BEAUTY.

Round me richest hues I shed;
Founts, for me your mirrors spread,

Flowers, for me your carpets bright.

[Goes out.

RICH MAN.

Give felicities to me,

Wealth and all that wealth can bring;

For to taste each pleasant thing

I am come the World to see.

WORLD.

And what part dost thou sustain ?

DISCRETION.

Cloistered wisdom I must be.

WORLD.

Cloistered wisdom, take from me
Sackcloth, discipline, and prayer.

[Gives her a scourge and sackcloth.

DISCRETION.

I this wisdom never were,

Did I more accept from thee.

[Goes out.

WORLD.

Hast thou then no part to play,

That thou cravest naught of mine?

INFANT.

No, I need not aught of thine

For the little while I stay.
I shall never see the day,
Nor with thee shall I abide
Longer time than while I glide
From one dark and prison room

To another; and a tomb

Can not be of thee denied.

WORLD.

What dost thou seek, fellow, say?

[Goes out.

HUSBANDMAN.

What I gladly would forego.

WORLD.

Pray, no more; your paper show.

HUSBANDMAN.

What if I should answer, Nay?

WORLD.

From your mien infer I may
That as rude and clownish hind

You your bread shall seek and find.

Of that kingly majesty ;

Those bright hues comes not to me; Gold nor jewels I demand,

But rags only at thy hand.

WORLD.

But what part may thy part be?

BEGGAR.

It is utter wretchedness,

Want and weariness and ill,
"Tis to bear and suffer still,

It is anguish and distress,
All calamities to know,
To make trial of all wo;
Importuning, oh harsh task!
Always to have all to ask,
Nothing ever to bestow.

"Tis contempt and wrong and scorn,

It is mockery and blame,

It is insult, it is shame,

It is everything forlorn;

Grief that ever one was born,

It is squalor, infamy,

Tatters, filth, and beggary,

Want of all things, and no less
Hunger, cold, and nakedness;
For all this is poverty.

WORLD.

But I will not give thee aught;

For who beggar plays with me,
Him I nothing give in fee;
And it rather is my thought

Of these rags to leave thee naught

On thy back; for so I will,

Being world, my charge fulfil.

[Strips him.

BEGGAR.

[Goes out.

So this base world evermore

Clothes him that was clothed before,

But the bare makes barer still.

WORLD.

Since the stage is now supplied
With its motley company,

For I there a monarch see

With his kingdoms broad and wide,
And a beauty that with pride
Of her charms all senses awes,
Great men having great applause,
Clownish hinds and beggars bare,
Or who in still cloisters fare,
All brought forward for this cause
That the persons they may play
Of this present comedy,
To whom I a stage supply,

Fit adornments and array,