Nay, brother, ye shall find me a coltish knave:
We-he-he, it is good for you to hold fast,
For I will kick and winch, while the life doth last.
SAP. Thou shalt kick indeed, but no victory win;
Neither to conquer the Just to ungodliness nor sin.
INC. O yes, O yes, I will make a proclamation.
JUST. What shall that be?
INC. If ye will give me leave, then you shall see.
O yes! is there any man or woman that hath lost
A gambolling gelding with a grey tail?
Let him come to the crier, and pay for his cost,
And he will tell him tidings without any fail.
SAP. To the intent that you may him sharply restrain,
Let him not enjoy so much of the rein. [_Bridle him shorter._
INC. Cock's soul, now the snaffle cutteth my lip,
I would this lubberly knave had the pip!
I shall leap no hedges while this bridle is on,
Out, alas! I think it will fret me to the bone.
SAP. Thus should every man, that will be called Just,
Bridle and subdue his beastly inclination,
That he in the end may obtain perfect trust,
The messenger of God to give sight to salvation.
JUST. That trust to obtain with him I have struggled.
SAP. Then let us depart, and leave this beast bridled.
[_Go out both._
INC. May the devil go with you and his dun dame!
Such horse-masters will make a colt quickly tame;
I would he were hanged that this snaffle did make,
It maketh my chaps so shamefully to ache;
Ye have no pity on me, you, I see, by your laughing;
I care not greatly, if I fall to gambolling;
We-he-he-he-he-he, come aloft, I say,
Beware the horse-heels, I advise you stand away;
The rein of my bridle is tied so short,
That I cannot make you any more sport.
But though I be bridled now of the Just,
I doubt not but I shall be unbridled by Lust,
And let not Just think but I will rebel,
Although he bridle me ten times all well;
Though Nature saith one doom with a croch,
It will not lie long, but incontinent approach;
Even so, though that I be bridled a while,
The colt will at length the courser beguile.
_Enter_ GREEDY-GUT _running, and catch a fall_.
GRE. Chill run, I, as fast as I can,
Zurs, did none of you zee a man?
Cham zent in haste from my Master Lust,
So that Inclination needs come to him must.
INC. Where is he now? I pray thee, tell me.
GRE. Why, what have we here? Jesus, benedicite!
I hold twenty pound it is Balaam's ass!
Nay 'tis a colt, I see his tail, by the mass!
INC. Am I a colt? nay, thou liest like a knave,
Somewhat for thy labour now shalt thou have.
GRE. Hobal, ho, lousy jade, must ye kick?
INC. Whoever saw such a desperate Dick?
Why Greedy-gut, do'st thou not know Inclination?
GRE. Body of me, who hath drest thee of that fashion?
Thou art bridled for biting now indeed,
Sirrah, Master Lust would have thee make speed.
INC. I am bridled, I, even as thou do'st see,
Therefore desire him to come and help me.
But what is the matter, that he for me sent?
GRE. Marry, together with Greediness now he is bent;
He hath had long talk with Carnal Cogitation,
And is set on fire by the means of Elation,
So that he is so lusty, he cannot abide,
Therefore one or other for him must be spied.
INC. Well, Greedy-gut, I pray thee, go and make haste.
GRE. Tush, fear not, chill spend no time in waste.
INC. I had rather than forty pence that he were come;
If I be bridled long, I shall be undone.
So sharp is this snaffle, called Restraint,
That it maketh me sweat I am so faint:
Hark! I hear the voice of my Master Lust;
Now I shall be unbridled shortly, I trust.
_Enter_ LUST.
LUST. Cock's precious wounds, here hath been villainy.
INC. Eh, they have used me with too much villainy,
That old knave Sapience so counselled Just;
But let me be unbridled, good Master Lust. [_Unbridle him._
LUST. Lo, now thou art unbridled, be of good cheer.
INC. By'r Lady, I am glad I have gotten thus clear.
But hark you, Master Lust, if I may do you pleasure,
Whisper, whisper.
