Chapter 20

Felicite.Al thyngys contryuyd by mannys reason,The world enuyronnyd of hygh and low estate,Be it erly or late, welth hath a season,Welth is of wysdome the very trewe probate;A fole is he with welth that fallyth at debate:But men nowe a dayes so vnhappely be vryd,That nothynge than welth may worse be enduryd.To tell you the cause me semeth it no nede,The amense therof is far to call agayne;For when men by welth, they haue lytyll drede10Of that may come after; experyence trewe and playne,Howe after a drought there fallyth a showre of rayne,And after a hete oft cometh a stormy colde.A man may haue welth, but not, as he wolde,Ay to contynewe and styll to endure;But yf prudence be proued with sad cyrcumspeccyon,Welthe myght be wonne and made to the lure,If noblenesse were aquayntyd with sober dyreccyon;But wyll hath reason so vnder subieccyon,And so dysordereth this worlde ouer all,20That welthe and felicite is passynge small.But where wonnys Welthe, and a man wolde wyt?For welthfull Felicite truly is my name.Lyberte.[780]Mary, Welthe and I was apoynted to mete,And eyther I am dysseyued, or ye be the same.Fel.Syr, as ye say, I haue harde of your fame;Your name is Lyberte, as I vnderstande.Lyb.Trewe you say, syr; gyue me your hande.Fel.And from whens come ye, and it myght be askyd?Lyb.To tell you, syr, I dare not, leest I sholde be maskyd30In a payre of fetters or a payre of stockys.Fel.Here you not howe this gentylman mockys?Lyb.Ye, to knackynge ernyst what and it preue?Fel.Why, to say what he wyll, Lyberte hath leue.Lyb.Yet Lyberte hath ben lockyd vp and kept in the mew.Fel.In dede, syr, that lyberte was not worthe a cue:Howe be it lyberte may somtyme be to large,But yf reason be regent and ruler of your barge.Lyb.To that ye say I can well condyssende:Shewe forth, I pray you, here in what you intende.40Fel.Of that I intende to make demonstracyon,It askyth lesure with good aduertysment.Fyrst, I say, we owght to haue in consyderacyon,That lyberte be lynkyd with the chayne of countenaunce,Lyberte to let from all maner offence;For lyberte at large is lothe to be stoppyd,But with countenaunce your corage must be croppyd.Lyb.Then thus to you—Fel.Nay, suffer me yet ferther to say,And peraduenture I shall content your mynde.50Lyberte, I wote well, forbere no man there may,It is so swete in all maner of kynde;Howe be it lyberte makyth many a man blynde;By lyberte is done many a great excesse;Lyberte at large wyll oft wax reklesse:Perceyue ye this parcell?Lyb.Ye, syr, passyng well:But, and you wolde me permytTo shewe parte of my wyt,Somwhat I coulde enferre,60Your consayte to debarre,Vnder supportacyonOf pacyent tolleracyon.Fel.God forbyd ye sholde be letYour reasons forth to fet;Wherfore at lyberteSay what ye wyll to me.Lyb.Brefly to touche of my purpose the effecte;Lyberte is laudable and pryuylegyd from lawe,Judycyall rygoure shall not me correcte—70Fel.Softe, my frende; herein your reason is but rawe.Lyb.Yet suffer me to say the surpluse of my sawe;What wote ye where vpon I wyll conclude?I say, there is no welthe where as lyberte is subdude;I trowe ye can not say nay moche to this;To lyue vnder lawe, it is captyuyte;Where drede ledyth the daunce, there is no ioy nor blysse;Or howe can you proue that there is felycyte,And you haue not your owne fre lyberteTo sporte at your pleasure, to ryn and to ryde?80Where lyberte is absent, set welthe asyde.Hic intratMeasure.Meas.Cryst you assyste in your altrycacyon!Fel.Why, haue you harde of our dysputacyon?Meas.I parceyue well howe eche of you doth reason.Lyb.Mayster Measure, you be come in good season.Meas.And it is wonder that your wylde insolenceCan be content with Measure presence.Fel.Wolde it please you then—Lyb.Vs to informe and ken—Meas.A, ye be wonders men!90Your langage is lyke the penneOf hym that wryteth to fast.Fel.Syr, yf any worde haue pastMe other fyrst or last,To you I arecte it, and castTherof the reformacyon.Lyb.And I of the same facyon;Howe be it, by protestacyon,Dyspleasure that you none take,Some reason we must make.100Meas.That wyll not I forsake,So it in measure be:Come of, therfore, let se;Shall I begynne or ye?Fel.Nay, ye shall begynne, by my wyll.Lyb.It is reason and skyll,We your pleasure fulfyll.Meas.Then ye must bothe consentYou to holde contentWith myne argument;110And I muste you requyreMe pacyently to here.Fel.Yes, syr, with ryght good chere.Lyb.With all my herte intere.Meas.Oracius to recorde, in his volumys olde,With euery