University of Virginia Library

Scena prima.

Enter Dingem, Gettall, and Holdfast.
Dingem.
Not speak with him? with fear survey me better,
Thou figure of famine.

Gettal.
Comming, as we do,
From his quondam patrons, his dear Ingles now,
The brave spark Tradewell.

Dingem.
And the man of men
In the service of a woman, gallant Goldwire.

Enter Luke.
Holdfast.
I know'em for his prentices without
These flourishes. Here are rude fellows Sir.

Dingem.
Not yours, you rascall?

Holdfast.
No, Don pimp: you may seek'em
In Bridewell, or the hole, here are none of your comrogues.

Luke.
One of 'em looks as he would cut my throat:
Your businesse, friends?

Holdfast.
I'le fetch a constable,
Let him answer him in the Stocks.

Dingem.
Stir and thou dar'st.
Fright me with Bridewell and the Stocks? they are flea-bitings
I am familiar with.

Luke.
Pray you put up.
And sirrah hold your peace.

Dingem.
Thy words a law,
And I obey. Live scrape-shoo, and be thankfull.
Thou man of muck, and money, for as such
I now salute thee. The Suburbian gamsters
Have heard thy fortunes, and I am in person
sent to congratulate.

Gettal.
The news hath reach'd
The ordinaries, and all the gamsters are
Ambitious to shake the golden golls
Of worshipfull Mr. Luke. I come from Tradewell
Your fine facetious factor

Dingem.
I from Goldwire.
He and his Hellen have prepar'd a banquet
With the appurtenances to entertain thee,
For I must whisper in thine ear, thou art
To be her Paris, but bring mony with thee
To quit old scores.

Gettall.
Blind chance hath frown'd upon
Brave Tradewell. Hee's blown up, but not without
Hope of recovery, so you supply him
With a good round sum. In my house I can assure you
There's half a million stirring.

Luke.
What hath he lost?

Gettal.
Three hundred.

Luke.
A trifle.

Gettall.
Make it up a thousand,
And I will fit him with such tools as shall
Bring in a miriad.

Luke.
They know me well,
Nor need you use such circumstances for'em.
What's mine is theirs. They are my friends, not servants;
But in their care to enrich me, and these courses
The speeding means. Your name, I pray you?

Gett.
Gettall;
I have been many years an Ordinary-keeper,
My Box my poor Revenue.

Luke.
Your name suits well
With your profession. Bid him bear up, he shall not
Sit long on pennilesse-bench.

Gettall.
There spake an Angel.

Luke.
You know Mistris Shave'm?

Gettall.
The Pontifical Punk.

Luke.
The same. Let him meet me there some two hours hence,
And tell Tom Goldwire I will then be with him,
Furnish'd beyond his hopes, and let your Mistris
Appear in her best trim.

Dinge'm.
She will make thee young,
Old Æson. She is ever furnish'd with
Medæas Drugs, Restoratives. I flie
To keep 'em sober till thy worship come,
They will be drunk with joy else.

Gettall.
I'le run with you.

Exeunt Ding'em and Gettall.
Holdfast.
You will not do as you say, I hope.

Luke.
Inquire not,
I shall do what becoms me—to the door.
Knocking.
New Visitants: What are they?

Holdfast.
A whole batch, Sir,
Almost of the same leaven: your needy Debtors,
Penury, Fortune, Hoyst.

Luke.
They come to gratulate
The fortune fall'n upon me.

Holdfast.
Rather, Sir,
Like the others, to prey on you.

Luke.
I am simple,
They know my good nature. But let 'em in however.

Holdf.
All will come to ruine, I see beggery
Already knocking at the door. You may enter—
But use a conscience, and do not work upon
A tender-hearted Gentleman too much,
'Twill shew like charitie in you.

Enter Fortune, Penury and Hoyst.
Luke.
Welcome Friends:
I know your hearts, and wishes; you are glad
You have chang'd your Creditor.

Penury.
I weep for joy
To look upon his Worships face.

Fortune.
His Worships?
I see Lord Major written on his forehead;
The Cap of Maintenance, and Citie Sword
Born up in state before him.

Hoyst.
Hospitals,
And a third Burse erected by his Honour.

Penury.
The Citie Poet on the Pageant-day
Preferring him before Gresham.

Hoyst.
All the Conduits
Spouting Canary Sack.

Fortune.
Not a prisoner left,
Under ten pounds.

Penury.
We his poor Beads-men feasting
Our neighbours on his bounty.

Luke.
May I make good
Your prophecies, gentle friends, as I'le indeavour
To the utmost of my power.

Holdf.
Yes, for one year,
And break the next.

Luke.
You are ever prating, Sirrha:
Your present businesse, friends?

Fortune.
Were your brother present,
Mine had been of some consequence; but now
The power lies in your Worships hand, 'tis little,
And will I know, as soon as ask'd, be granted.

Luke.
'Tis very probable.

Fortune.
The kind forbearance
Of my great debt, by your means, heav'n prais'd for't,
Hath rais'd my sunk estate. I have two Ships,
Which I long since gave lost, above my hopes
Return'd from Barbary, and richly fraighted.

Luke.
Where are they?

Fortune.
Near Gravesend.

Luke.
I am truly glad of't.

Fortune.
I find your worships charity, and dare swear so.
Now may I have your licence, as I know
With willingnesse I shall, to make the best
Of the commodities, though you have execution,
And after judgment against all that's mine,
As my poor body, I shall be enabl'd
To make payment of my debts to all the world,
And leave my self a competence.

Luke.
You much wrong me,
If you onely doubt it. Yours Mr. Hoyst.

Hoyst.
'Tis the surrendring back the morgage of
My lands, and on good tearms, but three daies patience;
By an Uncles death I have means left to redeem it,
And cancell all the forfeited Bonds I seal'd too
In my riots to the Merchant, for I am
Resolv'd to leave off play, and turn good husband.

Luke.
A good intent, and to be cherish'd in you.
Yours Penury.

Penury.
My state stands as it did, Sir;
What I ow'd I ow, but can pay nothing to you.
Yet if you please to trust me with ten pounds more,
I can buy a commoditie of a Sayler
Will make me a freeman. There Sir is his name;
And the parcels I am to deal for.

Gives him a paper.
Luke.
You are all so reasonable
In your demands, that I must freely grant 'em.
Some three hours hence meet me on the Exchange,
You shall be amply satisfi'd.

Penury.
Heaven preserve you.

Fortune.
Happie were London if within her walls
She had many such rich men.

Exeunt Fortune, Hoyst. and Penury.
Luke.
No more, now leave me;
I am full of various thoughts. Be carefull Holdfast
I have much to do.

Holdfast.
And I something to say
Would you give me hearing.

Luke.
At my better leasure
'Till my return, look well unto the Indians.
In the mean time do you as this directs you.

Exeunt