University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Enter Dandaline the Hostesse.
Dan.
Now I faith ye little peeuish harlotrie,
Ile one day make you spit your meate more handsomly.
By my truth truly, had I not come in the rather,
She had laid me to the fire, the loyne of veale and Capon both together,
Not waying, (like an vnwitty gyrlish mother)
That the one would aske more rosting then the other;
So that either the Veale had beene left starke raw,
Or else the Capon burnt, and so not worth a straw;
And that had beene pittie: for I assure you at a word,
A better bird, a fairer bird, a finer bird,
A sweeter bird, a yonger bird, a tenderer bird,
A daintier bird, a crisper bird, a more delicate bird,
Was there neuer set vpon any Gentlemans board.
But I lack my ghests, that should pay for this geere:
And sure my mind giues me, I should finde them here,
Two of mine acquaintance, familiar growne,
The third to me yet a Gentleman vnknowne,
More then by hearesay, that he is fresh and lustie,
Full of money, and by name Prodigalitie.
Now, sir, to linke him sure to his Hostis Dandaline,
Dandaline must prouide to haue all things verie fine.
And therefore alreadie it is definitum,
The Gentleman shall want nothing may please his appetitum.
And because most meates vnsawced, are motiues to drouth,
He shall haue a Lemman to moysten his mouth,
A Lymon I meane, no Lemman I trow:
Take heed, my faire maides, you take me not so:
For though I goe not as graue as my Grandmother,
Yet I haue honestie as well as another.
But hush, now shall I heare some newes.

SCENE. II.

Enter Tom Tosse, Dicke Dicer, and Dandelyne.
Dick.
Fellow Tomkin, I thinke this world is made of flint;
Ther's neyther money, nor wares, worth money in't.

Tom.
Hold thy peace Dicke, it cannot still keepe at this stint:
We are now lighted vpon such a mynt,
As follow it well, I dare warrant thee,
Thy turne shall be serued in euery degree.

Dand.
Dick boy, mine owne boy, how dost thou? what cheare?

Dick.
What Dandeline mine Hostis, what make you here?

Dand.
I came of purpose to enquire for thee.

Dick.
And I came of purpose to seeke Prodigalitie.

Dand.
What, he you told me of? indeed is it he?

Dick.
I of my fidelitie.

Dand.
A good boy of mine honestie.
But when come ye?

Dick.
As soone as I can finde him.

Dand.
Seek him, good Dick, and find him speedily:
For this I assure ye, your Supper is readie.

Dick.
Goe home before, make all things very fine.

Dand.
I will, farewell.

Dick.
Farewell.

Dand.
Farewell to Tomkin too.

Tom.
Farewell, sweet Dandeline.

Dand.
But heare yee? bring him.

Dick.
Who?

Dand.
Tush a Gods name, you know who I meane, the Gentleman.

Dick.
Goe to, goe to.

Dandaline exit.
Dick.
Tom, now to the purpose where first we began.

Tom.
Cast care away, Dick, Ile make thee a man.

Dick.
A gospell in thy mouth, Tom, for it neuer went worse.
Master money hath left me neuer a penny in my purse.

Tom.
'Twill be better, Dicke, shalt see very shortly.

Dick.
I pray thee tell me, is this braue Prodigalitie,
So full of money as he is said to be?

Tom.
Full quotha? he is too full, I promise thee.

Dick.
And will he lash it out so lustily?

Tom.
Exceedingly, vnreasonably, vnmeasureably.

Dick.
Then may such mates as we that be so bare,
Hope some way or other to catch a share.

Tom.
Assure thy selfe that: but whist, he commeth here:
Let's entertaine him with familiar chere.

Dick.
In order then brauely.

SCENE III.

Enter Prodigality, Money, Tom Tosse, and Dicke Dicer.
Prod.
How ist, my sweet Money, shal we be lustie now?

Money.
Be as lustie as you will, Ile be as lustie as you.

Prod.
Who lacks money hoo, who lacks money?
But aske and haue, money, money, money.

Dick.
Sir, here be they that care not for your money,
So much as for your merrie company.

Prod.
And company is it I seeke assuredly.

Tom.
Then here be companions to fit your fantasie,
And at all assayes to answere your desire:
To goe, to runne, to stay, to doe, as you require.

Prod.
What can I wish more? well then, I pray,
What sports, what pastimes shall we first assay?

Tom.
Marrie first, sir, we both pray you hartily,
To take a poore supper with vs here hard by,
Where we will determine by common consent,
What pastimes are fittest, for vs to frequent.

Prod.
I graunt.

Dick.
Then if you please, with some sweet roysting harmony,
Let vs begin the vtas of our iollitie.

Prod.
Thou hitst my hand pat. Mony, what saist thou?

Mony.
I say, that I like it: goe to it, I pray you.

Prod.
Shall I begin?

Mony.
Yea.

Prod.
The Song.

Exeunt. Flie goldknops.

SCENE IIII.

