NATURE

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John Stephen Farmer

A goodly Interlude of Nature, compiled by
Master HENRY MEDWALL

CHAPLAIN TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD
JOHN MORTON

SOMETIME CARDINAL AND ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

The Names of the Players:

  • Nature
  • Man
  • Reason
  • Sensuality
  • Innocency
  • Worldly Affection
  • Bodily Lust
  • Wrath
  • Envy
  • Sloth
  • Gluttony
  • Humility
  • Charity
  • Abstinence
  • Liberality
  • Garcon
  • Chastity
  • Good Occupation
  • Shamefacedness
  • Mundus
  • Patience
  • Pride

Cum Privilegio

NATURE

First cometh in Mundus, and sitteth down, and saith nothing; and with him Worldly Affection, bearing a gown and cap and a girdle for Man.

Then cometh in Nature, Man, Reason, and Innocency; and Nature sitteth down and saith.

Nature. Th' almighty God that made each creature,
 As well in heaven as other place earthly,
 By His wise ordinance hath purveyed me, Nature,
 To be as minister, under Him immediately,
 For th' encheson that I should, perpetually,
 His creatures in such degree maintain
 As it hath pleased His grace for them to ordain.
To me it longeth, by natural engendure,
 Thing to continue that hath spirit of life;
 Which, nor were my help, should never endure,
 But suddenly perish and wax all caitiff.
 Atwixt th' elements, that whilom were at strife,
 I have suaged the old repugnance
 And knit them together, in manner of alliance.
Eke, I have ordained the goddess Diane,
 Lady of the sea and every fresh fountain,
 Which commonly decreaseth when she ginneth wane,
 And waxeth abundant when she creaseth again.
 Of ebb and flood she is cause certain;
 And reigneth, as princess, in every isle and town
 That with the sea is compassed environ.
I am causer of such impression
 As appeareth wondrous to man's sight:
 As of flames that, from the starry region,
 Seemeth to fall in times of the night;
 Some shoot sidelong, and some down right:
 Which causeth the ignorant to stand in dread
 That stars do fall, yet falleth there none indeed.
What needeth it to speak of things here below?
 As fowls, beasts, and fishes in their kind;
 Of trees, herbs, and stones, how they grow.
 In which, men sundry and many virtuous find
 One thing, be ye sure, and think it in your mind:
 No manner creature may take on him the cure
 Of these works, but only I, Nature.
And, plainly, there is in earth no manner thing
 That is not partner of my influence;
 I do provide, for every beast living,
 Of natural food always sufficience;
 And give them, also, a manner of prudence
 Whereby they may naturally ensue
 Thing that is delectable, and th' other eschew.
Who taught the cock his watch hours to observe,
 And sing of courage with shrill throat on high?
 Who taught the pelican her tender heart to carve
 For she nold suffer her birds to die?
 Who taught the nightingale to record, busily,
 Her strange entunes in silence of the night?
 Certes! I, Nature, and none other wight.
But if that I should clepe to memory
 Each strange effect, and every great marvel
 That I have caused, I ensure you faithfully
 That rather time than process should me fail.
 It were your pain, and to me but travail
 All such matters as now to bring in place;
 Wherefore, I let pass them till other time and space.
But, if ye covet now to know th' effect
 Of things natural, by true conclusion,
 Counsel with Aristotle, my philosopher elect;
 Which hath left in books of his tradition
 How every thing, by heavenly constellation,
 Is brought to effect; and, in what manner wise,
 As far as man's wit may naturally comprise.
Wherefore, sith God, of His great largesse
 Hath thus enriched me with dower of His grace,
 And made me, as who saith, a worldly goddess,
 Of duty I can no less do in this case
 But with heart's joy and entire solace
 Myself address to do His high pleasures,
 And to this same move all other creatures.
Enforce you, therefore, His creatures each one
 To honour your Maker with humble obeisance—
 Namely, thou man! I speak to thee alone
 Before all other, as chief of His creance.
 Think how He hath made thee this semblance;
 Pluck up thine heart, and hold thine head upright;
 And evermore have heaven in thy sight.
 Ovid in his book, cleped The Transformation,
 Among all other his fables and poesies
 Maketh special mention of thy creation;
 Showing how God wondrously gan devise
 When He thee made, and gave to thee th' emprise
 Of all this world, and feoffed thee with all
 As chief possessioner of things mortal.
 In token whereof He gave thee upright visage;
 And gave thee in commandment to lift thine eye
 Up toward heaven, only for that usage
 Thou shouldest know Him for thy Lord Almighty,
 All other beasts as things unworthy;
 To behold th' earth with grovelling countenance;
 And be subdued to thine obeisance.
 But, as touching the cause specially
 Wherefore I have ordained thee this night to appear,
 It is to put thee in knowledge and memory
 To what intent thou art ordained to be here.
 I let thee wit thou art a passenger
 That hast to do a great and long voyage,
 And through the world must be thy passage.
 Address thyself now towards this journey;
 For, as now thou shalt no longer here abide,
 Lo! here Reason to govern thee in thy way,
 And Sensuality upon thine other side.
 But Reason I depute to be thy chief guide,
 With Innocency that is thy tender nourice;
 Evermore to wean thee from th' appetite of vice.
Man. O Lord of Lords, my Lord God immortal!
 To Thee be honour and joy ever to endure;
 Whose heavenly empire shall never be final,
 But world without end remain stable and sure;
 Whom heaven and hell and earthly creature,
 With one assent, and all with one accord,
 Honoureth, praiseth, and knowledgeth for their Lord.
 To Thee mine head I humbly incline,
 Thanking Thy grace that first hast ordained me
 To be as a silly creature of Thine;
 And, after that, of Thy great bounty
 Thou hast me set in sovereign degree,
 And given me the profits of every earthly thing,
 As well of fruits as of beasts living;
 And that, that is also most precious,
 Thou hast me inspired with heavenly wisdom,
 Whereby I may do works marvellous.
 In every place, wheresoever I come,
 Of each perfection Thy grace hath lent me some;
 So that I know that creature nowhere
 Of whose virtue I am not partner.
 I have, as hath each other element
 Among other in this world, a common being;
 With herbs and trees continual nourishment
 That is sufficient to natural living;
 With sensual beasts I have a manner of knowing
 Whereby I should in good things delight,
 And flee the contrary of mine appetite.
 And, over all this, Thou hast given me virtue
 Surmounting all other in high perfection:
 That is, understanding, whereby I may aview
 And well discern what is to be done;
 Yet, for all that, have I free election
 [To] do what I will, be it evil or well;
 And am put in the hand of mine own counsel.
 And, in this point, I am half angelic;
 Unto Thy heavenly spirits almost egal;
 Albeit in some part I be to them unlike.
 For, they be ordained to endure perpetual;
 And I, wretched body! shall have my funeral
 When it pleaseth Thy grace so to provide:
 Man is not ordained alway here to abide.
 Wherefore, unto Thy sovereign and high estate,
 Most heavenly prince! I make mine orison
 Sith it hath pleased Thy noble grace algate
 That I, unworthy of so great renown,
 In this world shall have possession:
 Thou give me grace myself to enure
 As may me profit, and be to Thy pleasure.
Nature. God hath heard thy prayer, Mankind, no doubt,
 In all thy requests and right full petition.
 Now, forth thy journey! and look well about
 That thou be not deceived by false prodition.
 Let Reason thee govern in every condition;
 For, if thou do not to his rule incline,
 It will be to thy great mischief and ruin.
 I wot well Sensuality is to thee natural,
 And granted to thee in thy first creation.
 But, notwithstanding, it ought to be over all
 Subdued to Reason, and under his tuition.
 Thou hast now liberty, and needest no main-mission;
 And, if thou aband thee to passions sensual,
 Farewell thy liberty! thou shalt wax thrall.
Sensuality. What, lady Nature! have I none intress
 As well as Reason or Innocency?
 Think ye this, lady! a good process
 That they are advanced and I let go by?
 Ye know right well that I ought naturally,
 Before all other, to have of him the cure:
 I am the chief perfection of his nature.
 Alas! what could the silly body do?
 Or, how should it live nor were the help of me?
 Certes! it could not well creep nor go;
 At the leastwise it should neither feel here nor see,
 But be as other insensate bodies be;
 In much worse case than worms of the ground
 In which unneth any token of life is found.
 Meseemeth it should abhor him for to hear
 That I destrained should be in any wise,
 Standing that I was create to be his fere;
 Of all his guiding to take the enterprise:
 And now ye put me out of his service,
 And have assigned Reason to be his guide—
 With Innocency, his nourice, thus am I set aside.
 Ye clepe him lord of all beasts living;
 And nothing worthy, as far as I can see.
 For, if there be in him no manner of feeling,
 Nor no lively quickness, what lord is he?
 A lord made of clouts, or carved out of tree;
 And fareth as an image graved out of stone
 That nothing else can do but stand alone.
 If ye intend him to continue long
 In honour, or worldly felicity,
 He must needs follow his appetite among;
 And conform himself to the more part.
 I tell you men will have no dinty
 To do service or homage to a block:
 All the world will think it but a mock.
 Suffer me, therefore, to have with him a room,
 And to be with him as chief counsell[or];
 And if he do so, I think to doom
 He shall reign in the world as chief governor.
 But, if Reason tickle him in the ear,
 Or bear him on hand the cow is wood,
 He shall never be able to do earthly good.
Nat. My friend! as I said to you before,
 A room shall ye have: no man saith nay;
 But Reason must be preferred evermore.
 For he can best lead him to the way
 Of virtue and grace, whereby he may
 Longest continue to God's high pleasure;
 To the which end God hath ordained this His creature.
 Content thyself now with Reason, my friend!
 And meddle thee no further than thou hast to do.
 Thou has brought many a man to a wretched end
 And so thou wouldst spoil His creature also.
 But whatsoever he say take no heed thereto
 Without that Reason will allow the same;
 For whoso doth the contrary deserveth much blame.
 God and I, Nature, have set thee in better case
 Than any creature under the firmament.
 Abuse not, Man! abuse not thy grace
 Of God Almighty that from above is sent!
 Thou shalt be the first that shall repent
 If ever thou flee Reason and sue folly,
 When once thou feelest the smart of misery.
 But, be of comfort! hardely God shall send
 Both ghostly aid and worldly help also;
 And I shall never fail, unto thy life's end,
 To minister unto thee as me oweth to do.
 Lo! yonder the world which thou must needs to:
 Now, shape thee thither; there is no more to say—
 Thy Lord and mine guide thee in thy way!

[Then Nature goeth out.

