A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 87

DILIGENCE.

What is it, Master Fraud, ye would demand of me?

FRAUD.

Sir, this you know, though yourself be a man of good reckoning, yet are ye known an officer unto these three lords, and what discredit it were to me, being a noted man, to pa.s.s through the streets with you, being an officer; or if any of my friends should suspect me with you, and dog us, and see me committed to Newgate, I were utterly discredited. Here is a purse, sir, and in it two hundred angels: look, sir; you shall tell them.

DILIGENCE.

Here are so indeed. What mean ye by this? I will not take these to let ye escape.

[_Deliver_ FRAUD _the purse again_.

FRAUD.

I mean not so, sir; nor I will not give half of them to be suffered to escape; for I have done none offence, though it please them to imprison me, and it is but on commandment[284]. I shall not stay long; but I will give you this purse and gold in p.a.w.n to be true prisoner, only give me leave to go some other way, and home to my lodging for my boots and other necessaries; for there I'll leave word I am ridden out of town, and with all the haste that possibly I may, I will meet you at Newgate, and give you an angel for your courtesy. There is the purse.

[FRAUD _gives him a purse like the other_.

DILIGENCE.

I hazard, as you know, my lords' displeasure herein; and yet, to pleasure you, I will venture this once; but, I pray ye, make haste, that I be not shent. I would not for ten angels it were known.

FRAUD.

If I tarry above an hour, take that gold for your tarrying.

[_Exit_.

DILIGENCE.

I do not fear that you'll forfeit so much for so little cause.

[_Exit_.

_Enter_ NEMO, _with_ DESIRE, DELIGHT, _and_ DEVOTION, _the three Lords of Lincoln_.

NEMO.

My Lords of Lincoln, Have you such t.i.tle and such interest To Love, Lucre, and Conscience as you say?

Who gave you leave to have access to them?

I am their father by adoption: I never knew of love 'twixt them and you; And to perpetual prison they were doom'd, From whence I only might deliver them: Which at the suit of three most matchless lords, Their countrymen, in London bred as they, I have perform'd, and freed them from their bonds; And yet have bound them in their freedom too, To Policy, to Pleasure, and to Pomp, Three Lords of London, whose they are in right, Contracted wives, and done by my consent; And even to-morrow is the marriage-day, Except your coming stay, or break it off.

I will go call their lords to answer you: They (under covert-baron[285]) meddle not.

[_Exit_.

DESIRE.

Fetch them, Lord Nemo: we will here attend.

DELIGHT.

Attend we may, but unto little end: The ladies are in hucksters' handling now.

DEVOTION.

I would I had my time in praying spent, That I in wooing Conscience did consume.

_Enter the three Lords of London and_ NEMO.

DESIRE.

Here come the lords: let's show good countenance, man.

POMP.

Yet more ado, before we can enjoy The joys of marriage with our mistresses?

Be these the lords that t.i.tle do pretend?

My Lords of Lincoln, so we hear you be, What are your names?

DELIGHT.

Devotion, Desire, and Delight.

POMP.

Which comes for Lucre?

DESIRE.

I Desire.

PLEASURE.

Which for Conscience?

DEVOTION.

I Devotion.

POLICY.

Which for Love?

DELIGHT.

I Delight.

POLICY.

You shall be answered straight.

PLEASURE.

I can answer them quickly. Ye cannot have them, nor ye shall not have them.

POLICY.

Stay, Pleasure; soft. My Lord Desire, you Lucre seek: desire of Lucre (be it without reproach to you, my lord) is covetousness, which cannot be separated long from that. Read, my lord.

[_Point to the stone of Care_.

DESIRE.

In golden letters on this stone is written _Care_.

POLICY.

Care with desire of Lucre well agrees; the rather for that London's Lucre may not be separated from London's Pomp: so you may take that stone, if ye will; but the lady you cannot have.

DESIRE.

And a stone is a cold comfort, instead of Lucre.

POLICY.

Devotion to Conscience (I speak now to you, my lord, that are learned) is sorrow for sin, or (in one word) read-- [_Points to the stone of Remorse_.

DEVOTION.

On this sweating-stone in bra.s.s is set _Remorse_.

POLICY.