Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/208

 grave sir, a rich, that has no need, a wise sir, too, at other times," whose exuberance of voluptuous anticipation is as inexhaustible as the wealth and health at the command of the lord of the stone and the elixir, though a harvest of such foison has been reaped before in the same fields by the sensual raptures of "Volpone;" Dame Pliant, the rich and buxom young widow, comes to have her fortune told, and her brother Kastril to learn all the niceties of the quarrel and the duello, which, as we know by Touchstone's exposition, were then subtle exceedingly. Our modest and innocent friend Abel comes likewise ; and he, for tobacco's sake, must be put in scene as he makes his first appearance (Act. i., Sc. i) : — "Subtle. What is your name, say you, Abel Drugger? Drugger. Yes, sir. Sub. A seller of tobacco ? Drug. Yes, sir. Sub. Umph! Free of the grocers [the Grocers' Company] ? Drug. Ay, an't please you. 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 : I was wished 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. [An angel was also a coin.] Face. What I my honest Abel ? Thou art well met here.