Volume Xi Part 90 (1/2)

PAN. I can cry no longer, My throat's sore; I am robb'd, I am robb'd, all's gone, Both my own treasure, and the things I borrow'd.

Make thou an outcry, I have lost my voice: Cry fire, and then they'll hear thee.

CRI. Good, good: thieves!

What have you lost?

PAN. Wine, jewels, tablecloths, A cupboard of rich plate.

CRI. Fie! you'll spoil all.

Now you outdo it. Say but a bowl or two.

PAN. Villain, I say all's gone; the room's as clean As a wip'd looking-gla.s.s: O me, O me!

CRI. What, in good earnest?

PAN. Fool, in accursed earnest.

CRI. You gull me, sure.

PAN. The window towards the south stands ope, from whence Went all my treasure. Where's the astrologer?

ALB. Here, sir; And hardly can abstain from laughing, to see you vex Yourself in vain.

PAN. In vain, Alb.u.mazar?

I left my plate with you, and 'tis all vanish'd; And you shall answer it.

ALB. O, were it possible By power of art to check what art hath done, Your man should ne'er be chang'd: to wrong me thus With foul suspicion of flat felony!

Your plate, your cloth of silver, wine and jewels, Linen, and all the rest, I gave to Trincalo, And for more safety lock'd them in the lobby.

He'll keep them carefully. But, as you love your mistress, Disturb him not this half-hour, lest you'll have him Like to a centaur, half-clown, half-gentleman.

Suffer his foot and hand, that's yet untouch'd, To be enn.o.bled like his other members.

PAN. Alb.u.mazar, I pray you pardon me, Th' unlooked-for bareness of the room amaz'd me.

ALB. How! think you me so negligent, to commit So rich a ma.s.s of treasure to th' open danger Of a large cas.e.m.e.nt and suspicious alley?

No, sir; my sacrifice no sooner done, But I wrapp'd all up safe, and gave it Trincalo.

I could be angry, but that your sudden fear Excuses you. Fie! such a noise as this, Half an hour pa.s.s'd, had scar'd the intelligences, And spoil'd the work: but no harm done. Go walk Westward, directly westward, one half-hour; Then turn back, and take your servant turn'd t' Antonio, And, as you like my skill, perform your promise, I mean the chain.

PAN. Content, let's still go westward---- Westward, good Cricca, still directly westward.

[_Exeunt_ PANDOLFO _and_ CRICCA.

SCENE III.

ALb.u.mAZAR, RONCA, HARPAX, FURBO.

ALB. Harpax, Furbo, and Ronca, come out: all's clear.

Why, here's a n.o.ble prize, worth vent'ring for.

Is not this braver than sneak all night in danger, Picking of locks, or hooking clothes at windows?

Here's plate, and gold, and cloth, and meat, and wine, All rich and eas'ly got. Ronca, stay hereabout.