Sen. Well, lady Nature! leave ye me in this case?
 Shall I have of you none other comfort?
 By Christ! yet will I not hide my face;
 For, as soon as we shall to the world resort,
 I put no doubt he will me support.
 He hath been my good master many a day;
 And he will not see me thus cast away.
Rea. Siker thyself, man! I advise thee hardely.
 Be not so passionate, nor yet so furious;
 Thou tormentest thyself and wottest not why.
 No well-advised body will demean him thus;
 Be sure thy mind is all erroneous;
 Thou takest a self will and wrong opinion
 Which shall be thine and others confusion.
Sen. Yea, Reason! sir, ye speak like a noble man;
 But yet are ye taken with a point oversight.
 What, would ye make me stand as a lurdan,
 And not speak one word for mine own right?
 I see it well that if your lordship might,
 By means possible, once bring it about
 Yourself should be a ruler, and I but a cast-out.
Rea. A ruler? certes! and so I ought to be;
 And a lord also, though ye say it in scorn.
Sens. A lord! whose lord?
Rea. Thy lord.
Sens. Nay, so mote I thee!
 Thou liest! it may no longer be forborne;
 Thou camest but to-night and mayst hap go to-morn.
 For, if thou be as haughty as thou beginnest,
 Thou shalt avoid much sooner than thou weenest.
Rea. As for mine avoidance, how soon soever it be,
 It shall not skill as for this intent;
 But he that first fleeth or forsaketh me
 He shall have greatest occasion to repent.
 It shall be to his great trouble and torment
 That he hath left Reason, and sued his own folly,
 That thereby is fallen to wretched penury.
But now, as touching the honour and degree
 That I am ordained to, I will thou understand
 That Almighty God, of His grace and bounty,
 Of thee and such hath given me the overhand;
 And will that I use thee as a servant,
 To advise thee and reform thee when thou ginst to err;
 And to clepe thee homeward if thou rail too far.
And, where thou sayst thou art so necessary
 That man without thee can have no living,
 As in that point we shall not much vary:
 I wot thou art necessary to his being.
 But, be thou sure that is not the very thing
 That maketh him to appear so wondrous;
 And to be, in his nature, so noble and precious.
It is a thing that doth right far exceed
 All other perfections and virtues natural.
 For sensuality, in very deed,
 Is but a mean which causeth him to fall
 Into much folly, and maketh him bestial;
 So that there is no difference, in that at the least,
 Betwixt man and an unreasonable beast.
But this other cometh of great tenderance
 And spiritual love that God oweth to mankind,
 Whom He hath created to His own semblance;
 And endued with a wondrous mind
 Whereby he may well discern and find
 Sufficient difference betwixt good and bad:
 Which is to be left, and which is to be had.
Lo! this is it that doth him dignify;
 And causeth him to be reputed so excellent.
 And of all this the chief doer am I,
 Which from Heaven into earth by God am sent,
 Only for that cause and final intent
 That I should this, His creature, demean and guide
 For the season that he doth in this world abide.
Now, compare thy virtues and mine together,
 And say which is the worthier of them two.
Sens. Which is the worthier? forsooth! I trow neither;
 We be good fellows.
Rea. Nay, my friend, not so!
 Thou ought to obey me wheresoever I go.
Sens. Nay! that shall I never do; for, to-day
 I shall thy fellow be, look thou never so high.
And, therefore, hardely be somewhat fellow-like;
 Leave thy haut conceits, and take a meetly way.
 For shame of the world, man! let us not stick
 At a matter of right nought, and traverse here all day.
 Have me in few words, man! and hark what I say:
 Meddle thou in no point that belongeth to me,
 And I shall promise thee never to meddle with thee.
And, standing the nonage of this gentleman,
 On my peril take no care therefore.
 I shall demean it as well as I can
 Till he be passed forty years and more;
 And Reason then, if ye will undershore
 His crooked old age, when lusty youth is spent,
 Then take upon you: I hold me content.
For, trust ye me! the very truth is this:
 This man is put in his own liberty;
 And, certainly, the free choice is his
 Whether he will be governed by thee or by me.
 Let us, therefore, put it to his own jeopardy,
 And therein stand to his arbitrament
 To which of us twain he had liefer assent.
Rea. Nay, sir, not so! I know his frailty;
 The body is disposed for to fall
 Rather to the worse than the better part;
 But it be holpen by power supernal.
Sens. Yet, Reason! when thou hast said all,
 If thou see him not take his own way,
 Call me cut when thou meetest me another day.
Rea. For certain yet, according to mine office,
 I must advertise and counsel him, at the least,
 To haunt virtue and 'schew all vice;
 And therein assist him to the uttermost;
 And if he will algates be a beast,
 And take none heed to my lore and doctrine,
 The peril and hurt shall be his, not mine.
Inno. Sirs! I shall answer for this man, as yet
 That he is maiden for all such folly
 As should disdain nature, or dishonour it.
 Brought up with me, full well and tenderly,
 Wherefore I dare the surelier testify
 For Innocency, that he is yet virgin,
 Both for deed and eke consent of sin.
And longer will not I be of his acquaintance
 Than he is virtuous, and of good living;
 For, fleshly lust and worldly pleasance
 Is, with Innocency, nothing according.
 But, if his behaviour and daily demeaning
 Be of such draught as reason will allow,
 I shall him favour and love, as I do now.
Sens. Well spoken and wisely! now have ye all done?
 Or, have ye ought else to this man to say?
Rea. O, sir, yea!
Sens. Peace, no more of this disputation!
 Here be many fantasies to drive forth the day;
 That one chattereth like a pie; that other like a jay;
 And yet, when they both have done what they can,
 Maugre their teeth, I shall rule the man.
Man. O, blessed Lord! what manner strife is this
 Atwixt my reason and sensuality,
 That one meaneth well, and that other all amiss.
 In one is sikerness, and in tother great frailty;
 And both they be so annexed to me
 That needest I must with one of them abide.
 Lord, as Thou thinkest best for me, do provide!
For, I am wondrously entriked in this case,
 And almost brought into perplexity;
 Notwithstanding, thanked be Thy grace,
 As I did never assent, nor agree
 To things that should be contrarious unto Thee;
 Of sinful deed and thought all innocent,
 Subdued to Reason as his obedient.
Rea. Christ grant you therein good continuance!
 To be ever of the same mind and intent.
 But now, will ye call to your remembrance
 For what cause ye be hither sent?
 I hold it well done, and right expedient
 That ye were brought unto the world's presence.
Man. Be it so! in God's name I pray you go we hence!
Rea. And will ye that I shall for you declare
 Unto the world the cause of your coming,
 What is your intent, and what person ye are?
Man. Yea! I would be glad that everything
 Be done even after your devising.
Sens. Shall I then stand as I were tongue-tied?
Man. Yea, hardely! till Reason have said.
Rea. Sir World! it is the mind and also pleasure
 Of lady Nature, as she bade us to you tell,
 That ye accept and receive this her creature
 With you, for a season here to dwell;
 Desiring you heartily to entreat him well,
 With all the favour that ye can devise;
 Wherein ye shall do her great pleasure and service.
The World. Sirs! ye be welcome to us heartily.
 Your message is to us right acceptable.
 Be ye assured there is nothing earthly
 To us so joyful, nor yet so delectable,
 As to be acquainted with persons honourable;
 Namely, such as ye seem to be,
 Men of high honour and of great dignity.
And, as touching the message that ye have brought,
 Have thereof the full mind and intent;
 Assuring you that our busy thought
 Shall be to do dame Nature's commandment.
 And, thereunto, we will be diligent
 To do her pleasures in that we may;
 And so we would ye should to her say.
And where ye show unto me that this man
 Is ordained to reign here, in this empery
 I assent well; for, or nature began
 To shape the world she thought finally
 To ordain man therein to occupy;
 He to take upon him as mighty governor,
 Having all things subdued to his power.
Wherefore, I receive greatly his coming.
 Mankind, sir, heartily welcome ye be!
 Ye are the person, without feigning,
 That I have evermore desired to see:
 Come! let me kiss you. O, benedicite!
 Ye be all naked! alas, man! why thus?
 I make you sure it is right perilous.
Man. I thank you; but I need none other vesture;
 Nature hath clothed me as yet sufficiently.
 Guiltless of sin, and as a maiden pure,
 I wear on me the garment of innocency.
Inno. Yea, hardely wear that garment continually:
 It shall thy body sufficiently safeguard
 From stormy weather, my life to jeopard.
The World. Be peace, fair woman! ye are not very wise;
 Care ye not if this body take cold?
 Ye must consider this is not paradise,
 Nor yet so temperate by a thousandfold.
 Whoso liveth here, be he young or old,
 He must suffer both fervent cold and heat;
 And be out of temperance oft time in his diet.
Also, he must needs do as the world doth
 That intendeth any while here to reign;
 And follow the guise that now-a-day goeth,
 As far as his estate may it maintain.
 And who doth the contrary—I will be plain—
 He is abject and despised utterly;
 And standeth ever banished from all good company.
 Sith God, therefore, had ordained this body
 To dwell here in this earthly region,
 Of convenience he must himself apply
 To worldly things; and be of such condition
 As all men be; and leave each fond opinion
 That is not approvable of wiser men than he;
 To take such way it is but vanity.
 Take this garment! man, do as I you bid!
 Be not ashamed hardely to do it on.
 So, lo! now this girdle have gird it in the mid;
 And this for your head go set it upon:
 By the charge of me! you be a goodly one
 As ever I saw sith that I was born;
 Worth a thousand that ye were beforne.
 Give me your hand! be not in fear!
 Sit down as ye are born to occupy this place!
 I give you here authority and power
 Over all thing that conceived is, in the space
 Of all the earth that round is in compass,
 To be as lord of every region;
 And, thereof, I give you peaceable possession.
Man. Blessed be Thou, my Lord, most bounteous!
 That of Thy great abundant charity
 Me, Thy wretched creature, hast honoured thus
 With natural gifts and worldly dignity.
 Now, I beseech Thee, for Thy great pity,
 Sith Thou hast set me in so noble way,
 Suffer me not hereafter wretchedly to decay.
 For, certes! it is mine heart's desire
 So to demean me in this life present
 As may be most unto Thy pleasure,
 And unto nature not disconvenient.
 This is my will and my chief intent;
 This will I observe, Thy grace to borrow,
 Though I, therefore, suffer much worldly sorrow.
Rea. Forsooth! these words be greatly to allow
 If they from meek and lowly heart proceed.
 Now, Mankind, sith thou hast made this vow,
 Shape thee, thereafter, thy life to lead;
 And let thy word be cousin to thy deed:
 That is to say, do thou none otherwise
 Than thou here openly to God dost promise.
Inno. Yea, sir! and ever look that ye abstain,
 Not only from deed, but also from the assent;
 See that ye commit neither of them twain
 If ye will observe the high commandment.
 For, surely ye may not be cleped innocent,
 Nor guiltless of sin, as far as I can find,
 If once ye assent to folly in your mind.
Mun. This is an hard word, sister, that ye have spoken;
 An hard word, surely, and an heavy sentence!
 But think ye God's commandment broken
 For a light trifle and matter of insolence?
 Alas! have ye such a spiced conscience
 That will be entriked with every merry thought?
 Leave it, woman! leave it! For it is nought.
[Loquitur ad ho[minem].
And man! as for you, ye shall not take that way;
 That manner of observance is too hard and strait.
 Ye must attempt the world; and, therein assay
 Whether ye can live after that endrait.
 These two folk harp both on refrait;
 And ever enbusieth them to rebuke you of sin
 That never was spotted, nor found guilty therein.
Take no heed of them! their words be but wind;
 And, as for this time, I command them to silence.
 And let us see now how prately ye can find,
 By sage policy and worldly prudence,
 To maintain the state, in honour and reverence,
 That ye shall be in while ye in the world dwell.
 Speak of this matter and ponder it well!
First, meseemeth necessary to provide
 What manner folks your servants shall be;
 For, surely, ye are nothing accompanied
 According to a man of your degree:
 Ye have here with you two persons or three
 That pleaseth you happily, in the best wise;
 Yet it appeareth not so to every man's guise.
What man is this?
Man. Reason, sir! my chief counsellor;
 And this Innocency, my nourice hitherto;
 And Sensuality that other, by whom I have power
 To do as all sensate beasts do.
 But Reason and Innocency, chiefly these two,
 Have the whole rule and governy of me;
 To whom eke is subdued my Sensuality.
Sens. For certain, sir! Reason hath done me wrong;
 More than ever he shall be able to recompense.
 God knoweth, sir! I thought the season very long
 Till we were brought unto your presence.
 But now, I pray you to annul the sentence
 That Nature gave unto me by Reason's advice,
 To my great hurt and utter prejudice.
And sir! I ask none amends earthly,
 But that Reason may have a checkmate;
 A little knack, a little pretty congy,
 His haut courage some thing to abate.
 For, hitherto, he hath kept great estate;
 And had of me the over hand and stronger:
 But be not displeased! I will suffer it no longer.
Mun. Thou hast had great wrong, and that is pity;
 For, if thou be the person that I take thee for,
 Thou should'st be as honourable as he.
* * * * *
Sens. Lord! ye say well; but would God ye would see
 Some manner help and remedy for this evil;
 And let me not alway live thus like a drivel.
Mun. Sir! ye know well that if so it were
 A man should suddenly come to a strange place,
 Wherein he is but alien and stranger,
 He must needs be compelled, in that case,
 To put himself in the favour and grace
 Of some singular person, that can show him the way
 Of all the behaviour and guise in that country.
So it is now that ye be hither sent;
 This country, as yet, to you unknown.
 In mine opinion it is expedient
 To take some other counsel than your own,
 Of well inured men, such as have grown
 In worldly experience, and have thereof the drift,
 And can best for you in time of need shift.
Homo. Certes! ye move right well and prudently;
 And I am well content that it so be;
 But, as yet, have I not the policy
 To know which men have most ability.
Mun. Dare ye commit the matter unto me?
Homo. Yea, sir! right well; I am fully content
 That all thing be done by your assignment.
Mun. Then thus I will, that above all thing,
 From henceforward, ye be like and conformable
 Unto other persons in all your demeaning;
 Namely, to such as be companable,
 Be they never so vicious or abominable;
 For every man clepeth him wise
 That doth after the common guise.
And, as for men that should do you service,
 I know divers persons that be right honourable
 That can you serve, alway point device.
 In all the world be there none so able,
 So wise, so politic, nor yet so profitable.
 Lo! here is one of them that I speak for;
 And he himself can tell you where ye shall have more.
Worldly Affection is this man's name;
 He is well brained, and wondrous of invention;
 A forecasting man and, payne of shame!
 Ye shall not find in any Christian region
 A wiser fellow in things to be done;
 Specially of matters that be concerning
 Worldly pleasure, that is for you according.
Suffer him, therefore, never to depart;
 But, if it be for matters of great substance,
 And for sensuality, I pray you with all my heart
 To accept him to your favour and tendrance.
 He hath been long of mine acquaintance;
 And, on my faith! my heart cannot but grudge
 To think that ye should use him as a drudge.
Do as he adviseth you, hardely now and then;
 And despise not utterly his counsel
 Think that ye be here a worldly man;
 And must do as men that in the world dwell.
 Ye are not bound to live like an angel;
 Nor to be as God, alway immutable:
 Man's nature of himself is full miserable.
I have told you now my counsel and advice;
 And ye have promised to be ruled thereby.
 Now, let each man execute his office;
 And see how wisely ye can them occupy
 To increase the world, and it thereto ye must apply.
 Now, address you thereto; and demean you thus:
 I shall be to you ever good and prosperous.
Man. Sir! I thank you of this courtesy,
 Undeserved as yet; but, be ye sure,
 I shall myself endeavour busily
 To do that may be to your pleasure.
 And, for the season that I shall here endure,
 I shall them cherish; and to my power maintain
 That unto you in anywise do pertain.
The Wor[ld]. Then, to begin withal, I will advise you
 To put this man from your company.
 I tell you every man will despise you
 As long as ye be ruled by Innocency:
 To follow such counsel it is but folly;
 For, he can neither good, neither evil;
 And, therefore, he is taken but for a drivel.
Man. By my faith! even as ye say:
 It liketh me not right well
 With Innocency long to dwell;
 Therefore, according to your counsel,
 I will not, after this day,
 With his company myself affere;
 As mute as it were a grey friar.
 I suppose there is no man here,
 Whatsoever he be,
 That could in his mind be content
 Always to be called an innocent.
 Wherefore, it is mine intent
 To do as ye advise me.
The World. Yea, h ardely, do even so!
Inno. Forsooth, and I hold me well content
 To depart at your commandment,
 Ye shall find me obedient
 Whatsoever ye bid me do.

