PENURY. That is nine shillings and eightpence: so we are worse by a groat than when we began. Well, once again I'll set ye up: here is four groats I have got by bearing water this week: make up your stock, and run no more behind. Who comes here?
Enter FRAUD, like .
SIMPLICITY.
What lack ye? What do ye lack?
FRAUD. Me lack-a de monish pour de feene—very feene—French knack, de feene gold button, de brave bugla lace, a de feene gold ring-a. You be free man, me un' foreigner: you buy a me ware, you gain teene pownd by lay out teene shellengs.
SIMPLICITY. Wife, what hard luck have we, that cannot make ten shillings now to gain ten pound. Why, ten pound would set us up for ever.
PENURY. Husband, see the ware; and if ten shilling will buy it, it shall go hard but we will make that money. Friend, show my husband your wares.
FRAUD. Look you dere, mastra, de feene buttoon de la gold, de ring-a de gold, de bugla shean: two shelleng un doozen de buttoon, un shelleng-a un ring. 'Tis worth ten shelleng, but, mastra and mastressa, me muss a make money to go over in my own countrey, but me lose teen pound pour hast to go next tide, or to-morrow.
PENURY.
Here is five shillings; buy them of this stranger.
SIMPLICITY. Friend, you have not stolen them, but you make them? Well, I'll buy them in the open market, and then I care not; here is ten shillings; deliver me the wares.
FRAUD. Dere, mastra! O, pover necessity mak a me sell pour grand, grand loss: you shall gain ten pound at least. Go'boy[259].