Rea.O good Lord! to whom shall I complainAnd 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 blindThat he hath despised and forsaken me,And followeth every motion of his Sensuality.What availed at the beginningThat Nature committed me to his service?And charged me that, before all thing,Of all his guiding I should take th' enterpriseWhen he lusteth not to follow mine advice,But followeth th' appetites of his sensual affection,As a brute beast that lacketh reason?And yet, notwithstandingThat he doth me disdain,I will resort to him again;And do my labour and busy painTo assay if I can him refrainFrom such beastly living.But, first will I stand hereby,In secret manner, to espySome token of grace in him, wherebyI may discern and findThat he hath any shamefacednessAfter his great surfeit and excess;And, if it be so, doubtless,It shall content my mind.[Reasongoeth aside.
Rea.O good Lord! to whom shall I complainAnd 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 blindThat he hath despised and forsaken me,And followeth every motion of his Sensuality.What availed at the beginningThat Nature committed me to his service?And charged me that, before all thing,Of all his guiding I should take th' enterpriseWhen he lusteth not to follow mine advice,But followeth th' appetites of his sensual affection,As a brute beast that lacketh reason?And yet, notwithstandingThat he doth me disdain,I will resort to him again;And do my labour and busy painTo assay if I can him refrainFrom such beastly living.But, first will I stand hereby,In secret manner, to espySome token of grace in him, wherebyI may discern and findThat he hath any shamefacednessAfter his great surfeit and excess;And, if it be so, doubtless,It shall content my mind.[Reasongoeth aside.
Mancometh in[followed byWor. Affec.
Man.I say, sirs! where is Worship, can ye tell?In this place I left him last.Wor. Aff.Sir, I warrant you he is occupied wellIn ordaining your garments, full fast;He departed from me in great hasteFor that intent; and so he desiredThat I would tell you when need required.He showed me his mind or he went;How he had devised your garment;And, if it be made after that intent,As he told me,When ye wear on that vestourEvery man shall do your honour,As becometh a man of your haviour;And so it should be.Man.Yea, but what will Reason sayWhen he seeth me in that array?Wor. Aff.Reason? Marry! let him go playTo the devil of hell:Ye promised me, at the beginning,That ye would no more be under his guiding.Man.No! but yet it were accordingTo have therein his counsel;Man, without Reason, is but blind;And, if I should speak after my mind,I can well a difference findBetwixt man and a beastWhen he hath Reason in presence,And duly obeyeth his law and sentence.Wor. Aff.Why have ye such a spiced conscienceNow, within your breast,That changeth your mind so suddenly?I am sorry and ashamed, truly,On your behalf!Man.No force, hardely!Thou leadest me all wrong;And, therefore, will I no more follow thee.Wor. Aff.Not Worldly Affection?Man.No, parde!Nor yet thy brother Sensuality:I have followed you too long.Wor. Aff.Is that your mind?Man.Yea, doubtless!And now will I seek Shamefacedness,By whom I trust I shall redressAll my misdeed.Wor. Aff.And, sith thou wilt needs to Shame bow,I pray God send thee shame enow.And yet I trust, make God avow!Once thou shalt have needTo call me again to thy service.Man.Nay, nay, on warrantise!Now, sirs! who can me adviseWhat is best to do?
Man.I say, sirs! where is Worship, can ye tell?In this place I left him last.
Wor. Aff.Sir, I warrant you he is occupied wellIn ordaining your garments, full fast;He departed from me in great hasteFor that intent; and so he desiredThat I would tell you when need required.He showed me his mind or he went;How he had devised your garment;And, if it be made after that intent,As he told me,When ye wear on that vestourEvery man shall do your honour,As becometh a man of your haviour;And so it should be.
Man.Yea, but what will Reason sayWhen he seeth me in that array?
Wor. Aff.Reason? Marry! let him go playTo the devil of hell:Ye promised me, at the beginning,That ye would no more be under his guiding.
Man.No! but yet it were accordingTo have therein his counsel;Man, without Reason, is but blind;And, if I should speak after my mind,I can well a difference findBetwixt man and a beastWhen he hath Reason in presence,And duly obeyeth his law and sentence.
Wor. Aff.Why have ye such a spiced conscienceNow, within your breast,That changeth your mind so suddenly?I am sorry and ashamed, truly,On your behalf!
Man.No force, hardely!Thou leadest me all wrong;And, therefore, will I no more follow thee.
Wor. Aff.Not Worldly Affection?
Man.No, parde!Nor yet thy brother Sensuality:I have followed you too long.
Wor. Aff.Is that your mind?
Man.Yea, doubtless!And now will I seek Shamefacedness,By whom I trust I shall redressAll my misdeed.
Wor. Aff.And, sith thou wilt needs to Shame bow,I pray God send thee shame enow.And yet I trust, make God avow!Once thou shalt have needTo call me again to thy service.
