Sub. Good wives, I pray you forbear me now: Troth, I can do you no good till afternoon. What is your name, say you? Abel Drugger! 180 Drug. Yes, sir. Sub. A seller of tobacco ? Drug. Yes, sir. Sub. Umh. Free of the grocers? Drug. Yes, I'm free of the grocers. Sub. Well Your business, Abel? Drug. This an't please your worship. I am a young beginner, and am building Of a new shop, an't like your worship, just At corner of a street (here is the plot on't); And I would know, by art, sir, of your worship, Which way I should make my door, by necromancy, And where my shelves; and which should be for boxes, And which for pots. I would be glad to thrive, sir. And I was wish'd to your worship by a gentleman, One captain Face, that says you know men's planets, And their good angels, and their bad. Sub. I do, If I do see them. 500 Enter FACE. Face. What! my honest Abel? Thou art well met here. Drug. Troth, sir, I was speaking Just as your worship came here, of your worship. I pray you speak for me to master doctor. Face. He shall do any thing. Doctor, do you hear? This is my friend, Abel, an honest fellow: He lets me have good tobacco, and he Does not sophisticate it. Drug. No, I never sophisticate it. Face. Nor wrap it up in piss'd clouts. Drug. Oh, fye for shame, captain. Face. He's a neat, spruce, honest fellow, and no goldsmith. Drug. No, I am no goldsmith. Sub. He's a fortunate fellow, that I am sure onFace. Already, sir, ha' you found it! Lo'thee, Abel! Sub. And in right way towards riches Face. Sir? Sub. This summer 520 He will be of the clothing of his company, And next spring call'd to the scarlet, spend what he can. Face. What, and so little beard? Sub. You must think, He may have a receipt to make hair come : But he'll be wise, preserve his youth, and fine for't; His fortune looks for him another way. Face. 'Slid, doctor, how canst thou know this so soon? I am amaz'd at that! Sub. By a rule, captain, In metaposcopy, which I do work by; A certain star i' the forehead, which you see not. Does never fail: and your long ear doth promise, D I knew't, by certain spots too, in his teeth, And on the nail of his mercurial finger. Sub. His little finger. Look You were born upon a Wednesday? Drug. "Yes, indeed, sir,” and so I was. 540 Sub. The thumb in Chiromancy, we give Venus; The fore-finger, to Jove; the midst, to Saturn; The ring, to Sol; the least, to Mercury, Who was the lord, sir, of his Horoscope, His House of Life being Libra; which foreshew'd He should be a merchant, and should trade with balance. Face. Why this is strange? Is't not, honest Nab? Drug. Yes, very strange. Sub. There is a ship now, coming from Ormus, That shall yield him such a commodity This is the west, and this is the south. Drug. Yes, sir. Sub. And those are your two sides ? Drug. Ay, sir. Sub. Make me your door then south; your broadside, west : And, on the east-side of your shop, aloft, Drug. Yes, sir. 560 Sub. And Beneath your threshold, bury me a loadstone To draw in gallants, that wear spurs; the rest Face. That's a secret, Nab. Sub. And, on your stall, a puppet, with a vice, You shall deal much with minerals, At home already. Sub. Ay, I know, you have, Arsnike, What must I give? Face. Nay, I'll not counsel thee. 580 Thou hear'st what wealth (he says spend what thou canst) Th'art like to come to. Drug. I would give him a crown. Face. A crown! and towards such a fortune? Heart, Thou shalt rather gi' him thy shop. No gold about thee? Drug. Yes, I have a Portague, I have kept this half year, And I would fain keep it half a year longer. Face. Out on thee, Nab. 'Slight, there was such an offer, 'Shalt keep 't no longer, I'll gi' it him for thee. Drug. Will ye? Face. Doctor, Nab prays your worship to drink this, and swears He will appear more grateful, as your skill Drug. I would intreat 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. That he shall, Nab. 600 Leave it, it shall be done, 'gainst afternoon. Sub. And a direction for his shelves. Art thou well pleased, Nab? Drug. Thank, sir, both your worships, I am a made man. Face. Away. Why, now you smoaky prosecutor of nature! [Exit. Now do you see, that something's to be done, Beside your beech-coal, and your cor'sive 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 expence |