condycyon measure must be sought:Welthe without measure wolde here hymselfe to bolde,Lyberte without measure proue a thynge of nought;I ponder by nomber, by measure all thynge is wrought,As at the fyrst orygynall by godly opynyon,120Whych prouyth well that measure shold haue domynyon:Where measure is mayster, plenty dothe none offence;Where measure lackyth, all thynge dysorderyd is;Where measure is absent, ryot kepeth resydence;Where measure is ruler, there is nothynge amysse;Measure is treasure: howe say ye, is it not this?Fel.Yes, questyonlesse, in myne opynyon,Measure is worthy to haue domynyon.Lyb.Vnto that same I am ryght well agrede,So that lyberte be not lefte behynde.130Meas.Ye, lyberte with measure nede neuer drede.Lyb.What, lyberte to measure then wolde ye bynde?Meas.What ellys? for otherwyse it were agaynst kynde:If lyberte sholde lepe and renne where he lyst,It were no vertue, it were a thynge vnblyst;It were a myschefe, yf lyberte lacked a reyne,Where with to rule hym with the wrythyng of a rest:All trebyllys and tenours be rulyd by a meyne;Lyberte without measure is acountyd for a beste;There is no surfet where measure rulyth the feste;140There is no excesse where measure hath his helthe;Measure contynwyth prosperyte and welthe.Fel.Vnto your rule I wyll annex my mynde.Lyb.So wolde I, but I wolde be lothe,That wonte was to be formyst, now to come behynde:It were a shame, to God I make an othe,Without I myght cut it out of the brode clothe,As I was wonte euer at my fre wyll.Meas.But haue ye not herde say, that wyll is no skyll?Take sad dyreccyon, and leue this wantonnesse.150Lyb.It is[781]no maystery.Fel.Tushe, let Measure precede,And after his mynde herdely your selfe adresse;For, without measure, pouerte and nedeWyll crepe vpon vs, and vs to myschefe lede;For myschefe wyll mayster vs, yf measure vs forsake.Lyb.Well, I am content your wayes to take.Meas.Surely, I am ioyous that ye be myndyd thus.Magnyfycence to mayntayne, your promosyon shalbe.Fel.So in his harte he may be glad of vs.160Lyb.There is no prynce but he hath nede of vs thre,Welthe, with Measure and plesaunt Lyberte.Meas.Nowe pleasyth you a lytell whyle to stande;Me semeth Magnyfycence is comynge here at hande.Hic intratMagnyfycence.Magn.To assure you of my noble porte and fame,Who lyst to knowe, Magnyfycence I hyght.But, Measure my frende, what hyght this mannys name?Meas.Syr, though ye be a noble prynce of myght,Yet in this man you must set your delyght;And, syr, this other mannys name is Lyberte.170Magn.Welcome, frendys, ye are bothe vnto me:But nowe let me knowe of your conuersacyon.Fel.Pleasyth your grace, Felycyte they me call.Lyb.And I am Lyberte, made of in euery nacyon.Magn.Conuenyent persons for any prynce ryall.Welthe with Lyberte, with me bothe dwell ye shall,To the gydynge of my Measure you bothe commyttynge:That Measure be mayster, vs semeth it is syttynge.Meas.Where as ye haue, syr, to me them assygned,Suche order, I trust, with them for to take,180So that welthe with measure shalbe conbyned,And lyberte his large with measure shall make.Fel.Your ordenaunce, syr, I wyll not forsake.Lyb.And I my selfe hooly to you wyll inclyne.Magn.Then may I say that ye be seruauntys myne,For by measure, I warne you, we thynke to be gydyd;Wherin it is necessary my pleasure you knowe,Measure and I wyll neuer be deuydydFor no dyscorde that any man can sawe;For measure is a meane, nother to by nor to lawe,190In whose attemperaunce I haue suche delyght,That measure shall neuer departe from my syght.Fel.Laudable your consayte is to be acountyd;For welthe without measure sodenly wyll slyde.Lyb.As your grace full nobly hath recountyd,Measure with noblenesse sholde be alyde.Magn.Then, Lyberte, se that Measure be your gyde,For I wyll vse you by his aduertysment.Fel.Then shall you haue with you prosperyte resydent.Meas.I trowe, good fortune hath annexyd vs together,200To se howe greable we are of one mynde;There is no flaterer, nor losyll so lyther,This lynkyd chayne of loue that can vnbynde.Nowe that ye haue me chefe ruler assyngned,I wyll endeuour me to order euery thyngeYour noblenesse and honour consernynge.Lyb.In ioy and myrthe your mynde shalbe inlargyd,And not embracyd with pusyllanymyte;But plenarly all thought from you must be dyschargyd,If ye lyst to lyue after your fre lyberte:210All delectacyons aquayntyd is with me,By me all persons worke what they lyste.Meas.Hem, syr, yet beware of Had I wyste!Lyberte in some cause becomyth a