Chapter V: Part 5

[_Wit._] But your warrantise warrant no troth!
Fair lady! I pray you be not wroth
Till you hear more; for, dear Lady Science!
Had your lover, Wit--yea, or Confidence,
His man--been in health all this time spent,
Long or this time Wit had come or sent;
But the truth is, they have been both sick,
Wit and his man: yea, and with pains thick
Both stayed by the way, so that your lover
Could neither come nor send by none other.
Wherefore blame not him, but chance of sickness!

_Sci._ Who is this?

_Exp._ Ingnorancy, or his likeness.

_Sci._ What, the common fool?

_Exp._ It is much like him.

_Sci._ By my sooth! his tongue serveth him now trim.
What sayest thou, Ingnorancy? Speak again!

_Wit._ Nay, lady! I am not Ingnorancy, plain,
But I am your own dear lover, Wit,
That hath long loved you, and loveth you yet;
Wherefore I pray thee now, my own sweeting!
Let me have a kiss at this our meeting.

_Sci._ Yea, so ye shall, anon, but not yet.
Ah, sir! this fool here hath got some wit.
Fall you to kissing, sir, now-a-days?
Your mother shall charm you; go your ways!

_Wit._ What needeth all this, my love of long grown?
Will ye be so strange to me, your own?
Your acquaintance to me was thought easy;
But now your words make my heart all queasy,
Your darts at me so strangely be shot.

_Sci._ Hear ye what terms this fool here hath got?

_Wit._ Well, I perceive my foolishness now;
Indeed, ladies no dastards allow;
I will be bold with my own darling!
Come now, a bass, my own proper sparling!

_Sci._ What wilt thou, arrant fool?

_Wit._ Nay, by the mass!
I will have a bass or I hence pass!

_Sci._ What wilt thou, arrant fool? Hence, fool, I say!

_Wit._ What! nothing but fool, and fool, all this day?
By the mass, madam! ye can no good.

_Sci._ Art a-swearing, too? Now, by my hood!
Your foolish knave's breech six stripes shall bear!

_Wit._ Yea, God's bones! fool and knave too? be ye there?
By the mass, call me fool once again,
And thou shalt sure call a blow or twain!

_Exp._ Come away, daughter! the fool is mad.

_Wit._ Nay, nor yet neither hence ye shall gad!
We will gree better, or ye pass hence.
I pray thee now, good sweet Lady Science!
All this strange manner now hide and cover,
And play the goodfellow with thy lover!

_Sci._ What good-fellowship would ye of me,
Whom ye know not, neither yet I know ye?

_Wit._ Know ye not me?

_Sci._ No! how should I know ye?

_Wit._ Doth not my picture my person show ye?

_Sci._ Your picture?

_Wit._ Yea, my picture, lady!
That ye spake of. Who sent it but I?

_Sci._ If that be your picture, then shall we
Soon see how you and your picture agree.
Lo, here! the picture that I named is this.

_Wit._ Yea, marry! mine own likeness this is.
You having this, lady! and so loth
To know me, which this so plain showeth?

_Sci._ Why, you are nothing like, in mine eye.

_Wit._ No? How say ye? [_To_ EXPERIENCE.

_Exp._ As she saith, so say I.

_Wit._ By the mass, then are ye both stark blind!
What difference between this and this can ye find?

_Exp._ Marry, this is fair, pleasant, and goodly;
And ye are foul, displeasant, and ugly.

_Wit._ Marry, avaunt, thou foul ugly whore!

_Sci._ So, lo! now I perceive ye more and more.

_Wit._ What! perceive you me as ye would make me
A natural fool?

_Sci._ Nay, ye mistake me;
I take ye for no fool natural,
But I take ye thus--shall I tell all?

_Wit._ Yea, marry! tell me your mind, I pray ye,
Whereto I shall trust. No more delay ye!

_Sci._ I take ye for no natural fool,
Brought up among the innocents' school;
But for a naughty, vicious fool,
Brought up with Idleness in her school:
Of all arrogant fools thou art one!

_Wit._ Yea, God's body!

_Exp._ Come, let us be gone! [_The two go out._

_Wit._ My sword! is it gone? A vengeance on them!
Be they gone, too, and their heads upon them?
But, proud queans! the devil go with you both!
Not one point of courtesy in them goeth.
A man is well at ease by suit to pain him
For such a drab, that so doth disdain him!
So mocked, so louted, so made a sot--
Never was I erst, since I was begot!
Am I so foul as those drabs would make me?
Where is my glass that Reason did take me?
Now shall this glass of Reason soon try me
As fair as those drabs that so doth belie me.
Ha! God's soul! what have we here? a devil?
This glass, I see well, hath been kept evil.
God's soul! a fool, a fool, by the mass!
What--a very vengeance!--aileth this glass?
Other this glass is shamefully spotted,
Or else am I too shamefully blotted!
Nay, by God's arms! I am so, no doubt!
How look their faces here round about?
All fair and clear they, everyone;
And I, by the mass, a fool alone,
Decked, by God's bones, like a very ass!
Ignorance['s] coat, hood, ears--yea, by the mass!--
Cockscomb and all; I lack but a bauble!
And as for this face it is abominable;
As black as the devil! God, for His passion!
Where have I been rayed after this fashion?
This same is Idleness--a shame take her!
This same is her work--the devil in hell rake her!
The whore hath shamed me forever, I trow!
I trow? Nay, verily, I know!
Now it is so, the stark fool I play
Before all people; now see it I may.
Every man I see laugh me to scorn;
Alas, alas! that ever I was born!
It was not for nought, now well I see,
That those two ladies disdained me.
Alas! Lady Science, of all other--
How have I railed on her and her mother!
Alas! that lady I have now lost
Whom all the world loveth and honoureth most!
Alas! from Reason had I not varied,
Lady Science or this I had married;
And those four gifts which the World gave her
I had won, too, had I kept her favour;
Where now, instead of that lady bright
With all those gallants seen in my sight--
Favour, Riches, yea, Worship and Fame--
I have won Hatred, Beggary and Open Shame!

SHAME _cometh in with a whip._ [REASON
_followeth him._]

_Wit._ Out upon thee, Shame! what doest thou here?

