 | Albvmazar |  |
SCEN. 7.
Album. Pand. Cric.Cric.
Oh, oh!
Pan.
What ailes thee Cricca?
Cri.
I am dead, I am dead.
Trouble your self no more.
Pan.
What dead & speak'st?
Cric.
Onely there's left a litle breath to tell you.
Pan.
Why where art hurt?
Cric.
Stab'd with a thousand daggers
My heart, my lights, my liver, and my skinne
Pierst like a sive.
Pan.
Here's not a wound, stand up,
'Tis but thy feare.
Cric.
'Tis but one wound all over:
Softly, oh softly: you have lost the truest servant. Farewell I die.
Alb.
Live by my courtesie, stand up and breath.
The dangerous and malignant influence is past;
But thanke my charity that put by the blowes.
The least of which threatned a dozen graves.
Now learne to scoffe divine Astrology,
And flight her servants.
Cri.
A Surgion, good sir, a Surgeon.
Pan.
Th'art well, th'art well.
Cric.
Now I perceive I am:
I pray you pardon me Divine Astrologer.
I doe, but hence-forth laugh at Astrology
And call her servants Cheaters.
Pan.
Now to our businesse: on good Albumazar,
Albu.
Now since the moone passeth from Capricorne,
Through Aquarius to the watry signe of Pisces,
Antonio's drownd, and is devour'd by fishes.
Pan.
Is't certaine?
Alb.
Certaine.
Pan.
Then let my earnestnes
Intreat your skill a favour.
Alb.
It shall, but first
I'le tell you what you meane to aske me.
Pan.
Strange!
Alb.
Antonio dead that promised you his daughter,
Your businesse is to entreat me raise his Ghost,
And force it stay at home till it have perform'd
The promise past, and so returne to rest.
Pan.
That, that, y'have hit it, most divine Albumazar.
Alb.
Tis a hard thing; for de privationa ad habitū non datur regressus:
O what a businesse! what a Master piece
'Tis to raise up his Ghost whose body's eaten
By fish. This worke desires a planetary intelligence
Of Iupiter and Sol, and these great Spirits
Are proud, phantasticall: It askes much charges,
To entice them from the guiding of their Spheares
To waite on mortalls.
Pan.
So I may have my purpose, spare for no cost.
Alb.
Sir, spare your purse, Ile do it an easier way;
The worke shall cost you nothing.
We have an Art is cald Præstigiatory,
That deales with spirits and intelligences
Of meaner office and condition,
Whose service craves small charges: with one of these
Ile change some servant or good friend of yours
To the perfect shape of this Antonio:
So like in face, behaviour, speech, and action,
That all the Towne shall sweare Antonio lives.
Pan.
Most necromanticall Astrologer,
Doe this, and take me for your servant ever.
And for your paines, after the transformation
This chaine is yours, it cost two hundred pound,
Beside the Jewel.
Al.
After the worke is finish't, then how now?
As if the stars conjur'd to do you mischiefe?
Pan.
How? mean you me?
Alb.
They're dusky marks of Saturne,
It seems some stone shall fall upon your head,
Threatning a fracture of the Pericranium.
Pan.
Cricca, come hither, fetch me my staffe again,
Threescore and ten's return'd: A generall Palsie
Shakes out the love of Flavia with a feare.
Is thore no remedy?
Alb.
Nothing but patience.
The Planet threatens so, whose prey you are.
The Stars and Planets daily war together.
Por should they stand at truce but one halfe houre
This wondrous Machin of the world would ruine.
Who can withstand their powerfull influence?
Pan.
You with your wisdome, good Albumazar.
Alb.
Indeed th'Egyptian Ptolomy the wise,
Pronounc't it as an Oracle of truth; Sapiens dominabitur astris.
Who's above there? Ronca bring down 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 of warre
Mounted th'Horizon in the signe of Arries.
With these walke as unwounded as Achilles,
Dipt by his mother Thetis.
Pan.
You bind me to your service.
Alb.
Next get the man you purpose to transforme,
And meet me here.
Pan.
I will not fail to finde you.
Alb.
Mean while with Sciofericall instrument,
By way of Azimuth and Almicantarath
Ile seek some happy point in Heven for you.
Pan.
I rest your servant sir.
Al.
Let all the Stars
Guide you with most propitious influence.
| Albvmazar | |