Alchemists -- Drama; City and town life -- Drama; English drama (Comedy); English drama -- 17th century; London (England) -- Drama
FACE. Sir, he does pray, you'll not forget.
SUR. I will not, sir.
Sir Epicure, I shall leave you.
[EXIT.]
MAM. I follow you, straight.
FACE. But do so, good sir, to avoid suspicion.
This gentleman has a parlous head.
MAM. But wilt thou Ulen,
Be constant to thy promise?
FACE. As my life, sir.
MAM. And wilt thou insinuate what I am, and praise me,
And say, I am a noble fellow?
FACE. O, what else, sir?
And that you'll make her royal with the stone,
An empress; and yourself, King of Bantam.
MAM. Wilt thou do this?
FACE. Will I, sir!
MAM. Lungs, my Lungs!
I love thee.
FACE. Send your stuff, sir, that my master
May busy himself about projection.
MAM. Thou hast witch'd me, rogue: take, go.
[GIVES HIM MONEY.]
FACE. Your jack, and all, sir.
MAM. Thou art a villain--I will send my jack,
And the weights too. Slave, I could bite thine ear.
Away, thou dost not care for me.
FACE. Not I, sir!
MAM. Come, I was born to make thee, my good weasel,
Set thee on a bench, and have thee twirl a chain
With the best lord's vermin of 'em all.
FACE. Away, sir.
MAM. A count, nay, a count palatine--
FACE. Good, sir, go.
MAM. Shall not advance thee better: no, nor faster.
[EXIT.]
[RE-ENTER SUBTLE AND DOL.]
SUB. Has he bit? has he bit?
FACE. And swallowed, too, my Subtle.
I have given him line, and now he plays, i'faith.
SUB. And shall we twitch him?
FACE. Thorough both the gills.
A wench is a rare bait, with which a man
No sooner's taken, but he straight firks mad.
SUB. Dol, my Lord What'ts'hums sister, you must now
Bear yourself statelich.
DOL. O let me alone.
I'll not forget my race, I warrant you.
I'll keep my distance, laugh and talk aloud;
Have all the tricks of a proud scurvy lady,
And be as rude as her woman.
FACE. Well said, sanguine!
SUB. But will he send his andirons?
FACE. His jack too,
And's iron shoeing-horn; I have spoke to him. Well,
I must not lose my wary gamester yonder.
SUB. O monsieur Caution, that WILL NOT BE GULL'D?
FACE. Ay,
If I can strike a fine hook into him, now!
The Temple-church, there I have cast mine angle.
Well, pray for me. I'll about it.
[KNOCKING WITHOUT.]
SUB. What, more gudgeons!
Dol, scout, scout!
[DOL GOES TO THE WINDOW.]
Stay, Face, you must go to the door,
'Pray God it be my anabaptist--Who is't, Dol?
DOL. I know him not: he looks like a gold-endman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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