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?[EnterGluttony.Glut.Let him stand, with a foul evil![The lower margin is shaved off] the devilWill 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 SensualityTo seek thee all about the country—Spakest thou not with him?Glut.Yes, parde!I know all his intent;And, thereupon, I am come hereFor to await; but wottest thou whereOur master is now?Wor. Aff.Nay, I wot ne'er;I am not very certainBut 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 guideThat 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 fedThen get I me to a soft bedMy 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' appetiteAnd make the stomach greedy.After all this needs I mustSometime follow the wanton lust[This line is shaved off at the foot of the page.For hot drinks and delicate refectionCauseth fleshly insurrection:Ye know it as well as I.[Manentereth.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 thingThat can deceive me, be ye sure.But, I pray you, who hath had you in cureSince my last departing?Man.By my faith! a little seasonI 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 meatAs long as ye were under his diet?Man.Meat? yes, I had some,Without it were on fasting days;Then he withdrew my supper alwaysAnd gave me never a crumb.Glut.No force, hardely; why would ye thenFavour him as ye did like a madman?Ye look now as it were a ghost.Had ye dwelt with him till this dayYe had been pined even away,As ye be now almost:Your flesh is gone every deal—A vengeance on the morselThat 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 goWhereas 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 licenceTo 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 purposeTo 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 meTo 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.
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?[EnterGluttony.
Glut.Let him stand, with a foul evil![The lower margin is shaved off] the devilWill 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 SensualityTo seek thee all about the country—Spakest thou not with him?
Glut.Yes, parde!I know all his intent;And, thereupon, I am come hereFor to await; but wottest thou whereOur master is now?
Wor. Aff.Nay, I wot ne'er;I am not very certainBut 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 guideThat 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 fedThen get I me to a soft bedMy 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' appetiteAnd make the stomach greedy.After all this needs I mustSometime follow the wanton lust
[This line is shaved off at the foot of the page.
For hot drinks and delicate refectionCauseth fleshly insurrection:Ye know it as well as I.[Manentereth.
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 thingThat can deceive me, be ye sure.But, I pray you, who hath had you in cureSince my last departing?
Man.By my faith! a little seasonI 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 meatAs long as ye were under his diet?
Man.Meat? yes, I had some,Without it were on fasting days;Then he withdrew my supper alwaysAnd gave me never a crumb.
Glut.No force, hardely; why would ye thenFavour him as ye did like a madman?Ye look now as it were a ghost.Had ye dwelt with him till this dayYe had been pined even away,As ye be now almost:Your flesh is gone every deal—A vengeance on the morselThat 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 goWhereas 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 licenceTo 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 purposeTo 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 meTo 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.
[EnterethWrathandEnvy.
Wrath.Where be these knaves that make this array?Bod. Lust.Marry! they be gone that other way—Tell me whom ye mean.Wrath.I trow, thou scornest!Bod. Lust.Nay, certainly!Howsobeit, if I should not lieAt the first blush, I ensure you, faithfully,I had forgot you clean;Because ye be thus defensibly arrayed.What meaneth that? are ye afraid?Who hath you grieved?Wrath.Nay, I fear no man that beareth a head;Yet had I liever that I were deadThan that should be proved.Bod. Lust.By my faith! ye are wont to be as boldAs it were a lion of Cotswold;But now, to my question:What meaneth all this defensible array?Wrath.Marry! Sloth warned us two this same day,Even sith it was noon,That our master and Reason should make a fray;And, therefore, he had us, without delay,To await on our captain.Bod. Lust.Ah! now I know the matter right well;But what shall come thereof I cannot tell:It passeth my brain.Our master willed that we twainShould tarry here till he come again.Envy.What wilt thou do then?Bod. Lust.Who, I? nay, care not for me!I will not come where strokes be;I am not so mad a man.And I wis it is not for any fear;But it is a thing that I can well forbear,And will as long as I can.Of lust and pleasure is all my mind;It longeth to me of property and kind;And if I should to the war,And lie in mine harness, as other men do,With hunger and thirst a day or two,It should me utterly mar.Envy.It were a great loss if thou were marred!Now, fie on the stark whoreson coward!By Cock's precious blood!It were no sin to slay such a knave.Hast not thou wages as other men have?And few of us so good;Yet wilt thou fail us at this need!Now, whosoever shall quit my meed,I will no further goTill I have slain him [with] mine own hand,Though I should forswear the landEven when I have do.