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

Act. 1.

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.

ACT. 1. SCEN. 2.

RONCA. PANDOLFO. CRICCA.

RON.

THere's old Pandolfo, amorous as youthfull May, And gray as Ianuary. I'le attend him here.

PAN.

Cricca, I seeke thy aide, not thy crosse counsell, I am mad in loue with Flauia, and must haue her: Thou spend'st thy reasons to the contrary, Like arrowes 'gainst an Anuile: I loue Flauia, And must haue Flauia.

CRI.

Sir you haue no reason, Shee's a yong girle of sixteene, you of sixty.

PAN.

I haue no reason, nor spare roome for any, Loue's herbinger hath chalk't vpon my heart, And with a coale writ on my braine, for Flauia; This house is wholy taken vp for Flauia. Let reason get a lodging with her wit: Vex me no more, I must haue Flauia.

CRIC.

But sir, her brother Lelio, vnder whose charge Shee's now, after her father's death, sware boldly Pandolfo neuer shall haue Flauia.

PAN.

His father, ere hee went to Barbary, Promis'd her me: who be he liue or dead,

Spight of a Last of Lelio's▪ Pandolfo Shall enioy Flauia.

CRIC.

Sir y'are too old.

PAN.

I must confesse in yeares about three score, But in tuffe strength of body, foure and twenty, Or two monthes lesse. Loue of yong Flauia, More powerfull then Medea's drugges, renew's All decay'd parts of man: my Arteryes Blowne full with youthfull spirits, moue the bloud To a new businesse: my withred Neru's grow plumpe And strong, longing for action. Hence thou poore prop Of feeblenesse and age: walke with such sires As with cold palsies shake away their strength, And loose their legges with curelesse gouts. Pandolfo New moulded is for Reuels, Masks, and Musick. Cricca, String my neglected Lute, and from my Armory Skowre my best sword, companion of my youth, Without which I seeme naked.

CRIC.

Your loue, sir, like strong water To a deplor'd sicke man, quick's your feeble limbs For a poore moment. But after one night's lodging You'l fall so dull and cold, that Flauia Will shrike and leape from bed as from a Sepulchre. Shall I speake plainer, sir? Shee'l Cuckold you: Alas shee'le Cuckold you.

PAN.

What mee? a man of knowne discretion, Of riches, yeares, and this gray grauity? I'le satisfy'r with gold, rich cloathes and iewels.

CRIC.

Wert not farre fitter vrge your son Eugenio To wooe her for himselfe?

PAN.

Cricca bee gone, Touch no more there: I will and must haue Flauia. Tell Lelio, if hee grant m'his sister Flauia, I'le giue my daughter to him in exchange. Be gone, and finde mee heere within this halfe houre.

ACT. 1. SCEN. 3.

RONCA. PANDOLFO.

RON.

TIs well that servant's gone: I shall the easier Wind vp his master to my purposes.

PAN.

Sure this some novice of th'Artillery, That winke's and shoots: sir, prime your peece anew The powder's wet: tick. tock. tick. tock.

RON.

A good ascendent blesse me: sir are you frantick?

PAN.

Why franticke? are not knockes the lawfull courses T'open doores and eares?

RON.

Of vulgar men and houses.

PAN.

Whose lodging's this? is't not th'Astrologers?

RON.

His lodging? no: 'tis the learn'd Phrontisterion Of most divine Albumazar.

PAN.

Good sir, If the doore breake, a better shall redeeme it.

RON.

How! all your land sold at a hundreth yeares purchase Cannot repaire th'dammage of one poore rap, To thunder at the Phrontisterion Of great Albumazar?

PAN.

Why man? what harme:

RON.

Sir, you must know my master's heauenly braine Pregnant with mysteries of Metaphisickes, Growes to an Embryo of rare contemplation, Which at full time brought forth, excel's by farre The armed fruit of Vulcan's Midwifry That leapt from Iupiter's mightie Cranium.

PAN.

What of all this?

RON.

Thus one of your bold thunders may abortiue And cause that birth miscarry, that might haue prou'd An instrument of wonders greater and rarer Then Apollonius the Magitian wrought.

PAN.

Are you your Masters Countrey-man?

RON.

Yes: why aske you?

PAN.

Then must I get an Interpreter for your language.

RON.

You need not▪ with a wind instrument my master made, In fiue dayes you may breath ten languages As perfect as the Divell, or himselfe.

