Volume Vi Part 53 (1/2)

CONSCIENCE.

What, Usury, it is great pity thou art unhanged yet.

USURY.

Believe me, Conscience, it grieves me thou art brought so low.

CONSCIENCE.

Believe me, Usury, it grieves me thou wast not hanged long ago; For if thou hadst been hanged, before thou slewest Hospitality, Thou hadst not made me and thousands more to feel like poverty.

_Enter_ LUCRE.

LUCRE.

Methought I heard one cry brooms along the door.

USURY.

Ay, marry, madam; it was Conscience, who seems to be offended at me very sore.

LUCRE.

Alas, Conscience! art thou become a poor broom-wife?

CONSCIENCE.

Alas, Lucre! wilt thou continue a harlot all [the] days of thy life?

LUCRE.

Alas! I think it is a grief to thee that thou art so poor.

CONSCIENCE.

Alas, Lucre! I think it is no pain to thee, that thou still playest the wh.o.r.e.

LUCRE.

Well, well, Conscience, that sharp tongue of thine hath not been thy furtherance: If thou hadst kept thy tongue, thou hadst kept thy friend, and not have had such hindrance.

But wottest thou who shall be married tomorrow?

Love with my Dissimulation; For, I think, to bid the guests they are by this time wellnigh gone; And having occasion to buy brooms, I care not if I buy them all.

CONSCIENCE.

Then, give me a s.h.i.+lling, and with a goodwill have them you shall.

LUCRE.

Usury, carry in these brooms, and give them to the maid, For I know of such store she will be well apaid.

[_Exit_ USURY _with the brooms_.

Hold, Conscience; though thy brooms be not worth a quarter so much, Yet to give thee a piece of gold I do it not grutch; And if thou wouldst follow my mind, thou shouldst not live in such sort, But pa.s.s thy days with pleasure, store of every kind of sport.

CONSCIENCE.

I think you lead the world in a string, for everybody follows you: And sith every one doth it, why may not I do it too?

For that I see your free heart and great liberality, I marvel not that all people are so willing to follow ye.

LUCRE.

Then, sweet soul, mark what I would have thee do for me.

That is, to deck up thy poor cottage handsomely; And for that purpose I have five thousand crowns in store, And when it is spent, thou shalt have twice as much more.