Man.Nay, nay, on warrantise!Now, sirs! who can me adviseWhat is best to do?
[EnterShamefacedness.]
Shame.Sir! if ye lust to have mine acquaintanceI 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 repressWhen ye have done offence or sin;If ye will mercy and grace winWith 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 entireWhen 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.
Shame.Sir! if ye lust to have mine acquaintanceI 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 repressWhen ye have done offence or sin;If ye will mercy and grace winWith 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 entireWhen 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[andReasoncometh 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 needOf your help than ever I had before:Help me now and I shall never forsake you more.Sith I forsook your companyI have committed much folly;I am ashamed, certainly,When I think thereon.But now have I refused utterlyAll 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 intentHereafter to be your true obedient;And never more to assentTo such folly again.Rea.And, upon that condition,I take thee unto my tuitionWith all heart's affection,Never to part atwain.And, for this season,Here we make an endLest we should offendThis 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 endeavourTo show it unto you, after our guise:When my lord shall so deviseI shall be at his pleasure.
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 needOf your help than ever I had before:Help me now and I shall never forsake you more.Sith I forsook your companyI have committed much folly;I am ashamed, certainly,When I think thereon.But now have I refused utterlyAll 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 intentHereafter to be your true obedient;And never more to assentTo such folly again.
Rea.And, upon that condition,I take thee unto my tuitionWith all heart's affection,Never to part atwain.And, for this season,Here we make an endLest we should offendThis 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 endeavourTo show it unto you, after our guise:When my lord shall so deviseI shall be at his pleasure.
Thus endeth the first part.]
ReasonandMancome in.
Rea.I assemble the life of mortal creatureTo 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 prevailBy sleight of engines, or by strong power,That other to subdue and bring into danger.In such case and manner of conditionIs wretched man, here in this life earthly,While he abideth within the garrisonOf the frail carcase and caronous body;Whom to impugn laboureth incessantlyThe 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 allectiveTo 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 exciteUs to accomplish our sensual appetite.The last of all is our great enemy;Which ever hath us in continual hatredOf old encankered malice and envyThat he oweth to us, and all the kindredOf 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 strongThat hard it will be for us, in any wise,Again them war or battle to underfong;Also our garrisons and fortress to maintain longAgain their engines; without spiritual graceWe can not perform in no manner case.Wherefore, it is to us right behovableBusily 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 fallInto such folly and utter mischanceAs should them grieve and do displeasance.Also, it behoveth on our partTo flee all such manner of occasionAs may us put in fear and jeopardyOf 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 pastSith ye me promised, and bound it fast,From that day forth to be obedientUnto my counsel and advisement?Man.Yea, sir! so I did, in very deed;And yet it is my mind and intentTo follow the same—have ye no dread!Rea.If ye do not, yourself shall repent;Now, fare ye well! for I must be absentAs for a season; and, for your comfort,Whensoever ye call me I shall to you resort.
Rea.I assemble the life of mortal creatureTo 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 prevailBy sleight of engines, or by strong power,That other to subdue and bring into danger.
In such case and manner of conditionIs wretched man, here in this life earthly,While he abideth within the garrisonOf the frail carcase and caronous body;Whom to impugn laboureth incessantlyThe 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 allectiveTo 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 exciteUs to accomplish our sensual appetite.
The last of all is our great enemy;Which ever hath us in continual hatredOf old encankered malice and envyThat he oweth to us, and all the kindredOf 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 strongThat hard it will be for us, in any wise,Again them war or battle to underfong;Also our garrisons and fortress to maintain longAgain their engines; without spiritual graceWe can not perform in no manner case.Wherefore, it is to us right behovableBusily 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 fallInto such folly and utter mischanceAs should them grieve and do displeasance.Also, it behoveth on our partTo flee all such manner of occasionAs may us put in fear and jeopardyOf 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 pastSith ye me promised, and bound it fast,From that day forth to be obedientUnto my counsel and advisement?
Man.Yea, sir! so I did, in very deed;And yet it is my mind and intentTo follow the same—have ye no dread!
Rea.If ye do not, yourself shall repent;Now, fare ye well! for I must be absentAs for a season; and, for your comfort,Whensoever ye call me I shall to you resort.
