Volume Vi Part 41 (1/2)

SIMPLICITY.

Yes, I will serve ye: but will ye go into dinner, for I am hungry?

LOVE.

Come, Lady Conscience: pleaseth you to walk home from this company?

CONSCIENCE.

With right goodwill, for their sights pleaseth not me.

[_Exeunt_ LADY LOVE _and_ CONSCIENCE.

SIMPLICITY.[160]

Fraud is the clubbish knave, and Usury the hard-hearted knave, And Simony the diamon' dainty knave, And Dissimulation the spiteful knave of spade.

Come there any mo knaves? come there any mo?

I see four knaves stand in a row.

[_Let_ FRAUD _run at him,[161] and let_ SIMPLICITY _run in, and come out again straight_.

FRAUD.

Away, drudge! begone quickly.

SIMPLICITY.

I wous:[162] do thrust out my eyes with a lady.

[_Exit_ SIMPLICITY.

USURY.

Did you ever see gentlemen so rated at before?

But it skills not: I hope one day to turn them both out of door.

SIMONY.

We were arrantly flouted, railed at, and scoff'd in our kind.

That same Conscience is a vild terror to man's mind.

Yet, faith, I care not, for I have borne many more than these, When I was conversant with the clergy beyond the seas; And he that will live in this world must not care what such say, For they are blossoms blown down, not to be found after May.

FRAUD.

Faith, care that care will, for I care not a point.

I have s.h.i.+fted[163] hitherto, and whilst I live I will jeopard a joint; And at my death I will leave my inheritor behind, That shall be of the right stamp to follow my mind.

Therefore let them prate, till their hearts ache, and spit out their evil: She cannot quail me, if she came in likeness of the great devil.

DISSIMULATION.

Ma.s.s, Fraud, thou hast a doughty heart to make a hangman of, For thou hast good skill to help men from the coff.

But we were arrantly flouted, yet I thought she had not known me; But I perceive, though Dissimulation do disguise him, Conscience can see.

What though Conscience perceive it, all the world cannot beside, Tus.h.!.+ there be a thousand places, where we ourselves may provide.

But look, sirs; here cometh a l.u.s.ty lady towards us in haste; But speak to her, if you will, that we may be all plac'd.

_Enter_ LADY LUCRE.

USURY.

I pray thee do, for thou art the likeliest to speed.

DISSIMULATION.