 | Respublica |  |
Actus primi
scena prima.
Avaryce.Now godd[i]ggod every chone bothe greate and smale
from highest to lowest Goddiggod to yowe all.
Goddiggod what sholde I saie? even or morowe?
if I marke howe the daie goeth god geve me sorowe.
But goddiggod echone twentie and twentie skore
of that ye most longe for what wolde ye have more?
ye muste pardoune my wyttes/ for I tell youe plaine
I have a hive of humble bees swarmynge in my braine
and he that hath the compace to fetch that I must fetche
I maie saie in Counsaile, had nede his wyttes to stretche.
But nowe what my name is, and what is my purpose
Takinge youe all for frendes I feare not to disclose.
My veray trewe vnchristen Name ys Avarice
which I may not have openlye knowen in no wise,
For though to moste men I am founde Commodius
yet to those that vse me my name is Odius
For who is so foolishe that the evell he hath wrought
for his owen behouff he wolde to light sholde be brought?
or who hadnot rather, his ill doinges to hide,
Thenne to have the same bruted on everye syde?
Therefore to worke my feate I will my name disguise
And call my Name polycie in stede of Covetise.
4
But to rake grumle sede Avaryce ys a Lone.
The Name of policie is of none suspected,
Polycye is ner of any cryme detected,
So that vnder the Name and cloke of policie
Avaryce maie weorke factes and scape all Ielousie.
And nowe ys the tyme come that except I be a beaste
een to make vp my mouth and to feather my neste
A tyme that I have wayted for, a greate Longe space
and nowe maie I spede my purpose If I have grace.
For heare ye sirrha? our greate graund Ladie mother
Noble dame Respublica, she and none other
of the offalles, the refuse, the Ragges, the paringes
The baggage, the trashe, the fragmentes, the sharinges
The od endes, the Cr[u]mes, the dribletes, the chippinges
The patches, the peces, the broklettes, the drippinges
The fliettance, the scrapinges, the wilde wai[v]es and straies
The skimmynges, the gubbins of booties and praies
The glenynges, the casualties, the blynde excheates,
The forginge of forfayctes, the scape of extraictes,
Thexcesse, the waste, the spoile, the superfluites,
The windefalles, the shriddinges, the flycynges/ the petie fees
with a Thowsaunde thinges mo which she maye right well lacke,
woulde fyll all these same purses that hange att my bakke/
yea and tenne tymes as manye moo bagges as these
which sholde be but a flea bytinge for hir to lese
That if I maie have the grace, and happe, to blynde her
I doubte not a shewete Ladye I shall fynde hir.
to hir ytt wer nothing yet manye a smale makith a greate
And all thinge wolde helpe me what ever I maye geate.
full lytle knowe men the greate nede that I am yn,
doo not I spende dailie of that that I doo wynne?
then age cometh on and what ys a lytle golde
to kepe a man by drede that is feble a{n}d olde?
no man therefore blame me/ thoughe I wolde have more/
5
Nowe the chaunce of theves, in goode houre be ytt spoken—
owte alas I feare I lefte my Cofer Open.
I am surelye vndoone/ alas where be my Cayes?
It ys gone that I have swette for/ all my lyve daies.
wo worthe all whoreson theves/ and suche covetous knaves
that for theire wyndinge sheete/ wolde scrape men owt of theire graves.
Exeat.
scena secunda.
Adulacion, Insolence, Oppressyon/ Intrant canta[n]tes.Adulacion.
Oh noble Insolence if I coulde singe as well
I wolde looke in heaven emonge Angells to dwell.
I[n]solence.
Sing? howe doo I sing, but as other manye doe?
Adulacion.
yes, an Angels voice ye have to herken vnto.
Insolence.
yea, but what availeth that to highe dignitiee?
Oppression.
By his armes not a whitte, as farre as I can see.
Inso.
Or what helpeth that thinge, to sett a man a lofte?
Oppression.
By his woundes not a strawe/ so have I tolde yowe ofte.
Adul.
No but ye are one of suche goddlye personage
of suche wytte and beawtye and of sage parentage
So excelente in all poyntes of everye arte—
Inso.
In dede god and nature in me have done their parte.
Adul.
That yf ye will putte yourselfe forwarde to the mooste,
ye maie throughowte the whole lande rewle all the Roste.
howe saie yowe oppression? ys ytt not even so?
Oppr.
Thowe saiest soothe Adulacion so mowte I goe.
if he wer disposed to take the charge in hande,
I warraunte hym a chive to Rewle all the whole lande.
Adul.
Lo maister Insolence ye heare Oppression?
Inso.
