Volume Vi Part 88 (1/2)

And that is your portion; for Conscience is bestowed on London's Pleasure, because London makes o'[286] Conscience what pleasure they use and admit, and what time they bestow therein, and to what end: so, my Lord Devotion, either that or nothing.

DEVOTION.

A stone is a hard lot, instead of a lady.

POLICY.

My Lord Delight, that do delight in Love, You must I love for making choice of mine.

Love is my portion, and that flint is yours.

DELIGHT.

Here in lead is written _Charity_: and what of this?

POLICY.

If you be (as I doubt not) honest Delight in love, then in the best sense you can have but Charity: if you be (which I suspect not) other Delight in love, you must be noted for concupiscence, and that you will blush to be. Well, Charity is your best: then, that is your portion; for, mark ye, London's Policy joins with London's Love, to show that all our policy is for love of London's commonwealth; and so our love cannot be separate from our policy. You hear this?

DELIGHT.

A flint's a hard change for so fair a wife.

POLICY.

And thus, lords, Desire of Lucre may take Care; Devotion of Conscience may have Remorse; and Delight of Love may have Charity: other recompense none.

PLEASURE.

And so we three leave you three with Care, Remorse, and Charity.

[_Exeunt_.

DESIRE.

With Care and Remorse, I swear, ye do leave us; but what Charity I cannot tell.

DEVOTION.

Well, yet we must use Charity, though we fail of our desire; and we are answered with such reason as is not to be gainsayed.

DELIGHT.

Indeed, my lord, your calling is to persuade to charity; but if I use patience, it shall be perforce.

DEVOTION.

Yet being so wisely warn'd, methinks, we should be arm'd, and take this in worth: that the world wonder no further, I will take up my hard burden of Remorse, and be gone.

[_Exit_.

DESIRE.

It is good to follow examples of good. I'll take this heavy burden of Care, and follow as I may.

[_Exit_.

DELIGHT.

Because I'll not be singular, I'll frame myself to follow, taking this cold portion of Charity as my share.

[_Exit_.

_Enter_ SIMPLICITY _with_ DILIGENCE.

SIMPLICITY.