A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 60

POLICY, POMP, _The three Lords of London_.

PLEASURE,

WIT, WEALTH, _Their Pages_.

WILL,

NEMO, _a grave old man_.

LOVE, LUCRE, _Three Ladies of London_.

CONSCIENCE,

HONEST INDUSTRY, PURE ZEAL, _Three Sages_.

SINCERITY,

PRIDE, AMBITION, _Three Lords of Spain_.

TYRANNY,

SHAME, TREACHERY, _Their Pages_.

TERROR,

DESIRE, DELIGHT, _Three Lords of Lincoln_.

DEVOTION,

SORROW, _a Jailor_.

SIMPLICITY, _a poor Freeman of London_.

PAINFUL PENURY, _his Wife_.

DILIGENCE, _a Post or an Officer_.

FEALTY, _Two Heralds-at-Arms_.

SHEALTY,

FRAUD, USURY, _Four Gallants_.

DISSIMULATION, SIMONY,

FALSEHOOD, _Two that belong to_ FRAUD _and_ DISSIMULATION.

DOUBLE-DEALING.

THE PLEASANT AND STATELY MORAL

OF

THE THREE LORDS OF LONDON.

_Enter the three Lords and their Pages: first_ POLICY, _with his Page_ WIT _before him, bearing a s.h.i.+eld; the impress a tortoise, the word_ Providens securus: _next_ POMP, _with his Page_ WEALTH _bearing his s.h.i.+eld, the word_ Glory sans peere; _the impress a lily; last_, PLEASURE, _his Page_ WILL, _his impress a falcon; the word_ Pour Temps. POLICY _attired in black_, POMP _in rich robes, and_ PLEASURE _in colours_.

POLICY Here I advance my s.h.i.+eld and hang it up, To challenge him who ever dare deny That one of those three London ladies rare Ought not of right be match'd with Policy, A London lord, the which I represent.

POMP.

And Pomp provides his challenge in his word, _Glory sans peere_, claiming the one of them, Not by compulsion, but by common right.

Yet, maugre men, my s.h.i.+eld is here advanc'd For one matchless. A London lady best Beseemeth Pomp, a London lord, to have.

PLEASURE.

Pleasure hath soar'd, as doth his impress show, To look aloof on earthly ladies all.

And never could my curious eye discern A dame of worth for London Pleasure's love, But one, and she doth s.h.i.+ne as silver dove.

Of self-bred soil, of London is her race; For whom in challenge I my s.h.i.+eld advance.

POLICY.

Thus each in honour of his mistress, And in regard of his well-daring mind, Hath here empris'd the challenge of his right.

But, lords.h.i.+ps both and brethren bred and sworn, A caution must be had in this conceit, That all our thoughts aspire not to one heaven, Nor all our s.h.i.+ps do sail for one self haven; I mean, that all our suits and services We tend and tender to one only dame, All choosing one, refusing th'other two.

POMP.

A great mislike amongst us that might breed.

PLEASURE.

I seek but one, and her unto myself.

POMP.

And one I wish sans partner of my love.

POLICY.

It stands with honour to be sole or none.

POMP.

Whom lovest thou, Pleasure?

PLEASURE.

Hark ye. [_Whisper in his ear_.

POMP.

Tus.h.!.+ ye lie.

WILL.

If my master were a soldier, that word would have the stab.

WIT.

Well, Will, still you'll be a saucy scab.

POMP.

Why, Pleasure, hath Pomp[231] chosen Lucre's love?

PLEASURE.

Why, Pomp, but [because] Pleasure honours Lucre most.

POLICY.