PAN.

When may I speake with him?

RON.

When't please the starres. He pul's you not a haire, nor pare's a naile, Nor stirre's a foot without due figuring The Horoscope: sit downe a while and't please you, I see the heavens incline to his approach.

PAN.

What's this I pray you?

RON.

An engine to catch starres,

A mase t'arrest such Planets as haue lurk't Foure thousand yeares vnder protection Of Iupiter and Sol.

PAN.

Pray you speake English.

RON.

Sir, 'tis a perspicill, th'best vnder heauen: With this Ile read a leafe of that small Iliade That in a wall-nut shell was desk't, as plainly Twelue long miles off, as you see Pauls from Highgate.

PAN.

Wonderfull workman of so rare an Instrument!

RON.

'Twill draw the Moone so neere that you would sweare The bush of thornes in't prick your eyes: the Chrystall Of a large Arch multiplie's millions, Worke's more then by poynt blanke: and by refractions Opticke and strange, searcheth like th'eye of truth, All closets that haue windowes. Haue at Rome, I see the Pope, his Card'nals and his mule, The English Colledge and the Iesuits, And what they write and doe.

PAN.

Let me see too.

RON.

So farre you can not: for this glasse is fram'd For eyes of thirty: you are nigh threescore. But for some fifty miles 'twill serue you, With helpe of a refractiue glasse that's yonder. For triall sir: where are you now?

PAN.

In London.

RON.

Ha you found the glasse within that chamber?

PAN.

Yes.

RON.

What see you?

PAN.

Wonders, wonders: I see as in a Land-shappe An honorable throng of noble persons, As cleare as I were vnder the same roofe. Seemes by their gracious browes, and courteous lookes Something they see, which if t b'indifferent They'l fau'rably accept: if otherwise They'l pardon, who, or what they be, I know not.

RON.

Why that's the coure ▪ at Cambridge forty miles hence, what else?

PAN.

A Hall thrust full of bare-heads, some bald, some busht, Some brauely branch't.

RON.

That's th'Vniversity Larded with Townes-men. Look you there: what now?

PAN.

Who? I see Douer Peere, a man now landing Attended by two Porters that seeme to grone

Vnder the burthen of two loades of paper.

RON.

That's Coriatus Persicus, and's obseruations Of Asia and Affrick.

PAN.

The price.

RON.

I dare not sel't. But here's another of a stranger vertue: The great Albumazar by wondrous Art, In imitation of this Perspicill, Hath fram'd an Instrument that multiplies Obiects of hearing, as this doth of seeing, That you may know each whisper from Prester Iohn Against the winde, as fresh as 'twere deliuered Through a trunke, or Glosters listning wall.

PAN.

And may I see it sir? blesse me once more.

RON.

'Tis somthing ceremonious; but you shall try't. Stand thus. What heare you?

Pan.

Nothing

RO.

Set your hands thus That th'vertex of the Organ may perpendicularly Point out our Zenith. What heare you now? ha, ha, ha.

PAN.

A humming noyse of laughter.

RO.

Why that's the Court And Vniuersitie, that now are merry With an old gentleman in a Comaedy. What now?

PAN.

Celestiall musicke, but it seemes farre off. List, list, tis neerer now.

RO.

'Tis musick twixt the Acts. What now?

PAN.

Nothing.

Ron.

And now?

PAN.

Musicke againe, and strangely delicate. O most Angelicall! they sing!

RON.

And now? Sing sweetly, that our notes may cause The heauenly Orbes themselues to pause: And at our musick stand as still As at Ioue's amorous will. So now release them as before, Th'haue waited long enough, no more.

PAN.

'Tis gone, giue mee't againe.— O do not so.

RON.

What heare you now?

PAN.

No more then a dead Oyster. O let me see this wondrous instrument.

RON.

Sir, this is cal'd an Otacousticon.

PAN.

A Cousticon? Why 'tis a paire of Asses eares, and large ones.

RON.

True: for in such a forme the great Albumazar Hath fram'd it purposely, as fit'st receiuers

Of sounds, as spectacles like eyes for sight.

PAN.

What gold will buy't?

RO.

Il'e selt you when 'tis finish't: As yet the Epiglottis is vnperfect.

PAN.

