FARMER. Then, father, hark how I have profited-- Walter, your son that keeps the country-- I have raised the markets and oppress'd the poor, And made a thousand go from door to door. And why did I, think you, use this extremity? Because I would have corn enough to feed the enemy. Father, you know we have but a while to live, Then, while we live, let each man shift for one; For he that cannot make shift in the world, They say he's unworthy to live in it: And he that lives must still increase his store, For he that hath most wealth of all desireth more. PERIN. Brethren, you have spoken well, I must needs say; But now give ear to me, that keeps the court. Father, I live as Aristippus did, And use my wits to flatter with the king. If any in private conference name the king, I straight inform his grace they envy him. Did Sinon live, with all his subtlety He could not tell a flattering tale more cunningly. Sometime I move the king to be effeminate, And spend his time with some coy courtesan. Thus with the king I curry favour still, Though with my heart I wish him any ill: And sometime I can counterfeit his hand And seal, and borrow money of the commonalty; And thus I live and flaunt it with the best, And dice and card inferior unto none: And none dares speak against me in the court, Because they know the king doth favour me. PRIEST. And I, among my brethren and my friends, Do still instruct 'em with my doctrine, And Yea and Nay goes through the world with us. Fie, not an oath we swear for twenty pound: Brethren, say we, take heed by Adam's fall; For by his sins we are condemned all. Thus preach we still unto our brethren, Though in our heart we never mean the thing: Thus do we blind the world with holiness, And so by that are termed pure Precisians. BAILIFF. Full well and wisely have you said, my sons, And I commend you for your forward minds, That in your lives bewray whose sons ye are. Here have I been a bailiff threescore years, And us'd exaction on the dwellers-by; For if a man were brought before my face For cosenage, theft, or living on his wit: For counterfeiting any hand or seals, The matter heard, the witness brought to me, I took a bribe, and set the prisoners free: So by such dealings I have got the wealth, Which I would have disburs'd among you all, With this proviso, that you all shall live, And lead such lives as I have set you down. Carve to yourselves, and care not what they say, That bid you fear the fearful judgment-day. Live to yourselves, while you have time to live: Get what you can, but see ye nothing give. But hark, my sons: me thinks I hear a noise, And ghastly visions make me timorous. Ah! see, my sons, where death, pale Death, appears, To summon me before a fearful Judge. Methinks Revenge stands with an iron whip, And cries, Repent, or I will punish thee. My heart is hardened, I cannot repent, And I am damned to ever-burning fire. Soul, be thou safe, and body fly to hell. [_He dieth_.