SCENE IV.
The same.
A room in Cromwell's house.
Enter the Usher, and the Sewer7 note. Several servants cross the stage with dishes in their hands.
Ush.
Uncover there, gentlemen.
-- 427 --
Enter Cromwell, Bedford, Suffolk, old Cromwell, Frescobald, Seely, and Attendants.
Crom.
My noble lords of Suffolk and of Bedford,
Your honours are welcome to poor Cromwell's house.
Where is my father? nay, be cover'd, father;
Although that duty to these noblemen
Doth challenge it, yet I'll make bold with them.
Your head doth bear the calendar of care.
What! Cromwell cover'd, and his father bare?
It must not be.—Now, sir, to you: is not
Your name Frescobald, and a Florentine?
Fres.
My name was Frescobald, till cruel fate
Did rob me of my name, and of my state.
Crom.
What fortune brought you to this country now?
Fres.
All other parts have left me succourless,
Save only this. Because of debts I have,
I hope to gain for to relieve my want.
Crom.
Did you not once upon your Florence bridge
Help a distress'd man, robb'd by the banditti?
His name was Cromwell.
Fres.
I ne'er made my brain
A calendar of any good I did:
I always lov'd this nation with my heart.
Crom.
I am that Cromwell that you there reliev'd8 note.
Sixteen ducats you gave me for to cloath me,
-- 428 --
Sixteen to bear my charges by the way,
And sixteen more I had for my horse-hire.
There be those several sums justly return'd:
Yet it injustice were, that serving at
My need, to repay thee without interest9 note
:
Therefore receive of me four several bags;
In each of them there is four hundred marks:
And bring to me the names of all your debtors;
And if they will not see you paid, I will.
O God forbid that I should see him fall,
That help'd me in my greatest need of all.
Here stands my father that first gave me life;
Alas, what duty is too much for him?
This man in time of need did save my life;
I therefore cannot do too much for him.
By this old man I oftentimes was fed,
Else might I have gone supperless to bed.
Such kindness have I had of these three men,
That Cromwell no way can repay again.
Now in to dinner, for we stay too long;
And to good stomachs is no greater wrong.
[Exeunt.
Edmond Malone [1780], Supplement to the edition of Shakspeare's plays published in 1778 By Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. In two volumes. Containing additional observations by several of the former commentators: to which are subjoined the genuine poems of the same author, and seven plays that have been ascribed to him; with notes By the editor and others (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10911].
