Alchemists -- Drama; City and town life -- Drama; English drama (Comedy); English drama -- 17th century; London (England) -- Drama
SUB. Why, sir--
[OFFERING TO WHISPER FACE.]
FACE. No whispering.
SUB. Fore heaven, you do not apprehend the loss
You do yourself in this.
FACE. Wherein? for what?
SUB. Marry, to be so importunate for one,
That, when he has it, will undo you all:
He'll win up all the money in the town.
FACE. How!
SUB. Yes, and blow up gamester after gamester,
As they do crackers in a puppet-play.
If I do give him a familiar,
Give you him all you play for; never set him:
For he will have it.
FACE. You are mistaken, doctor.
Why he does ask one but for cups and horses,
A rifling fly; none of your great familiars.
DAP. Yes, captain, I would have it for all games.
SUB. I told you so.
FACE [TAKING DAP. ASIDE]. 'Slight, that is a new business!
I understood you, a tame bird, to fly
Twice in a term, or so, on Friday nights,
When you had left the office, for a nag
Of forty or fifty shillings.
DAP. Ay, 'tis true, sir;
But I do think now I shall leave the law,
And therefore--
FACE. Why, this changes quite the case.
Do you think that I dare move him?
DAP. If you please, sir;
All's one to him, I see.
FACE. What! for that money?
I cannot with my conscience; nor should you
Make the request, methinks.
DAP. No, sir, I mean
To add consideration.
FACE. Why then, sir,
I'll try.--
[GOES TO SUBTLE.]
Say that it were for all games, doctor.
SUB. I say then, not a mouth shall eat for him
At any ordinary, but on the score,
That is a gaming mouth, conceive me.
FACE. Indeed!
SUB. He'll draw you all the treasure of the realm,
If it be set him.
FACE. Speak you this from art?
SUB. Ay, sir, and reason too, the ground of art.
He is of the only best complexion,
The queen of Fairy loves.
FACE. What! is he?
SUB. Peace.
He'll overhear you. Sir, should she but see him--
FACE. What?
SUB. Do not you tell him.
FACE. Will he win at cards too?
SUB. The spirits of dead Holland, living Isaac,
You'd swear, were in him; such a vigorous luck
As cannot be resisted. 'Slight, he'll put
Six of your gallants to a cloke, indeed.
FACE. A strange success, that some man shall be born to.
SUB. He hears you, man--
DAP. Sir, I'll not be ingrateful.
FACE. Faith, I have confidence in his good nature:
You hear, he says he will not be ingrateful.
SUB. Why, as you please; my venture follows yours.
FACE. Troth, do it, doctor; think him trusty, and make him.
He may make us both happy in an hour;
Win some five thousand pound, and send us two on't.
DAP. Believe it, and I will, sir.
FACE. And you shall, sir.
[TAKES HIM ASIDE.]
You have heard all?
DAP. No, what was't? Nothing, I, sir.
FACE. Nothing!
DAP. A little, sir.
FACE. Well, a rare star
Reign'd at your birth.
DAP. At mine, sir! No.
FACE. The doctor
Swears that you are--
SUB. Nay, captain, you'll tell all now.
FACE. Allied to the queen of Fairy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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