gentyll mynde,Bycause course of measure, yf I be in the way:Who countyth[782]without me, is caste to fer behyndeOf his rekenynge, as euydently we maySe[783]at our eye the worlde day by day;For defaute of measure all thynge dothe excede.Fel.All that ye say is as trewe as the Crede;220For howe be it lyberte to welthe is conuenyent,And from felycyte may not be forborne,Yet measure hath ben so longe from vs absent,That all men laugh at lyberte to scorne;Welth and wyt, I say, be so threde bare worne,That all is without measure, and fer beyonde the mone.Magn.Then noblenesse, I se well, is almoste vndone,But yf therof the soner amendys be made;For dowtlesse I parceyue my magnyfycenceWithout measure lyghtly may fade,230Of to moche lyberte vnder the offence:Wherfore, Measure, take Lyberte with you hence,And rule hym after the rule of your scole.Lyb.What, syr, wolde ye make me a poppynge fole?Meas.Why, were not your selfe agreed to the same,And now wolde ye swarue from your owne ordynaunce?Lyb.I wolde be rulyd, and I myght for shame.Fel.A, ye make me laughe at your inconstaunce.Magn.Syr, without any longer delyaunce,Take Lyberte to rule, and folowe myne entent.240Meas.It shalbe done at your commaundement.ItaqueMeasureexeat locum cumLibertate, et maneatMagnyfycencecumFelicitate.Magn.It is a wanton thynge this Lyberte;Perceyue you not howe lothe he was to abydeThe rule of Measure, notwithstandynge weHaue deputyd Measure hym to gyde?By measure eche thynge duly is tryde:Thynke you not thus, my frende Felycyte?Fel.God forbede that it other wyse sholde be!Magn.Ye coulde not ellys, I wote, with me endure.Fel.Endure? no, God wote, it were great payne;250But yf I were orderyd by iust measure,It were not possyble me longe to retayne.Hic intratFansy.Fan.Tusche, holde your pece, your langage is vayne.Please it your grace to take no dysdayne,To shewe you playnly the trouth as I thynke.Magn.Here is none forsyth whether you flete or synke.Fel.From whens come you, syr, that no man lokydafter?Magn.Or who made you so bolde to interrupe my tale?Fan.Nowe,benedicite, ye wene I were some hafter,Or ellys some iangelynge Jacke of the vale;260Ye wene that I am dronken, bycause I loke pale.Magn.Me semeth that ye haue dronken more than ye haue bled.Fan.Yet amonge noble men I was brought vp and bred.Fel.Nowe leue this iangelynge, and to vs expoundeWhy that ye sayd our langage was in vayne.Fan.Mary, vpon trouth my reason I grounde,That without largesse noblenesse can not rayne;And that I sayd ones, yet I say agayne,I say without largesse worshyp hath no place,For largesse is a purchaser of pardon and of grace.270Magn.Nowe, I beseche thé, tell me what is thy name?Fan.Largesse, that all lordes sholde loue, syr, I hyght.Fel.But hyght you, Largesse, encreace of noble fame?Fan.Ye, syr, vndoubted.Fel.Then, of very ryght,With Magnyfycence, this noble prynce of myght,Sholde be your dwellynge, in my consyderacyon.Magn.Yet we wyll therin take good delyberacyon.Fan.As in that, I wyll not be agaynst your pleasure.Fel.Syr, hardely remembre what may your name auaunce.280Magn.Largesse is laudable, so it in measure be.Fan.Largesse is he that all prynces doth auaunce;I reporte me herein to Kynge Lewes of Fraunce.Fel.Why haue ye hym named, and all other refused?Fan.For, syth he dyed, largesse was lytell vsed.Plucke vp your mynde, syr; what ayle you to muse?Haue ye not welthe here at your wyll?It is but a maddynge, these wayes that ye vse:What auayleth lordshyp, yourselfe for to kyllWith care and with thought howe Jacke shall haue Gyl?290Magn.What? I haue aspyed ye are a carles page.Fan.By God, syr, ye se but fewe wyse men of myne age;But couetyse hath blowen you so full of wynde,Thatcolica passiohath gropyd you by the guttys.Fel.In fayth, broder Largesse, you haue a mery mynde.Fan.In fayth, I set not by the worlde two Dauncaster cuttys.Magn.Ye wante but a wylde flyeng bolte to shote at the buttes:Though Largesse ye hyght, your langage is to large;For whiche ende goth forwarde ye take lytell charge.Fel.Let se, this checke yf ye voyde canne.300Fan.In faythe, els had I gone to longe to scole,But yf I coulde knowe a gose from a swanne.Magn.Wel, wyse men may ete the fysshe, when ye shal draw the pole.Fan.In fayth, I wyll not say that ye shall proue a fole,But ofte tymes haue I sene wyse men do mad dedys.Magn.Go, shake the dogge,[784]hay, syth ye wyll nedys!You are nothynge mete with vs for to dwell,That with your lorde and mayster so pertly can prate:Gete you