University of Virginia Library

SCEN. 3.

Albumazar. Pandolfo. Ronca. Trinc.
Alb.
Signior Pandolfo, y'arrive in happiest houre
If the seven Planets were your neerest kindred,
And all the Constellations your allies:
Were the twelve houses, and the Innes o'th' Zodiack
Your own fee-simple; they could never have chosen
A fitter place to favour your desires.
For the great Luminaries look from Hilech,
And midst of Heaven in Angels, conjunctions,
And fortunate aspects, a Trine and Sextile,
Ready to powre propitious influences.

Pan.
Thanks to your power, and court'sie that so plac'd them.
That is the man that's ready for the businesse.

Alb.
Of a most happy count'nance and timber fit
To square to th'Gentry: his looks as apt for changing,
As he were cov'red with Camelions skins.

Trin.
Except my hands; and 'twill be troublesome
To fit these fingers to Antonio's gloves.

Pan.
Pray let's about the work as soon as may be,

Alb.
First choose a large low room, whose door's full East,
Or neer inclining: for th'Orientall quarter's
Most bountifull of favours.

Pan.
I have a parler
Of a great square and height, as you desire it.

Alb.
Southward must look a wide and spacious window:
For howsoever Omar, Alchabitius,
Hali, Albenezra, seem somthing to dissent:
Yet Zoroastres, sonne of Oromasus,
Hiarcha, Brachman, Thespion, Gymnosophist,
Gebir, and Budda Babylonicus,
With all the subtile Cabalists and Chaldees.
Sweare the best influence: for our Metamorphosis
Stoops from the South, or as some say, South-east.

Pan.
This room's, as fit as you had made it of purpose.

Tri.
Now do I feel the calf of my right leg
Tingle, and dwindle to th'smalnesse of a bed-staffe.
Such a speech more turns my high shooes strait boots.

Ron.
Nere were those Authors cited to better purpose,
For through that window all Pandolfoes treasures
Must take their flight and fall upon my shoulders.

Alb.
Now if this light Meridionall had a large casement
That over-look't some unfrequented alley,
Twere much more proper for th'Intelligences
Are nice and coy, scorning to mixe their essence
With throng'd disturbance of crosse multitudes.

Ron.
Spoken by art Albumazar, a provident setter,
For so shall we receive what thou handst out
Free from from discovery. But in my conscience
All windows point full South for such a businesse.

Pan.
Go to my house, satisfie your curious choice,
But credit me, this parler's fit, it neighbours
To a blind alley, that in busiest Term-time
Feels not the footing of one passenger:

Alb.
Now then declining from Theourgia,
Artenosaria, Pharmacia, rejecting
Necro-puro-geo-hydro-cheiro-coscinomancy,
With other vain and superstitious Sciences,
Wee'l anchor at the art Prestigiatory,
That represents one figure for another,
With smooth deceit abusing th'eyes of mortals.

Tri.
O my right arme! 'tis alter'd, and me thinks
Longs for a sword: these words have slain a Plow-man.

Alb.
And since the Moon's the only Planet changing:
For from the Neomenia in seven dayes
To the Dicotima, in seven more to th'Pauselinum,
And in as much from Plenilunium
Thorow Dicotima to Neomenia,
'Tis she must help us in this operation.

Tri.
What Towns are these? the strangenesse of these names,
Hath scal'd the marks of many a painfull harvest,
And made my new pil'd finger itch for dice.

Pan.
Deeply considred wondrous Albumazar!
O let me kisse those lips that flow with science.

Alb.
For by her various looks she intimates
To understanding soules, that onely she
Hath power t'effect a true formation.
Cause then your parler to be kept carefully,
Washt, rubb'd, perfum'd, hang'd round from top to bottome
With pure white lunary Tapstry, or needle-work;
But if 'twere cloth of silver, 'twere much better.

Ron.
Good good! a rich beginning: good! whats next?

Alb.
Spread all the floore with finest holland sheets,
And over them faire damaske Table-cloaths,
Above all these draw me chast Virgins aprons
The room, the work, and workman must be pure.

Trin.
With Virgins aprons? the whole compasse of this City
Can not afford a dozen.

Ron.
So, there's shirts
And bands to furnish all on's for a twelve-moneth.

Alb.
An altar in the midst, loaded with plate
Of silver Basons, Yewres, Cups, Candlesticks,
Flaggons and Beakers, Salts, Chargers, Casting-bottles.
Twere not amisse to mix some bowles of gold,
So they be massie; the better to resemble
The lovely brother-hood of Sol and Luna.
Also some Diamonds for Iupiter.
For by the whitenesse and bright sparkling lustres
We allure th'Intelligences to descend.

Ron.
Furbo and I are those Intelligences
That must attend upon the Magistery.

Alb.
Now for the ceremonious Sacrifice.
Provide such creatures as the Moon delights in,
Two sucking Lambs, white as the Alpine snow:
Yet if they have a mole or two, twill passe.
The Moon her self wants not her pots.

Pan.
Tis true.

Ron.
Were they hel-black, we'de make a shift to eat them.

Alb.
White Capons, Pheasants, Pigeons: one little Black-bird
Would stain and spoyle the work. Get severall Wines
To quench the holy embers: Rhenish, Greek wine,
White Muskadell, Sherry, and rich Canary,
So't be not grown too yellow: for the quicker,
Brisker, and older, the better for these ceremonies.
The more abundance, sooner shall we finish.
For 'tis our rule in such like businesses,
Who spares most, spends most: either this must doo't,
Or th'resolution of five hundred yeers
Cannot: so fit are all the Heavens to help us.

Ron.
A thousand thanks, thou'lt make a compleat cheat.
Thus loaded with this treasure, cheer'd with wine,
Strengthned with meat: wee'l carry thee in triumph,
As the great Generall of our atchievement.

Pan.
Sir, for rich plate and jewels I have store,
But know not how to furnish you with hangings.

Alb.
Cannot you borrow from the shops? foure houres
Shall render all as fair as you receiv'd it.

Pan.
That can I easily do.

Alb.
And here you sit
If you chance meet with boxes of white Comfits,
Marchpane, and dry Sucket, Macarouns and Diet-bread,
'Twill help on well.

Ronc.
To furnish out our Banquet.

Alb.
I had clean forgot, we must have Amber-greece,
The grayest can be found, some dozen ounces,
Ile use but halfe a dram: but tis our fashion
T'offer a little from a greater lumpe.

Pan.
All shall be done with expedition.

Alb.
And when your man's transform'd the chain you promisd,

Pan.
My hand: my deeds shall wait upon my promise:

Alb.
Lead then with happy foot to view the chamber.

Pan.
I go sir, Trincalo attend us here,
And not a word on perill of thy life.

Trin.
Sir, if they kill me Ile not stir a foot,
And if my tongue's puld out, not speak a word.