the gard Ser T is true my friends I heard the pullie creake The stirring crane did make a mightie noise And by a rope I sawe descending downe The cursed murderer Lord Lelio T is Brishio succors Lelio none else Mar What news my friends what makes Seruio vp Ser Captaine Lorde Lelio hetherto hath kept in Brishios house And this night from his lee is slipt awaie I sawe the ancor fisht the sailes new hoist Aske of this peasant if I tell not true Mar Sirrha didst thou see Lelio Fran I marie did I sir Ser What need we more Fran Marie to know when I sawe him last For the first time I sawe him was at his marriage For Vnbend thy musket souldier in the locke Presse me his thumbes and make the slaue confesse Here pinch him Fran O I confesse Lelio was shipt at our crane this night My master Brishio tooke him in I agreed with the shipmaster made clcane his shooes And so laide him in the rope of our crane And let him downe into the ship And he is gone into the Florentine campe Ma. So now let him loose the truth apparant is Fo Marchetto go prosecute the Senates will Attach Lord Brishio seize vpon his goods Come breake vp the doore Exit omnis manet Sempronio Seruio Sem. Soft gentle friend a word or two with you From whence proceed these troubles that arise Se For yong Sempronios death my honest friend Sem VVhy gentle sir is young Sempronio dead Se VVhy doubts thou that I tell thee I haue sought and found it so Sem. VVhere was he buried Se VVhy Sepheards brought me tidings of his death Some rauenous beast did seize him for his praie Sem And what hast thou lost or gotten by his death Se I haue annuall rents two thousand pounds The worth in plate of twice so many more A few such breakfasts friend would make me rich I le tell thee euerie daie throughout the yere I le loose a kinsman to possesse so much Semp Then not for loue thou bearest Sempronio But for a colour of thy honest minde Thou doest pursue Lord Lelio in this sort Se A foole were I so to accuse my selfe Thinke like a worldly man that so it is And so it is in deed who longeth to be rich Let him forget God but for a dozen yeres He shall be rich well landed stout and braue â—â—m Wipe out that water from thy eies my friend Se. VVhat ayleth me Sem VVhy thou art blind and canst not see Se. Thou wilt not make me mad I le take my spectacles Sem. Tush they auaile thee not for thou art blinde in deede Looke in thy heart and finde an honest thought Then will I saie thy eyes are perfect cleere Looke in thy conscience finde it not corrupt Then thou shalt see without thy spectacles Se. Awaie thou art a knaue I saie tempt me not Sem Yes but thou art an arrant couetous knaue for all mine vnkle Exit Seruio Enter Fortunio and Marchetto with Brishio and his two sonnes Bri T is true my Lord I fauord Lelios flight My loue hath crost the rigor of your lawes Fo Did you foreknow the penaltie my Lord That doomes you banishment and losse of goods Bri All this I knew but none of this I feare True friendship lightneth all these burdenous harme If Lelio be escapt I feare no wants My exile to me is libertie Go fruites of nature I will leaue you heere Go toward children thriue among my friends Glut you with my excesse of Vanities Feed your vncleane desires by spoiling me I wreake them not so Lelio liue to me Not irkesome age not lims with sicknes tir'd Nor you my sonnes nor all my other friends Not fortune nor intreate shall keep me backe Mar Whence growes thy resolution so austere Brish From honestie my friends which gouernes me First Lelio mongst our chiefest citizens Made me his father and his vowed friend Next to defend my daughter from defame He ventured life And shall a little pelfe These two yong boyes make me forget my friend That ventured life and vertue for my sake No I loue my Lelio do what fortune can Sem Why here 's a knacke to know an honest man Keepe him in Venice my Fortunio When he is gone few such will staie behinde For here our wonted faith is turn'd to fraud Our periuries are counted policies Our oaths are gates to catch the simple sort Our curtesie is but nodding of the head Discouering the cap or bending of the knee Swearing I loue your honor good my Lord The best dissembler hath the brauest wit Come let me loue thee for thy Lelios sake And when I meet him next I le tel him more Ex. Sem. Opre Deare father who shall succor vs when you are dead Brish Your diligence which can command the proudest miserie Zeph What if your friends repine and will not giue Brish Your hands my sons must teach you how to liue Courage and industrie can neuer want Vaine idlenesse growes wretched by itselfe But diligence