A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Viii Part 75

VIR. I grieve for man, that man should be of ill attempts so[413] fain.

EQ. Grieve not for that: evil tasted once, turns him to good again.

VIR. Then will I take a cheerful mind, Unpleasant thoughts expel, And cares for man commit to them, That in the heavens do dwell.

EQ. Do so, dear madam, I beseech you most heartily, And recreate yourself, before you go hence, with some sweet melody.

_The Song.

If pleasure be the only thing, That man doth seek so much: Chief pleasures rest, where virtue rules: No pleasure[s] can be such.

Though Virtue's ways be very strait, Her rocks be hard to climb: Yet such as do aspire thereto, Enjoy all joys in time.

Plain is the pa.s.sage unto vice, The gaps lie wide to ill: To them that wade through lewdness' lake The ice is broken still.

This therefore is the difference, The pa.s.sage first seems hard To Virtue's train; but then most sweet At length is their reward.

To those again, that follow vice, The way is fair and plain; But fading pleasures in the end Are bought with lasting[414] pain.

If pleasure be the only thing, &c_.

SCENE IV.

_Enter_ VIRTUE, EQUITY, LIBERALITY, MONEY, _and the_ SHERIFF.

VIR. Now, my lords, I see no cause but that depart we may.

EQ. Madam, to that shall like you best we willingly obey.

LIB. Yet,[415] lady, stay awhile, and hear of strange adventures.

VIR. Of what adventures tell you? let us know.

LIB. Master Sheriff, of that is happened do you make show.

SHER. Then, may it please you, the effect is this: There is a certain roister, named Prodigality, That long about this town hath ruffled in great jollity!

A man long suspected of very lewd behaviour, Yet standing ever so high in Fortune's favour, As never till now he could be bewrayed Of any offence, that to him might be laid: Now wanting (belike) his wonted bravery, He thought to supply it by murther and robbery.

EQ. By murther and robbery?

SHER. Yea, sure.

VIR. How?

SHER. This gallant, I tell you, with other lewd franions, Such as himself, unthrifty companions, In most cruel sort, by the highway-side, a.s.saulted a countryman as he homewards did ride: Robbed him, and spoiled him of all that they might, And lastly bereav'd him of his life outright.

VIR. O horrible fact!

SHER. The country hereupon rais'd hue and try straightway: He is apprehended, his fellows fled away.

I supplying, though unworthy, for this year The place of an officer, and sheriff of the shire, To my prince's use, have seized on his money, And bring you the same, according to my duty: Praying the party may have the law with speed, That others may be terrified from so foul a deed.

VIR. So horrible a fact can hardly plead for favour: Therefore go you, Equity, examine more diligently The manner of this outrageous robbery: And as the same by examination shall appear, Due justice may be done in presence here.

EQ. It shall be done, madam.

SHER. Then, madam, I pray you, appoint some officer to take the money, That I may return again with Equity.

VIR. Let it be delivered to my steward Liberality.

[_Exeunt_.

LIB. What, Money? how come you to be so fat and foggy?

MON. Surely, sir, by the old chuff, that miser Tenacity.

LIB. How so?

MON. He would never let me abroad to go, But lock'd me up in coffers, or in bags bound me fast, That, like a boar in a sty, he fed me at last, Thus Tenacity did spoil me for want of exercise: But Prodigality, clean contrariwise, Did toss me and fleece me, so bare and so thin, That he left nothing on me but very bone and skin.

LIB. Well, Money, will you bide with him that can devise To rid you and keep you from these extremities?

MON. Who is that?

LIB. Even myself, Liberality.

MON. Sir, I like you well, and therefore willingly I am contented with you to remain, So as you protect me from the other twain.

LIB. I warrant thee.

First, from thy bands I'll set thee free, And after thy sickness cured shall be.

MON. Thanks and obedience I yield and vow to Liberality.

[_Exit_ MONEY.

_Enter_ CAPTAIN WELL-DONE [_and other_ SUITORS.]

CAP. W. My lord, according to your appointment and will, I come to attend your pleasure.

LIB. Have you brought your bill?[416]

CAP. W. Yea, my lord.

LIB. Give it me.

I'll be your mean unto the prince, that it may despatched be: The while take here these hundred crowns, to relieve ye.

CAP. W. G.o.d save the queen, and G.o.d save Liberality!