Fr. Who?—Quicksilver?
1st Pr. Ay, this is he.
Fr. Is this he? They say he has been a gallant indeed.
1st Pr. O, the royallest fellow that ever was bred up i’ the city! He would play you his thousand pound a-night at dice; keep knights’ and lords’ company; go with them to bawdy-houses; had his six men in a livery; kept a stable of hunting-horses, and his wench in her velvet gown and her cloth of silver. Here’s one knight with him here in prison. 51
Fr. And how miserably he is changed!
1st Pr. O, that’s voluntary in him: he gave away all
his rich clothes as soon as ever he came in here among the prisoners; and will eat o’ the basket,[115] for humility.
Fr. Why will he do so?
1st Pr. Alas, he has no hope of life! He mortifies himself. He does but linger on till the sessions.
2nd Pr. O, he has penned the best thing, that he calls his Repentance or his Last Farewell, that ever you heard. He is a pretty poet; and for prose—you would wonder how many prisoners he has helped out, with penning petitions for ’hem, and not take a penny. Look! this is the knight in the rug gown. Stand by. 64