LUST. She is called Treasure.[324]
O, my heart is on fire, till she come in place.
INC. O Master Lust, she hath an amiable face;[325]
A tricker, a trimmer, in faith that she is,
The goddess of wealth, prosperity, and bliss.
LUST. But think you that this minion long endure shall?
INC. For ever and ever, man, she is immortal.
There be many other; but she exceedeth them all.
LUST. What be they, have you their names in store?
INC. Yea, hark, in your ear [_whispers_], and many other more.
LUST. Sith that the apple of Paris before me is cast,
And that I may deliver the same where I will,
I would Prometheus were here to help me hold fast,
That I might have a fore-wit with me ever still.
Pallas, I consider, in science hath skill,
But Juno and Venus good will do I bear;
Therefore to give the apple I know not where.
INC. Be counsell'd by me, and give it Lady Treasure.
It shall be for your commodity in the end without measure,
For having the company of this minion lass,
You shall never want the society of Pallas;
Juno, nor yet the armipotent Mars,
Can not resist your strength, be they never so fierce;
And as for Venus, you shall have [her] at pleasure,
For she is bought and sold always with Treasure;
She of her power hath whole countries conquered,
The most noble champions by her hath been murthered;
Acon for her sake was stoned to death.
Tush, innumerable at this day spend their breath,
Some hang or be hanged, they love her so well,
She is the great goddess, it is true that I tell.
LUST. Which way should I work of her to have a sight?
INC. I, Inclination, will lead you thither right;
But we must have Greedy-gut and also Elation.
LUST. They are at the house of Carnal Cogitation.
INC. Whither I would wish that we might depart;
I will lead you thither with all my heart.
_Enter_ JUST, TRUST, _and_ CONTENTATION.
TRUST, _a woman plainly [apparelled,] and_ CONTENTATION _kneel down and
sing, she have a crown_.
_So happy is the state of those
That walk upright and just,
That thou, Lord, dost thy face disclose
By perfect hope and trust.
Their inclination thou dost stay,
And sendeth them Sapience,
That they should serve, and eke obey,
Thy high magnificence.
And sendest Contentation,
That we in thee may rest.
Therefore all adoration
To thee pertaineth best._
JUST. God careth for his, as the prophet doth say,
And preserveth them under his merciful wings;
Namely the just, that his will do obey,
Observing his holy commandment in all things;
Not for our sake or for our deservings,
But for his own sake openly to declare,
That all men on earth ought to live in his fear.
TRUST. How God hath blessed you, all men may see;
For first at your entrance you conquered Lust,
Not by your power, but by might of the deity,
As all persons ought to do that be just.
Then through Sapience, which God did you send,
You bridled that brutish beast Inclination,
And also ordered you with Contentation.
CONT. Those that are contented with their vocation
Be thankful to God; this is a true consequent;
And those that be thankful in their conversation,
Cannot but please the Lord God omnipotent;
But those that be sturdy, proud, and disobedient,
The Ruler of all rulers will them confound,
And rot their remembrance off from the ground.
JUST. When Solon was asked of Croesus the king,
What man was most happy in this vale terrestrial,
To the end he seemeth to attribute that thing
When men be associate with treasures celestial,
Before the end can no man judge, he doth say,
That any man is happy that here beareth breath,
But then by his end prettily judge we may.
Thus true happiness consisteth, saith he, after death.
If this be a truth, as undoubtedly it is,
What men are more foolish, wretched, and miserable,
Than those that in these treasures accompt their whole bliss?
Being infect with ambition, that sickness incurable;
Ah, wicked Adrastia, thou goddess deceivable,
Thus to pluck from men the sense of their mind,
So that no contentation therein they can find.
TRUST. The treasure of this world we may well compare
To Circes the witch with her crafty cautility,
Wherewith many men's minds so poisoned are,
That quite they are carried into all fidelity;
They are conjured indeed, and bewitched so sore,
That treasure is their trust, joy and delight.
True trust is expelled, they pass not therefore,
And against contentation they continually fight.
