STEPH. How? cast away? where? BREW. 'Tis impossible; they rid at Dover safe When he outbought my full share in the fraught, And paid me down near thirty thousand pounds In wares and money. GEORGE. Which, had he not done, you had lost your venture. By Master Foster's own appointment, sir, they weighed Their anchors up, and so to come for London; But by a merciless storm they all were swallowed, Even in the Thames's mouth: yet the men were sav'd, But all the goods were lost. ROB. O my poor father! This loss will break his back. STEPH. Ha! what is that to you? If in my favour You'll sit warm, then bury all love to him, Nay, duty; hear you, sir? What! shedd'st thou tears For him that had no care to see thy heart Drop blood? He was unnatural, and heaven Hath justly now rewarded him. BREW. 'Tis a most strange fate! He needs would buy my part at any rate; And now all's lost. STEPH. Greedy desire he swallowed, And now is swallowed: 'tis but his hire, And I'll not pity it no more than he In his abundance did my misery. WIFE. I grieve for my poor gossip, his good wife; She never met good fortune all her life, And this will break her heart-strings: In good sooth, I'll go and comfort her. STEPH. In good sooth, you shall not; Nor him, nor her, at this time, gentle wife; He scorn'd me in his height: now being poor, If that he needs my help, he knows my door. Sir, we'll for this time leave you; at fitter leisure We'll have this marriage talk'd of. BREW. At your own good pleasure. STEPH. Come, wife. Go not to see your father, sir, I charge you. BREW. Jane, bring your friends to th' door. ROB. [_Aside._] I'll help my father, though myself grow poor. [_Exeunt._ BREW. Where's my factor? GEORGE. Here, sir. BREW. What, are the square stones and timber brought, as I appointed? GEORGE. Yes, sir, and the workmen that daily ply the work are in number fourscore at least. BREW. My vows flew up to heaven, that I would make Some pious work in the brass book of fame, That might till doomsday lengthen out my name. Near Norton Folgate, therefore, have I bought Ground to erect this house, which I will call And dedicate St Mary's Hospital; And when 'tis finish'd, o'er the gates shall stand In capital letters, these words fairly graven, For I have given the work and house to heaven, And call'd it _Domus Dei_, God's house; For in my zealous faith I know full well, Where good deeds are, there heaven itself doth dwell. [_Exit._ _Enter_ OLD FOSTER, RICHARD _his factor, and the_ KEEPER OF LUDGATE.