Will ye have a matter before it can be told?
If ye will have me tell it, ye shall your tongues hold.
Whist! silence! not a word! Mum! let your clatter cease!
Are ye with child to hear, and cannot hold your peace?
So sir! now Respublica, the lady of estate,
Ye know, now lately, is left almost desolate.
Her wealth is decayed; her comfort clean ago;
And she at her wit's end what for to say or do.
Fain would she have succour, and easement of her grief;
And highly advance them that would promise relief;
Such as would warrant her spirits to revive
Might mount to high estate, and be most sure to thrive.
_Insol._ So!
_Adul._ Well said!
_Oppr._ Ha!
_Avar._ What is this hum, ha, hum?
_Insol._ On forth!
_Adul._ Go too!
_Oppr._ Tell on!
_Avar._ Body of me!
_Adul._ Mum!
_Avar._ What say ye?
_Insol._ Haik!
_Adul._ Tuff!
_Oppr._ Hem!
_Avar._ Who haiken, tuffa, hum--what say ye?
_Oppr._ Nothing!
_Insol._ Not a word?
_Avar._ Nor you, neither?
_Adul._ Mum!
_Avar._ Did ye speak or not?
_Insol._ No!
_Oppr._ No!
_Adul._ No!
_Avar._ Nor yet do not?
_Insol._ No!
_Oppr._ No!
_Adul._ No!
[_Oppr._ No!
_Insol._ No!
_Adul._ No!
_Avar._ That, that, that! that, that, that!
Sir, I intend Dame Respublica t'assail;
And, so to creep in to be of her counsel;
I hope well to bring her in such a paradise
That herself shall sue me to have my service;
Then shall I have time and power to bring in you three.
_Oppr._ Do this out of hand, founder! and first, speak for me;
Bring me in credit that my hands be in the pie:
An I get not elbow room among them, let me lie.
_Avar._ Nay! see an Oppression, this eager elf,
Be not since more covetous than covetous self!
Soft! be not so hasty, I pray you, Sir! soft awhile!
You will over the hedge ere ye come at the stile.
_Oppr._ I would fain be shouldering and rumbling among them.
_Avar._ Nay! I will help javels as shall wrong them.
_Adul._ I pray you, good founder! let not me be the last.
_Avar._ Thou shalt be well placed where to thrive very fast.
_Adul._ I thank you, Master Avarice! with all my heart.
_Avar._ And when thou art in place, see thou play well thy part.
When ye claw her elbow, remember your best friend;
And let my commendations be ever at one end.
_Adul._ I warrant you!
_Insol._ And what! shall [I] be left clean out?
_Avar._ No, sir! ye shall be chief to bring all things about;
Ye shall among us have the chief pre-eminence;
And we to you, as it were, owe obedience:
Ye shall be our leader, our captain, and our guide;
Then must ye look aloft, with hands under the side.
I shall tell Respublica ye can best govern:
Be not ye, then, squeamish to take in hand the stern.
Then shall we assist you, as friends of perfect trust,
To do and to undo, and command what ye lust,
And, when you have all at your own will and pleasure,
Part of your livings to your friends ye may measure;
And punish the proudest of them that will resist.
_Oppr._ He that once winceth shall feel the weight of my fist.
_Adul._ Yea! we must all hold and cleave together like burrs.
_Avar._ Yea! see ye three hang and draw together like furze.
_Oppr._ And so shall we be sure to get store of money
Sweeter than sugar!
_Avar._ Sweeter than any honey!
_Insol._ Very well spoken! this gear will right well accord.
_Adul._ Did not I say ye were worthy to be a lord?
_Avar._ I will make Insolence a lord of high estate.
_Insol._ And I will take upon me well, both early and late.
_Oppr._ But, Insolence! when ye come to the encroaching of lands,
Ye may not take all alone into your hands;
I will look to have part of goods, lands, and plate.
_Insol._ Ye shall have enough, each body after his rate.
_Adul._ I must have part, too; ye must not have all alone.
_Insol._ Thou shalt be laden till thy shoulders shall crack and groan.
_Adul._ I pray you, let me have a good lordship or two.
_Insol._ Respublica shall feed thee till thou wilt say, ho!
_Adul._ And I must have good manor places, two or three.
_Insol._ But the chief and best lordship must remain to me.
_Oppr._ Mass! and I will look to be served of the best;
Or else some folk, somewhere, shall sit but in small rest.
