And fare with this gear?
_Sens._ Yea, make God avow!
And, beware ye of one thing:
Meddle ye no more with Margery;
For, by Cock's precious body!
If our master may it espy,
Or have an understanding
That ye use her company,
I tell you he will be angry;
He is so full of jealousy
As ever I knew man.
_Wor. Aff._ Jealousy? peace, man, be still!
He can thereof no manner of skill.
_Sens._ No! but say what ye will
I am sure he can.
He is now as familiar
With bodily lust as ever ye were;
Yea! and thereto as great a swearer.
When time requires
Knew I never, of his age,
A man of better courage
To do all manner of outrage
After our desires.
Sith Reason and he were thus at variance
He hath be full of such dalliance;
And hath called to his favour and acquaintance
Your kinsmen by and by--
Envy, Wrath, Gluttony, and Covetise,
Sloth and Lechery become to his service;
And utterly he hateth their contrariwise,
And that he professeth openly.
_Wor. Aff._ And be these folks of his retinue?
_Sens._ Yea, every one, I tell you true.
But, marry! their names be changed new
For to blear his eye.
I tell you he is a serefull man,
For Reason stirreth him, now and than;
And, therefore, do we what we can
It is little enow, hardely!
Sirra! there is first Pride, as ye wot well,
The sweet darling of the devil of hell:
How his name is changed ye can tell.
_Wor. Aff._ Yea, marry! on the best wise--
Worship I ween is now his name.
_Sens._ Yea, by the rood! even the same.
And Covetise, to eschew all blame,
Doth his name disguise,
And calleth himself Worldly Policy.
Wrath, because he is somewhat hasty,
Is called Manhood. Then is there Envy,
And he is called Disdain.
Gluttony, for Good Fellowship is taken;
And Sloth his old name hath forsaken,
And as fair a name hath he shapen
As ever man could ordain--
He is called Ease; right comfortable to the blood,
Specially for them that lust to do no good.
And, among all other, I would ye understood
That Lechery is called Lust.
Lo! these be fair names, parde!
Both good and honest as seemeth me;
As for their conditions, what they be,
Ye know well!
_Wor. Aff._ Very just!
I know their conditions on the best wise
If they keep still their old guise.
_Sens._ Yes! that they do, on warrantise.
_Wor. Aff._ But yet, I have great marvel
That Covetise should dwell in his company.
_Sens._ By my troth, lo! and so have I.
But one thing I ensure you faithfully,
And that I have espied well;
That, hitherto, our master setteth no store
By his counsel, nor his lore.
Marry! when his head waxeth hoar
Then shall be good season
To follow Covetise and his way;
Yea, time enow another day--
Even so I heard our master say.
_Wor. Aff._ By my faith! he said but reason--
But all the remanent be well retained?
_Sens._ Yea, be ye sure it is matter unfeigned;
And wot ye who is greatly disdained
With our master now?
_Pride._ Who?
_Sens._ By God! even Shamefacedness.
When he shall do any such excess
No shame can fear him, doubtless,
I may say to you.
_Pride._ No! then the craft were nought.
But now, sirs! well bethought,
Sith the matter is hereto brought,
It is time for me
To go and make some provision
Of garments after the new invention,
As he commanded me to be done:
Thereto must I see.
For it is committed to my negligence;
And, if he come hither while I am hence,
I pray thee excuse mine absence.
_Sens._ Yea, and mine also!
_Pride._ Why, wilt thou go with me?
_Sens._ Will I, quod a? yea, parde!
It is according for Sensuality
With Pride for to go.
[SENS. _and_ PRIDE _go out_.
_Wor. Aff._ Now the matter is almost in good case,
After the world's mind and pleasure;
There is no more but now must I compass,
With all my wit and busy endeavour,
How it may be stablished and continued sure.
For, a little fantasy of man's own will
May quail this matter, and utterly it spill.
And if he vary again
Of scruple imagination,
Or else by the suggestion
Of the foresaid Reason,
One thing I am certain--
He will no longer me support;
And that were a shrewd crank dort.
Therefore, it is best that I resort
To my master's presence,
And see of what demeanour he is.
I am greatly to blame, I wis,
For that I saw him not or this
Sith he departed hence.
[_He goeth out and_ REASON _cometh in_.
