RICH MAN.

Oh how that voice wearies me.

BEGGAR.

Oh how that voice me consoles.

DISCRETION.

To these gardens comes the king.

RICH MAN.

How it grieves my haughty soul To do homage here.

BEAUTY.

Myself

I will place the king before,
To make trial if my beauty
Him may in its nets enfold.

HUSBANDMAN.

I will place myself behind him,
Lest he see me, and impose

Some new tax upon the peasant:
I expect no favor more.

Enter the KING.

KING.

Of whate'er the sun illumines,

Of whate'er the sea enfolds,

I am master absolute,

I am the undoubted lord.
Vassals of my sceptre all
Bow themselves where'er I go.
What do I need in the world?

LAW OF GRACE.

To do well; for God is God.

WORLD.

She to each and all in turn

Still the best suggests and prompts.

BEGGAR.

From my depth of desolation
I unhappy must behold

Blisses, which are all for others.
Thus the king, the supreme lord,
Glories in his regal state,
Nor the want remembers once
That I feel thus too the lady,
On her charms attent alone,
Knows not, guesses not, if anguish
In the world is, want or wo.
The recluse, who unto prayer
Is addicted evermore,

If she serve God well, at least
With some comfort serveth God.
Nay, the husbandman, when weary

He returns from labor home,
Finds a decent board prepared him,
If it be no sumptuous board.
To the rich man all abounds;
And in all the world alone
Must I stand in need of all..
Therefore I to all approach,
For without me they can well
Live, but I without them no.
Of the lady I will venture

First to ask. -For love of God,
Give an alms!

BEAUTY.

Ye crystal streams,

Which my mirrors are, report

What adornments best become me

How my tresses seemliest flow.

BEGGAR.

Dost thou not perceive me?

WORLD.

Fool!

Seest thou not thy pains are lost?

How should she remember thee,

Who her own self has forgot?

BEGGAR.

Since thy wealth exceeds all measure,

On my needs an alms bestow.

RICH MAN.

Are there, then, no gates to knock at? Enterest thou my presence so?

But thou mightst at least have called, Fellow, at the outer door,

Nor have pushed in boldly here!

BEGGAR.

Do not so much harshness show.

RICH MAN.

You are troublesome-away!

BEGGAR.

Will he not one alms afford,
Who so much has prodigally

On his pleasures lavished?

RICH MAN.

No!

WORLD.

Dives here and Lazarus

Of the parable behold!

BEGGAR.

Since my want and extreme need
No respect nor reason own,
I will sue the king himself:
Sire, on me an alms bestow.

KING.

A lord-almoner for this

I have named. What can I more?

WORLD.

With his ministers the king

Lulls his conscience to repose.

BEGGAR.

Husbandman, since thou receivest,
Through the blessing of the Lord,
For each grain to earth committed
Such an increase manifold,

My necessity from thee

Craves an alms.

HUSBANDMAN.

"Tis at the cost

Of good sowing, ploughing, sweating, If I such receive of God.

Tell me, are you not ashamed,

A huge fellow, tall and strong,
This way begging? Work, I say;
Live not idle like a rogue!

If indeed to eat you have not,
Take this mattock, then, and go-
You may earn your bread with it.

BEGGAR.

In the play we act belongs

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