[Here Innocency goeth out.

[He goeth out. Mankind calls to Worldly Affection.]

Worldly Affection, come hither! ye are politic;
 And much better inured in this world than I.
 I pray you dispose for me, as ye think most like,
 That I may live here well and honourably.
[Wor. Affec.] Yea, sir! I shall. Doubt ye not, hardely!
 If it like you to put me in so great trust,
 And I trow ye shall find me true and just.
Man. I wot well I shall. Surely you be bound
 To the world that hath given you so great commendation?
[Wor. Affec.] Yea, sir! some men had liever than a thousand pound
 They might be commended of the same fashion.
 But, sir! let pass all this commendation;
 And answer to me, I pray you, fruitfully,
 In that I shall move you substantially.
Sir! at few words I you exhort,
 Sith that ye be come to your own,
 Cast yourself to bear such a port
 That, as ye be, ye may be known;
 Eke it is necessary, for that behove,
 That there be made some manner of purveyance
 Whereby ye may bear out your countenance.
Will it like you, therefore, that I survey
 And see th' extent of all your land,
 And thereupon in all thee hast purvey,
 Both for you and yours, all manner of viand,
 With other utensils ready at your hand;
 So that ye be purveyed all times, early and late,
 Of each thing that belongeth to your estate?
Man. Your counsel is good; do as ye think best;
 I commit all such thing to your discretion.
[Wor. Aff.] I shall do my true business, at the least
 To bring all things to good conclusion.

[He maketh to go out.

Man. Abide, Worldly Affection! ye made no mention
 Who should await and give attendance;
 I must have mo servants whatsoever chance.
Wor. Aff. What? ye have Sensuality! ask never other counsel
 Of such matter; he can you best advise.
 He knoweth where all such manner persons dwell
 As be most apt to do you worldly service.

[Then he goeth out.

Sens. Yea, on my peril, sir! I shall take the enterprise
 Of all such matters; and, look! where I find
 Any man of pleasure, on him set your mind.
 Lo! will ye see—lo! here cometh one;
 Even the last man that was in my thought.
Man. What is he?
Sens. Ye shall see anon.
 A well-drawn man is he; and a well-taught,
 That will not give his head for nought;
 And, thereto goodly, as ye shall see in a day
 As well-apparelled at each point of his array.

[Mankind goes aside.

[Pride.] Who dwelleth here? will no man speak?
 Is there no fool nor hoddypeak?
 Now, by the bell! it were alms to break
 Some of these knaves' brows.
 A gentleman comes in at the doors,
 That all his days hath worn gilt spurs,
 And none of these knaves nor cutted whores
 Bids him welcome to house!
Wot ye not how great a lord I am?
 Of how noble progeny I came?
 My father a knight; my mother called madame;
 Mine ancestors great estates.
 And now the livelood is to me fall
 By both their deaths natural:
 I am spoken of more than they all,
 Hence to Paris gates.
How say ye, sirs, by mine array?
 Doth it please you, yea or nay?
 In the best wise, I dare well say!
 By that ye know me awhile
 And one thing I put you out of doubt;
 I have wherewith to bear it out
 As well as any man hereabout
 Within these hundred mile.
Behold [the rest of the line, almost cut away, is indecipherable.]
 A staring colour of scarlet red:
 I promise you a fine thread
 And a soft wool.
 It cost me a noble at one pitch—
 The scald capper sware sithich
 That it cost him even as mich—
 But there Pride had a pull.
I love it well to have side hair
 Half a wote beneath mine ear;
 For, evermore, I stand in fear
 That mine neck should take cold.
 I knit it up all the night;
 And the daytime comb it down right;
 And then it crispeth and shineth as bright
 As any purled gold.
My doublet is on-laced before—
 A stomacher of satin and no more;
 Rain it, snow it never so sore,
 Methinketh I am too hot.
 Then have I such a short gown,
 With wide sleeves that hang a-down—
 They would make some lad in this town
 A doublet and a coat.
Some men would think that this were pride;
 But it is not so—ho, ho, abide!
 I have a dagger by my side
 Yet thereof spake not I.
 I bought this dagger at the mart,
 A sharp point and a tart;
 He that had it in his heart
 Were as good to die.
Then have I a sword or twain;
 To bear them myself it were a pain;
 They are so heavy that I am fain
 To purvey such a lad,
 Though I say it, a pretty boy—
 It is half my life's joy.
 He maketh me laugh with many a toy,
 The urchin is so mad.
I begat the whoreson in bast;
 It was done all in haste:
 Ye may see there was no waste,
 He occupied no great place.
 Sometime he serveth me at board;
 Sometime he beareth my two-hand sword—
 Come forth, thou little lick-turd!
 Look in thy father's face!
But, now to do that I come for,
 And of these things to speak no more—
 Hark, sirs! me longeth sore
 To hear some novelty.
 I hear say there is a great state
 Come into this country late;
 And is disposed algate
 An householder to be.
Father's soul, sirs! ye shall understand
 That, if he keep household in this land,
 I will thrust in on hand,
 Whosoever say nay.
 Whatsoever the man intend,
 To appair the world or to amend,
 I will be with him at that one end;
 Hap what hap may!
I met Worldly Affection erewhile,
 From this town scant a mile;
 And he hath showed me a pretty wile,
 If I may put it in ure.
 He tells me that Sensuality
 Begins a great ruler to be;
 And, if it be so, care not for me—
 The matter is cock sure!
Ay, good lord, what man is that?
 Father's soul! this is some great wat.
Garcon. This is he that ye seek.
Pride. See this, brat!—
 This boy is passing taunt—
 Come behind, and follow me;
 Set out the better leg, I warn thee!
Garcon. Yes, in the best wise trust ye me!
 Allez, seigneur! allez vous avant!
Pride. Salutem to you, sir!
Man. And to you also!
 Whence are ye?
Pride. I shall tell you or I go;
 But, first would I speak a word, and no mo,
 With this servant of yours.
Sens. With me, sir? Would ye speak with me?
Pride. Yea, fore God! are ye not Sensuality?
Sens. Yes, surely!
Pride. Yea, such a gentleman ye seem to be.
Sens. Your poor servant at all hours!

[Then Pride speaketh to Sensuality in his ear that all may hear.

Pride. Sir! I understand that this gentleman
 is born to great fortunes, and intendeth
 to inhabit herein the country. And I am
 a gentleman that alway hath be brought
 up with great estates, and affeed with them;
 and, if I might be in like favour with this
 gentleman, I would be glad thereof, and
 do you a pleasure.
Sens. Where is your dwelling?
Pride. I dwell hereby.
Sens. What is your name?
Pride. Pride!
Sens. Pride?
Pride. Yea, sikerly!
 But I am cleped Worship, commonly,
 In places where I dwell.
Sens. Worship, now, in faith, ye say true;
 Ye be radix viciorum—root of all virtue.
Pride. Yea, yea, man! ye would say so if ye me knew.
Sens. Turd! I know you well.
 Sir! ye are welcome, as I may say;
 I shall bring you in service if I may;
 And if one man stand not in the way.
Pride. One man? what the devil is he?
Sens. By God! one that loveth not thee,
 Nor me neither.
Pride. I pray thee tell me
 What manner of man he is,
 And I shall give him a lift, as I guess.
Sens. Wilt thou so, doubtless?
Pride. Yea, and that within a short process—
 In faith! I will not miss.
Sens. Surely I cannot spy the ways how!
Pride. Let me alone; I shall do well enow.
 Acquaint me with that man, and care not thou!
 The matter shall speed.
Sens. Hark, cousin! first speed this matter,
 And if yonder man make thee not good cheer
 As any man that ever came here
 Let me, therefore, be dead!
Pride. Sir! I shall tell thee how when I am in
 To thy master's service; I will first begin
 To set his heart on a merry pin,
 And bid him make good cheer.
 I will bid him think how he is create
 To be a worthy potestate,
 And eke that he is predestinate
 To be a prince's peer.
 And other things more than this:
 I shall bring that heart of his
 To be more haut than it is
 By a deuce ace.
 Specially, I will commend his wit
 That no man can amend it;
 And that he is able thereby to sit
 As a judge in common pleas;
 And when I praise him this wise
 I think his heart will begin to rise
 And after that utterly despise
 Any opray counsel to hear;
 He shall trust all to his own brain;
 And then would Reason never so fain,
 Though he come and such opry twain:
 He shall be never thee near.
Sens. Surely this conceit is well found!
 I shall bring thee in service for twenty pound.
Pride. Gramercy, brother! I think me much bound
 To thee for thy courtesy.
 But, sir! abide here one thing—
 I will not be known that it is my seeking.
Sens. No more would I, for forty shilling:
 Let me alone hardely! [Mankind comes forward.
Sens. Sir! if it please you, here is come a stranger
 That never was acquainted with you ere;
 Somewhat shamefaced, and half in fear
 To put himself in prese;
 A goodly person, be ye sure,
 Both of countenance and of feature
 If he were drawn in portraiture;
 And a good man, doubtless!
 Yea, and a wise man at all—
 Will it please you that I him call
 To speak with you?
Man. Bid him come!
Sens. I shall.
 Sir! will ye come near? [To Mankind.
 Sir! bid him welcome for the manner sake;
 Another day I am sure he will crake
 And say, such a gentleman did him make
 Very great cheer.
 Desire him for to dwell with you;
 I tell you he is a man for your prow,
 And knoweth the world well; I know
 No man better than he.
Man. Sir! ye be welcome to this place.
Pride. I thank you, sir! but I do you trespass
 To come thus homely.
Sens. Yea, a parlous case!
 God wot ye are welcome hither.
 On my faith, by my will
 Ye shall dwell with us still.
 Go near to him and talk your fill:
 I leave you together.

[He goeth forth.

