A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 38

[_A right excellent and famous Comoedy called the Three Ladies of London.

Wherein is Notablie declared and set foorth, how by the meanes of Lucar, Loue and Conscience is so corrupted, that the one is married to Dissimulation, the other fraught with all abhomination. A Perfect Patterne for All Estates to looke into, and a worke right worthie to be marked. Written by R.W. as it hath been publiquely played. At London, Printed by Roger Warde, dwelling neere Holburne Conduit, at the signs of the Talbot. 1584.[138] 4. Black letter_.]

THE PROLOGUE.

To sit on honour's seat it is a lofty reach: To seek for praise by making brags ofttimes doth get a breach.

We list not ride the rolling racks that dims the crystal skies, We mean to set no glimmering glance before your courteous eyes: We search not Pluto's pensive pit, nor taste of Limbo lake; We do not show of warlike fight, as sword and shield to shake: We speak not of the powers divine, ne yet of furious sprites; We do not seek high hills to climb, nor talk of love's delights.

We do not here present to you the thresher with his flail, Ne do we here present to you the milkmaid with her pail: We show not you of country toil, as hedger with his bill; We do not bring the husbandman to lop and top with skill: We play not here the gardener's part, to plant, to set and sow: You marvel, then, what stuff[139] we have to furnish out our show.

Your patience yet we crave a while, till we have trimm'd our stall; Then, young and old, come and behold our wares, and buy them all.

Then, if our wares shall seem to you well-woven, good and fine, We hope we shall your custom have again another time.

THE THREE LADIES OF LONDON.

THE FIRST ACT.

_Enter_ FAME, _sounding before_ LOVE _and_ CONSCIENCE.

LOVE.

Lady Conscience, what shall we say to our estates? to whom shall we complain?

Or how shall we abridge such fates as heapeth up our pain?

'Tis Lucre now that rules the rout: 'tis she is all in all: 'Tis she that holds her head so stout; in fine, 'tis she that works our fall.

O Conscience! I fear, I fear a day, That we by her and Usury shall quite be cast away.

CONSCIENCE.

Indeed, I fear the worst, for every man doth sue, And comes from countries strange and far of her to have a view.

Although they ought to seek true Love and Conscience clear; But Love and Conscience few do like that lean on Lucre's chair.

Men ought be rul'd by us; we ought in them bear sway, So should each neighbour live by other in good estate alway.

LOVE.

For Lucre men come from Italy, Barbary, Turkey, From Jewry; nay, the Pagan himself Endangers his body to gape for her pelf.

They forsake mother, prince, country, religion, kiff and kin; Nay, men care not what they forsake, so Lady Lucre they win; That we poor ladies may sigh to see our states thus turned and tost, And worse and worse is like to be, where Lucre rules the roost.

CONSCIENCE.

You say the truth, yet G.o.d, I trust, will not admit it so, That Love and Conscience by Lucre's l.u.s.t shall catch an overthrow.

FAME.

Good ladies, rest content, and you, no doubt, shall see Them plagued with painful punishment for such their cruelty: And if true Love and Conscience live from Lucre's l.u.s.t lascivious, Then Fame a triple crown will give, which lasteth aye victorious.

CONSCIENCE.

G.o.d grant that Conscience keep within the bounds of right, And that vile Lucre do not haunt her heart with deadly spite.

LOVE.

And grant, O G.o.d, that Love be found in city, town, and country, Which causeth wealth and peace abound, and pleaseth G.o.d Almighty.

FAME.

But, ladies, is't your pleasure to walk abroad a while, And recreate yourselves with measure, your sorrows to beguile?

CONSCIENCE.

Pa.s.s on, good Fame; your steps do frame; on you we will attend, And pray to G.o.d, that holds the rod, our states for to defend.

[_Exeunt_.

THE SECOND ACT.[140]

_Enter_ DISSIMULATION, _having on a farmer's long coat and a cap, and his poll and beard painted motley_.

DISSIMULATION.

Nay, no less than a farmer, a right honest man, But my tongue cannot stay me to tell what I am: Nay, who is it that knows me not by my party-colour'd head?

They may well think, that see me, my honesty is fled.

Tush! a fig for honesty: tut, let that go, Sith men, women and children my name and doings do know.

My name is Dissimulation, and no base mind I bear, For my outward effects my inward zeal do declare; For men do dissemble with their wives, and their wives with them again, So that in the hearts of them I always remain.

The child dissembles with his father, the sister with her[141] brother, The maiden with her mistress, and the young man with his lover.[142]

There is dissimulation between neighbour and neighbour, friend and friend, one with another, Between the servant and his master, between brother and brother.

Then, why make you it strange that ever you knew me, Seeing so how[143] I range thoroughout every degree?

But I forget my business: I'll towards London as fast[144] I can, To get entertainment of one of the three ladies, like an honest man.

_Enter_ SIMPLICITY _like a miller, all mealy, with a wand in his hand_.

SIMPLICITY.

They say there is preferment in London to have: Ma.s.s, and there be, I'll be pa.s.sing and brave.

Why, I'll be no more a miller, because the maidens call me Dusty-poll; One thumps me on the neck, and another strikes me on the nol: And you see I am a handsome fellow: mark the comporknance[145] of my stature.

Faith, I'll go seek peradventures,[146] and be a serving-creature.

DISSIMULATION.

Whither away, good fellow? I pray thee, declare.

SIMPLICITY.

Marry, I'll 'clare thee: to London; would thou didst go there.

DISSIMULATION.

What if I did? would it be better for thee?

SIMPLICITY.

Ay, marry should it, for I love honest company.

DISSIMULATION.

Agreed; there is a bargain; but what shall I call thee?

SIMPLICITY.

'Cause thou art an honest man, I'll tell thee: my name is Simplicity,