_Avar._ Stick hard to it, good, sweet lady Compassion! We are all else undone, by Cock's bitter passion!
_Miser._ Verity! how say you? have I not spoken well?
_Ver._ Mercy in one place with Justice sometime may dwell, And right well agree together--how say you, Peace?
_Pax._ Where all thing is well amended, I do increase.
_Nem._ Ladies, we have heard all your discreet advises; And each one shall have some part of your devises. Neither all nor none shall taste of severity But as they are now known through lady Verity; So shall they receive our mercy or our ire, As the wealth of Respublica shall best require. Now, Adulation! what sayeth you in this case?
_Adul._ Nought in mine excuse, but submit me to your grace. Only this: I promise, if I may Mercy find, Utterly for ever to change my wicked mind; I ne'er sought afore mine own private gain so much, But I will further Commonweal's ten times so much.
_Nem._ Well, thou mayest become a worthy subject, it is plain.
_Adul._ Else ye know at all times how to reach me again.
_Nem._ Thou mightest swerve of frailty, thou might'st do to please; Thou might'st do for fear, thou might'st do to live in ease; Well, upon thy promise, for once we pardon thee. Go, and see that from henceforth thou be perfect Honesty!
_Adul._ So long as shall please God to give me life and heale, I shall most duly serve God and the Commonweal. Now to thee, Avarice; have at thy petticoat!
_Nem._ Now the plague of commonweals, as all men do note: Come forth, Avarice! to spare thee will be no boot; Thou must be plucked up, e'en by the very root, Because thou scraped'st up whatever thou might'st get.
_Avar._ Indeed, I thank God there is no man in my debt!
_Nem._ And, because thou caught'st it by wrong contribution, Thou shalt first and foremost make restitution.
_Avar._ Let me then, with pardon, go hence about it lightly.
_Nem._ No! ye shall have help to see it done uprightly. People, take this fellow--
_Nem._ --that he may be pressed as men do press a sponge; That he may drop aught, t' every man his lot, To the utmost farthing that he hath falsely got.
_People._ An ye bid me, chill squeeze him as dry as a kyx.
_Avar._ Nay, the pash of God! I shall then die of the flix.
_Nem._ Nay! thou shalt deliver him to the head officer Which hath authority, justice to minister.