Chapter 4

TYRANNY, AVARICE.

[TYRANNY.] Put me before, for I will shift for one, [_Push_ AVARICE _backward_. So long as strength remaineth in this arm: And pluck up thy heart, thou faint-hearted mome: As long as I live thou shalt take no harm. Such as control us, I will their tongues charm By fire or sword, or other like torment, So that ever they did it, they shall it repent. Hast thou forgotten what Satan did say, [HYP. Ambo.[29]] That the k[nave] Hypocrisy our doings should hide, So that under his cloak our parts we should play, And of the rude people should never be spied? Or if the worst should hap or betide, That I by Tyranny should both you defend Against such as mischief to you should pretend.

AVARICE. Indeed, such words our Belsire did speak, [HYP. Tut, Father Jotsam!] Which, being remembered, doth make my heart glad; But yet one thing my courage doth break, And when I think of it, it makes me full sad: I mean the evil luck which Hypocrisy had, When he was expelled out of this land; For then with me the matter evil did stand. For I by him so shadowed was from light,

[HYP. A little k[nave] to hide so great a lubber.]

That almost no man could me out espy; But he being gone, to every man's sight I was apparent: each man did descry My pilling and polling; so that glad was I From my nature to cease, a thing most marvellous, And live in secret, the time was so dangerous.

[HYP. He feareth nothing: he thinketh the hangman is dead.]

TYRANNY. Tush! Avarice, thou fearest a thing that is vain, For by me alone both you shall be stayed; And, if thou mark well, thou shalt perceive plain That if I, Tyranny, my part had well played,

[HYP. He can play two parts, the fool and the k[nave].]

And from killing of heretics my hand had not stayed, They had never growen to such a great rout, Neither should have been able to have banish'd him out. But _sero sapiunt Phryges_; at length I will take heed,

[HYP. A popish policy!]

And with blood enough this evil will prevent; For if I hear of any that in word or in deed-- Yea, if it be possible to know their intent, If I can prove that in thought they it meant

[HYP. Anti-Christian charity.]

To impair our estates--no prayer shall serve, But will pay them their hire, as each one deserve.

AVARICE. The fish once taken, and 'scaped from bait, Will ever hereafter beware of the hook: Such as use hunting will spy the hare straight, Though other discern her not, yet on her shall look. Again, the learned can read in a book, Though the unskilful, seeing equal with them, Cannot discern an F from an M. So those which have tasted the fruit that we bear, And find it so sour, will not us implant.

TYRANNY. Tush! Avarice, I warrant thee, thou need'st not fear:

[HYP. _Utilitas facit esse Deos_.]

In the clergy, I know, no friends we shall want, Which for hope of gain the truth will recant, And give themselves wholly to set out Hypocrisy, Being egg'd on with Avarice, and defended by Tyranny.

AVARICE. Well may the clergy on our side hold, For they by us no small gain did reap; But all the temporalty, I dare be bold To venture in wager of gold a good heap, At our preferments will mourn, wail, and weep.

[HYP. This is sharp arguments.]

TYRANNY. Though indeed no just cause of joy they can find, Yet for fear of my sword they will alter their mind, But I marvel much where Hypocrisy is: Methink it is long since from us he did go.

AVARICE. I doubt that of his purpose he miss, And therefore hath hanged himself for woe. [HYP. Pray for yourself.] How say'st thou, Tyranny, dost not think so? In faith, if I thought that he might be spared,

[HYP. Your kind heart shall cost me a couple of rushes.]

And we have our purpose, beshrew me, if I cared.

TYRANNY. Saw you ever the like of this doubting dolt?

[HYP. Not I the like of such a cutthroat colt.]

It grieves me to hear how faint-hearted he is. [_Aside_. A little would cause me to kill thee, thou ass-colt. See, see, for woe he is like for to piss: To give an attempt what a fellow were this? But this is the good that cometh of Covetousness: He liveth alway in fear to lose his riches. Again, mark how he regardeth the death of his friend: So he hath his purpose, he cares for no mo: A perfect pattern of a covetous mind, Which neither esteemeth his friend nor his foe, But rather, Avarice, might I have said so, Who, if he were gone, myself could defend, Where thou by his absence wert soon at an end.

[_Exeunt_.