Man. Now, sir! what have ye to say to me?
Pride. No great thing, sir! but I come to see
 And to know what manner man ye be
 That all men praiseth so much.
Man. Praise! whom praise they?
Pride. Marry, you!
Man. Me?
Pride. Yea, sir! I make mine avow
 They give you a praising good I know;
 I heard never none such.
 And, surely, ye be right worthy!
 I see well now they do not lie;
 And, therefore, I did me hither hie
 To acquaint me with you—
 But ye may say that I am bold.
Man. Nay, ye are worth thy weight of gold!
 Methinketh me to you much behold;
 I pray you what is your name?
Pride. My name is Worship.
Man. Worship? now, surely,
 The world told me it was my destiny
 To come to Worship or I die.
Pride. Truly, I am the same.
Man. Now, Worship, I pray you me tell
 Your wisdom and also counsel;
 Ye can advertise me passing well
 In things that I have to do.
Pride. In good faith! anything that I
 May do to your pleasure it is ready;
 I am your own, and pray you, heartily,
 That ye accept me so.
 But where ye ask counsel of me
 Meseemeth ye save not your honesty!
Man. Mine honesty? Wherefore, let see;
 I pray you show me why!
Pride. Marry, sir! for it is right fitting
 That a man of your behaving
 Should have alway sufficient cunning
 Of worldly wit and policy
 To guide himself everywhere;
 And not to be led by the ear,
 And beg wit, here and there,
 Of every Jack-a-pie.
 Ye are well complexioned, be ye sure;
 And Nature hath done on you her cure
 As much as upon any creature
 That ever I saw with mine eye.
 And, by likelihood, sir! I wis
 Ye have wit according to all this;
 Or else Nature hath wrought amiss:
 And that is not likely.
Man. Now, certain, thanked be heaven's king!
 I have a right quick understanding.
 If ye show me anything
 I can soon perceive it;
 But I was forbid by Reason
 On mine own fantasy to run,
 Or to take any presumption
 Of mine own wit.
Pride. Said Reason so? Marry, fie on him, knave!
 It were better the hangman were in his grave
 Than ever the lewd fool should have
 The governance of you.
Man. Certain, Nature advised me
 To follow Reason what time that she
 Put me first in authority
 That I stand in now.
Pride. Alas, alas, man! ye be mad—
 I see well ye be but a very lad.
 On my faith! I was very glad
 Of your first acquaintance;
 And now, I forthink it utterly
 That ever I knew you: fie, fie, fie!
 I heard never, certainly,
 Of such another chance.
Will ye draw to that fellowship?
 I would ye had three stripes with a whip,
 Even upon the bare hip,
 If I should you not grieve.
 He that would lordship enjoy,
 And play ever still the old boy,
 Meseemeth he doth but make a toy
 And ye will me believe.
Man. Worship! for God's sake grieve ye not.
Pride. I wis ye are but an idiot—
 I pray you, sir, make not me a sot;
 I am no trifler!
 I have been in honour heretoforne,
 Ye allow the counsel of a carl born,
 Before mine I have it in scorn—
 It is a thing I cannot bear.
Man. Whom mean ye, Reason?
Pride. Yea, that same daw!
Man. What, is he a wise man?
Pride. He is a straw
 Because he keeps you under awe;
 Ye be therein blind.
Man. And so doth he, without faining;
 For, hitherto, I might do nothing
 But after his will and bidding:
 And that groged my mind.
Pride. Groge, quotha! it is no marvel, hardely;
 It shall grieve me, certainly,
 As long as I am in your company
 To see you demeaned in that wise.
 Ye be now in good way;
 But, in faith! I like not your array;
 It is not the fashion that goeth now-a-day,
 For now there is a new guise.
 It is now two days agone
 Sith that men began this fashion,
 And every knave had it anon;
 Therefore, at this season,
 There is no man that setteth thereby
 If he love his own honesty.
Man. So seemeth, certainly,
 That every man is fresher than I,
 And I wis that is no reason.

[Here cometh in Worldly Affection and Sensuality.

Sens. Reason, quotha! no, no!
 But, sir! wot ye what ye shall do?
 Hardely let us two go
 To some tavern here beside.
 Come on! I can bring you there;
 And let them alone with all this gear.
 Care ye nothing for the matter;
 But, let them here abide;
 And ye will suffer, and let them alone,
 Ye shall see them devise you a new fashion
 That all the world shall wonder thereon.
Man. By God! that will I do goodly;
 But, I pray you, sirs! do your diligence
 For this array, and spare none expense;
 And, for a while, I will go hence
 And come again shortly.

[Here Man and Sensuality go out.

Wor. Aff. Brother Pride! now the weight
 Of all this matter resteth in thee.
Pride. Tush! thou shalt see me devise it even straight;
 It is but japes, that gear, with me.
 I have none other study a-days, parde!
 But how I may new fashions find;
 And, thereon, I set all my labour and mind.
Sir! Our master shall have a gown
 That all the gallants, in this town,
 Shall on the fashion wonder:
 It shall not be sewed but with a lace
 Betwixt every seam, a space
 Of two handful asunder.
Then a doublet of the new make;
 Close before, and open on the back,
 No sleeve upon his arm;
 Under that a shirt as soft as silk,
 And as white as any milk
 To keep the carcase warm.
Then shall his hosen be striped
 With corselets of fine velvet, sliped
 Down to the hard knee;
 And, from the knee downward,
 His hosen shall be freshly gard
 With colours two or three.
And when he is in such array—
 "There goeth a rutter," men will say;
 "A rutter, huffa gallant!"
 Ye shall see these fools on him gaze,
 And muse as it were on a maze
 New brought into the land.
Wor. Aff. Ha, ha, ha! now, by the Mary Virgin!
 This will set him on a merry pin,
 Even as it should be.
 But ever I am in great fear
 That Reason will whister him in the ear,
 And turn his mind clean from this gear:
 This thing feareth me!
Pride. Reason! nay, nay, hardely!
 He is forsaken utterly
 Sith I came to his company;
 He would not once appear.
 Nevertheless, for a surety,
 Worldly Affection, I advise thee
 As shortly as ever it may be
 For speed of the matter,
 To bring him shortly in acquaintance
 With all the company of mine affiance;
 And let them give continual attendance,
 Every man busily,
 After the property of his office;
 Then shall ye see him utterly despise
 Reason's counsel, on warrantise,
 And forsake him, utterly.
Sens. Nay, nay, sirs! care ye nothing
 That matter is sped well and fine.
Pride. Is it so?
Sens. Yea, by heaven king!
 Even as we sat together at the wine.
Wor. Aff. Thou shalt have God's blessing and mine—
 But is it true?
Sens. Yea, sir! by this day!
 Our master and Reason have made a great fray.
Pride. How so?
Sens. By my faith! we sat together
 At the tavern, next hereby;
 And, anon, who should come together
 But flee[r]ing Kate and Margery,
 She that beguiled you, parde! so prately
 And bare away your shirt the last morning
 Stead of her smock, while ye lay sleeping.
Pride. I wot whom ye mean, well I know;
 But that is nothing to this purpose—
 Tell on thy tale, for God avow!
Sens. I shall, anon, had I wiped my nose:
 Sir! when I spied them, anon I rose;
 And called them unto me by name;
 And, without more tarrying, anon they came;
 And sat down with us, and made nothing strange,
 As they be full courteous—ye know it well.
 And, anon, our master's colour began to change—
 Whereof it came I cannot tell;
 His cheer was appalled, every deal,
 And scant that he could speak to me one word;
 But start him even up and rose from the board.
 He said he would go lie down on a bed;
 And prayed me, for the manners' sake,
 That Margery might come hold his head
 Which, as he told me, began to ache.
 And so she hath him undertake
 To make him whole, in an hour or twain,
 Whensoever he hath any such sudden pain.
 What it meaneth, I wot never;
 But he liketh her physic so well
 That I trow the devil of hell
 Can not them two dissever!
 Lo! this have I done; and what trow ye more?
 Yet can I tell you better tiding.
Wor. Aff. What is that?
Sens. Marry! Reason, that ye two spake of before,
 Came even to us as we sat so drinking;
 And gave our master a heat, worth a hanging,
 Because that Margery sat on his knee,
 While that other whore sat talking with me.
 My master saw that he could have no rest,
 Nor never be rid of this controlling,
 He played the man and thought it best—
 And with an angry look to my seeming—
 Drew out his sword without more tarrying
 And smote Reason so on the head
 That I have great marvel but he be now dead.
Wor. Aff. Marry! then fill all the cups at once
 If this be true.
Sens. Yes, by these ten bones!
 I lie never a word.
Pride. Trowest thou it is no feigned strife
 Betwixt them two?
Sens. No, on my life!
 For, when they fought, I ran between
 And cried, "Keep peace and leave debate!"
 But ye would have laughed had ye seen
 How I departed them; and, for all that,
 Sometime I clapped Reason on the pate,
 And cried "Keep the peace," as fast as I could
 Till I was hoarse, I cried so loud.
Wor. Aff. But, can our master play the man now
 And fare with this gear?
Sens. Yea, make God avow!
 And, beware ye of one thing:
 Meddle ye no more with Margery;
 For, by Cock's precious body!
 If our master may it espy,
 Or have an understanding
 That ye use her company,
 I tell you he will be angry;
 He is so full of jealousy
 As ever I knew man.
Wor. Aff. Jealousy? peace, man, be still!
 He can thereof no manner of skill.
Sens. No! but say what ye will
 I am sure he can.
 He is now as familiar
 With bodily lust as ever ye were;
 Yea! and thereto as great a swearer.
 When time requires
 Knew I never, of his age,
 A man of better courage
 To do all manner of outrage
 After our desires.
 Sith Reason and he were thus at variance
 He hath be full of such dalliance;
 And hath called to his favour and acquaintance
 Your kinsmen by and by—
 Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, and Covetise,
 Sloth and Lechery become to his service;
 And utterly he hateth their contrariwise,
 And that he professeth openly.
Wor. Aff. And be these folks of his retinue?
Sens. Yea, every one, I tell you true.
 But, marry! their names be changed new
 For to blear his eye.
 I tell you he is a serefull man,
 For Reason stirreth him, now and than;
 And, therefore, do we what we can
 It is little enow, hardely!
 Sirra! there is first Pride, as ye wot well,
 The sweet darling of the devil of hell:
 How his name is changed ye can tell.
Wor. Aff. Yea, marry! on the best wise—
 Worship I ween is now his name.
Sens. Yea, by the rood! even the same.
 And Covetise, to eschew all blame,
 Doth his name disguise,
 And calleth himself Worldly Policy.
 Wrath, because he is somewhat hasty,
 Is called Manhood. Then is there Envy,
 And he is called Disdain.
 Gluttony, for Good Fellowship is taken;
 And Sloth his old name hath forsaken,
 And as fair a name hath he shapen
 As ever man could ordain—
 He is called Ease; right comfortable to the blood,
 Specially for them that lust to do no good.
 And, among all other, I would ye understood
 That Lechery is called Lust.
 Lo! these be fair names, parde!
 Both good and honest as seemeth me;
 As for their conditions, what they be,
 Ye know well!
Wor. Aff. Very just!
 I know their conditions on the best wise
 If they keep still their old guise.
Sens. Yes! that they do, on warrantise.
Wor. Aff. But yet, I have great marvel
 That Covetise should dwell in his company.
Sens. By my troth, lo! and so have I.
 But one thing I ensure you faithfully,
 And that I have espied well;
 That, hitherto, our master setteth no store
 By his counsel, nor his lore.
 Marry! when his head waxeth hoar
 Then shall be good season
 To follow Covetise and his way;
 Yea, time enow another day—
 Even so I heard our master say.
Wor. Aff. By my faith! he said but reason—
 But all the remanent be well retained?
Sens. Yea, be ye sure it is matter unfeigned;
 And wot ye who is greatly disdained
 With our master now?
Pride. Who?
Sens. By God! even Shamefacedness.
 When he shall do any such excess
 No shame can fear him, doubtless,
 I may say to you.
Pride. No! then the craft were nought.
 But now, sirs! well bethought,
 Sith the matter is hereto brought,
 It is time for me
 To go and make some provision
 Of garments after the new invention,
 As he commanded me to be done:
 Thereto must I see.
 For it is committed to my negligence;
 And, if he come hither while I am hence,
 I pray thee excuse mine absence.
Sens. Yea, and mine also!
Pride. Why, wilt thou go with me?
Sens. Will I, quod a? yea, parde!
 It is according for Sensuality
 With Pride for to go.

[Sens. and Pride go out.

Wor. Aff. Now the matter is almost in good case,
 After the world's mind and pleasure;
 There is no more but now must I compass,
 With all my wit and busy endeavour,
 How it may be stablished and continued sure.
 For, a little fantasy of man's own will
 May quail this matter, and utterly it spill.
 And if he vary again
 Of scruple imagination,
 Or else by the suggestion
 Of the foresaid Reason,
 One thing I am certain—
 He will no longer me support;
 And that were a shrewd crank dort.
 Therefore, it is best that I resort
 To my master's presence,
 And see of what demeanour he is.
 I am greatly to blame, I wis,
 For that I saw him not or this
 Sith he departed hence.

[He goeth out and Reason cometh in.

