University of Virginia Library

Scena. 4.

Phallax, Promos offycer, Gripax, and Rapax Promoters.
Phal.
My trusty friendes about your businesse straight,
With symple showes, your subtile meanings bayte:
Promote all faults, vp into my office,
Then turne me lose, the offenders to fleece.

Gri.
Tush, to finde lawe breakers let me alone,
I haue eyes, will looke into a Mylstone.

Phal.
God a mercy Gripax.

Ra.
And I am so subtyll sighted I trowe,
As I the very thoughts of men doo know:

Gri.
I fayth Rapax, what thought thy wife when she,
To lye with the preest, by night stole from thee?

Ra.
Marry she knew, you and I were at square,
And least we fell to blowes, she did prepare
To arme my head, to match thy horned browe.

Gri.
Goe and a knaue with thee,

Ra.
I stay for you:

Phal.
No harme is done, here is but blow for blow,
Byrds of a fether, best flye together,
Then like partners, about your market goe,
Marrowes adew, God sent you fayre wether.

Gri.
Fare you well, for vs take no care,
With vs this brode speeche sildome breedeth square.

Exeunt.
Phallax alone.
Phal.
Marry syr, welfare an office, what some euer it be,
The very countenaunce, is great, though slender be the fee,
I thanke my good Lord Promos now, I am an officer made,
Offices.
In sooth more by hap then desart, in secret be it sayde:
No force for that, each shyft for one, for Phallax will doo so,
Well fare a head can take his tyme, nay watch for time I trow.
I smyle to thinke of my fellowes, how some braue it, some waight,
A note for wayghters.
And thinke reward, there seruice iust, with offred shifts wyl bayght
When they (poore soules) in froth do falle a myle vpon account,
For flattery and feruent plesing, are meanes to make men mount:
I speake on proofe, Lord Promos, I haue pleased many a day,
Yet am I neither learned, true, nor honest any way.
What skyls for that, by wit or wyle, I haue an office got,
By force wherof euery lycence, warrant, pattent, pasport,
Leace, fyne, fee, et cetera, pas and repas, through Phallax bands,
Disordred persons brybe me wel, to escape from Iustice hands,
And welthy churles for to promote, I now haue set a worke,
Such hungry lads, as soone will smell, where statute breakers lurk,
And if they come, within our Grype, we meane to stripe them so,
As (if they scape from open shame) their bagges with vs shall goe.
And trust me this, we officers, of this mylde mould are wrought,
Agree with vs, and sure your shame by vs shal not be sought:
But soft a whyle, I see my Lord what makes him lowre so?
I wyll intrude into his sight, perhaps his greefe to know.