Volume Vi Part 67 (1/2)

SIMPLICITY.

Gramercy, good Will, my wife shall love thee still; And since I can neither get Wit nor Wealth, Let my wife have her Will, and let me have my health.

G.o.d forgive me, I think I never name her, but it conjures her: look where she comes!

Be mannerly, boys, that she knock ye not with her staff: Keep your own counsel, and I'll make ye laugh.

What do ye lack? What lack ye?

Stand away, these boys, from my wares: Get ye from my stall, or I'll wring you by the ears: Let my customers see the wares. What lack ye?

What would ye have bought?

_Enter_ PAINFUL-PENURY, _attired like a water-bearing woman, with her tankard_.

PENURY.

You have customers enou', and if they were ought.

What do you with these boys here, to filch away your ware?

You show all your wit: you'll ne'er have more care.

WILL.

Content ye, good wife: we do not filch, but buy.

PENURY.

I meant not you, young master, G.o.d's blessing on your heart: You have bought indeed, sir, I see, for your part.

Be these two young gentlemen of your company?

Buy, gentlemen, buy ballads to make your friends merry.

WIT.

To stand long with your burden, methinks, you should be weary.

PENURY.

True, gentlemen; but you may see, poor Painful-Penury Is fain to carry three tankards for a penny.

But, husband, I say, come not home to dinner; it's Ember-day: You must eat nothing till night, but fast and pray.

I shall lose my draught at Conduit, and therefore I'll away.

Young gentlemen, G.o.d be with ye.

SIMPLICITY.

Wife, must I not dine to-day?

PENURY.

No, sir, by my fay.

[_Exit_ PENURY.

SIMPLICITY.

If I must not eat, I mean to drink the more: What I spare in bread, in ale I'll set on the score.

How say ye, my lads, and do I not speak wisely?

WIT.

Methinks ye do; and it's pretty that Simplicity Hath gotten to his wife plain Painful-Penury.

SIMPLICITY.