SCENE V.--_A Public Place near the_ Usurer's.

_Enter_ THRASYBULUS.

_Thras._ Loath'd is the life that now enforc'd I lead; But since necessity will have it so, (Necessity that doth command the gods), Through every coast and corner now I pry, To pilfer what I can to buy me meat. Here have I got a cloak, not over old, Which will afford some little sustenance: Now will I to the broking Usurer, To make exchange of ware for ready coin.

_Enter_ ALCON, SAMIA, _and_ CLESIPHON.

_Alc._ Wife, bid the trumpets sound, a prize, a prize! mark the posy: I cut this from a new-married wife, by the help of a horn-thumb[116] and a knife,--six shillings, four pence.

_Samia._ The better luck ours: but what have we here, cast apparel? Come away, man, the Usurer is near: this is dead ware, let it not bide on our hands.

_Thras._ [_aside_]. Here are my partners in my poverty, Enforc'd to seek their fortunes as I do: Alas, that few men should possess the wealth, And many souls be forc'd to beg or steal!-- Alcon, well met.

_Alc._ Fellow beggar, whither now?

_Thras._ To the Usurer, to get gold on commodity.

_Alc._ And I to the same place, to get a vent for my villainy. See where the old crust comes: let us salute him.

_Enter_ Usurer.

God-speed, sir: may a man abuse your patience upon a pawn?

_Usurer._ Friend, let me see it.

_Alc. Ecce signum!_ a fair doublet and hose, new-bought out of the pilferer's shop,--a handsome cloak.

_Usurer._ How were they gotten?

_Thras._ How catch the fishermen fish? Master, take them as you think them worth: we leave all to your conscience.

_Usurer._ Honest men, toward men, good men, my friends, like to prove good members, use me, command me; I will maintain your credits. There's money: now spend not your time in idleness; bring me commodity; I have crowns for you: there is two shillings for thee, and six shillings for thee. [_Gives money._

_Alc._ A bargain.--Now, Samia, have at it for a new smock!--Come, let us to the spring of the best liquor: whilst this lasts, tril-lill!

_Usurer._ Good fellows, proper fellows, my companions, farewell: I have a pot for you.

_Samia_ [_aside_]. If he could spare it.

_Enter_ JONAS.

_Jonas._ Repent, ye men of Nineveh, repent! The day of horror and of torment comes; When greedy hearts shall glutted be with fire, Whenas corruptions veil'd shall be unmask'd, When briberies shall be repaid with bane, When whoredoms shall be recompens'd in hell, When riot shall with vigour be rewarded, Whenas neglect of truth, contempt of God, Disdain of poor men, fatherless and sick, Shall be rewarded with a bitter plague. Repent, ye men of Nineveh, repent! The Lord hath spoke, and I do cry it out; There are as yet but forty days remaining, And then shall Nineveh be overthrown: Repent, ye men of Nineveh, repent! There are as yet but forty days remaining, And then shall Nineveh be overthrown. [_Exit._

_Usurer._ Confus'd in thought, O, whither shall I wend? [_Exit._

_Thras._ My conscience cries that I have done amiss. [_Exit._

_Alc._ O God of heaven, gainst thee have I offended!

_Samia._ Asham'd of my misdeeds, where shall I hide me?

_Cles._ Father, methinks this word "repent" is good: He that punisheth disobedience Doth hold a scourge for every privy fault. [_Exit with_ ALCON _and_ SAMIA.

_Oseas._ Look, London, look; with inward eyes behold What lessons the events do here unfold. Sin grown to pride, to misery is thrall: The warning-bell is rung, beware to fall. Ye worldly men, whom wealth doth lift on high, Beware and fear, for worldly men must die. The time shall come, where least suspect remains, The sword shall light upon the wisest brains; The head that deems to overtop the sky, Shall perish in his human policy. Lo, I have said, when I have said the truth, When will is law, when folly guideth youth, When show of zeal is prank'd in robes of zeal, When ministers powl[117] the pride of commonweal, When law is made a labyrinth of strife, When honour yields him friend to wicked life, When princes hear by others' ears their folly, When usury is most accounted holy, If these shall hap, as would to God they might not, The plague is near: I speak, although I write not.

_Enter the_ Angel.

_Angel._ Oseas.

_Oseas._ Lord?

_Angel._ Now hath thine eyes perus'd these heinous sins, Hateful unto the mighty Lord of hosts. The time is come, their sins are waxen ripe, And though the Lord forewarns, yet they repent not; Custom of sin hath harden'd all their hearts. Now comes revenge, armèd with mighty plagues, To punish all that live in Nineveh; For God is just, as he is merciful, And doubtless plagues all such as scorn repent. Thou shalt not see the desolation That falls unto these cursèd Ninevites, But shalt return to great Jerusalem, And preach unto the people of thy God What mighty plagues are incident to sin, Unless repentance mitigate His ire: Rapt in the spirit, as thou wert hither brought, I'll seat thee in Judaea's provinces. Fear not, Oseas, then to preach the word.

_Oseas._ The will of the Lord be done! [Oseas _is taken away by the_ Angel.

ACT THE FIFTH