_Avar._ An honest mome! ah, ye dolt! ye lout! ye noddy! Shall Respublica hear your commendation By the name of Flattery or Adulation? Or, when ye commend me to her, will ye say this: Forsooth! his name is Avarice or Covetise? And you, that should have wit, is't your discretion Bluntly to go forth, and be called Oppression? And you, Insolence! do ye think it would well frame If ye were presented to her under that name?
_Insol._ I thought nothing thereupon, by my halidom!
_Oppr._ My mind was another way, by my christendom!
_Adul._ That thing was le[a]st part of my thought, by Saint Denis!
_Avar._ No marry! your minds were all on your halfpenny. But, my masters! I must on mine honesty pass, And not run on 'head, like a brute beast or an ass. For is not Oppression eachwhere sore hated? And is not Flattery openly rebated? And am not I, Avarice, still cried out upon?
_Adul._ Yes! I could have told you that, a great while agone; But I would not displease you.
_Avar._ And you, Insolence! I have heard you ill-spoken of a great way hence.
_Adul._ In my conscience! the devil himself doth love you.
_Avar._ But changing your ill-name, fewer shall reprove you-- As I, mine ownself, where my name is known Am right sore assailed, to be overthrown. But doing, as I will now, counterfeit my name, I speed all my purposes, and yet escape blame.
_Insol._ Let us then have new names, each man, without delay.
_Avar._ Else will some of you make hanging stuff one day.
_Avar._ Faith, sir! your name shall be Mounsire Authority.
_Oppr._ And, for me, what is your determination?
_Avar._ Marry, sir! ye shall be called Reformation.
_Adul._ Now, I pray you, devise for me an honest name.
_Avar._ Thou art such a beast, I cannot, for very shame!
_Adul._ If ye think good, let me be called Policy.
_Avar._ Policy--a rope ye shall! nay, Hypocrisy!
_Adul._ Fie! that were as slanderous a name a[s] Flattery.
_Avar._ And I keep for myself the name of Policy. But, if I devise for thee, wilt thou not shame me?
_Adul._ Nay! I will make thee proud of me; or, else, blame me!
_Avar._ Well, then, for this time, thy name shall be Honesty.
_Adul._ I thank you, Avarice! Honesty, Honesty!
_Avar._ Avarice, ye whoreson! Policy, I tell thee!
_Adul._ I thank you, Policy! Honesty, Honesty! How say you, Insolence? I am now Honesty.