Volume Ix Part 104 (1/2)

WEN. Fit to be regarded.

BAR. That shall command our souls.

WEN. Our swords.

BAR. Ourselves.

ILF. To feed upon you, as Pharaoh's lean kine did upon the fat.

[_Aside_.]

SCAR. Master Gripe, is my bond current for this gentleman?

ILF. Good security, you Egyptian gra.s.shopper, good security.

[_Aside_.]

GRIPE. And for as much more, kind Master Scarborow, Provided that men, mortal as we are, May have--

SCAR. May have security.

GRIPE. Your bond with land conveyed, which may a.s.sure me of mine own again.

SCAR. You shall be satisfied, and I'll become your debtor For full five hundred more than he doth owe you.

This night we sup here; bear us company, And bring your counsel, scrivener, and the money With you, where I will make as full a.s.surance As in the law you'd wish.

GRIPE. I take your word, sir, And so discharge you of your prisoner.

ILF. Why then let's come And take up a new room, the infected hath spit in this.

He that hath store of coin wants not a friend; Thou shalt receive, sweet rogue, and we will spend.

[_Aside. Exeunt_.

_Enter_ THOMAS _and_ JOHN SCARBOROW.

JOHN. Brother, you see the extremity of want Enforceth us to question for our own, The rather that we see, not like a brother, Our brother keeps from us to spend on other.

THOM. True, he has in his hands our portions--the patrimony which our father gave us, with which he lies fatting himself with sack and sugar[389] in the house, and we are fain to walk with lean purses abroad. Credit must be maintained, which will not be without money; good clothes must be had, which will not be without money; company must be kept, which will not be without money; all which we must have, and from him we will have money.

JOHN. Besides, we have brought our sister to this town, That she herself, having her own from him, Might bring herself in court to be preferr'd Under some n.o.ble personage; or else that he, Whose friends are great in court by his late match, As he is in nature bound, provide for her.

THOM. And he shall do it, brother, though we have waited at his lodging longer than a tailor's bill on a young knight for an old reckoning, without speaking with him. Here we know he is, and we will call him to parley.

JOHN. Yet let us do't in mild and gentle terms; Fair words perhaps may sooner draw our own Than rougher course,[390] by which is mischief grown.

_Enter_ DRAWER.

DRAW. Anon, anon. Look down into the Dolphin[391] there.

THOM. Here comes a drawer, we will question him. Do you hear, my friend?

is not Master Scarborow here?

DRAW. Here, sir! what a jest is that! where should he be else? I would have you well know my master hopes to grow rich,[392] before he leave him.