[Then goeth outBodily Lust.Hold him in, sirs! I you require—Alas! would ye not, at my desire,Do so much for me?I wis it would have done me more goodTo have seen the knave's heart-bloodThan twenty shillings of fee.[Manreturneth.Man.What ho, sirs! what meaneth this gear?Will ye slay each other here?No more of this work!Envy.By the heart of God! and he had abidenA little while he should never have spokenWith priest nor with clerk.Man.Who was that?Envy.Your own minion,Bodily Lust.Man.Why, what hath he done?Envy.Even like a lurdenHe saith that ye have given him licenceTo abide at home, and keep residenceWhile we bear the burden,And serve you now at your need!Man.He prayed me so, in very deed,Within these two days.He said he would serve me with a good will;But of the wars he could no skill,Nor knew thereof the ways:Howbeit I gave him thereof none answer.Envy.No! but I am sure he will not come there;And now may ye seeThat no man is so much to blameAs yourself.Man.I?Envy.Yea, by Saint Jame!No man but even ye.For, I am well assured of one thing,Ye gave him better clothingThan ye did me;And better wages and fees also;And though I said but little thereto,But suffered evermore,Yet I disdained it ever in my mind;And though[t] that ye were to me unkindTo set so great storeBy such a knave as he was—I would I had him here, by the mass!And no man but we twain.Man.By my troth! this is ever thy guise:Look! by whom I set any prizeHim thou wilt most disdain.Wrath.By Christ! he can do none otherwise.But now, sir! is there any serviceThat ye will command me?Man.Yea, marry is there! but my companyDresseth them forward, passing slowly;I trow it will not be.Manhood! thou art good I know for one.Wrath.Yea, by Christ! and they came everyoneI will not greatly fear.Envy.By my troth! because he saith soI shall tell you what I saw him do.I was present there—Sir! it happened in Westminster Hall,Even before the judges all—His hands were bound fast;And, never upon him, that ever God made,Dagger, sword, nor knife he had.And yet, at the last,He drave twelve men into a corner;And an hour after durst they not appear.How say ye hereto?And his hands had been at libertyHe would have put them in great jeopardy—It is to suppose so.Man.Marry! there he quit him well—But where be mine other folk, can ye tell?
Wrath.Where be these knaves that make this array?
Bod. Lust.Marry! they be gone that other way—Tell me whom ye mean.
Wrath.I trow, thou scornest!
Bod. Lust.Nay, certainly!Howsobeit, if I should not lieAt the first blush, I ensure you, faithfully,I had forgot you clean;Because ye be thus defensibly arrayed.What meaneth that? are ye afraid?Who hath you grieved?
Wrath.Nay, I fear no man that beareth a head;Yet had I liever that I were deadThan that should be proved.
Bod. Lust.By my faith! ye are wont to be as boldAs it were a lion of Cotswold;But now, to my question:What meaneth all this defensible array?
Wrath.Marry! Sloth warned us two this same day,Even sith it was noon,That our master and Reason should make a fray;And, therefore, he had us, without delay,To await on our captain.
Bod. Lust.Ah! now I know the matter right well;But what shall come thereof I cannot tell:It passeth my brain.Our master willed that we twainShould tarry here till he come again.
Envy.What wilt thou do then?
Bod. Lust.Who, I? nay, care not for me!I will not come where strokes be;I am not so mad a man.And I wis it is not for any fear;But it is a thing that I can well forbear,And will as long as I can.Of lust and pleasure is all my mind;It longeth to me of property and kind;And if I should to the war,And lie in mine harness, as other men do,With hunger and thirst a day or two,It should me utterly mar.
Envy.It were a great loss if thou were marred!Now, fie on the stark whoreson coward!By Cock's precious blood!It were no sin to slay such a knave.Hast not thou wages as other men have?And few of us so good;Yet wilt thou fail us at this need!Now, whosoever shall quit my meed,I will no further goTill I have slain him [with] mine own hand,Though I should forswear the landEven when I have do.[Then goeth outBodily Lust.Hold him in, sirs! I you require—Alas! would ye not, at my desire,Do so much for me?I wis it would have done me more goodTo have seen the knave's heart-bloodThan twenty shillings of fee.[Manreturneth.
Man.What ho, sirs! what meaneth this gear?Will ye slay each other here?No more of this work!
Envy.By the heart of God! and he had abidenA little while he should never have spokenWith priest nor with clerk.
Man.Who was that?Envy.Your own minion,Bodily Lust.
Man.Why, what hath he done?
Envy.Even like a lurdenHe saith that ye have given him licenceTo abide at home, and keep residenceWhile we bear the burden,And serve you now at your need!
Man.He prayed me so, in very deed,Within these two days.He said he would serve me with a good will;But of the wars he could no skill,Nor knew thereof the ways:Howbeit I gave him thereof none answer.
