A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 72

SIMPLICITY.

No, I thank you heartily; I'll beg no more. I cannot with ye, though I would, for I am married to Painful-Penury. Look now, my proud stately masters, I may if I will; and you would, if ye might.

FRAUD.

No, not dwell with such a beggar as Conscience.

SIMPLICITY.

No, Fraud ne'er lov'd Conscience, since he was an ostler.

USURY.

Who cares for Conscience but dies a beggar?

SIMPLICITY.

That will not Usury do: he will first take threescore pound in the hundred.

DISSIMULATION.

Love, look on me, and I will give thee clothes.

LOVE.

I will no more by thee be so disguised.

SIMPLICITY.

Ye do the wiser, for his face looks like a cloak-back.

DISSIMULATION.

In thy affections I had once a place.

LOVE.

Those fond affections wrought me foul disgrace.

DISSIMULATION.

I'll make amends, if ought amiss were done.

LOVE.

Who once are burn'd, the fire will ever shun.

DISSIMULATION.

And yet once burn'd to warm again may prove.

LOVE.

Not at thy fire; I will be perfect Love.

SIMPLICITY.

I promise you, the wenches have learn'd to answer wittily.

Here's many fair proffers to Lucre and Love, But who clothes poor Conscience? she may sit long enough.

USURY.

I will clothe her straight.

[USURY _takes_ FRAUD'S _cloak, and casts it on_ CONSCIENCE.

SIMPLICITY.

Will you, Master Usury? that's honestly spoke.

Ha! that's no gramercy to clothe her with another man's cloak; But I see you have a craft in the doing, Master Usury: Usury covers Conscience with Fraud's cloak very cunningly.

CONSCIENCE.

Alas! who loads my shoulders with this heavy weed?

Fie! how it stinks: this is perfum'd indeed.

FRAUD.

Marry, gup, Goody Conscience! indeed I do you wrong, But I'll quickly right it; my cloak shall not c.u.mber you long.

USURY.

All this while Lucre knows not I am here, But now will I to her; mark how I speed!

Lady, the fairest that Nature ever form'd, Loadstone of love, that draws affection's darts, The only object of all humane eyes, And sole desired dainty of the world, Thy va.s.sal here, a virtue in thy need, Whom thou by licence of the law may'st use, Tenders himself and all his services To do thy will in duty as 'tofore, Glad of thy freedom as his proper life.

SIMPLICITY.

Lady Lucre, you love an apple: take heed the caterpillar consume not your fruit.

LUCRE.

Who is it that maketh this latest suit?

SIMPLICITY.

'Tis Usury. [_Aloud in her ear_.

LUCRE.

Great is the service he hath done for me; But, Usury, now I may not deal with thee.

USURY.

The law allows me, madam, in some sort.

CONSCIENCE.

But G.o.d and I would have thy bounds cut short.

USURY.

For you I reck not; but if G.o.d me hate, Why doth the law allow me in some rate?

CONSCIENCE.

Usury slanders both law and state.

The law allows not, though it tolerate, And thou art sure be shut out at heaven-gate.

USURY.

You were ever nice: no matter what you prate.

SIMPLICITY.

Then it will be with him, as it is with a great man's house in dinner-time! he that knocks, when the door is shut, comes too late.

LUCRE.

Well, Usury, Fraud, and Simony, Dissimulation, hearken unto me.

My tongue (although in memory it be green) Cannot declare what horrors I have seen; Ne can it enter into mortal ears Unmortified: the furies' fires and fears, The shrieks, the groans, the tortures, and the pains, That any soul for each of you sustains-- No pen can write, how Conscience hath me scourg'd, When with your faults my soul she ever urg'd: Arithmetic doth fail to number all The plagues of Sorrow in the den of thrall.