A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 08
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 08
English drama
POST. Lodging? there is none: all is full.
TEN. How so?
POST. Ta'en up by gentlemen long ago.
TEN. Let me yet have some room for mine ass.
POST. _Asinus super asinum, volitate ad furtas_!
HOST. Who is that thou pratest therewithal?
POST. Look forth and see: a lubber, fat, great and tall,
Upon a tired ass, bare, short and small.
HOST. Ho, ho! 'tis Tenacity, my old acquaintance.
And to my wife of near alliance.
Father Tenacity!
TEN. Mine host, God speed!
How do you? Take in, ostler.
OSTLER. Anon, sir.
HOST. Chamberlain, wait upon my kindred here.
CHAM. I will, sir.
SCENE V.
_Enter_ MONEY _and_ VANITY.
_The Song_.
MON. _As light as a fly,
In pleasant jollity:
With mirth and melody,
Sing Money, Money, Money!
Money the minion, the spring of all joy;
Money, the medicine that heals each annoy;
Money, the jewel that man keeps in store;
Money, the idol that women adore!
That Money am I, the fountain of bliss,
Whereof whoso tasteth, doth never amiss.
Money, money, money!
Sing Money, Money, Money_!
VAN. What, Money, sing you so lustily?
MON. I have none other cause: who would not sing merrily,
Being, as I am, in such felicity:
The God of this world, so mighty of power,
As makes men, and mars men, and all in an hour?
Yea, where I am, is all prosperity,
And where I want, is nought but misery.
VAN. Money saith reason; for so doth it fare,
Money makes masteries, old proverbs declare.
But, Money, of Fortune, our sovereign dame,
What news?
MONEY. Marry, sir, of purpose I hither came,
To let thee know she will forthwith be here:
And lo! already, see, she doth appear.
VAN. 'Tis true; now must I show my diligence.
Down, ladies, stoop: do your reverence.
SCENE VI.
_Enter_ FORTUNE, _in her chariot drawn with Kings.
The Song.
Reverence, do reverence; fair dames, do reverence
Unto this goddess great, do humble reverence:
Do humble reverence.
Fortune, of-worldly state the governess:
Fortune, of man's delight the mistress:
Fortune, of earthly bliss the patroness:
Fortune, the spring of joy and happiness.
Lo, this is she, with twinkling of her eye,
That misers[387] can advance to dignity,
And princes turn to misers' misery.
Reverence, due reverence_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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