Drug.

I would entreat

Another favour of his worship.

Face.

What is't, Nab? Drug. But to look over, sir, my almanack, And cross out my ill-days, that I may neither Bargain, nor trust upon them.

Face.

Leave it, it shall be done, 'gainst afternoon.

Subt. And a direction for his shelves.
Face.

Art thou well pleased, Nab?

Drug.

Now, Nab?

"Thank, sir, both your worships. [Exit Drugger.

Face. Away!

Why now, you smoky persecutor of nature!

Now do you see, that something's to be done,

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Beside your beech-coal, and your corsive waters,

Your crosslets, crucibles, and cucurbites?

You must have stuff, brought home to you, to work on :
And yet you think I am at no expense

In searching out these veins, then following them,
Then trying them out. 'Fore God, my intelligence
Costs me more money, than my share oft comes to
In these rare works.

480

[Re-enter Dol.

How now?

What says my dainty Dolkin!

Dol.

Will not away.

Yonder fish-wife

And there's your giantess,

The bawd of Lambeth.

Subt.

Heart, I cannot speak with them.
Dol. Not afore night, I have told them, in a voice
Thorough the trunk, like one of your familiars.
But I have spied sir Epicure Mammon-

Subt.

Where?

Dol. Coming along, at far end of the lane,
Slow of his feet, but earnest of his tongue,
To one that's with him.

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490

Subt. Face, go you, and shift. [Exit Face. Dol, you must presently make ready, tooDol. Why, what's the matter?

O, I did look for him

Subt.
With the sun's rising: marvel, he could sleep!
This is the day I am to perfect for him
The magisterium, our great work, the stone:
And yield it, made, into his hands of which

He has, this month, talked as he were possessed.
And now he's dealing pieces on 't away.
Methinks I see him ent'ring ordinaries,
Dispensing for the pox, and plaguy houses,
Reaching his dose, walking Moorfields for lepers,
And offering citizens' wives pomander-bracelets,
As his preservative, made of the elixir ;
Searching the Spittle, to make old bawds young;
And the high-ways, for beggars, to make rich :

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500

505

I see no end of his labours.

He will make

Nature ashamed of her long sleep, when Art,
Who's but a step-dame, shall do more than she,
In her best love to mankind, ever could.
If his dream last, he'll turn the age to gold.

510

[Exeunt.

Mam.

ACT II

SCENE I-An outer room in Lovewit's house.

Enter Sir Epicure, Mammon and Surly.

Come on, sir. Now, you set your foot on shore

In novo orbe; here's the rich Peru!

And there, within, sir, are the golden mines,
Great Solomon's Ophir! He was sailing to 't,

Three years, but we have reached it in ten months.
This is the day wherein, to all my friends,

5

I will pronounce the happy word, Be rich.
This day you shall be spectatissimi.

You shall no more deal with the hollow die,

Or the frail card. No more be at charge of keeping
The livery-punk for the young heir, that must
Seal, at all hours, in his shirt.
No more,

If he deny, have him beaten to 't, as he is
That brings him the commodity. No more
Shall thirst of satin, or the covetous hunger
Of velvet entrails for a rude-spun cloak
To be displayed at madam Augusta's, make
The sons of Sword and Hazard fall before

The Golden Calf, and on their knees, whole nights,
Commit idolatry with wine and trumpets,

Or

go a feasting, after drum and ensign.

No more of this. You shall start up young viceroys,
And have your punks, and punketees, my Surly.

ΙΟ

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20

And unto thee, I speak it first, Be rich.
Where is my Subtle, there? Within, ho!
Face. [Within.]

He'll come to you by-and-by.

Mam.

Sir,

25

That is his Fire-drake,

His Lungs, his Zephyrus, he that puffs his coals,
Till he firk nature up, in her own centre.

You are not faithful, sir. This night I'll change
All that is metal in my house to gold.

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And early in the morning will I send

To all the plumbers, and the pewterers,

And buy their tin, and lead up: and to Lothbury,
For all the copper.

Sur.

What, and turn that, too?

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Mam. Yes, and I'll purchase Devonshire, and Cornwall, And make them perfect Indies! you admire now?

No, faith.

Sur.
Mam. But when you see th' effects of the great

Of which one part projected on a hundred

Of Mercury, or Venus, or the moon,
Shall turn it to as many of the sun;
Nay, to a thousand, so ad infinitum :
You will believe me.

Sur.
Yes, when I see 't, I will.
But if my eyes do cozen me so, (and I
Giving them no occasion) sure, I'll have
A whore, shall p them out, next day.

[medicine!

40