 | Fortune by Land and Sea |  |
Scen. 4.
Enter Clown, Foster, Goodwin, and a Gentleman.Fost.
Speak with us, why what's the businesse?
Clow.
Nay, that's more then I can resolve you upon the suddain,
it may be there's some great fortune fallen to him of late, and he would
impart the benefit to you.
Goodw.
Nay then let's go, where shall we find him?
Clow.
A word to the wise, it may be that hee's in some monstrous extream
necessity, and would gladly borrow some money of you, or so.
Goodw.
I, saidst thou so? now I remember me, I needs must home, I
have some business, Ile see him at some other time.
Clow.
Nay but one word more.
Fost.
We cannot stay now.
Gent.
Nor I, a great occasion calls me hence.
Clow.
Nay then I see you are apt to take a man at the worst still,
if you knew what little need he hath to borrow, borrow quoth he, a
good jest, you know he and I, my fellow Phil and I 'mongst other
works that my Master uses to put us to, we use to dig and delve; now
if we have found a pot a money, and would trust you with the laying
of it out, why so?
Fost.
How?
Clow:
Marry even so, you know his Father is such a dogged old Cormudgeon,
he dares not for his ears acquaint him with.
Gent.
Prithee go on.
Clow.
'Twere kindness in him to chuse you out of all the friends he
hath in the world to impart this benefit to, were't not? and say true.
Gent.
Troth he was always a kind honest youth, and would it lay in
me to pleasure him.
Goodw.
Introth or me, he should command my purse and credit both.
Fost.
Where might we speak with him;
Clow.
Hard by Sir, hard by, but stay Gentlemen, suppose there is
no such matter as finding of money, but what we mist in digging to
supply his present necessities he hopes to find from you, I promise you
I partly doobt such a matter.
Fost.
How I forgot my selfe, I needs must home.
Goodw.
Troth nor can I stay.
Gent.
In sooth nor I.
Ent. Philip meeting them.
Gentlemen whither so fast, I sent to speak with you.
Clow.
I can assure you Sir, they are better to speak withall then to
borrow money of, one word or two with you my friends (by your
leave Master) Gentlemen I love you well, and that you may know I
love you, I would make bold to reveal a secret to you, my young Master
here, though you see him in these homely Accoutraments, simple
as you stand here, he has more to take to then Ile speak of, he might,
I marry might he, he might go brave and shine in pearle and gold; he
hath now in his instant possession a thousand pound thick.
Fost.
A thousand pounds?
Clow.
Nay old lads, he hath learnt his 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5. And never cost
him ten shillings.
Goodw.
Five thousand pound?
Clow.
You know where you hear it, Mum, here's your tale and your
tales Man.
Gent.
Good, good, proceed.
Clow.
Now lift up your large ears and listen; to whom should he
reveal all this wealth, but to some friend? and how should he know a
friend but by trying of him; and how should he try a friend but by
troubling of him? and how should he trouble a friend but by borrowing
money of him? now Gentlemen it may be at first hee'l make his
case poor and pitiful to you.
Fost.
Onely to try us.
Clow.
Onely to try you, have you no brains? do you think we have
need of money? has any of you occasion to use a hundred pound?
need of money, as I said afore, so I say agen, onely to try you, he has
done the like to four or five that I know; now because they would not
pity his supposed poverty, he would not acquaint them with this infinite
mass of wealth; you have wits, brains, apprehension, if he makes
his case known to you lay it on, if I said lay it on, lay it on, you are not
every body, if I had not seen some sparks in you, you had not been the
men, lay it on.
Fost.
Enough, enough, I understand thee fully, kind Master Philip
will you use my aid in my fair employment.
Goodw.
Sir or mine.
Gent.
Or mine.
Phil.
Worthy friends, even one as all freely to speak, as you are
Gentlemen, and I from my childhood have protested love, as you are
Christians; therefore to the poor, such as I am, should be most charitable,
help with your plenty to releeve my wants, you know my labor, and
have seen my need, then take some pity of my poor estate, and help to
Clow.
Did I not tell you so? Lay it on.
Fost.
Sir you shall have a hundred pound of me.
Goodw.
What need you use him and my selfe so neer.
Gent.
Trouble not them Sir, you shall hate of me:
Clow.
Take't Master, take't all.
Phil.
Oh Heavens! where slept this friendship all this while? who
said that charity was fled to heaven, and had no known abiding
here on earth; see these that know me disinherited, and to have no
means to supply my wants, strive who should most engage his purse and
credit to one so much opprest with poverty.
Clow.
Alas sir, you see their kindness, I told you how strange he
would make it; Lay it on.