_Rea._ Marry! I, Reason, bade him here appear.
Upon him, Shame! with stripes enow smitten,
While I rehearse his faults herein written!
First, he hath broken his promise formerly
Made to me, Reason, my daughter to marry;
Next, he hath broken his promise promised
To obey Instruction, and him despised;
Thirdly, my daughter Science to reprove,
Upon Idleness he hath set his love;
Fourthly, he hath followed Idleness' school
Till she hath made him a very stark fool;
Lastly, offending both God and man,
Swearing great oaths as any man can,
He hath abused himself, to the great shame
Of all his kindred, and loss of his good name.
Wherefore, spare him not, Shame! beat him well there!
He hath deserved more than he can bear.

[WIT _kneeleth down_.

[_Wit._] Oh father Reason, be good unto me!
Alas! these stripes of Shame will undo me!

_Rea._ Be still awhile, Shame! Wit, what sayest thou?

_Wit._ Oh sir! forgive me, I beseech you!

_Rea._ If I forgive thee thy punishment,
Wilt thou then follow thy first intent
And promise made, my daughter to marry?

_Wit._ Oh sir! I am not worthy to carry
The dust out where your daughter should sit.

_Rea._ I wot well that; but if I admit
Thee, unworthy, again to her wooer,
Wilt thou then follow thy suit unto her?

_Wit._ Yea, sir! I promise you, while life endureth.

_Rea._ Come near, masters! here is one ensureth

_Here cometh_ INSTRUCTION, STUDY, _and_ DILIGENCE _in_.

In words to become an honest man!
Take him, Instruction; do what ye can!

_Inst._ What, to the purpose he went before?

_Rea._ Yea to my daughter prove him once more!
Take him, and trim him in new apparel,
And give that to Shame there to his farewell!

_Inst._ Come on your way, Wit! be of good cheer!
After stormy clouds cometh weather clear.

[INSTRUCTION, STUDY, WIT _and_
DILIGENCE _go out_.

_Rea._ Who list to mark now this chance here done,
May see what Wit is without Reason.
What was this Wit better than an ass
Being from Reason strayed, as he was?
But, let pass now! since he is well punished;
And thereby, I trust, meetly well monished.
Yea, and I like him never the worse, I,
Though Shame hath handled him shamefully;
For like as if Wit had proudly bent him
To resist Shame, to make Shame absent him,
I would have thought then that Wit had been--
As the saying is, and daily seen--
Past Shame once, and past all amendment:
So contrary, since he did relent
To Shame, when Shame punished him even ill,
I have, I say, good hope in him still.
I think, as I thought--if join they can--
My daughter well bestowed on this man.
But all the doubt now is to think how
My daughter taketh this; for I may tell you
I think she knew this Wit even as well
As she seemed here to know him no deal,
For lack of knowledge in Science there is none;
Wherefore, she knew him, and thereupon
His misbehaviour perchance even striking
Her heart against him, she--now misliking,
As women oft-times will be hard-hearted--
Will be the stranger to be reverted.
This must I help; Reason must now walk,
On Wit's part with my Science to talk.
A near way to her know I, whereby
My son's coming prevent now must I.
Perchance, I may bring my daughter hither;
If so, I doubt not to join them together

[_Exeat_ REASON.

CONFIDENCE _cometh in._

[_Conf._] I thank God, yet at last I have found him;
I was afraid some mischance had drowned him,
My master, Wit, with whom I have spoken;
Yea, and delivered token for token,
And have another to Science again--
A heart of gold, signifying, plain,
That Science hath won Wit's heart forever--
Whereby, I trust, by my good endeavour,
To that good lady, so sweet and so sortly,
A marriage between them ye shall see shortly.

[CONFIDENCE _exeat_.

INSTRUCTION _cometh in with_ WIT, STUDY,
_and_ DILIGENCE.

[_Inst._] Lo, sir! now ye be entered again
Toward that passage where doth remain
Tediousness, your mortal enemy;
Now may ye choose whether ye will try
Your hands again on that tyrant stout,
Or else walking a little about.

_Wit._ Nay; for God's passion, sir, let me meet him!
Ye see I am able now for to greet him:
This sword of comfort, sent from my love,
Upon her enemy needs must I prove!

_Inst._ Then, forth there! and turn on your right hand
Up that mount, before ye shall see stand.
But hear ye! If your enemy chance to rise,
Follow my counsel in anywise;
Let Study and Diligence flee their touch--
The stroke of Tediousness--and then couch
Themselves, as I told ye: ye wot how.

_Wit._ Yea, sir! for that how, mark the proof now!

_Inst._ To mark it, indeed, here will I abide,
To see what chance of them will betide;
For here cometh the pith, lo! of this journey.
That mountain, before which they must assay,
Is called in Latin _Mons Parnassus_;
Which mountain, as old authors discuss,
Who attaineth once to sleep on that mount,
Lady Science his own he may count.
But or he come there ye shall see fought
A fight with no less policy wrought
Than strength, I trow, if that may be praised.

_Ted._ Oh! ho! ho!

_Inst._ Hark!

_Ted._ [_entering_]. Out, ye caitiffs!

_Inst._ The fiend is raised!

_Ted._ Out, ye villains! be ye come again?
Have at ye, wretches!

_Wit._ Flee, sirs! ye twain!

_Ted._ They flee not far hence!

_Dil._ Turn again, Study!

_Study._ Now, Diligence!

_Inst._ Well said! Hold fast now!

_Study._ He fleeth!

_Dil._ Then follow!

_Inst._ With his own weapon now work him sorrow!
Wit lieth at receipt!

_Ted._ (_dieth_). Oh! ho! ho!

_Inst._ Hark! he dieth!
Where strength lacketh, policy supplieth.

_Here_ WIT _cometh in and bringeth in the head_ _upon his sword, and sayeth as followeth:_

[_Wit._] I can ye thank, sirs! this was well done!

_Study._ Nay, yours is the deed!

_Dil._ To you is the thank!

_Inst._ I can ye thank, all; this was well done!

_Wit._ How say ye, man? Is this field well won?

CONFIDENCE _cometh running in._

[_Conf._] Yea, by my faith, so sayeth your dear heart.

_Wit._ Why, where is she, that here now thou art?

_Conf._ Upon yonder mountain, on high,
She saw ye strike that head from the body;
Whereby ye have won her, body and all;
In token whereof receive here ye shall
A gown of knowledge, wherein you must
Receive her here straight.

_Wit._ But sayest thou just?

[_Conf._] So just I say that, except ye hie ye,
Or ye be ready, she will be by ye.

_Wit._ Hold! Present unto her this head here,
And give me warning when she cometh near.