Then he goeth out andSensualitycometh 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 becomeThat served you so well this other day?Now, so help me God and halidom!I have great marvel how ye mayLive 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 goneMany 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 countenanceOf my company, your old acquaintance,That they makeFor your sake—I daresay ye would mone them in your mindThey be so loving and so kindThat I am sureIf ye endureIn this peevish opinion,It will be their confessionThere is none other remedyBut, for sorrow, they shall die.Man.Nay, God forbid they should so do!Sens.In faith! without ye help theretoThere is none other way.Man.I will help it in all that I mayAnd 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 libertyAnd did to Reason assentI had never merry day;But lived under awe and dread alway,Nothing to mine intent.Another while I will me disportAnd 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 woeWhen she heard tell of this chance;And, because she would live in penanceHer 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 bygoneSith 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 beEx omni gente cognite.No nation they forsake;Without it be beggars, going by the way,That have never a penny to payFor that that they do take.And yet can I beggars thither leadWhere they shall, for lumps of bread,Satisfy their desire:Such drabs some there beThat 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 sorrowAnd wed another whore on the morrow;Even of the same wise.Man.Forsooth! this is a noble religion;It stirreth me to great devotionFor 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?
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 becomeThat served you so well this other day?Now, so help me God and halidom!I have great marvel how ye mayLive 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 goneMany 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 countenanceOf my company, your old acquaintance,That they makeFor your sake—I daresay ye would mone them in your mindThey be so loving and so kindThat I am sureIf ye endureIn this peevish opinion,It will be their confessionThere is none other remedyBut, for sorrow, they shall die.
Man.Nay, God forbid they should so do!
Sens.In faith! without ye help theretoThere is none other way.
Man.I will help it in all that I mayAnd 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 libertyAnd did to Reason assentI had never merry day;But lived under awe and dread alway,Nothing to mine intent.Another while I will me disportAnd 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 woeWhen she heard tell of this chance;And, because she would live in penanceHer 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 bygoneSith 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 beEx omni gente cognite.No nation they forsake;Without it be beggars, going by the way,That have never a penny to payFor that that they do take.And yet can I beggars thither leadWhere they shall, for lumps of bread,Satisfy their desire:Such drabs some there beThat 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 sorrowAnd wed another whore on the morrow;Even of the same wise.
Man.Forsooth! this is a noble religion;It stirreth me to great devotionFor 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 inBodily Lust,with himWorldly Affection:Sensualitystandeth aside.
Bod. Lust.Marry, sir! I have seeken and sought youThis 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 IBe never much asunderAlbeit 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 youAt 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 placeAnd I shall show you the smorterst placeThat 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 meatSo we may have some dainty thing—Yet would I spend twenty shillingWheresoever I it get.Bod. Lust.Nay, nay! will ye spend a couple of crowns?And there shall no gentleman in these ten townsBe 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 departTo make ready this gear.Man.What! now, in all this haste?Bod. Lust.Yea, fore God, sir! I am aghastThat other knaves will come thitherBefore 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 moneBecause 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 youAt the least I would excuse me.Send her word that ye in no wiseMay 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 spareTill I be certainWhat answer Bodily Lust shall bringOf this other pretty new thingWhen he cometh again.Wor. Aff.Will it please you that I go to MargeryIn 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 cheerAs 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 stillTill I call thereon!Wor. Aff.By God, sir! for good love I spake it;And now that I see ye will not take itI shall let it alone.[Re-enterBodily 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 herNo[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 soWhen 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 getSome cold water her fire to quench:I tell you, it is as warm a wenchAs any in all this street—I supposed I had angered her ill.Man.How so?Bod. Lust.For I rang her a knilThat waked her from her sleep;I gave her a peal for her friends' souls—A man might have heard the noise from PoulesTo the farthest end of Cheap.She saw that I would not cease but knockAnd 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 paceTill 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 seeThy 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 goAnd resort again to our old hostess:That is the best way now, as I guess.Wor. Aff.Yea, hardely do so!
Bod. Lust.Marry, sir! I have seeken and sought youThis 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 IBe never much asunderAlbeit 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 youAt 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 placeAnd I shall show you the smorterst placeThat 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 meatSo we may have some dainty thing—Yet would I spend twenty shillingWheresoever I it get.
Bod. Lust.Nay, nay! will ye spend a couple of crowns?And there shall no gentleman in these ten townsBe 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 departTo make ready this gear.
Man.What! now, in all this haste?
Bod. Lust.Yea, fore God, sir! I am aghastThat other knaves will come thitherBefore 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 moneBecause 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 youAt the least I would excuse me.Send her word that ye in no wiseMay 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 spareTill I be certainWhat answer Bodily Lust shall bringOf this other pretty new thingWhen he cometh again.
Wor. Aff.Will it please you that I go to MargeryIn 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 cheerAs 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 stillTill I call thereon!
Wor. Aff.By God, sir! for good love I spake it;And now that I see ye will not take itI shall let it alone.[Re-enterBodily 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 herNo[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 soWhen 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 getSome cold water her fire to quench:I tell you, it is as warm a wenchAs any in all this street—I supposed I had angered her ill.
Man.How so?
Bod. Lust.For I rang her a knilThat waked her from her sleep;I gave her a peal for her friends' souls—A man might have heard the noise from PoulesTo the farthest end of Cheap.She saw that I would not cease but knockAnd 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 paceTill 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 seeThy 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 goAnd 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,[Sensualityremaining,]andPridecometh in.
