Volume Xi Part 76 (1/2)

RONCA, } HARPAX, } _thieves_.

FURBO, } PANDOLFO, _an old gentleman_.

CRICCA, _his servant_.

TRINCALO, _Pandolfo's farmer_.

ARMELLINA, _Antonio's Maid_.

LELIO, _Antonio's son_.

EUGENIO, _Pandolfo's son_.

FLAVIA, _Antonio's daughter_.

SULPITIA, _Pandolfo's daughter_.

BEVILONA, _a courtesan_.

ANTONIO, _an old gentleman_.

[225] ”Alb.u.mazar” is the name of a famous Persian astrologer viz., Abu ma shar.--”Universal History,” v. 413; Collier's ”Dictionary,” _in voce_.--_Pegge._

THE PROLOGUE.

The brightness of so great and fair a presence, They say, strikes cold amazement. But I feel Contrary effects. For from the gracious centre O' the honourable a.s.sembly some secret power Inflames my courage; and methinks I am grown Taller by th' virtue of this audience.

And yet, thus rais'd, I fear there's no retiring.

Ladies, whose beauties glad the whole a.s.sembly, Upon your favours I impose my business.

If't be a fault to speak this foreign language, (For Latin is our mother tongue)[226] I must entreat you To frame excuses for us; for whose sake We now speak English. All the rest we hope Come purposely to grace our poor endeavours, As we to please. In whose fair courtesy We trust, not in our weak ability.

[226] It is observed by the writer in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, 1756, p. 225, that ”the exercises of the University were not only performed in Latin; but the plays, written in this and the former reign, for the entertainment of the Court, whenever it removed, either to Oxford or Cambridge, were generally composed in that language. Thus 'aemilia,' 'Ignoramus,' and 'Melanthe,' all acted at the same time with 'Alb.u.mazar,' were in Latin. Both King James and Queen Elizabeth were Latinists.”

ALb.u.mAZAR.[227]

ACT I, SCENE 1.

_Enter_ ALb.u.mAZAR, HARPAX, RONCA.

ALB. Come, brave mercurials, sublim'd in cheating; My dear companions, fellow-soldiers I' th' watchful exercise of thievery: Shame not at your so large profession, No more than I at deep astrology; For in the days of old, _Good morrow, thief_, As welcome was received, as now _your wors.h.i.+p_.

The Spartans held it lawful,[228] and the Arabians;[229]

So grew Arabia felix, Sparta valiant.

RON. Read on this lecture, wise Alb.u.mazar.

ALB. Your patron, Mercury, in his mysterious character Holds all the marks of the other wanderers,[230]

And with his subtle influence works in all, Filling their stories full of robberies.

Most trades and callings must partic.i.p.ate Of yours, though smoothly gilt with th' honest t.i.tle Of merchant, lawyer, or such like--the learned Only excepted, and he's therefore poor.

HAR. And yet he steals, one author from another.