SIMPLICITY.
Now, cousin, dismember your friends, seeing two livings you have,
One that this man promis'd, and another that Lady Lucre gave.
Mass, you'll be a jolly man, and you had three or four more:
Let's beg apace, cousin, and we shall get great store.
Do thou get some more letters, and I'll get them scribed of
Mistress Love and Conscience,
And we'll go beg livings together; we'll beg no small pence.
How sayest thou, Cousin Sincerity? wut do so mich?
If we can speak fair and 'semble, we shall be plaguy rich.
SINCERITY.
Good Simplicity, content thee: I am never the better for this,
But must of force leave off, for I see how vain it is.
It boots not Sincerity to sue for relief:
So few regard [me,] that to me is a grief.
This was Nicholas Nemo, and No-Man hath no place:
Then how can I speed well in this heavy case?
And no man bid me to dinner, when shall I dine?
Or how shall I find him—where, when, and at what time?
Wherefore the relief I have had, and shall have, is small;
But to speak truth, the relief is nothing at all.
But come, Simplicity, let us go see what may be had.
Sincerity in these days was, sure, born to be sad.
SIMPLICITY. Come, let's go to dinner, cousin, for the gentleman, I think, hath almost din'd, But, and I do get victuals enough, I'll warrant you, I will not be behind.
SINCERITY.
What, if thou canst not get it then, how wilt thou eat?
SIMPLICITY. Marry, on this fashion; with both hands at once; ye shall see, when I get meat.
SINCERITY.
Why, his name was Nemo, and Nemo hath no being.
SIMPLICITY.
I believe, cousin, you be not hungry, that you stand prating.
Faith, I'll go do him a pleasure, because he hath need.
Why, and he will needs have meat eat, a' shall see how I'll feed.
I believe he will not bid me come again to him:
Mass, and he do, a' shall find a fellow that has his eating.
[Exeunt ambo.
Enter USURY and CONSCIENCE.
USURY.
Lady Conscience, is there anybody within your house, can you tell?