_Abundance._ Joy and solace be in this hall! Is there no man here that knoweth me at all? I am beloved, both with great and small; Abundance is my name. I have all things as me list: Meat, drink, and cloth of the best; Gold and silver, full is every chest-- In faith! I will not layne. I think ye know not my ways, How I get goods, now-a-days, By a proper mean. Think you that I wold Lend either silver or gold? That day shall not be seen. But I will lend them ware, That shall be both bad and dear, Not worth the money he shall pay; And if he can no surety get, Of my ware he getteth right nought Without a good pledge he lay. Then will I, for mine avail, He shall make a bill of sale; To me full bought and sold. If the day be expired and past, B2,_r._ Then will I hold it fast; He shall not have it though he would. Thus, craft I have long used; And some men do not yet refuse it: This is be openly known. What is he, in all this town, That will lend without singular commodum? Should I lend without a profit? Nay, then I hold nought worth my wit. _Conscience._ All this ye say is against Conscience. _Abun._ Conscience, quod a? Nay, then shall we never thrive! For I know him not alive By conscience that cometh to substance. I have all manner of marchandy; I sell for long days to them that are needy, And for the payment I have good surety, Bound in statute marchant. Because I may forbear, I sell my ware so dear; I make forty of twenty in half a year: Other men do so as well as I. _Cons._ Evensine very shame! marry, fie! These goods are gotten untruly; Many a man is undone thereby, To take this ware so dear. _Abun._ They seek to me both far and near; Methink it is a good deed To help a man at his need. Yet have I other means Whereby I get great gains: I think ye know not that. _Cons._ I? no, God wot! _Abun._ No, ye are but an idiot! B2,_v._ I sold a man as much ware as came to forty pound, And in an obligation I had him bound To pay me at a certain day; And when the bargain was made plain, Mine own servant bought the same ware again For the third penny it cost--ye wot what I mean! But was not this a wise way? _Cons._ Thou shalt repent it another day; I charge thee, as far as I may, Such false ways never begin. _Abun._ Wherefore? this is no sin: It is plain buying and selling; Lawful it is for a man to win, Else rich shall he never be. _Cons._ Winning, to be had with due sufficiance, In true buying and selling is not to discommend; But for thy false usury thou art cursed in the sentence. I pray God give thee grace for to amend.