'Soone as you can, and here's ten crownes in earnest. For when 'tis done, and I haue purchasd it, I meane t'intail't on my heires male for euer, Spight of the ruptures of the common law.

RON.

Nay rather giu't to Flauia for her ioncture: For shee that marries you, deserues it richly.

ACT. 1. SCEN. 4.

CRICCA. PANDOLFO. RONCA.

CRIC.

SIr, I haue spoke with Lelio, and he answer's.

PAN.

Hang Lelio, and his answer's. Come hither Cricca, Wonder for me, admire, and be astonisht, Marvaile thy selfe to Marble at these engines, These strange Gorgonian instruments.

CRI.

At what?

PAN.

At this rare Perspicill and Otacousticon. For with these two Il'e heare and see all secrets, Vndo intelligencers. Pray let my man see What's done in Rome; his eyes are iust as your's are.

RON.

Pandolfo, are you mad? be wise and secret: See you th'steepe danger you are tumbling in? Know you not that these instruments haue power T'vnlocke the hidden'st closets of whole states? And you reueale such mysteries to a seruant? Sir be advis'd, or else you learne no more Of our vnknowne Philosophy.

PAN.

Inough. What newes from Lelio? shall I haue his sister?

CRI.

He sweares and vowes he neuer will consent. She shall not play with worne antiquities, Nor lye with snow, and statues; and such replies That I omit for reverence of your worship.

PAN.

Not haue his sister? Cricca I will haue Flauia, Maugre his head▪ by meanes of this Astrologer

I'le enioy Flauia. Are the starres yet inclin'd To his diuine approach?

RO.

One minute brings him.

CRI.

What Strologer?

PAN.

The learned man I told thee, Th high Almanacke of Germany, an Indian Farre beyond Trebesond and Tripoli, Close by the worlds end: a rare Coniurer, And great Astrologer. His name, pray sir?

RON.

Albumazarro Meteoroscopico.

CRI.

A name of force to hang him without tryall.

PAN.

As hee excels in Science, so in Title. Hee tels of lost plate, horses, and strayd cattell Directly, as hee had stolne them all himselfe.

CRI.

Or hee, or some of his confederates.

PAN.

As thou respects thy life, looke to thy tongue, Albumazar has an Otacousticon. Bee silent, reuerent, and admire his skill, See what a promising countenance appeares: Stand still and wonder, wonder and stand still.

ACT. 1. SCEN. 5

ALBVMAZAR, RONCA, PANDOLFO, CRICCA.

ALB.

Ronca, the bunch of planets new found out Hanging at th'end of my best Perspicill, Send them to Galilaeo at Padua; Let him bestow them where hee please. But th'starres Lately discouered 'twixt the hornes of Aries, Are as a present for Pandolfo's marriage, And henceforth stil'd Sidera Pandolfaea.

PAN.

My marriage Cricca! hee foresee's my marriage: O most Celestiall Albumazar!

CRI.

And sends y'a present from the head of Aries.

ALB.

My Almanacke made for th'meridian And herght of Iapan, giu't th'East Indy company: There may they smel the price of Cloues and Pepper, Munkies and China-dishes fiue yeares ensuing;

And know th'successe o'th voyage of Magores. For in the volume of the Firmament Wee children of the starres reade things to come, As cleerely as poore mortals stories past In Speed or Hollingshead.

RO.

The perpetual motion With a true larum in't to run twelue houres 'Fore Mahomets returne.

ALB.

Deliuer it safe T'a Turkie Factor, bid him with care present it From mee to th'house of Ottoman.

RO.

I will sir.

CRI.

Pray you stand here, and wonder now for mee, Be astonish't at his Gorgon, for I cannot.

PAN.

Vpon my life he proues a meere Impostor. Peace, not a word, be silent and admire.

ALB.

As for the Issue of th'nezt Summers warres, Reueal't to none, keep't to thy selfe in secret, As touch-stone of my skill in Prophesie. Be gone.

RON.

I goe sir.

ALB.

Signior Pandolfo, I pray you pardon me, Exoticall dispatches of great consequence Staid me; and casting the Nativitie O'th Cham of Tartary, and a priuate conference With a Mercuriall intelligence. Y'are welcome in a good houre, better minute, Best second, happiest third, fourth, fift, and scruple. Let the twelue houses of the Horoscope Be lodg'd with fortitudes, and fortunates, To make you blest in your designes Pandolfo.