Rea. O good Lord! to whom shall I complain
 And show the sorrows of my mind?
 And nothing for mine own cause, certain;
 But only for the decay of mankind;
 Which now, of late, is waxen so blind
 That he hath despised and forsaken me,
 And followeth every motion of his Sensuality.
 What availed at the beginning
 That Nature committed me to his service?
 And charged me that, before all thing,
 Of all his guiding I should take th' enterprise
 When he lusteth not to follow mine advice,
 But followeth th' appetites of his sensual affection,
 As a brute beast that lacketh reason?
 And yet, notwithstanding
 That he doth me disdain,
 I will resort to him again;
 And do my labour and busy pain
 To assay if I can him refrain
 From such beastly living.
 But, first will I stand hereby,
 In secret manner, to espy
 Some token of grace in him, whereby
 I may discern and find
 That he hath any shamefacedness
 After his great surfeit and excess;
 And, if it be so, doubtless,
 It shall content my mind. [Reason goeth aside.

Man cometh in [followed by Wor. Affec.

[Enter Shamefacedness.]

Shame. Sir! if ye lust to have mine acquaintance
 I am ready to give you attendance;
 Happily my service shall you advance:
 I am called Shamefacedness.
Man. By your troth! are ye the same?
Shame. Yea, forsooth! that is my name.
 Almsdeeds I can atame;
 And help for to repress
 When ye have done offence or sin;
 If ye will mercy and grace win
 With Shamefacedness ye must begin:
 This way must ye take.
Man. Ye be the man, without feigning,
 That I wished for or ye came here;
 And glad am I now of your coming,
 Praying you with heart entire
 When I have need thus to come near.
Shame. So will I do; ye may trust it, verily!
 Whensoever ye call ye shall find me ready.

He goeth out [and Reason cometh forward.]

Rea. Sir! is it your mind to do as ye say?
Man. Yea, that is it, as God me speed!
 Heard ye all this matter—yea or nay?
Rea. Yes, that I did, in very deed!
Man. O ghostly Reason! I have greater need
 Of your help than ever I had before:
 Help me now and I shall never forsake you more.
 Sith I forsook your company
 I have committed much folly;
 I am ashamed, certainly,
 When I think thereon.
 But now have I refused utterly
 All such manner of company;
 And thus have I done, verily!
 Of mine own motion.
Rea. Then my help shall be ready as oft as ye me call;
 It is my duty so for to do.
 And of your offences will I make no rehearsal;
 But whatsoever ye have done, hitherto,
 To me ward let it pass and go:
 Against God your offence is great;
 Of the which matter I will not long treat.
 But this comfort of me ye shall have:
 If ye be contrite, as ye pretend,
 God is merciable if ye lust to crave;
 Call for grace and soon He will it send.
 And be not in purpose hereafter to offend;
 Accustom yourself in the ways of virtue,
 And—be not in doubt—grace will ensue.
Man. Sir! it is my mind and intent
 Hereafter to be your true obedient;
 And never more to assent
 To such folly again.
Rea. And, upon that condition,
 I take thee unto my tuition
 With all heart's affection,
 Never to part atwain.
 And, for this season,
 Here we make an end
 Lest we should offend
 This audience; as, God defend!
 It were not to be done.
 Ye shall understand, nevertheless,
 That there is much more of this process;
 Wherein we shall do our business,
 And our true endeavour
 To show it unto you, after our guise:
 When my lord shall so devise
 I shall be at his pleasure.

Thus endeth the first part.]

THE SECOND PART.

Reason and Man come in.

Rea. I assemble the life of mortal creature
 To the assiege again a strong town or castle:
 In which there is much busy endeavour;
 Much worldly policy; with diligent travail,
 On every side, which part shall prevail
 By sleight of engines, or by strong power,
 That other to subdue and bring into danger.
In such case and manner of condition
 Is wretched man, here in this life earthly,
 While he abideth within the garrison
 Of the frail carcase and caronous body;
 Whom to impugn laboureth incessantly
 The world, the flesh, the enemy—these three—
 Him to subdue and bring into captivity.
And, for to show you what wise they us impugn,
 First doth the world give us an allective
 To covet riches and worldly renown,
 With other vanities that be used in this life.
 Next, that our flesh, which ever is in strife,
 Again our spirit doth provoke and excite
 Us to accomplish our sensual appetite.
The last of all is our great enemy;
 Which ever hath us in continual hatred
 Of old encankered malice and envy
 That he oweth to us, and all the kindred
 Of all the ancestors of whom we do succeed;
 Nor yet ceaseth his malice, unto this day,
 Us to endanger in all that he can or may.
 And certes! these, our said enemies,
 Be of their nature so mighty and so strong
 That hard it will be for us, in any wise,
 Again them war or battle to underfong;
 Also our garrisons and fortress to maintain long
 Again their engines; without spiritual grace
 We can not perform in no manner case.
 Wherefore, it is to us right behovable
 Busily to pray to God, that is immortal,
 Beseeching Him, as He is merciable,
 To have compassion and pity on us all;
 And not to suffer us any wise to fall
 Into such folly and utter mischance
 As should them grieve and do displeasance.
 Also, it behoveth on our part
 To flee all such manner of occasion
 As may us put in fear and jeopardy
 Of their displeasure, in any condition.
 Newfangleness, and other nice invention,
 We must forsake in all manner wise;
 And acquaint us with their contraries:
 Quia contraria contrariis curantur. etc.
 I tell this tale, sir! to you,
 Trusting that it be not done in waste:
 Ye remember, as I suppose, well enow,
 How it is not fully three days past
 Sith ye me promised, and bound it fast,
 From that day forth to be obedient
 Unto my counsel and advisement?
Man. Yea, sir! so I did, in very deed;
 And yet it is my mind and intent
 To follow the same—have ye no dread!
Rea. If ye do not, yourself shall repent;
 Now, fare ye well! for I must be absent
 As for a season; and, for your comfort,
 Whensoever ye call me I shall to you resort.

Then he goeth out and Sensuality cometh in.

Sens. God forbid that ever he come again!
 Jesu! how may ye this life endure?
 Meseemeth it should be to you a great pain,
 Sith ye be of good complexion and nature,
 To forbear the worldly sport and pleasure;
 As ye have done now a great season,
 And all by the foolish counsel of Reason.
 Where is your lusty heart become
 That served you so well this other day?
 Now, so help me God and halidom!
 I have great marvel how ye may
 Live in such misery; and, this dare I say,
 Without ye take some other ways,
 By my troth! it will shorten your days.
 And, though I say it, that were pity;
 For, by Christ! and ye were gone
 Many a good fellow would make great mone. [Then he weepeth.
Man. Why weep ye so?
Sens. Let me alone!
 It will none otherwise be.
 And ye saw the sorrowful countenance
 Of my company, your old acquaintance,
 That they make
 For your sake—
 I daresay ye would mone them in your mind
 They be so loving and so kind
 That I am sure
 If ye endure
 In this peevish opinion,
 It will be their confession
 There is none other remedy
 But, for sorrow, they shall die.
Man. Nay, God forbid they should so do!
Sens. In faith! without ye help thereto
 There is none other way.
Man. I will help it in all that I may
 And I wist by what mean.
Sens. Marry! call them to your company!
Man. By Saint John! I am content.
 For, I may say here to thee,
 Since I forsook my liberty
 And did to Reason assent
 I had never merry day;
 But lived under awe and dread alway,
 Nothing to mine intent.
 Another while I will me disport
 And to mine old company resort.
Sens. O then shall ye them comfort,
 And your self also.
 Wot ye who will be very glad?
Man. Who?
Sens. Margery!
Man. Why, was she sad?
Sens. Yea, by the mass! she was stark mad,
 Even for very woe
 When she heard tell of this chance;
 And, because she would live in penance
 Her sorrow for to quench,
 She hath entered into a religious place,
 At the Green Friars hereby.
Man. Yea, has'e?
 Alack, good little wench!
 Is it an house of strait religion?
Sens. Yea, as any that ever was bygone
 Sith the world stood.
Man. Be they close nuns as other be?
 Sens. Close, quod a? nay, nay, parde!
 That guise were not good—
 Ye must beware of that gere!
 Nay, all is open that they do there;
 As open as a goose eye!
Man. And cometh any man into their cells?
Sens. Yea, yea, God forbid else!
 It is free for everybody;
 And, beside all this, they be
 Ex omni gente cognite.
 No nation they forsake;
 Without it be beggars, going by the way,
 That have never a penny to pay
 For that that they do take.
 And yet can I beggars thither lead
 Where they shall, for lumps of bread,
 Satisfy their desire:
 Such drabs some there be
 That require none other fee,
 Not yet any other hire.
Man. Be they not wedded, as other folk be?
Sens. Wedded, quod a? no, so mot I thee!
 They will not tarry therefore;
 They can wed themselves alone.
 "Come kiss me, John;" "Gramercy, Joan!"
 Thus wed they evermore.
 And it is the more to commend;
 For, if the woman hap to offend,
 As it is their guise,
 A man may let her alone with sorrow
 And wed another whore on the morrow;
 Even of the same wise.
Man. Forsooth! this is a noble religion;
 It stirreth me to great devotion
 For to see that place—
 Canst thou bring me thither, well enow?
 Sens. Yea, and it were midnight, I make God avow!
 As dark as ever it was.
Man. But, where is Bodily Lust now?

Then cometh in Bodily Lust, with him Worldly Affection:
Sensuality standeth aside.

Bod. Lust. Marry, sir! I have seeken and sought you
 This three or four hours.
Man. I make God avow!
 Ye give shrewd attendance;
 All this two days I could not thee espy.
Bod. Lust. Sir! ye know well that ye and I
 Be never much asunder
 Albeit I be from you among.
Man. And now meseemeth thou hast tarried too long,
 Which is to me great wonder.
Bod. Lust. Wonder? yea, parde! for an hour or twain;
 Forth for a passing while and come again—
 Here is a sore matter:
 When was I so long absent as now?
 And yet I was for to seek you
 At the other side of the water;
 The place that ye wot of, parde!
 Understand ye what I mean?
Man. Yea, yea!
Bod. Lust. Tell me in mine ear!
Man. Quid est Latinum propter le stewys?
Bod. Lust. What! Latin? now this of the news;
 I heard never this ere:
 I trow ye begin to wax shamefaced!
Man. Nay, nay, hardely! that gear is past,
 Many days agone.
 I am as wanton as ever I was.
 Bod. Lust. It were alms to hang you else—by the mass!—
 By the hard neck bone.
 But will ye now go with me to a place
 And I shall show you the smorterst place
 That ever ye saw with eyes?
Man. What thing is it? young or old?
Bod. Lust. Whatever it be, it is able to be sold:
 It shall like you on the best wise.
Man. For my love let us some night be there,
 At a banket or a rare supper;
 And get us some wanton meat
 So we may have some dainty thing—
 Yet would I spend twenty shilling
 Wheresoever I it get.
Bod. Lust. Nay, nay! will ye spend a couple of crowns?
 And there shall no gentleman in these ten towns
 Be better served than ye;
 Nor be received more honestly,
 As to an house of bawdry,
 For a banket or a junkery,
 For a dish two or three.
Man. Yes! that will I spend with all mine heart.
Bod. Lust. By your leave, I will depart
 To make ready this gear.
Man. What! now, in all this haste?
Bod. Lust. Yea, fore God, sir! I am aghast
 That other knaves will come thither
 Before us and take up all.
Man. See thereto, I pray thee!
Bod. Lust. So I shall;
 Else, fie on all together! [Then goeth he out.
Wor. Aff. Now will Margery make great mone
 Because ye come not.
Man. Yea, let her alone!
 I am not her bondman, parde!
 She hath disappointed me or now.
Wor. Aff. Yet, on my faith, sir! and I were as you
 At the least I would excuse me.
 Send her word that ye in no wise
 May this night keep her promise;
 And, if ye do not so,
 She will so mourn that, as I think,
 Of all this night she will sleep no wink,
 She shall be so full of woe.
Man. Yea, on my peril! take no care;
 This answer will I defer and spare
 Till I be certain
 What answer Bodily Lust shall bring
 Of this other pretty new thing
 When he cometh again.
Wor. Aff. Will it please you that I go to Margery
 In your stead?
Man. Marry! that were merry;
 Wouldst thou serve me so?
Wor. Aff. Why, sir, by my troth! I mean but well.
Man. Yea, what thou meanest I can not tell,
 But that shall thou not do.
Wor. Aff. In good faith, sir! ye may do worse;
 For, while I have anything in my purse,
 Or any penny to spend,
 I will make her even such cheer
 As I would mine own wife if she were here;
 Else, God defend!
 Man. Yea, I thank thee for thy good will;
 But as for that cheer, keep it still
 Till I call thereon!
Wor. Aff. By God, sir! for good love I spake it;
 And now that I see ye will not take it
 I shall let it alone. [Re-enter Bodily Lust.
Man. How now? hast thou been yonder away?
Bod. Lust. Yea, sir!
Man. Et que novellys?
Bod. Lust. Je nescey.
 I could not speak with her
 No[r] with none of her folks.
Man. Not with one?
Bod. Lust. No! they be asleep everyone:
 All that ever dwell there.
Man. How knowest thou whether they be asleep or no?
Bod. Lust. Marry! she herself told me so
 When I rapped at the door.
Man. It seemeth she was not asleep then.
Bod. Lust. No! she was abed with a strange man.
Man. A mischief on her, whore!
 I would this fire were in her tail, I make God avow!
Bod. Lust. That needeth not; she is hot enow;
 It were more alms to get
 Some cold water her fire to quench:
 I tell you, it is as warm a wench
 As any in all this street—
 I supposed I had angered her ill.
Man. How so?
Bod. Lust. For I rang her a knil
 That waked her from her sleep;
 I gave her a peal for her friends' souls—
 A man might have heard the noise from Poules
 To the farthest end of Cheap.
 She saw that I would not cease but knock
 And rap still at the gate;
 She opened a window and put forth her head—
 Hence, Forty Pence! quo' she, Jack Noble is a-bed!
 This night ye come too late.
 Ah! standeth the wind so cold, quod I?
 K. q. tytle! we have a bry—
 This gear goeth all wide.
 And so I came thence a great pace
 Till I came hither; lo! this is the case—
 Have I not well hied?
Man. Well, man! there is no more to do;
 That we cannot have we must forego;
 There is none other remedy.
 Lo, Worldly Affection! now mayst thou see
 Thy counsel was nought that thou gavest me.
Wor. Aff. No more it was truly!
Man. Yea, I told thee as much before,
 It is good to be sure evermore;
 Therefore, now let us go
 And resort again to our old hostess:
 That is the best way now, as I guess.
Wor. Aff. Yea, hardely do so!