Pride.Sirs! remember ye that this other dayMan promised me, even in his stead,That I should with him dwell; and now, I hear sayThe wild worm is come into his head;So that by Reason only he is led:It may well be so; but, I am sureThat Reason shall not alway with him endure.Methinketh that Sensuality doth not his partAccording to the duty of his office;For, nobody can better turn a man's heart,Nor yet a readier mean deviseTo 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 againAnd 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 thereI 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 companionTo 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 thingWhile I think thereon:When my master and ye shall meet,In any wise see that ye him greetIn the old fashion;And make as though ye know nothingOf his divers and variable dealing;Keep that in your breast.Ye cannot do him more displeasureThan 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 wiseAnd do as ye me advertise:Take thereof no care.[EnterSloth.Sloth.Will ye be wise, quod a? marry! that is a thing—By God! ye had need to have better warningOr 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 outFor 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 notWhile our master is not present.Between us twain I am contentCall 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 manBut we await better, now and than.Therefore, by my counsel,Let us twain go togetherTo seek our master.Sloth.But wottest thou whitherWe shall now goTo 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!
Pride.Sirs! remember ye that this other dayMan promised me, even in his stead,That I should with him dwell; and now, I hear sayThe wild worm is come into his head;So that by Reason only he is led:It may well be so; but, I am sureThat Reason shall not alway with him endure.Methinketh that Sensuality doth not his partAccording to the duty of his office;For, nobody can better turn a man's heart,Nor yet a readier mean deviseTo 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 againAnd 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 thereI 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 companionTo 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 thingWhile I think thereon:When my master and ye shall meet,In any wise see that ye him greetIn the old fashion;And make as though ye know nothingOf his divers and variable dealing;Keep that in your breast.Ye cannot do him more displeasureThan 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 wiseAnd do as ye me advertise:Take thereof no care.[EnterSloth.
Sloth.Will ye be wise, quod a? marry! that is a thing—By God! ye had need to have better warningOr 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 outFor 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 notWhile our master is not present.Between us twain I am contentCall 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 manBut we await better, now and than.Therefore, by my counsel,Let us twain go togetherTo seek our master.
Sloth.But wottest thou whitherWe shall now goTo 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 inManandWorldly Affection.
Man.Why, be there any cuckolds in town?Pride.Yea, I durst hold thereon my gownThat 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 nightThat 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 nothingBut 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; doubtlessI should not live a yearIf I followed you, I am sure;Ye stir and labour out of measure:I saw never your peer:Ye ween there can nothing be doBut 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 willBut I can never see you idle,And quiet as ye should be.Your body laboureth as doth an hackneyThat 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 meTo see you demeaned that wise:I trow ye be set all on covetise!Man.Covetise? nay, let be!It is a thing of greater cureThat 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 remedyWith all the wit thou hast.But this is the case, to tell it shortly:A thing was told me as I came herebyHow Reason purveyeth fast,And maketh very great labour and ordinanceTo 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 therebyWhen it shall be need.Pride.Yea, by the way that God went!Or he have of you his intentFirst shall I bleedThe 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 hitherThat is with me affeed.Sloth.Marry, sir! that shall be do.[Then he goeth out.Man.Worship! in the meantime let us goTo see my new apparel.Pride.Will ye so? Now, for your lady's sake,Go do it on you; and I undertakeIt shall become you well.Man.Worldly Affection! abide thou hereFor I will go do on this new gearAs Worship doth me counsel.
Man.Why, be there any cuckolds in town?
Pride.Yea, I durst hold thereon my gownThat 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 nightThat 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 nothingBut 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; doubtlessI should not live a yearIf I followed you, I am sure;Ye stir and labour out of measure:I saw never your peer:Ye ween there can nothing be doBut 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 willBut I can never see you idle,And quiet as ye should be.Your body laboureth as doth an hackneyThat 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 meTo see you demeaned that wise:I trow ye be set all on covetise!
Man.Covetise? nay, let be!It is a thing of greater cureThat 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 remedyWith all the wit thou hast.But this is the case, to tell it shortly:A thing was told me as I came herebyHow Reason purveyeth fast,And maketh very great labour and ordinanceTo 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 therebyWhen it shall be need.
Pride.Yea, by the way that God went!Or he have of you his intentFirst shall I bleedThe 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 hitherThat is with me affeed.
Sloth.Marry, sir! that shall be do.[Then he goeth out.Man.Worship! in the meantime let us goTo see my new apparel.
Pride.Will ye so? Now, for your lady's sake,Go do it on you; and I undertakeIt shall become you well.
Man.Worldly Affection! abide thou hereFor I will go do on this new gearAs Worship doth me counsel.
[ThenManandPridegoeth out.