1993Per. My honest friends, we are asham'd to shew

1994The great extremity of our present state,

1995In that at this time we are brought so low,

1996That we want money for to pay our passage.

1997The truth is so, we met with some good fellowes,

1998A little before we came aboord your ship,

1999Which stript vs quite of all the coyne we had,

2000And left vs not a penny in our purses:

2001Yet wanting mony, we will vse the meane,

2002To see you satisfied to the vttermost. Looke on Leir.

20031. Mar. Heres a good gown, 'twould become me passing wel,

2004I should be fine in it. Looke on Perillus.

20052 Mar. Heres a good cloke, I maruel how I should look in it.

2006Leir. Fayth, had we others to supply their roome,

2007Though ne'erso meane, you willingly should haue them.

20081. Mar. Do you heare, sir? you looke like an honest man;

G4 Ile

2009Ile not stand to do you a pleasure: here's a good strōg motly ga-

2010berdine, cost me xiiij. good shillings at Billinsgate, giue me your

2011gowne for it, & your cap for mine, & ile forgiue your passage.

2012Leir.With al my heart, and xx. thanks. Leir & he changeth.

20132. Mar. Do you heare, sir? you shal haue a better match thē he,

2014because you are my friend: here is a good sheeps russet sea-

2015gowne, wil bide more stresse, I warrant you, then two of his, yet

2016for you seem to be an honest gentleman, I am content to chāge

2017it for your cloke, and aske you nothing for your passage more.

2019Per. My owne I willingly would change with thee,

2020And think my selfe indebted to thy kindnesse:

2021But would my friend might keepe his garment still.

2022My friend, ile giue thee this new dublet, if thou wilt

2023Restore his gowne vnto him back agayne.

20241. Mar. Nay, if I do, would I might ne're eate powderd beefe

2025and mustard more, nor drink Can of good liquor whilst I liue.

2026My friend, you haue small reason to seeke to hinder me of my

2027bargaine: but the best is, a bargayne's a bargayne.

2028Leir. Kind friend, it is much better as it is; Leir to Perillus.

2029For by this meanes we may escape vnknowne.

2030Till time and opportunity do fit.

20312. Mar. Hark, hark, they are laying their heads together,

2032Theile repent them of their bargayne anon,

2033 'Twere best for vs to go while we are well.

20341. Mar. God be with you, sir, for your passage back agayne,

2035Ile vse you as vnreasonable as another.

2036Leir. I know thou wilt; but we hope to bring ready money

2037With vs, when we come back agayne. Exeunt Mariners.

2038Were euer men in this extremity,

2039In a strange country, and deuoyd of friends,

2040And not a penny for to helpe our selues?

2041Kind, friend, what thinkst thou will become of vs?

2042Per. Be of good cheere, my Lord, I haue a dublet,

2043Will yeeld vs mony ynough to serue our turnes,

2044Vntill we come vnto your daughters Court:

2045And then, I hope, we shall find friends ynough.

2046Leir. Ah, kind Perillus, that is it I feare,

2047And makes me faynt, or euer I come there.

2048Can kindnesse spring out of ingratitude?

2049Or loue be reapt, where hatred hath bin sowne?

2050Can Henbane ioyne in league with Methridate?

2051Or Sugar grow in Wormwoods bitter stalke?

2052It cannot be, they are too opposi}te

2053And so am I to any kindnesse here.

2054I haue throwne Wormwood on the sugred youth,

2055And like to Henbane poysoned the Fount,

2056Whence flowed the Methridate of a childs goodwil:

2057I, like an enuious thorne, haue prickt the heart,

2058And turnd sweet Grapes, to sowre vnrelisht Sloes:

2059The causelesse ire of my respectlesse brest,

2060Hath sowrd the sweet milk of dame Natures paps:

2061My bitter words haue gauld her hony thoughts,

2062And weeds of rancour chokt the flower of grace.

2063Then what remainder is of any hope,

2064But all our fortunes will go quite aslope?

2065Per. Feare not, my Lord, the perfit good indeed,

2066Can neuer be corrupted by the bad:

2067A new fresh vessell still retaynes the taste

2068Of that which first is powr'd into the same:

2069And therfore, though you name yourselfe the thorn,

2070The weed, the gall, the henbane & the wormewood;

2071Yet sheele continue in her former state,

2072The hony, milke, Grape, Sugar, Methridate.

2073Leir. Thou pleasi}ng Orator vnto me in wo,

2074Cease to beguile me with thy hopefull speaches:

2075O ioyne with me, and thinke of nought but crosses,

2076And then weele one lament anothers losses.

2077Per. Why, say the worst, the worst can be but death,

2078And death is better then for to despaire:

2079Then hazzard death, which may conuert to life;

2080Banish despaire, which brings a thousand deathes.

2081Leir. Orecome with thy strong arguments, I yeeld,

2082To be directed by thee, as thou wilt;

2083As thou yeeldst comfort to my crazed thoughts,

2084Would I could yeeld the like vnto thy body,

2085Which is full weake, I know, and ill apayd,

H For

2086For want of fresh meat and due sustenance.

2087Per. Alack, my Lord, my heart doth bleed, to think

2088That you should be in such extremity.

2089Leir. Come, let vs go, and see what God will send;

2090When all meanes faile, he is the surest friend. Exeunt.