But though wicked men follow their lust,
Crying, on earth is our felicity and pleasure,
Yet God doth so guide the hearts of the just,
That they respect chiefly the celestial treasure.
CONT. Alas! should we not have that estimation
Which God hath prepared for his dear elect?
Should not our minds rest in full contentation,
Having trust in this treasure, most high in respect?
St Paul, whom the Lord so high did erect,
Saith: It passeth the sense of our memory and mind,
Much less can our outward eyes the same find,
And as for treasures which men possess here,
Through fickleness of fortune soon fadeth away;
The greatest of renown and most worthy peer
Sometime falleth in the end to misery and decay.
Record of Dionysius, a king of much fame,
Of the valiant Alexander and Cæsar the strong.
Record of Tarquinius, which Superbus had to name,
And of Heliogabalus, that ministered with wrong;
If I should recite all, I should stand very long,
But these be sufficient plainly to approve,
How soon by uncertainty this treasure doth remove.
JUST. It is true; therefore a mind well content
Is great riches, as the wise King Solomon doth say.
We have seen of late days this canker pestilent
Corrupting our realm to our great decay--
Ambition, I mean, which chiefly did reign
Among those that should be examples to others;
We saw how their brethren they did disdain,
And burned with fire the child with the mother;
It is often seen that such monsters ambitious,
As spare not to spill the blood of the innocent,
Will not greatly stick to become seditious,
The determination of God thereby to prevent.
God grant every one of us earnestly to repent,
And not to set our minds on this fading treasure,
But rather wish and will to do the Lord's pleasure.
TRUST. O ye emperors, potentates, and princes of renown,
Learn of Just with Trust yourselves to associate.
That like as your vocation by right doth ask the crown,
And also due obedience, being the appointed magistrate,
So rule that at the last you may be resuscitate,
And reign with the Almighty with perfect continuance,
Receiving double crowns for your godly governance.
Ye noblemen, whom God hath furnished with fame,
Be mindful to walk in the ways of the Just,
Add virtue evermore to your honourable name,
And be not overcome of concupiscence or lust.
Flee from love of treasure, catch hold of me, Trust;
And then double felicity at the last you shall possess,
And in all earthly doings God shall give you success.
Ye poor men and commons, walk well in your vocation,
Banish lust and desire, which is not convenient;
Let trust work in you a full contentation,
Considering that it leadeth to treasures more excellent,
For these are uncertain, but they are most permanent.
Your necessity supply with virtue and trust,
And then shall you enjoy your crown among the just.
JUST. As I, being properly nominate Just,
Am here associate with Contentation,
So have I my whole felicity in Trust,
Who illumineth mine eyes to see my salvation.
TRUST. Fear ye not, shortly you shall have consolation,
If I were once grown in you to perfection,
Even thus goeth it always with the children of election.
JUST. I will depart now; will ye go with me, Trust?
TRUST. Yea, I must always associate the Just.
CONT. A psalm of thanksgiving first let us sing,
To the laud and praise of the immortal King.
[_Here, if you will, sing "the man is blest
that feareth God," &c.--Go out._
_Enter_ INCLINATION, _laughing_.
INC. Lust (quod he); now in faith he is lusty,
Lady Treasure and he hath made a match;
He thinketh that I were marvellous trusty,
Because I teach him to claw and to catch,
And nowadays amity doth therein consist;
He that can flatter shall be well beloved;
But he that saith, _thus_ and _thus, saith Christ_,
Shall as an enemy be openly reproved.
Friendship, yea, friendship consisteth now in adulation;
Speak fair and please the lust of thy lord,
I warrant thee be had in great estimation,
When those that tell truth shall be abhorr'd.
Ah, unhappy Lingua, whither wilt thou ren?
Take heed, I advise thee, lest thou be shent;
If ye chance to tell any tales of these gentlewomen,
With flesh-hooks and nails you are like to be rent;
Nay, for the passion of me be not so moved,
And I will please you incontinent again.
