A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 89

[309] Latham calls it _bat_, and explains it to be "when a hawke fluttereth with her wings, either from the pearch, or the man's fist, striving, as it were, to flie away or get libertie."

ACT III, SCENE 1.

PANDOLFO, CRICCA.

PAN. While the astrologer hews out Trincalo, Squaring and framing him t' Antonio, Cricca, I'll make thee partner of a thought, That something troubles me.

CRI. Say, sir, what is't?

PAN. I have no heart to give Alb.u.mazar The chain I promis'd him.

CRI. Deliver it me, And I'll present it to him in your name.

PAN. 'T has been an heirloom[310] to our house four hundred years, And, should I leave it now, I fear good fortune Would fly from us, and follow it.

CRI. Then give him The price in gold.

PAN. It comes to a hundred pounds;[311]

And how would that, well-husbanded, grow in time?

I was a fool to promise, I confess it; I was too hot and forward in the business.

CRI. Indeed I wonder'd that your wary thriftiness, Not wont to drop one penny in a quarter Idly, would part with such a sum so easily.

PAN. My covetous thrift aims at no other mark Than in fit time and place to show my bounty.

Who gives continually may want at length Wherewith to feed his liberality.

But, for the love of my dear Flavia, I would not spare my life, much less my treasure.

Yet if with honour I can win her cheaper, Why should I cast away so great a sum?

CRI. True: I have a trick now hatching in my brain, How you may handsomely preserve your credit, And save the chain.

PAN. I would gladly do it, But fear he understands us what we say.

CRI. What can you lose to try't? If it take, There's so much sav'd, if otherwise, nothing lost.

PAN. What is't, good Cricca?

CRI. Soon as Alb.u.mazar comes, loaded with news Of th' trans.m.u.tation of your servant Trincalo, I'll entertain him here; meanwhile, steal you Closely into the room, and quickly hide Some special piece of plate: then run out amaz'd, Roaring, that all the street may know y' are robb'd.

Next threaten to attach him, and accuse him Before a justice; and in th' end agree, If he restore the plate, you'll give the chain, Otherwise not.

PAN. But if we be discover'd!

For by his instruments and familiars He can do much.

CRI. Lay all the fault on Trincalo.

But here's the main point. If you can dissemble Cunningly, and frame your countenance to express Pity and anger, that so learn'd a man Should use his friend so basely--if you can call An outcry well, roar high and terrible.

PAN. I'll fetch a cry from th' bottom of my heels, But I'll roar loud enough; and thou must second me With wonder at the sudden accident.

CRI. But yours is the main part; for, as you play't, You win or lose the chain.

PAN. No more, no more; he comes.

SCENE II.

ALb.u.mAZAR, PANDOLFO, CRICCA.

ALB. Signior Pandolfo, three-quarters of an hour Renders your servant perfectly transform'd.

[PANDOLFO _retires_.

CRI. Is he not wholly chang'd? What parts are wanting?

ALB. Antonio's shape hath cloth'd his bulk[312] and visage; Only his hands and feet, so large and callous, Require more time to supple.

CRI. Pray you, sir, How long shall he retain this metamorphosis?

ALB. The complete circle of a natural day.

CRI. A natural day! are any days unnatural?

ALB. I mean the revolution of th' first mover, Just twice twelve hours, in which period the rap'd motion Rolls all the orbs from east to occident.

PAN. [_Returning._] Help, help! thieves, thieves! neighbours, I am robb'd: thieves, thieves!

CRI. What a noise make you, sir.

PAN. Have I not reason, That thus am robb'd? Thieves, thieves! call constables, The watch and serjeants, friends and constables; Neighbours, I am undone.

CRI. This is well begun, So he hold out still with a higher strain. [_Aside._ What ails you, sir?

PAN. Cricca, my chamber's spoil'd Of all my hangings, clothes, and silver plate.

[_Exit_ ALb.u.mAZAR.

CRI. Why, this is bravely feign'd; continue, sir.

PAN. Lay all the goldsmiths, keepers, marshals, bailiffs.

CRI. Fie, sir, your pa.s.sion falls; cry louder--roar, That all the street may hear.

PAN. Thieves, thieves, thieves!

All that I had is gone, and more than all.

CRI. Ha, ha, ha! hold out; lay out a lion's throat; A little louder.