[Then they three go out, [Sensuality remaining,] and Pride cometh in.

Pride. Sirs! remember ye that this other day
 Man promised me, even in his stead,
 That I should with him dwell; and now, I hear say
 The wild worm is come into his head;
 So that by Reason only he is led:
 It may well be so; but, I am sure
 That Reason shall not alway with him endure.
 Methinketh that Sensuality doth not his part
 According to the duty of his office;
 For, nobody can better turn a man's heart,
 Nor yet a readier mean devise
 To put away such foolish fantasy,
 Than Sensuality if he lust to assay,
 For he is chief ruler when Reason is away.
Sens. [coming forward]. Yea, a ruler will I be though Reason say Nay.
Pride. Ah, Sensuality! welcome, by this day!
 What, tidings good?
Sens. Yea, by my fay!
 As good as can be told.
 I have brought this man to his old guise.
Pride. Hast thou so?
Sens. Yea, on warrantise!
Pride. Now, forsooth! I give thee prick and praise;
 Thou art worth thy weight of gold.
 Of this tidings I am glad and fain;
 But shall I be welcome to him again
 And all our company?
Sens. Yea, hardely!
 As welcome as ever ye were before.
Pride. God's blessing have thine heart, therefore;
 Thus am I in thy debt, more and more.
Sens. Japes! why say ye so?
Pride. For—I speak it after my mind—
 Thou art to me alway so kind.
 But, where shall I our master find?
 To him will I go.
Sens. He is busy—hark! in your ear—
 With little Margery—ye wot where?
 And, as soon as I had brought him there
 I came my way apace.
 And, because he should not be alone,
 I left with him Worldly Affection,
 And other errand had I none.
 Now to this place,
 But even to show you what is done;
 And from hence I must anon,
 For to seek another companion
 To give attendance.
Pride. Who is that?
Sens. Marry! Gluttony.
 Our master calleth for him busily—
 Sawest thou him not?
Pride. No, certainly!
 To my remembrance.
Sens. I must go seek him without any tarrying—
 But, Pride! I warn you of one thing
 While I think thereon:
 When my master and ye shall meet,
 In any wise see that ye him greet
 In the old fashion;
 And make as though ye know nothing
 Of his divers and variable dealing;
 Keep that in your breast.
 Ye cannot do him more displeasure
 Than thereof to make reporture;
 Therefore, let it rest!
 To speak thereof it is high treason. [Then he goeth out.
Pride. I am glad ye warn me thus in season;
 I shall be the better ware.
 By this warning I shall be wise
 And do as ye me advertise:
 Take thereof no care. [Enter Sloth.
Sloth. Will ye be wise, quod a? marry! that is a thing—
 By God! ye had need to have better warning
 Or ye bring that about.
Pride. What, brother Sloth! from whence comest thou?
Sloth. Straight from my bed, I make God avow!
 Mine eyes be almost out
 For lack of sleep—but this, sir! to you:
 Methought ye called me Sloth, right now;
 Peace, no more of that!
 I have a new name as well as ye.
Pride. What is that? Ease?
Sloth. Yea, parde!
 But it forceth not
 While our master is not present.
 Between us twain I am content
 Call me what ye will—
 But where is our master?
Pride. Wottest thou ne'er?
Sloth. No!
Pride. No more do I.
Sloth. There, there, there!
 Thou shalt dwell with me still;
 Thou art as good a waiter as I.
Pride. I shrew the better of us both, hardely!
 But, surely we do not well;
 We shall not continue with yonder man
 But we await better, now and than.
 Therefore, by my counsel,
 Let us twain go together
 To seek our master.
Sloth. But wottest thou whither
 We shall now go
 To find our master?
Pride. I shall assay.
 Thou shalt see me guess the way;
 And, happily, find him too.
 Now must I to the stewes, as fast as I may,
 To fetch this gentleman; but, sirs! I say,
 Can any man here tell me the way?
 For I came never there.
 Ye know the way, parde! of old;
 I pray thee tell me which way shall I hold—
 Will ye see this whoreson cuckold?
 I trow he cannot hear—
 Now it were alms to clap thee on the crown!

[Then cometh in Man and Worldly Affection.

Man. Why, be there any cuckolds in town?
Pride. Yea, I durst hold thereon my gown
 That there be a score;
 But, fore God! I cry you mercy;
 For, by my faith! I wist you not so nigh.
 Had I wist it I ensure you, faithfully,
 That word I would have forbore.
Man. No force, hardely! it toucheth not me—
 But worship! tell me, where have ye be?
 Methinketh long sith I you see:
Pride. Sir! it is no marvel.
 Bade ye not me, the last day,
 To go purvey for your array,
 And ye remember well.
Man. Yea, fore God! have ye done the same?
Pride. Yea, by the rood! else were I to blame.
 All thing is ready, in pain of shame,
 Else I quit me ill.
 The tailor told me yester night
 That all your garments were ready dight—
 Will ye go thither and have a sight?
Man. Yea, marry! with a good will.
Sloth. Will ye that I go with you also?
Man. I wot never whether ye may attend thereto;
 For ye do nothing
 But even after your own sweet will.
Sloth. Why should I ever wait nay that I nill?
 For, to be a king,
 I may not endure continual business.
 I was never used thereto; doubtless
 I should not live a year
 If I followed you, I am sure;
 Ye stir and labour out of measure:
 I saw never your peer:
 Ye ween there can nothing be do
 But if ye put your hand thereto;
 And I wis that is no need.
 Ye have servants, that be true and just,
 If it would like you to put them in trust,
 And quit well their meed.
 What should I attend you for to please,
 When I see well ye set by none ease,
 Which belongeth to me?
Man. Why, Ease! what meaneth thee thus to say?
 I do but eat, drink, sleep, and play,
 And none other labour, parde!
Sloth. Yea, ye may say what ye will
 But I can never see you idle,
 And quiet as ye should be.
 Your body laboureth as doth an hackney
 That beareth the burden every day,
 That pity it is to see;
 And your mind, on that other side,
 Is never idle, nor unoccupied.
 I wis it grieveth me
 To see you demeaned that wise:
 I trow ye be set all on covetise!
Man. Covetise? nay, let be!
 It is a thing of greater cure
 That sticketh in my mind, be thou sure!
Sloth. So methought, by the rood!
 I wist as much there was something,
 By your lowering cheer and your sighing,
 That was not all thing good—
 But, what is the matter? I pray you, heartily!
Man. I wis thou canst not devise the remedy
 With all the wit thou hast.
 But this is the case, to tell it shortly:
 A thing was told me as I came hereby
 How Reason purveyeth fast,
 And maketh very great labour and ordinance
 To dash us all out of countenance;
 And, for that purpose,
 He hath gathered a great company.
Sloth. What to do?
Man. I wot ne'er I.
 But, as I suppose,
 It is to bring me in captivity;
 And to take from me my liberty—
 So he hath oft said.
Pride. Fear ye that matter?
Man. Nay, never a deal!
 But I care for it, wit ye well,
 Yet am I not afraid.
 For I will withstand it proudly;
 And, sirs! I trust ye will stand thereby
 When it shall be need.
Pride. Yea, by the way that God went!
 Or he have of you his intent
 First shall I bleed
 The best blood that is in this carcase.
Man. Well, Ease! go thy way hence, apace,
 And make therein good speed.
 Call my company all together,
 And bid them every man come hither
 That is with me affeed.
Sloth. Marry, sir! that shall be do. [Then he goeth out.
 Man. Worship! in the meantime let us go
 To see my new apparel.
Pride. Will ye so? Now, for your lady's sake,
 Go do it on you; and I undertake
 It shall become you well.
Man. Worldly Affection! abide thou here
 For I will go do on this new gear
 As Worship doth me counsel.

[Then Man and Pride goeth out.

Wor. Aff. Marry, I shall! with all mine heart!
 This good fire and I will not depart;
 For very cold mine hands do smart:
 It maketh me woe-begone.
 Get me a stool! here! may ye not see?
 Or else a chair will it not be—
 Thou pild knave! I speak to thee;
 How long shall I stand? [Enter Gluttony.
Glut. Let him stand, with a foul evil!
 [The lower margin is shaved off] the devil
 Will ye see—lo! every drivel,
 Nowadays I warrant,
 Must command as he were a king:
 Let him stand on his feet with breeding.
Wor. Aff. What, Gluttony! I can tell thee one thing:
 In faith you will be shent!
Glut. Why?
Wor. Aff. My master hath sent Sensuality
 To seek thee all about the country—
 Spakest thou not with him?
Glut. Yes, parde!
 I know all his intent;
 And, thereupon, I am come here
 For to await; but wottest thou where
 Our master is now?
Wor. Aff. Nay, I wot ne'er;
 I am not very certain
 But Pride and he together be gone.
 He said he would come again, anon,
 Within an hour or twain.
 Tarry thou here, and go not away!
 I will go break my fast and I may,
 For I ate never a morsel this day. [Then he goeth out.
Glut. Marry! that is a thing:
 Go when thou wilt, I will abide.
 My stomach he shall not rule or guide
 That is now fasting—
 Nay, of all thing earthly I hate to fast;
 Four times a day I make repast;
 Or thrice as I suppose.
 And, when I am well fed
 Then get I me to a soft bed
 My body to repose;
 There take I a nap or twain.
 Up I go straight and to it again;
 Though nature be not ready,
 Yet have I some meat of delight,
 For to provoke th' appetite
 And make the stomach greedy.
 After all this needs I must
 Sometime follow the wanton lust

[This line is shaved off at the foot of the page.