_Insol._ I must have castles and towns in every shire.
_Adul._ And I, change of houses--one here, and another there.
_Insol._ And I must have pastures, and townships, and woods.
_Oppr._ And I must needs have store of gold and other goods.
_Insol._ And I must have change of farms, and pastures for sheep;
With daily revenues my lusty port for to keep.
_Avar._ I would have a bone here, rather than a groat,
To make these snarling curs gnaw out each other's throat!
Here! be eager, whelps! lo! to it Boy! box him Ball!
Poor I may pick straws; these hungry dogs will snatch all.
_Oppr._ Each man snatch for himself; by gosse! I will be sped.
_Avar._ Lack who lack shall: Oppression will be corn fed!
Is not Dame Respublica sure of good handling
When these whelps, ere they have it, fall thus to scambling?
And me, their chief founder, they have e'en since forgot.
_Insol._ Thou shalt have gold and silver enough to thy lot:
Respublica hath enough to fill all our laps.
_Adul._ Then, I pray you, sir! let our founder have some scraps!
_Avar._ Scr[a]ps? ye doltish lout! feed you your founder with scraps?
If you were well served your head would have some raps.
_Adul._ I spake of good will.
_Insol._ Nay, fight not, good Avarice!
_Oppr._ What any of us getteth, thou hast the chief price.
_Avar._ Then, whatever ye do, ye will remember me?
_Insol. Oppr. Adul._ Yea!
_Avar._ Well, so do then; and I forgive you all three.
_Insol._ But, when do we enter, every man his charge?
_Avar._ As soon as I can spy Respublica at large
I will board her; and, I trow, so win her favour
That she shall hire me, and pay well for my labour.
Then will I commend the virtues of you three
That she shall pray and wish under our rule to be;
Therefore, from this hour, be ye all in readiness!
_Oppr._ Doubt not of us! thou seest all our grediness.
_Insol._ If it be at midnight, I come at the first call.
[_They go forward, one after other._
_Adul._ Do but whistle for me, and I come forth withal.
_Avar._ That is well spoken; I love such a toward twig.
[_He whistleth._
_Adul._ I come, founder!
_Avar._ That is mine own good spaniel, Rig--
And come on! back again, all three! come back again!
_Insol._ Our founder calleth us back.
_Oppr._ Return then, amain.
ACTUS PRIMI, SCENA QUARTA.
AVARICE. ADULATION. INSOLENCE. OPPRESSION.
_Avar._ Come on, sirs, all three! And first to you, best be trust:
What, is your brainpan stuffed withal? wool or sawdust?
_Adul._ Why so?
_Avar._ What is your name?
_Adul._ Flattery!
_Avar._ E'en so, just!
_Adul._ Yea! or else Adulation, if you so lust:
Either name is well known to many a body.
_Avar._ An honest mome! ah, ye dolt! ye lout! ye noddy!
Shall Respublica hear your commendation
By the name of Flattery or Adulation?
Or, when ye commend me to her, will ye say this:
Forsooth! his name is Avarice or Covetise?
And you, that should have wit, is't your discretion
Bluntly to go forth, and be called Oppression?
And you, Insolence! do ye think it would well frame
If ye were presented to her under that name?
_Insol._ I thought nothing thereupon, by my halidom!
_Oppr._ My mind was another way, by my christendom!
_Adul._ That thing was le[a]st part of my thought, by Saint Denis!
_Avar._ No marry! your minds were all on your halfpenny.
But, my masters! I must on mine honesty pass,
And not run on 'head, like a brute beast or an ass.
For is not Oppression eachwhere sore hated?
And is not Flattery openly rebated?
And am not I, Avarice, still cried out upon?
_Adul._ Yes! I could have told you that, a great while agone;
But I would not displease you.
_Avar._ And you, Insolence!
I have heard you ill-spoken of a great way hence.
_Adul._ In my conscience! the devil himself doth love you.
_Avar._ But changing your ill-name, fewer shall reprove you--
As I, mine ownself, where my name is known
Am right sore assailed, to be overthrown.
But doing, as I will now, counterfeit my name,
I speed all my purposes, and yet escape blame.
_Insol._ Let us then have new names, each man, without delay.
_Avar._ Else will some of you make hanging stuff one day.
_Oppr._ Thou must new christen us.
_Insol._ First, what shall my name be?
_Avar._ Faith, sir! your name shall be Mounsire Authority.
