A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 90

PAN. I can cry no longer, My throat's sore; I am robb'd, I am robb'd, all's gone, Both my own treasure, and the things I borrow'd.

Make thou an outcry, I have lost my voice: Cry fire, and then they'll hear thee.

CRI. Good, good: thieves!

What have you lost?

PAN. Wine, jewels, tablecloths, A cupboard of rich plate.

CRI. Fie! you'll spoil all.

Now you outdo it. Say but a bowl or two.

PAN. Villain, I say all's gone; the room's as clean As a wip'd looking-gla.s.s: O me, O me!

CRI. What, in good earnest?

PAN. Fool, in accursed earnest.

CRI. You gull me, sure.

PAN. The window towards the south stands ope, from whence Went all my treasure. Where's the astrologer?

ALB. Here, sir; And hardly can abstain from laughing, to see you vex Yourself in vain.

PAN. In vain, Alb.u.mazar?

I left my plate with you, and 'tis all vanish'd; And you shall answer it.

ALB. O, were it possible By power of art to check what art hath done, Your man should ne'er be chang'd: to wrong me thus With foul suspicion of flat felony!

Your plate, your cloth of silver, wine and jewels, Linen, and all the rest, I gave to Trincalo, And for more safety lock'd them in the lobby.

He'll keep them carefully. But, as you love your mistress, Disturb him not this half-hour, lest you'll have him Like to a centaur, half-clown, half-gentleman.

Suffer his foot and hand, that's yet untouch'd, To be enn.o.bled like his other members.

PAN. Alb.u.mazar, I pray you pardon me, Th' unlooked-for bareness of the room amaz'd me.

ALB. How! think you me so negligent, to commit So rich a ma.s.s of treasure to th' open danger Of a large cas.e.m.e.nt and suspicious alley?

No, sir; my sacrifice no sooner done, But I wrapp'd all up safe, and gave it Trincalo.

I could be angry, but that your sudden fear Excuses you. Fie! such a noise as this, Half an hour pa.s.s'd, had scar'd the intelligences, And spoil'd the work: but no harm done. Go walk Westward, directly westward, one half-hour; Then turn back, and take your servant turn'd t' Antonio, And, as you like my skill, perform your promise, I mean the chain.

PAN. Content, let's still go westward---- Westward, good Cricca, still directly westward.

[_Exeunt_ PANDOLFO _and_ CRICCA.

SCENE III.

ALb.u.mAZAR, RONCA, HARPAX, FURBO.

ALB. Harpax, Furbo, and Ronca, come out: all's clear.

Why, here's a n.o.ble prize, worth vent'ring for.

Is not this braver than sneak all night in danger, Picking of locks, or hooking clothes at windows?

Here's plate, and gold, and cloth, and meat, and wine, All rich and eas'ly got. Ronca, stay hereabout.

And wait till Trincalo come forth; then call him With a low reverence Antonio; Give him this gold with thanks; tell him he lent it, Before he went to Barbary.

RON. How! lose ten pieces?

ALB. There's a necessity in't: devise some course To get't again; if not, our gain's sufficient To bear that loss. Furbo, find out Bevilona The courtesan; let her feign herself a gentlewoman Enamour'd of Antonio; bid her invite him To banquet with her, and by all means possible Force him stay there two hours.

HAR. Why two hours?

ALB. That in that time thou mayest convey Our treasure to the inn, and speak a boat Ready for Gravesend, and provide a supper, Where with those precious liquors and good meats We'll cheer ourselves; and thus, well fed and merry, Take boat by night.

FUR. And what will you do?

ALB. First in, and usher out our changeling, Trincalo.

Then finish up a business of great profit, Begun with a rich merchant, that admires My skill in alchemy. I must not lose it.

RON. Harpax, bestow the plate: Furbo, our beards, Black patches for our eyes, and other properties,[313]

And at the time and place meet all at supper. [_Exeunt._

SCENE IV.

ALb.u.mAZAR, TRINCALO.

ALB. Stand forth, transformed Antonio, fully mued From brown soar feathers[314] of dull yeomanry, To th' glorious bloom of gentry: prune yourself sleek;[315]

Swear boldly y' are the man you represent To all that dare deny it.

TRIN. I find my thoughts Most strangely alter'd; but methinks my face Feels still like Trincalo.

ALB. You imagine so.

Senses are oft deceiv'd. As an attentive angler, Fixing his steady eyes on the swift streams Of a steep tumbling torrent, no sooner turns His sight to land, but (giddy) thinks the firm banks And constant trees more like the running water; So you, that thirty years have liv'd in Trincalo.

Chang'd suddenly, think y' are so still; but instantly These thoughts will vanish.

TRIN. Give me a looking-gla.s.s To read your skill in these new lineaments.

ALB. I'd rather give you poison; for a gla.s.s, By secret power of cross reflections And optic virtue, spoils the wond'rous work Of transformation; and in a moment turns you, Spite of my skill, to Trincalo as before.

We read that Apuleius[316] was[317] by a rose Chang'd from an a.s.s to man: so by a mirror You'll lose this n.o.ble l.u.s.tre, and turn a.s.s.

I humbly take my leave; but still remember T' avoid the devil and a looking-gla.s.s.

Newborn Antonio, I kiss your hands.

TRIN. Divine Alb.u.mazar, I kiss your hands. [_Exit_ ALb.u.mAZAR.

SCENE V.

TRINCALO, RONCA.

TRIN. Now am I grown a gentleman and a fine one, I know't by th' kissing of my hands so courtly.

My courteous knees bend in so true a distance, As if my foot walk'd in a frame on purpose.

Thus I accost you; or thus, sweet sir, your servant: Nay, more, your servant's servant: that's your grandservant.

I could descend from the top of Paul's to th' bottom, And on each step strew parting compliments; Strive for a door, while a good carpenter Might make a new one. I am your shadow, sir, And bound to wait upon you; i' faith, I will not: Pray, sir, &c. O brave Alb.u.mazar!