RONCA

Read on this lecture, wise ALBUMAZAR. Most Philosophical ALBUMAZAR! If all the houses in the town were prisons, The chambers cages, all the settles stocks, The broad gates gallows, and the whole people Justices, Juries, Constables, Keepers and Hangmen, I'de practice spite of all, and leave behind me A fruitful seminary of our profession, And call them by thy name Albumazarians. Where good Albumazar ? My life has learned out all, I know't by's music; Bear up thy learned brow ALBUMAZAR, Live long of all the world admired, For Art profound, and skill retired To cheating by the height of stars. Hence, Gypsies, hence, hence rogues of baser strain, That hazard life for little gain: Stand off and wonder, gape and gaze a far At the rare skill of great ALBUMAZAR. THere's old Pandolfo, amorous as youthful May, And grey as January. I'll attend him here. 'Tis well that servant's gone: I shall the easier Wind up his master to my purposes. A good ascendent bless me: sir are you frantic? Of vulgar men and houses. His lodging? no: it's the learned Phrontisterion Of most divine Albumazar. How! all your land sold at a hundredth years purchase Cannot repair damage of one poor rap, To thunder at the Phrontisterion Of great Albumazar ? Sir, you must know my master's heavenly brain Pregnant with mysteries of Metaphisickes, Grows to and Embryo of rare contemplation, Which at full time brought forth, excel's by far The armed fruit of Vulcan's Midwifery That leapt from Jupiter's mighty Cranium. Thus one of your bold thunders may abortive And cause that birth miscarry, that might have proved And instrument of wonders greater and rarer Then Apollonius the Magician wrought. Yes: why ask you? You needs not with a wind instrument my master made, In five days you may breath ten languages As perfect as the Devil, or himself. When't please the stars. He pul's you not a hair, nor pare's a nail, Nor stir's a foot without endue figuring The Horoscope: fit down a while an't please you, I see the heavens incline to his approach. And engine to catch stars, A maze arrest such Planets as have lurked Four thousand years under protection Of Jupiter and Solemnizing. Sir, it's a perspicill, best under heaven: With this I'll read a leaf of that small Iliad That in a walnut shell was desk't, as plainly Twelve long miles off, as you see Paul's from Highgate. It'll draw the Moon so near that you would swear The bush of thorns in't prick your eyes: the Crystal Of a large Arch multiply's millions, Work's more then by point blank: and by refractions Optic and strange, searches Like th'eye of truth, All closets that have windows. Have at Room, I see the Pope, his Cardinals and his mule, The English College and the Jesuits, And what they write and do. So far you can not: for this glass is framed For eyes of thirty: you are nigh threescore. But for some fifty miles it'll serve you, With help of a refractive glass that's yonder. For trial sir: where are you now? Would you found the glass within that chamber? What see you? Why that's the coure at Cambridge forty miles hence, what else? That's university Larded with Townsmen. Look you there: what now? That's Coriatus Persicus, and's observations Of Asia and Afric. I dare not sel't. But here's another of a stranger virtue: The great Albumazar by wondrous Art, In imitation of this Perspicill, Hath framed and Instrument that multiplies Objects of hearing, as this does of seeing, That you may know each whisper from Prester John Against the wind, as fresh as 'twere delivered Through a trunk, or Gloucesters listening wall. It's something ceremonious; but you shall try't. Stand thus. What hear you? And now? Sing sweetly, that our notes may cause The heavenly Orbs themselves to pause: And at our music stand as still As at Jove's amorous will. So now release them as before, Th'haue waited long enough, no more. What hear you now? Sir, this is called and Otacousticon. True: for in such a form the great Albumazar Hath framed it purposely, as fittest receivers Of sounds, as spectacles Like eyes for sighed. Nay rather giu`t to Flaviam for her ioncture: For she that marries you, deserves it richly. Pandolfo, are you mad? be wise and secret: See you steep danger you are tumbling in? Know you not that these instruments have power T'vnlocke the hidden'st closets of whole states? And you reveal such mysteries to a servant? Sir be advised, or else you learn no more Of our unknown Philosophy. Albumazarro Meteoroscopico. I go sir. Near were those Authors cited to better purpose. For through that window all Pandolfo's treasures Must take their flight and fallen upon my shoulders. Spoken by Art Albumazar : a provident setter: For so shall we receive what thou hand'st out Free from discovery. But in my conscience All windows point full South for such a business. Good, good! a rich beginning: good! what's next? So, there's shirts And bans to furnish all on's for a twelvemonth. Furbo and I are those Intelligences That must attend upon the Magistery. Were they hell-black, wee'd make a shift to eat them. A thousand thanks, thou'lt make a complete cheat. Thus loaded with this treasure, cheered with wine, Strengthened with meat: we'll carry thee in triumph, As the great General of our achievement. To furnish out our banquet. How lose ten pieces? Harpax bestow the plate, Furbo our beards, Black patches for our eyes, and other properties, And at the time and place meet all at Supper. Just Aesop's Crow, prink't up in borrowed