Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/210

 194 BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES Sub. The thumb, in chiromancy, we give Venus ; The forefinger 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 foreshewed He should be a merchant, and should trade with balance. Face. Why, this is strange ! Is it not, honest Nab ? Sub. There is a ship now coming from Ormus, That shall yield him such a commodity Of drugs — This is the west, and this the south? [^Pointing to the plan. Drug. Yes, sir. Sub. And those are your two sides. Drug. Ay, sir. Sub. Make me your door, then, south ; your broad side west : And on the east side of your shop, aloft. Write, Mathlai, Tarmiel, and Baraborat ; Upon the north part, Rael, Velel, Thiel. They are the names of those Mercurial spirits That do fright flies from boxes. Drug. Yes, sir. Sub. And Beneath your threshold, bury me a loadstone To draw in gallants that wear spurs : the rest, They'll seem to follow. Faee. That's a secret, Nab ! Sub. And on your stall, a puppet, with a vice And a court-fucus,* to call city-dames : You shall deal much with minerals. Drug. Sir, I have At home, already Sub. Ay, I know you have arsenic. Vitriol, sal-tartar, argaile, alkali, Cinoper : I know all. — This fellow, captain. Will come in time to be a great distiller [chemist], And give a say+ — I will not say directly, But very fair — at the philosopher's stone. • A doll moved by wires, with face painted or rouged, t Assay, essay ; attempt or trial.