Beggars Bush Part 11

_Gos._ What would the knowledg do thee good so miserable, Thou canst not help thy self? when all my ways Nor all the friends I have--

_Ger._ You do not know Sir, What I can do: cures sometimes, for mens cares Flow, where they least expect 'em.

_Gos._ I know thou wouldst do, But farewell _Clause_, and pray for thy poor Master.

_Ger._ I will not leave ye.

_Gos._ How?

_Ger._ I dare not leave ye, Sir, I must not leave ye, And till ye beat me dead, I will not leave ye.

By what ye hold most precious, by Heavens goodness, As your fair youth may prosper, good Sir tell me: My mind believes yet something's in my power May ease you of this trouble.

_Gos._ I will tell thee, For a hundred thousand crowns upon my credit, Taken up of Merchants to supply my traffiques, The winds and weather envying of my fortune, And no return to help me off, yet shewing To morrow, _Clause_, to morrow, which must come, In prison thou shalt find me poor and broken.

_Ger._ I cannot blame your grief Sir.

_Gos._ Now, what say'st thou?

_Ger._ I say you should not shrink, for he that gave ye, Can give you more; his power can bring ye off Sir, When friends and all forsake ye, yet he sees you.

_Gos._ There's all my hope.

_Ger._ Hope still Sir, are you ty'd Within the compa.s.s of a day, good Master, To pay this ma.s.s of mony?

_Gos._ Ev'n to morrow: But why do I stand mocking of my misery?

Is't not enough the floods, and friends forget me?

_Ger._ Will no less serve?

_Gos._ What if it would?

_Ger._ Your patience, I do not ask to mock ye: 'tis a great sum, A sum for mighty men to start and stick at; But not for honest: have ye no friends left ye, None that have felt your bounty? worth this duty?

_Gos._ Duty? thou knowst it not.

_Ger._ It is a duty, And as a duty, from those men have felt ye, Should be return'd again: I have gain'd by ye, A daily alms these seven years you have showr'd on me, Will half supply your want.

_Gos._ Why do'st thou fool me?

Can'st thou work miracles?

_Ger._ To save my Master, I can work this.

_Gos._ Thou wilt make me angry with thee.

_Ger._ For doing good?

_Gos._ What power hast thou?

_Ger._ Enquire not: So I can do it, to preserve my Master; Nay if it be three parts.

_Gos._ O that I had it, But good _Clause_, talk no more, I feel thy charity, As thou hast felt mine: but alas!

_Ger._ Distrust not, 'Tis that that quenches ye: pull up your Spirit, Your good, your honest, and your n.o.ble Spirit; For if the fortunes of ten thousand people Can save ye, rest a.s.sur'd; you have forgot Sir, The good ye did, which was the power you gave me; Ye shall now know the King of Beggars treasure: And let the winds blow as they list, the Seas roar, Yet, here to morrow, you shall find your harbour.

Here fail me not, for if I live I'le fit ye.

_Gos._ How fain I would believe thee!

_Ger._ If I ly Master, Believe no man hereafter.

_Gos._ I will try thee, But he knows, that knows all.

_Ger._ Know me to morrow, And if I know not how to cure ye, kill me; So pa.s.s in peace, my best, my worthiest Master. [_Exeunt._

SCENA III.

_Enter_ Hubert, _like a Huntsman._

_Hub._ Thus have I stoln away disguiz'd from _Hemskirk_ To try these people, for my heart yet tells me Some of these Beggars, are the men I look for: Appearing like my self, they have no reason (Though my intent is fair, my main end honest) But to avoid me narrowly, that face too, That womans face, how near it is! O may it But prove the same, and fortune how I'le bless thee!

Thus, sure they cannot know me, or suspect me, If to my habit I but change my nature; As I must do; this is the wood they live in, A place fit for concealment: where, till fortune Crown me with that I seek, I'le live amongst 'em. [_Exit._

_Enter_ Higgen, Prigg, Ferret, Ginks, _and the rest of the_ Boors.

_Hig._ Come bring 'em out, for here we sit in justice: Give to each one a cudgel, a good cudgel: And now attend your sentence. That you are rogues, And mischievous base rascalls, (there's the point now) I take it, is confess'd.

_Prig._ Deny it if you dare knaves.

_Boors._ We are Rogues Sir.

_Hig._ To amplify the matter then, rogues as ye are, And lamb'd ye shall be e're we leave ye.

_Boors._ Yes Sir.

_Hig._ And to the open handling of our justice, Why did ye this upon the proper person Of our good Master? were you drunk when you did it?

_Boors._ Yes indeed were we.

_Prig._ You shall be beaten sober.

_Hig._ Was it for want you undertook it?

_Boors._ Yes Sir.

_Hig._ You shall be swing'd abundantly.

_Prig._ And yet for all that, You shall be poor rogues still.