GREEDINESS

enter. ¶Tush talk not of that, for in vain you do prate, For there are none but fools, that wealthiness do hate. ¶What old friend Courage, art thou so never hand, Marry I will show Thee, how the matter does stand. As I walked along, through by the street, By such ways as mine affairs did lie: It was my chance with a preacher to meet, Whose company to have I did not deny, And as we two together did walk, Amongst other communication we had, The Preacher brake out with reprocheable talk: Saying that we citizens were all to bade, Some of us he sayeth are greedy guts all: And well members of a common wealth, He sayeth we care not whom we bring to thrall, Neither have we regard unto our souls health, His talk I confess my conscience did nip, Wherefore no longer I would him abide, But suddenly I gave him the slip, And crossed the way to the other side. So alone I let master Preacher walk, And here by chance I stumbled in. ¶Yea but truly his words did my conscience prick, Of me he did so unhappily guess, I promise she he touched me unto the quick, For that in gaining I used excess. My conscience does tell me, I have done amiss, And of long time I have gone astray, And a thousand witnesses the conscience is, As Sallust in most plain words does say. ¶In deed as thou sayest, it does me behoove, Not so rashly to lay my gaining aside, Least so my self a fool I do prove, By shooting from my profit so wide: I consider my wealth is now at good stay, Which I would be loath should be impaired, For once rich, and after in decay, Is a miserable thing, as Hyemes hath declared. Therefore I mean thy council to take, Least of that misery I know the smart, Then is it to late any moan to make, Or from such foolishness to revart. Therefore Courage adieu unto Thee, For it behooveth me hence to depart. Exiun . ¶Tush then to tarry he will be glad, If that he come any money to borrow. ¶And is he a Courtier, and stands in need, This to my purpose, does rightly fallen: For the needy Courtiers, my coffers do feed, And I warrant Thee, that pinch him I shall. For since I know, his need to be such, That money he must needs occupy: I know I cannot ask him to much, If I his mind will satisfy. Therefore now Courage to Thee adieu. Fain a going out. ¶Marry sir he hath gone thorough with Me, And the old Tenant he will thrust out. But I with that matter have nought to do, Let them two now for that agree: I know I should never have come unto, So much as therefore he hath paid to Me. Therefore I might be counted mad, If I to his proffer would not have tended: This profitable lesson which of Thee I had, The Tide tarrieth no Man, was not unremembered ¶O Help, might I once see that day, Tush I would not care, who I did wrong. ¶To here of such I would yde and run, So glad I would be of such days to hear. O with these Courtiers, I love to deal well, Or with other young Gentlemen, who have pounds or lands For whither I do lend them, or my wares to them fell. I am sure to win largely, at their hands. And specially, where in need they do stand, Then in faith I do pinch them home: When I see they must needs have money out of hand, And that other shift, to work they have none. ¶I warrant Thee no time, I driven of, Neither for any men saying, the same will I let. Well sirs I must now leave of this talk, And I must bid you both twain adue. Fain a going out. ¶Tush for the preaching I pass not a pin, It is not the matter wherefore I do go: For that goes out whereas it comes in, But herein my meaning, to Thee I will show. You know that many thither do come, Wherefore perchance, such may be my hap: Of my ill debtors there to spy some, Whom without delay, by the heels I will lap. ¶Will I quoth you, wherefore should I fear, It is best taking them, while I may them see. ¶I remember what you have said, Tide tarrieth no man, mark you that: Wherefore no time herein shall be delayed, Therefore sirs adieu to long I do chat. Exiunt. ¶Thou dost so in deed, and thanks I thee give, But syrra, now I remember a thing: Which made me not long since to laugh in my sleeve, To me a young Gentleman the Broker did bring, Whose Father was dead of late as it seemed, And his lands in Mortgage to a Merchant was laid, Wherefore it behooved the same were redeemed, For the day was at hand, when the same should be paid, And I perceiving his need to be such, I thought I would pinch him or that I went, To give mine own asking, he did not greatly grudge, And when I had girded him, thence I him sent. ¶Why would you not have me, how to invent, Which way were best to bring in my gain? ¶I cry you mercy, I know where you are now. In a Courtiers behalf, this oration you make, Of late there was one, complained how, Excessive gain of him I did take. It is the cast of them all so to say, When prodigally their money is spent: Or if the Prince will them not pay, Then on the Merchant, some lies they invent. ¶But give me riches, take you Gods word and faith, And see which of us shall have the better gain. ¶In deed I hold it best as you say, Therefore your saying I agree unto. They two go out. ¶Serra, he cried out of excessive gain, Saying when any of our wares have need, Then do we hoist them up to their pain, And commonly make them pay for their speed. ¶Why thou knowest my quality is such, That by contrary talk, I use no man to blame, For although often my doings they touch, Yet my talk always to the time I frame. When he said excessive gainers were ill, I said for them it was a shame. And in all things else, I pleased his will: And so I feigned my self without blame. ¶I am he sir, what would you of me require? ¶Nay I mean homeward to hie, For that I suppose to be the best, And by all the means that in me does lie, I will fulfil your masters request. ¶As I find Thee ready in furthering of me, So doubt thou not but thou shalt find, Me even as ready in pleasuring of Thee, A word is enough, thou knowest my mind, Therefore hence let us now take the way. ¶Towards Powles Cross, from hence I do go, Perchance some profit there I may meet. ¶Thou wilt not believe how the Knave did prate, You citizens repent, thus he did cry, Look about in time quoth he, or it be to late, For the vengeance of God at hand is full nigh. As though he knew what were in Gods mind, Surely it is a shame, they are so suffered to lie. ¶Sir you are best say no more, then you are able to prove, Least I make you to repent your boldness, For if my patience you to much do move, I may chance turn your heat into a coldness. Why I lend my money Like a friend for good will, And thereby do help men at their need. ¶Now Courage I say, what news in the cost? What good tidings abroad, dost thou hear? ¶And what is the matter that with me he would have? ¶Shall policy and riches then be abhorred, Sir they are fools that them will despise. I put case poverty should me assail, Can Gods word and faith me any thing aid: Poverty against riches can never avail, I am sure sir this may not be denayde.