Bag.
I hope this day is fatal unto some,
And by their loss must Bagot seek to gain.
This is the lodging of master Frescobald^{3 note},
A liberal merchant, and a Florentine;
To whom Banister owes a thousand pound,

A merchant-bankrupt, whose father was my master.
What do I care for pity or regard?
He once was wealthy, but he now is fallen;
And I this morning have got him arrested
At suit of this same master Frescobald;
And by this means shall I be sure of coin,
For doing this same good to him unknown:
And in good time, see where the merchant comes. Enter Frescobald.
Good morrow to kind master Frescobald.

Fres.
Good morrow to yourself, good master Bagot:
And what's the news, you are so early stirring?
It is for gain, I make no doubt of that.

Bag.
'Tis for the love, sir, that I bear to you.
When did you see your debtor Banister?

Fres.
I promise you, I have not seen the man
This two months day^{4 note}: his poverty is such,
As I do think he shames to see his friends.

Bag.
Why then assure yourself to see him straight,
For at your suit I have arrested him,
And here they will be with him presently.

Fres.
Arrest him at my suit? you were to blame.
I know the man's misfortunes to be such,
As he's not able for to pay the debt;
And were it known to some, he were undone.

Bag.
This is your pitiful heart to think it so;
But you are much deceiv'd in Banister.
Why, such as he will break for fashion-sake,
And unto those they owe a thousand pound,
Pay scarce a hundred. O, sir, beware of him.
The man is lewdly given to dice and drabs;

Spends all he hath in harlots' companies:
It is no mercy for to pity him.
I speak the truth of him, for nothing else,
But for the kindness that I bear to you.

Fres.
If it be so, he hath deceiv'd me much;
And to deal strictly with such a one as he^{5 note}

Ban.
O, master Frescobald, you have undone me.
My state was well-nigh overthrown before;
Now altogether down-cast by your means.

Mrs. Ban.
O, master Frescobald, pity my husband's case.
He is a man hath liv'd as well as any,
Till envious Fortune and the ravenous sea
Did rob, disrobe, and spoil us of our own.

Fres.
Mistress Banister, I envy not your husband,
Nor willingly would I have us'd him thus,
But that I hear he is so lewdly given;
Haunts wicked company, and hath enough
To pay his debts, yet will not be known thereof^{6 note}
.

Ban.
This is that damned broker, that same Bagot,
Whom I have often from my trencher fed.
Ungrateful villain for to use me thus!

Bag.
What I have said to him is nought but truth.

Mrs. Ban.
What thou hast said springs from an envious heart:
A cannibal, that doth eat men alive!
But here upon my knee believe me, sir,
(And what I speak, so help me God, is true,)
We scarce have meat to feed our little babes.
Most of our plate is in that broker's hand:
Which, had we money to defray our debts,
O think, we would not 'bide that penury.
Be merciful, kind master Frescobald;
My husband, children, and myself will eat
But one meal a day; the other will we keep,
And sell, as part to pay the debt we owe you^{7 note}.
If ever tears did pierce a tender mind,
Be pitiful; let me some favour find.

Fres.
Go to, I see thou art an envious man.
Good mistress Banister, kneel not to me;
I pray rise up; you shall have your desire.
Hold officers; be gone; there's for your pains.
You know you owe to me a thousand pound:
Here, take my hand; if e'er God make you able,
And place you in your former state again,
Pay me; but yet if still your fortune frown,
Upon my faith I'll never ask a crown.
I never yet did wrong to men in thrall,
For God doth know what to myself may fall.

Ban.
This unexpected favour, undeserv'd,
Doth make my heart bleed inwardly with joy.
Ne'er may aught prosper with me is my own^{8 note},
If I forget this kindness you have shown.

Mrs. Ban.
My children in their prayers, both night and day,
For your good fortune and success shall pray.

Fres.
I thank you both; I pray go dine with me.
Within these three days, if God give me leave,
I will to Florence, to my native home.
Hold, Bagot, there's a portague to drink^{9 note}

Bag.
A plague go with you! would you had eat your last!
Is this the thanks I have for all my pains?
Confusion light upon you all for me!
Where he had wont to give a score of crowns,
Doth he now foist me with a portague?
Well, I will be reveng'd upon this Banister.
I'll to his creditors; buy all the debts he owes,
As seeming that I do it for good will;
I am sure to have them at an easy rate:
And when 'tis done, in Christendom he stays not,
But I'll make his heart to ake with sorrow.
And if that Banister become my debtor,
By heaven and earth I'll make his plague the greater. [Exit.

Previous section