University of Virginia Library

Scena. 6.

Phallax, Gripax, Rapax, a Bedell, and one with a browne Byll, bring in Lamia, and Rosko hir man.
La.
Teare not my clothes my friends, they cost more thē you are a ware,

Be.
Tush, soon you shal haue a blew gown, for these take you no care

Ro.
If she tooke thy offer poore knaue, thy wife would starue wt cold:

Gri.
Well syr, whipping shall keepe you warme.

Phal.
What meanes these knaues to scolde.

Ra.
Maister Phallax, we finde you in good time,
A VVoman here, we haue brought afore you:
One to be chargde with many a wanton crime.
Which tryall will, with proofe inough finde true:
A knaue of hirs, we haue stayed likewise,
Both to be vs'd, as you shall vs aduise.

Phal.
What call you hir name?

Ra.
Lamia.

Phal.
Faire Dame, hereto what do you saye?

La.
Worshipfull Sir, my selfe I happy reake,
UUith patience that my aunswer you will heare:
These naughtie men, these wordes on mallice speake,
And for this cause, yll wyll to me they beare.
I scornde to keepe, their mindes with money playe,
I meane to keepe, my life from open shame,
Yea, if I lyu'd, as lewdlie as they saye:
But I that knewe, my selfe vnworthy shame:
Shrunk not, to come vnto my triall nowe,
My tale is tolde, conceyue as lyketh you.

Phal.
My friends, what proofe haue you against this dame?
Speake on sure ground, least that you reape the shame:
The wrong is great, and craues great recompence.
To touch her honest name, without offence.

Gri.
All Iulio Syr doth ryng of her lewd lyfe:

Byl.
In deede she is knowne for an ydle huswife.

Ros.
He lyes, she is occupied day and night.

Phal.
To sweare against her is there any wight?

Ra.
No, not present, but if you do detayne her,
There wilbe found by oth, some that wyll stayne her,

Phal.
I see she is then on suspition stayde:
Whose fawltes to search, vpon my charge is layde,
From charge of her I therfore will set you free,
My selfe will search her faultes if any be,
A Gods name you may depart.

2 or. 3.
speake,
God bwy Syr.

Gri.
In such shares as this, henceforth I will begin,
For all is his, in his clawes, that commeth in.

Exeunt.
Phal.
Fayre Lamia, since that we are alone,
I plainely wyll discourse to you my minde,
I thinke you not to be so chast a one,
As that your lyfe, this fauor ought to fynde:
No force, for that, since that you scot free goe,
Unpunished, whose life is iudged yll:
Yet thinke (through loue) this grace the Iudge doth show,
And loue with loue ought to be answered styll.

La.
Indeede I graunt (although I could reproue,
Their lewde Complayntes, with goodnesse of my lyfe)
Your curtesy, your detter doth me proue,
In that you tooke (my honest fame in stryfe,)
My aunswere for discharge of their report:
For which good turne, I at your pleasure rest,
To worke amends, in any honest sort:

Phal.
Away with honesty, your answeare then in sooth,
Fyts me as iumpe as a pudding a Friars mouth,

Ros.
He is a craftie childe, dally, but do not.

La.
Tush, I warrant thee, I am not so whot,
Your wordes are too harde Sir, for me to conster.

Phal.
Then to be short, your rare bewtie my hart hath wounded so,
As (saue your loue, become my leach) I sure shall die with woe.

La.
I see no signe of death, in your face to appeare,
Tis but some vsuall qualme you haue, pitifull Dames to feare.

Phal.
Faire Lamia, trust me I faine not, betimes bestow som grace.

La.
Well, I admit it so, onelie to argue in your case.
I am maried, so that to set your loue on me were vaine:

Phal.
It suffiseth me, that I may your secrete friend remaine.

Ros.
A holie Hoode, makes not a Frier deuoute,
He will playe at small game, or he sitte out.

La.
Though for pleasure, or to proue me, these profers you do moue,
You are to wise, to hassarde life, vpon my yeelding loue:
The man is painde with present death, that vseth wanton pleasure.

Phal.
To scape such paine, wise men, these ioyes, without suspect cā measure.
Furthermore, I haue ben (my Girle) a Lawier to too lōg:
If at a pinche, I cannot wrest the Law from right to wrong.

La.
If lawe you do professe, I gladlie craue,
In a cause or two, your aduise to haue.

Phal.
To resolue you, you shall commaunde my skyll,
Wherfore like friendes, lets common in good wyll.

La.
You are a merie man, but leaue to ieast,
To morrowe night, if you will be my Geast:
At my poore house, you shall my causes knowe,
For good cause, which I meane not here to showe.

Phal.
Willinglie, and for that, haste calles me hence,
My sute tyll then, shall remaine in suspence:
Farewell Clyent, to morrow looke for me:

Exit.
La.
Your good welcome Sir, your best cheere will be.

Ros.
I tolde you earst, the nature of Phallax,
Money, or faire Women, workes him as waxe:
And yet I must commend your sober cheere,
You tolde your tale, as if a Saint you were.

La.
The Song.

Exeunt.