For hot drinks and delicate refection
 Causeth fleshly insurrection:
 Ye know it as well as I. [Man entereth.
Man. Troth! as ye say, I know it well.
Glut. What gentleman is this, can ye tell?
Bod. Lust. Wottest thou never?
Glut. No, by the bell!
 I saw him never before.
Bod. Lust. Is it our master?
Glut. Nay, by the rood!
 It is not he; wouldst thou make me wood?
Man. Yes, I am the same.
Glut. I cry you mercy! I see it well now;
 Before, I knew you not, I make God avow!
 In earnest nor in game.
Man. Why? Because I have changed mine array?
Glut. For that cause, trow ye? nay, nay!
 That is not the thing
 That can deceive me, be ye sure.
 But, I pray you, who hath had you in cure
 Since my last departing?
Man. By my faith! a little season
 I followed the counsel and diet of Reason.
Glut. There went the hare away!
 His diet, quod a! it may be, verily:
 For ye be haltered marvellously—
 Altered, I would say.
 Alas! the while had ye no meat
 As long as ye were under his diet?
Man. Meat? yes, I had some,
 Without it were on fasting days;
 Then he withdrew my supper always
 And gave me never a crumb.
Glut. No force, hardely; why would ye then
 Favour him as ye did like a madman?
 Ye look now as it were a ghost.
 Had ye dwelt with him till this day
 Ye had been pined even away,
 As ye be now almost:
 Your flesh is gone every deal—
 A vengeance on the morsel
 That is left thereon!
Bod. Lust. Now, talk of the remedy.
 Glut. Marry! now must he eat and drink fast;
 Other remedy is there none.
Bod. Lust. Yea, but where is the meat? now let us see!
Glut. Ye are passing hasty, benedicite!
 First must ye go
 Whereas provision thereof is made;
 Let us go thither and it shall be had.
Man. But what is the mistress of the inn?
 A wedded woman or a virgin?
Glut. Neither of both, I wis!
Bod. Lust. No! but for a maiden she goeth.
Glut. Yea, fore God! that she doth;
 But yet she is none, by Jis!
Bod. Lust. No, no! what then?
Glut. I wis I not; but, as men clatter,
 They say she is innupta mater,
 Hardely an holy woman.
Man. Well, thither we will! go we hence!
Bod. Lust. Sir! ye will give me licence
 To sport me for a season?
Man. Yes, for a while ye well enow;
 But go not out of the way, I charge you;
 For hither will come, anon,
 All my company, as I suppose:
 Keep them together! for I purpose
 To come again anon,
 And show them my mind what I will do. [Then he goeth out.
Bod. Lust. Marry! I shall do what I can thereto;
 And yet, it is hard for me
 To keep them together any while.
 But I shall tell you what:
 I had liever keep as many fleas,
 Or wild hares in an open lese,
 As undertake that.

[Entereth Wrath and Envy.

Then cometh in Gluttony with a cheese and a bottle.

Wrath. Marry! here cometh one—
 Good Fellowship meseemeth it should be.
Glut. Sirs, God speed ye!
Man. What tidings with thee?
Glut. I shall tell you anon

[A line has been shaved away at the foot of the page.]

Marry, sir! I am come here
 For to attend upon you;
 We shall a warfare it is told me.
Man. Yea, where is thy harness?
Glut. Marry! here may ye see—
 Here is harness enow.
Wrath. Why, hast thou none other harness but this?
Glut. What the devil harness should I miss,
 Without it be a bottle?
 Another bottle I will go purvey
 Lest that drink be scarce in the way;
 Or happily none to sell.
Wrath. Thou must have other harness than this, man!
Glut. Other harness? nay, I shrew me then!
 I can no skill thereon—
 Why, trowest thou that I will fight?
Envy. Yea, so I trow!
Glut. Nay, by God Almight!
 Thereof will I none;
 I was never wont to that gear.
 But I may serve to be a victualler—
 And thereof shall ye have store—
 So that I may stand out of danger
 Of gun shot; but I will come no near;
 I warn you that before!
Envy. Now, such a knave I betake to the devil!
 This is even such another drivel
 As was here whilere:
 They be two knaves anointed.
 I fear me, sir! ye shall be disappointed;
 I like not this gear.
Glut. O! I had forgotten, I make God avow!
 Sir! my fellow, Ease, commandeth me to you.
Man. Commandeth thee to me?
Glut. You to me!
Man. Me to thee!
Glut. Commandeth you to him, I would have said.
Man. Why cometh he not hither?
Glut. By God! for he is afraid;
 And lieth sick in his bed.
 He took such a conceit when he heard of this gear
 That for thought and very fear

[A line is shaved away at the foot of the page.]

Wrath. And he were hanged it were no reck:
 I pray God, the devil break his neck!
 And all such as he is.
Man. Well, let us suffer for awhile;
 I will go walk hence half a mile;
 And for all this,
 Happily, all this gear shall not need
 Howbeit that I doubt and dread
 The worst, as wise men do.
 Manhood! come thyself with me.
Glut. And I too, sir?
Man. Yea, parde!
 Wouldst thou be prayed thereto?

Then goeth out Man, Gluttony and Wrath.

Envy. Now, he that would have war or strife
 I pray God send him a shrewd wife;
 And then shall he have enow.
 But, I shall tell you, sirs! as for me,
 I am none of them; so mot I thee!
 I may say to you
 I will no such reckonings abide.
 God's body! here cometh Pride
 As crank as a peacock!
 As soon as he and I meet,
 Without he stand right upon his feet,
 He shall bear me a proud mock. [Pride entereth.]
Pride. What tidings, sirs? can any man tell?
Envy. Yea, marry! that can I do as well
 As any that was in field;
 Ye have tarried so long about your gay gear
 That the field is done or ye come there.
Pride. Done? marry, God shield!
Envy. It is done without fail;
 But which of them hath won the battle
 I cannot tell you certain.
Pride. Thou were not there it seemeth thereby!
Envy. Not I there, quod a? yes, hardely!
 And that to my great pain;
 But, as soon as the battles joined together,
 I came my way straight hither
 For to tell tidings.
Pride. What the devil tidings canst thou tell?
Envy. Marry! I can show you nothing of the battle,
 But of many other tidings.
 Ye are out of conceit, I tell you, for ever;
 Because ye did not you[r] endeavour
 At this great voyage;
 Insomuch that ye are like to lese,
 Both your office and all your fees,
 And put clean out of wages.
Pride. That is not true, as I suppose.
Envy. Sir! and it be not, take my nose
 And my head also!
 Your office was given or I came thence.
Pride. Marry! that was a very short sentence;
 And I not called thereto.
 Now, Envy, what counsel wilt thou give me?
Envy. By my troth, Pride! thou mayst believe me,
 If I were in thy case
 I would withdraw me for a season;
 Though it be neither felony, nor treason,
 Nor yet wilful trespass.
 Yet the same is worst of all;
 For every knave will thee call
 A coward to thy face.
Pride. I am unhappy, I see it well,
 For th' expense of mine apparel
 Towards this voyage,
 What in horses and other array,
 Hath compelled me for to lay
 All my land to mortgage.
 And now, when I have all do,
 To lose mine office and fees also
 For my true intent,
 I may say that all my cost
 And all my time is evil lost
 In service that I have spent.
 Well, whatsoever betide me,
 For a season I will hide me,
 After thy counsel.
 And, sith it will no better be,
 Farewell! I take my leave of thee.
Envy. Now, gentle Pride, farewell! [Exit.
 Alas! that I had no good fellow here
 To bear me company, and laugh at this gear:
 This game was well found.

[Sensuality entereth.

Sens. Yes, and ye lust to play the knave
 Some manner of company ye might have,
 Here within this ground.
Envy. Some I can think, young or old;
 And else it were a small household
 As any might be found.
Sens. It is not small; the company showeth well;
 But, methought thou were about to tell
 Of some merry jest,
 Or some merry game at my coming.
Envy. Yea, hardely! it is a game for a king,
 When he lusteth best,
 To laugh for his disport and solace.
 Sir! I shall tell thee this is the case:
 Right now, as I stood
 In this place, and never a man with me,
 In came Pride garnished as it had be
 One of the royal blood.
 It grieved me to see him so well besene;
 But, I have abated his courage clean,
 For a little season.
 By the rood! I have given him a checkmate;
 For I bare him a hand that he came too late,
 And that the field was done,
 And how his office was given away
 Because he failed our master that day:
 I made him to believe so.
 And when I had told him all this tale,
 Anon, he began to wax all pale,
 Full of care and woe.
 And now he hideth himself for shame;
 I gave him mine advice to the same;
 And so he is gone.
Sens. Now, on my faith! this was madly do!
 But, in faith! what moveth thee thereto?
Envy. Marry! cause had I none;
 But only that it is my guise
 When I see another man arise,
 Or fare better than I,
 Then must I chafe and fret for ire,
 And imagine, with all my desire,
 To destroy him utterly.
 But now, in earnest, Sensuality!
 Tell me when this fray shall be;
 I pray ye heartily!
Sens. What, against Reason?
Envy. Yea, the same!
Sens. Tush! they be agreed, in pain of shame!
 And good company they keep.
Envy. Agreed, quod a? in the mere name;
 Marry, sir! that were a game
 To make some of us weep.
Sens. Weep or laugh, man! so it is;
 And who, trow ye, is the cause of this?
Envy. Who?
Sens. Age, the devil him quell!
Envy. Why, is Age now come in place?
Sens. Yea, and that may ye spy by his face
 And ye mark it well.
 His stomach fainteth every day;
 His back crooketh; his head waxeth gray;
 His nose droppeth among;
 His lust is gone and all his liking;
 I see it well, by everything,
 He may not live long;
 And all maketh Age, as I said before.
 He is the doer, and what trow ye more
 This Age hath done?
Envy. What?
Sens. By my faith! he hath brought in Reason
 In such wise that, at no season,
 Nothing can be wrought
 But Reason must be called thereto:
 I fear me he will us all undo
 Within few days.
 As soon as Gluttony had espied
 All this gear, he would not abide;
 But went even his ways.
 Our master prayed him to tarry a season—
 Nay, nay, quoth he! now have I done;
 I may no longer tarry:
 For Age and I may not together dwell.
 And straightway he departed, fair and well.
 Bodily Lust stood by,
 And saw that Gluttony would needs be gone.
 Have with thee, Gluttony, quod he! anon,
 For I must go with thee.
 So that two be gone together;
 Came there none of them both hither?
Envy. Never a one, that I see!
Sens. Well, they be gone some other way
 To get a new master as soon as they may;
 They cannot be unpurveyed.
 And, as soon as they two were gone,
 Our master sent for Covetise anon,
 And heartily him prayed
 To await on him well for a year or two;
 And he hath promised him so to do,
 As for a year or twain;
 But Reason may not thereof know.
Envy. Reason, quod a? no, so I trow!
 He will that disdain;
 But where hath Covetise been many a day?
Sens. He dwelt with a priest, as I heard say;
 For he loveth well
 Men of the church, and they him also;
 And lawyers eke, when they may tend thereto,
 Will follow his counsel.
Envy. So men say there, as I dwell.
 But, Sensuality! canst thou tell,
 Now in this case,
 What were best for us to do?
Sens. Marry! I hold it best that we go
 Hereby, to some place,
 And semble together all our company;
 To hear their minds, by and by,
 And every man's opinion
 What shall be best for to do.
Envy. By my troth, and be it so!
 I hold it well done.

[Then they go forth and Reason and Man come in.

Rea. Sir! I have ofttimes you advised
 To live virtuously, and showed you the way;
 And that notwithstanding ye have me despised,
 And followed Sensuality many a day.
 Will ye so continue? yea, or nay?
 If ever ye purpose yourself to amend,
 It is time; for your life draweth fast to th' end.
Man. I cannot continue though I would;
 For Age hath wained me clean therefro.
 And yet, Reason! when ye me told
 Of this gear, many day ago,
 I thought little I should have come hereto,
 But had of your words great scorn and disdain.
 Would God that my life were to begin again!
Rea. Speak not thereof! that may not be.
 A thing done cannot be called again;
 But the thing that most feareth me,
 On your behalf, I tell you plain,
 Is that ye would in nowise abstain
 From sinful lusts, as I willed you to do
 Till now that age compelleth you thereto.
Man. That is full true, without feigning;
 As long as mine appetite did endure
 I followed my lusts in everything;
 Which now, by the course and law of nature,
 And not of my policy or good endeavour,
 Is taken from me for evermore:
 And so can I deserve no meed therefore.
But notwithstanding this mine abusion,
 I trust that by the help of your good advice
 I may be made the child of salvation.
Rea. Yes, and ye will, sir! on warrantise;
 So that ye utterly forsake and despise
 All your old servants, in will and deed,
 And do by my counsel.
Man. Yes, have ye no dread!
Rea. Then, my soul for yours I lay to wed;
 Ye shall do well—have ye no mistrust!
 And first, to begin with, I you forbid
 All manner of despair; and secondly, ye must
 Put to your mind and good will
 To be recured of your great excess;
 For, without your help, it cannot be, doubtless!
As in this example: if so be the patient
 Of himself be willing to have any remedy,
 It is a great furtherance to that intent
 So that to the precepts of physic he apply;
 And whoso doth the contrary, no marvel, truly,
 Though he miscarry. What! should I bring
 Any mo examples for so plain a thing?
Man. It shall be no need, as in this case;
 I know right well what ye mean thereby;
 And that will I follow, by God's grace!
Rea. Then, as I told you, it shall be no maistry
 Yourself to comfort, and to have good remedy
 Against the great surfeits that thou hast done,
 By which thou hast deserved endless damnation.
But do as I shall tell thee, and have no dread;
 And, for to give thee medicines most according
 Ayenst thy sores, do by my rede.
 Look! what disease is hot and brenning
 Take ever such a medicine as is cold in working;
 So that the contrary, in all manner of wise,
 Must heal his contrary, as physic doth devise.
Right so whoso lusteth from sin to arise,
 Where he hath in pride done any offence,
 He can be helpen thereof none otherwise
 But only by meekness: that is the recompense.
 Again wrath and envy, take charity and patience;
 Take alms deed again the sin of covetise.
And, to repress gluttony, acquaint ye with abstinence;
 Again foul lust of body, take chastity and continence.
 Much sin groweth by sloth and by idleness,
 And that must be eschewed by men of good business.
 Lo! these be preparatives, most sovereign,
 Against thy sores, which be mortal
 Unless that these medicines to them be lain.
 When thou hast received these preparatives all
 I will come again, if thou me call,
 And order thee further after my mind.
Man. Yea, but where shall I these preparatives find?
Rea. Thou shalt them find within thine own breast.
 Of thee it must come; it must be thy deed;
 For voluntary sacrifice pleaseth God best.
 Thou canst not thereof have help or meed
 But if this gear of thine own heart proceed.
Man. Well, I shall endeavour me to the uttermost;
 And till I have found them I shall never rest.
 But how shall I know them? that wot I ne'er;
 I pray you show me that before your departing.
Rea. It needeth not thereof to inquire:
 Thou shalt know them at the first meeting.
 Of two contraries there is but one learning;
 That is to say, when thou knowest well that one
 The other contrary is known anon.

