Thras. Sir, I was there before four, and he held me with brabbling[82] till the clock struck, and then for the breach of a minute he refused my money, and kept the recognisance of my land for so small a trifle.—Good Signor Mizaldo, speak what is law; you have your fee, you have heard what the case is, and therefore do me justice and right: I am a young gentleman, and speak for my patrimony.
Lawyer. Faith, sir, the case is altered; you told me it before in another manner: the law goes quite against you, and therefore you must plead to the Judge for favour.
Thras. [Aside]. O execrable bribery!
Alc. Faith, Sir Judge, I pray you let me be the gentleman's counsellor, for I can say thus much in his defence, that the Usurer's clock is the swiftest clock in all the town: 'tis, sir, like a woman's tongue, it goes ever half-an-hour before the time; for when we were gone from him, other clocks in the town struck four.
Judge. Hold thy prating, fellow:—and you, young gentleman, this is my ward: look better another time both to your bargains and to the payments; for I must give flat sentence against you, that, for default of tendering the money between the hours, you have forfeited your recognisance, and he to have the land.
Thras. [Aside]. O inspeakable injustice!
Alc. [Aside]. O monstrous, miserable, moth-eaten Judge!
Judge. Now you, fellow, what have you to say for your matter?
Alc. Master Lawyer, I laid my wife's gown to pawn for your fees: I pray you, to this gear.[83]
Lawyer. Alas, poor man, thy matter is out of my head, and therefore, I pray thee, tell it thyself.