ACT III., SCENE I.
Enter DANDALINE, the hostess.
DAN. Now, i'faith, ye little peevish harlotry,[393]
I'll one day make you spit your meat more handsomely.
By my truth, truly had I not come in the rather,
She had laid me to the fire the loin of veal and capon both together,
Not weighing (like an unwitty girlish mother),
That the one would ask more roasting than the other;
So that either the veal had been left stark raw,
Or else the capon burnt, and so not worth a straw.
And that had been pity: for I assure you at a word,
A better bird, a fairer bird, a finer bird:
A sweeter bird, a younger bird, a tenderer bird:
A daintier bird, a crisper bird, a more delicate bird:
Was there never set upon any gentleman's board.
But I lack my guests, that should pay for this gear:
And sure my mind gives me, I should find them here,
Two of mine acquaintance, familiar grown,
The third to me yet a gentleman unknown,
More than by hearsay, that he is fresh and lusty,
Full of money, and by name Prodigality.
Now, sir, to link him sure to his hostess Dandaline,
Dandaline must provide to have all things very fine.
And therefore already it is definitum,
The gentleman shall want nothing may please his appetitum.
And because most meats unsauced are motives to drouth,
He shall have a lemon to moisten his mouth,
A lemon I mean; no lemon I trow;
Take heed, my fair maids, you take me not so.
For though I go not as grave as my grandmother,
Yet I have honesty as well as another.
But hush, now shall I hear some news.
[Manet.
SCENE II.
Enter TOM TOSS, DICK DICER.[394]
DICER. Fellow Tomkin, I think this world is made of flint;
There's neither money, nor wares worth money, in't.
TOSS. Hold thy peace, Dick, it cannot still keep at this stint:
We are now lighted upon such a mint,
As (follow it well) I dare warrant thee,
Thy turn shall be served in every degree.
DAND. Dick boy, mine own boy, how dost thou? what cheer?
DICER. What, Dandeline, mine hostess, what make you here?
DAND. I came of purpose to inquire for thee.
DICER. And I came of purpose to seek Prodigality.
DAND. What, he you told me of? indeed, is it he?
DICER. Ay, of my fidelity.
DAND. A good boy, of mine honesty.
But when come ye?
DICER. As soon as I can find him.
DAND. Seek him, good Dick, and find him speedily:
For this, I assure ye, your supper is ready.
DICER. Go home before, make all things very fine.
DAND. I will. Farewell.
DICER. Farewell.
DAND. Farewell to Tomkin, too?
TOSS. Farewell, sweet Dandaline.
DAND. But, hear ye? bring him.
DICER. Who?
DAND. Tush, a God's name, you know who!
I mean the gentleman.
DICER. Go to, go to. [DANDALINE exit.
Tom, now to the purpose where first we began.
TOSS. Cast care away, Dick; I'll make thee a man.
DICER. A gospel in thy mouth, Tom, for it never went worse.
Master Money hath left me never a penny in my purse.
TOSS. 'Twill be better, Dick, shalt see, very shortly.
DICER. I pray thee, tell me is this brave Prodigality,
So full of money as he is said to be?
TOSS. Full, quotha? he is too full, I promise thee.
DICER. And will he lash it out so lustily?
TOSS. Exceedingly, unreasonably, unmeasureably.
DICER. Then may such mates as we, that be so bare,
Hope some way or other to catch a share.
TOM. Assure thyself that; but whist, he cometh here:
Let's entertain him with familiar cheer.
DICER. In order, then, bravely.
[Retire.
SCENE III.
Enter PRODIGALITY, with MONEY.
PROD. How is't, my sweet Money, shall we be lusty now?
MON. Be as lusty as you will. I'll be as lusty as you.
PROD. Who lacks money, ho! who lacks money?
But ask and have: money, money, money!
DICER. Sir, here be they that care not for your money,
So much as for your merry company.
PROD. And company is it I seek assuredly.
TOSS. Then here be companions to fit your fantasy,
And at all assays to answer your desire:
To go, to run, to stay, to do, as you require.
PROD. What can I wish more? well then, I pray,
What sports, what pastimes, shall we first assay?
TOSS. Marry, first, sir, we both pray you heartily,
To take a poor supper with us here hard by,
Where we will determine by common consent,
What pastimes are fittest for us to frequent.
PROD. I grant.
DICER. Then, if you please, with some sweet roisting harmony
Let us begin the utas[395] of our jollity.
PROD. Thou hitt'st my hand pat. Money, what say'st thou?
MON. I say that I like it: go to it, I pray you.
PROD. Shall I begin?
MON. Yea.
PROD. Then surely shall it be,
To thee, for thee, and in honour of thee.
_The Song.