I thanke boothe hime and thee goode Adulacion,
And Long have I dreamed of suche an enterpryse
But howe or where to be gynne I cannot devise.
6
Wherefore serve frendes, but your enterpryse to allowe?
Adul.
And than must youe supporte them, as thei muste maintayne youe.
Opp.
And wherefore do frendes serve, but to sett youe yn?
Adul.
ye shall have all my healpe/ whan ever ye beginne.
Inso.
But we maie herein, nothing attempte in no wyse
withowte the Counsaile of our fownder Avaryce.
Adul.
He muste directe all this geare by his holye gooste.
Oppr.
For he knowith whatt ys to be done in eche cooste
he knoweth where and howe that money is to be hadde
And yonder he cometh me thinketh more then half madde.
Intrat Avar.
scena tertia.
Avarice. Insolence. Oppression. Adulacion.Avarice.
It was a faire grace that I was not vndooen clene
yet my kye was safe lockt vnder nyne lockes I wene
but een as against suche a thing my harte wyll throbbe.
I fownde knaves abowte my howse readye me to Robbe.
Theare was suche tooting suche looking and suche priinge
suche herkenynge/ suche stalking, suche watching, suche spyinge.
what wolde ye my maisters? we looke after a catte.
what make ye heareabowt? we have smelled a ratte.
Nowe a wheale on suche noses thought I by and by,
That so quicklye canne sente where hidden golde dothe lye.
But had I not come when I dyd withowte all failles
I thinke theye had digged vp my walles with theire nailes.
Inso.
Let vs speake to hym and breake his chafing talke.
Avar.
Suche gredinesse of Money emonge men dothe walke,
That have yt they wyll eyther by hooke or by crooke—
Oppr.
lett vs call to hym that he maye this waye Looke.
Avar.
whether by right or by wronge, in feith some care not.
Therefore catche that catche maye hardely and spare not—
7
All Haille oure Fownder and chief maister Avaryce.
Avar.
the devyll ys a knave an I catche not a flyce—
Adul.
when ye see your tyme looke this waie your frendes vppon.
Avar.
I doubte not to skamble and rake as well as one—
Adul.
heare bee that wolde faine bee desiples of your arte.
Avar.
I wilnot bee behinde to gette a childes parte.
Adul.
Nowe if ye have done/ I pray youe looke this waye backe.
Avar.
Whoo buzzeth in myne eare so? what? ye sawecye Iacke?
Adul.
Are ye yet at leysure with your good frendes to talke?
Avar.
what clawest thowe myne elbowe pratlinge merchaunt? walke.
ye flaterabundus yowe, youe flyering clawbacke youe
youe the Crowe is white youe, youe the swanne is blacke youe,
youe Iohn Holde my stafe youe/ youe what is the clocke youe
youe ait aio youe, yowe negat nego yowe.
Adul.
I mervaile yowe speake to me in suche facion.
Avar.
whi troublest thowe me then in my contemplacion?
Adul.
I came of right goode love not mynding youe to lett.
Avar.
Thowe ner camst to anie man of good love yett.
Adul.
And these mennes myndes yt was I sholde soo dooe.
Avar.
As false wretches as thyne owen selfe and falser tooe.
Ins. et oppr.
we have been loving to yowe and faithfull alwaye.
Avarice.
For your owne profittes thenne and not myne I dare saie
And een verai youe three it was and others none
that wolde have Robbed me not yet haulf an howre gone.
Insol., Oppr., Adula.
we never robbed anye manne later or rather.
Avar.
Yes manye a tyme and ofte your owne veraie Father.
Oppr.
And to yowe have we borne hartie favors alwaie.
Avar.
And I warraunte youe Hangd for your labours one daie.
Oppr., Adul.
Even as oure god we have alwaie Honered youe.
Avar.
And een as your god I have aie succoured youe.
Oppr.
Wee call yowe our fownder by all holye Halowes.
Avar.
Founder me no foundring, but beware the galowes.
Inso.
I praie youe leave thes wordes/ and talke frendlie at laste.
Avar.
Content at your request/ my fume is nowe well paste
8
Adul.
I wonder at your Roughe Communycacion,
that ye wolde to me vse wordes of suche vehemence.
Avar.
Feyth manne I spake but even to prove your pacyence,
that yf thowe haddest grunted or stormed thereat—
Adul.
Naie fewe times doe I vse suche lewde manier as that.
Avar.
Come, shake handes and for euer we twoo bee at one.
Adul.
As for grutche in me there shall never remaine none.
Avar.
Nowe maister Insolence to your ghostelye purpose.
Insol.
we accordyd a matier to youe to disclosse.
Avar.
