Beggars Bush: A Comedy. Beaumont Francis

ever number'd

      The first of your best actions;

      Can you think,

      Where Goswin is or Gerrard, or your love,

      Or any else, or all that are proscrib'd?

      I will resign, what I usurp, or have

      Unjustly forc'd; the dayes I have to live

      Are too too few to make them satisfaction

      With any penitence: yet I vow to practise

      All of a man.

      Hub. O that your heart and tongue

      Did not now differ!

      Wol. By my griefs they do not.

      Take the good pains to search them out: 'tis worth it,

      You have made clean a Leper: trust me you have,

      And made me once more fit for the society,

      I hope of good men.

      Hub. Sir, do not abuse My aptness to believe.

      Wol. Suspect not you

      A faith that's built upon so true a sorrow,

      Make your own safetys: ask them all the ties

      Humanity can give, Hemskirk too shall

      Along with you to this so wish'd discovery,

      And in my name profess all that you promise;

      And I will give you this help to't: I have

      Of late receiv'd certain intelligence,

      That some of them are in or about Bruges

      To be found out: which I did then interpret,

      The cause of that Towns standing out against me;

      But now am glad, it may direct your purpose

      Of giving them their safety, and me peace.

      Hub. Be constant to your goodness, and you have it. [Exeunt.

      SCENA II

      Enter 3. Merchants.

      1 Mer. 'Tis much that you deliver of this Goswin.

      2 Mer. But short of what I could, yet have the Country

      Confirm'd it true, and by a general oath,

      And not a man hazard his credit in it:

      He bears himself with such a confidence

      As if he were the Master of the Sea,

      And not a wind upon the Sailers compass,

      But from one part or other was his factor,

      To bring him in the best commodities,

      Merchant e're ventur'd for.

      1. 'Tis strange.

      2. And yet

      This do's in him deserve the least of wonder,

      Compared with other his peculiar fashions,

      Which all admire: he's young, and rich, at least

      Thus far reputed so, that since he liv'd

      In Bruges, there was never brought to harbour

      So rich a Bottom, but his bill would pass

      Unquestion'd for her lading.

      3 Mer. Yet he still Continues a good man.

      2 Mer. So good, that but

      To doubt him, would be held an injury

      Or rather malice, with the best that traffique;

      But this is nothing, a great stock, and fortune,

      Crowning his judgement in his undertakings

      May keep him upright that way: But that wealth

      Should want the power to make him dote on it,

      Or youth teach him to wrong it, best commends

      His constant temper; for his outward habit

      'Tis suitable to his present course of life:

      His table furnish'd well, but not with dainties

      That please the appetite only for their rareness,

      Or their dear price: nor given to wine or women,

      Beyond his health, or warrant of a man,

      I mean a good one: and so loves his state

      He will not hazard it at play; nor lend

      Upon the assurance of a well-pen'd Letter,

      Although a challenge second the denial

      From such as make th' opinion of their valour

      Their means of feeding.

      1 Mer. These are wayes to thrive,

      And the means not curs'd.

      2 Mer. What follows, this

      Makes many venturers with him, in their wishes,

      For his prosperity: for when desert

      Or reason leads him to be liberal,

      His noble mind and ready hand contend

      Which can add most to his free courtesies,

      Or in their worth, or speed to make them so.

      Is there a Virgin of good fame wants dower?

      He is a Father to her; or a Souldier

      That in his Countreys service, from the war

      Hath brought home only scars, and want? his house

      Receives him, and relieves him, with that care

      As if what he possess'd had been laid up

      For such good uses, and he steward of it.

      But I should lose my self to speak him further

      And stale in my relation, the much good

      You may be witness of, if your remove

      From Bruges be not speedy.

      1 Mer. This report

      I do assure you will not hasten it,

      Nor would I wish a better man to deal with

      For what I am to part with.

      3 Mer. Never doubt it,

      He is your man and ours, only I wish

      His too much forwardness to embrace all bargains

      Sink him not in the end.

      2 Mer. Have better hopes,

      For my part I am confident; here he comes.

      Enter Goswin, and the fourth Merchant.

      Gos. I take it at your own rates, your wine of Cyprus,

      But for your Candy sugars, they have met

      With such foul weather, and are priz'd so high

      I cannot save in them.

      4 Mer. I am unwilling

      To seek another Chapman: make me offer

      Of something near price, that may assure me

      You can deal for them.

      Gos. I both can, and will,

      But not with too much loss; your bill of lading

      Speaks of two hundred chests, valued by you

      At thirty thousand gilders, I will have them

      At twenty