Then he goeth out and Meekness cometh in.

Meekness. Whoso wotteth histories of scripture well
 Shall find that for pride and presumption
 Lucifer, which sometime was a glorious angel—
 For that his offence had such correction
 That both he, and eke many a legion
 Of his order—was cast down to hell
 By rightful Justice, perpetually there to dwell.
Remember also Adam, the first of our line,
 What pain he suffered for pride and disobedience!
 Causeth he not a great decay and ruin,
 In all the progeny, for the same offence?
 In suchwise that he, and all that were born since,
 Be utterly disherited and put from paradise;
 And so we be made thrall unto sin and vice.
And lost should we be all, of very justice,
 Ne had be that God of His merciful goodness
 Did us, soon after, with His own blood mainprize
 And us redeemed from pains endless;
 So that we do not disobey or transgress
 His high commandments, but demean us well
 After His laws while we here dwell.
And forasmuch as man's nature
 Is frail, and lightly to sin will assent,
 Either of purpose or on witting peradventure,
 There the said good Lord hath him sent,
 Again every sin, a remedy convenient.
 For He ne would have one soul to be lore
 Whom He hath dear bought, as I said before.
The root of all sin is pride, ye know well;
 Which is mine adversary in all that he may;
 Where I am in place he may not dwell.
 His malicious power I can right well allay;
 And teach every creature the remedy and way
 How to subdue pride; which no man can do
 Without that I, Meekness, must help thereto.
Man. Then your help and counsel is necessary to me:
 Whereof, I pray you, with all heart's affection!
Meek. All ready at hand—whosoever it be
 That lusteth to have me for his consolation.
Man. I myself have sinned in pride and elation:
 Show me your counsel what way shall I take
 A due satisfaction for that sin to make.
Meek. Thou must, before all thing, set little prize
 By thine own self; and take no heed
 Whether the people do thee praise or despise.
 Be thou meek in heart, in word, and in deed;
 Think not that thou wouldst any man over lead;
 Be soft and lowly in speech to every wight;
 And use none array that staring is to sight!
 Lo! in these three things only standeth pride
 If thou commit the least of them three.
Man. From this day forth I will set them aside
 And follow the counsel that ye give me.
Meek. Do so, and I will clearly discharge thee:
 As for the sin of pride, my soul for thine,
 Thou shalt be all whole if thou take this medicine.
 Then he goeth out.
Man. Yes, I shall take it; think not the contrary!
 Now am I well eased, yet have I not done all.

[Enter Charity.

Charity. There is no living physician, no poticary
 That can devise so sovereign cordial
 Again the sore of envy, which is mortal.
 No man living, I you ensure,
 Without my help may undertake that cure.
 For, I am called Charity, the salve for that sickness,
 Whom th' Apostle Paul commandeth singularly,
 In divers his epistles: I can well repress
 The rancour of Envy and give therein good remedy.
Man. Then is your counsel to me full necessary:
 If ye be Charity ye are bound, doubtless,
 To have some compassion of your neighbours' distress.
Char. Why, hast thou been envious before this day?
Man. Yes, as God knoweth well! and that I rue sore.
Char. Well, this must be the remedy—mark what I say:
 There is no sin that displeaseth God more
 Than doth this sin of Envy; and, therefore,
 If so be thou wilt thine own soul safeguard,
 Be thou never envious from this day forward.
Also, that sin is to man unnatural;
 More than any other, in mine opinion.
 For all other sins—mark therein well—
 A man committeth with some delectation;
 But Envy is ever full of pain and passion,
 And tormenteth himself with sorrowful sadness
 When he seeth his neighbour's prosperity or gladness.
 He is never glad, nor taketh any solace
 But at his neighbour's harm, loss, or heaviness.
 He speaketh sometime fair before a man's face,
 And yet within his heart he is full of doubleness;
 For, behind his back, he will never cease
 With slanderous words, to appair his good name;
 And many a-falsely doth he report for the same.
 Ye know, sir! whether it be thus or no;
 But now another while to speak of remedy.
 If ye will be holpen, sir! thus must ye do:
 First, before all things, love God entirely;
 Next, that thy neighbour love as thine own body;
 That is to say, thou must thee to him behave
 And do him such courtesy as thou wouldst of him have.
 Observe these two things: and do no more
 In recompense of thy great trespass,
 Touching the sin of envy, rehearsed before.
Man. To observe them well, God send me His grace!
 And I thank you for your comfort and counsel in this case:
 I shall myself endeavour according thereto.
Char. God send thee His grace well so to do!

`Then he goeth out [and Patience cometh in].

Patience. The remedy of wrath and outrageous ire
 Must needs come of me, and none otherwise.
 For I am called Patience, which quencheth the fire
 And flames of wrath: it is also my guise,
 By soft words and sufferance, to overcome mine enemies.
Man. Now, welcome Patience, for whom I have sought!
 Help me with your counsel for His love that all wrought.
Pat. This is my counsel: if thou wilt withstand
 Thy ghostly enemy, and this temptation,
 Thou must have me, Patience, ever ready at hand;
 Specially in suffering of worldly tribulation.
 Remember how Christ died, in time of His passion!
 There mayst thou learn how to be patient
 In any adversity that to thee shall be sent.
 And yet there may be no comparison
 Betwixt the least part of His pain
 And the greatest wrong that to thee can be done:
 Wherefore, thou, wretch! shouldst not disdain;
 But gladly thou shouldst thyself refrain
 From ireful passions, as I said before,
 Sith thou shalt have a reward in heaven therefore.
Man. It is my full mind and intent,
 Hereafter, to do as ye me advertise.
Pat. Now, He that all goodness to us hath sent,
 Send you His grace to demean you that wise! [Then he goeth out.
Man. I shall do my good will, on warrantise!
 Now, who can me best direct,
 My slothful idleness for to correct?

[Good Occupation cometh in.

Good Occupation. The sin of sloth I can well repress;
 And I shall teach thee to do the same.
Man. How should I do it?
Good Occ. By mean of me, Good Business,
 And so am I called, for that is my name.
 Idleness is never without sin or blame;
 By mean thereof much sin cometh in:
 For it is the very mother and mistress of sin.
 In eschewing thereof thou must ever use
 Some good occupation, in body or mind;
 And if thou do this my counsel refuse,
 So that the devil in idleness thee find,
 Then according to his property and kind
 He laboureth fast, by mean of temptation,
 To bring thy soul unto endless damnation.
 Therefore do some good occupation alway,
 As well with the body as with mind inward.
 And if thou do not this counsel obey,
 Thou shalt thine own soul greatly enjeopard.
 On that other side thou mayst be no coward,
 Nor fearful of penance, or other good deed,
 Sith thou shalt be sure to have heaven to thy meed.
Man. This counsel is good; I thank you, therefore;
 My mind is well eased therein, be ye sure!
Good Occ. Is there anything else that I can do more?
Man. None to my knowledge, for ye have done your cure.
Good Occ. See that ye wisely now put in ure.

Then he goeth out [and Liberality cometh in].

Man. Yes, hardely think not the contrary!
 Sith it is to me so behoveful and necessary.
Liberality. I am Liberality, the virtue cardinal;
 By whom is confounded the sin of avarice.
 Whosoever lusteth on me to call
 I am ready therein to give mine advice.
Man. Sir! I pray you, in my most hearty wise,
 [Help] to reform and order my mind.
Lib. First, thou must be sorry for the abusing
 Of temporal goods, before this day;
 Next, that I will advise thee, before all thing,
 If thou hast wrongfully taken away
 Any man's good, go without delay
 And thereof to thy power make due restitution;
 For erst shalt thou have of thy sin no remission.
Man. Why, trow ye that I shall not be excused
 By alms deed of that offence?
Lib. No, no, hardely! thou art greatly abused:
 Think not thereby to make recompense;
 For, by that alms, thou doest great offence
 And displeasure to God.
Man. Why say ye so?
 Christ Himself bade that we should alms do.
Lib. Yea, fore God! but that should be do
 Of well-gotten goods; else it is nought.
Man. Well, I assent gladly thereto;
 As in that one point I am fully taught:
 Wit is nothing worth till it be dear bought!
 But what other amends shall I make,
 The foul sin of avarice to suage and a-slake?
Lib. Thou must have compassion, and also be liberal
 Unto thy neighbour at his necessity.
Man. I trow ye would have me to give away all,
 And leave myself nought!
Lib. I mean not so, pardy!
 For that is waste and sinful prodigality.
 Take the midway, betwixt them two,
 And flee the extremities howsoever thou do.
 Thou must thy worldly goods so employ,
 In charitable deeds with due compassion,
 That thou mayest buy everlasting joy
 For the good intent of that distribution.
 Thou mayest also give them to thy damnation;
 As when thou doest it to win thereby
 Praising of the people, or some other vain glory.
 For, trust it well! thou must give a reckoning
 Of all the goods that come to thine use.
 The high Judge that knoweth all thing,
 To whom thou shalt thyself accuse,
 Without any appeal or feigned excuse
 ... in this case
 From whom thou canst not hide thy face.
 There shalt thou openly show and confess
 How that goods came to thy possession;
 What mind and pleasure thou had'st in riches;
 And why thou had'st therein such affection;
 What alms-deed or other good distribution;
 Or how thou hast these goods wasted or abused—
 There it shall be known: it cannot be refused.
 Then, as I said to thee before,
 Thou shalt receive after thy deserving:
 Joy or else pain to endure evermore.
Man. Truly this is a fearful thing!
Lib. Therefore, remember well my saying;
 Mark well my counsel, and follow the same.
Man. If I did not I were greatly to blame!

Then Liberality goeth out and Abstinence and Chastity come in.

Then they go out and Reason cometh in.

Rea. I hear say, to my great joy and gladness,
 That according to my counsel and advice,
 This mortal creature doth well his business
 To correct and forsake all his old vice.
 And that he is in good way, and likely to arise
 From the vale of sin, which is full of darkness,
 Toward the contemplation of light that is endless.
 Lo, sirs! are not we all much behold
 To our Maker for this great patience.
 Which, notwithstanding our sins manifold
 Wherein we daily do Him offence,
 Yet of His merciful and great magnificence
 He doth not punish as soon as we offend,
 But suffereth in hope that we will amend.
 He suffereth a sinner sometime to endure
 A long life in honour and great prosperity:
 It is a thing that daily is put in ure.
 And many a great danger escapeth he
 Where good men perish: this may ye see;
 And all because that He would him win
 And have him to turn and forsake his sin.

[Mankind returns.

Oh, here cometh he that I look for.
 Sir! have ye done as I willed you to do?
Man. Yea, that have I done; and what trow ye more?
 I have been with Repentance also,
 Which from my heart shall never go;
 For he brought me unto Confession;
 And anon I was acquainted with heart's contrition.
 They advised and charged me to do satisfaction;
 And so have I done, to my best power.
Rea. Then art thou fully the child of salvation!
 Have good perseverance, and be not in fear;
 Thy ghostly enemy can put thee in no danger;
 And greater reward thou shalt therefore win
 Than he that never in his life did sin.
 And to the intent that thou mayest well
 Persevere and continue in this sure way,
 Or we depart hence, by my counsel,
 Let us by one accord together sing and pray
 With as humble devotion as we can or may;
 That we may have grace from sin thus to rise
 As often as we fall; and let us pray this wise.

[Then they sing some goodly ballet.

[Here follow "The Names of the Players" as given on page 42.]

[Pg 134]
[Pg 135]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

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