Fost.
Pray Sir accept my kindnesse,
Gent. Goodw.
Pray take mine.
Clow.
Pray Master take their courtesies.
Phil.
Ile use them all, and onely borrow twenty pounds a peece to
stock a poor farm for my wife and me, some threescore pounds will
do't.
Clow.
Now, now, lay it on.
Gent.
Take it all of me.
Goodw.
Why all of you Sir, is not mine as ready?
Fost.
When one can do't, what need you trouble three? but for the
thousand pound Sir, do not think but you may trust me with the
whole employment of all such moneys, and never trouble these.
Phil.
What thousand pound?
Goodw.
Though it be six thousand I durst be steward of so great a
sum.
Clow.
Why Master Fellow Phil?
Phil.
Do you mock me Gentlemen, my wealth amounts not to a
thousand straws.
Clow.
I told you he would make it strange; lay it on.
Fost.
Make not your wealth so dainty, for we know you have at least
six thousand pound in banck, you may impart it unto us your friends.
Phil.
Who hath deluded you, derided me, and make a mockery of
my poor estate, now I protest I have not in the world more riches then
these garments on my back.
Goodw,
If possible, why here's my tale and my tales man.
Clow.
No Sir you are deceiv'd, here is your tale and you your selfe
are your tales man, for you carry it about you; the truth is Gentlemen
Phil.
Onely the late hope of those sixty pounds promis'd by you
unurged and uncompelled may raise my ruined fortunes.
Gent.
Will you disburst it all that were so forward?
Fost.
I have no money, do it you for me.
Goodw.
It is but one mans labour do't your self, if you have none I
have less, God be with you, one staies for me at home.
Gent.
Nay take me with you Sir:
Phil.
Why Gentlemen will you revault your words.
Fost.
I have no money.
Phil.
But now you strived which man should lend me most.
Fost.
But then we reckoned Sir without our host,
Then we supposed you rich, but being grown poor,
I have made a foolish vow to lend no more.
Exit.
Gent.
I have made the like, you know your father threatens
To disinherit you, and should we lend,
You being poor, should of our purses spend.
Exit.
Phil.
Though I be poor, heaven may enable me.
Goodw.
Heaven may do much, that's all the beggers saying,
Let me hourd wealth, you seek for wealth by praying.
Exit.
Phil.
The time may come ere long, so I divine
To punish those that at their power repine.
Exit.
Enter a Pursevant meeting the Clown.
Pursev.
Whither away so fast sirrah in the Queens name, I command
you stay,
Clow.
What are you that look so big?
Pursev.
A Pursevant.
Clow.
If you be so pursey, can you lend's any money, I assure you
it was the last business we were about; or else tell me the reason why
you stay my passage.
Pursev.
Sirrah I have a Proclamation to publish, and because my
self am somwhat hoarse, and thou hast a large wide mouth, and a laudible
voice I charge thee for the better understanding of the multitude to
speak after me word by word.
Clow.
If it be nothing else, do but advance me and Ile speak high enough,
come now, and teach me my new lesson.
Pursev.
Whereas two famous Rovers on the Sea.
Clow.
Whereas two famous Rogues upon the Sea.
Pursev.
Puser and Clinton:
Clow.
That lost their purses at the Clink.
Long since proclaimed Pirates.
Clow:
Long since proclaimed
spirats.
Purs:
Notwithstanding her Majesties commission.
Clow:
Notwithstanding her Majesties condition.
Pur:
Stil keep out.
Clow:
And will not come in.
Pur:
And have of late spoyled a
Ship of Exeter.
Clow:
And have of late spoyled all the sheep in
the Exchequer.
Pur:
And thrown the chief Merchant over board.
Clow.
And thrown the Merchants cheeses over-board.
Purs:
I therefore in her Majesties name.
Clow:
I therefore in the
name of her Majesty.
Purs:
Proclaim to him or them.
Clow:
Proclaim to them or him.
Pur:
That can bring in these
Pirates Ships or Heads.
Clow:
That can bring in these Pyecrusts or
Sheeps-heads.
Pur:
A thousand pound sterling.
Clow:
A thousand
Stares and Starlings.
Pur:
If a banisht man his country.
Clow:
If a man he shall be banisht his country.
Pur:
If a condemned
man liberty.
Clow:
I a man at liberty condemned.
Pur:
Besides her Majesties especial favour.
Clow:
Besides her
Majesties spectacles and savour.
Pur:
And so God save the Queen.
Clow:
And have you done now Sir?
Pur:
I have, farewel.
Clow:
Farewel Mr. Pursevant: he hath so fill'd my head with proclamations.
Exit.
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