_Rea._ O good Lord! to whom shall I complain
And show the sorrows of my mind?
And nothing for mine own cause, certain;
But only for the decay of mankind;
Which now, of late, is waxen so blind
That he hath despised and forsaken me,
And followeth every motion of his Sensuality.
What availed at the beginning
That Nature committed me to his service?
And charged me that, before all thing,
Of all his guiding I should take th' enterprise
When he lusteth not to follow mine advice,
But followeth th' appetites of his sensual affection,
As a brute beast that lacketh reason?
And yet, notwithstanding
That he doth me disdain,
I will resort to him again;
And do my labour and busy pain
To assay if I can him refrain
From such beastly living.
But, first will I stand hereby,
In secret manner, to espy
Some token of grace in him, whereby
I may discern and find
That he hath any shamefacedness
After his great surfeit and excess;
And, if it be so, doubtless,
It shall content my mind. [REASON _goeth aside_.
MAN _cometh in_ [_followed by_ WOR. AFFEC.
_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 well
In ordaining your garments, full fast;
He departed from me in great haste
For that intent; and so he desired
That 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 vestour
Every man shall do your honour,
As becometh a man of your haviour;
And so it should be.
_Man._ Yea, but what will Reason say
When he seeth me in that array?
_Wor. Aff._ Reason? Marry! let him go play
To 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 according
To have therein his counsel;
Man, without Reason, is but blind;
And, if I should speak after my mind,
I can well a difference find
Betwixt man and a beast
When he hath Reason in presence,
And duly obeyeth his law and sentence.
_Wor. Aff._ Why have ye such a spiced conscience
Now, 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 redress
All 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 need
To call me again to thy service.
_Man._ Nay, nay, on warrantise!
Now, sirs! who can me advise
What is best to do?
[_Enter_ SHAMEFACEDNESS.]
_Shame._ Sir! if ye lust to have mine acquaintance
I am ready to give you attendance;
Happily my service shall you advance:
I am called Shamefacedness.
_Man._ By your troth! are ye the same?
_Shame._ Yea, forsooth! that is my name.
Almsdeeds I can atame;
And help for to repress
When ye have done offence or sin;
If ye will mercy and grace win
With Shamefacedness ye must begin:
This way must ye take.
_Man._ Ye be the man, without feigning,
That I wished for or ye came here;
And glad am I now of your coming,
Praying you with heart entire
When I have need thus to come near.
_Shame._ So will I do; ye may trust it, verily!
Whensoever ye call ye shall find me ready.
_He goeth out_ [_and_ REASON _cometh forward_.]
_Rea._ Sir! is it your mind to do as ye say?
_Man._ Yea, that is it, as God me speed!
Heard ye all this matter--yea or nay?
_Rea._ Yes, that I did, in very deed!
_Man._ O ghostly Reason! I have greater need
Of your help than ever I had before:
Help me now and I shall never forsake you more.
Sith I forsook your company
I have committed much folly;
I am ashamed, certainly,
When I think thereon.
But now have I refused utterly
All such manner of company;
And thus have I done, verily!
Of mine own motion.
_Rea._ Then my help shall be ready as oft as ye me call;
It is my duty so for to do.
And of your offences will I make no rehearsal;
But whatsoever ye have done, hitherto,
To me ward let it pass and go:
Against God your offence is great;
Of the which matter I will not long treat.
But this comfort of me ye shall have:
If ye be contrite, as ye pretend,
God is merciable if ye lust to crave;
Call for grace and soon He will it send.
And be not in purpose hereafter to offend;
Accustom yourself in the ways of virtue,
And--be not in doubt--grace will ensue.
_Man._ Sir! it is my mind and intent
Hereafter to be your true obedient;
And never more to assent
To such folly again.
_Rea._ And, upon that condition,
I take thee unto my tuition
With all heart's affection,
Never to part atwain.
And, for this season,
Here we make an end
Lest we should offend
This audience; as, God defend!
It were not to be done.
Ye shall understand, nevertheless,
That there is much more of this process;
Wherein we shall do our business,
And our true endeavour
To show it unto you, after our guise:
When my lord shall so devise
I shall be at his pleasure.
_Thus endeth the first part._]
[Illustration]
THE SECOND PART.
