PRIEST. That am I, father, that use the word of God, And live only by the heavenly manna.
BAILIFF. Who? the Priest? Give ear, my son, I have a lesson yet in store for thee. Thou must, my son, make show of holiness; And blind the world with thy hypocrisy; And sometime give a penny to the poor, But let it be in the church or market-place, That men may praise thy liberality. Speak against usury, yet forsake no pawns, So thou may'st gain three shillings in the pound. Warn thou the world from sin and vile excess, And now and then speak against drunkenness: So by this means thou shalt be termed wise, And with thy pureness blind the people's eyes. But now, my sons, discourse to me in brief How you have lived, and how you mean to die.
CONEYCATCHER. Then, father, thus I live that use my wit: Unto myself I love still to be wise; For when I am driven to shift for meat or coin, Or gay apparel to maintain me brave, Then do I flaunt it out about the 'Change, As if I were some landed gentleman; And, falling in with some rich merchant there, I take commodities for six months' day: The bill being made, I must set to my hand; Then, if I pay not, they may burn the band.[296]
FARMER. Then, father, hark how I have profited-- Walter, your son that keeps the country-- I have raised the markets and oppress'd the poor, And made a thousand go from door to door. And why did I, think you, use this extremity? Because I would have corn enough to feed the enemy. Father, you know we have but a while to live, Then, while we live, let each man shift for one; For he that cannot make shift in the world, They say he's unworthy to live in it: And he that lives must still increase his store, For he that hath most wealth of all desireth more.
PERIN. Brethren, you have spoken well, I must needs say; But now give ear to me, that keeps the court. Father, I live as Aristippus did, And use my wits to flatter with the king. If any in private conference name the king, I straight inform his grace they envy him. Did Sinon live, with all his subtlety He could not tell a flattering tale more cunningly. Sometime I move the king to be effeminate, And spend his time with some coy courtesan. Thus with the king I curry favour still, Though with my heart I wish him any ill: And sometime I can counterfeit his hand And seal, and borrow money of the commonalty; And thus I live and flaunt it with the best, And dice and card inferior unto none: And none dares speak against me in the court, Because they know the king doth favour me.