inableth poorest men Well must I to prison Lordes or must I hence Tell me the Senates sentence speedily Fo Hie thee from Venice speedily for if thou stay But two houres space thou art adiudged death Brish Farewell my Lord and farewell gentle friend Adieu my sonnes nay weepe not Commend me to your sister loue her well Defend her honor as you loue your liues Zep Where nature parteth vs there sorrow thriues Exit Brishio Ma Come let vs let the Duke and Senate know The whole successe and fortune we haue had Exit omnis Enter Franco and Gnatto Gnat What Franco wel met whether art thou going Fran Faith my master is gone awaie and I am going a begging Gnat A begging why t is the best occupation thou canst vse A begger hath fiue of the seuen liberall sciences At his fingers ends he hath musike to sing for his dinner he hath logicke to cauel with the constable he hath rhetorike to perswade that hee should not go to the stockes he hath Geometrie to measure out his bed in the plaine field and he hast Astronomie to shew a warme sunne from a colde shade Nay I le proue that a begger deuours the foure morall vertues at one breakfast he 's valiant when he must needs fight he is liberall when he hath anie monie to spend and he is true if there be nothing to steale A begger why t is the ancientest occupation that is it began at Adam wil neuer end til doomes day But sirrha Franco I le tell thee what thou shalt do go professe thine olde occupation againe Fran. What 's that Gnat. O t is the best occupation that is for thee Fran Why what profit can that yeld Gnat. Why by being alwaies dronke thou shalt learne neuer to be sober O the vertue of a dronkard is much he speaks little because he sleeps much he stands not vpon opinion for euerie litle straw throwes him not
A PLEASANT CONCEITED COMEdie called A knacke to know an honest Man As it hath beene sundrie times plaied about the Citie of London SIC CREDE LONDON Printed for Cuthbert Burby and are to be solde at his shop by the Royall Exchange 1596 ¶ A pleasant conceited Comoedie called A knacke to know an honest Man Enter Coridon and Antimon and Menalchus three Shepheards Coridon HEre walke Menalchus on this grassie plaine And while the wanton lambes feed on these downes And hide them in the thickets from the Sunne That shine on Venus stately builded towers Discourse to aged Antimon and me The dolefull historie and that drierie tale That earst befell in fatall Arcadie How poore Amintas perisht in his loue Menal You will me cal to memorie sweet friends The countlesse sorrowes which wil fetch forth teares From hardest rockes and moue a marble heart But though my minde in recolecting teares With horror dumbe and eke would choake my tong From telling tragike newes I will begin Enter Lelio and Sempronio to fight Cor. Stay Menalchus and hide thee in these thickets For heere come strangers who with ireful browes Threatens some stormie troubles to succeed Semp. Heere is a place conuenient Lelio Yonder 's a plaine whereon our steeds may graze Here is a groue backt with cressend hils But saue these trees none else behold our fight Lel. Haue I retaind thee caitife in my house And made thee Lord of all my best delights And could thy impious heart so lewdly thinke Dishonor to defile my wedding bed Had Venus no other strumpet to content Sempronios mind but thou must choose my wife To make a stale to thy vnbrideled lust Wretch why doo I thus expostulate Come come I le act reuenge and talke no more Euen for our ancient loue I le giue thee lawe Disroabe thee if thou wilt speake no more For Lelio hath inexorable eares Semp. If words mongst faithfull friends may not be borne Beleeue me Lelio thou deseruest the horne Come sir for kindnes I will let you bloud And seeke to coole your fire of iealousie Heere fight Lel And I le reuenge my mortall iniurie Now is his lustfull insolence Drownd in the sea of bloudie tragedie How now Sempronio Semp Flie Lelio flie thy iealous furie robs thee of a friend I paie thee with my bloud for lewd desire Go hie thee hence preuent pursuit My miseries are done when I am dead Thy miseries are too neere Lel Too late remorse why doest thou follow me Ah sweet Sempronio speake but one word more Semp I speak these few wordes more flie Lelio flie Mongst friends it is too much for one to die Menal Murder my friends pursue the murderer Hast Coridon hie the Antimon Lel Flie Lelio flie and saue thy life Exit Lelio Cor T is Lelio shepheards hast and follow him Anty And Lelios sworde hath slaine Sempronio Pursue you shepheards that lewd murderer Whilest I do beare this bloudie garment hence To Seruio tutor to