GERONTUS. I understand you, sir: but keep touch with me, and I'll bring you to great store, Such as I perceive you came to this country for; As musk, amber, sweet powders, fine odours, pleasant perfumes, and many such toys, Wherein I perceive consisteth that country gentlewomen's joys. Besides, I have diamonds, rubies, emerands, sapphires, smaradines, opals, onacles, jacinths, agates, turquoise, and almost of all kind of precious stones, And many mo fit things to suck away money from such green-headed wantons. MERCATORE. Faith-a, my good friend, me tank you most heartly alway. Me shall a content your debt within this two or tree day. GERONTUS. Well, look you do keep your promise, and another time you shall command me. Come, go we home, where our commodities you may at pleasure see. [_Exeunt_. _Enter_ CONSCIENCE, _with brooms at her back, singing as followeth: New brooms,[211] green brooms, will you buy any? Come, maidens, come quickly, let me take a penny. My brooms are not steeped, But very well-bound: My brooms be not crooked, But smooth-cut and round. I wish it should please you To buy of my broom, Then would it well ease me, If market were done. Have you any old boots, Or any old shoon; Pouch-rings or buskins To cope for new broom? If so you have, maidens, I pray you bring hither, That you and I friendly May bargain together. New brooms, green brooms, will you buy any? Come, maidens, come quickly, let me take a penny_. CONSCIENCE _speaketh_. Thus am I driven to make a virtue of necessity; And, seeing God almighty will have it so, I embrace it thankfully, Desiring God to mollify and lessen[212] Usury's hard heart, That the poor people feel not the like penury and smart. But Usury is made tolerable amongst Christians, as a necessary thing, So that, going beyond the limits of our law, they extort, and many to misery bring. But if we should follow God's law, we should not receive above that we lend; For if we lend for reward, how can we say we are our neighbours' friend? O, how blessed shall that man be, that lends without abuse, But thrice accursed shall he be, that greatly covets use; For he that covets over-much, insatiate is his mind, So that to perjury and cruelty he wholly is inclin'd: Wherewith they sore oppress the poor by divers sundry ways, Which makes them cry unto the Lord to shorten cutthroats' days. Paul calleth them thieves that doth not give the needy of their store, And thrice accurs'd are they that take one penny from the poor. But while I stand reasoning thus, I forget my market clean; And sith God hath ordained this way, I am to use the mean. _Sing again.