Beggars Bush | Page 3

grace and favour, Makes my life irksome? here, surely take it, And do me but this fruit of all your friendship, That I may dye by you, and not your Hang-man.
Wol. Oh Hubert, these your words and reasons have As well drawn drops of blood from my griev'd heart, As these tears from mine eyes; Despise them not. By all that's sacred, I am serious, Hubert, You now have made me sensible, what furies, Whips, Hangmen, and Tormentors a bad man Do's ever bear about him: let the good That you this day have done, be ever number'd The first of your best actions; Can you think, Where Goswin is or Gerrard, or your love, Or any else, or all that are proscrib'd? I will resign, what I usurp, or have Unjustly forc'd; the dayes I have to live Are too too few to make them satisfaction With any penitence: yet I vow to practise All of a man.
Hub. O that your heart and tongue Did not now differ!
Wol. By my griefs they do not. Take the good pains to search them out: 'tis worth it, You have made clean a Leper: trust me you have, And made me once more fit for the society, I hope of good men.
Hub. Sir, do not abuse My aptness to believe.
Wol. Suspect not you A faith that's built upon so true a sorrow, Make your own safetys: ask them all the ties Humanity can give, Hemskirk too shall Along with you to this so wish'd discovery, And in my name profess all that you promise; And I will give you this help to't: I have Of late receiv'd certain intelligence, That some of them are in or about Bruges To be found out: which I did then interpret, The cause of that Towns standing out against me; But now am glad, it may direct your purpose Of giving them their safety, and me peace.
Hub. Be constant to your goodness, and you have it. [Exeunt.

SCENA II.
Enter 3. Merchants.
1 Mer. 'Tis much that you deliver of this Goswin.
2 Mer. But short of what I could, yet have the Country Confirm'd it true, and by a general oath, And not a man hazard his credit in it: He bears himself with such a confidence As if he were the Master of the Sea, And not a wind upon the Sailers compass, But from one part or other was his factor, To bring him in the best commodities, Merchant e're ventur'd for.
1. 'Tis strange.
2. And yet This do's in him deserve the least of wonder, Compared with other his peculiar fashions, Which all admire: he's young, and rich, at least Thus far reputed so, that since he liv'd In Bruges, there was never brought to harbour So rich a Bottom, but his bill would pass Unquestion'd for her lading.
3 Mer. Yet he still Continues a good man.
2 Mer. So good, that but To doubt him, would be held an injury Or rather malice, with the best that traffique; But this is nothing, a great stock, and fortune, Crowning his judgement in his undertakings May keep him upright that way: But that wealth Should want the power to make him dote on it, Or youth teach him to wrong it, best commends His constant temper; for his outward habit 'Tis suitable to his present course of life: His table furnish'd well, but not with dainties That please the appetite only for their rareness, Or their dear price: nor given to wine or women, Beyond his health, or warrant of a man, I mean a good one: and so loves his state He will not hazard it at play; nor lend Upon the assurance of a well-pen'd Letter, Although a challenge second the denial From such as make th' opinion of their valour Their means of feeding.
1 Mer. These are wayes to thrive, And the means not curs'd.
2 Mer. What follows, this Makes many venturers with him, in their wishes, For his prosperity: for when desert Or reason leads him to be liberal, His noble mind and ready hand contend Which can add most to his free courtesies, Or in their worth, or speed to make them so. Is there a Virgin of good fame wants dower? He is a Father to her; or a Souldier That in his Countreys service, from the war Hath brought home only scars, and want? his house Receives him, and relieves him, with that care As if what he possess'd had been laid up For such good uses, and he steward of it. But I should lose my self to speak him further And stale in my relation, the much good You may be witness of, if your remove From Bruges be not speedy.
1 Mer. This report I do assure you will not