 | The Hogge hath Lost his Pearle |  |
Actus Quintus.
Enter Hogge in his chamber with Rebecka laying downe his bed, and seeming to put the keyes vnder his boulster conuayeth them into her pocket.Ho
So, haue you layd the keyes of the outward dores vnder
my boulster?
Re.
Yes forsooth.
Ho.
Go your way to bed then.
Exit Re.
These beds, the breeders of disease and sloth,
A was no souldier sure, nor no scholler,
And yet a might be very well a Courtier;
For no good husband would haue bin so idle,
No Vsurer neither; yet here the bed affords
discouers his gold.
Store of sweet golden slumbers vnto him;
Here sleepes commaund in warre, Cæsar by this
Obtain'd his triumphs, this will fight mans cause,
When fathers, brethren, and the neer'st of friends
Leaues to assist him, all content to this
Is meerely vaine, the louers whose affections
Do simpathize together in full pleasure,
Debarr'd of this their summer sodaine ends,
And care the winter to their former ioyes,
Breath's such a cold blast on their Turtles bils;
Hauing not this, to shrow'd him forth his stormes,
They straight are forc't to make a separation,
And so liue vnder those that rule ore this.
The Gallant, whose illustrious out-side drawes
The eyes of wantons to behold with wonder
Hir rare shap't parts, for so he thinks they be,
Deck't in the roabes of glistering gallantry:
Hauing not this, attendant on his person,
Walkes with a clowdy brow, and seemes to all
A great contemner of society;
Not for the hate he beares to company,
But for the want of this ability:
O siluer! thou that art the basest captiue
Kept in this prison: how many pale offendors
For thee haue suffered ruine; but ô my gold
Thy sight a more pleasing, then the seemely locks
Of yallow hair'd Apollo, and thy touch
More smooth and dainty, then the downe-soft white
Of Ladies tempting breast, thy bright aspect
Dimm's the great'st luster of heauens Waggoner.
But why goe I about to extoll thy worth,
Knowing that Poets cannot compasse it;
Of greater glory and supremacy
Obscures thy being, here sits enthroniz'd
The sparkling diamond, whose bright reflection
Casts such a splendor on these other Iemmes,
Mongst which he so maiesticall appeares,
A flash of fire and Lightfoote ascends like a spirit.
As if—now my good angels guard me.
Li.
Melior vigilantia somno.
Stand not amaz'd good man, for what appeares
shall adde to thy content, be voide of feares,
I am the shaddow of rich Kingly Cressus,
Sent by his greatnes from the lower world
To make thee mighty, and to sway on earth
By thy aboundant store, as he himselfe doth
In Elizium; how he raigneth there,
His shaddow will vnfold, giue thou then eare.
In Vnder-ayre where faire Elizum stands
Beyond the riuer stiled Acharon,
He hath a Castle built of Adamant;
Not fram'd by vaine enchauntment, but there fixt,
By the all burning hands of warlike spirits,
Whose windowes are compos'd of purest christall,
And deckt within with orientall pearles:
There the great spirit of Cressus royall selfe,
Keepes his abode in ioyous happinesse;
He is not tortur'd there as Poets feine
With molten gold and sulphrie flames of fire,
Or any such molesting perturbation;
But there reputed as a demy-god,
Feasting with Pluto and his Proserpine,
Night after night with all delicious cates,
With greater glory then seauen kingdomes states.
Now further know the cause of my appearance,
The kingly Cressus hauing by fames trumpe,
Heard that thy lov'd desires stand affected
To the obtaining of aboundant wealth,
Sends me his shade, thus much to signifie,
That if thou wilt become famous on earth,
And after death with him thou shalt pertake
The rare delights beyond the stigian lake.
Hog.
Great Cressus shaddow may dispose of me to what hee
pleaseth.
Li.
So speakes obediency.
For which ile raise thy lowly thoughts as high,
As Cressus were in his mortality;
Stand then vndaunted whil'st I raise those spirits,
By whose laborious taske and industry,
Thy treasure shall abound and multiply.
Ascend Ascarion thou that art a powerfull spirit and dost conuert siluer to gold, I say ascend and one me Cresus shade attend to worke the pleasure of his will.
the Player appeares.
Pla.
What would then Cresus list to fill
Some mortals cofers vp with gold,
Chaunging the siluer it doth hold:
By that pure mettle ift be so,
By the infernall gates I sweare,
Where Radamanth doth dominere:
By Cresus name and by his castle,
Where winter nights he keepeth wassell;
By Demogorgon and the fates,
And by all these low country states;
That after knowledge of thy minde,
Ascarion like the swift pac't winde,
Will flye to finish thy commaund.
Li.