Sweet Money, the minion that sails with all winds,
Sweet Money, the minstrel, that makes merry minds.
Flitozolaknops_[396]
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.
Enter LIBERALITY.
LIB. The more a man with virtuous dealing doth himself inure,
The less with worldly business he is molested sure;
Which maketh proof that, as turmoils still toss the worldly mind:
So minds exempt from worldly toil desired quiet find.
And chiefly, where the life is led in virtuous exercise,
There is no toil, but ease and contentation to the wise.
But what account, how slight regard, is had of virtue here,
By actions on this worldly stage most plainly doth appear.
Men see without most just desert of virtue nought is got,
To Fortune therefore fly they still, that giveth all by lot;
And finding Fortune's gifts so pleasant, sweet, and savoury,
They build thereon, as if they should endure perpetually.
But this is sure, and that most sure, that Fortune is unsure,
Herself most frail, her gifts as frail, subject to every shower:
And in the end, who buildeth most upon her surety,
Shall find himself cast headlong down to depth of misery.
Then having felt the crafty sleights of Fortune's fickle train,
Is forc'd to seek by virtue's aid to be relieved again.
This is the end; run how he list, this man of force must do,
Unless his life be clean cut off, this man must come unto:
In time, therefore, man might do well to care for his estate,
Lest, letted by extremity, repentance come too late.
SCENE V.
Enter to LIBERALITY CAPTAIN WELL-DONE.
CAP. W. Sir, I beseech you, speak a good word for me to the prince,
That by her letters I may be commended to some province,
Where service is to be had, either there to die with fame,
Or else to get me somewhat, whereon to live without shame;
For beg I cannot, and steal I may not, the truth is so;
But need doth make, the proverb say'th, th'old wife to trot for woe.
Yet whom stark need doth pinch, at length the devil drives to go:
Therefore, I beseech you, pity his extremity,
That would not make this suit without necessity.
LIB. Who be you, my friend?
CAP. W. By birth a gentleman, by profession a soldier,
Who, though I say it, in all our sovereign's war,
With hazard of my blood and life have gone as far,
As haply some others, whose fortunes have been better:
But I in service yet could never be a getter,
Ne can I impute it but to mine own destiny:
For well I know the prince is full of liberality.
LIB. What is your name, sir?
CAP. W. My name is Well-done.
LIB. Are you Captain Well-done?
CAP. W. Though unworthy, sir, I bear that name.
LIB. Give me your hand, Captain Well-done, for your fame
In feats of arms and service of your country
I have heard oft; you have deserved greatly;
Therefore think this that, as you merit much,
So the consideration thereof shall be such,
As duly doth pertain to your desert.
Trust me, the prince herself, unmoved of my part,
Your dutiful service hath specially regarded,
And expressly commands that it be well rewarded
Wherefore you shall not need to seek service abroad:
I exhort you at home still to make your abode:
That if in this realm occasions of wars be offered,
You and others your like may be employed.
CAP. W. My duty binds me to obey.
LIB. Then for this time you shall not need to stay.
As for your cause, I will remember it,
And see it holpen too, as shall be fit.
[Exit WELL-DONE.
LIB. Truly, if I should not have care of this man's necessity,
I should both swerve from virtue and from honesty.
SCENE VI.
Enter to LIBERALITY a COURTIER.
COUR. Sir, I humbly beseech you help to prefer my suit.
LIB. What is it?
COUR. There is an office fall'n, which I would gladly execute.
LIB. Who be you?
COUR. A servant here in court.
LIB. Do you serve the prince?
COUR. No, and please you.
LIB. Whom then?
COUR. A nobleman near about her majesty.
LIB. In what degree?
COUR. Forsooth, sir, as his secretary.
LIB. How long have you served?
COUR. A year or twain.
LIB. And would you so soon be preferred?
In sooth, my friend, I would be glad, as I may,
To do you any good: but this I say:
Who seeks by virtue preferment to attain,
In virtuous proceeding must take more pain,
Than can be well taken in a year or twain.
For time gives experience of every man's deeds,
And each man by merit accordingly speeds.
Go forward, my friend, in virtue with diligence,
And time, for your service, shall yield you recompence.
Your lord and master is very honourable,
And him in your suits you shall find favourable:
And as for my part, as erst I did say,
I never will hinder, where further I may.
Let this for this time be your answer.
COUR. Sir, with my boldness, I beseech you to bear.
LIB. God be with you. [Exit COURTIER.
Some men deserve, and yet do want their due;
Some men, again, on small deserts do sue,
It therefore standeth princes' officers in hand,
The state of every man rightly to understand,
That so by balance of equality
Each man may have his hire[397] accordingly.
Well, since dame Virtue unto me doth charge of many things refer,
I must go do that best beseems a faithful officer.
[Exit.