University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter Vanitie and Money.
Van.
What, master Money, how goeth the world with you?

Money.
Looke but vpon me, thou maist quickly iudge how.

Van.
Why, where the vengeāce, where the diuel hast thou bin?
Among brambles, or bryers, or spirits sure, I weene.

Money.
Both weene it, and wot it, I haue past a wildernesse
Of most mischieuous and miserable distresse;
Sharpe brambles, sharpe bryers, and terrible scratchers,
Beares, Wolues, Apes, Lyons, most rauening snatchers,
Thornes, thistles, and nettles most horrible stingers,
Rauens, grypes, and gryphons, oh vengible wringers,
Yea through my whole passage such damnable sights,
As I cannot but iudge them most damnable sprites.

Van.
Hah, hah, ha, ha.

Money.
Laugh ye, my friend? It is no laughing toy.

Van.
But who did guide you in this laborinth of ioy?

Money.
Who sir? your minion sir, Prodigalitie,
The Captaine elected of all roysting knauery,
He will be hang'd, I warrant him shortly.

Van.
Hah, hah, ha, ha.

Money.
Yet goe to, laugh on.

Van.
Are you not a cuck, cuck-cold?

Money.
I may be indeed, my clothes be but thin,
And therefore I will euen goe get me in,
That Fortune my mother may cloth me anew.

Exit.
Van.
Doe so, you had need so, I may say to you.
Now sure it is a world of worlds to see,
How all the world inclines to Vanitie:
Men seeke at first, that is but Vanitie,
And lose at last that was but Vanitie,
And yet continue still to follow Vanitie,
As though it were a thing of certaintie:
And I that beare the name of Vanitie,
And see the worlds exceeding vanitie,
In following so the tracks of vanitie,
Doe triumph still amid my Empery,
And laugh at their simplicity,
That will be so misse-led by Vanitie,
But who is this? oh I know him, a scholer of our traine,
Tis Hob a clunch, that comes for money againe.