hens, I say, by my counsell;I wyll not vse you to play with me checke mate.310Fan.Syr, yf I haue offended your noble estate,I trow I haue brought you suche wrytynge of recorde,That I shall haue you agayne my good lorde:To you recommendeth Sad Cyrcumspeccyon,And sendeth you this wrytynge closed vnder sele.Magn.This wrytynge is welcome with harty affeccyon:Why kepte you it thus longe? howe dothe he? wele?Fan.Syr, thanked be God, he hath his hele.Magn.Welthe, gete you home, and commaunde me to Mesure;Byd hym take good hede to you, my synguler tresure.320Fel.Is there ony thynge elles your grace wyll commaunde me?Magn.Nothynge but fare you well tyll sone;And that he take good kepe to Lyberte.Fel.Your pleasure, syr, shortely shall be done.Magn.I shall come to you myselfe, I trowe, this after none.[785]I pray you, Larges, here to remayne,Whylest I knowe what this letter dothe contayne.Hic faciat tanquam legeret litteras tacite. Interim superveniat cantandoCounterfet Countenauncesuspenso gradu, qui, visoMagnyfycence, sensim retrocedat; at[786]tempus post pusillum rursum accedatCounterfet Countenaunceprospectando et vocitando a longe; etFansyanimat[787]silentium cum manu.C. Count.What, Fansy, Fansy!Magn.Who is that that thus dyd cry?Me thought he called Fansy.330Fan.It was a Flemynge hyght Hansy.Magn.Me thought he called Fansy me behynde.Fan.Nay, syr, it was nothynge but your mynde:But nowe, syr, as touchynge this letter—Magn.I shall loke in it at leasure better:And surely ye are to hym beholde;And for his sake ryght gladly I woldeDo what I coude to do you good.Fan.I pray, God kepe you in that mood!Magn.This letter was wryten ferre hence.340Fan.By lakyn, syr, it hathe cost me penceAnd grotes many one, or I came to your presence.Magn.Where was it delyuered you, shewe vnto me.Fan.By God, syr, beyonde the se.Magn.At what place nowe, as you gesse?Fan.By my trouthe, syr, at Pountesse;This wrytynge was taken me there,But neuer was I in gretter fere.Magn.Howe so?Fan.By God, at the see syde,350Had I not opened my purse wyde,I trowe, by our lady, I had ben slayne,Or elles I had lost myne eres twayne.Magn.[788]By your soth?Fan.Ye, and there is suche a wache,That no man can scape but they hym cache.They bare me in hande that I was a spye;And another bade put out myne eye,Another wolde myne eye were blerde,Another bade shaue halfe my berde;360And boyes to the pylery gan me plucke,And wolde haue made me Freer Tucke,To preche out of the pylery hole,Without an antetyme or a stole;And some bade sere hym with a marke:To gete me fro them I had moche warke.Magn.Mary, syr, ye were afrayde.Fan.By my trouthe, had I not payde and prayde,And made largesse as I hyght,I had not ben here with you this nyght;370But surely largesse saued my lyfe,For largesse stynteth all maner of stryfe.Magn.It dothe so sure nowe and than,But largesse is not mete for euery man.Fan.No, but for you grete estates:Largesse stynteth grete debates;And he that I came fro to this placeSayd I was mete for your grace;And in dede, syr, I here men talke,By the way as I ryde and walke,380Say howe you excede in noblenesse,If you had with you largesse.Magn.And say they so in very dede?Fan.With ye, syr, so God me spede.Magn.Yet mesure is a mery mene.Fan.Ye, syr, a blannched almonde is no bene.Measure is mete for a marchauntes hall,But largesse becometh a state ryall.What, sholde you pynche at a peeke of otes,Ye wolde sone pynche at a pecke of grotes.390Thus is the talkynge of one and of oder,As men dare speke it hugger mugger;A lorde a negarde, it is a shame,But largesse may amende your name.Magn.In faythe, Largesse, welcome to me.Fan.I pray you, syr, I may so be,And of my seruyce you shall not mysse.Magn.Togyder we wyll talke more of this:Let vs departe from hens home to my place.Fan.I folow euen after your noble grace.400Hic discedatMagnificenscumFansy, et intrat[789]Counterfet Countenaunce.C. Count.What, I say, herke a worde.Fan.Do away, I say, the deuylles torde!C. Count.Ye, but how longe shall I here awayte?Fan.By Goddys body, I come streyte:I hate this blunderyng that thou doste make.C. Count.Nowe to the deuyll I thé betake,For in fayth ye be well met.Fansy hath cachyd in a flye netThis noble man Magnyfycence,Of Largesse vnder the pretence.410They haue made me here to put the stone:But nowe wyll I, that they be gone,In bastarde ryme, after the dogrell gyse,Tell you where of my name dothe ryse.For Counterfet Countenaunce knowen am I;This worlde is full of my foly.

