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On the shoulders of the devil two wings appeared, like the wings of a bat. He seized Twardowski and flew away with him, mounting higher and higher into the night. The magician was so terrified and suffered such anguish in the clutches of the Evil One that in a few moments he was changed into an old man, but he did not lose consciousness.
Other famous personages reputed to have sold their souls to the devil for one consideration or another are Don Juan in Spain, Twardowski in Poland, Merlin in England, and Robert le Diable in France. Socrates, Apuleius, Scaliger and Cagliostro are also said to have entered into compacts with him.
"You shall make me the most celebrated of all the learned men of the century, and shall besides give me such happiness as no man has ever enjoyed upon this earth before." "So be it," said the devil. "But on condition that at the end of seven years I gain possession of your soul." "You may take me," answered Twardowski, "but only in Rome may you have power over me.
Toward the close of the eighteenth century there was pointed out to visitors in the old town of Krakau the house of the magician Twardowski, who quite properly was called the Faust of Poland, because of his dealings with the Evil One.
"Why are you frightened? I know what, I am doing. Take the knife and kill me, as the parchment directs." "I cannot." "You must," insisted Twardowski. "It is impossible!" "No more exclamations. Do as I tell you." "Oh, oh, oh!" wailed Famulus. "Strike!" thundered Twardowski, "or I will kill you this instant." Then Famulus did as he was bid and forced the blade into his master's heart.
For over a year he pored incessantly over his books of magic, until at last he found a formula for warding off death. Then he called his disciple Famulus to him and explained that he was going to test the formula. "You have always obliged me without question," said Twardowski, "and I expect you to now. Take this knife and thrust it into my heart." "God forbid!" cried Famulus.
He dug out the coffin, brushed off the snow and earth, opened the casket and found not the body of Twardowski, but that of a child who lay sleeping in a bed of fragrant violets. "The child is like Twardowski," Famulus thought, and he gathered him up under his cloak and carried him home. The next morning the child was the size of a twelve-year old; and after seven weeks he was a full-grown man.
More may be said in favor of the radical identity of the stories of Faustus with some popular legends of the Poles, referring to a necromancer called Twardowski.
In his youth Twardowski had followed the study of medicine, and with such industry, such eagerness and such a clear mind did he practice his profession that it was not long before he was the most celebrated doctor in all Poland. But Twardowski was not satisfied with this. He craved greater and still greater power.
The complete works have been often published, both in Latin and in French. The eleven volume edition of Cousin appeared in 1824-26. Further, M. Heinze has discussed Die Sittenlehre des Descartes, 1872; Ed. Grimm, Descartes' Lehre von den angeborenen Ideen, 1873; G. Glogau, Darlegung und Kritik des Grundgedankens der Cartesianisch. Twardowski, Idee und Perception in Descartes, 1892.
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