a proper posy, I promise you; but now to the noble virtue of the nutmeg; it is, saith one ballad (I think an English Roman was the author), an underlayer to the brains, for when the ale gives a buffet to the head, O the nutmeg! that keeps him for a while in temper. Thus you see the description of the virtue of a pot of ale; now, sir, to put my physical precepts in practice, follow me: but afore I step any further-- _First Ruf._ What's the matter now? _Adam._ Why, seeing I have provided the ale, who is the purveyor for the wenches? for, masters, take this of me, a cup of ale without a wench, why, alas, 'tis like an egg without salt, or a red-herring without mustard! _First Ruf._ Lead us to the ale; we'll have wenches enough, I warrant thee. [_Exeunt._ _Oseas._ Iniquity seeks out companions still, And mortal men are armèd to do ill. London, look on, this matter nips thee near: Leave off thy riot, pride, and sumptuous cheer; Spend less at board, and spare not at the door, But aid the infant, and relieve the poor; Else seeking mercy, being merciless, Thou be adjudg'd to endless heaviness. SCENE III.--_At the_ Usurer's. _Enter the_ Usurer, THRASYBULUS, _and_ ALCON.[68] _Usurer._ Come on, I am every day troubled with these needy companions: what news with you? what wind brings you hither? _Thras._ Sir, I hope, how far soever you make it off, you remember, too well for me, that this is the day wherein I should pay you money that I took up of you alate in a commodity.[69] _Alc._ And, sir, sir-reverence of your manhood and gentry, I have brought home such money as you lent me. _Usurer._ You, young gentleman, is my money ready? _Thras._ Truly, sir, this time was so short, the commodity so bad, and the promise of friends so broken, that I could not provide it against the day; wherefore I am come to entreat you to stand my friend, and to favour me with a longer time, and I will make you sufficient consideration. _Usurer._ Is the wind in that door? If thou hast thy money, so it is: I will not defer a day, an hour, a minute, but take the forfeit of the bond. _Thras._ I pray you, sir, consider that my loss was great by the commodity I took up: you know, sir, I borrowed of you forty pounds, whereof I had ten pounds in money, and thirty pounds in lute-strings, which when I came to sell again, I could get but five pounds for them, so had I, sir, but fifteen pounds for my forty. In consideration of this ill bargain, I pray you, sir, give me a month longer. _Usurer._ I answered thee afore, not a minute; what have I to do how thy bargain proved? I have thy hand set to my book that thou receivedst forty pounds of me in money. _Thras._ Ay, sir, it was your device that, to colour the statute, but your conscience knows what I had.