Felicite.Al thyngys contryuyd by mannys reason,

The world enuyronnyd of hygh and low estate,

Be it erly or late, welth hath a season,

Welth is of wysdome the very trewe probate;

A fole is he with welth that fallyth at debate:

But men nowe a dayes so vnhappely be vryd,

That nothynge than welth may worse be enduryd.

To tell you the cause me semeth it no nede,

The amense therof is far to call agayne;

For when men by welth, they haue lytyll drede10

Of that may come after; experyence trewe and playne,

Howe after a drought there fallyth a showre of rayne,

And after a hete oft cometh a stormy colde.

A man may haue welth, but not, as he wolde,

Ay to contynewe and styll to endure;

But yf prudence be proued with sad cyrcumspeccyon,

Welthe myght be wonne and made to the lure,

If noblenesse were aquayntyd with sober dyreccyon;

But wyll hath reason so vnder subieccyon,

And so dysordereth this worlde ouer all,20

That welthe and felicite is passynge small.

But where wonnys Welthe, and a man wolde wyt?

For welthfull Felicite truly is my name.

Lyberte.[780]Mary, Welthe and I was apoynted to mete,

And eyther I am dysseyued, or ye be the same.

Fel.Syr, as ye say, I haue harde of your fame;

Your name is Lyberte, as I vnderstande.

Lyb.Trewe you say, syr; gyue me your hande.

Fel.And from whens come ye, and it myght be askyd?

Lyb.To tell you, syr, I dare not, leest I sholde be maskyd30

In a payre of fetters or a payre of stockys.

Fel.Here you not howe this gentylman mockys?

Lyb.Ye, to knackynge ernyst what and it preue?

Fel.Why, to say what he wyll, Lyberte hath leue.

Lyb.Yet Lyberte hath ben lockyd vp and kept in the mew.

Fel.In dede, syr, that lyberte was not worthe a cue:

Howe be it lyberte may somtyme be to large,

But yf reason be regent and ruler of your barge.

Lyb.To that ye say I can well condyssende:

Shewe forth, I pray you, here in what you intende.40

Fel.Of that I intende to make demonstracyon,

It askyth lesure with good aduertysment.

Fyrst, I say, we owght to haue in consyderacyon,

That lyberte be lynkyd with the chayne of countenaunce,

Lyberte to let from all maner offence;

For lyberte at large is lothe to be stoppyd,

But with countenaunce your corage must be croppyd.

Lyb.Then thus to you—

Fel.Nay, suffer me yet ferther to say,

And peraduenture I shall content your mynde.50

Lyberte, I wote well, forbere no man there may,

It is so swete in all maner of kynde;

Howe be it lyberte makyth many a man blynde;

By lyberte is done many a great excesse;

Lyberte at large wyll oft wax reklesse:

Perceyue ye this parcell?

Lyb.Ye, syr, passyng well:

But, and you wolde me permyt

To shewe parte of my wyt,

Somwhat I coulde enferre,60

Your consayte to debarre,

Vnder supportacyon

Of pacyent tolleracyon.

Fel.God forbyd ye sholde be let

Your reasons forth to fet;

Wherfore at lyberte

Say what ye wyll to me.

Lyb.Brefly to touche of my purpose the effecte;

Lyberte is laudable and pryuylegyd from lawe,

Judycyall rygoure shall not me correcte—70

Fel.Softe, my frende; herein your reason is but rawe.

Lyb.Yet suffer me to say the surpluse of my sawe;

What wote ye where vpon I wyll conclude?

I say, there is no welthe where as lyberte is subdude;

I trowe ye can not say nay moche to this;

To lyue vnder lawe, it is captyuyte;

Where drede ledyth the daunce, there is no ioy nor blysse;

Or howe can you proue that there is felycyte,

And you haue not your owne fre lyberte

To sporte at your pleasure, to ryn and to ryde?80

Where lyberte is absent, set welthe asyde.

Hic intratMeasure.

Meas.Cryst you assyste in your altrycacyon!

Fel.Why, haue you harde of our dysputacyon?

Meas.I parceyue well howe eche of you doth reason.

Lyb.Mayster Measure, you be come in good season.

Meas.And it is wonder that your wylde insolence

Can be content with Measure presence.

Fel.Wolde it please you then—

Lyb.Vs to informe and ken—

Meas.A, ye be wonders men!90

Your langage is lyke the penne

Of hym that wryteth to fast.

Fel.Syr, yf any worde haue past

Me other fyrst or last,

To you I arecte it, and cast

Therof the reformacyon.

Lyb.And I of the same facyon;

Howe be it, by protestacyon,

Dyspleasure that you none take,

Some reason we must make.100

Meas.That wyll not I forsake,

So it in measure be:

Come of, therfore, let se;

Shall I begynne or ye?

Fel.Nay, ye shall begynne, by my wyll.

Lyb.It is reason and skyll,

We your pleasure fulfyll.

Meas.Then ye must bothe consent

You to holde content

With myne argument;110

And I muste you requyre

Me pacyently to here.

Fel.Yes, syr, with ryght good chere.

Lyb.With all my herte intere.

Meas.Oracius to recorde, in his volumys olde,

With euery condycyon measure must be sought:

Welthe without measure wolde here hymselfe to bolde,

Lyberte without measure proue a thynge of nought;

I ponder by nomber, by measure all thynge is wrought,

As at the fyrst orygynall by godly opynyon,120

Whych prouyth well that measure shold haue domynyon:

Where measure is mayster, plenty dothe none offence;

Where measure lackyth, all thynge dysorderyd is;

Where measure is absent, ryot kepeth resydence;

Where measure is ruler, there is nothynge amysse;

Measure is treasure: howe say ye, is it not this?

