A day with Cromwell: a drama of history, in five acts, by Auctor.

  • Benjamin Ward Richardson
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A day with Cromwell: a drama of history, in five acts, by Auctor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Smite em.—I like that. Cromwell.—Care not what thou likest either, but do thy duty. Be thou near to me; be deaf to what passes, and dumb to what hath passed; but let the vigilance of thine eye make up for the lameness of thy tongue and if I say to thee seize, seize; and if I say strike, strike. Thou understandest? Smite'em.—Yea, verily. Cromwell.—Hast thou that piece of thine in gear ? Smite'em.—’Twould fetch down a starling from the weathercock of St. Neot’s. Cromwell.—Take thy place: thou art on guard. \_Cromwell rings.] Enter Josh. Buckthorn and Pasqua. Josh.—My, Lord, this man would present to your Highness a new drink from Arabia Phoenix. Cromwell.—He is welcome. [To Pasqua.] What, Sir, is your name ? Pasqua.—Pasqua, my Lord. Cromwell.—And what is the nature of your invention ? Pasqua.—My Lord, ’tis no invention of mine, but a wholesome beverage, most exhilarating yet not inebriating, which in Turkey is a great luxury, and which I would fain sell in London. Cromwell.—What do you call it ? Pasqua.—Coffee, my Lord. Cromwell.—Prom what is it derived ? Pasqua.—From a plant, your Highness, that grows in Arabia. Cromwell.—Is it the berry, the bark, or the root that is used ? Pasqua.—The berry, my Lord: the berry is dried as I show your Highness: it is then ground to a powder in a mill, and the powder thus obtained is put in a vessel with boiling water: sugar and milk are added, and the beverage is made. Would your Lordship taste a berry ? Cromwell.—Aye, truly. [Puts a berry in his mouth, and spits it out.'] Sirrah, what meaneth this? it is bitter Pasqua.—It is slightly bitter, my Lord, but the beverage is not: I will make your Highness a cup to taste and it be your plea- sure. [He proceeds to make coffee, and pours out a cup.] Cromwell. [Aside to Smite'em.]—Watch thou this man. I like not the procedure.