I vnderstande all youre agreemente and accorde
for I laie in your bosoms when ye spake the worde,
And I like well the advise of oppression,
And eke of Flatterie for your progression.
Inso.
If there were matier whereon to worke I care not.
Avar.
ye shall have matier enoughe, bee doinge, spare not.
Inso.
what? to come to honour and welthe for vs all three?
Avar.
Ah than ye coulde be well content to leave owte me.
Inso.
no for I knowe ye can for yourselfe well provyde.
Avar.
Yea that I can and for Twentye hundreth besyde.
Adul.
Oh wolde Christe goode fownder ye wolde that thing open.
Avar.
Bones knave wilt thowe have ytt/ ere yt can be spoken?
Oppr.
for the passion of god tell ytt vs with all spede.
Avar.
By the crosse not aworde/ here is haste made in dede.
Insole.
yes good Swete Avarice despatch and tell att once.
Avar.
Naie then cutte my throte, ye are felowes for the nonce.
will ye have a matier before ytt canbe tolde?
If ye will have me tell ytt, ye shall your tonges holde.
whiste, scilence, not aworde/ mum/ leatte your clatter sease.
are ye with Childe to heare/ and cannot holde your pease?
So sir, nowe, Respublica the ladie of Estate
ye knowe nowe latelye is left almoost desolate.
hir welthe ys decayed hir Comforte cleane a goe
and she att hir wittes endes what for to saie or doe.
fayne wolde she have succoure and easemente of hir griefe
9
suche as wolde warraunte hir spirites to revive
mowght mounte to highe eastate/ and be most sure to thrive.
Inso.
So.
Adula.
well saide.
Opp.
hah.
Avar.
what is this hum, hah? hum?
Insol.
onn forth.
Adul.
goe too.
Op.
tell on.
Avar.
bodye of me.
Adul.
mum.
Avarice.
what saie ye?
Inso.
hake.
Adul.
tuff.
Op.
hem.
Av.
who haken tuffa hum.
What saie ye?
Oppr.
nothing.
Inso.
not aworde.
Ava.
nor youe neither?
Ad.
mum.
Avar.
dyd ye speake or not?
Ins.
no.
Opp.
no.
Adul.
no.
Ava.
nor yet doo not?
Inso.
no.
Opp.
no.
Adul.
no.
Op.
no.
Inso.
no.
Adul.
no.
Avar.
that that that that that that?
Sir I entend dame Respublica tassa[i]lle
and so to crepe in to bee of hir Counsaille.
I hope well to bring hir in suche a paradise
that hir selfe shall sue me to have my service
Than shall I have tyme and poure to bringe in youe three.
Oppression.
do this owte of hande founder, and first speake for me
bring me in credyte that my hande be in the pye,
An I gett not elbowe rowme emong them let me lye.
Avar.
Naie see an Oppression this eager elfe,
bee not sens more covetous then covetous selfe.
Softe be not so hastie I praie youe Sir softe awhile
youe will over the Hedge ere ye come att the stile.
Oppr.
I wolde fayne be shouldering and rumbeling emonge them.
Avar.
Naie I will helpe Iavels as shall wrong them.
Adul.
I praie youe goode foundre let not me be the laste.
Avar.
Thowe shalte be well placed where to thrive verai faste.
10
I thanke youe maister Avarice with all my harte.
Avar.
And when thoue arte in place see thowe plaie well thie parte
Whan ye clawe hir elbowe remembre your best frende,
and lett my Commendacions be ever att one ende.
Adul.
I warraunte youe.
Insol.
And what shall [I] bee left cleane owte?
Avar.
No syr, ye shall bee chiefe to bring all thinges abowte.
ye shall emonges vs have the chiefe preeminence,
And we to youe as yt were, oughe obedience.
ye shalbe our leader, our Captaine, and our guyde
Than must ye looke a lofte with thandes vnder the side.
I shall tell Respublica ye can beste governe,
bee not ye than skeymishe to take in hand the stern
than shall we assiste youe as frendes of perfitte truste,
to doe and to vndoe and Commaunde what ye luste
And when youe have all att your owne will and pleasure
parte of your lyvinges to your frendes ye maie measure
and punishe the prowdeste of theim that will resiste.
Oppr.
He that ones wincheth shall fele the waite of my fiste.
Adul.
yea we muste all holde and cleve togither like burres.
Avar.
yea see ye three hang and drawe togither like furres.
Oppr.
And so shall we be sure, to gett store of money,
Sweter then sugar.
Avar.
sweter then enie honey.
Insol.
verai well spoken, this geare will right well accorde.
Adul.
didnot I saie ye were worthie to be a lorde?
Avar.