Enter Liberalitie.
Lib.
The more a man with vertuous dealing doth himselfe invre,
The lesse with worldly businesse, he is molested sure,
Which maketh proofe, that as turmoyles still tosse the worldly minde:
So mindes exempt from worldly toyle, desired quiet finde.
And chiefly where the life is led in vertuous exercise,
There is no toyle, but ease, and contentation to the wise:
But what account, how sleight regard, is had of vertue here,
By actions on this worldly stage, most plainely doth appeare,
Men see without most iust desert, of vertue nought is got,
To Fortune therefore flie they still, that giueth all by lot;
And finding Fortunes gifts, so pleasant, sweet and sauery,
They build thereon, as if they should endure perpetually.
But this is sure, and that most sure, that Fortune is vnsure,
Her selfe most fraile, her giftes as fraile, subiect to euery shewre:
And in the end, who buildeth most vpon her suerty,
Shall finde himselfe cast headlong downe, to depth of miserie.
Then hauing felt the crafty sleights of Fortunes fickle traine,
Is forst to seeke by vertues aid, to be relieu'd againe.
This is the end, runne how he list, thus man of force must doe,
Vnlesse his life be cleane cut off, this man must come vnto:
In time therefore man might doe well, to care for his estate,
Lest letted by extremity, repentance come too late.

SCENE V.

Enter Liberalitie and Captaine VVel-don.
Cap.
Sir, I beseech you speak a good word for me to the Prince,
That by her letters, I may be commended to some Prouince,
Where seruice is to be had, either there to die with fame,
Or els to get me somewhat, whereon to liue without shame:
For begge I cannot, and steale I may not, the truth is so;
But need doth make, the Prouerbe saith, th'old wife to trot for woe.
Yet whom starke need doth pinch, at length the diuel driues to go:
Therefore, I beseech you, pittie his extremity,
That would not make this sute without necessity.

Lib.
Who be you, my friend?

Cap.
By birth a Gentleman, by profession a souldier,
Who, though I say it, in all our Soueraignes warre,
With hazard of my blood and life, haue gone as farre,
As haply some others, whose fortunes haue bin better:
But I in seruice yet, could neuer be a getter,
Ne can I impute it but to mine owne destiny:
For well I know, the Prince is full of liberalitie.

Lib.
What is your name, sir?

Cap.
My name is, Wel-don.

Lib.
Are you Captaine Wel-don?

Cap.
Though vnworthy, sir, I beare that name.

Lib.
Giue me your hand, Captaine Wel-don, for your fame,
In feates of Armes, and seruice of your Country,
I haue heard oft, you haue deserued greatly:
Therefore thinke this, that as you merit much,
So the consideration thereof shall be such,
As duely doth pertaine to your desert.
Trust me, the Prince her selfe, vnmoued of my part,
Your dutifull seruice hath specially regarded,
And expressy commaunds that it be well rewarded:
Wherefore you shall not need to seeke seruice abroad.
I exhort you at home still to make your aboade:
That if in this realme occasion of warres be offered.
You and others your like may be employed.

Cap.
My dutie binds me to obey.

Lib.
Then for this time you shall not need to stay.
As for your cause I will remember it,
And see it holpen too as shall be fit.

Captaine Weldon exit.

SCENE VI.

Enter Liberalitie and a Courtier.
Lib.
Truely, if I should not haue care of this mans necessity,
I should both swerue from vertue and from honesty.

Court.
Sir, I humbly beseech you help to preferre my suite.

Lib.
What is it?

Court.
There is an office falne, which I would gladly execute.

Lib.
Who be you?

Court.
A seruant here in Court.

Lib.
Doe you serue the Prince?

Court.
No and please you.

Lib.
Whom then?

Court.
A noble man neere about her Maiesty.

Lib.
In what degree.

Court.
Forsooth, sir, as his Secretarie.

Lib.
How long haue you serued?

Court.
A yeare or twaine.

Lib.
And would you so soone be preferred?
In troth, my friend, I would be glad, as I may,
To doe you any good: but this I say,
Who seekes by vertue, preferment to attaine;
In vertuous proceeding must take more paine,
Then can be well taken in a yeere or twaine:
For time giues experience of euery mans deeds,
And ech man by merit accordingly speeds.
Goe forward, my friend, in vertue with diligence,
And time, for your seruice, shall yeeld you recompence.
Your Lord and Master is very honourable,
And him in your sutes you shall finde fauourable:
And as for my part, as earst I did say,
I neuer will hinder, where further I may.
Let this for this time be your answere.

Court.
Sir, with my boldnesse, I beseech you to beare.

Lib.
God be with you.
Some men deserue, and yet doe want their due;
Some men againe, on small deserts doe sue.
It therefore standeth Princes Officers in hand,
The state of euery man rightly to vnderstand,
That so by ballance of equality,
Ech man may haue his hire accordingly.
Wel, since dame vertue, vnto me, doth charge of many things refer,
I must goe doe that best beseemes a faithfull officer.

Exit.