SUB. Your magisterium now,
What's that?
FACE. Shifting, sir, your elements,
Dry into cold, cold into moist, moist into hot,
Hot into dry.
SUB. This is heathen Greek to you still!
Your lapis philosophicus?
FACE. 'Tis a stone,
And not a stone; a spirit, a soul, and a body:
Which if you do dissolve, it is dissolved;
If you coagulate, it is coagulated;
If you make it to fly, it flieth.
SUB. Enough.
[EXIT FACE.]
This is heathen Greek to you! What are you, sir?
ANA. Please you, a servant of the exiled brethren,
That deal with widows' and with orphans' goods,
And make a just account unto the saints:
A deacon.
SUB. O, you are sent from master Wholesome,
Your teacher?
ANA. From Tribulation Wholesome,
Our very zealous pastor.
SUB. Good! I have
Some orphans' goods to come here.
ANA. Of what kind, sir?
SUB. Pewter and brass, andirons and kitchen-ware,
Metals, that we must use our medicine on:
Wherein the brethren may have a pennyworth
For ready money.
ANA. Were the orphans' parents
Sincere professors?
SUB. Why do you ask?
ANA. Because
We then are to deal justly, and give, in truth,
Their utmost value.
SUB. 'Slid, you'd cozen else,
And if their parents were not of the faithful! --
I will not trust you, now I think on it,
'Till I have talked with your pastor. Have you brought money
To buy more coals?
ANA. No, surely.
SUB. No! how so?
ANA. The brethren bid me say unto you, sir,
Surely, they will not venture any more,
Till they may see projection.
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