_Obsequium amicos_--by flatteries friends are prepared, But _veritas odium parit_, as commonly is seen: For speaking the truth many hated have been. By Sol understand Popish principality, With whom full highly I am entertained, But being eclipsed shall show forth his quality; Then shall Hypocrisy be utterly disdained, Whose wretched exile, though greatly complained, And wept for of many, shall be without hope, That in such pomp shall ever be Pope. By Venus the riotous, by Luna the variable, Betwixt whom and Mercury no variance can fall, For they, which in words be most unstable, Would be thought faithful, and the riotous liberal: So that Hypocrisy their doings cloak shall. But whist! not a word, for yonder come some: While I know what they are, I will be dumb. [_Step aside_. ACT II, SCENE 2. TYRANNY, AVARICE. [TYRANNY.] Put me before, for I will shift for one, [_Push_ AVARICE _backward_. So long as strength remaineth in this arm: And pluck up thy heart, thou faint-hearted mome: As long as I live thou shalt take no harm. Such as control us, I will their tongues charm By fire or sword, or other like torment, So that ever they did it, they shall it repent. Hast thou forgotten what Satan did say, [HYP. Ambo.[29]] That the k[nave] Hypocrisy our doings should hide, So that under his cloak our parts we should play, And of the rude people should never be spied? Or if the worst should hap or betide, That I by Tyranny should both you defend Against such as mischief to you should pretend. AVARICE. Indeed, such words our Belsire did speak, [HYP. Tut, Father Jotsam!] Which, being remembered, doth make my heart glad; But yet one thing my courage doth break, And when I think of it, it makes me full sad: I mean the evil luck which Hypocrisy had, When he was expelled out of this land; For then with me the matter evil did stand. For I by him so shadowed was from light, [HYP. A little k[nave] to hide so great a lubber.] That almost no man could me out espy; But he being gone, to every man's sight I was apparent: each man did descry My pilling and polling; so that glad was I From my nature to cease, a thing most marvellous, And live in secret, the time was so dangerous. [HYP. He feareth nothing: he thinketh the hangman is dead.] TYRANNY. Tush! Avarice, thou fearest a thing that is vain, For by me alone both you shall be stayed; And, if thou mark well, thou shalt perceive plain That if I, Tyranny, my part had well played, [HYP. He can play two parts, the fool and the k[nave].] And from killing of heretics my hand had not stayed, They had never growen to such a great rout, Neither should have been able to have banish'd him out. But _sero sapiunt Phryges_; at length I will take heed, [HYP. A popish policy!]