PAN.

Wer't not much trouble to your starry imployments, I a poore mortall would intreat your furtherance In a terrestriall businesse.

ALB.

My Ephemeris lies, Or I fore-see your errant: thus 'tis, thus. You had a neighbour cal'd Antonio, A widdower like your selfe, whose onely daughter Flauia, you loue, and hee as much admir'd Your child Sulpitia. Is not this right?

PAN.

Yes sir: O strange! Cricca admire in silence.

ALB.

You two decreed a counter-match betwixt you, And purpos'd to truck daughters. Is't not so?

PAN.

Iust as you say't. Cricca admire and wonder.

CRI.

This no such secret: looke to your selfe, hee'l cheate you.

ALB.

Antonio after this match concluded, Hauing great summes of gold in Barbary, Desires of you before he consummate The rites of matrimony, hee might goe thither, For three months; but as now 'tis three and three Since he imbark't, and is not yet return'd. Now sir your businesse is to me, to know Whether Antonio be dead or liuing. I'le tell you instantly.

PAN.

Hast thou reveal'd it? I told it none but thee.

CRI.

Not I.

PAN.

Why stare you? Are you not well?

ALB.

I wander 'twixt the Poles And heau'nly hinges, 'mongst excentricals, Centers, concentrickes, circles, and epicycles, To hunt out an aspect fit for your businesse.

CRI.

Meane ostentation! for shame awake your selfe.

ALB.

And since the lampe of heauen is newly entred To Cancer, old Antonio is starke dead, Drown'd in the sea stone dead: for radius directorius In the sixt house; and th'waning moone by Capricorn, Hee's dead, hee's dead.

CRI.

'Tis an ill time to marry. The Moone growes fork't, and walks with Capricorne.

PAN.

Peace foole: these words are full of mysteries.

ALB.

What ominous face, and dismall countenance Mark't for disasters, hated of all the heauens, Is this that followes you?

PAN.

He is my seruant, A plaine and honest speaker, but no harme in him.

CRI.

What see you in my face?

ALB.

Horror and darknesse, death and gallowses, I de sweare th'wert hang'd, stood'st thou but two foote higher, But now thy starres threaten a neerer death. Sir, send to toale his knell.

PAN.

What is he dead?

ALB.

He shall be by the dint of many stabs: Onely I spy a little hope of scaping Thorough the clouds, and foule aspects of death,

CRI.

Sir, pray giue no credit to this cheater,

Or with his words of Art hee'le make you dote As much on his fain'd skill, as on faire Flauia.

ACT. 1. SCEN. 6.

HARPAX. FVREO. ALBVM. PANDOLFO. CRICCA.

HAR.

STay Villaine, stay, though safety't selfe defends thee Thou diest.

FVR.

Come do thy worst, thrust sure, or die.

CRIC.

For heau'n sake Gentlemen stay your hands, help, helpe. Help Albumazar.

HARP.

Thus to the hinderer Of my reuenge.

CRIC.

Saue me Albumazar.

FVRB.

And thus, and thus, and thus.

CRI.

Maister I die, I dye.

HARP.

Fliest thou base coward? 'tis not thy heeles can saue thee.

ACT. 1. SCEN. 7.

ALBVM. PAND. CRIC.

CRI.

Ooh!

PAN.

What ailes thee Cricca?

CRI.

I am dead, I am dead, Trouble your selfe no more.

PA.

What dead & speakst?

CRIC.

Onely there's left a little breath to tell you.

PAN.

Why, where art hurt?

CRI.

Stab'd with a thousand daggers, My heart, my lights, my liuer, and my skin, Pearst like a siue.

PAN.

Here's not a wound, stand vp, 'Tis but thy feare.

CRIC.

'Tis but one wound all ouer. Softly, ô softly: y'haue lost the truest seruant; Farewell I die.

ALB.

Liue by my curtesie, stand vp and breath. The dangerous and malignant influence is past: But thank my charity that put by the blowes, The least of which threatned a dozen graues. Now learne to scoffe diuine Astrologie, And slight her seruants.

CRI.

A Chirurgion, good sir, a Surgeon.

ALB.

Stand vp man, th'hast no harme, my life for thine.

PAN.

Th'art well, th'art well.

CRI.

Now I perceiue I am: I pray you pardon me Diuine Astrologer.

ALB.