I will make Insolence a lorde of highe eastate.
Insol.
And I will take vppon me well bothe earelye and late.
Oppr.
But Insolence when ye come to the encrochinge of landes
ye maie not take all alone into youre handes
I will looke to have parte of goodes landes and plate.
Insole.
Ye shall have enoughe eche bodye after his rate.
Adul.
I muste have parte too/ ye muste not have all alone.
Inso.
Thowe shalte bee laden tyll thye shoulders shall cracke and grone.
11
I praie youe lett me have a goode Lordship or twoo.
Insol.
Respublica shall feede the/tyll thowe wilt{te} saie hoo.
Adul.
And I muste have goode mannour places twoo or three.
Insole.
But the chiefe and beste Lordship muste remaine to me.
Oppr.
masse/ and I will looke to be served of the beste,
orels some folke some where shall sytt but in smale reste.
Insol.
I muste have castels and Townes in everye shiere.
Adul.
And I chaunge of howses one heare/ and another there.
Inso.
And I muste have pastures/ and townships and woodes.
Oppr.
And I muste nedes have store of golde and other goodes.
Insolence.
And I must have chaunge of Farmes and pastures for shepe,
with dailie revenues my lustye porte for to kepe.
Avar.
I wolde have a bone here rather then a grote
to make thes Snarling curres gnawe owte eche others throte.
here be eager whelpes loe: to yt Boye/ box him balle.
poore I, maie picke strawes/ these hungri dogges will snatche all.
Oppr.
Eche man snatche for hym selfe by gosse I wilbe spedde.
Avar.
Lacke who lacke shall/ Oppression wilbe corne fedde.
Is not dame Respublica sure of goode handlinge
whan theis whelpes, ere they have ytt/ fall thus to skambling?
And me their chiefe Fownder/ thei have een syns forgotte.
Insolence.
Thowe shalte have golde and silver enoughe to thy lotte,
Respublica hath enoughe to fill all oure lappes.
Adul.
Than I praie youe sir leate oure fownder have some scrappes.
Avar.
Scr[a]ppes ye doultishe lowte? fede youe your founder with scrappes?
yf youe were well served/ youre head wolde have some rappes.
Adul.
I spake of goode will.
Inso.
Naie fight not good Avarice.
Oppr.
What enie of vs getteth/ thoue haste the chiefe price.
Avar.
Than what ever ye doe ye will remembre me?
Insol., Oppr., Adul.
yea.
Avar.
well so doe than, and I forgeve youe all three.
12
But when doe wee enter everye man his Charge?
Avar.
as soone as I can spye Respublica att large
I will bourde hir, and I trowe so wynne hir favoure
that she sh{a}ll hire me/ and paie well for my laboure.
than wyll I comende the vertues of youe three
that she shall praie and wishe vnder our Rewle to bee.
Therefore from this houre bee ye all in readinesse.
Oppr.
Doubte not of vs thowe seeste all oure gredinesse.
Insol.
If ytt bee at midnight, I come att the firste call.
they go foorthwarde one after other.
Adul.
Doe but whistle for me, and I come foorth with all.
Avar.
That is well spoken. I love suche atowarde twygg.
(he whistleth. Adul.
I come fownder.
Avar.
that is myne owne good spaig[n]ell Rigg.
And come on backe againe all three, come bakke agayne.
Insol.
Owre founder calleth vs backe.
Oppr.
retourne then amaigne.
scena quarta.
Avaryce. Adulacion. Insolence. Oppression.Avar.
Come on syrs all three. And first to youe best be truste
What is your brainpan stufte with all? wull or sawe duste?
Adul.
why so?
Avar.
what is your name?
Adul.
Flatterie.
Avar.
een so iust?
Adul.
Yea, orels Adulacion if youe so luste,
Either name is well knowne to mannye a bodye.
Avar.
An honest mome, ah ye dolt, ye lowte, ye nodye.
shall Respublica here youre commendacion,
by the name of Flatterie or Adulacion?
or when ye Commende me to hir, will ye saie this
Forsouthe his name is Avarice or Covetise?
And youe that sholde have wytte/ yst your descretion
Bluntlye to goe forth, and be called Oppression?
13
If ye were presented to hir vnder that name?
Insol.
I thought nothing therevppon by my holydome.
Oppre.
My mynde was an other waie by my christendome.
Adul.
that thing was lest parte of my thowght by Saincte denie.
Avar.
No Marie your myndes were all on your haulfe penie.
but my maisters I must on myne honestie passe,
And not Ronne on heade, like a brute beaste or an asse
For is not Oppression eche where sore hated?
and is not flaterie openly rahated?
And am not I Avarice styll cryed owte vppon?