[_Exit_ CONFIDENCE.

Instruction! will ye help to devise
To trim this gear now in the best wise?

_Inst._ Give me that gown, and come with me, all!

_Dil._ Oh, how this gear to the purpose doth fall!

CONFIDENCE _cometh running in._

[_Conf._] How, master, master! Where be ye now?

_Wit._ Here, Confidence! what tidings bring'st thou?

_Conf._ My lady at hand here doth abide ye;
Bid her welcome! What, do ye hide ye?

_Here_ WIT, INSTRUCTION, STUDY, _and_ DILIGENCE _sing "Welcome, my own,"_ _and_ SCIENCE, EXPERIENCE, REASON _and_ CONFIDENCE _come in at L[eft],_ _and answer every second verse:_

_Welcome, mine own!_
_Welcome, mine own!_

_Wit and his Company. O lady dear,_
_Be ye so near_
_To be known?_
_My heart you cheer_
_Your voice to hear;_
_Welcome, mine own!_

_Sci. and her Company. As ye rejoice_
_To hear my voice_
_Fro me thus blown,_
_So in my choice_
_I show my voice_
_To be your own._

_Wit and his Company._ _Then draw we near_
_To see and hear_
_My love long grown!_
_Where is my dear?_
_Here I appear_
_To see mine own._

_Sci. and her Company._ _To see and try_
_Your love truly_
_Till death be flown,_
_Lo! here am I,_
_That ye may spy_
_I am your own._

_Wit and his Company._ _Then let us meet,_
_My love so sweet,_
_Half-way here thrown!_

_Sci. and her Company._ _I will not sleet_
_My love to greet._
_Welcome, mine own!_

_Wit and his Company._ _Welcome, mine own!_

_All sing:_ _Welcome, mine own!_

[_And when the song is done_, REASON _sendeth_ INSTRUCTION,
STUDY, _and_ DILIGENCE, _and_ CONFIDENCE _out; and_ _then,
standing in the middle of the_ _place_, WIT _sayeth as
followeth_:

_Wit._ Welcome, mine own! with all my whole heart,
Which shall be your own till death us depart!
I trust, lady! this knot even since knit.

_Sci._ I trust the same; for since ye have smit
Down my great enemy, Tediousness,
Ye have won me forever, doubtless,
Although ye have won a clog withal!

_Wit._ A clog, sweetheart? what?

_Sci._ Such as doth fall
To all men that join themselves in marriage,
In keeping their wives; a careful carriage!

_Wit._ Careful? Nay, lady! that care shall employ
No clog, but a key of my most joy.
To keep you, sweet heart! as shall be fit,
Shall be no care, but most joy to Wit!

_Sci._ Well, yet I say--mark well what I say!--
My presence bringeth you a clog; no nay!
Not in the keeping of me only,
But in the use of Science chiefly;
For I, Science, am, in this degree,
As all, or most part, of women be:
If ye use me well, in a good sort,
Then shall I be your joy and comfort;
But if ye use me not well, then doubt me,
For sure ye were better then without me!

_Wit._ Why, lady! think you me such a wit,
As being affianced by you, and yet
Would misuse ye? Nay, if ye doubt that,
Here is one loveth thee more than somewhat:
If Wit misuse ye at any season,
Correct me then your own father, Reason.

_Rea._ Ho, daughter! can ye desire any more?
What need these doubts? Avoid them, therefore!

_Exp._ By' lakyn, sir! but, under your favour,
This doubt our daughter doth well to gather
For a good warning now, at beginning,
What Wit, in the end, shall look for in winning.
Which shall be this, sir! if Science here,
Which is God's gift, be used mere
Unto God's honour, and profit both
Of you and your neighbour, which goth
In her, of kind, to do good to all:
This seen to, Experience! I, shall
Set you forth, Wit, by her to employ
Double increase to your double joy;
But if you use her contrariwise
To her good nature, and so devise
To evil effects to wrest and to wry her,
Yea, and cast her off and set nought by her,
Be sure I, Experience, shall than
Declare you so before God and man;
That this talent from you shall be taken
And you punished for your gain forsaken.

_Wit._ "Once warned, half-armed," folk say, namely when
Experience shall warn a man, then
Time to take heed. Mother Experience!
Touching your daughter, my dear heart, Science,
As I am certain that to abuse her
I breed mine own sorrow, and well to use her
I increase my joy; and so to make it
God's grace is ready if I will take it:
Then--but ye count me no wit at all--
Let never these doubts into your head fall;
But, as yourself, Experience, clearing
All doubts at length, so, till time appearing,
Trust ye with me in God; and, sweetheart,
While your father, Reason, taketh with part
To receive God's grace as God shall send it,
Doubt ye not our joy till life's end [end] it!

_Sci._ Well, then, for the end of all doubts past,
And to that end which ye spake of last,
Among our wedding matters here rendering,
Th' end of our lives would be in remembering;
Which remembrance, Wit, shall sure defend ye
From the misuse of Science and send ye
The gain my mother to mind did call:
Joy without end--that wish I to all!

_Rea._ Well said! and as ye, daughter! wish it,
That joy, to all folk in general,
So wish I, Reason, the same; but yet
First in this life wish I here to fall
To our most noble King and Queen in especial,
To their honourable Council, and then to all the rest,
Such joy as long may rejoice them all best! [_All say Amen._

_Here cometh in four with viols and sing, "Remember_ _me," and,
at the last, choir all make_ _curtsey, and so go forth
singing._

* * * * *

_Thus endeth the Play of Wit and Science,_ _made by Master John Redford._

RESPUBLICA

A.D. 1553

A DRAMA OF REAL LIFE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF QUEEN MARY

A MERRY INTERLUDE, ENTITLED

RESPUBLICA

MADE IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1553, AND
THE FIRST YEAR OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS
REIGN OF OUR MOST GRACIOUS
SOVEREIGN QUEEN MARY
THE FIRST

¤#The Parts and Names of the Players:#¤

THE PROLOGUE, a Poet

AVARICE, _alias_ POLICY, the Vice of the Play

INSOLENCE, _alias_ AUTHORITY, the Chief Gallant

OPPRESSION, _alias_ REFORMATION, another Gallant

ADULATION, _alias_ HONESTY, the Third Gallant

PEOPLE, representing the Poor Commonalty

RESPUBLICA, a Widow

MISERICORDIA, }
VERITAS, } four Ladies
JUSTICIA, }
PAX, }

NEMESIS, the Goddess of Redress and Correction, a Goddess

RESPUBLICA.

