A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 104

PRIEST.

I have been this morning with a friend of mine, That would borrow a small sum of money of me; But I have learn'd the best a.s.surance a man can have In such a matter is a good p.a.w.n of twice the value, Or bonds sufficient for five times the quant.i.ty.

He is my near kinsman, I confess, and a clergyman, But fifty shillings is money; and though I think I might trust him simply with it for a twelvemonth, Where he craves it but for a month, yet simply I Will not be so simple; for I will borrow His gelding to ride to the term, and keep away a just fortnight.

If then he pay me money, I will deliver him his horse.

I would be loth to lose my money, or crave a.s.surance of my kinsman, But this may be done to try me, and I mean likewise to try him.

This is plain, though truly, brethren, something subtle.

But here comes one would fain take my house of me.

NEIGHBOUR.

Sir, I am a poor man, and I will give you thirty shillings a year: if I may have it, you shall be sure of your money.

PRIEST.

Truly, brother in Christ, I cannot afford it of the price; A must let my house to live, I ask no gains. But who comes here?

_Enter_ HONESTY _and a_ BEGGAR.

BEGGAR.

I beseech you, good master, for G.o.d's sake, give one penny to the poor, lame, and blind; good master, give something.

PRIEST.

Fie upon thee, lazy fellow, art thou not ashamed to beg? Read the blessed saying of St Paul, which is, Thou shalt get thy living with the sweat of thy brows, and he that will not labour is not worthy to eat.

HONESTY.

Ay, but he remembers not where Christ saith, He that giveth a cup of cold water in my name shall be blessed.

[_Aside_.]

BEGGAR.

Alas, sir, you see I am old.

PRIEST.

But that's no reason you should beg.

BEGGAR.

Alas, sir, age coming on me, and my sight being gone, I hope, sir, you will pardon me, though I beg; and therefore, for G.o.d's sake, one penny, good master.

PRIEST.

Why, I tell thee no, for the Spirit doth not move me thereunto.

And in good time, look in the blessed Proverb of Solomon, which is, Good deeds do not justify a man; therefore, I count it sin to give thee anything.

HONESTY.

See how he can turn and wind the Scripture to his own use; but he remembers not where Christ say'th, He that giveth to the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and he shall be repaid sevenfold: but the Priest forgets that, or at leastwise he will not remember it. [_Aside_.]

BEGGAR.

Now, fie upon thee, is this the pureness of your religion?

G.o.d will reward you, no doubt, for your hard dealing.

PRIEST.

Care not thou for that. Well, neighbour, if thou wilt have my house, friend and brother in Christ, it will cost you forty shillings--'tis well worth it truly, provided this, I may not stay for my rent: I might have a great deal more, but I am loth to exact on my brother.

HONESTY.

And yet he will sell all a poor man hath, to his shirt, for one quarter's rent. [_Aside_.]

NEIGHBOUR.

G.o.d's blessing on your heart, sir, you made a G.o.dly exhortation on Sunday.

PRIEST.

Ay, brother, the Spirit did move me thereunto. Fie upon usury, when a man will cut his brother's throat for a little lucre: fie upon it, fie! We are born one to live by another, and for a man to let his own as he may live, 'tis allowed by the word of G.o.d; but for usury and oppression, fie on it, 'tis unG.o.dly. But, tell me, will you have it?

NEIGHBOUR.

I will give you, as I have proffered you.

PRIEST.

Truly, I cannot afford it, I would I could; but I must go to our exercise of prayer, and after I must go see a farm that I should have.

[_Exeunt_.

_Enter_ DUNSTAN _and_ PERIN, _with the_ KING.

DUNSTAN.

Most gracious prince, vouchsafe to hear me speak, In that the law of kindred p.r.i.c.ks me on; And though I speak contrary to your mind, Yet do I build on hope you will pardon me.

Were I as eloquent as Demosthenes, Or like Isocrates were given to oratory, Your grace, no doubt, will think the time well-spent, And I should gain me commendations: But for my note is tuned contrary, I must entreat your grace to pardon me, If I do jar in my delivery.

KING.

Why, Dunstan, thou hast found us gracious still, Nor will we pull our settled love from thee, Until we find thy dealings contrary, But if thy parley be for Ethenwald, That base dissembler with his sovereign, 'Twere better leave to speak in his excuse, Than by excusing him gain our ill-will: For I am minded like the salamander-stone That, fir'd with anger, will not in haste be quench'd.

Though wax be soft, and apt to receive any impression, Yet will hard metal take no form, except you melt the same.

So mean men's minds may move as they think good, But kings' just dooms are irrevocable.

DUNSTAN.

'Tis not enough, where l.u.s.t doth move the offence.

KING.

Why, councillors may not with kings dispense.

DUNSTAN.

A councillor may speak, if he see his prince offend.

KING.

And for his counsel rue it in the end.

But Dunstan, leave: you urge us over far.

We pardon what is past; but speak no more.

DUNSTAN.

Nay, pardon me, for I will speak my mind.

Your grace may call to mind proud Marius' fall, That through his wilful mind lost life and empire; And Nimrod, that built huge Babylon, And thought to make a tow'r to check the clouds, Was soon dismay'd by unknown languages; For no one knew what any other spake: Which made him to confess, though 'twere too late, He had made offence in tempting of the Lord.

Remember David, Solomon, and the rest; Nor had proud Holofernes lost his head, Had he not been a foul adulterer.

KING.

Dunstan, forbear, and let this answer thee: Thou art too presumptuous in reproving me, For I have sworn, as truly as I live, That I will never pardon Ethenwald.

DUNSTAN.