REASON _and_ MAN _come in._
_Rea._ I assemble the life of mortal creature
To the assiege again a strong town or castle:
In which there is much busy endeavour;
Much worldly policy; with diligent travail,
On every side, which part shall prevail
By sleight of engines, or by strong power,
That other to subdue and bring into danger.
In such case and manner of condition
Is wretched man, here in this life earthly,
While he abideth within the garrison
Of the frail carcase and caronous body;
Whom to impugn laboureth incessantly
The world, the flesh, the enemy--these three--
Him to subdue and bring into captivity.
And, for to show you what wise they us impugn,
First doth the world give us an allective
To covet riches and worldly renown,
With other vanities that be used in this life.
Next, that our flesh, which ever is in strife,
Again our spirit doth provoke and excite
Us to accomplish our sensual appetite.
The last of all is our great enemy;
Which ever hath us in continual hatred
Of old encankered malice and envy
That he oweth to us, and all the kindred
Of all the ancestors of whom we do succeed;
Nor yet ceaseth his malice, unto this day,
Us to endanger in all that he can or may.
And certes! these, our said enemies,
Be of their nature so mighty and so strong
That hard it will be for us, in any wise,
Again them war or battle to underfong;
Also our garrisons and fortress to maintain long
Again their engines; without spiritual grace
We can not perform in no manner case.
Wherefore, it is to us right behovable
Busily to pray to God, that is immortal,
Beseeching Him, as He is merciable,
To have compassion and pity on us all;
And not to suffer us any wise to fall
Into such folly and utter mischance
As should them grieve and do displeasance.
Also, it behoveth on our part
To flee all such manner of occasion
As may us put in fear and jeopardy
Of their displeasure, in any condition.
Newfangleness, and other nice invention,
We must forsake in all manner wise;
And acquaint us with their contraries:
_Quia contraria contrariis curantur._ etc.
I tell this tale, sir! to you,
Trusting that it be not done in waste:
Ye remember, as I suppose, well enow,
How it is not fully three days past
Sith ye me promised, and bound it fast,
From that day forth to be obedient
Unto my counsel and advisement?
_Man._ Yea, sir! so I did, in very deed;
And yet it is my mind and intent
To follow the same--have ye no dread!
_Rea._ If ye do not, yourself shall repent;
Now, fare ye well! for I must be absent
As for a season; and, for your comfort,
Whensoever ye call me I shall to you resort.
_Then he goeth out and_ SENSUALITY _cometh in._
_Sens._ God forbid that ever he come again!
Jesu! how may ye this life endure?
Meseemeth it should be to you a great pain,
Sith ye be of good complexion and nature,
To forbear the worldly sport and pleasure;
As ye have done now a great season,
And all by the foolish counsel of Reason.
Where is your lusty heart become
That served you so well this other day?
Now, so help me God and halidom!
I have great marvel how ye may
Live in such misery; and, this dare I say,
Without ye take some other ways,
By my troth! it will shorten your days.
And, though I say it, that were pity;
For, by Christ! and ye were gone
Many a good fellow would make great mone. [_Then he weepeth._
_Man._ Why weep ye so?
_Sens._ Let me alone!
It will none otherwise be.
And ye saw the sorrowful countenance
Of my company, your old acquaintance,
That they make
For your sake--
I daresay ye would mone them in your mind
They be so loving and so kind
That I am sure
If ye endure
In this peevish opinion,
It will be their confession
There is none other remedy
But, for sorrow, they shall die.
_Man._ Nay, God forbid they should so do!
_Sens._ In faith! without ye help thereto
There is none other way.
_Man._ I will help it in all that I may
And I wist by what mean.
_Sens._ Marry! call them to your company!
_Man._ By Saint John! I am content.
For, I may say here to thee,
Since I forsook my liberty
And did to Reason assent
I had never merry day;
But lived under awe and dread alway,
Nothing to mine intent.
Another while I will me disport
And to mine old company resort.
_Sens._ O then shall ye them comfort,
And your self also.
Wot ye who will be very glad?
_Man._ Who?
_Sens._ Margery!
_Man._ Why, was she sad?
_Sens._ Yea, by the mass! she was stark mad,
Even for very woe
When she heard tell of this chance;
And, because she would live in penance
Her sorrow for to quench,
She hath entered into a religious place,
At the Green Friars hereby.
_Man._ Yea, has'e?