THE PROLOGUE.

First, health and success, with many a good new year,
Wished unto all this noble presence here!
I have more t' entreat you of gentle sufferance
That this our matter may have quiet utterance.
We, that are th' authors, have ourselves dedicate
With some Christmas devise, your spirits to recreate;
And, our poet trusteth, the thing we shall recite
May, without offence, the hearers' minds delight;
Indeed, no man speaketh words so well fore pondered,
But the same, by some means, may be misconstrued.
Nor, nothing so well meant but that, by some pretence,
It may be wrong interpreted from the author's sense.
But, let this be taken no worse than it is meant,
And I hope nor we, nor our poet, shall be shent.

But now, of th' argument to touch a word or twain:
The name of our play is Respublica, certain.
Our meaning is--I say not, as by plain story,
But as it were in figure by an allegory--
To show that all commonweals ruin and decay
From time to time hath been, is, and shall be alway,
When Insolence, Flattery, Oppression,
And Avarice have the rule in their possession.
But, though these vices, by cloaked collusion,
And by counterfeit names hidden their abusion,
Do reign for a while to commonweals' prejudice,
Perverting all right, and all order of true justice;
Yet time trieth all, and time bringeth truth to light;
That wrong may not ever still reign in place of right.
For, when pleaseth God such commonweals to restore
To their wealth and honour, wherein they were afore,
He sendeth down His most tender compassion,
To cause truth go about in visitation.
Verity, the daughter of sage old Father Time,
Sheweth all as it is, be it virtue or crime;
Then doth Justice, all such as commonwealth oppress--
Tempered with mercy--endeavour to suppress;
With whom, anon, is linked tranquillity and peace,
To commonweals' joy and perpetual increase.

But shall boys, (saith some now), of such high matters play?
No! not as discussers; but yet, the book doth say:
_Ex ore infantium perferisti laudem._
For, when Christ came riding into Jerusalem,
The young babes, with th' old folk, cried out all and some:
"Blessed be the man that in the Lord's name doth come!"
So, for good England's sake, this present hour and day,
In hope of her restoring from her late decay,
We children, to you old folk, both with heart and voice,
May join all together to thank God, and rejoice
That He hath sent Mary, our sovereign and queen,
To reform th' abuses which hitherto hath been;
And that ills which long time have reigned uncorrect
Shall now, for ever, be redressed with effect.
She is our most wise and most worthy Nemesis;
Of whom our play meaneth, t' amend that is amiss;
Which, to bring to pass, that she may have time and space,
Let us, both young and old, to God commend her grace!
Now, if you so please, I will go and hither send
That shall make you laugh well, if ye abide th' end.

FINIS.

RESPUBLICA.

ACTUS PRIMI, SCENA PRIMA.

[AVARICE.]

_Avarice._ Now, godigod! everyone, both great and small,
From highest to lowest, Godigod to you all!
Godigod! what should I say? even or morn,
If I mark how the day goeth--God give me sorrow!
But, godigod! each one, twenty and twenty score
Of that ye most long for--what would ye have more?
Ye must pardon my wits, for I tell you, plain,
I have a hive of humble bees swarming in my brain;
And he that hath the compass to fetch that I must fetch,
I may say, in counsel, had need his wits to stretch.

But now, what my name is, and what is my purpose--
Taking you all for friends--I fear not to disclose.
My very true, unchristian name is Avarice,
Which I may not have openly known, in no wise;
For, though to most men I am found commodious,
Yet, to those that use me, my name is odious.
For, who is so foolish that the evil he hath wrought
For his own behoof, he would to light should be brought?
Or, who had not rather, his ill doings to hide,
Than to have the same bruited on every side?
Therefore, to work my feat, I will my name disguise;
And call my name Policy instead of Covetise.
The name of Policy is praised of each one;
But, to rake gromwell-seed, Avarice is alone;
The name of Policy is of none suspected--
Policy is ne'er of any crime detected.
So that, under the name and cloak of Policy,
Avarice may work facts, and scape all jealousy.
And, now is the time come that--except I be a beast,
E'en to make up my mouth, and to feather my nest--
A time that I have waited for, a great long space;
And now may I speed my purpose, if I have grace.

For, hear ye, sirrah! our great, grand lady mother,
Noble Dame Respublica, she and none other--
Of the offals, the refuse, the rags, the parings;
The baggage, the trash, the fragments, the sharings;
The odd ends, the crumbs, the driblets, the chippings;
The patches, the pieces, the broklets, the drippings;
The flittance, the scrapings, the wild wai[f]s and strays;
The skimmings, the gubbings of booties and preys;
The gleanings, the casualties, the blind escheats;
The forging of forfeit[s], the scape of extreats;
Th' excess, the waste, the spoils, the superfluities;
The windfalls, the shreddings, the fleecings, the petty fees;
With a thousand things more, which she may right well lack--
Would fill all these same purses that hang at my back.
Yea! and ten times as many more bags as these,
Which should be but a flea-biting for her to lese;
That, if I may have the grace and hap to blind her,
I doubt not, a sweet lady I shall find her.
To her it were nothing; yet, many a small maketh a great;
And all things would help me whatever I may geat:
Full little know men the great need that I am in.
Do not I spend daily of that that I do win?
Then, age cometh on; and what is a little gold
To keep a man by drede that is feeble and old?
No man, therefore, blame me though I would have more:
The world waxeth hard, and store, (they say), is no sore.
Now, the chance of thieves, in good hour be it spoken--
Out, alas! I fear I left my coffer open.
I am surely undone! alas! where be my kays?
It is gone, that I have sweat for all my live-days!
Woe worth all whoreson thieves, and such covetous knaves!
That, for their winding sheet, would scrape men out of their graves!

[_Exeat._

ACTUS PRIMI, SCENA SECUNDA.

ADULATION. INSOLENCE. OPPRESSION.

_Intrant Canta[n]tes._

_Adulation._ Oh, noble Insolence! if I could sing as well,
I would look in heaven among angels to dwell.

_Insolence._ Sing! now, do I sing but as other many do?

_Adul._ Yes, an angel's voice ye have, to hearken unto.

_Insol._ Yea! but what availeth that to high dignity?

_Oppression._ By His arms! not a whit, as far as I can see!

_Insol._ Or, what helpeth that thing to set a man aloft?

_Oppr._ By His wounds! not a straw; so have I told you oft.

