His double disticke 20 Seemes prettily too to stay superfluous longings:
"Not to have want, what riches doth exceede? Not to be subject, what
superiour thing? He that to nought aspires, doth nothing neede; Who
breakes no law is subject to no King." 25 _Mail._ This goes to mine eare
well, I promise you. _Chal._ O, but tis passing hard to stay one thus.
_Cler._ Tis so; rancke custome raps men so beyond it. And as tis hard so
well mens dores to barre To keepe the cat out and th'adulterer: 30 So
tis as hard to curbe affections so Wee let in nought to make them
over-flow. And as of Homers verses, many critickes On those stand of
which times old moth hath eaten The first or last feete, and the perfect
parts 35 Of his unmatched poeme sinke beneath, With upright gasping and
sloath dull as death: So the unprofitable things of life, And those we
cannot compasse, we affect; All that doth profit and wee have, neglect,
40 Like covetous and basely getting men That, gathering much, use never
what they keepe; But for the least they loose, extreamely weepe. _Mail._
This prettie talking, and our horses walking Downe this steepe hill,
spends time with equall profit. 45 _Cler._ Tis well bestow'd on ye;
meate and men sicke Agree like this and you: and yet even this Is th'end
of all skill, power, wealth, all that is. _Chal._ I long to heare, sir,
how your mistresse takes this. _Enter Aumal with a cabinet._ _Mail._ Wee
soone shall know it; see Aumall return'd. 50 _Aumale._ Ease to your
bands, sir! _Cler._ Welcome, worthy friend! _Chal._ How tooke his
noblest mistresse your sad message? _Aum._ As great rich men take
sodaine povertie. I never witness'd a more noble love, Nor a more
ruthfull sorrow: I well wisht 55 Some other had beene master of my
message. _Mail._ Y'are happy, sir, in all things, but this one Of your
unhappy apprehension. _Cler._ This is to mee, compar'd with her much
mone, As one teare is to her whole passion. 60
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