A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 65

TEN. And where is a?

VAN. No more ado: ask but for Vanity.

Reward him well, he'll help thee to money.

TEN. But where?

VAN. Why, here in this place: this is Lady Fortune's palace.

TEN. Is this? Ah, goodly Lord, how gay it is!

Now hope I sure of money not to miss.

So law, my zon, ich will go rest myself a while, And come again. [_Exit_.

VAN. Do so. Now sure this coistrel makes me smile, To see his greedy gaping thus for gain, First hardly got, then kept with harder pain, As you ere long by proof shall see full plain.

TEN. This is mine old inn; here chill knock. Holla, ho!

HOST. What roister have we there, that rappeth so?

POST. How now, sirrah, what lack you?

TEN. Lodging.

POST. Lodging? there is none: all is full.

TEN. How so?

POST. Ta'en up by gentlemen long ago.

TEN. Let me yet have some room for mine a.s.s.

POST. _Asinus super asinum, volitate ad furtas_!

HOST. Who is that thou pratest therewithal?

POST. Look forth and see: a lubber, fat, great and tall, Upon a tired a.s.s, bare, short and small.

HOST. Ho, ho! 'tis Tenacity, my old acquaintance.

And to my wife of near alliance.

Father Tenacity!

TEN. Mine host, G.o.d speed!

How do you? Take in, ostler.

OSTLER. Anon, sir.

HOST. Chamberlain, wait upon my kindred here.

CHAM. I will, sir.

SCENE V.

_Enter_ MONEY _and_ VANITY.

_The Song_.

MON. _As light as a fly, In pleasant jollity: With mirth and melody, Sing Money, Money, Money!

Money the minion, the spring of all joy; Money, the medicine that heals each annoy; Money, the jewel that man keeps in store; Money, the idol that women adore!

That Money am I, the fountain of bliss, Whereof whoso tasteth, doth never amiss.

Money, money, money!

Sing Money, Money, Money_!

VAN. What, Money, sing you so l.u.s.tily?

MON. I have none other cause: who would not sing merrily, Being, as I am, in such felicity: The G.o.d of this world, so mighty of power, As makes men, and mars men, and all in an hour?

Yea, where I am, is all prosperity, And where I want, is nought but misery.

VAN. Money saith reason; for so doth it fare, Money makes masteries, old proverbs declare.

But, Money, of Fortune, our sovereign dame, What news?

MONEY. Marry, sir, of purpose I hither came, To let thee know she will forthwith be here: And lo! already, see, she doth appear.

VAN. 'Tis true; now must I show my diligence.

Down, ladies, stoop: do your reverence.

SCENE VI.

_Enter_ FORTUNE, _in her chariot drawn with Kings.

The Song.

Reverence, do reverence; fair dames, do reverence Unto this G.o.ddess great, do humble reverence: Do humble reverence.

Fortune, of-worldly state the governess: Fortune, of man's delight the mistress: Fortune, of earthly bliss the patroness: Fortune, the spring of joy and happiness.

Lo, this is she, with twinkling of her eye, That misers[387] can advance to dignity, And princes turn to misers' misery.

Reverence, due reverence_.

FOR. Report hath spread, that Virtue here in place Arrived is, her silly court to hold; And therefore I am come with faster pace, T'encounter her, whose countenance is so bold.

I doubt not but by this my pompous shew, By vestures wrought with gold so gorgeously: By reverence done to me of high and low: By all these ornaments of bravery, By this my train, that now attends me so: By kings, that hale my chariot to and fro, Fortune is known the queen of all renown: That makes, that mars; sets up and throws adown.

Well is it known, what contrary effects 'Twixt Fortune and dame Virtue hath been wrought: How still I her contemn, she me rejects; I her despise, she setteth me at nought: So, as great wars are grown for sovereignty, And strife as great 'twixt us for victory.

Now is the time of trial to be had, The place appointed eke in presence here.

So as the truth to all sorts, good and bad, More clear than light shall presently appear.

It shall be seen, what Fortune's power can do, When Virtue shall be forc'd to yield thereto.