_Adul._ No! but ye are one of such goodly personage,
Of such wit and beauty, and of sage parentage,
So excellent in all points of every art--

_Insol._ Indeed, God and nature in me have done their part--

_Adul._ That, if ye will put yourself forward to the most,
Ye may, throughout the whole land, rule all the roste--
How say you, Oppression? is it not even so?

_Oppr._ Thou sayest sooth, Adulation! so might I go:
If he were disposed to take the charge in hand,
I warrant him a chive to rule all the whole land.

_Adul._ So, Master Insolence! ye hear Oppression?

_Insol._ I thank both him and thee, good Adulation!
And long have I dreamed of such an enterprise;
But how, or where to begin, I cannot devise.

_Oppr._ Wherefore serve friends, but your enterprise to allow?

_Adul._ And then must you support them, as they must maintain you.

_Oppr._ And, wherefore do friends serve, but to set you in?

_Adul._ Ye shall have all my help whenever ye begin.

_Insol._ But we may, herein, nothing attempt, in no wise,
Without the counsel of our founder, Avarice.

_Adul._ He must direct all this gear by his holy ghost.

_Oppr_. For he knoweth what is to be done in each coast;
He knoweth where, and how that money is to be had--
And, yonder he cometh! methinketh more than half mad!

[_Intrat_ AVARICE.

ACTUS PRIMI, SCENA TERTIA.

AVARICE. INSOLENCE. OPPRESSION. ADULATION.

_Avarice._ It was a fair grace that I was not undone clean;
Yet my key was safe locked under mine locks, I ween.
But e'en, as against such a thing my heart will throb,
I found knaves about my house, ready me to rob.
There was such tooting, such looking, and such prying;
Such hearkening, such stalking, such watching, such spying.
"What would ye, my masters?" "We look after a cat."
"What make ye hereabout?" "We have smelled a rat."
Now, a weal on such noses! thought I, by and by,
That so quickly can scent where hidden gold doth lie.
But had I not come when I did, without all fails,
I think they had digged up my walls with their nails!

_Insol._ Let us speak to him, and break his chafing talk.

_Avar._ Such greediness of money among men doth walk
That, have it they will, either by hook or by crook!

_Oppr._ Let us call to him that he may this way look.

_Avar._ Whether by right, or by wrong, in faith! some care not:
Therefore, catch that catch may, hardely, and spare not!

_Adul._ All hail our founder and chief, Master Avarice!

_Avar._ The devil is a knave, an I catch not a flyce.

_Adul._ When ye see your time, look this way, your friends upon!

_Avar._ I doubt not to scamble and rake as well as one.

_Adul._ Here be that would fain be disciples of your art.

_Avar._ I will not be behind to get a child's part.

_Adul._ Now, if ye have done, I pray you look this way back.

_Avar._ Who buzzeth in mine ear so? what? ye saucy Jack!

_Adul._ Are ye yet at leisure, with your good friends to talk?

_Avar._ What, clawest thou mine elbow, pratling merchant? walk!
Ye flatterabundus, you! you flearing clawback, you!
You the-crow-is-white, you! you the-swan-is-black, you!
You John-hold-my-staff, you! you what-is-the-clock, you!
You _ait-aio_ you! you _negat-nego_ you!

_Adul._ I marvel you speak to me in such fashion.

_Avar._ Why troublest thou me then in my contemplation?

_Adul._ I came of right good love, not minding you to let.

_Avar._ Thou ne'er camest to any man of good love yet.

_Adul._ And these men's minds it was I should so do.

_Avar._ As false wretches as thine own self, and falser too!

_Insol and Oppr._ We have been loving to you, and faithful alway.

_Avar._ For your own profits, then; and not mine, I daresay;
And e'en, veray! you three it was, and others none,
That would have robbed me, not yet half an hour gone.

_Insol._, _Oppr._, _Adul._ We never robbed any man, later or rather.

_Avar._ Yes, many a time and oft, your own very father.

_Oppr._ And to you have we borne hearty favours alway.

_Avar._ And, I warrant you hanged for your labours one day.

_Oppr._, _Adul._ And, as our god, we have alway honoured you.

_Avar._ And, e'en as your god, I have aye succoured you.

_Oppr._ We call you our founder, by All Holy Hallows!

_Avar._ Founder me no found'ring; but beware the gallows!

_Insol._ I pray you leave these words, and talk friendly at last.

_Avar._ Content! at your request, my fame is now well past;
And, in faith! what saith our friend, Adulation?

_Adul._ I wonder at your rough communication,
That ye would to me use words of such vehemence.

_Avar._ Faith, man! I spake but even to prove your patience,
That if thou hadst grunted or stormed thereat.

_Adul._ Nay! few times do I use such loud manner as that.

_Avar._ Come! shake hands! for ever we two be at one.

_Adul._ As for grudge in me, there shall never remain none.

_Avar._ Now, Master Insolence! to your ghostly purpose!

_Insol._ We accorded a matter to you to disclose.

_Avar._ I understand all your agreement and accord;
For, I laid in your bosoms when ye spake the word;
And I like well the advice of Oppression,
And eke of Flattery, for your progression.

_Insol._ If there were matter whereon to work, I care not.

_Avar._ Ye shall have matter enough; be doing, spare not!

_Insol._ What! to come to honour and wealth for us all three?

_Avar._ Ah then! ye could be content to leave out me!

_Insol._ No! for I know ye can, for yourself well provide.

_Avar._ Yea! that I can; and for twenty hundred beside.

_Adul._ Oh, would Christ, good founder! ye would that thing open.

_Avar._ Bones, knave! wilt thou have it ere it can be spoken?

_Oppr._ For the passion of God! tell it us with all speed!

_Avar._ By the cross, not a word! here is haste made indeed.

_Insol._ Yes, good, sweet Avarice! dispatch, and tell at once!

_Avar._ Nay then, cut my throat! ye are fellows for the nonce--
Will ye have a matter before it can be told?
If ye will have me tell it, ye shall your tongues hold.
Whist! silence! not a word! Mum! let your clatter cease!
Are ye with child to hear, and cannot hold your peace?
So sir! now Respublica, the lady of estate,
Ye know, now lately, is left almost desolate.
Her wealth is decayed; her comfort clean ago;
And she at her wit's end what for to say or do.
Fain would she have succour, and easement of her grief;
And highly advance them that would promise relief;
Such as would warrant her spirits to revive
Might mount to high estate, and be most sure to thrive.

