A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 61

And Policy may Lady Lucre gain Before you both, but let us not contend.

For Nemo doth the ladies prisoners keep, Though they were slandered late with liberty, And marriage to three far-born foreigners.

Then, first it fits we practise their release, And see them, and by sight our liking please;[232]

For yet we love, as gossips tell their tales, By hearsay: fame, not favour, hath us yet inflam'd.

POMP.

Lord Policy with reason hath discuss'd; Pleasure, consent; and so our love shall hold.

PLEASURE.

Ye never found that London's Pleasure err'd From reason, or from Pomp and Policy.

POLICY.

Come on, sir boy, attend you well your charge: [_To his Page_ WIT.

Wait in this place to watch and ward this s.h.i.+eld.

If any man, in honour of his love, So hardy he with stroke of sword to attaint This s.h.i.+eld, and challenge him that hereby challengeth, Say for thy lord, as should a trusty page, That Policy doth dare him to perform A hardier task than common challengers.

If he demand what Policy may be, A lord of London, say--one of the three.

POMP.

And you, sir boy, for Pomp perform the like; [_To_ WEALTH.

Bid him, that dare his impress batter once, Be well advis'd he be no beggar's brat, Nor base of courage, nor of bad conceit, To match himself with such magnificence, As fits Lord Pomp of London for his love: Call, if he come that can encounter me, [F]or move me not for each envious swad.

PLEASURE.

Will, be not wanton, nor of wayward mood: [_To_ WILL.

Wait as do these; use faith and diligence, And mark him well that dare disdain this s.h.i.+eld, Which London's lord, that Pleasure hath to name, Hath here advanc'd in honour of his dame.

I bid thee mark him well, whate'er he be, That London's Pleasure doth in malice scorn, For he's a rascal or a stranger born.

Good boy, mark well his gesture and his look, His eye, his gait, his weapon, and attire, And dog him to his lodging or his den, For I will make him sc.u.m and scorn of men.

No better boy than Will, when Will is pleas'd Be pleas'd, my boy, and so be my good Will.

POLICY.

And so, good boys, farewell; look to your charge.

Watch well, good Wit, who scorneth London's Policy; Be wary, Wit, for thou canst well discern.

POMP.

Wealth, watch for Pomp, for thou canst well defend.

PLEASURE.

Will can do something too, when pleaseth him.

[_Exeunt the three Lords_.

WIT.

Will is a good boy, where better is none.

WILL.

Nay, Wit were the best boy, if Will were gone.

WEALTH.

Nay, Wealth is the best boy, sirs: let that alone.

WIT.

I-wis he say'th true, Will: this Wealth's a gay lad.

WILL.

I care not for him, curmudgeonly swad.

WEALTH.

Well, miss me awhile, and you'll go near to be sad.

WIT.

Will, ye are Will-fool, if of him ye be not glad.

WILL.

Nay, Wit, if thou want him, thou'lt go near to be mad.

WEALTH.

To keep us still quiet I would other talk we had.

WIT.

I hope we'll not fall out, being none but three.

WEALTH.

If Wealth were away, Wit and Will would agree.

WILL.

Nay, Wit and Will are at strife, when there's n.o.body but me.

WIT.

Let pa.s.s, and of our s.h.i.+elds, sirs, let's make a little glee.

Will, what gives thy master here? a buzzard or a kite?

WILL.

Wit, you show yourself a gentleman by guessing so right.

A buzzard? thou buzzard! Wit, hast no more skill, Than take a falcon for a buzzard?

WIT.

O be quiet, good Will: It was but for sport, for I know the bird else.

WEALTH.

Thou mightest see it was no buzzard, man, by the bells.[233]

WIT.

What's the reason of this falcon? I pray thee, Will, show.

WILL.

Thou knowest that a falcon soars high, and stoops low: So doth Pleasure.

WIT.

But what's the word?

WILL.