Alchemists -- Drama; City and town life -- Drama; English drama (Comedy); English drama -- 17th century; London (England) -- Drama
SUB. Why, then triumph and sing
Of Face so famous, the precious king
Of present wits.
FACE. Did you not hear the coil
About the door?
SUB. Yes, and I dwindled with it.
FACE. Show him his aunt, and let him be dispatch'd:
I'll send her to you.
[EXIT FACE.]
SUB. Well, sir, your aunt her grace
Will give you audience presently, on my suit,
And the captain's word that you did not eat your gag
In any contempt of her highness.
[UNBINDS HIS EYES.]
DAP. Not I, in troth, sir.
[ENTER DOL, LIKE THE QUEEN OF FAIRY.]
SUB. Here she is come. Down o' your knees and wriggle:
She has a stately presence.
[DAPPER KNEELS, AND SHUFFLES TOWARDS HER.]
Good! Yet nearer,
And bid, God save you!
DAP. Madam!
SUB. And your aunt.
DAP. And my most gracious aunt, God save your grace.
DOL. Nephew, we thought to have been angry with you;
But that sweet face of yours hath turn'd the tide,
And made it flow with joy, that ebb'd of love.
Arise, and touch our velvet gown.
SUB. The skirts,
And kiss 'em. So!
DOL. Let me now stroak that head.
"Much, nephew, shalt thou win, much shalt thou spend,
Much shalt thou give away, much shalt thou lend."
SUB [ASIDE]. Ay, much! indeed.--
Why do you not thank her grace?
DAP. I cannot speak for joy.
SUB. See, the kind wretch!
Your grace's kinsman right.
DOL. Give me the bird.
Here is your fly in a purse, about your neck, cousin;
Wear it, and feed it about this day sev'n-night,
On your right wrist--
SUB. Open a vein with a pin,
And let it suck but once a week; till then,
You must not look on't.
DOL. No: and kinsman,
Bear yourself worthy of the blood you come on.
SUB. Her grace would have you eat no more Woolsack pies,
Nor Dagger frumety.
DOL. Nor break his fast
In Heaven and Hell.
SUB. She's with you every where!
Nor play with costarmongers, at mum-chance, tray-trip,
God make you rich; (when as your aunt has done it);
But keep
The gallant'st company, and the best games--
DAP. Yes, sir.
SUB. Gleek and primero; and what you get, be true to us.
DAP. By this hand, I will.
SUB. You may bring's a thousand pound
Before to-morrow night, if but three thousand
Be stirring, an you will.
DAP. I swear I will then.
SUB. Your fly will learn you all games.
FACE [WITHIN]. Have you done there?
SUB. Your grace will command him no more duties?
DOL. No:
But come, and see me often. I may chance
To leave him three or four hundred chests of treasure,
And some twelve thousand acres of fairy land,
If he game well and comely with good gamesters.
SUB. There's a kind aunt! kiss her departing part.--
But you must sell your forty mark a year, now.
DAP. Ay, sir, I mean.
SUB. Or, give't away; pox on't!
DAP. I'll give't mine aunt. I'll go and fetch the writings.
[EXIT.]
SUB. 'Tis well--away!
[RE-ENTER FACE.]
FACE. Where's Subtle?
SUB. Here: what news?
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