_Insol._ So!

_Adul._ Well said!

_Oppr._ Ha!

_Avar._ What is this hum, ha, hum?

_Insol._ On forth!

_Adul._ Go too!

_Oppr._ Tell on!

_Avar._ Body of me!

_Adul._ Mum!

_Avar._ What say ye?

_Insol._ Haik!

_Adul._ Tuff!

_Oppr._ Hem!

_Avar._ Who haiken, tuffa, hum--what say ye?

_Oppr._ Nothing!

_Insol._ Not a word?

_Avar._ Nor you, neither?

_Adul._ Mum!

_Avar._ Did ye speak or not?

_Insol._ No!

_Oppr._ No!

_Adul._ No!

_Avar._ Nor yet do not?

_Insol._ No!

_Oppr._ No!

_Adul._ No!

[_Oppr._ No!

_Insol._ No!

_Adul._ No!

_Avar._ That, that, that! that, that, that!
Sir, I intend Dame Respublica t'assail;
And, so to creep in to be of her counsel;
I hope well to bring her in such a paradise
That herself shall sue me to have my service;
Then shall I have time and power to bring in you three.

_Oppr._ Do this out of hand, founder! and first, speak for me;
Bring me in credit that my hands be in the pie:
An I get not elbow room among them, let me lie.

_Avar._ Nay! see an Oppression, this eager elf,
Be not since more covetous than covetous self!
Soft! be not so hasty, I pray you, Sir! soft awhile!
You will over the hedge ere ye come at the stile.

_Oppr._ I would fain be shouldering and rumbling among them.

_Avar._ Nay! I will help javels as shall wrong them.

_Adul._ I pray you, good founder! let not me be the last.

_Avar._ Thou shalt be well placed where to thrive very fast.

_Adul._ I thank you, Master Avarice! with all my heart.

_Avar._ And when thou art in place, see thou play well thy part.
When ye claw her elbow, remember your best friend;
And let my commendations be ever at one end.

_Adul._ I warrant you!

_Insol._ And what! shall [I] be left clean out?

_Avar._ No, sir! ye shall be chief to bring all things about;
Ye shall among us have the chief pre-eminence;
And we to you, as it were, owe obedience:
Ye shall be our leader, our captain, and our guide;
Then must ye look aloft, with hands under the side.
I shall tell Respublica ye can best govern:
Be not ye, then, squeamish to take in hand the stern.
Then shall we assist you, as friends of perfect trust,
To do and to undo, and command what ye lust,
And, when you have all at your own will and pleasure,
Part of your livings to your friends ye may measure;
And punish the proudest of them that will resist.

_Oppr._ He that once winceth shall feel the weight of my fist.

_Adul._ Yea! we must all hold and cleave together like burrs.

_Avar._ Yea! see ye three hang and draw together like furze.

_Oppr._ And so shall we be sure to get store of money
Sweeter than sugar!

_Avar._ Sweeter than any honey!

_Insol._ Very well spoken! this gear will right well accord.

_Adul._ Did not I say ye were worthy to be a lord?

_Avar._ I will make Insolence a lord of high estate.

_Insol._ And I will take upon me well, both early and late.

_Oppr._ But, Insolence! when ye come to the encroaching of lands,
Ye may not take all alone into your hands;
I will look to have part of goods, lands, and plate.

_Insol._ Ye shall have enough, each body after his rate.

_Adul._ I must have part, too; ye must not have all alone.

_Insol._ Thou shalt be laden till thy shoulders shall crack and groan.

_Adul._ I pray you, let me have a good lordship or two.

_Insol._ Respublica shall feed thee till thou wilt say, ho!

_Adul._ And I must have good manor places, two or three.

_Insol._ But the chief and best lordship must remain to me.

_Oppr._ Mass! and I will look to be served of the best;
Or else some folk, somewhere, shall sit but in small rest.

_Insol._ I must have castles and towns in every shire.

_Adul._ And I, change of houses--one here, and another there.

_Insol._ And I must have pastures, and townships, and woods.

_Oppr._ And I must needs have store of gold and other goods.

_Insol._ And I must have change of farms, and pastures for sheep;
With daily revenues my lusty port for to keep.

_Avar._ I would have a bone here, rather than a groat,
To make these snarling curs gnaw out each other's throat!
Here! be eager, whelps! lo! to it Boy! box him Ball!
Poor I may pick straws; these hungry dogs will snatch all.

_Oppr._ Each man snatch for himself; by gosse! I will be sped.

_Avar._ Lack who lack shall: Oppression will be corn fed!
Is not Dame Respublica sure of good handling
When these whelps, ere they have it, fall thus to scambling?
And me, their chief founder, they have e'en since forgot.

_Insol._ Thou shalt have gold and silver enough to thy lot:
Respublica hath enough to fill all our laps.

_Adul._ Then, I pray you, sir! let our founder have some scraps!

_Avar._ Scr[a]ps? ye doltish lout! feed you your founder with scraps?
If you were well served your head would have some raps.

_Adul._ I spake of good will.

_Insol._ Nay, fight not, good Avarice!

_Oppr._ What any of us getteth, thou hast the chief price.

_Avar._ Then, whatever ye do, ye will remember me?

_Insol. Oppr. Adul._ Yea!

_Avar._ Well, so do then; and I forgive you all three.

_Insol._ But, when do we enter, every man his charge?

_Avar._ As soon as I can spy Respublica at large
I will board her; and, I trow, so win her favour
That she shall hire me, and pay well for my labour.
Then will I commend the virtues of you three
That she shall pray and wish under our rule to be;
Therefore, from this hour, be ye all in readiness!

_Oppr._ Doubt not of us! thou seest all our grediness.

_Insol._ If it be at midnight, I come at the first call.

[_They go forward, one after other._

_Adul._ Do but whistle for me, and I come forth withal.

_Avar._ That is well spoken; I love such a toward twig.

[_He whistleth._

_Adul._ I come, founder!

_Avar._ That is mine own good spaniel, Rig--
And come on! back again, all three! come back again!

_Insol._ Our founder calleth us back.

_Oppr._ Return then, amain.

ACTUS PRIMI, SCENA QUARTA.

AVARICE. ADULATION. INSOLENCE. OPPRESSION.

_Avar._ Come on, sirs, all three! And first to you, best be trust:
What, is your brainpan stuffed withal? wool or sawdust?

_Adul._ Why so?

