Volume Vi Part 88 (2/2)

Come on, Master Diligence: I have been seeking ye, as a man should seek a load of hay in a needle's eye.

DILIGENCE.

And why hast thou sought me, I pray thee, so earnestly?

SIMPLICITY.

Why? For this ointment, these sh.e.l.ls, these pictures: do ye not know this _countus mountus c.u.m this da mihi_?

DILIGENCE.

What money? Why, do I owe thee any money?

SIMPLICITY.

Owe me? Tush, no, man; what do ye talk of owing? Come, and yet I must have some certain _sigillatum_ and _deliberatum in presentia_. Do you not understand, sir? Fortypence and furniture by my Lord Pomp's 'pointment against the wedding day, to be one of the showmakers. I do not say shoemakers, and yet they be honest men.

DILIGENCE.

I understand thee now, and thou shalt want neither money nor furniture for that. Sawest thou not Fraud lately?

SIMPLICITY.

No, a fox ferret him! for if I could find him, I would make him fast enough for cosening me of ten s.h.i.+llings for certain copper b.u.t.tons and rings. I thought to have been a haberdasher, and he hath made me worse than a haymaker.

DILIGENCE.

I may say to thee in counsel, but I'll have no words of it, he hath overreach'd me too: but if thou spy him first, let me understand; and if I see him first, thou shalt have knowledge; for I'll tell thee--but laugh not--he showed me a purse with a hundred pound in angels, which he would deliver me in p.a.w.n to be my true prisoner, because, for his credit, he was loth to go with me through the streets to Newgate. I refused it at first; but at last by his entreaty I was content to take his p.a.w.n, and thinking he had given me the right purse of gold, he had another like it, which he gave me with counters, and so went away. I never did see him since; but, mum, no words of it.

SIMPLICITY.

No words, quotha! that's a stale jest; would you be cosen'd so?

DILIGENCE.

Well, so it is now. Come, follow me for thy furniture and money.

[_Exeunt_.

_Enter_ DISSIMULATION _and_ FRAUD _in caps, and as the rest must be for the show_.

DISSIMULATION.

The coast is clear: come, follow, Fraud, and fear not, for who can decipher us in this disguise? Thus may we shuffle into the show with the rest, and see and not be seen, doing as they do, that are attired like ourselves.

FRAUD.

That is, to stand amongst them, and take as they take, torches or anything to furnish the show. Now, if we can pa.s.s but this day unseen, let to-morrow s.h.i.+ft for itself as it may. I promise thee, Dissimulation, thou art very formal.

DISSIMULATION.

Not more than thyself, Fraud. I would thou sawest thy picture.

FRAUD.

Picture here, picture there! let us follow our business.

[_Exeunt_.

_Enter a Wench, singing_.

_Strew the fair flowers and herbs that be green, To grace the gayest wedding that ever was seen.

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