this noble man And giue him notice of his kinsmans death Downe with the murtherers fellowes kill his horse Exit Enter olde Phillip an hermit Phil What noise is this before my hold of peace A little breach of peace to men of zeale Is held a world of griefe to crosse his minde Behold a young man weltering in his bloud Hie thee olde Phillip shew thy charitie Beare him to thy cell and if thou canst recure his wounds If not goe burie him the badge of contemplations charitie Exit Enter Lelio with his sword drawen hee knockes at his doore Lelio Ho Gnatto open Gnatto within Gnat Open what should I open the cupboord Lel No knaue the doore Cnat No knaue the doore what rascals that O master is it you I crie you mercie Lel Sirra speake where 's your mistres Gnat Matie shee is making wood speake and guts sing Lel Wood speake and guts sing how meanst thou that Gnat Are you such a foole you know not that Why she 's playing on the lute Lel And where is my daughter Lucida Gnat She is killing a pride Lel As how Gnat She is combing of her head she will not haue it frizle Lel Iest not sirra but call them hether quickly Gnat Ho mistres quickly you must come hether quickly or els my master will beat me quickly Enter Annetta and Lucida An How now my Lord Lel Annetta call me wretch Lu Why what is befalne Lel The worst of harmes An Where is Sempronio Lel Ah aske not where he is Thou must be husbandlesse through my misdeeds Thou must be fatherles through my disgrace Farewell I dare not stay to tell my minde I haue no time Annetta to imbrace thee Vnles I hazard lyfe to stay so long Annetta in a word Sempronio's dead His friends pursue me and to saue my life I needs must flie you for your maintenance Must presently the chiefest iewels seize Farewell my sighs and teares must tell the rest An Whether cruell fortune my sweet loue Lel Captiues sweet soules in chaines of misery An Who shal releeue me when my husband 's fled Lel He that releeues poor souls when hope is dead Lu Who shall indow me in my fathers absence Lel True vertue daughter if he be in presence Ah looke on these you care desiring eies These cannot speake for wo clogs vp their tongs Thus silent miserie tells mourning griefe Go to poore soules and hide you from a storme The hands are prest to rob you of your owne Go in poore soules weep lesse indeuor more Hast forceth griefe danger keepes the doore Exeunt Enter Corrodinuo Duke of Venice his sonne Fortunio two senators olde Seruio and the Shepheard Antimon Duke Seruio stand forth if thy important wronges be such Discourse to me and to these aged peeres Thy cause of griefe and what thou doest require Ser. Most mightie Duke most worthie Senatours I come before this sacred iudgement seate Not traind by hate as many worldlings be But these olde yeres inioynd me charitie But vrg'd by wrongs compeld by hainous deeds To quicken iustice in your reuerent eares Call to remembrance Prince and worthie peeres The faithfull seruice for these many yeeres That stout Sempronio did vnto the State In remembrance whereof Olde Seruio humbling him vpon his knees Beseecheth iustice gainst proud Lelio Who cruelly hath slaine in single fight The sole and onely heire of that stout race Duke Seruio come hether and possesse thy place We will consider of thy iniuries Seruio Still let these knees be wedded to the earth Still let these teares run floud-like from mine eies Vntill your grace do execute the wretch That thus hath slaine my deare Sempronio 1. Sen. Thou doest demeane too much intemperance Thou foolish man arise do not stain the badge of age And wisedome by misgouernment Our senators in Venice are well schoold in such haps And can doome of things not by thy teares Or sorrow working wordes But by the truth and estimate of acts Thou sayst that Lelio
downe he is not proud for his head is readie to salute euerie poast nor hee is not enuious for hee teares his stomacke open to euerie man and sleepes as soundly on a donghil as on a downe bed Mary one thing he is subiect to impatience for once a daie he sees the deuill Fran And truly for that cause I le blesse my selfe I le to the Duke of Millanes campe to my master And there professe beggerie stay thou heere To professe dronkennes and so farewell Ex Fran Gnat Go thou to beggerie I le to the butcherie The prouerbe is true that I tell to you T is better to be dronken and drousie Than hunger starued and lousie Ex Gnatto Enter Annetta and Lucida with their worke in their handes An Come Lucida here let vs sit a while My father is banisht and my husband is fled And that which grieues my hart my brethren poore And we not able for