RAFE

Nay I would feign have his thirty two, that is, his three dozen lacking four points, for you see be betwixt us three there is not two good points. North North and by North. I can go no fur there. I will never learn this language, it will get but small living, when it will scarce be learned till one be old. Was there ever such cosening? Come let us to the woods, and see what fortune we may have be before they be made ships: as for our Master he is drowned. I this, & this day twelvemonth let us all meet here again: it may be we shall either beg together, or hang together. Call you this seeking of Fortune's when one can find nothing but birds nests? would I were out of these Woods, for I shall have but wooden luck, heers nothing but the shrieking of Owls, croaking of Frogs, hissing of Adders, barking of Foxes, walking of Hags. But what be these? I will follow them, to hell I shall not go, for so fair faces never can have such hard Fortune's. What black boy is this. What language is this? do they speak so? My hair begins to stand upright, would the boy would make and end. Then am I joust of thy occupation. What fell low, well met. Why thou sayest, the end of thy occupation is to have neither wit, money, nor honesty: & me thinks at a blush, thou shouldst be one of my occupation. Whats that, a man? That makes thee have never a point, they be all turned to pots: but if he can do this, he shall be a God altogether. How might a man serve him and learn his cunning? Nay I have done if you work with devils. That is my Spirit, for my silver is so quick; that I have much a do to catch it, and when I have it, it is so nimble that I cannot hold it; I thought there was a devil in it. Thats no Spirit, but a word to conjure a Spirit. A proper word. Thats a stinking Spirit, I thought there was some spirit in it because it burned so blue. For my More there would often tell me that when the candle burned blue, there was some ill Spirit in the house, and now I perceive it was the spirit Brimstone. Let me alone to conjure them. This is a beggar. I Like not his attire, but am enamored of his Art. Is it possible? I'll tell thee one secret, I stole a silver thim ble; dost thou think that he will make it a pottle pot? What do I hear? I remember that tale. All is one, a crafty mystery, and a mystical craft. Infinite. I can swear though I be a poor fellow as well as the best man in the Shire. But Sir I much marvel that you being so cunning, should be so ragged. I have good fortune to light upon such a Mai ster. I must bless my self, and marvel at you. I follow, I run, I fly; they say my Father hath a golden thumb, you shall see me have a golden body. Exit. I would I had a pair of wings that I might fly after. That will not I forget, farewell Master. I would I had not known the beginning. Did not you promise me, of my silver thimble to make a whole cupboard of plate, and that of a Spanish needle you would built a silver steeple? Nay if you must weigh your fire by ounces, & take measure of a men blast, you may then make of a dram of wind a wedge of gold, and of the shadow of one shilling make another, so as you have and Organ nist to tune your temperatures. Concur, condog. I will away. And art quoth you, that one multiplieth so much all day, that he wants money to buy meat at night? But what have we yonder? what devout man? he will never speak till he be urged. I will salute him. Sir, there lies a purse under your feet, if I thought it were not yours, I would take it up. Why what are you? What one of those that makes Almanacs. I hope sir you are no more then a God. I pray you sir tell me what you cannot do, for I perceive there is nothing so easy for you to compass as impossibilities. But what be those signs? That is the worst sign for the head. Because it is a sign of and ill Ewe. I will hear no more signs, if they be all such desperate signs: but seeing you are, (I know not who to term you) shall I serve you? I would feign serve. I will meddle no more with numbering of gold, for multiplication is a miserable Actium; I pray sir what weather shall we have this hour threescore year? Then I shall be translated from this mortality. Oh fortune. I feel my very brains moralized, and as it were a certain contempt of earthly actions is crept into my mind, by and etherial contemplation. Come let us in. What Robin? what news? what fortune? I have had two Masters, not by art but by nature, one said, that by multiplying he would make of a penny ten pound. Could he do it quoth you? why man, I saw a pretty wench come to his shop, where with puf fing, blowing, and sweating, he so plied her, that he multiplied her. Why he made her of one, two. No, by the Philosophers stone. I, but they lie in a privy cupboard. Tush this was nothing, he would of a little fasting spittle, make a hose & doublet of cloth of silver. How then didst thou live? Thy Master was and Ass, and looked on the lines of thy hands, but my other Master was and Astro nomer, which could pick my nativity out of the stars. I should have half a dozen stars in my pocket if I have not lost them, but here they be. Solemnizing, Saturn, Ju piter, Mars, Venus. I, but by these he gathereth, that I was a Io ualist, born of a Thursday, & that I should be a brave Venerean, and get all my good luck on a Friday. Oh Robin, Venus orta mari, Venus was born of the Sea, the Sea will have fish, fish must have wine, wine will have flesh, for Caro carnis genus est muliebre: but soft, here comes that notable villain, that once preferred me to the Alcumist. Robin thou shalt see me fit him. So I had a servant, I care neither for his conditions, his quali lities, nor his person. It warm indeed, for the fire had almost burned out mine eyes, and yet my teeth still watered with hunger: so that my service was both too hot & too cold. I melted all my meat, and made only my slum ber thoughts, and so had a full head and and empty bel lie. But where hast thou been since? Syrra, what was he doing that he came not with thee? I, thou passest for devising impossibilities, thats as true as thy Master could make silver pots of tagges of points. Nay if he be both our cozens, I will be his great Grandfather, and Robin shall be his Uncle, but I pray thee bring us to him quickly, for I am great belli ed with conceit till I see him. Come Robin, I am glad I have met with thee, for now we will make our Father laugh at these tales. We do not mean fortune tellers, we mean fortune tellers: we can tell what fortune we have had these twelve months in the Woods. Basely. Content? never better content, for there we shall be sure to fill our bellies with Capons rumps, or some such dainty dishes. Happy am I, for now shall I reach thoughts, and tell how many drops of water goes to the greatest shower of rain. You shall see me catch the Moon in the clips Like a Conny in a pursnet. NO more Masters now, but a Mistress if I can light on her. And Astronomer? of all occupations thats the worst, yet well fare the Alcu missed, for he keeps good fires though he gets no gold, the other stands warming himself by staring on the stars, which I think he can as soon number as know their virtues. He told me a long tale of Octogessimus octavus, and the meeting of the Coniunctions & Plam nets, and in the meantime he fell backward himself into a Pond. I asked him why he foresaw not that by the stars, he said he knew it, but contemned it. But soft, is not this my brother Robin? I take no pleasure in it. Of all death's I would not be drowned, ones clothes will be so wet when he is taken up. I will rather hang my self on a raughter in the house, then be so haled in the Sea, there one may have a leap for his life; but I marvel how our Ma ster speeds. Oh thou hast a sweet life Mariner to be pinde in a few boards, and to be within and inch of a thing bottomless. I pray thee how often hast thou been drowned? Let me cross my self, I never herd so many great devils in a little Monkeys mouth.