Bartholmew fayre : a comedie, acted in the yeare, 1614 by the Lady Elizabeths seruants, and then dedicated to King Iames, of most blessed memorie ; The diuell is an asse : a comedie acted in the yeare, 1616, by His Maiesties seruants ; The staple of newes : a comedie acted in the yeare, 1625, by His Maiesties seruants by the author, Beniamin Iohnson.

ACT. V. SCENE. VI.

PENY-BOY. CA. PENY-BOY. SE. PENI-BOY. IV. PECVNIA. TRAINE.

YOu see by this amazement, and distraction, What your companions were, a poore, affrighted, And guilty race of men, that dare to stand No breath of truth: but conscious to themselues Of their no-wit, or honesty, ranne routed At euery Pannicke terror themselues bred. Where else, as confident as sounding brasse, Their tinckling Captaine, Cymbal, and the rest, Dare put on any visor, to deride The wretched: or with buffo•• licence, ieast At whatsoe'r is serious, if not sacred.

P. SE.

Who's this? my brother! and restor'd to life!

P. CA

Yes, and sent hither to restore your wits: If your short madnesse, be not more then anger, Conceiued for your losse! which I returne you. See here, your Mortgage, Statute, Band, and Waxe, Without your Broker, come to abide with you▪ And vindicate the Prodigall, from stealing Away the Lady. Nay, Pecunia her selfe, Is come to free him fairely, and discharge All ties, but those of Loue, vnto her person, To vse her like a friend, not like a slaue, Or like an Idoll. Superstition Doth violate the Deity it worships: No lesse then scorne doth. And beleeue it, brother The vse of things is all, and not the Store; Surfet, and fulnesse, haue kill'd more then famine. The Sparrow, with his little plumage, flyes, While the proud Peacocke, ouer-charg••d with pennes, Is faine to sweepe the ground, with his growne traine, And load of feathers.

P. SE.

Wise, and honour'd brother! None but a Brother, and sent from the dead, As you are to me, could haue altered me: I thanke my Destiny, that is so gracious. Are there no paines, no Penalties decreed

From whence you come, to vs that smother money, In chests, and strangle her in bagges.

P. CA.

O, mighty, Intolerable fines, and mulcts impo'sd! (Of which I come to warne you) forfeitures Of whole estates, if they be knowne, and taken!

P. SE.

I thanke you Brother for the light you haue giuen mee, I will preuent 'hem all. First free my dogges, Lest what I ha' done to them (and against Law) Be a Premuniri, for by Magna Charta They could not be committed, as close prisoners, My learned Counsell tells me here, my Cooke. And yet he shew'd me, the way, first.

LIC.

Who did? I? I trench the liberty o' the subiects?

P. CA.

Peace, Picklocke, your Ghest, that Stentor, hath infected you, Whom I haue safe enough in a wooden collar.

P. SE.

Next, I restore these seruants to their Ladie, With freedome, heart of cheare, and countenance; It is their yeere, and day of Iubilee.

TRA.

We thanke you, Sir.

P. SE.

And lastly, to my Nephew, I giue my house, goods, lands, all but my vices, And those I goe to cleanse; kissing this Lady Whom I doe giue him too, and ioyne their bands.

P. CA.

If the Spectators will ioyne theirs, wee thanke'hem.

P. IV.

And wish they may, as I, enioy Pecunia.

PEC.

And so Pecunia her selfe doth wish, That shee may still be ayde vnto their vses, Not slaue vnto their pleasures, or a Tyrant Oner their faire desires; but teach them all The golden meane: the Prodigall, how to liue, The sordid, and the couetous, how to dye, That with sound mind; this safe frugality.

Notes

• Peny-boy Se. acknow∣ledgeth his elder bro∣ther.
• Her Traine thanks him.