to succor them Lu Good mother cease your plaintes for heere comes one Enter Sempronio Sem Fortunio my master mad in loue Must haue this Lucida or he will die And I supposd to be a worldly man Must be a meane and stale to win his loue But whereas penitent experience pleads for lewd lust The lecher neuer thriues But here bring I the sacred chest of gold Giftes which if prouerbs lie not will tempt the Gods Yonder sits chastitie at beauties feete Madames God speed your works speed your frinds And speed your foes but speed your vertues more Lu welcome honest friend Sem soft first proue mine honestie And heare my message ere you prais me much And this is it A lewd and lustie Lord Traind vp in idlenes hath late beheld faire Lucida And longs to lie with her And hoping by rewards to win her loue He sends this casconet clogd with gold and pearle First to Annetta to make her a baud Next to faire Lucida to make her a whoore But if Annetta be as chast and wise As when she countercheckt Sempronio If Lelios vertue liue in Lucida Returne me backe with strokes and railing wordes Scratch out my eies for bringing lewd attempts But if you meane to trie a tricke of youth And vaine necessitie kils honestie Here take this golde but herewithall receiue A thousand curses from Sempronios ghost This halter to dispatch thee least thy guilt Should breed more dishonor in thy fathers eares Luc Who sent thee fellow to seduce vs thus Sem Fortunio Lucida a mightie man But if true vertue gouerne thy affects Make thou a marble rocke of this white breast Against the sea of euerie loued assault An The strangest message that I euer heard Fortunio shewed but little wit in this To trust his secrets with so seuere a man Sem Why Annetta I haue dealt in honestie I haue discourst my masters minde at large And therein shewed the dutie that I owe Next lyke a councellor and friend besides I giue thee this aduice and therein let thee know How much I honor noble Lelio Ah but when I thinke vpon Sempronio An Why what of him Sem How imperiously he sought to win thy loue An Tell me the rest Stm I cannot choose but weepe amaine Luc Why dydst thou know the man Sem O no not I for I am penitent Experience Madames I know gold cannot conquer you Faire Lucida doth scorne Fortunios lust And for that vertue which I see in both Receiue the gifts I will bestow on you To thee chast madame Lelios best beloued I giue this scalpe and pray thee euerie daie Beholding it to thinke vpon thy end Which sight will so restraine all worldly lust As thou shalt die to sin and liue to God To thee faire Lucida I do present This booke whereon is written Thy fathers pedegree and famous line Each morning when the golden Sunne appeares And glides the mountaine tops peruse it well There reading marke but honor of thy race Take heed least lewdnes do thy fame deface Replie not get you in the Crocodile is cōming forth Here put them in at doore That weeping will deuour you This is the feastiuall of holy Marke Yond come the pompious shew Enter the shew on the Stage Vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas Vaine ceremonies customes of the world This daie our Lordes of Venice wonted bee To sacrifice in triumph to the sea And march in pompe vnto the Arcedan For this great state built in a starrie nooke An angle of the Andrie arctike sea For happinesse and long continuance More blest than Rome it selfe Vaine customes doth obserue But yond come my master and Marchetto forth Now you that long to see the guise of sinne How one makes two and two increaseth foure And sinne in gathering head growes infynite Let him beholde examples in these loues Enter Fortunio and Marchetto For Here comes my cynicall attendance Wee shall haue newes what Lucyda intendes Sem Goe cast thee headlong from a mounttaine top Or in the deepest seas goe drowne thy selfe Goe liue thou wretch among the barbarous beasts Where Italy may neuer heare thy name For vertue vowes to laugh in looking on To see you perish in your peeuishnes For. A dreadfull enterance to a dolfull tale Speake man what newes from Lucyda Sem shee spyes thy poyssoned message in thy face Shee scornes thy gyftes and vowes to hate thee euer To thee lewd lossell fayre Annetta sends A troope of curses chayned with bitter sighes Come Lordes le ts lyghten vs of heauie things There lies my cloake cap now throw your swoordes aside And let vs three lyke fleeting vnycornes Runne blushing through the streets in to the wood There let Fortunio cut Marchettos throat That councelled him to rauish chastytie There penitent experience with his bat Shall beate Fortunios tender wanton sides