Nem. Come! first stand forth here, thou Adulation!
Adul. Speak a good word for me, lady Compassion!
People. Nay! she shall not need, I chill speak for thee myself—
Madame, take good heed! for this is a naughty elf.
Adul. Nay, Madame! the cause of all this was Avarice;
He forged us new names, and did us all entice.
Oppr. We neither did nor could work, but by his advice.
Adul. Because I got no more, he chid me once or twice.
Insol. Madame! only Avarice made us all to fall.
Avar. Yea? Fall to preaching? Nay! then will I tell all.
Madame! ere I had taught these merchants any while,
They were cunninger than I, all men to beguile.
And Verity saw mine were small purses and bags,
Tottering loose about me, like wind-shaken rags.
But he that should have bagged that Insolence did win,
Must have made a poke to put five or six shires in;
He must have made wide sacks for castles, towns, and woods:
The canvas to make them of, were worth ten times my goods.
Then Oppression here, to feather well his nest,
Cared not, of their livelood whom he dispossest.
Bishops, deans, provosts, the poor folk from the spital,
Lands with church and chapel, all was for him too little.
Poor I did not so; I scraped but little crumbs;
And, here and there, with odd ends, patched up my sums.
Flattery got his thrift by counterfeit honesty;
Yet, by these ten bones! I bid him use modesty.
Therefore, spare not him; he will ne'er come to good pass;
But I may well be mended, by the Mary Mass!
Miser. Lady Nemesis! now have ye occasion
And matter to show your commiseration.
[It is much] more glory, and standeth with more skill,
Lost sheep to recover, then the scabby to spill.
Just. But how shall this redress be well persecuted,
If justice with mercy shall be executed?
Straight Justice must such great enormities redress;
Severity must put men in fear to transgress;
Justice must give each man that he doth deserve.