Fel.Yes, questyonlesse, in myne opynyon,

Measure is worthy to haue domynyon.

Lyb.Vnto that same I am ryght well agrede,

So that lyberte be not lefte behynde.130

Meas.Ye, lyberte with measure nede neuer drede.

Lyb.What, lyberte to measure then wolde ye bynde?

Meas.What ellys? for otherwyse it were agaynst kynde:

If lyberte sholde lepe and renne where he lyst,

It were no vertue, it were a thynge vnblyst;

It were a myschefe, yf lyberte lacked a reyne,

Where with to rule hym with the wrythyng of a rest:

All trebyllys and tenours be rulyd by a meyne;

Lyberte without measure is acountyd for a beste;

There is no surfet where measure rulyth the feste;140

There is no excesse where measure hath his helthe;

Measure contynwyth prosperyte and welthe.

Fel.Vnto your rule I wyll annex my mynde.

Lyb.So wolde I, but I wolde be lothe,

That wonte was to be formyst, now to come behynde:

It were a shame, to God I make an othe,

Without I myght cut it out of the brode clothe,

As I was wonte euer at my fre wyll.

Meas.But haue ye not herde say, that wyll is no skyll?

Take sad dyreccyon, and leue this wantonnesse.150

Lyb.It is[781]no maystery.

Fel.Tushe, let Measure precede,

And after his mynde herdely your selfe adresse;

For, without measure, pouerte and nede

Wyll crepe vpon vs, and vs to myschefe lede;

For myschefe wyll mayster vs, yf measure vs forsake.

Lyb.Well, I am content your wayes to take.

Meas.Surely, I am ioyous that ye be myndyd thus.

Magnyfycence to mayntayne, your promosyon shalbe.

Fel.So in his harte he may be glad of vs.160

Lyb.There is no prynce but he hath nede of vs thre,

Welthe, with Measure and plesaunt Lyberte.

Meas.Nowe pleasyth you a lytell whyle to stande;

Me semeth Magnyfycence is comynge here at hande.

Hic intratMagnyfycence.

Magn.To assure you of my noble porte and fame,

Who lyst to knowe, Magnyfycence I hyght.

But, Measure my frende, what hyght this mannys name?

Meas.Syr, though ye be a noble prynce of myght,

Yet in this man you must set your delyght;

And, syr, this other mannys name is Lyberte.170

Magn.Welcome, frendys, ye are bothe vnto me:

But nowe let me knowe of your conuersacyon.

Fel.Pleasyth your grace, Felycyte they me call.

Lyb.And I am Lyberte, made of in euery nacyon.

Magn.Conuenyent persons for any prynce ryall.

Welthe with Lyberte, with me bothe dwell ye shall,

To the gydynge of my Measure you bothe commyttynge:

That Measure be mayster, vs semeth it is syttynge.

Meas.Where as ye haue, syr, to me them assygned,

Suche order, I trust, with them for to take,180

So that welthe with measure shalbe conbyned,

And lyberte his large with measure shall make.

Fel.Your ordenaunce, syr, I wyll not forsake.

Lyb.And I my selfe hooly to you wyll inclyne.

Magn.Then may I say that ye be seruauntys myne,

For by measure, I warne you, we thynke to be gydyd;

Wherin it is necessary my pleasure you knowe,

Measure and I wyll neuer be deuydyd

For no dyscorde that any man can sawe;

For measure is a meane, nother to by nor to lawe,190

In whose attemperaunce I haue suche delyght,

That measure shall neuer departe from my syght.

Fel.Laudable your consayte is to be acountyd;

For welthe without measure sodenly wyll slyde.

Lyb.As your grace full nobly hath recountyd,

Measure with noblenesse sholde be alyde.

Magn.Then, Lyberte, se that Measure be your gyde,

For I wyll vse you by his aduertysment.

Fel.Then shall you haue with you prosperyte resydent.

Meas.I trowe, good fortune hath annexyd vs together,200

To se howe greable we are of one mynde;

There is no flaterer, nor losyll so lyther,

This lynkyd chayne of loue that can vnbynde.

Nowe that ye haue me chefe ruler assyngned,

I wyll endeuour me to order euery thynge

Your noblenesse and honour consernynge.

Lyb.In ioy and myrthe your mynde shalbe inlargyd,

And not embracyd with pusyllanymyte;

But plenarly all thought from you must be dyschargyd,

If ye lyst to lyue after your fre lyberte:210

All delectacyons aquayntyd is with me,

By me all persons worke what they lyste.

Meas.Hem, syr, yet beware of Had I wyste!

Lyberte in some cause becomyth a gentyll mynde,

Bycause course of measure, yf I be in the way:

Who countyth[782]without me, is caste to fer behynde

Of his rekenynge, as euydently we may

Se[783]at our eye the worlde day by day;

For defaute of measure all thynge dothe excede.