That sought to spoyle holy virginitie Lastly my selfe will syt and teare my haire And weepe vntil I choake my selfe with wet To see nobilytie so much disguisd For Hence sorrow boding messenger be gone Rage now shall ouer rule discretion Gather thy frends Marchetto follow mee This nyght wee will surprise them in their beds And teach them kyndnes who will learne no loue Mar Here is perfect vallour in a noble man Sem here is perfect villany sprong from thy lyps Exit omnis manet Sempronio Enter one of the Senators with Brishios two sonnes Sen Now gentelmen what seeke you at my hands Orp. My Lord wee hope that for the aunient league Betwixt our Father and your worthie selfe You will vouchsafe somewhat to succour vs. Sem What gentelmen and begeres fye for shame Sep. Pay not our hopes with scornes Our father vsed you better in your wants Sem Thou talkest of matters fortie yeres ago The worlde that 's now differs from that was then Men are more neere and deerer to themselues But if you want a cup of drinke or so Stand at my dore my man shall bring it you Exit Senator Ha ha ha a worldling ryght the poets
censurd by himselfe These for assalting my Fortunio For Fit we to censure wrongs done to our selues I le be their aduocate they must not die Whom hath they wrongd not law for none is slayne They did but punish me If anie wrong were done t was done to these If anie death be due t is due to me Duke By breach of prison they haue forfeted For No my Lord for they were vniustly punished An I pardon thee Fortunio for all thy wrongs For pleading zealously for innocents Lu But if thou keepe my father from the sword I le paie thee further kindnes than I owe. Enter Brishio Bri Preuent not zealous faith you angrie heauens Let raging rigor stay till Brishio come What liue they yet liues Lelio liue my sonnes bound censured prest to die the heads-man heere Come let me make the fourth thou minister Leade me to death with these if these must die Duke How dares thy child Brishio visit vs Fearest thou not law Brish Yes prince I honor law And for the loue I beare to iustice now I come to paie my ransome of contempt And leaue my life in Venice for my crime 2. Sen Thy fault deserues not death The law requires a hundred crowns for penalty froÌ„ thee Bri I haue no crownes my head must be my coine I had one friend and you will rob me of him I haue two sonnes and they are bound to die Thus all my wealth is in your hands my Lords Giue these to me giue me these liuing ioyes For whom I haue aduentured breach of law Then take this hand cut it off for one And take this other cut it off for him But take for this my bodie hart and all Ah Lelio Lelio couldst thou serue me so Sen We looke for monie Brishio not for plaints Lu You shall haue monie heere receiue my dowrie I le paie my grandsires penaltie my selfe Bri No no redeeme the yonger sort let me die Lel Mightie magnificent and gracious lord Why staie you silly soules with dalliance Command these murdering hands to cut my throate And if that iustice florish in this state Pittie my father friend my ioy and weale Bri Call not for death my sonne he cals not thee For pittie Corrodino censure me For if I loose these I must loose my lyfe And if I loose him I loose my soule Then let vs all haue lyfe or lets all die Taxing this state with inhumanitie Du Drawe all these souldiers presently apart The Senators will counsell of these euents Enter Sempronio Sem Let vertue liue let villanie be slaine let Lelio liue for vertue liues in him O pittie thy campe is pitched heere But griefe and sorrow that remaineth here But faith and honestie that remaineth here Come Charitie and lend to me a tong Else Penitent Experience is quite vndone Bri Thou hast a tongue then raue not so Sem I haue no tongue because I cannot shew Nor tell to thee the secrets of my thoughts I haue no speech but such as helpe me not But such as sings thy vertue thy deserts Thy bountie thy true heart thy honestie O were there one could find Sempronio out How might we make a famous comedie Du Shall this conclusion stand you noble peeres Sen Wee ratifie the same by our consent Du Bring forth the prisoners Brishio march thou forth Waying the wondrous working of the heauens We thus conclude That Brishio shall be free from his supposd exile and inioy the goods and fortune he inioyd before We likewise doo release his forward sonnes and pardon their defaults what ere they be We grant the pension of a thousand crownes To Lucida as we haue promised Onely in this our iustice stands in force That Lelio must for murther suffer death Bri Nay my lorde spare all or none wee craue