I do, but hence-forth laugh at Astrologie And call her seruants Cheaters.

PAN.

Now to our businesse: on good Albumazar.

ALB.

Now since the Moone passeth from Capricorne, Through Aquarius to the watry Signe of Pisces, Antonio's drown'd, and is deuour'd by fishes.

PAN.

Is't certaine?

ALB.

Certaine.

PAN.

Then let my earnestnes Intreate your skill a fauour.

ALB.

It shall, but first I'le tell you what you meane to aske me.

PA.

Strange!

ALB.

Antonio dead that promis'd you his daughter, Your businesse is t'entreate mee raise his ghost, And force it stay at home til't haue perform'd The promise past, and so returne to rest.

PAN.

That, that, y'haue hit it most diuine Albumazar.

ALB.

'Tis a hard thing; for de preuatione ad habitū non datur regressus. O what a businesse what a maister peece 'Tis to raise vp his Ghost, whose bodie's eaten By fish. This work desires a Planetary intelligence Of Iupiter and Sol, and these great Spirits, Are proud, phantasticall: It ask's much charges, T'entice them from the guiding of their Spheares To waite on mortals.

PAN.

So I may haue my purpose, spare for no cost.

ALB.

Sir, spare your purse, wee'l do't an easier way. The worke shall cost you nothing. We haue an Art is cal'd Prastigiatory, That deales with spirits, and intelligences Of meaner office and condition, Whose seruice craue's small charges: with one of these I'le change some seruant, or good friend of yours To th'perfect shape of this Antonio: So like in face, behauiour, speech, and action, That all the Towne shall sweare Antonio liues.

PAN.

Most Necromanticall Astrologer, Do this, and take mee for your seruant euer. And for your paines, after the transformation This chaine is your's, it cost two hundred pound Beside the iewell.

AL.

After the work is finish't, then—how now?

What lines are these that looke sanguineous? As if the Starres coniur'd to do you mischiefe?

PAN.

How? meane you mee?

ALB.

They'r dusky marks of Saturne. It seemes some stone shall fall vpon your head, Threatning a fracture of the Pericrantum.

PAN.

Cricca come hither, fetch me my staffe againe, Three-score and ten's return'd: A generall Palsie Shakes out the loue of Flauia with a feare. Is there no remedy?

ALB.

Nothing but patience. The Planet threatens so, whose prey you are. The Starres and Planets daily warre together. For should they stand at truce but one halfe houre This wondrous Machin of the world would ruin. Who can withstand their powrefull influence?

PAN.

You with your wisedome, good Albumazar.

ALB.

Indeed th'Aegyptian Ptolamee the wise, Pronounst it as an Oracle of truth; Sapiens dominabitur astris. Who's aboue there? Ronca bring downe the cap Made in the point of Mercury being ascendent: Here put it on, and in your hand this Image, Fram'd on a Tuesday when the fierce God of warre Mounted th'horizon in the signe of Aries. With these walke as vnwounded as Achilles, Dip't by his mother Thetis.

PAN.

You bind mee to your seruice.

ALB.

Next get the man you purpose to transforme And meete mee heere.

PAN.

I will not faile to finde you.

ALB.

Meane while with Sciofericall instrument, By way of Azimuth and Almicantarath I'le seeke some happy point in heauen for you.

PAN.

I rest your seruant, sir.

AL.

Let all the Starres Guide you with most propitious influence.

ACT. 1. SCEN. 8.

PANDOLFO. CRICCA.

PAN.

HEere's a strange man indeed, of skill profound: How right hee knew my businesse, 'fore hee saw mee,

And how thou skoft's him when we talk't in priuate. Tis a braue instrument his Otacousticon.

CRIC.

In earnest sir I tooke him for a Cheater; As many, vnder name of cunning men With promise of Astrology, much abuse The gaping vulgar, wronging that sacred skill, That in the Starres reades all our actions.

PAN.

Is there no arches o're our heads, looke Cricca.

CRI.

None but the Arch of heauen, that cannot fall.

PAN.

Is not that made of Marble? I haue read A stone drop't from the Moone: And much I feare The fit should take her now, and void an other.

CRI.

Feare nothing sir, this charm'd Mercuriall cap Shields from the fall of Mountaines: 'tis not a stone Can check his Art, walke boldly.

PAN.

I do, let's in.

Finis Act. 1.