SCANDAL
Alas, Mr Foresight, I'm afraid all is not right. You are a
wise man, and a conscientious man, a searcher into obscurity and
futurity, and if you commit an error, it is with a great deal of
consideration, and discretion, and caution -
SCANDAL
Nay, nay, 'tis manifest; I do not flatter you. But Sir
Sampson is hasty, very hasty. I'm afraid he is not scrupulous
enough, Mr Foresight. He has been wicked, and heav'n grant he may
mean well in his affair with you. But my mind gives me, these
things cannot be wholly insignificant. You are wise, and should not
be over-reached, methinks you should not -
SCANDAL
You say true, man will err; mere man will err--but you are
something more. There have been wise men; but they were such as
you, men who consulted the stars, and were observers of omens.
Solomon was wise, but how?--by his judgment in astrology. So says
Pineda in his third book and eighth chapter -
SCANDAL
A trifler--but a lover of art. And the Wise Men of the East
owed their instruction to a star, which is rightly observed by
Gregory the Great in favour of astrology. And Albertus Magnus makes
it the most valuable science, because, says he, it teaches us to
consider the causation of causes, in the causes of things.
FORESIGHT
I protest I honour you, Mr Scandal. I did not think you had
been read in these matters. Few young men are inclined -
SCANDAL
I thank my stars that have inclined me. But I fear this
marriage and making over this estate, this transferring of a
rightful inheritance, will bring judgments upon us. I prophesy it,
and I would not have the fate of Cassandra not to be believed.
Valentine is disturbed; what can be the cause of that? And Sir
Sampson is hurried on by an unusual violence. I fear he does not
act wholly from himself; methinks he does not look as he used to do.
FORESIGHT
He was always of an impetuous nature. But as to this
marriage, I have consulted the stars, and all appearances are
prosperous -
SCANDAL
Come, come, Mr Foresight, let not the prospect of worldly
lucre carry you beyond your judgment, nor against your conscience.
You are not satisfied that you act justly.