_Avar._ What is your name?

_Adul._ Flattery!

_Avar._ E'en so, just!

_Adul._ Yea! or else Adulation, if you so lust:
Either name is well known to many a body.

_Avar._ An honest mome! ah, ye dolt! ye lout! ye noddy!
Shall Respublica hear your commendation
By the name of Flattery or Adulation?
Or, when ye commend me to her, will ye say this:
Forsooth! his name is Avarice or Covetise?
And you, that should have wit, is't your discretion
Bluntly to go forth, and be called Oppression?
And you, Insolence! do ye think it would well frame
If ye were presented to her under that name?

_Insol._ I thought nothing thereupon, by my halidom!

_Oppr._ My mind was another way, by my christendom!

_Adul._ That thing was le[a]st part of my thought, by Saint Denis!

_Avar._ No marry! your minds were all on your halfpenny.
But, my masters! I must on mine honesty pass,
And not run on 'head, like a brute beast or an ass.
For is not Oppression eachwhere sore hated?
And is not Flattery openly rebated?
And am not I, Avarice, still cried out upon?

_Adul._ Yes! I could have told you that, a great while agone;
But I would not displease you.

_Avar._ And you, Insolence!
I have heard you ill-spoken of a great way hence.

_Adul._ In my conscience! the devil himself doth love you.

_Avar._ But changing your ill-name, fewer shall reprove you--
As I, mine ownself, where my name is known
Am right sore assailed, to be overthrown.
But doing, as I will now, counterfeit my name,
I speed all my purposes, and yet escape blame.

_Insol._ Let us then have new names, each man, without delay.

_Avar._ Else will some of you make hanging stuff one day.

_Oppr._ Thou must new christen us.

_Insol._ First, what shall my name be?

_Avar._ Faith, sir! your name shall be Mounsire Authority.

_Oppr._ And, for me, what is your determination?

_Avar._ Marry, sir! ye shall be called Reformation.

_Adul._ Now, I pray you, devise for me an honest name.

_Avar._ Thou art such a beast, I cannot, for very shame!

_Adul._ If ye think good, let me be called Policy.

_Avar._ Policy--a rope ye shall! nay, Hypocrisy!

_Adul._ Fie! that were as slanderous a name a[s] Flattery.

_Avar._ And I keep for myself the name of Policy.
But, if I devise for thee, wilt thou not shame me?

_Adul._ Nay! I will make thee proud of me; or, else, blame me!

_Avar._ Well, then, for this time, thy name shall be Honesty.

_Adul._ I thank you, Avarice! Honesty, Honesty!

_Avar._ Avarice, ye whoreson! Policy, I tell thee!

_Adul._ I thank you, Policy! Honesty, Honesty!
How say you, Insolence? I am now Honesty.

_Avar._ We shall at length have a knave of you, Honesty!
Said not I, he should be called Mounseer Authority?

_Adul._ Oh, friend Oppression! Honesty, Honesty!

_Avar._ Oppression? ha! is the devil in thy brain?
Take heed! or, in faith! ye are Flattery again.
Policy! Reformation! Authority!

_Adul._ Hypocrisy! Defamation! and Authority!

_Avar._ Hypocrisy? ha! Hypocrisy? ye dull ass!

_Adul._ Thou named'st Hypocrisy even now, by the Mass!

_Avar._ Policy, I said; Policy! knave Policy!
Now say as I said.

_Adul._ Policy, knave! Policy!

_Avar._ And what callest thou him here?

_Adul._ Defamation!

_Avar._ I told thee he should be called Reformation.

_Adul._ Very well!

_Avar._ What is he now?

_Adul._ Deformation!

[_A line is probably lost._

_Avar._ Was ever the like ass born, in all nations?

_Adul._ A pestle on him, he comes of the Asians.

_Avar._ Come on! ye shall learn to solfe Reformation!
Sing on now: _Re_.

_Adul._ _Re._

_Avar._ _Refor._

_Adul._ _Reformation._

_Avar._ Policy, Reformation, Authority!

_Adul._ Policy, Reformation, and Honesty!

_Avar._ In faith, ye ass! if your tongue make any mo trips,
Ye shall both be Flattery and have on the lips.
And now, Mounsire Authority! against, I you call;
Ye must have other garments; and so must ye all--
Ye must, for the season, counterfeit gravity.

_Insol. and Oppr._ Yes! what else?

_Adul._ And I must counterfeit honesty.

_Avar._ And I must turn my gown in and out, I ween;
For these gaping purses may in no wise be seen.
I will turn it e'en here--come help me, Honesty!

_Adul._ Here, at hand!

_Avar._ Why, how now? play the knave, Honesty!
Help! what doest thou now?

_Adul._ I counterfeit Honesty.

_Avar._ Why, then, come thou! help me, my friend Oppression!
What help call you that?

_Oppr._ Fit for your discretion!

_Avar._ Oh, I should have said: help, sir Reformation!

_Oppr._ Yea, marry, sir! that is my nomination.

_Avar._ And when you are [in] your robe, keep it afore close.

_Oppr._ I pray you, Master Policy! for what purpose?

_Avar._ All folk will take you, if they peep under your gown,
For the veriest caitiff in country or town.
Now, go! and when I call, see that ye ready be!

_Insol._ I will.

_Oppr._ And I will.

_Adul._ And so will I, Honesty!

[_Exeant._

_Avar._ Well, now will I depart hence, also, for a space;
And, to bourd Respublica, wait a time of grace.
Wherever I find her a time convenient,
I shall say and do that may be expedient!

[_Exeat_ AVARICE.

ACTUS SECUNDI, SCENA PRIMA.

[RESPUBLICA.]

_Resp._ Lord! what earthly thing is permanent or stable?
Or, what is all this world but a lump mutable?
Who would have thought that I, from so florent estate,
Could have been brought so base as I am made of late?
But, as the waving seas do flow and ebb by course,
So all things else do change to better and to worse.
Great cities and their fame, in time, do fade and pass;
Now is a champion field where noble Troy was.
Where is the great Empire of the Medes and Persians?
Where be th' old conquests of the puissant Grecians?
Where Babylon? where Athens? where Corinth so wide?
Are they not consumed with all their pomp and pride?
What is the cause hereof? man's wit cannot discuss;
But, of long continuance, the thing is found thus.
Yet, by all experience, thus much is well seen:
That, in commonweals, while good governors have been,
All thing hath prospered; and, where such men do lack,
Commonweals decay, and all things do go back.
What marvel then, if I, wanting a perfect stay,
From most flourishing wealth be fallen in decay?
But, like as by default, quick ruin doth befall,
So may good government at once recover all.

