A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 96

ANT. By all the oaths that bind men's consciences To truth, I am Antonio, and no other.

SCENE III.

_Enter_ PANDOLFO.

PAN. What means this noise? O Cricca! what's the matter?

CRI. Sir, here's your farmer Trincalo, transform'd So just, as he were melted, and new-cast In the true mould of old Antonio.

PAN. Th' right eye's no liker to the left, than he To my good neighbour. Divine Alb.u.mazar!

How I admire thy skill! Just so he look'd, And thus he walk'd: this is his face, his hair: His eyes and countenance. If his voice be like, Then is th' astrologer a wonder-worker.

ANT. Signior Pandolfo, I thank the heavens as much To find you well, as for my own return.

How does your daughter and my love Sulpitia?

PAN. Well, well, sir.

CRI. This is a good beginning: How naturally the rogue dissembles it!

With what a gentle garb and civil grace He speaks and looks! How cunningly Alb.u.mazar Hath for our purpose suited him in Barbary clothes!

I'll try him further, sir; we heard You were drown'd; pray you, how 'scap'd you s.h.i.+pwreck?

ANT. No sooner was I s.h.i.+pp'd for Barbary, But fair wind follow'd, and fair weather led us.

When, enter'd in the straits of Gibraltar, The heavens, and seas, and earth conspir'd against us; The tempest tore our helm, and rent our tackles, Broke the mainmast, while all the sea about us Stood up in wat'ry mountains to o'erwhelm us, And struck's against a rock, splitting the vessel T' a thousand splinters. I, with two mariners, Swam to the coast, where by the barbarous Moors We were surpris'd, fetter'd, and sold for slaves.

CRI. This tale th' astrologer penn'd, and he hath conn'd it.

ANT. But by a gentleman of Italy, Whom I had known before----

PAN. No more; this taste Proves thou canst play the rest. For this fair story, My hand; I make thy ten pounds twenty marks, Thou look'st and speak'st so like Antonio.

ANT. Whom should I look and speak like, but myself?

CRI. Good still!

PAN. But now, my honest Trincalo, Tell me where's all the plate, the gold, and jewels, That the astrologer, when he had transform'd thee, Committed to thy charge? are they safe-lock'd?

ANT. I understand you not.

PAN. The jewels, man; The plate and gold th' astrologer that chang'd thee Bad thee lay up.

ANT. What plate? What gold? What jewels?

What transformation? What astrologer?

CRI. Leave off Antonio now, and speak like Trincalo.

ANT. Leave off your jesting. It neither fits your place Nor age, Pandolfo, to scoff your ancient friend.

I know not what you mean by gold and jewels, Nor by th' astrologer, nor Trincalo.

CRI. Better and better still. Believe me, sir, He thinks himself Antonio, and ever shall be, And so possess your plate. Art thou not Trincalo, My master's farmer?

ANT. I am Antonio, Your master's friend, if he teach you more manners.

PAN. Humour of wiving's gone. Farewell, good Flavia.

Three thousand pound must not be lost so slightly.

Come, sir; we'll drag you to th' astrologer, And turn you to your ragged bark of yeomanry.

ANT. To me these terms?

PAN. Come, I'll not lose my plate.

CRI. Stay, sir, and take my counsel. Let him still Firmly conceit himself the man he seems: Thus he, himself deceiv'd, will far more earnestly Effect your business, and deceive the rest.

There's a main difference 'twixt a self-bred action And a forc'd carriage. Suffer him, then, to enter Antonio's house, and wait th' event: for him, He cannot 'scape: what you intend to do, Do't, when he has serv'd your turn. I see the maid; Let's hence, lest they suspect our consultations.

PAN. Thy counsel's good: away.

CRI. Look, Trincalo, Yonder's your beauteous mistress Armellina, And, [sir, your] daughter Flavia. Courage, I warrant thee.

[_Exeunt_ PANDOLFO _and_ CRICCA.

ANT. Bless'd be the heav'ns that rid me of this trouble; For with their farmer and astrologer, Plate and gold, they have almost madded me.

SCENE IV.

FLAVIA, ARMELLINA, ANTONIO.

FLA. Armellina.

ARM. Mistress.

FLA. Is the door fast?

ARM. Yes, as an usurer's purse.

FLA. Come hither, wench.

Look here; there's Trincalo, Pandolfo's farmer, Wrapp'd in my father's shape: prythee, come quickly, And help me to abuse him.

ARM. Notorious clown!

ANT. These are my gates, and that's the cabinet, That keeps my jewels, Lelio and his sister.

FLA. Never was villainy so personate In seemly properties of gravity. [ANTONIO _knocks_.

FLA. Who's he that knocks so boldly?

ARM. What want you, sir?

ANT. O my fair daughter Flavia! let all the stars Pour down full blessings on thee. Ope the doors.