Fel.All that ye say is as trewe as the Crede;220

For howe be it lyberte to welthe is conuenyent,

And from felycyte may not be forborne,

Yet measure hath ben so longe from vs absent,

That all men laugh at lyberte to scorne;

Welth and wyt, I say, be so threde bare worne,

That all is without measure, and fer beyonde the mone.

Magn.Then noblenesse, I se well, is almoste vndone,

But yf therof the soner amendys be made;

For dowtlesse I parceyue my magnyfycence

Without measure lyghtly may fade,230

Of to moche lyberte vnder the offence:

Wherfore, Measure, take Lyberte with you hence,

And rule hym after the rule of your scole.

Lyb.What, syr, wolde ye make me a poppynge fole?

Meas.Why, were not your selfe agreed to the same,

And now wolde ye swarue from your owne ordynaunce?

Lyb.I wolde be rulyd, and I myght for shame.

Fel.A, ye make me laughe at your inconstaunce.

Magn.Syr, without any longer delyaunce,

Take Lyberte to rule, and folowe myne entent.240

Meas.It shalbe done at your commaundement.

ItaqueMeasureexeat locum cumLibertate, et maneatMagnyfycencecumFelicitate.

Magn.It is a wanton thynge this Lyberte;

Perceyue you not howe lothe he was to abyde

The rule of Measure, notwithstandynge we

Haue deputyd Measure hym to gyde?

By measure eche thynge duly is tryde:

Thynke you not thus, my frende Felycyte?

Fel.God forbede that it other wyse sholde be!

Magn.Ye coulde not ellys, I wote, with me endure.

Fel.Endure? no, God wote, it were great payne;250

But yf I were orderyd by iust measure,

It were not possyble me longe to retayne.

Hic intratFansy.

Fan.Tusche, holde your pece, your langage is vayne.

Please it your grace to take no dysdayne,

To shewe you playnly the trouth as I thynke.

Magn.Here is none forsyth whether you flete or synke.

Fel.From whens come you, syr, that no man lokyd

after?

Magn.Or who made you so bolde to interrupe my tale?

Fan.Nowe,benedicite, ye wene I were some hafter,

Or ellys some iangelynge Jacke of the vale;260

Ye wene that I am dronken, bycause I loke pale.

Magn.Me semeth that ye haue dronken more than ye haue bled.

Fan.Yet amonge noble men I was brought vp and bred.

Fel.Nowe leue this iangelynge, and to vs expounde

Why that ye sayd our langage was in vayne.

Fan.Mary, vpon trouth my reason I grounde,

That without largesse noblenesse can not rayne;

And that I sayd ones, yet I say agayne,

I say without largesse worshyp hath no place,

For largesse is a purchaser of pardon and of grace.270

Magn.Nowe, I beseche thé, tell me what is thy name?

Fan.Largesse, that all lordes sholde loue, syr, I hyght.

Fel.But hyght you, Largesse, encreace of noble fame?

Fan.Ye, syr, vndoubted.

Fel.Then, of very ryght,

With Magnyfycence, this noble prynce of myght,

Sholde be your dwellynge, in my consyderacyon.

Magn.Yet we wyll therin take good delyberacyon.

Fan.As in that, I wyll not be agaynst your pleasure.

Fel.Syr, hardely remembre what may your name auaunce.280

Magn.Largesse is laudable, so it in measure be.

Fan.Largesse is he that all prynces doth auaunce;

I reporte me herein to Kynge Lewes of Fraunce.

Fel.Why haue ye hym named, and all other refused?

Fan.For, syth he dyed, largesse was lytell vsed.

Plucke vp your mynde, syr; what ayle you to muse?

Haue ye not welthe here at your wyll?

It is but a maddynge, these wayes that ye vse:

What auayleth lordshyp, yourselfe for to kyll

With care and with thought howe Jacke shall haue Gyl?290

Magn.What? I haue aspyed ye are a carles page.

Fan.By God, syr, ye se but fewe wyse men of myne age;

But couetyse hath blowen you so full of wynde,

Thatcolica passiohath gropyd you by the guttys.

Fel.In fayth, broder Largesse, you haue a mery mynde.

Fan.In fayth, I set not by the worlde two Dauncaster cuttys.

Magn.Ye wante but a wylde flyeng bolte to shote at the buttes:

Though Largesse ye hyght, your langage is to large;

For whiche ende goth forwarde ye take lytell charge.

Fel.Let se, this checke yf ye voyde canne.300

Fan.In faythe, els had I gone to longe to scole,

But yf I coulde knowe a gose from a swanne.

Magn.Wel, wyse men may ete the fysshe, when ye shal draw the pole.

Fan.In fayth, I wyll not say that ye shall proue a fole,

But ofte tymes haue I sene wyse men do mad dedys.

Magn.Go, shake the dogge,[784]hay, syth ye wyll nedys!

