 | Liberalitie and Prodigalitie |  |
SCENE IIII.
Enter Vertue, Equity, Liberality, Money, and the Sherife.Vert.
Now my Lords, I see no cause, but that depart we may.
Equit.
Madam, to that shall like you best, we willingly obay.
Lib.
Yes, Lady, stay awhile, and heare of strange aduentures.
Ver.
Of what aduentures tell you? let vs know.
Lib.
Master Sherife, of that is happened, doe you make shew.
Sherif.
Then may it please you, the effect is this:
There is a certaine Royster, named Prodigalitie,
That long about this towne hath ruffled in great iolitie,
A man long suspected of very lewd behauiour,
Yet standing euer so high in Fortunes fauour,
As neuer till now, he could be bewrayed,
Of any offence, that to him might be layed:
Now wanting (belike) his wonted brauery,
He thought to supplie it, by murther and robbery.
Equit.
By murther and robbery?
Sherif.
Yea, sure.
Ver.
How?
Sherif.
This gallant, I tell you, with other lewd franions,
Such as himselfe, vnthrifty companions,
In most cruell sort, by the high way side,
Assaulted a countrie man, as he homewards did ride,
Robbed him, and spoiled him of all that they might,
And lastly, bereau'd him of his life out-right.
Ver.
O horrible fact!
Sherif.
The country hereupon rais'd hue & cry streightway:
He is apprehended, his fellowes fled away:
I supplying, though vnworthy, for this yere,
To my Princes vse, haue seyzed on his mony,
And bring you the same, according to my duty:
Praying, the party may haue the law with speed,
That others may be terrified from so foule a deed.
Ver.
So horrible a fact can hardly plead for fauour:
Therefore goe you, Equity, examine more diligently,
The maner of this outragious robbery:
And as the same, by examination shall appeare,
Due iustice may be done in presence here.
Equit.
It shall be done, Madam.
Sherif.
Then, Madam, I pray you, appoint some Officer to take the mony,
That I may returne againe with Equity.
Ver.
Let it be deliuered to my steward Liberality.
Exeunt.
Lib.
What, Mony? how come you to be so fat and foggy?
Mony.
Surely, sir, by the old chuffe, that miser Tenacity.
Lib.
How so?
Money.
He would neuer let me abroad to goe,
But lockt me vp in coffers, or in bags bound me fast,
That like a Bore in a stie, he fed me at last.
Thus Tenacitie did spoile me, for want of exercise:
But Prodigalitie, cleane contrarywise,
Did tosse me, and fleece me, so bare and so thinne,
That he left nothing on me, but very bone and skinne.
Lib.
Well, Mony, will you bide with him that can deuise,
To rid you and keepe you from these extremities?
Money.
Who is that?
Lib.
Euen my selfe, Liberalitie.
Money.
Sir, I like you well, and therefore willingly,
I am contented with you to remaine,
So as you protect me from the other twaine.
Lib.
I warrant thee.
First, from thy bands Ile set thee free,
And after, thy sickenes cured shall be.
Money.
Thanks and obedience I yeeld, & vow to Liberalitie.
Exit.
Cap.
My Lord, according to your appointment and will,
I come to attend your pleasure.
Lib.
Haue you brought your bill?
Cap.
Yea, my Lord.
Lib.
Giue it me.
Ile be your meane vnto the Prince, that it may dispatched be:
The while take here, these hundred crownes to releeue ye.
Cap.
God saue the Queene, and God saue Liberalitie.
2. Suiter.
Sir, I haue long serued the Prince at great expence,
And long haue I bin promised a recompence:
I beseech you consider of me.
Lib.
What, doe you serue without fee?
2. Suit.
Yea truely, sir.
Lib.
Hold, pray for the Queene.
2. Suit.
It shalbe my prayer day and night truely.
God saue the Queene, and God saue Liberalitie.
3. Suiter.
Now, good my Lord, vouchsafe of your charitie,
To cast here aside your pittifull eyes
Vpon a poore souldier, naked and needy,
That in the Queenes warres was maimed, as you see.
Lib.
Where haue you serued?
3. Suit.
In Fraunce, in Flaunders: but in Ireland most.
Lib.
Vnder whom?
3. Suit.
Vnder Captaine Wel-don.
Cap.
He was my souldier, indeed sir, vntill he lost his legge.
Lib.
Hold, pray for the Queene.
3. Suit.
God saue the Queene, and God saue Liberalitie.
| Liberalitie and Prodigalitie | |