_Lawyer._ Fear not, man. But what is thy wife's privy fault?
_Alc._ Truly, sir, that's a thing of nothing; alas, she, indeed, sir-reverence of your mastership, doth use to break wind in her sleep.--O, sir, here comes the Judge, and the old caitiff the Usurer.
_Enter the_ Judge, _attended, and the_ Usurer.
_Usurer._ Sir, here is forty angels for you, and if at any time you want a hundred pound or two, 'tis ready at your command, or the feeding of three or four fat bullocks: whereas these needy slaves can reward with nothing but a cap and a knee; and therefore I pray you, sir, favour my case.
_Judge._ Fear not, sir, I'll do what I can for you.
_Usurer._ What, Master Lawyer, what make you here? mine adversary for these clients?
_Usurer._ I know you know the old proverb, "He is not wise that is not wise for himself": I would not be disgraced in this action; therefore here is twenty angels; say nothing in the matter, or what you say, say to no purpose, for the Judge is my friend.
_Lawyer._ Let me alone, I'll fit your purpose.
_Judge._ Come, where are these fellows that are the plaintiffs? what can they say against this honest citizen our neighbour, a man of good report amongst all men?
_Alc._ Truly, Master Judge, he is a man much spoken of; marry, every man's cries are against him, and especially we; and therefore I think we have brought our Lawyer to touch him with as much law as will fetch his lands and my cow with a pestilence.
_Thras._ Sir, I am the other plaintiff, and this is my counsellor: I beseech your honour be favourable to me in equity.
_Judge._ O, Signor Mizaldo, what can you say in this gentleman's behalf?
_Lawyer._ Faith, sir, as yet little good.--Sir, tell you your own case to the Judge, for I have so many matters in my head, that I have almost forgotten it.
_Thras._ Is the wind in that door? Why then, my lord, thus. I took up of this cursed Usurer, for so I may well term him, a commodity of forty pounds, whereof I received ten pound in money, and thirty pound in lute-strings, whereof I could by great friendship make but five pounds: for the assurance of this bad commodity I bound him my land in recognisance: I came at my day, and tendered him his money, and he would not take it: for the redress of my open wrong I crave but justice.