QUENTIN MASSYS.
ACT I.
SCENE I.
Antwerp by Night—A Street—Drinking House at back—Men grouped about.
PHILLIP ROERBACH, CHARLES OLDFELDT, & OTHERS.
Chas. No, thanks, I've had enough.
Phil. Come come, another to my success; you know old Dykvort has been keeping me these two months, while I've been working for the prize: now if I win, I'll repay him and get my fill, but if not, I had better get all I can now. Come at my expense, or rather his.
- Enter Visconti.
Chas. Very well, I'll not be churlish.
Phil. Will you join us Sir?
Vis. I thank you. (they are served)
Vis. I am a stranger here. You have a fine city.
Phil. Aye, the finest in the world.
Chas. The first Iron Workers.
Phil. The largest commerce.
Chas. The bravest citizens.
Vis. I observe a great number of them.
Chas. Of course 'tis the festival—you know of that?
Vis. No, not a word.
Phil. Heavens! its the talk of all Holland these three months.—You've seen our magnificent cathedral, Notre Dame?
Vis. I passed it to day.
Phil. Well, our noble rulers have proclaimed that whoever shall fashion the noblest piece of Iron Work for its altar shall receive a purse of gold, a ring, and robe, and be crowned as first Artisan of Antwerp in the public square.
Chas. And first of us means first of all the world.
Phil. Of course whoever wins will be a made man: so all the most practised craftsmen in the Netherlands
Chas. Aye! and in France,
Phil. Or Germany!
have been for months striving for it.