_Oppr._ And, for me, what is your determination?
_Avar._ Marry, sir! ye shall be called Reformation.
_Adul._ Now, I pray you, devise for me an honest name.
_Avar._ Thou art such a beast, I cannot, for very shame!
_Adul._ If ye think good, let me be called Policy.
_Avar._ Policy--a rope ye shall! nay, Hypocrisy!
_Adul._ Fie! that were as slanderous a name a[s] Flattery.
_Avar._ And I keep for myself the name of Policy.
But, if I devise for thee, wilt thou not shame me?
_Adul._ Nay! I will make thee proud of me; or, else, blame me!
_Avar._ Well, then, for this time, thy name shall be Honesty.
_Adul._ I thank you, Avarice! Honesty, Honesty!
_Avar._ Avarice, ye whoreson! Policy, I tell thee!
_Adul._ I thank you, Policy! Honesty, Honesty!
How say you, Insolence? I am now Honesty.
_Avar._ We shall at length have a knave of you, Honesty!
Said not I, he should be called Mounseer Authority?
_Adul._ Oh, friend Oppression! Honesty, Honesty!
_Avar._ Oppression? ha! is the devil in thy brain?
Take heed! or, in faith! ye are Flattery again.
Policy! Reformation! Authority!
_Adul._ Hypocrisy! Defamation! and Authority!
_Avar._ Hypocrisy? ha! Hypocrisy? ye dull ass!
_Adul._ Thou named'st Hypocrisy even now, by the Mass!
_Avar._ Policy, I said; Policy! knave Policy!
Now say as I said.
_Adul._ Policy, knave! Policy!
_Avar._ And what callest thou him here?
_Adul._ Defamation!
_Avar._ I told thee he should be called Reformation.
_Adul._ Very well!
_Avar._ What is he now?
_Adul._ Deformation!
[_A line is probably lost._
_Avar._ Was ever the like ass born, in all nations?
_Adul._ A pestle on him, he comes of the Asians.
_Avar._ Come on! ye shall learn to solfe Reformation!
Sing on now: _Re_.
_Adul._ _Re._
_Avar._ _Refor._
_Adul._ _Reformation._
_Avar._ Policy, Reformation, Authority!
_Adul._ Policy, Reformation, and Honesty!
_Avar._ In faith, ye ass! if your tongue make any mo trips,
Ye shall both be Flattery and have on the lips.
And now, Mounsire Authority! against, I you call;
Ye must have other garments; and so must ye all--
Ye must, for the season, counterfeit gravity.
_Insol. and Oppr._ Yes! what else?
_Adul._ And I must counterfeit honesty.
_Avar._ And I must turn my gown in and out, I ween;
For these gaping purses may in no wise be seen.
I will turn it e'en here--come help me, Honesty!
_Adul._ Here, at hand!
_Avar._ Why, how now? play the knave, Honesty!
Help! what doest thou now?
_Adul._ I counterfeit Honesty.
_Avar._ Why, then, come thou! help me, my friend Oppression!
What help call you that?
_Oppr._ Fit for your discretion!
_Avar._ Oh, I should have said: help, sir Reformation!
_Oppr._ Yea, marry, sir! that is my nomination.
_Avar._ And when you are [in] your robe, keep it afore close.
_Oppr._ I pray you, Master Policy! for what purpose?
_Avar._ All folk will take you, if they peep under your gown,
For the veriest caitiff in country or town.
Now, go! and when I call, see that ye ready be!
_Insol._ I will.
_Oppr._ And I will.
_Adul._ And so will I, Honesty!
[_Exeant._
_Avar._ Well, now will I depart hence, also, for a space;
And, to bourd Respublica, wait a time of grace.
Wherever I find her a time convenient,
I shall say and do that may be expedient!
[_Exeat_ AVARICE.
ACTUS SECUNDI, SCENA PRIMA.
[RESPUBLICA.]
_Resp._ Lord! what earthly thing is permanent or stable?
Or, what is all this world but a lump mutable?
Who would have thought that I, from so florent estate,
Could have been brought so base as I am made of late?
But, as the waving seas do flow and ebb by course,
So all things else do change to better and to worse.
Great cities and their fame, in time, do fade and pass;
Now is a champion field where noble Troy was.
Where is the great Empire of the Medes and Persians?
Where be th' old conquests of the puissant Grecians?