Above all treasures you are worthy to be loved,
Because you do no men deride nor disdain;
You do not contemn the simple and poor;
You be not high-minded, proud, and presumptuous,
Neither wanton nor wily you be nevermore,
But gentle, loving modesty, and virtuous,
Behold how a lie can please some folks' diet,
O[r] pacify their minds marvellous well!
All hist, I warrant ye, so they [be] in quiet.
How to please you hereafter now I can tell:
Hark, I hear Lust and my Lady Treasure,
They are given to solace, singing and pleasure.
_Enter_ LUST _and_ TREASURE, _a woman finely appareled_.
LUST. Ah, amorous lady, of beautiful face,
Thou art heartily welcome into this place;
My heart is inclined to thee, Lady Treasure,
My love is insatiate, it keepeth no measure.
TREAS. It is I, Master Lust, that will you advance;
Treasure it is that things doth enhance:
Upon me set your whole affection and lust,
And pass not a point for the ways of the Just.
Treasure is a pleasure, bear that in mind;
Both trusty and true ye shall me always find.
INC. As trusty as is a quick eel by the tail! [_Aside._
What, Lady Treasure, welcome without fail;
To be better acquainted with you once I trust,
But I dare not in the presence of my Master Lust.
[TREAS.] Ye are welcome, sir, heartily; what! be of good courage;
Drawer, let us have a pint of white wine and borage.
LUST. Wherefore, I pray thee tell?
INC. Marry, methink you are not well.
LUST. Not well? who can a better life crave,
Than to possess such a lady as I have?
Is there any wealth not contained in Treasure
Ah, lady, I love thee, in faith, out of measure.
INC. It is out of measure indeed, as you say,
And even so most men love her at this day;
O, she is a minion of amorous hue,
Her peer in my days yet I never knew.
Old (quod you): I am an old knave, I tell ye,
Nay, never laugh at the matter, for doubtless I smell ye;
She passeth Juno, Ceres, and Pallas,
More beautiful than ever dame Venus was,
Othea in sapience she doth exceed,
And Diana in dignity, of whom we do read;
What should fair Helen once named be,
She excelleth all these, Master Lust, believe me.
LUST. How say you, is not this an eloquent lad?
TREAS. That you have such a servant, truly I am glad.
INC. Ha, ha, now indeed I can you not blame,
For women of all degrees are glad of the same;
They that flatter and speak them fair,
Shall be their sons, and peradventure their heir.
LUST. You told me of a brother you had, Lady Treasure.
TREAS. Yea, sir, that I have; his name is called Pleasure;
And seeing you enjoy me now at your will,
Right soon, I am sure, he will come you until.
LUST. Truly of him I would fain have a sight,
For because that in pleasure I have marvellous delight.
INC. Then honesty and profit you may bid good night. [_Aside._
LUST. What say'st thou?
INC. I say he will shortly appear in sight;
I know by his singing the same is he,
[_Aside_] The misbegotten Orpheus I think that he be.
_Enter_ PLEASURE, _singing this song_.
_O happy days and pleasant plays,
Wherein I do delight-a;
I do pretend, till my life's end,
To live still in such plight-a._
INC. Master Pleasure, I perceive you be of good cheer.
PLEAS. What, Inclination, old lad, art thou here?
INC. Yea, sir, and Lady Treasure your sister, also.
PLEAS. Body of me, then unto her I will go.
What, sister, I am glad to meet with you here.
TREAS. Welcome unto me, mine own brother dear.
Master Lust, this is my brother, of whom I told;
He is pleasant and lusty, as you may behold.
LUST. Gentleman (I pray you), is your name Master Pleasure?
PLEAS. Yea, sir, and I am brother to Lady Treasure.
LUST. And are you contented to accompany me?
PLEAS. Whereas she is resident, I must needs be;
Treasure doth Pleasure commonly precede.[326]
But the one is with the other, they have both so decreed.
INC. Marry, now you are well indeed, Master Lust;
This is better, I trow, than the life of the just:
They be compelled to possess contentation,
Having no treasure but trust of salvation.