[_Intrat_ AVAR[ICE] _cogitabundus et ludibundus_.

ACTUS SECUNDI, SCENA SECUNDA.

AVARICIA. RESPUBLICA.

_Avar._ Alas, my sweet bags! how lank and empty ye be;
But, in faith and troth, sirs! the fault is not in me.

_Resp._ Well, my help and comfort, oh Lord! must come from Thee.

_Avar._ And my sweet purses here, I pray you all, see, see!
How the little fool[s] gasp and gape for gromwell-seed!

_Resp._ If it be Thy will, Lord! send some redress with speed.

_Avar._ But, in faith, good sweet fools! it shall cost me a fall.
But I will shortly fill you, and stop your mouths all.

_Resp._ Oh, that it were my hap, on friendly friends to light!

_Avar._ Ha, ha! who is that same, that speaketh yonder in sight?
Who is't? Respublica? yea, by the Mary mass!

_Resp._ Then might I be again as well as ere I was.

_Avar._ Hide up these pipes! now, I pray God she be blind;
I am half afraid lest she have an eye behind.
We must now change our copy: oh, Lord! how I fray,
Lest she saw my toys, and heard what I did say!

_Resp._ Is there no good man that on me will have mercy?

_Avar._ Remember now: my name is Master Policy:
All thing, I tell you, must now go by Policy.

_Resp._ Hark! methink I hear the name of Policy.

_Avar._ Who calleth Conscience? here am I, Policy!

_Resp._ I pray you come to me, if you be Policy!

_Avar._ Yea, forsooth! yea, forsooth! my name is Policy.

_Resp._ I am sore decayed through default of Policy.

_Avar._ Yea, most noble Respublica! I know that well;
And do more lament it than any tongue can tell.
For, an if good Policy had had you in hand,
Ye had now been the wealthiest in any land:
But good Policy hath long been put to exile.

_Resp._ Yea, God wot! ye have been barred from me a great while.

_Avar._ Yea! I have been put back, as one clean off-shaken;
And, what can a man do till he be forth taken?

_Resp._ Well, I feel the lack of your helping hand, by the rood!

_Avar._ Alack, noble lady! I would I could do you good.

_Resp._ Yes, Policy! ye might amend all, if you lust.

_Avar._ Yea, faith! I durst put myself to you of trust.
But, there be enough that, for you, could shift make.

_Resp._ Yet, none like to you! if you would it undertake--
And I will put myself wholly into your hands:
Metal, grain, cattle, treasure, goods and lands--

_Avar._ Well! I will take some pain; but this to you be known:
I will do it, not for your sake, and not for mine own.

_Resp._ How say ye that, Policy?

_Avar._ This to you be known:
I will do all for your sake, and not for mine own.

_Resp._ I thank you, Policy!

_Avar._ Nay, I thank you, lady!
And I trust ere long to ease all our malady--
Well, ye put yourself now wholly into my hands?

_Resp._ Order me as you will.

_Avar._ Treasure, goods, and lands?

_Resp._ Yea, every whit!

_Avar._ Well! I thank you once again.
But, now that you may think my dealing true and plain,
And, because one cannot do so well as many,
Ye must associate me with mo company:
And first, by my will, ye shall set up Honesty.

_Resp._ Marry! with all my very heart--but where is he?

_Avar._ Very hard to find: but I think I could fet him.

_Resp._ Call him straightways hither! see that nothing let him!

_Avar._ It were best if I shall go fet men for the nonce;
To make but one viage, and bring them all at once.

_Resp._ Whom more than him?

_Avar._ Ye must stablish Authority.

_Resp._ That must needs be done.

_Avar._ And eke Reformation--
We four will rule things of another fashion.

_Resp._ Policy! I pray you go fet all these straightway.

_Avar._ Yes! for this your present case may bide no delay.
I will go and come with all festination. [_Exeat._

_Resp._ I like well this trade of Administration:
Policy for to devise for my commodity;
No person to be advanced but Honesty;
Then Reformation, good wholesome laws to make;
And Authority see the same effect may take;
What commonweal shall then be so happy as I?
For this, (I perceive), is the drift of Policy.

[_Intrat_ AVARICE, _adducens_ INSOLENCE, OPPRESSION, _and_ ADULATION.

And, behold! where he is returned again since:
He showeth himself a man of [much] diligence.

ACTUS SECUNDI, SCENA TERTIA.

ADULATION. AVARICE. RESPUBLICA. INSOLENCE. OPPRESSION.

_Adul._ I will do her double service to another!

_Avar._ Ye double knave, you! will ye never be other?

_Adul._ She shall have triple service of me, Honesty.

_Avar._ Ye quadrible knave! wi[ll] ye ne'er use modesty?
Thou drunken whoreson! dost thou not see nor perceive
Where Respublica stands, ready us to receive?

_Resp._ What talk have they yonder, among themselves together?

_Adul._ I have spied her now, shall I first to her thither?

_Avar._ Soft! let me present you.

_Resp._ I ween they be in fear--
Policy, approach! and bring my good friends near.

_Avar._ Come on, my dear friends! and execute with good will
Such office as each of you shall be put until.
Dame Respublica it is that for you hath sent.
Come on, friends! I will you unto her grace present.

_Insol. [and] Oppr._ To serve her, we are pressed with heart and
whole intent.

_Avar._ Madame! I have brought you these men for whom I went.

_Resp._ Policy! I thank you; ye have made speedy speed;
Therefore, ye be double welcome, and welcome friends, indeed!

_Avar._ Madame! your grace to serve we all are fully bent.

_Adul._ And, Madame! ye shall find me double diligent.

_Resp._ That is spoken of a good heart: but who be ye?

_Adul._ Forsooth, Madame! my name is Master Honesty.

_Resp._ Honesty? well said!

_Avar._ Madame! this is Honesty.

_Adul._ Yea, forsooth! and please your grace, I am Honesty.

_Avar._ Madame, he is for you: on my word, regard him!

_Resp._ Yes, and with large preferment I will reward him.

_Adul._ I thank your grace; and, I will, for you, take such pain
That, ere I deserve one, ye shall give me twain.

_Avar._ Honesty! your tongue trippeth!

_Resp._ How said ye? take such pain--