Envy.No! but I am sure he will not come there;And now may ye seeThat no man is so much to blameAs yourself.
Man.I?
Envy.Yea, by Saint Jame!No man but even ye.For, I am well assured of one thing,Ye gave him better clothingThan ye did me;And better wages and fees also;And though I said but little thereto,But suffered evermore,Yet I disdained it ever in my mind;And though[t] that ye were to me unkindTo set so great storeBy such a knave as he was—I would I had him here, by the mass!And no man but we twain.
Man.By my troth! this is ever thy guise:Look! by whom I set any prizeHim thou wilt most disdain.
Wrath.By Christ! he can do none otherwise.But now, sir! is there any serviceThat ye will command me?
Man.Yea, marry is there! but my companyDresseth them forward, passing slowly;I trow it will not be.Manhood! thou art good I know for one.
Wrath.Yea, by Christ! and they came everyoneI will not greatly fear.
Envy.By my troth! because he saith soI shall tell you what I saw him do.I was present there—Sir! it happened in Westminster Hall,Even before the judges all—His hands were bound fast;And, never upon him, that ever God made,Dagger, sword, nor knife he had.And yet, at the last,He drave twelve men into a corner;And an hour after durst they not appear.How say ye hereto?And his hands had been at libertyHe would have put them in great jeopardy—It is to suppose so.
Man.Marry! there he quit him well—But where be mine other folk, can ye tell?
Then cometh inGluttonywith 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
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 hereFor 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 purveyLest 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 dangerOf 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 drivelAs 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 gearThat for thought and very fear
Marry, sir! I am come hereFor 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 purveyLest 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 dangerOf 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 drivelAs 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 gearThat 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 needHowbeit that I doubt and dreadThe 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 outMan,GluttonyandWrath.Envy.Now, he that would have war or strifeI 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 youI will no such reckonings abide.God's body! here cometh PrideAs 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.[Prideentereth.]Pride.What tidings, sirs? can any man tell?Envy.Yea, marry! that can I do as wellAs any that was in field;Ye have tarried so long about your gay gearThat 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 battleI 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 hitherFor 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] endeavourAt 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 noseAnd 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 caseI 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 callA coward to thy face.Pride.I am unhappy, I see it well,For th' expense of mine apparelTowards this voyage,What in horses and other array,Hath compelled me for to layAll my land to mortgage.And now, when I have all do,To lose mine office and fees alsoFor my true intent,I may say that all my costAnd all my time is evil lostIn 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 hereTo bear me company, and laugh at this gear:This game was well found.[Sensualityentereth.Sens.Yes, and ye lust to play the knaveSome manner of company ye might have,Here within this ground.Envy.Some I can think, young or old;And else it were a small householdAs any might be found.Sens.It is not small; the company showeth well;But, methought thou were about to tellOf 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 stoodIn this place, and never a man with me,In came Pride garnished as it had beOne 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 awayBecause 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 guiseWhen 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 gameTo 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 faceAnd 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 moreThis Age hath done?Envy.What?Sens.By my faith! he hath brought in ReasonIn such wise that, at no season,Nothing can be wroughtBut Reason must be called thereto:I fear me he will us all undoWithin few days.As soon as Gluttony had espiedAll 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 wayTo 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 prayedTo 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 wellMen 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 goHereby, to some place,And semble together all our company;To hear their minds, by and by,And every man's opinionWhat shall be best for to do.Envy.By my troth, and be it so!I hold it well done.
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 needHowbeit that I doubt and dreadThe 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 outMan,GluttonyandWrath.
Envy.Now, he that would have war or strifeI 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 youI will no such reckonings abide.God's body! here cometh PrideAs 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.[Prideentereth.]
Pride.What tidings, sirs? can any man tell?
Envy.Yea, marry! that can I do as wellAs any that was in field;Ye have tarried so long about your gay gearThat 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 battleI 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 hitherFor 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] endeavourAt 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 noseAnd 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 caseI 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 callA coward to thy face.
Pride.I am unhappy, I see it well,For th' expense of mine apparelTowards this voyage,What in horses and other array,Hath compelled me for to layAll my land to mortgage.And now, when I have all do,To lose mine office and fees alsoFor my true intent,I may say that all my costAnd all my time is evil lostIn 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 hereTo bear me company, and laugh at this gear:This game was well found.
[Sensualityentereth.
Sens.Yes, and ye lust to play the knaveSome manner of company ye might have,Here within this ground.
Envy.Some I can think, young or old;And else it were a small householdAs any might be found.