Take then this siluer out of hand,
And beare it to the Riuer Tagus,
Beyond th'aboade of Archi Magus;
Whose golden sands vpon it cast,
Transforme it into gold at last:
Which being effected straight retourne,
And suddaine too, or I will spurne
This truncke of thine into the pit,
Where all the hellish furies sit,
Pla.
Swifter in course then doth the Sunne.
Exit player.
Li.
How fair'st thou mortall be? not terrified
At these infernall motions, know that shortly
Great Cressus ghost shall in the loue he beares thee,
Giue thee sufficient power by thy owne worth,
To raise such spirits.
Hog.
Cressus is much too liberall in his fauour,
To one so farre desertlesse as poore Hog.
Li
Poore Hogge, O speake not that word poore againe,
Least the whole apletree of Cressus bounty,
Crackt into shiners ouerthrow thy fortunes,
For he abhorres the name of pouerty,
And will grow sicke to heare it spoke by those,
VVhom he intends to raise; but see the twi-light
Posteth before the Charriot of the Sunne,
Brings word of his approch:
VVe must be suddaine, and with speed raise vp
The spirit Bazan: that can straight transforme
Gold into pearle; be still and circumspect.
Bazon ascend vp from the treasure of Pluto, where thou did'st at pleasure metamorphise all his gold into pearle, which boue a thousand folde exceeds the valew, quickly rise to Cresus shade, who hath a prise to be performed by thy strength.
Bazon ascends.
Bazon
I am no Fencer, yet at length
From Plutoes presence and the Hall,
VVhere Proserpine keepes festiuall,
I'me hether come and now I see,
To what intent 'Ime rai'sd by thee;
It is to make that mortall rich,
That at his fame mens eares may itch;
VVhen they doe heare but of his store,
He hath one daughter and no more;
VVhich all the lower powers decree,
Shee to one Wealthy wedded be;
By which coniunction there shall spring,
Young heires to Hogge whereon to fling:
His masse of treasure when a dies,
But come my taske I long to reare,
His fame aboue the Hemy-spheare.
Li.
Take then the gould which here doth lie,
And quicke retourne it by and by;
All in choise pearle whither to goe,
I need not tell you, for you know.
Ha.
Indeed I doe, and Hogge shall finde it so.
Exit Had.
Li.
Now mortall there is nothing doth remaine,
Twixt thee and thine aboundance, onely this
Turne thy eyes westward, for from thence appeareth
Ascarion with thy gould, which hauing brought
And at thy foote surrendred, make obeysance;
Then turne about and fix thy tapers westward,
From whence great Bazon brings thy orient pearle;
VVho'le lay it at thy feet much like the former.
Hog.
Then I must make to him obeysance thus.
Li.
VVhy so, in meane time Cressus shade will rest
Vpon thy bed, but aboue all take heed,
You suffer not your eies to stray aside,
From the direct point I haue set thee at:
For though the spirit do delay the time,
And not retourne your treasure speedily.
Hog.
Let the losse light on me, if I neglect
I ouerslip what Cressus suit commaunde.
Lo.
So now practise standing, though it be nothing agreeable
to your hogs age, let me see among these writings is my nephew
Haddits mortgage; but in taking that it may breed suspect
on vs, wherefore this boxe of Iewels will stand farre better
and let that alone, it is now breake of day, and nere by this the
marriage is confirm'd betwixt my Cosen & great Cressus friends
daughter here, whom I would now leaue to his most weighty cogitations.
To heare those passions and those franticke fits;
Your subiect to when you shall find how true,
Great Cressus shade hath made an asse of you.
Hog.
Let me now ruminate to my selfe why Cressus should
be so great a fauorer to me, & yet to what end should I desire to
so sooner, for he and his spirits would haue saued me much labour
in the purchasing of wealth; but then indeed it would haue
beene the confusion of 2. or 3. Scriueners, which by my meanes
haue beene properly rais'd: but now imagine this onely a tricke
whereby I may be guld; but how can that be? are not my dores
lockt, haue I not seene with my owne eyes the ascending of the
spirits? haue I not heard with my owne eares the inuocations
wherewith they were rais'd? could any but spirits appeare
through so firme a floore as this is? tis impossible: But harke, I
heare the spirit Ascarion comming with my gould, O bountiful
Cressus; Ile build a temple to thy mightinesse.
Enter young Lo. Welthy and Peter.
We.
O Peter, how long haue we slept vpon the hogshead?
Pe.
I thinke a dosen howers my Lord, and tis nothing, Ile
vndertake to sleepe sixteene, vpon the receipt of two cups of
muskadine.
We.
I maruell what's become of Haddit and Lightfoote?
Pe.
Hang'em flinchers they sluncke away as soone as they
had druncke as much as they were able to carry, which no generous
spirit would a done in deed.
