[Exeant currentes.
Avar. Faith! and have after, as fast as I can, anon!
Now, my godamighties! as I did hither tug you,
So will I, on my back, to your lodging lug you;
And sure, if ye can be quiet there, and lie still,
I will shortly bring you mo fetlows; so I will.
I have a good benefice of an hundred marks:
It is small policy to give such to great clerks:
They will take no benefice but they must have all—
A bare clerk can be content with a living small!
Therefore, Sir John Lack-Latin, my friend, shall have mine;
And, of him, may I farm it for eight pounds or nine.
The rest may I reserve to myself for mine own share;
For, we are good feeders of the poor, so we are!
And we patrons are bound to see, (I do you tell),
The church patrimony to be bestowed well.
Other odd corners, besides these, I have many;
Which, with all good speed shall increase your comp[any].
Come on now, therefore! in faith! I do great wrong
To promise you lodging, and keep you thence so long. [Exeat.
[ACTUS QUARTI, SCENA PRIMA.]
[Respublica.]
Resp. O, Lord! what may it mean to be thus borne in hand;
And yet, none amendment to feel, nor understand?
People doth daily and hourly to me resort,
Challenging my promise of relief and comfort.
I report to him, as my rulers do to me:
People still affirmeth that they devourers be.
The more I do him cheer, the more he doth despair.
I say, his wealth doth mend; he saith, it doth appair,
What should I judge of this? may it be credible,
Or, by any reason, may it be possible
That such four as those, in whom I have put my trust,
Showing such face of friendship, should be men unjust?
I will know if People feel yet any redress
Of his former sores, and of his rueful distress.
We shall meet soon, I doubt not, and talk together.
[Intrat People.
And lo! as I would wish, he approacheth hither.