Albumazar A comedy presented before the Kings Maiestie at Cambridge, the ninth of March. 1614. By the Gentlemen of Trinitie Colledge.

Scoen. 1.

Enter ALBVMAZAR, HARPAX, RONCA.

ALBVMAZAR.

COme braue Mercurials sublim'd in cheating, My deere companions, fellow-souldiers I'th watchfull exercise of Theevery: Shame not at your so large profession, No more then I at deepe Astrologie. For in the dayes of old, Good morrow Theife, As welcome was receiu'd, as now Your Worship. The Spartans held it lawfull, and th'Arabians, So grew Arabia, Foelix; Sparta valiant.

RONC.

Read on this lecture, wise ALBVMAZAR.

ALB.

Your patron Mercury in his mysterious character, Holds all the markes of th'other wanderers, And with his subtile influence workes in all, Filling their stories full of robberies. Most Trades and Callings much participate Of yours; though smoothly gilt with th'honest title Of Merchant, Lawyer, or such like: the learned Onely excepted; and hee's therefore poore.

HARP.

And yet he steales one author from another. This Poet is that Poets Plagiary,

And he a third's, till they end all in Homer.

ALB.

And Homer filtch't all from an Aegyptian Preestesse. The world's a Theater of theft. Great rivers Rob smaller brookes; and them the Ocean. And in this world of ours, this Microcosme: Guts from the stomack steale, and what they spare, The meseraicks filch, and lay't i'th liver: Where (least it should be found) turn'd to red Nectar, Tis by a thousand theevish veines convey'd And hid in flesh, nerues, bones, muscles and sinewes, In tendons, skin and haire, so that the property Thus altered, the theft can never be discovered. Now all these pilfries couch't and composd in order, Frame thee and me. Man's a quick masse of the every.

RONC.

Most Philosophicall ALBVMAZAR!

HARP.

I thought these parts had lent and borrowed mutuall.

ALB.

Say they doe so: 'tis done with full intention Nere to restore, and that's flat robbery. Therefore go on: follow your vertu's lawes Your card'nall vertue, great Necessity, Wait on her close, with all occasions. Be watchfull, haue as many eyes as heauen, And eares as harvest: be resolu'd and impudent, Beleeue none, trust none: for in this Citie (As in a fought field Crowes and Carkasses) No dwellers are but Cheaters and Cheateez.

RONC.

If all the houses in the towne were prisons, The chambers cages, all the settles stockes, The broad gates gallowses, and the whole people Iustices, Iuries, Constables, Keepers and Hangmen, I'de practise spite of all, and leaue behind mee A fruitfull seminarie of our profession, And call them by thy name Albumazarians.

HARP.

And I no lesse, were all the Citie theeues As cunning as thy selfe.

ALB.

Why brauely spoken, Fitting such generous spirits: Ile make way To your great vertue with a deepe resemblance.

Of high Astrologie. Harpax and Ronca List to our profit: I haue new lodg'd a pray Hard by, that taken is so fat and rich 'Twill make vs leaue off trading, and fall to purchase.

HARP.

Who is't? speak quickly.

RON.

Where good Albumazar?

ALB.

'Tis a rich gentleman, as old as foolish. Th'poore remnant of whose brain that age had left him The doating loue of a yong girle hath dried: And which concerne's vs most, he giues firme credit To Necromancy and Astrologie,

Enter FVRBO.

Sending to me, as one that promise both. Pandolfo is the man.

HAR.

What old Pandolfo?

ALB.

The same: but stay, yon's Furbo whose smoothest brow Shines with good newes, and's visage promises Triumphs and Trophies to's.

FVRBO playes.

RON.

My life h'as learnt out all, I know't by's musicke;

Then FVRBO sings this song.

Beare vp thy learned brow ALBVMAZAR, Liue long of all the world admir'd, For Art profound, and skill retir'd To cheating by the height of starres. Hence, Gypsies, hence, hence rogues of baser straine, That hazard life for little gaine: Stand off and wonder, gape and gaze a farre At the rare skill of great ALBVMAZAR.

FVRB.

Albumazar, Spread out thy nets at large, here's fowle abundance: Pandolfo's ours, I vnderstand his businesse Which I filch't closely from him, while he reveal'd T'his man, his purposes and proiects.

ALB.

Excellent! Thankes to this instrument: for in pretence Of teaching yong Sulpitia, th'old mans daughter, I got accesse to th'house, and while I waited Till she was ready, ouer-heard Pandolfo Open his secrets to his seruant: thus 'tis.

Antonio, Pandolfo's friend, and neighbour, Before he went to Barbary, agreed To giue in marriage.

ALB.

Furbo, this no place Fit to consider curious points of businesse. Come let's away, I'le hear't at large aboue. Ronca stay you below, and entertaine him With a lowd noise of my deepe skill in Art. Thou know'st my Rosy modesty cannot do it. Harpax vp you, and from my bed-chamber, Where all things for our purposes are ready, Second each beck, and nod, and word of ours. You know my meaning.

HAR.

Yes, yes.

FVR.

Yes sir.

Furbo goes out singing, Fa la la Pandolfo's ours.