A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 76

Dere, mastra! O, pover necessity mak a me sell pour grand, grand loss: you shall gain ten pound at least. Go'boy[259].

SIMPLICITY.

What's your name?

FRAUD.

Merchant, I think I am even with ye now for calling me ostler.

You'll thrive well with such bargains, if ye buy, ye know not what.

Fraud hath fitted you with worse than your ballads. [_Aside_.

PENURY.

You'll warrant them gold, sirrah?

FRAUD.

Oui; so good gol' as you pay for. [_Aside_.]

Adieu, mounsier.

[_Exit_.

SIMPLICITY.

Adieu, mounsier. Adieu, fool: sell such gold b.u.t.tons and rings for so little money. Good Lord! what pennyworths these strangers can afford.

Now, wife, let me see: ten pound! when we have ten pound, we'll have a large shop, and sell all manner of wares, and buy more of these, and get ten pound more, and then ten pound, and ten pound, and twenty pound. Then thou shalt have a taffata hat and a guarded gown, and I a gown and a new cap, and a silk doublet, and a fair hose[260].

PENURY.

I thank ye, husband. Well, till then look well to your wares, and I'll ply my waterbearing, and save and get, and get and save, till we be rich. But bring these wares home every night with ye.

SIMPLICITY.

Tush! I shall sell them afore night for ten pounds. Gow, wife, gow; I may tell you[261], I am glad this French fellow came with these wares: we had fall'n to examining the ale-score else, and then we had fall'n out, and the ale-wife and my wife had scolded. [_Aside_.] Well, a man may see, he that's ordained to be rich shall be rich: gow, woman.

[_Exeunt_.

_Enter_ NEMO _and the three_ LORDS _as though they had been chiding_.

NEMO.

From whence, good lords, grew this hot argument?

POLICY.

Thou knowest already; yet, if thou wilt hear, For this we strive: fond Pleasure makes account, Summing his bills without an auditor[262], That Lady Lucre ought of right be his.

PLEASURE.

So I affirm, and so I will maintain, That Pleasure ought by right Dame Lucre have, To bear the charge of sports and of delights.

POMP.

Nay, to support the haughty magnificence And lordly Pomp of London's excellence Befits it rather Lucre join with me, By whom her honour shall be more advanced.

POLICY.

More fit for Pomp than Pleasure; but most fit That Policy with Lucre should be matched, As guerdon of my studies and my cares, And high employments in the commonwealth.

PLEASURE.

What pleasure can be fostered without cost?

POMP.

What pomp or port without respect of gain?

POLICY.

What policy without preferment lives?

PLEASURE.

Pleasure must have Lucre.

POMP.

Pomp hath need of Lucre.

POLICY.

Policy merits Lucre.

PLEASURE.

Pleasure dies without Lucre.

POMP.

Pomp decays without Lucre.

POLICY.

Policy droops without Lucre.

NEMO.

Thus, lords, you show your imperfections, Subject to pa.s.sions, straining honour's bounds.

Be well-advis'd: you promised to be rul'd, And have those dames by me disposed to you, But since I see that human humours oft Makes men forgetful of their greater good, Be here a while: Dame Lucre shall be brought By me to choose which lord she liketh best, So you allow her choice with patience.

PLEASURE.

Go: we abide thy doom till thy return. [_Exit_.

POMP.

If Lucre be not mad, she will be mine.

POLICY.

If she regard her good, she will be mine.

PLEASURE.

If she love happy life, she will be mine: Women love Pleasure.

POMP.

Women love Pomp.

POLICY.

Women use Policy: and here she comes that must decide the doubt.

_Enter_ NEMO, _with_ CONSCIENCE _all in white_.

NEMO.

Conscience, content thee with a quaint conceit: Conceal thy name to work a special good.