But my lady your mistress--my mistress, I would say,
She worketh, you may see, to keep you from decay.
LUST. O, madam, in you is all my delight,
And in your brother Pleasure, both day and night.
The _Trial of Treasure_ this is indeed,
I perceive that she is a true friend at need;
For I have proved her, according as Thales doth say,
And I perceive that her beauty cannot decay.
TREAS. Always with you I will be resident,
So that your life shall be most excellent.
PLEAS. Yea, sir, and me Pleasure also you shall have,
So that none other thing there needeth to crave;
I will replenish your heart with delight,
And I will be always with Treasure in sight.
But if you desire to enjoy me at your will,
My sister you must have in reputation still;
And then, as her treasure is certain and excellent,
My pleasure shall be both perfect and permanent.
Credit not those, sir, that talk that and this,
Saying that in two consisteth no bliss.
But let experience your mind ever move,
And see if all men us two do not love.
INC. [_aside._] Love? yes, they love you indeed, without a doubt,
Which shutteth some of them God's kingdom without.
They love you so well, that their God they do hate,
As time hath declared to us even of late.
But he that on such things his study doth cast,
Shall be sure to be deceived at the last.
LUST. What dost thou say?
INC. Of Treasure, forsooth, ye must ever hold fast,
For if you should chance to lose Lady Treasure,
Then farewell in post this gentleman Pleasure.
LUST. My love to them both cannot be express'd,
And especially, my lady, you I love best.
TREAS. If you love me, as you do profess,
Be sure you shall want no kind of wealthiness.
PLEAS. And if you have wealthiness at your own will,
Then will I Pleasure remain with you still.
INC. [_aside._] You are both as constant as snow in the sun,
Which from snow to water through melting doth run;
But worldly-wise men cannot conceive that:
To hunt for such mice they learn of the cat.
LUST. My lady is amorous, and full of favour.
INC. [_aside._] I may say to you she hath an ill-favoured savour.
LUST. What sayest thou?
INC. I say she is loving and of gentle behaviour.
TREAS. And so I will continue still, be you sure.
PLEAS. And I in like case, while your life doth endure.
LUST. Ah trusty Treasure! ah pleasant Pleasure!
All wealth I possess now without measure;
And seeing that the same shall firmly remain,
To help me sing a song will you take the pain?
TREAS. Even with all my heart, begin when ye will.
INC. [_aside._] To it, and I will either help or stand still.
_Sing this Song._
_Am I not in blessed case,
Treasure and Pleasure to possess?
I would not wish no better place,
If I may still have wealthiness:
And to enjoy in perfect peace
My lady, lady.
My pleasant pleasure shall increase,
My dear lady._
_Helen may not compared be,
Nor Cressida that was so bright;
These cannot stain the shine of thee,
Nor yet Minerva of great might.
Thou passest Venus far away,
Lady, lady,
Love thee, I will both night and day,
My dear lady._
_My mouse, my nobs, and coney sweet,
My hope and joy, my whole delight;
Dame Nature may fall at thy feet,
And may yield to thee her crown of right.
I will thy body now embrace,
Lady, lady;
And kiss thy sweet and pleasant face,
My dear lady._
_Enter_ GOD'S VISITATION.
VISIT. I am God's minister, called Visitation,
Which divers and many ways you may understand;
Sometime I bring sickness; sometime perturbation;
Sometime trouble and misery throughout the land;
Sometime I signify God's wrath to be at hand;
Sometime a forerunner of destruction imminent,
But an executor of pain I am at this present.
Thou insipient fool, that hast followed thy lust,
Disdaining the doctrine declared by Sapience,
In Treasure and Pleasure hath been thy trust,
Which thou thoughtest should remain ever in thy presence:
Thou never rememb'red'st Thales his sentence,
Who willeth men in all things to keep a measure,
Especially in love to uncertainty of treasure;
Even now I am come from visiting the Just,
Because God beginneth first with his elect;
But he is so associated and comforted with Trust,
That no kind of impatience his soul can infect.
