University of Virginia Library

Scene V.

Dol
, Mammon, Face, Svbtle:
In her fit of talking.
For , after Alexanders death—

Mam.
Good lady—

Dol.
That Perdiccas, and Antigonvs were slaine,
The two that stood, Selevc', and Ptolomee—

Mam.
Madame.

Dol.
Made vp the two legs, and the fourth Beast.
That was Gog-north, and Egypt-south: which after
Was call'd Gog Iron-leg, and South Iron-leg—

Mam.
Lady—

Dol.
And then Gog-horned. So was Egypt, too.
Then Egypt clay-leg, and Gog clay-leg—

Mam.
Sweet madame.

Dol.
And last Gog-dust, and Egypt-dust, which fall
In the last linke of the fourth chaine. And these
Be starres in story, which none see, or looke at—

Mam.
What shall I doe?

Dol.
For, as he sayes, except
We call the Rabbines, and the heathen Greekes—

Mam.
Deare lady.

Dol.
To come from Salem, and from Athens,
And teach the people of great Britaine—

Fac.
What's the matter, sir?

Dol.
To speake the tongue of Eber, and Iavan—

Mam.
O,
Sh'is in her fit.

Dol.
We shall know nothing—

Fac.
Death, sir,
We are vn-done.

Dol.
Where, then, a learned Linguist
Shall see the antient vs'd communion
Of vowels, and consonants—

Fac.
My master will heare!

Dol.
A wisedome, which Pythagoras held most high—

Mam.
Sweet honorable lady.

Dol.
To comprise
All sounds of voyces, in few markes of letters—

Fac.
Nay, you must neuer hope to lay her now.

Dol.
And so we may arriue by Talmud skill,
And profane greeke, to raise the building vp
Of Helens house, against the Ismælite,
King of Thogarma, and his Habergions,
Brimstony, blew, and fiery; and the force
Of King Abaddon, and the Beast of Cittim:
Which Rabbi David Kimchi, Onkelos,
And Aben-Ezra doe interpret Roma.

Fac.
How did you put her into't?

Man.
Alas I talk'd
They speake together.
Of a fist Monarchy I would erect,
With the Philosophers stone (by chance) and shee
Fals on the other foure, straight.

Fac.
Out of Broverton!
I told you so. 'Slid stop her mouth.

Man.
Is't best?

Fac.
She'll neuer leaue else. If the old man heare her,
We are but fœces, ashes.

Svb.
What's to doe there!

Fac.
O, we are lost. Now she heares him, she is quiet.

Mam.
Where shall I hide me?

Svb.
How! What sight is here!
Vpon Subtles entry they disperse.
Close deeds of darknesse, and that shunne the light!
Bring him againe. Who is he? What, my sonne!
O, I haue liu'd too long.

Mam.
Nay good, deare father,
There was no'vnchast purpose.

Svb.
Not? and flee me,
When I come in?

Mam.
That was my error.

Svb.
Error?
Guilt, guilt, my sonne. Giue it the right name. No maruaile,
If I found check in our great worke within,
When such affaires as these were managing!

Mam.
Why, haue you so?

Svb.
It has stood still this halfe houre:
And all the rest of our lesse workes gone back.
Where is the instrument of wickednesse,
My lewd false drudge?

Mam.
Nay, good sir, blame not him.
Beleeue me, 'twas against his will, or knowledge.
I saw her by chance.

Svb.
Will you commit more sinne,
T'excuse a varlet?

Mam.
By my hope, 'tis true, sir.

Svb.
Nay, then I wonder lesse, if you, for whom
The blessing was prepar'd, would so tempt heauen:
And loose your fortunes.

Mam.
Why, sir?

Svb.
This'll retard
The worke, a month at least.

Mam.
Why, if it doe,
What remedie? but thinke it not, good father:
Our purposes were honest.

Svb.
As they were,
So the reward will proue. How now! Aye me.
A great crack and noise within.
God, and all Saints be good to vs. What's that?

Fac.
O sir, we are defeated! all the workes
Are flowne in fume: euery glasse is burst.
Fornace, and all rent downe! as if a bolt
Of thunder had beene driuen through the house.
Retorts, Receiuers, Pellicanes, Bolt-heads,
All strooke in shiuers! Helpe, good sir! Alas,
Subtle falls downe as in a swoune.
Coldnesse, and death inuades him. Nay, sir Mammon,
Doe the faire offices of a man! You stand,
As you were readier to depart, then he.
Who's there? My lord her brother is come.

Mam.
Ha, Lungs?

One knocks.
Fac.
His coach is at the dore. Auoid his sight,
For hee's as furious, as his sister is mad.

Mam.
Alas!

Fac.
My braine is quite vn-done with the fume, sir,
I ne'er must hope to be mine owne man againe.

Mam.
Is all lost, Lungs? Will nothing be preseru'd,
Of all our cost?

Fac.
Faith, very little, sir.
A peck of coales, or so, which is cold comfort, sir.

Mam.
O my voluptuous mind! I am iustly punish'd.

Fac.
And so am I, sir.

Mam.
Cast from all my hopes—

Fac.
Nay, certainties, sir.

Mam.
By mine owne base affections.

Subtle seemes come to himselfe.
Svb.
O, the curst fruits of vice, and lust!

Mam.
Good father,
It was my sinne. Forgiue it.

Svb.
Hangs my roofe
Ouer vs still, and will not fall, ô iustice,
Vpon vs, for this wicked man!

Fac.
Nay, looke, sir,
You grieue him, now, with staying in his sight:
Good sir, the noble man will come too, and take you,
And that may breed a tragædie.

Mam.
I'll goe.

Fac.
I, and repent at home, sir. It may be,
For some good penance, you may ha'it, yet,
A hundred pound to the boxe at Bet'lem—

Mam.
Yes.

Fac.
For the restoring such as ha' their wits.

Mam.
I'll do't.

Fac.
Ile send one to you to receiue it.

Mam.
Doe.
Is no proiection left?

Fac.
All flowne, or stinks, sir.

Mam.
Will nought be sau'd, that's good for med'cine, thinkst thou?

Fac.
I cannot tell, sir. There will be, perhaps,
Something, about the scraping of the shardes,
Will cure the itch: though not your itch of mind, sir.
It shall be sau'd for you, and sent home. Good sir,
This way: for feare the lord should meet you.

Svb.
Face.

Fac.
I.

Svb.
Is he gone?

Fac.
Yes, and as heauily
As all the gold he hop'd for, were in his bloud.
Let vs be light, though.

Svb.
I, as balls, and bound
And hit our heads against the roofe for ioy:
There's so much of our care now cast away.

Fac.
Now to our Don.

Svb.
Yes, your yong widdow, by this time
Is made a Countesse, Face: Sh'has beene in trauaile
Of a yong heire for you.

Fac.
Good, sir.

Svb.
Off with your case,
And greet her kindly, as a bride-groome should,
After these common hazards.

Fac.
Very well, sir.
Will you goe fetch Don Diego off, the while?

Svb.
And fetch him ouer too, if you'll be pleas'd, sir:
Would Dol were in her place, to pick his pockets now.

Fac.
Why, you can doe it as well, if you would set to't.
I pray you proue your vertue.

Svb.
For your sake, sir.