1990.1[Scene 23] [Video Sc.23] 23.0.11991Enter Leir, Perillus, and two mariners in 1992sea-gowns and sea-caps. My honest friends, we are ashamed to show
23.21994The great extremity of our present state,
23.31995In that at this time we are brought so low
23.41996That we want money for to pay our passage.
23.51997The truth is so: we met with some good-fellows,
23.61998A little before we came aboard your ship,
23.71999Which stripped us quite of all the coin we had
23.82000And left us not a penny in our purses.
23.92001Yet, wanting money, we will use the mean
23.102002To see you satisfied to the uttermost.
23.10.1First Mariner looks on Leir. Here's a good gown; 'twould become me passing well;
2004I should be fine in it.
23.11.1Second Mariner looks on Perillus. Here's a good cloak; I marvel how I should look in it.
Faith, had we others to supply their room,
23.142007Though ne'er so mean, you willingly should have them.
Do you hear, sir? You look like an honest man;
2009I'll not stand to do you a pleasure. Here's a good, strong,
2010motley gaberdine, cost me fourteen good shillings at Billingsgate; give me your
2011gown for it, and your cap for mine, and I'll forgive your passage.
With all my heart and twenty thanks.
23.16.1Leir and [First Mariner] changeth. Do you hear, sir? You shall have a better match than he
2014because you are my friend: here is a good sheep's russet sea-
2015gown: will bide more stress, I warrant you, than two of his. Yet,
2016for you seem to be an honest gentleman, I am content to change
2017it for your cloak, and ask you nothing for your passage more.
My own I willingly would change with thee,
23.202020And think myself indebted to thy kindness,
23.212021But would my friend might keep his garment still.
23.222022My friend, I'll give thee this new doublet if thou wilt
23.232023Restore his gown unto him back again.
Nay, if I do, would I might ne'er eat powdered beef
2025and mustard more, nor drink can of good liquor whilst I live.
2026My friend, you have small reason to seek to hinder me of my
2027bargain, but the best is, a bargain's a bargain.
[To Perillus] Kind friend, it is much better as it is,
23.262029For by this means we may escape unknown
Hark, hark, they are laying their heads together;
23.292032They'll repent them of their bargain anon.
23.302033'Twere best for us to go while we are well.
God be with you, sir. For your passage back again,
2035I'll use you as unreasonable as another.
I know thou wilt, but we hope to bring ready money
2037with us when we come back again.
23.342039In a strange country, and devoid of friends,
23.352040And not a penny for to help ourselves?
23.362041Kind friend, what thinkst thou will become of us?
Be of good cheer, my lord. I have a doublet
23.382043Will yield us money enough to serve our turns
23.392044Until we come unto your daughter's court;
23.402045And then, I hope, we shall find friends enough.
Ah, kind Perillus, that is it I fear,
23.422047And makes me faint or ever I come there.
23.432048Can kindness spring out of ingratitude,
23.442049Or love be reaped where hatred hath been sown?
23.452050Can henbane join in league with mithridate,
23.462051Or sugar grow in wormwood's bitter stalk?
23.472052It cannot be: they are too opposite,
23.492054I have thrown wormwood on the sugared youth,
23.502055And, like to henbane, poisoned the fount
23.512056Whence flowed the mithridate of a child's good will.
23.522057I, like an envious thorn, have pricked the heart
23.532058And turned sweet grapes to sour, unrelished sloes.
23.542059The causeless ire of my respectless breast
23.552060Hath soured the sweet milk of Dame Nature's paps.
23.562061My bitter words have galled her honey thoughts,
23.572062And weeds of rancour choked the flower of grace.
23.592064But all our fortunes will go quite aslope?
Fear not, my lord, the perfect good indeed
23.622067A new fresh vessel still retains the taste
23.632068Of that which first is poured into the same.
23.642069And therefore, though you name yourself the thorn,
23.652070The weed, the gall, the henbane, and the wormwood,
23.662071Yet she'll continue in her former state,
23.672072The honey, milk, grape, sugar, mithridate.
Thou pleasing orator unto me in woe,
23.692074Cease to beguile me with thy hopeful speeches.
23.702075Oh, join with me and think of nought but crosses,
23.712076And then we'll one lament another's losses.
Why say the worst? The worst can be but death[H1],
23.732078And death is better than for to despair.
23.742079Then hazard death, which may convert to life,
23.752080Banish despair, which brings a thousand deaths.
O'ercome with thy strong arguments, I yield,
23.772082To be directed by thee, as thou wilt.
23.782083As thou yieldst comfort to my crazèd thoughts,
23.792084Would I could yield the like unto thy body,
23.802085Which is full weak, I know, and ill-apaid
23.812086For want of fresh meat and due sustenance.
Alack, my lord, my heart doth bleed to think
23.832088That you should be in such extremity.
Come, let us go and see what God will send:
23.852090When all means fail, He is the surest friend.
King Leir