Contentation in such sort his race doth direct,
That he is contented with God's operation,
Comfortably embracing me his Visitation;
But now I am come to vex thee with pain,
Which makest Treasure thy castle and rock:
Thou shall know that both she and Pleasure is vain,
And that the Almighty thou canst not mock.
Anguish and grief into thee I do cast,
With pain in thy members continually.
Now thou hast pain, thy pleasure cannot last,
But I will expel him incontinently.
LUST. O Cock's heart! what a pestilence is this!
Depart from me, I say, hence, God's Visitation!
Help, help, Lady Treasure, thou goddess of bliss!
At thy hands let me have some consolation.
TREAS. I will remain with you, be out of doubt.
INC. Will ye be packing, you ill-favoured lout?
VISIT. Presently, indeed from him thou shalt not go,
And why? because God's will hath not determined so;
But in time thou, Treasure, shalt be turned to rust.
And as for Pleasure he shall now attend on the Just.
LUST. Gog's wounds! these pangs increase evermore.
INC. And my little finger is spitefully sore;
You will not believe how my heel doth ache.
TREAS. (_to_ VISITATION). Nay, let me alone, your part I will take.
(_To_ LUST) Be of good comfort, while I here remain;
For Pleasure and he shall be parted in twain.
VISIT. It is not meet that he should be participate with Lust,
But rather virtuous, godly and just.
LUST. Remain with me still, Master Pleasure, I say.
PLEAS. Nay, there is no remedy; I must away;
For where God doth punition and pain,
I Pleasure in no case cannot remain.
VISIT. I could in like case separate thy treasure,
But God doth admonish thee by losing thy pleasure.
[_Go out_ VISITATION _and_ PLEASURE.
INC. Farewell, in the devil's name, old lousy lout,
That my master will die I stand in great doubt.
Ho, ho, ho, how is it with you, Master Lust?
LUST. By the flesh of Goliah, yet Treasure is my trust,
Though Pleasure be gone, and I live in pain,
I doubt not but Treasure will fetch him again.
TREAS. Yea, that I will, fear not, and with you remain.
INC. The property of rich men undoubtedly he hath,
Which think with money to pacify God's wrath,
And health at their pleasure to buy and to sell.
How is Master Lust, are you anything well?
LUST. Against this Visitation my heart doth rebel.
Gog's wounds! shall I still in these pangs remain?
TREAS. Fear you not, Master Lust, I will help you again,
Treasure in physic exceedeth Galenus:
Tush! there is no physician but we shall have with us;
To the ease of your body they will you bring,
And therefore I pray you despair in no thing;
Put your trust always in me Lady Treasure,
And I will restore you again unto Pleasure,
For I am the goddess that therein hath power,
Which shall remain perfect unto the last hour.
INC. Yea, yea, Master Lust, be as merry as you may;
Let Treasure be your trust, whosoever say nay.
_Enter_ TIME.
TIME. The ancient Greeks have called me Chronos,
Which in our vulgar tongue signifieth Time;
I am ent'red in presently for a certain purpose--
Even to turn Treasure to rust and to slime,
And Lust, which hath long disdained the Just,
Ensuing his filthy and vile inclination,
Shall immediately be turned to dust,
To the example of all the whole congregation;
For Time bringeth both these matters to pass,
As experience hath taught in every age,
And you shall behold the same in this glass,
As a document both profitable and sage.
Both Lust and Treasure come forth with speed
Into the shop of the most mighty God,
There shall you be beaten to powder indeed,
And for your abusion feel his scourge and rod.
INC. By Saint Mary! then they have made a wise match,
I pretend therefore to leap over the hatch:
Nay, let me depart, sirs; stop me not, I say,
For I must remain, though both these decay. [_Go out._
LUST. Lust from the beginning frequented hath been,
And shall I now turn to nothing for thee?
TREAS. Treasure in all ages hath been beloved,
And shall she from the earth by thee be removed?