Such things as to get the end are referred,
And by this reason to you I prove shall,
That I before Hypocrisy must be preferred:
The conclusion of my reason is this[33] inferred;
Sith Hypocrisy was invented to augment private gain,
I am the end of Hypocrisy: this is plain.
HYPOCRISY. Actum est de amicitia, the bargain is despatched, And we two in friendship are united as one.
AVARICE.
In the same knot with you let me also be matched,
And of money, I warrant you, you shall want none.
HYPOCRISY.
I agree; what say you? shall he be one?
TYRANNY.
I judge him needful in our company to be,
And therefore, for my part, he is welcome to me.
[HYP. Friendship for gain.]
Let us now speedily on our business attend,
And labour each one to bring it about.
HYPOCRISY.
That is already by me brought to end,
So that of your preferment you need not to doubt;
And my coming hither was to find you out,
That at my elbow you might be in readiness,
To help, if need were, in this weighty business.
To tell you the story it were but too tedious,
How the Pope and I together have devised,
Firstly to inveigle the people religious,
For greediness of gain who will be soon pressed:
And, for fear lest hereafter they should be despised,
Of their own freewill will maintain Hypocrisy,
So that Avarice alone shall conquer the clergy.
Now, of the chiefest of his carnal cardinals
He doth appoint certain, and give them authority
To ride abroad in their pontificals,
To see if with Avarice they may win the laity;
If not, then to threaten them with open Tyranny:
Whereby doubt not but many will forsake
The truth of the gospel, and our parties take.
TYRANNY.
This device is praiseworthy: how say'st thou, Avarice?
AVARICE.
I like it well, if it were put in ure,
Yet little gain to me shall this whole practice,
More than I had before-time, procure.