A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 06
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 06
English drama
SIMPLICITY.
Nay, if I lose my ears, I care not for my freedom: keep you my freedom,
so I may keep my ears. Is there no remedy for this, Master Usury?
USURY.
None, except you can find out that old Frenchman.
SIMPLICITY.
Peradventure I can, if you'll let me go into France to seek him.
USURY.
So we may lose you, and never see him. Nay, that may not be.
SIMPLICITY.
Nay, good Master Usury, take all my goods, and let me go.
_Enter_ FRAUD, DISSIMULATION, SIMONY, _in canvas coats like sailors_.
FRAUD.
What's the matter, Usury, that this poor knave cries so?
SIMPLICITY.
O Master Fraud! speak to him to let me go.
FRAUD.
Fraud, ye villain! call me not by my name, and ye shall see I will
speak to him to let you go free. [_Aside_.]
Usury, of all old fellowship, let this poor knave pack, if the matter
be not too heinous.
USURY.
No: fie! his fault is odious. Look here what stuff he would utter for
gold: flat copper; and he say'th he bought them of an old Frenchman.
FRAUD.
But thou didst not sell them, didst thou?
SIMPLICITY.
No, sir; I would have but laid them to pawn for five pounds to him.
FRAUD.
That was more than they were worth. I promise thee, a foul matter.
Well, thou must lose thy ware, and be glad to escape: so, Usury,
at my request ye shall let the poor man go.
USURY.
Well, for this once I will. Sirrah, get ye packing, and take heed of
such a piece of work again, while ye live.
SIMPLICITY.
There is divers pieces of work in that box: pray ye, give me some of
my goods again, a ring, or something.
USURY.
Not an inch, and be glad to 'scape as ye do.
SIMPLICITY.
Alas! I am undone: there's all the wealth and stock I have.
FRAUD.
Do ye long to lose your ears? be gone, ye foolish knave.
SIMPLICITY.
I thank ye, Master Fraud. I'll not go far, but I'll be near to hear
and see what the meaning of these fellows in this canvas should be;
for I know Fraud, Dissimulation, and Simony to be those three. Here,
I think, I am unseen.
[SIMPLICITY _hides him near them_.
FRAUD.
Usury, thank me for this good booty, for it is I that holp ye to it,
for I sold them to him for gold indeed, in the shape of an old French
artificer; come, give me half, for I deserve it, for my part was the
first beginning of this comedy. I was ever afraid lest the fool should
have known me; for ye see now, though disguis'd, he called me by my name.
SIMPLICITY.
Did I so? I am glad I have found the Frenchman. Now, I'll raise the
street, but I'll have my wares again, and prove ye, as ye were ever,
both false knaves, I believe.
[_Exit_ SIMPLICITY[269].
FRAUD.
Kill him, stab him! Out, villain! he will betray us all.
USURY.
What a fool were you to speak before he was gone: now you have lost
your part of this, too; for he will go complain, you will be sought
for, and I made to restore these things again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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