Shad. Why, sir, here’s none in.
Andel. Ha, let me see: O here’s a bastard cheek,
I see now ’tis not mine; ’tis counterfeit,
’Tis so! Slave, thou hast robbed thy master.
Shad. Not of a penny, I have been as true a steward—
Andel. Vengeance on thee and on thy stewardship!
Yet wherefore curse I thee? thy leaden soul
Had never power to mount up to the knowledge
Of the rich mystery closed in my purse.
Oh no, I’ll curse myself, mine eyes I’ll curse,
They have betrayed me; I will curse my tongue,
That hath betrayed me; I’ll curse Agripyne,
She hath betrayed me. Sirens, cease to sing,
Your charms have ta’en effect, for now I see,
All your enchantments were, to cozen me. [Music ceases.
Shad. What shall I do with this ten pound, sir?
Andel. Go buy with it a chain and hang thyself.
Now think I on my father’s prophecy.
Tell none, quoth he, the virtue, if you do,
Much shame, much grief, much danger follows you.
With tears I credit his divinity.
O fingers, were you upright justices,
You would tear out mine eyes! had not they gazed
On the frail colour of a painted cheek,
None had betrayed me: henceforth I’ll defy
All beauty, and will call a lovely eye,
A sun whose scorching beams burn up our joys,
Or turn them black like Ethiopians.
O women, wherefore are you born men’s woe,
Why are your faces framed angelical?
Your hearts of sponges, soft and smooth in show,
But touched, with poison they do overflow.
Had sacred wisdom been my father’s fate,
He had died happy, I lived fortunate.
Shadow, bear this to beauteous Agripyne,
With it this message, tell her, I’ll reprove
Her covetous sin the less, because for gold,
I see that most men’s souls too cheap are sold.
Shad. Shall I buy these spices to-day or to-morrow?
Andel. To-morrow? ay, to-morrow thou shalt buy them.
To-morrow tell the princess I will love her,
To-morrow tell the king I’ll banquet him,
To-morrow, Shadow, will I give thee gold;
To-morrow pride goes bare and lust acold.
To-morrow will the rich man feed the poor,
And vice to-morrow virtue will adore.
To-morrow beggars shall be crownèd kings,
This no-time, morrow’s-time, no sweetness sings:
I pray thee hence; bear that to Agripyne.
Shad. I’ll go hence, because you send me; but I’ll go weeping hence, for grief that I must turn villain as many do, and leave you when you are up to the ears in adversity. [Exit.
Andel. She hath robbed me, and now I’ll play the thief,
Ay, steal from hence to Cyprus, for black shame
Here, through my riots, brands my lofty name.
I’ll sell this pride for help to bear me thither,
So pride and beggary shall walk together.
This world is but a school of villany,
Therefore I’ll rob my brother, not of gold,
Nor of his virtues, virtue none will steal—
But, if I can, I’ll steal his wishing hat,
And with that, wandering round about the world,
I’ll search all corners to find Misery,
And where she dwells, I’ll dwell, languish and die. [Exit.