Adul.
Yes I coulde have tolde youe that, agreate {w}hile agone
but I woulde not displease youe.
Avar.
and youe Insolence
I have harde youe ill spoken of a greate waie hens.
Adul.
In my consciens the devill hym selfe dothe love youe.
Avar.
But chaungeyng your yll name fewer shall reprove youe
as I myne owen self where my name is knowen
Am right sore assailed to be over throwen
But dooing as I wyll nowe countrefaicte my name
I spede all my purposes/ and yet escape blame.
Inso.
Lett vs then have newe names eche manne withowte delaye.
Avar.
Els will some of youe make, good hanging stuff one daie
Oppr.
Thowe must newe christen vs.
Insol.
first what shall my name bee?
Avar.
Faithe sir your name shalbe mounsyre Authoritie.
Oppr.
And for me what ys your determinacyon?
Avar.
Marye syr ye shalbe, called Reformacyon.
Adul.
Nowe I praie yowe devise for me an honest name.
Avar.
Thowe arte suche a beaste, I cannot for veray shame.
Adul.
If ye thinke good lett me be called Policie.
Avar.
Policie. a rope ye shall. Naye Hipocrisie.
Adul.
Fy that were as slaunderous a name a[s] Flatterye.
Avarice.
And I kepe for myselfe the name of Policie.
But if I devise for thee, wilte thowe not shame me?
Adul.
Naie, I will make the prowde of me, orels blame me.
14
Well than for this tyme thy name shalbe Honestie.
Adul.
I thanke youe Avaryce. Honestie, Honestie.
Avar.
Avaryce ye whooresone? Policye I tell the.
Adul.
I thanke youe Polycye. Honestie, Honestie.
Howe saie youe Insolence? I am nowe Honestie.
Avar.
We shall att length have a knave of youe Honestie.
Sayde not I he sholde be called mounsier Authoritye?
Adulacion.
Oh frende Oppression, Honestie, Honestie.
Avar.
Oppression? hah? is the devyll in thye brayne?
Take hede, or in faithe ye are flatterye againe.
Policie, Reformacion, Authoritie.
Adul.
Hipocrysie, Diffamacion, Authorytie.
Avar.
Hipocrisye, hah? Hipocrisie, ye dull asse?
Adul.
Thowe namedste Hipocrisie even nowe by the masse.
Avaryce.
Polycye I saide, policye knave polycye.
Nowe saye as I sayd.
Adul.
Policie knave policie/
Avar.
And what callest thowe hym here?
Adul.
Dyffamacion.
Avar.
I tolde the he shoulde be called Reformacion.
Adul.
veraye well.
Avar.
What ys he nowe?
Adul.
Deformacion.
Avarice.
Was ever the like asse borne in all nacions?
Adul.
A pestell on hym, he comes of the Acyons.
Avar.
Come on, ye shall Learne to solfe: Reformacion.
Sing on nowe. Re.
Adul.
Re.
Avar.
Refor.
Adul.
Reformacion.
Avar.
Policie, Reformacion, Authorytie.
Adulacion.
Polycie, Reformacion and Honestie.
Avar.
In faithe ye asse yf your tong make enie moo trips
ye shall bothe be flatterie and have on the lips.
And now mounsyre Authoritie againste I youe call
ye muste have other garmentes, and soo muste ye all
ye muste for the season, counterfaite gravitee.
Ins. et oppr.
yes, what els?
Adul.
And I muste counterfaite honestie.
Avar.
And I must tourne my gowne in and owte I wene
for theise gaping purses maie in no wyse be seen.
15
Adul.
here at hande.
Avar.
why, how now? plaie the knave honestie?
helpe, what dooest thowe nowe?
Adul.
I counterfaicte honestie.
Avar.
Why than come thowe; helpe me, my frende Oppression.
what helpe calle youe that?
Oppr.
fytt for your discrecion.
Avar.
Oh I shoulde have sayde, helpe sir Reformacyon.
Oppr.
Yea Marye sir that is my nomynacion.
Avar.
And whan yowe are [in] your Robe, keape yt afore close.
Oppr.
I praie youe maister policie for what purpose?
Avar.
All folke wyll take youe if theye piepe vnder your gowne
for the veriest catif in Countrey or towne.
Now goe, and when I call, see that ye readie be.
Inso.
I will.
Oppr.
And I wyll.
Adul.
And so will I honestie.
exeant.
Avar.
Well nowe will I departe hens also for a space
And to bourde Respublica waite a tyme of grace.
{w}herever I fynde hir a tyme convenie{n}t
I shall saie and dooe that maie bee expedient.
exeat Avar.
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