Peer Reviewed
- Edition: Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay
Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay (Modern)
- Introduction
- Texts of this edition
- Contextual materials
-
- The Famous History of Friar Bacon
-
- Inventions or Devices Very Necessary for all Generals and Captains or Leaders of Men
-
- A Book of Magic, with Instructions for Invoking Spirits
-
- A Geometrical Practice named Pantometria
-
- Autobiographical Tracts of Dr. John Dee
-
- The Vanity of the Eye
-
- The Comical History of Alphonsus King of Aragon
-
Enter Friar Bacon with Miles, his poor scholar, [following] with books 173under his arm; with them Burden, Mason, 174Clement, three doctors.
Miles, where are you?
Hic sum doctissime et reverendissime doctor.
Attulisti nos libros meos de necromantia?
Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum, habitares libros 179in unum.
Now, masters of our academic state
Bacon, we hear that long we have suspect,
Well, Master Burden, what of all this?
Marry, sir, he doth but fulfill by rehearsing of these 195names the fable of the fox and the grapes: that which is above 196us pertains nothing to us.
I tell thee, Bacon, Oxford makes report,
And what of this?
What of this, master? Why, he doth speak mystically, 207for he knows if your skill fail to make a brazen head, yet 208Mother Waters' strong ale will fit his turn to make him have a 209copper nose.
Bacon, we come not grieving at thy skill,
Then, gentle Friar, tell us thy intent.
Seeing you come as friends unto the friar,
Is this possible?
I'll bring ye two or three witnesses.
What be those?
Marry, sir, three or four as honest devils and good 245companions as any be in hell.
No doubt but magic may do much in this,
But Bacon roves a bow beyond his reach,
Burden, thou wrong'st me in detracting thus;
I will. Ask what thou can.
Marry, sir, he'll straight be on your pick-pack to 264know whether the feminine or the masculine gender be most 265worthy.
Were you not yesterday, Master Burden, at Henley 267upon the Thames?
I was. What then?
What book studied you thereon all night?
I? None at all; I read not there a line.
Then, doctors, Friar Bacon's art knows naught.
What say you to this, Master Burden? Doth he not 273touch you?
I pass not of his frivolous speeches.
Nay, Master Burden, my master, ere he hath done 276with you, will turn you from a doctor to a dunce, and shake you 277so small that he will leave no more learning in you than is in 278Balaam's ass.
Masters, for that learned Burden's skill is deep,
Nay, now my master goes to conjuration, take heed.
Masters, stand still; fear not. I'll show you but his 290book.
Oh, master, cease your conjuration or you spoil all, for 296here's a she-devil come with a shoulder of mutton on a spit. You 297have marred the devil's supper; but no doubt he thinks our 298college fare is slender and so hath sent you his cook with a 299shoulder of mutton to make it exceed.
Oh, where am I, or what's become of me?
What art thou?
Hostess at Henley, mistress of the Bell.
How cam'st thou here?
As I was in the kitchen 'mongst the maids,
No? Know you not Master Burden?
Oh yes, good sir, he is my daily guest.
I know not what we did. A pox of all conjuring
Now, jolly friar, tell us, is this the book
It is.-- But, Burden, tell me now,
I'll warrant you, master, if Master Burden could 326conjure as well as you, he would have his book every night from 327Henley to study on at Oxford.
Burden, what, are you mated by this frolic friar?--
Well, mistress, for I will not have you missed,
Master Burden, when shall we see you at Henley?
The devil take thee and Henley too.
Master, shall I make a good motion?
What's that?
Marry, sir, now that my hostess is gone to provide 342supper, conjure up another spirit and send Doctor Burden 343flying after.
Thus, rulers of our academic state,
So be it, et nunc et semper, amen.