A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 106

TRIN. What ails you, sir? what ails you?

PAN. I am undone! I have lost my love, my plate, My whole estate, and with the rest myself.

TRIN. Lose not your patience too. Leave this lamenting, And lay the town; you may recover it.

PAN. 'Tis to small purpose. In, and hold thy peace.

[_Exit_ TRINCALO.

SCENE X.

CRICCA, PANDOLFO.

CRI. Where shall I find my master, to content him With welcome news? he's here. News, news?

News of good fortune, joy, and happiness!

PAN. Cricca, my sadness is uncapable Of better tidings: I am undone! most miserable!

CRI. Offend not your good luck, y' are now more fortunate Than when you rose this morning: be merry, sir, Cheer up yourself; y' have what you wish'd, fear nothing.

PAN. Maybe, Antonio newly repents himself, With purpose to restore my Flavia.

Cricca, what is't? where's all this happiness?

CRI. Lock'd in Antonio's closet.

PAN. All alone?

Sure, that's my Flavia. Is not Eugenio Suffer'd to enter?

CRI. Antonio keeps the key: No creature enters but himself: all's safe, And shall be so restor'd.

PAN. O my sweet Cricca!

CRI. And they that wrong'd you most extremely sorry, Ready to yield you any satisfaction.

PAN. Is't possible they should so soon repent them, That injur'd me so lately? tell me the manner That caus'd them see their error.

CRI. I'll tell you, sir: Being just now at old Antonio's house, One thunders at the back-door, enters, presses To speak in private with young Lelio; Was instantly admitted: and think you, who?

'Twas your astrologer Alb.u.mazar.

When he had spoke awhile, Lelio and Antonio In haste command me fetch a constable.

PAN. How can this story touch my happiness?

CRI. I up and down, through slimy ale-houses, Cloudy tobacco-shops and vapouring taverns, My mouth full of inquiry, at last found one.

PAN. What of all this? Is't possible a constable Concerns my good?

CRI. And, following my directions, Went to a tippling-house, where we took drinking Three handsome fellows with a great chest, attach'd them, And brought all to Antonio.

PAN. Well, what then?

CRI. These were the astrologer's intelligences that Robb'd you through the south window.

PAN. I thought thou hadst spoke Of Flavia's restoring.

CRI. I mean your plate And treasure. Pray you, sir, is't not great happiness To reobtain three thousand pounds in value, Desperately lost? and you still doat and dream Of Flavia who, by your own consent And oath, is promised to your son Eugenio.

PAN. Forward.

CRI. Within this chest Antonio found your plate, Gold jewels, cloth of silver, nothing perish'd, But all safe lock'd, till you acknowledge it.

And since Alb.u.mazar of his own accord Freely confess'd, and safe restor'd your treasure; Since 'tis a day of jubilee and marriage, Antonio would entreat you to release And pardon the astrologer: thanking your fortune, That hath restor'd you to your wealth and self.

Both which were lost i' th' foolish love of Flavia.

PAN. Reason hath clear'd my sight, and drawn the veil, Of dotage, that so dark'd my understanding.

I clearly see the slavery of affections; And how unsuitable my declining years Are for the dawning youth of Flavia.

Let the best joys of Hymen compa.s.s her And her young husband (my Eugenio), With full content. And since Alb.u.mazar By accident caus'd all this happiness, I freely pardon him and his companions; And haste to a.s.sist the marriages and feasts.

CRI. Why, now you show yourself a worthy gentleman.

[_Exit_ PANDOLFO.

SCENE XI.

TRINCALO, CRICCA.

TRI. Cricca, I overheard your news: all parts are pleas'd Except myself. Is there no news for Trincalo?

CRI. Know'st it not? in and see: Antonio Hath given thee Armellina with a portion-- Two hundred crowns; and old Pandolfo bound By oath t' a.s.sure thee twenty pounds a year For three lives.

TRIN. Ha!

CRI. Come in.

TRIN. I'll follow.

FOOTNOTES:

[346] The salt-cellar which used to be set on tables was generally large. Sometimes, however, a smaller sort would be used, and then several were employed, which were set nearer the trenchers, and therefore called _trencher-salts_, as here.--_Pegge._

[347] [Compare p. 302.]

[348] A term of falconry. Latham says, "It is taken for the fowle which is flowne at and slaine at any time."

[349] This is a term of the chase. Gascoigne, in his book of hunting, 1575, p. 242, enumerates it among "other generall termes of the hart and his properties. When he (the hart) is foamy at the mouth, we saye that _he is embost_." So in "The Shoemakers' Holiday; or, The Gentle Craft," 1610, sig. C 3--

"Besides, the miller's boy told me even now, He saw him take soile, and he hallowed him, Affirming him so _embost_, That long he could not hold."

See also Mr Steevens's note to "All's Well that Ends Well," act iii.

sc. 6.