A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
English drama
How shall I recompense this astrologer,
This great Albumazar, through whose learned hands
Fortune hath prov'd[352] th' effect of my best wishes,
And crown'd my hopes? Give him this chain?
Alas!
'Tis a poor thanks, short by a thousand links
Of his large merit. No, he must live with me
And my sweet Flavia at his ease and pleasure,
Wanting for nothing: and this very night
I'll get a boy, and he erect a figure
To calculate his fortunes. So, there's Trincalo
Antoniated, or Antonio Intrinculate.
SCENE IV.
ANTONIO, PANDOLFO, LELIO, EUGENIO.
ANT. Signior Pandolfo! welcome.
LEL. Your servant, sir.
PAN. Well-met, Antonio; my prayers and wishes
Have waited on you ever.
ANT. Thanks, dearest friend.
To speak my danger pass'd were to discourse
Of dead men at a feast. Such sad relations
Become not marriages. Sir, I am here
Return'd to do you service. Where's your son?
PAN. He'll wait upon you presently.
EUG. Signior Antonio!
Happily welcome.
ANT. Thanks, Eugenio.
How think you, gentlemen: were it amiss
To call down Flavia and Sulpitia,
That what we do may with a full consent
Be entertain'd of all?
PAN. 'Tis well-remember'd.
Eugenio, call your sister.
ANT. Lelio, call my daughter. [_Exeunt_ LELIO _and_ EUGENIO.
SCENE V.
PANDOLFO, ANTONIO.
PAN. Wisely consider'd, Trincalo; 'tis a fair prologue
To the comedy ensuing. Now I confess
Albumazar had equal power to change
And mend thy understanding with thy body.
Let me embrace and hug thee for this service:
'Tis a brave onset: O my sweet Trincalo!
ANT. How like you the beginning?
PAN. 'Tis o' th' further side
All expectation.
ANT. Was't not right, and spoken
Like old Antonio?
PAN.[353] 'Tis most admirable!
Were't he himself that spoke, he could not better't.
And for thy sake I wish Antonio's shape
May ever be thy house, and's wit thy inmate.
But where's my plate and cloth of silver?
ANT. Safe.
PAN. They come. Keep state, keep state, or all's discover'd.
SCENE VI.
ANTONIO, PANDOLFO, EUGENIO, LELIO, FLAVIA, SULPITIA.
ANT. Eugenio, Flavia, Lelio, and Sulpitia,
Marriages, once confirm'd and consummate,
Admit of no repentance. Therefore 'tis fitting
All parties with full freedom speak their pleasure,
Before it be too late.
PAN. Good! excellent!
ANT. Speak boldly, therefore. Do you willingly
Give full authority, that what I decree
Touching these businesses, you'll all perform?
EUG. I rest as you dispose: what you determine,
With my best power I ratify; and Sulpitia,
I dare be bold to promise, says no less.
SUL. Whate'er my father, brother, and yourself
Shall think convenient, pleaseth me.
LEL. In this,
As in all other service, I commit myself
To your commands; and so, I hope, my sister.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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