We.
Yet I beleeue Had. had his part, for to my thinking the
seller went round with him when a left vs, but are we come to a
bed yet? I must needs sleepe.
Pe.
Come softly by any meanes, for we are now vpon the
threshold of my masters chamber, through which ile bring you
to Mistris Rebeckaes lodging, giue me your hand and come very
nicely.
(Peter fals into the hole.
We.
Where art Peter.—
Pe.
—O oh o.
We.
Wheres this noyse Peter canst tell?
Hog,
I heare the voice of my adopted sonne in law.
We.
Why Peter wilt not answere me?
Pe.
O my Lord aboue, stand still, I am falne downe at least
30. fathome deepe, if you stand not still till I recouer and haue
lighten a candle, y'are but a dead man.
Hog.
I am rob'd, I am vndone, I am deluded, whose in my
chamber?
Tis I, the Lord your sonne that shall be, vpon my honor
I came not to rob you.
Hog.
I shall run mad, I shall run mad.
Wel.
Why then tis my fortune to be terrifide with madmen.
Enter Peter with a candle.
Pe:
Where are you my Lord?
Hog.
Here my Lady? where are you rogue when theeues
breake into my house?
Pe.
Breaking my necke in your seruice a plague ont.
We.
But are you rob'd indeed father Hogge, of how much I
praye?
Hog.
Of all, of all; see here, they haue left me nothing but 2.
or 3. roles of parchment, here they came vp like spirits, & tooke
my siluer, gold, and Iewels; wheres my daughter?
Pe.
Shees not in the house sir? the streete doores are wide
open.
We.
Nay tis no matter where shee is now? shele scarce be
worth a 1000. pound and thats but a taylors prise.
Ho.
Then youle not haue her sir?
We.
No as I hope to liue in peace.
Hog.
Why bee't so, bee't so, confusion cannot come in a
more-fitter time on all of vs: O bountifull Cressus, how fine thy
shaddow hath deuoured my substance.
Pe.
Good my Lord promise him to marry his daughter, or a
will be mad presently, though you neuer intend to haue her.
We.
Well father Hogge, though you are vndone, your
daughter shall not be, so long as a Lords can stand her in any
stead: come you shall with me to my Lord and father, whose
warrants wee will haue for the apprehending of all suspitious
liues, and though the labour be infinite, you must consider your
losse is so.
Hog.
Come, ile doe any thing to gaine my golde.
Pe.
Till which be had, my fare will be but cold.
Exeunt.
Enter Haddit, Reb. Lightfoote, and Priest.
Had.
Now Mr. Parson we will no further trouble you, and
for the tying of our true loue knot, heres a small amends.
Prie.
Tis more then due sir, yet ile take it all,
Should kindnesse be dispis'd, good will would fall.
The gratefull giuers gift, Verissimo est.
Had.
It's true indeed, good morrow honest Parson.
Pe.
Yet if you please, sir Iohn will backe surrender
The ouerplus of what you now did tender.
Ha.
O by no meanes, I pree thee friend, good-morrow.
Li
Why if you please Sir Iohn to me restore,
The ouerplus ile giue it to the poore.
Pe.
O pardon sir, for by our worships leaue,
We ought to giue from whence we doe receaue.
Had.
VVhy then to me sir Iohn.
Pri.
To all a kinde good morrow.
Exit Priest.
Ha.
A most fine Vicar, there was no other meanes to be rid
of him: but why are you so sad Rebecka?
Re.
To thinke in what estate my father is?
VVhen he beholds that he is meerely guld.
Had.
Nay be not grieu'd, for that which should rather giue
you cause of content, for'twild be a meanes to make him abandon
his auarice, and saue a soule almost incurable: but now to
our owne affaires, this marriage of ours must not yet be known
least it breed suspition, we will bring you Rebecka vnto Atlas
his house, whil'st we two goe vnto the old Lord Welthies, hauing
some acquaintance with his sonne in law Carracus, who I vnderstand
is there, where no question but we shall finde your father
proclaiming his losse, thether you shall come some what
after vs, as it were to seeke him, where I doubt not but so to order
the matter, that I will receaue you as my wife, from his own
hands.
Re.
May it so happy proue.
Li.
Amen say I, for should our last tricke be knowne, great
Cressus shade would haue a coniured time ont.
Had.
Tis true, his Castle of Addamant would scarce holde
him: but come this will be good cause for laughter hereafter.
Of his rich fethers, and most finely guld.
Exeunt.
Enter old Lo. Welthy, with Car. Ma. and Albert.
Lo.
More welcome Carracus, then friendly truce
How early this glad morning are you come
To make me happy, for pardon of your offence
I'ue giuen a blessing, which may heauen confirme,
In trebble manner on your vertuous liues.
