English literature -- Early modern, 1500-1700; English wit and humor; Great Britain -- Civilization -- 17th century -- Literary collections
_Sub._ 'Umh,
Free of the Grocers?[F. 96]
_Dru._ I, and't please you.
_Sub._ Well,
Your business _Abel_?
_Dru._ This, and't please your Worship,
I am a yong beginner, and am building
Of a new shop, and't like your worship, just
At Corner of a Street: (Here's the plot on't.)
And I would know, by art, Sir, of your Worship,
Which way I should make my dore, by _Necromancie_.
And where my Shelves. And which should be for Boxes,
And which for Potts. I would be glad to thrive, Sir,
And, I was wish'd to your Worship by a Gentleman,
One Captaine _Face_, that say's you know mens _Planets_,
And their good _Angels_, and their bad.
_Sub._ I doe
If I do see 'hem.[F. 97]
_Face._ What! my honest _Abel_?
Thou art well met here.
_Dru._ Troth, Sir, I was speaking
Just as your Worship came here, of your Worship.
I pray you, speake for me to M^r Doctor.
_Face._ He shall doe anything. Doctor, doe you heare?
This is my friend, _Abel_, an honest fellow.
* * * * *
_Sub._ H'is a fortunate fellow, that I am sure on.
_Face._ Already, Sir, ha' you found it? Lo' the _Abel_!
_Sub._ And in right way to'ward riches.
_Face._ Sir!
_Sub._ This Summer
He will be of the Clothing[F. 98] of his Company.
And, next spring, call'd to the Scarlet.[F. 99] Spend what he can.
_Face._ What, and so little Beard?
_Sub._ Sir, you must thinke,
He may have a receipt to make hayre come.
But he'll be wise, preserve his youth, and fine[F. 100] for't.
His fortune lookes for him, another way.
_Face._ 'Slid, Doctor, how canst thou know this so soone?
I am amus'd at that!
_Sub._ By a rule, Captayne
In _Metaposcopie_ which I doe worke by,
A certaine Starre i' the forehead, which you see not.
Your Chest-nut, or your Olive colourd face
Do's never fayle; and your long Eare doth promise.
I knew't, by certaine spotts too, in his teeth,
And on the nayle of his _Mercurial_ finger.
_Face._ Which finger's that?
_Sub._ His little finger, Looke.
Yo' were borne upon a Wensday.
_Drug._ Yes, indeed, Sir.
_Sub._ The Thumbe, in _Chiromantie_, we give _Venus_;
The Fore-finger to _Iove_; the Midst, to _Saturne_;
The Ring to _Sol_, the Least to Mercurie,
Who was the Lord, Sir, of his _Horoscope_,
His _House of Life_ being _Libra_. Which foreshew'd
He should be a Marchant, and should trade with Ballance.
_Face._ Why, this is strange! Is't not, honest _Nab_?
_Sub._ There is a Ship now, comming from Ormu's,
That shall yeeld him such a Commoditie
Of Drugs. This is the West, and this the South?
_Drug._ Yes Sir.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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