University of Virginia Library

Scæna [Octaua] Septima

Enter Brainsicks ffewtricks,, Clutch & Shackle,
Brain:
Come alonge, come alonge, come, come,
Wilt please you haue any Musicke Sr, to dr[r]ive away yor
Melancholy howers, Ile singe you, a very merry songe Sr.,
Sings

Vnder:
Never till nowe was this noyse welcome to mee,
T'will fright off all my Creditors,

Brain:
What art thou?

Serv:
A Miserable wretched ffellowe Sr.,
Whoe not an hower agoe, laide heere in trust,
A mightie sum̄e, since when, the Merchants blowne,
Ruin'd, and quite vndone,

Brain
Th'art Cosen'd,

ffew:
Nay fubd, and scrub'd, marke mee thou man of woe,
When an Impostume is growne ripe, & full,
If the foule stomacke, which did breed that filth,
Hath powerfull strength, to breake, & void it, then
The sickly wretch growes Cranke, better dispos'd,
H'inioyes a perfect health, soe these impostures,
Such as old Vndermyne, who crack'd for thowsands,
When through the spungie, and attractiue foulenes,
Of their vast Consciences, th'aue gather'd drosse,
If with a cleane Conveyance they can breake,
They are thought wise, & wealthy, are beheal'd
With admiracōn, to their Glorye; soe
After the foggie darkenes, of foule night,
The day breakes cleare, & the resplendent Sunne,
That had noe light, but what it kept conceal'd,
Nowe leands it liberally,

Brain:
Gramercye ffewtricks!
Your Citizens seldome breake, but when th'are rich,
They are not ripe till then;

Serv:
Ist possible?

ffew:
The Arabian Phœnix, annually expires,
But from her Ruines, and her Ashes, shee
Rises againe, all glorious, hee that sinks,
A Customary way, each longe Vacation,
And setts vpp in the Tearme, is a rare fellowe,,

Serv:
It seemes Sr. Custome then and vsualtie,
Acquites the shame,

Brain:
Shame? th'art a sillye ffellowe, art thou sure
Ther's any such thinge wt hin the walls,? I knewe
And yett a lives, a Merchaunt, whoe did breake,
ffor full as many Thowsand pounds, as are
Dayes in the yeare, laye Leiger in the Goale,
Howe longe?

Clutch:
Some Thirtie yeares, & odd, & ruin'd,
As many ffamylies, with whose estates,
Hee purchas'd honour, and a large Revenewe,
To all his Children severally,

Ser:
Oh strange!

Brain:
Howe should the Course of the world runne round else,
Such Cittizeins Children, turne gentl,, the estate beinge ill gott
By the ffather, is wastfully spent by ye sonne, & in the next discent,
His Children become bound againe, & this is
Singe

Serv:
Oh but the Merchant that ow'd the Thowsands,
What Composicōn Sr., was offerd him?

Clutch.
Att first they askt a noble in the Pound,

ffew:
But hee brought that noble to nyne pence.,

Clutch.
A sillie maide come of a good discent,
Whose howse hee ruin'd, lately did desire,
Compassion, & his Charitie, hee drawes
With solemne seremony his purse, bestowes—
A Phillipp & Mary six pence.,

Brain:
And withall, bidd her
Take honest Courses, Oh it was, a handsome Wench,
But though the Coyne did couple (as I vrg'd too)
I could doe noe good on her, hee had putt her
In such a scurvie humour; wt h his good counsaile

Serv:
Oh mercifull Heaven!

ffew
Such youthes as theis tumble on the earth, like a Whale in the Sea,
With whole Showles in his belly,, & when they dye, will lye
Buried, wt h a hundred, honest Cittizens, within them.,

Clutch:
Goe friend, ioyne wt h ye. rest of the Creditor s, in ye. Comission of bankerupt,

Serv:
Ile followe yor advise, thankes courteous gentleman,

exit
Brain:
Clutch, I shall quickly be discharg'd, I haue
Dispatch'd twentie Creditor s to day,

Clutch·
I sawe noe money paid Sr.?

Brain:
Why noe Clutch, theyl'e trust noe longer, & then I hope they are
All paid,? thou knowest, I haue noe other way to cleare my debts,