You are nothynge mete with vs for to dwell,

That with your lorde and mayster so pertly can prate:

Gete you hens, I say, by my counsell;

I wyll not vse you to play with me checke mate.310

Fan.Syr, yf I haue offended your noble estate,

I trow I haue brought you suche wrytynge of recorde,

That I shall haue you agayne my good lorde:

To you recommendeth Sad Cyrcumspeccyon,

And sendeth you this wrytynge closed vnder sele.

Magn.This wrytynge is welcome with harty affeccyon:

Why kepte you it thus longe? howe dothe he? wele?

Fan.Syr, thanked be God, he hath his hele.

Magn.Welthe, gete you home, and commaunde me to Mesure;

Byd hym take good hede to you, my synguler tresure.320

Fel.Is there ony thynge elles your grace wyll commaunde me?

Magn.Nothynge but fare you well tyll sone;

And that he take good kepe to Lyberte.

Fel.Your pleasure, syr, shortely shall be done.

Magn.I shall come to you myselfe, I trowe, this after none.[785]

I pray you, Larges, here to remayne,

Whylest I knowe what this letter dothe contayne.

Hic faciat tanquam legeret litteras tacite. Interim superveniat cantandoCounterfet Countenauncesuspenso gradu, qui, visoMagnyfycence, sensim retrocedat; at[786]tempus post pusillum rursum accedatCounterfet Countenaunceprospectando et vocitando a longe; etFansyanimat[787]silentium cum manu.

C. Count.What, Fansy, Fansy!

Magn.Who is that that thus dyd cry?

Me thought he called Fansy.330

Fan.It was a Flemynge hyght Hansy.

Magn.Me thought he called Fansy me behynde.

Fan.Nay, syr, it was nothynge but your mynde:

But nowe, syr, as touchynge this letter—

Magn.I shall loke in it at leasure better:

And surely ye are to hym beholde;

And for his sake ryght gladly I wolde

Do what I coude to do you good.

Fan.I pray, God kepe you in that mood!

Magn.This letter was wryten ferre hence.340

Fan.By lakyn, syr, it hathe cost me pence

And grotes many one, or I came to your presence.

Magn.Where was it delyuered you, shewe vnto me.

Fan.By God, syr, beyonde the se.

Magn.At what place nowe, as you gesse?

Fan.By my trouthe, syr, at Pountesse;

This wrytynge was taken me there,

But neuer was I in gretter fere.

Magn.Howe so?

Fan.By God, at the see syde,350

Had I not opened my purse wyde,

I trowe, by our lady, I had ben slayne,

Or elles I had lost myne eres twayne.

Magn.[788]By your soth?

Fan.Ye, and there is suche a wache,

That no man can scape but they hym cache.

They bare me in hande that I was a spye;

And another bade put out myne eye,

Another wolde myne eye were blerde,

Another bade shaue halfe my berde;360

And boyes to the pylery gan me plucke,

And wolde haue made me Freer Tucke,

To preche out of the pylery hole,

Without an antetyme or a stole;

And some bade sere hym with a marke:

To gete me fro them I had moche warke.

Magn.Mary, syr, ye were afrayde.

Fan.By my trouthe, had I not payde and prayde,

And made largesse as I hyght,

I had not ben here with you this nyght;370

But surely largesse saued my lyfe,

For largesse stynteth all maner of stryfe.

Magn.It dothe so sure nowe and than,

But largesse is not mete for euery man.

Fan.No, but for you grete estates:

Largesse stynteth grete debates;

And he that I came fro to this place

Sayd I was mete for your grace;

And in dede, syr, I here men talke,

By the way as I ryde and walke,380

Say howe you excede in noblenesse,

If you had with you largesse.

Magn.And say they so in very dede?

Fan.With ye, syr, so God me spede.

Magn.Yet mesure is a mery mene.

Fan.Ye, syr, a blannched almonde is no bene.

Measure is mete for a marchauntes hall,

But largesse becometh a state ryall.

What, sholde you pynche at a peeke of otes,

Ye wolde sone pynche at a pecke of grotes.390

Thus is the talkynge of one and of oder,

As men dare speke it hugger mugger;

A lorde a negarde, it is a shame,

But largesse may amende your name.

Magn.In faythe, Largesse, welcome to me.

Fan.I pray you, syr, I may so be,

And of my seruyce you shall not mysse.

Magn.Togyder we wyll talke more of this:

Let vs departe from hens home to my place.

Fan.I folow euen after your noble grace.400

Hic discedatMagnificenscumFansy, et intrat[789]Counterfet Countenaunce.

C. Count.What, I say, herke a worde.

Fan.Do away, I say, the deuylles torde!

C. Count.Ye, but how longe shall I here awayte?

Fan.By Goddys body, I come streyte:

I hate this blunderyng that thou doste make.

C. Count.Nowe to the deuyll I thé betake,

For in fayth ye be well met.

Fansy hath cachyd in a flye net

This noble man Magnyfycence,

Of Largesse vnder the pretence.410

They haue made me here to put the stone:

But nowe wyll I, that they be gone,

In bastarde ryme, after the dogrell gyse,

Tell you where of my name dothe ryse.

For Counterfet Countenaunce knowen am I;

This worlde is full of my foly.

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