[Exeunt.
Enter a Wench, singing.
_Strew the fair flowers and herbs that be green,
To grace the gayest wedding that ever was seen.
If London list to look, the streets were ne'er so clean,
Except it was, when best it might, in welcome of our Queen.
Three lovely lords of London shall three London ladies wed:
Strew sweetest flowers upon the stones; perfume the bridal bed.
Strew the fair flowers, &c_.
Enter first DILIGENCE with a truncheon, then a boy with POLICY'S lance and shield: then POLICY and LOVE, hand in hand: then FRAUD in a blue gown, red cap, and red sleeves, with AMBITION'S lance and shield: then a boy with POMP'S lance and shield: then POMP and LUCRE, hand in hand: then DISSIMULATION with PRIDE'S lance and shield: then a boy with PLEASURE'S lance and shield: then PLEASURE and CONSCIENCE, hand in hand: then SIMPLICITY, with TYRANNY'S lance and shield. They all going out, NEMO stays and speaks.
NEMO.
These lords and ladies thus to church are gone,
An honoured action to solemnise there;
With greater joy will they return anon,
Than Caesar did in Rome his laurel wear.
Lord Policy hath Love unto his pheer;
Lord Pomp hath Lucre to maintain his port;
Lord Pleasure Conscience, to direct his sport.
Usury is marked to be known;
Dissimulation like a shadow fleets,
And Simony is out of knowledge grown,
And Fraud unfound in London, but by fits.
Simplicity with Painful Penury sits;
For Hospitality, that was wont to feed him,
Was slain long since, and now the poor do need him.
That Hospitality was an honest man,
But had few friends, alas! if he had any;
But Usury, which cut his throat as then,
Was succoured and sued for by many.
Would Liberality had been by thy side,
Then, Hospitality, thou hadst never died.
But what mean I, one of the marriage train,
To mourn for him will ne'er be had again?
His ghost may walk to mock the people rude:
Ghosts are but shadows, and do sense delude
I talk too long; for, lo, this lovely crew
Are coming back, and have performed their due.
[Return as they went, saving that the blue gowns, that bare
shields, must now bear torches: SIMPLICITY going about
spies FRAUD, and falleth on his knees before PLEASURE and
CONSCIENCE, saying—
SIMPLICITY.
O Lady Conscience, that art married to Lord Pleasure,
Help thy servant, Simplicity, to recover his lost treasure.
A boon, my lords, all for Love and Lucre['s] sake;
Even as you are true lords, help a false lout to take.
PLEASURE.
Thou shalt have help: speak, what is the matter?
SIMPLICITY.
See you yon fellow with the torch in his hand?
E'en the falsest villain that is in this land.
Let him be laid hold on, that he run not away,
And then ye shall hear what I have to say.