no further grace Sem Let Fortune spite or hate do what she can Here is a knacke to know an honest man Not age not life not sonnes not wealth nor friend Can drawe thee from affecting thy deare friend O let me make the third if Lelio die Hie thee kind charitie lend me a tongue Duke Beare hence the prisoner we dissolue the court Sem Stay suffer Penitent Experience inioy one boone For Dispatch then and tell vs what it is Se Let none but I be executioner to cut off Lelios head Duke We grant thy sute Sem Then giue me this keene sword Since none but Experience Hath power to cut off vertues noble head Thou shalt not die For Do not delude our trust Sem Nor do you condemne a guiltles man O Charitie is come I see him now Enter olde Phillip Du Heads-man dispatch except Sempronio liue Lelio must die Phil Sempronio liues my Lord see where he stands Du Hermit why dalliest thou Sempronio was yong but this is olde Sempronio was dead but he doth liue Her Old Sempronio now is young againe And dead Sempronio now doth liue Beholde him Lelio dost thou know him now Lel Sempronio Sem Ah deare Lelio Her This Lord left dead by shepheards in the field Was found againe and healed thus by me And by my art hauing his haire disguisde He past a solemne oath to hide his name And doo good deeds where he had liued loose Since when cald Penitent Experience He hath remaind and liu'd a pensiue life Speake my Sempronio for I discharge thy vow Tell thou the rest for why my vision Foretolde and promist such an accident As neuer Venice had or sawe the like Sem Sempronio liues and Lelio now must liue Greeu'd for my breach of faith greeu'd for my crime Heere are the tokens of my fatall wounds Which when I eyed Annetta I haue wept To thinke vpon my loose vnbrideled loue Let vs not ioy in words but ioy in hearts And let our armes our tongues discourse imbrace Where our three liues are heard of agen Call them three knackes to finde out honest men Du God wrought these things we do applaud his works See how by mute imbrace these friends imbrace Marke how they whisper in each others eares Their troublous fortunes cares discontents And now loue workes see how Lelio hand in hand Ioynes Sempronio with his Lucida The holy hermit knitteth vp the knot And all applaud this vnitie of peace How now what seekes this maide Enter Phillidae Phil. Pardon for my father Du Comst thou to plead for Seruio Phillida Go fetch him forth ioy shall haue fulnes now Sempronio stand aside we le make some sport Exit Phillida Enter Phillida with her father Seruio Duke Now Seruio for thy forfeit to the state What fine wilt thou affoord for libertie Ser Dread Lord those lands and profits fell to me By deare Sempronios death my neere a kin I frankly giue in lieu of my contempt Du What wilt thou make bequeath of others lands Why man he liues againe Ser First tell me I am dead my Lord. Du Thou must restore to him his goods againe Sâ—r O misery Is he restord to life to take away my goods Command me death nay prisonment and what ye wil So he reuiue not so I meet him not Sem See here the picture of true auarice Where men preferre their goods before their friends How fare you vnkle Ser Iesus blesse me a spirit What cosin Sem I vnkle the same and grieue not to yeeld your kinsman his right Du Nay force perforce he shall restore thy owne Phillida behold thy vnkle liues See my Lords no care of kindred holdeth her She runs to meet Orphinio loue conducteth her Phil Are you returnd my Lord what safe returnd Orp Returnd to keepe my faith with Phillida Du Knit vp that knot within with iollitie And Register record this commoditie Sem Nay stay my Lord before this comicke end Let measure knackes to finde out honest men For all these listning eares would finde them out Who list to know a perfect honest man Shall see his purse still open to the poore His tongue detesting lewd detractions He scornes to grieue the needfull heart with griefe But liues as borne to euerie mans releefe A knaue will gaine by all vnlawfull meanes But good men still their goods by vertue gleanes A knaue makes shift his thrift forsweares and lies An honest man on loue and faith relyes A knaue makes lust his loue respects no friend An honest man for friendship life will spend Oh how I should tire both tong thought and pen To scan out knaues from perfect honest men Point where I list if so my finger light On honestie I sweare I point aright Du Thankes good Sempronio for this worthie skill To register the memorie of this Henceforth where ere this historie is heard The worlde shall praise thee in whose life began The perfect knacke to knowe an honest man Finis