SIMPLICITY. No, a fox ferret him! for if I could find him, I would make him fast enough for cosening me of ten shillings for certain copper buttons and rings. I thought to have been a haberdasher, and he hath made me worse than a haymaker.
DILIGENCE. I may say to thee in counsel, but I'll have no words of it, he hath overreach'd me too: but if thou spy him first, let me understand; and if I see him first, thou shalt have knowledge; for I'll tell thee—but laugh not—he showed me a purse with a hundred pound in angels, which he would deliver me in pawn to be my true prisoner, because, for his credit, he was loth to go with me through the streets to Newgate. I refused it at first; but at last by his entreaty I was content to take his pawn, and thinking he had given me the right purse of gold, he had another like it, which he gave me with counters, and so went away. I never did see him since; but, mum, no words of it.
SIMPLICITY.
No words, quotha! that's a stale jest; would you be cosen'd so?
DILIGENCE.
Well, so it is now. Come, follow me for thy furniture and money.
[Exeunt.
Enter DISSIMULATION and FRAUD in caps, and as the rest must be for the show.
DISSIMULATION. The coast is clear: come, follow, Fraud, and fear not, for who can decipher us in this disguise? Thus may we shuffle into the show with the rest, and see and not be seen, doing as they do, that are attired like ourselves.
FRAUD. That is, to stand amongst them, and take as they take, torches or anything to furnish the show. Now, if we can pass but this day unseen, let to-morrow shift for itself as it may. I promise thee, Dissimulation, thou art very formal.
DISSIMULATION.
Not more than thyself, Fraud. I would thou sawest thy picture.
FRAUD.
Picture here, picture there! let us follow our business.