_Peace._ It were no sin to hang thee by throat; Thy words be envious, not grounded on charity. _Envy._ Sir! one thing, I pray you, tell me. _Peace._ What is that? _Envy._ Have ye any wife, or no? A3,_r._ _Peace._ Wherefore ask ye so? _Envy._ Because ye say peace is most expedient: If your wife made you cuckold, you being present, What would ye do? _Peace._ Give her such punishment as longeth thereto. _Envy._ A false, flattering whoreson, lo! Now thou sayest against thine own declaration: If thou fight, where is then peace become? _Peace._ I break not peace with doing due correction; For correction should be done charitably-- _Irascemini et nolite peccare_. _Envy._ I shall meet that at _omnium quare_: Peace should forgive, and not be revenged. Hence, whoreson! by our Lady of Wolpit, I shall rap thee of the pate! _Peace._ Go hence, wretch! thou makebate! It were alms to set thee in Newgate. Ho, Master Constable, come near! Here is a wretch without reason; Take and put him in prison, With as many irons as he may bear! _Envy._ By our lady! I will come no near. A constable, quod ha! nay, that will I not abide; For I am loth to go shorter tide. Yet long, whoreson! for all thy pride, I shall meet with thee another day, When one of us two shall go a knave away. _Peace._ O, thou wretch! thou ought to remord That so far art exiled from charity. Lo! he thinketh not how meekly his Maker and Lord Suffered reprefe, and died upon a tree, Giving us example that with humil[it]y Every man should follow his trace, A3,_v._ That in heaven will claim a place. [_Enter_ IMPATIENT POVERTY.] _Imp. Pov._ Keep, keep, for Cock's face! _Peace._ Why art thou so out of patience? _Imp. Pov._ A knave would have rested me: I owe him but forty pence-- He shall abide, by God's dear blest! _Peace._ Take heed, my friend! thus saith the text: In little meddling standeth great rest. Therefore, pay thy duty well and honestly, With few words discreetly; Another time ye shall be the better trust. _Imp. Pov._ That will I never do while I live; let him do his best. I had liever lay all my good to pledge To get a writ of privilege; So may I go by his nose at large, Spite of his teeth, whosoever say Nay. _Peace._ This is but a wilful mind: if thou wilt not pay Thy very duty, which cannot be denied, Getting of thy writ and expense in the law Will cost more than thy duty--this well I knaw. Thy debt therewith cannot be paid; It is only a deferring of the payment. _Imp. Pov._ Yet the knave shall not have his intent. _Peace._ Thou shalt pay by rightful judgment, For the law is indifferent to every person.