleviD he, doubtless says the legend, 'snc.
cseded, as he was afterwards known in GER
tain society," TO have boosted that he had brought
under his power, and could command the SER
vices Of the cheiest potentate in the wide
world One Of the students in company, upon
this observed, that there was no greater poten-
tate than the Emperor, the Pope. or the King,
acknowledged upon earth But the Doctor
warmly retorted, Sir, the one under my Or
ders is greater Than either Of these!'' as if he
wished 10 aude 10 the sixth chapter OF the
Apostle Paul to the Ephesians The Prince of
the world,'' &c. but he would explain himself
no further"
Itappears to US, that the readinesswilh which
this application of Scripture is made, indicates
that the author was one of the sect OF Reform
ers, superstition morally demonstrated also by
Paul's being called as an Apostle, and not as a
Saint, which would assuredly have been the IL
tie given him by one Of the old school We
would also remark, that if the words ascribed
to the Doctor are 10 be regarded as genuine, we
should rather imagine thIt he meant them oil
the art Of printing, of which person of a ST.
milar name is one Of the reported inventors;
and in this sense the Doctor, like true pro-
phet, pronounced ain admirable anticipation; for
Of the press it may truly be said, at is greater
than the Emperor, the Pope, or the King, or
than any potentate acknowledged upon earth"
In further confirmation of our opinion that this
legend is written by Reformer, we find that
the Devil appears 10 Faustus in the shape OF a
monk, dissertation of the cowf which could
never have entered the imagination of one who
was still slumbering in acquiesounce OF the i'm
puted sanclity Of all the orders of the church.
From Tie Dublin FreemGn's Journal
Some few evenings back mourning party
were assembled in one Of the upper rooms Of a
house in Beresiord street, for the melancholy
purpose of keening over the remains OF de-
parted friend. Every thing was prepared for
this sad solemnity with the greatest decorum
The gentlemen were supplied with pipes and
potteea-thc ladies had their tea and tears, as
suited the occasion. The corpse was decked
with flowers, which would have shed their fra
GRANGE around mad not the stronger perfume OF
the Sovereign weed' come forth with every
blast from some scores of mourners A dozen
lights save one, were placed around the sad re-
mains of her who once was lovely, but now,