University of Virginia Library

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.