Where Babylon? where Athens? where Corinth so wide?
Are they not consumed with all their pomp and pride?
What is the cause hereof? man's wit cannot discuss;
But, of long continuance, the thing is found thus.
Yet, by all experience, thus much is well seen:
That, in commonweals, while good governors have been,
All thing hath prospered; and, where such men do lack,
Commonweals decay, and all things do go back.
What marvel then, if I, wanting a perfect stay,
From most flourishing wealth be fallen in decay?
But, like as by default, quick ruin doth befall,
So may good government at once recover all.
[_Intrat_ AVAR[ICE] _cogitabundus et ludibundus_.
ACTUS SECUNDI, SCENA SECUNDA.
AVARICIA. RESPUBLICA.
_Avar._ Alas, my sweet bags! how lank and empty ye be;
But, in faith and troth, sirs! the fault is not in me.
_Resp._ Well, my help and comfort, oh Lord! must come from Thee.
_Avar._ And my sweet purses here, I pray you all, see, see!
How the little fool[s] gasp and gape for gromwell-seed!
_Resp._ If it be Thy will, Lord! send some redress with speed.
_Avar._ But, in faith, good sweet fools! it shall cost me a fall.
But I will shortly fill you, and stop your mouths all.
_Resp._ Oh, that it were my hap, on friendly friends to light!
_Avar._ Ha, ha! who is that same, that speaketh yonder in sight?
Who is't? Respublica? yea, by the Mary mass!
_Resp._ Then might I be again as well as ere I was.
_Avar._ Hide up these pipes! now, I pray God she be blind;
I am half afraid lest she have an eye behind.
We must now change our copy: oh, Lord! how I fray,
Lest she saw my toys, and heard what I did say!
_Resp._ Is there no good man that on me will have mercy?
_Avar._ Remember now: my name is Master Policy:
All thing, I tell you, must now go by Policy.
_Resp._ Hark! methink I hear the name of Policy.
_Avar._ Who calleth Conscience? here am I, Policy!
_Resp._ I pray you come to me, if you be Policy!
_Avar._ Yea, forsooth! yea, forsooth! my name is Policy.
_Resp._ I am sore decayed through default of Policy.
_Avar._ Yea, most noble Respublica! I know that well;
And do more lament it than any tongue can tell.
For, an if good Policy had had you in hand,
Ye had now been the wealthiest in any land:
But good Policy hath long been put to exile.
_Resp._ Yea, God wot! ye have been barred from me a great while.
_Avar._ Yea! I have been put back, as one clean off-shaken;
And, what can a man do till he be forth taken?
_Resp._ Well, I feel the lack of your helping hand, by the rood!
_Avar._ Alack, noble lady! I would I could do you good.
_Resp._ Yes, Policy! ye might amend all, if you lust.
_Avar._ Yea, faith! I durst put myself to you of trust.
But, there be enough that, for you, could shift make.
_Resp._ Yet, none like to you! if you would it undertake--
And I will put myself wholly into your hands:
Metal, grain, cattle, treasure, goods and lands--
_Avar._ Well! I will take some pain; but this to you be known:
I will do it, not for your sake, and not for mine own.
_Resp._ How say ye that, Policy?
_Avar._ This to you be known:
I will do all for your sake, and not for mine own.
_Resp._ I thank you, Policy!
_Avar._ Nay, I thank you, lady!
And I trust ere long to ease all our malady--
Well, ye put yourself now wholly into my hands?
_Resp._ Order me as you will.
_Avar._ Treasure, goods, and lands?
_Resp._ Yea, every whit!
_Avar._ Well! I thank you once again.
But, now that you may think my dealing true and plain,
And, because one cannot do so well as many,
Ye must associate me with mo company:
And first, by my will, ye shall set up Honesty.
_Resp._ Marry! with all my very heart--but where is he?
_Avar._ Very hard to find: but I think I could fet him.
_Resp._ Call him straightways hither! see that nothing let him!
_Avar._ It were best if I shall go fet men for the nonce;
To make but one viage, and bring them all at once.
_Resp._ Whom more than him?
_Avar._ Ye must stablish Authority.
_Resp._ That must needs be done.
_Avar._ And eke Reformation--
We four will rule things of another fashion.
_Resp._ Policy! I pray you go fet all these straightway.
_Avar._ Yes! for this your present case may bide no delay.