And may our liues and duty daily striue,
To be found worthy of that louing fauour,
Which from your reuerent age we now receaue,
Without desert, or merrit.
Enter young Wel. Hogge & Peter.
We.
Roome for a desirer of Iustice, what my sister Maria;
Who thought to haue met you here?
Ma.
You may see brother, vnlook't for guests proofe often
troublesome.
We.
Well, but is your husband there any quieter then a was?
Ca.
Sir, I must desire you to forget all iniuries, if, in not being
my selfe, I offered you any.
Alb.
Ile see that peace concluded.
We.
Which I agree to, for patience is a vertue father Hogge.
Ho.
Was it you sonne that cride so loud for iustice?
We.
Yes marry was it, and this the party to whome it appertaines.
Ho.
O my most honored lord I am vndone, rob'd this black
night of all the wealth and treasure, which these many yeeres I
haue howerly labored for.
Lo.
And who are those haue done this outrage to you?
Ho.
Oh knew I that, I then my lord were happy.
Lo.
Come you for Iustice then, not knowing 'gainst whom
the course of Iustice should extend it selfe?
Ho.
None but the diuell.
We.
I thought a was a Cheater, ere since I heard two or three
Templers sweare at dice the last Christmas, that the diuel had
got all.
Enter Haddit and Lightfoote.
Ha.
My kinde acquaintance, Ioy to thy good successe.
Ca.
Noble, and free-borne Haddit, welcome.
Li.
M
r. Hogge good-day.
Ho.
For I haue had a bad night on't
Li.
Sicknesse is incident to age, what be the writings ready
Ho.
Yes I thinke they are, would the Scriuiner were paid for
the making them.
Li.
A shalbe so, though I doote my selfe, is the mony put vp
as I appointed?
Ho.
Yes tis put vp, confusion cease the receiuers.
Li.
Heauen blesse vs all, what meane you sir?
Ho.
O sir, I was robb'd this night of all I had,
My daughter to is lost, and I vndone.
Li.
Marry, God forbid, after what manner I pray.
Ho.
O to recount sir will breede more ruth,
Then did the tale of that high Troian Duke,
To the sad fated Carthagenian Queene.
Ha.
What exclamations that?
Li.
What you will grieue at Coze,
Your worshipfull friend M. Hogge is robb'd.
Ha.
Rob'd, by whom or how?
Li.
O theres the griefe, a knowes not whome to suspect.
Ha.
The feare of hell oretake them whatsoere they be: but
wheres your daughter, I hope she is safe.
Enter Re.
Ho.
Thankes heauen, I see shee 's now so, where hast thou
been my girle?
Re.
Alas sir, carried by amazemēt, I know not where, pursu'd
by the robbers forc't to fly as mad affright, through al the City
streets to seek redresse, but that lay fast asleepe in all mens houses,
nor would lend an eare to the distrest.
Ha.
O heauy accident, but see you grieue too much,
Being your daughter's found, for th'other losse;
Since tis the will of heauen to giue and take,
Value it as nothing, you haue yet sufficient
To liue in blest content, had you no more
But my small mortgage for your daughter here;
Whom I haue euer lov'd in deer'st affection,
If so you please so much to fauour me,
I will accept her spight of pouerty,
And make her iointure of some store of land,
Which by the losse of a good aged friend
Late fell to me, what ist a match or no.
Ho.
It is.
Please you draw neere, to be here witnesses
To a wisht contract, twixt this maid and I.
Omnes
We all are willing.
Ho.
Then in the presence of you all, I giue my daughter freely
to this gent. as wife, and to shew how much I stand affected
to him for dowry with her, I doe backe restore his mortgag'd
lands, and for their loues I vowe, euer hereafter to detest, renounce,
loath and abhorre all slauish auarice:
To be 'mongst men the actor of all euill.
Om.
A blest conuersion.
Lo.
A good far vnexpected, and now gentlemen,
I do enuite you all to feast with me
This happy day, that we may altogether
Applaud his good successe, and let this day be spent,
In sports and shewes with gladsome merriment:
Come blest conuerted man weele lead the way,
As vnto heauen I hope we shall.
Ho.
Heauen graunt we may.
Ca.
Come my Maria and repentant friend,
Wee three haue tasted worst of misery,
Which now adde ioy to our felicity.
Ha.
We three are happy wee haue gain'd much wealth,
And though we haue done it by a tricke of stealth,
Yet all I trust are pleas'd, and will our ill acquite,
Since it hath sau'd a soule was hells by right.
We.
To follow after then, our lot doth fall,
Now rime it Peter.
Pe.
A good night to all.
Exeunt omnes.
| The Hogge hath Lost his Pearle | |