Sens.It is not small; the company showeth well;But, methought thou were about to tellOf 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 stoodIn this place, and never a man with me,In came Pride garnished as it had beOne 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 awayBecause 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 guiseWhen 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 gameTo 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 faceAnd 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 moreThis Age hath done?
Envy.What?
Sens.By my faith! he hath brought in ReasonIn such wise that, at no season,Nothing can be wroughtBut Reason must be called thereto:I fear me he will us all undoWithin few days.As soon as Gluttony had espiedAll 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 wayTo 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 prayedTo 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 wellMen 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 goHereby, to some place,And semble together all our company;To hear their minds, by and by,And every man's opinionWhat shall be best for to do.
Envy.By my troth, and be it so!I hold it well done.
[Then they go forth andReasonandMancome in.
Rea.Sir! I have ofttimes you advisedTo 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 toldOf 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 abstainFrom sinful lusts, as I willed you to doTill now that age compelleth you thereto.Man.That is full true, without feigning;As long as mine appetite did endureI 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 adviceI may be made the child of salvation.Rea.Yes, and ye will, sir! on warrantise;So that ye utterly forsake and despiseAll 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 forbidAll manner of despair; and secondly, ye mustPut to your mind and good willTo be recured of your great excess;For, without your help, it cannot be, doubtless!As in this example: if so be the patientOf himself be willing to have any remedy,It is a great furtherance to that intentSo that to the precepts of physic he apply;And whoso doth the contrary, no marvel, truly,Though he miscarry. What! should I bringAny 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 maistryYourself to comfort, and to have good remedyAgainst 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 accordingAyenst thy sores, do by my rede.Look! what disease is hot and brenningTake 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 otherwiseBut 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 mortalUnless that these medicines to them be lain.When thou hast received these preparatives allI 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 meedBut 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 oneThe other contrary is known anon.Then he goeth out andMeeknesscometh in.Meekness.Whoso wotteth histories of scripture wellShall find that for pride and presumptionLucifer, which sometime was a glorious angel—For that his offence had such correctionThat both he, and eke many a legionOf his order—was cast down to hellBy 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 goodnessDid us, soon after, with His own blood mainprizeAnd us redeemed from pains endless;So that we do not disobey or transgressHis high commandments, but demean us wellAfter His laws while we here dwell.And forasmuch as man's natureIs 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 loreWhom 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 wayHow to subdue pride; which no man can doWithout 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 beThat lusteth to have me for his consolation.Man.I myself have sinned in pride and elation:Show me your counsel what way shall I takeA due satisfaction for that sin to make.Meek.Thou must, before all thing, set little prizeBy thine own self; and take no heedWhether 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 prideIf thou commit the least of them three.Man.From this day forth I will set them asideAnd 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.
Rea.Sir! I have ofttimes you advisedTo 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 toldOf 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 abstainFrom sinful lusts, as I willed you to doTill now that age compelleth you thereto.
Man.That is full true, without feigning;As long as mine appetite did endureI 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 adviceI may be made the child of salvation.
Rea.Yes, and ye will, sir! on warrantise;So that ye utterly forsake and despiseAll 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 forbidAll manner of despair; and secondly, ye mustPut to your mind and good willTo be recured of your great excess;For, without your help, it cannot be, doubtless!
As in this example: if so be the patientOf himself be willing to have any remedy,It is a great furtherance to that intentSo that to the precepts of physic he apply;And whoso doth the contrary, no marvel, truly,Though he miscarry. What! should I bringAny 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 maistryYourself to comfort, and to have good remedyAgainst 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 accordingAyenst thy sores, do by my rede.Look! what disease is hot and brenningTake 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 otherwiseBut 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 mortalUnless that these medicines to them be lain.When thou hast received these preparatives allI 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 meedBut 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 oneThe other contrary is known anon.
Then he goeth out andMeeknesscometh in.
Meekness.Whoso wotteth histories of scripture wellShall find that for pride and presumptionLucifer, which sometime was a glorious angel—For that his offence had such correctionThat both he, and eke many a legionOf his order—was cast down to hellBy 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 goodnessDid us, soon after, with His own blood mainprizeAnd us redeemed from pains endless;So that we do not disobey or transgressHis high commandments, but demean us wellAfter His laws while we here dwell.
And forasmuch as man's natureIs 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 loreWhom 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 wayHow to subdue pride; which no man can doWithout 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 beThat lusteth to have me for his consolation.
Man.I myself have sinned in pride and elation:Show me your counsel what way shall I takeA due satisfaction for that sin to make.
Meek.Thou must, before all thing, set little prizeBy thine own self; and take no heedWhether 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 prideIf thou commit the least of them three.
Man.From this day forth I will set them asideAnd 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.
[EnterCharity.