I will go and come with all festination. [_Exeat._
_Resp._ I like well this trade of Administration:
Policy for to devise for my commodity;
No person to be advanced but Honesty;
Then Reformation, good wholesome laws to make;
And Authority see the same effect may take;
What commonweal shall then be so happy as I?
For this, (I perceive), is the drift of Policy.
[_Intrat_ AVARICE, _adducens_ INSOLENCE, OPPRESSION, _and_ ADULATION.
And, behold! where he is returned again since:
He showeth himself a man of [much] diligence.
ACTUS SECUNDI, SCENA TERTIA.
ADULATION. AVARICE. RESPUBLICA. INSOLENCE. OPPRESSION.
_Adul._ I will do her double service to another!
_Avar._ Ye double knave, you! will ye never be other?
_Adul._ She shall have triple service of me, Honesty.
_Avar._ Ye quadrible knave! wi[ll] ye ne'er use modesty?
Thou drunken whoreson! dost thou not see nor perceive
Where Respublica stands, ready us to receive?
_Resp._ What talk have they yonder, among themselves together?
_Adul._ I have spied her now, shall I first to her thither?
_Avar._ Soft! let me present you.
_Resp._ I ween they be in fear--
Policy, approach! and bring my good friends near.
_Avar._ Come on, my dear friends! and execute with good will
Such office as each of you shall be put until.
Dame Respublica it is that for you hath sent.
Come on, friends! I will you unto her grace present.
_Insol. [and] Oppr._ To serve her, we are pressed with heart and
whole intent.
_Avar._ Madame! I have brought you these men for whom I went.
_Resp._ Policy! I thank you; ye have made speedy speed;
Therefore, ye be double welcome, and welcome friends, indeed!
_Avar._ Madame! your grace to serve we all are fully bent.
_Adul._ And, Madame! ye shall find me double diligent.
_Resp._ That is spoken of a good heart: but who be ye?
_Adul._ Forsooth, Madame! my name is Master Honesty.
_Resp._ Honesty? well said!
_Avar._ Madame! this is Honesty.
_Adul._ Yea, forsooth! and please your grace, I am Honesty.
_Avar._ Madame, he is for you: on my word, regard him!
_Resp._ Yes, and with large preferment I will reward him.
_Adul._ I thank your grace; and, I will, for you, take such pain
That, ere I deserve one, ye shall give me twain.
_Avar._ Honesty! your tongue trippeth!
_Resp._ How said ye? take such pain--
_Adul._ That ere ye give me one, I will deserve twain--
By your licence, Madame! to take away this mote.
_Avar._ Nay! Honesty will not see a wem on your coat.
Now unto you I commend Reformation.
_Resp._ Of him is no small need now, in this nation.
_Oppr._ Well, now that ye bid me abuses to redress,
I doubt not all enormities so to repress,
As shall redound to your wealth and honour at length.
_Resp._ Thereto shall authority aid you with his strength.
_Avar._ Yea! for Authority to govern is most fit.
_Insol._ If ye, Dame Respublica! do me so admit,
I doubt not to hamper the proudest of them all.
_Resp._ And among you, destroy Avarice!
_Adul._ Hem!
_Insol. and Oppr._ We shall!
_Resp._ Vanquish Oppression and Adulation!
For those three have nigh wrought my desolation.
_Avar._ Hem, sirs! hem! there, keep your gowns close afore, I say!
Have ye forgotten now what I told you one day?
There is another, too, that would be chased hence.
_Resp._ Who is that?
_Avar._ Lucifer's son, called Insolence.
_Resp._ Ye say truth, and many naughty ones mo than he.
_Insol. and Oppr._ If ye dare trust us!
_Insol._ All!
_Oppr._ All shall reformed be!
_Resp._ I thank you; and, I trust you for my maintenance,
To be administere[d] for your good governance.
_Insol._ Then, without fear or care, ye may yourself repose.
_Oppr._ And let us alone with all such matters as those.
_Resp._ Then, I leave you here, on our affairs to consult.
[_Exeat_ RESP[UBLICA.
_Insol._ When you please, in God's name!
_Oppr._ We must both sift and bolt.
_Adul._ She is gone.
_Avar._ Well then, sirs! let us make no delay;
But, about our market depart, each man his way.
_Adul._ Nay! first let us sing a song to lighten our hearts.
_Avar._ Then are ye like, for me, to sing but of three parts.
Can Avarice['s] heart be set on a merry pin,
And see no gain, no profit at all coming in?