feathers. How his imagination boils, and works in all things He ever saw or herd! He'll grow stark mad I fear me. Signior Antonio ? Signior Antonio ? welcome ten thousand times: Blessed be the Heavens and seas for your return. This three months all your kindred, friends and children, Mourned for your death. Welcome ten thousand times from Barbary. No friend more glad to see Antonio Then I: nor am I thus for hope of gain; But that I find occasion to be grateful By your return. Do you remember sir, Before you went, as I was once arrested, And could not put in bail; you passing by, Lent me ten pound, and so discharged the debt? Oft have I waited at your house with money, And many thanks: but you were still beyond seas. Now am I happy of this fair occasion To testify my honest care to pay you: For you may needs it. SIgnior Antonio ? I saw you as you landed, And in great hast followed to congratulate Your safe return, with these most wished embraces. Have you forgotten Your deer friend Ronca, whom you loved so well? Thanks to the fortune of the seas that saved you. My deer Antonio, Never so well as now I have the power Thus to embrace my friend, whom all th'Exchange Gave drowned for three whole months. My deer Antonio. Most deer Antonio, Was not your passage dangerous from Barbary ? We had great winds and tempests; and I fear me, You felt the force at sea. What's your pleasure sir? Why here. Think you me the Giant with a hundred hands? There's both my deer Antonio Keep your self dark, eat broth; your fearful passage, And want of natural rest hath made you frantic. Signior Antonio, What ails you? What kind of man was he? something Like me? Met you with Ronca ? it's the cunningest nimmer Of the whole company of cutpurse hall I am sorry I was not here to warn you of him. Now is the Ass expecting of a banquet, Ready to court, embrace, and kiss his Mistress. But I'll soon stave him. Tick, tock, what ho! It's I. Bevilona? Down, or I'll break the doors, and with the splinters Beat all thy bones to pieces: Down you whore! Doubtless, this whore hath some of her companions That wrong me thus. But if I catch the villain, Il'e both my hungry sword, and sharp revenge, In his heartblood. Come down. Second me handsomely, we'll entertain him And hour or two, and laugh and get his cloth's To make our sport up. Wife, where's the empty hogshead That wont to stand under the stairs? Out with it quickly: I must have it filled. I'll help thee: so, so. Foh! this vessel's musty. Fetch out some water. So, so, now shake it, so, so. My life it's Trincalo, For I have herd that Coxcomb, That Ass, that Clown, seeks to corrupt my wife, Sending his fruit and dainties from the Country. Oh that 'twere he. How would I use the villain! First crop his ears, then slit his nose, and geld him, And with a read hight Iron sear his raw wounds; Then barrel him again, and send the Eunuch To the great Turk to keep his Concubines. Tick, tock, who's with in here? One that I dare not? Out villain, out. Signior Antonio! Had it been any but your self, he had died. But as you saved my life before you went, So now command mine in your services I would have sworn y'ad drowned in Barbary. Sir I believe you. Sir, for your sake. My house and self are at your service. No, not a silver spoon. It's our profession, As your's Astrology. And in days of old, Good morrow Thief, as welcome was received, As now your Worship. It's your own instruction. Our promise! If honest men by Obligations, And instruments of Law, are hardly constrained T'obserue their word; Can we, that make profession Of lawless courses, do't? 'Twas lent in and ill Second, worse Third, And luckless Fourth: it's lost, Albumazar. Hali, Abenezra, Hiarcha, Brachman, Budda Babylonicus, And all the Chaldes and the Cabalists, Affirm that sad Aspect threat's lose of debts. It's and ill course And full of fears. This treasure hath enriched us, And given us means to purchase, and live quiet Of fruit of dangers passed. When I used robbing, All blocks before me look't Like Constables, And posts appeared in shape of Gallows. Therefore good Tutor take your pupils counsel: It's better beg then steal: Live in poor clothes, Then hang in Satin. Do, if thou longest to see thy own Anatomy. Fellows away, never's company. Let's hence. Exeunt. Set your hands thus That vertex of the Organ may perpendicularly Point out our Zenith. What hear you now? would, would, would. Why that's the Court And University, that now are merry With and old gentleman in a Comedy. What now? It's music betwixt the Acts. What now? Il'e selt you when it's finished: As yet the Epiglottis is unperfect. One minute brings him. The perpetual motion With a true alarm in't to run twelve hours Before Mahomets return. I will sir. Here sir. It was, and so is this. Signior Antonio, for this courtesy Call me your servant. I thank you. Signior Antonio, I see your mind's much troubled About affairs of worth; I take my leave, And kiss your hands of liberality. Here it's. My right? My left? Thomas up William, up Morgan, up Davy, up Roger, &c. Who now? Is the Ass passed? I must have't now. Whence come's this hollow found? For you I make no question. But there's a rogue called Trincalo, whom if I catch. I'll teach him. We are your scholars, Made by your help, and our own aptness, able To instruct others. It's the Trade we live by. You that are servant to Divine Astrology, Do something worth her livery. Cast Figures, Make Almanacs for all Meridians. And now?