_Alc._ Friend, thou speakest Hebrew to him when thou talkest to him of conscience; for he hath as much conscience about the forfeit of an obligation, as my blind mare, God bless her, hath over a manger of oats.
_Usurer._ Come to-morrow to me, and see how I will use thee.
_Thras._ No, covetous caterpillar, know that I have made extreme shift rather than I would fall into the hands of such a ravening panther; and therefore here is thy money, and deliver me the recognisance of my lands.
_Usurer_ [_aside_]. What a spite is this!--hath sped of his crowns! If he had missed but one half hour, what a goodly farm had I gotten for forty pounds! Well, 'tis my cursed fortune. O, have I no shift to make him forfeit his recognisance?
_Thras._ Come, sir, will you despatch and tell your money? [_It strikes four o'clock._
_Usurer_ [_aside_]. Stay, what is this o'clock? four;--let me see--"to be paid between the hours of three and four in the afternoon": this goes right for me.--You, sir, hear you not the clock, and have you not a counterpane[70] of your obligation? The hour is past, it was to be paid between three and four; and now the clock hath strucken four: I will receive none, I'll stand to the forfeit of the recognisance.
_Thras._ Why, sir, I hope you do but jest; why, 'tis but four, and will you for a minute take forfeit of my bond? If it were so, sir, I was here before four.
_Usurer._ Why didst thou not tender thy money then? if I offer thee injury, take the law of me, complain to the judge: I will receive no money.
_Alc._ Well, sir, I hope you will stand my good master for my cow. I borrowed thirty shillings on her, and for that I have paid you eighteen-pence a week, and for her meat you have had her milk, and I tell you, sir, she gives a pretty sup: now, sir, here is your money.
_Usurer._ Hang, beggarly knave! comest to me for a cow? did I not bind her bought and sold for a penny, and was not thy day to have paid yesterday? Thou gettest no cow at my hand.
_Alc._ No cow, sir! alas, that word "no cow" goes as cold to my heart as a draught of small drink in a frosty morning! "No cow," sir! Why, alas, alas, Master Usurer, what shall become of me, my wife, and my poor child?
_Usurer._ Thou gettest no cow of me, knave! I cannot stand prating with you; I must be gone.