_Insol._ We shall have enough to drive away all sorrow.
_Avar._ Then sing we _On bowne viage!_ and _Saint George thee borrow!_
[_Cantent: "Bring ye to me and I to ye," etc. et sic exeant._
ACTUS TERTIA, SCENA PRIMA.
[RESPUBLICA.]
_Resp._ The good hope, that my masters have put me in,
To recover ruin that in me doth begin,
Hath so recomforted my spirits and mine heart,
That I feel much easement of my great grief and smart,
Now, I do less wonder that lost men, life to save,
Far from land do labour, against the roaring wave;
For hope, I see, hath mighty operation
Against the mortal sting of drooping desperation.
Now, if I might but hear what Policy hath wrought,
Or some one good thing that my friends to pass had brought,
I would put no doubts but all thing should soon be well--
Lo! where cometh Honesty: he will the truth tell.
ACTUS TERTII, SCENA SECUNDA
ADULATION. RESPUBLICA.
_Adul._ Three hundred pound by year, and a good manor place--
Well, it is metely well, in so short time and space!
More will come right shortly; this gear doth gaily walk.
Bones! here is Respublica, what use I such ta[l]ke?
I seek lady Respublica!
_Resp._ Lo, I am here!
And welcome, Honesty! what do my friends most dear?
_Adul._ Certes, Madame! we rest nor day, nor night, nor hour,
[To] practise and travail for your wealth and honour.
But, O Lord! what a prudent man is Policy!
What a deep head he hath to devise and to spy!
_Resp._ He is fine, indeed!
_Adul._ Also Reformation--
How earnest he is in his operation!
_Resp._ I think of him no less.
_Adul._ Now, then, Authority,
The stoutest in his office that ever I did see--
I will no farther praise them, Madame! for, doubtless,
They far surmount all praise that my tongue can express:
Ye may bless the time ye met with such as they be;
And I do my poor part.
_Resp._ I doubt not, Honesty!
And condign reward shall ye all have for your pain.
_Adul._ I have scarce an house wherein myself to maintain.
_Resp._ Honesty shall not lack.
_Adul._ I do not crave nor care;
We shall take but scraps and refuse, that ye may spare;
We will not encroach the people's commodity;
We shall take only that may come with honesty.
_Resp._ Christ's blessing have ye! but, lo! yonder cometh People.
_Adul._ I had thought as soon to have met here Paul's steeple!
ACTUS TERTII, SCENA TERTIA.
PEOPLE. ADULATION. RESPUBLICA.
_People._ Where's Rice-Puddingcake? I pray God she be in heal.
_Adul._ Who? Rice-Puddingcake?
_People._ Yea! alise dicts commonweal.
_Adul._ I know her not.
_People._ Mass! you liest valeslie in your heart!
She is this way, che wa'r't--a false harlot you art!
_Adul._ I know Respublica.
_People._ Yea, marry! where is she?
_Adul._ She is busy now.
_People._ Mass! ere ich go, chill her zee,
For this way she came.
_Resp._ Let my people come to me!
_Adul._ God forbid, else! Come on, People! is this same she?
_People._ Yea, malkin is't!
_Resp._ People! what would you with me now?
_People._ Marry, mustress, madame, my lady! how do you?
_Resp._ Even so so, People! I thank you with all my heart:
And I hope for better.
_People._ Then let poor volk ha zome part;
Vor we ignoram people, whom itch do perzent,
Wer ne'er zo i-polld, zo wrong, and zo i-torment.
Lord Jhese Christ, when he was i-pounst and i-pilate,
Was ner zo i-trounst, as we have been of years late.
_Adul._ How so? who hath wrought to you such extremity?
_People._ Nay! to tell how zo passeth our captivity.
_Resp._ It passeth any man's imagination.
_People._ You zai zouth; it passeth any man's madge mason;
Vor we think ye love us well as e'er ye did.
_Resp._ My love towards you, my people, cannot be hid.
_People._ And we think ye would we zelie poor volk did well.
_Resp._ And better than e'er ye did; if how, I could tell.
_People._ And we think ye would we zelie poor volk should thrive.
_Resp._ Yea, doubtless, as any like creature alive!
_Adul._ What need ye of her good will, towards you, to doubt?
_People._ Peace, thou, with zorow! and let me tell my tall owt.
_Resp._ Say on, my good People! let me hear your mind.