Alack, good little wench!
Is it an house of strait religion?
_Sens._ Yea, as any that ever was bygone
Sith the world stood.
_Man._ Be they close nuns as other be?
_Sens._ Close, quod a? nay, nay, parde!
That guise were not good--
Ye must beware of that gere!
Nay, all is open that they do there;
As open as a goose eye!
_Man._ And cometh any man into their cells?
_Sens._ Yea, yea, God forbid else!
It is free for everybody;
And, beside all this, they be
_Ex omni gente cognite_.
No nation they forsake;
Without it be beggars, going by the way,
That have never a penny to pay
For that that they do take.
And yet can I beggars thither lead
Where they shall, for lumps of bread,
Satisfy their desire:
Such drabs some there be
That require none other fee,
Not yet any other hire.
_Man._ Be they not wedded, as other folk be?
_Sens._ Wedded, quod a? no, so mot I thee!
They will not tarry therefore;
They can wed themselves alone.
"Come kiss me, John;" "Gramercy, Joan!"
Thus wed they evermore.
And it is the more to commend;
For, if the woman hap to offend,
As it is their guise,
A man may let her alone with sorrow
And wed another whore on the morrow;
Even of the same wise.
_Man._ Forsooth! this is a noble religion;
It stirreth me to great devotion
For to see that place--
Canst thou bring me thither, well enow?
_Sens._ Yea, and it were midnight, I make God avow!
As dark as ever it was.
_Man._ But, where is Bodily Lust now?
_Then cometh in_ BODILY LUST, _with_
_him_ WORLDLY AFFECTION:
SENSUALITY _standeth aside_.
_Bod. Lust._ Marry, sir! I have seeken and sought you
This three or four hours.
_Man._ I make God avow!
Ye give shrewd attendance;
All this two days I could not thee espy.
_Bod. Lust._ Sir! ye know well that ye and I
Be never much asunder
Albeit I be from you among.
_Man._ And now meseemeth thou hast tarried too long,
Which is to me great wonder.
_Bod. Lust._ Wonder? yea, parde! for an hour or twain;
Forth for a passing while and come again--
Here is a sore matter:
When was I so long absent as now?
And yet I was for to seek you
At the other side of the water;
The place that ye wot of, parde!
Understand ye what I mean?
_Man._ Yea, yea!
_Bod. Lust._ Tell me in mine ear!
_Man._ _Quid est Latinum propter le stewys?_
_Bod. Lust._ What! Latin? now this of the news;
I heard never this ere:
I trow ye begin to wax shamefaced!
_Man._ Nay, nay, hardely! that gear is past,
Many days agone.
I am as wanton as ever I was.
_Bod. Lust._ It were alms to hang you else--by the mass!--
By the hard neck bone.
But will ye now go with me to a place
And I shall show you the smorterst place
That ever ye saw with eyes?
_Man._ What thing is it? young or old?
_Bod. Lust._ Whatever it be, it is able to be sold:
It shall like you on the best wise.
_Man._ For my love let us some night be there,
At a banket or a rare supper;
And get us some wanton meat
So we may have some dainty thing--
Yet would I spend twenty shilling
Wheresoever I it get.
_Bod. Lust._ Nay, nay! will ye spend a couple of crowns?
And there shall no gentleman in these ten towns
Be better served than ye;
Nor be received more honestly,
As to an house of bawdry,
For a banket or a junkery,
For a dish two or three.
_Man._ Yes! that will I spend with all mine heart.
_Bod. Lust._ By your leave, I will depart
To make ready this gear.
_Man._ What! now, in all this haste?
_Bod. Lust._ Yea, fore God, sir! I am aghast
That other knaves will come thither
Before us and take up all.
_Man._ See thereto, I pray thee!
_Bod. Lust_. So I shall;
Else, fie on all together! [_Then goeth he out._
_Wor. Aff._ Now will Margery make great mone
Because ye come not.
_Man._ Yea, let her alone!
I am not her bondman, parde!
She hath disappointed me or now.
_Wor. Aff._ Yet, on my faith, sir! and I were as you
At the least I would excuse me.
Send her word that ye in no wise
May this night keep her promise;
And, if ye do not so,
She will so mourn that, as I think,
Of all this night she will sleep no wink,
She shall be so full of woe.
_Man._ Yea, on my peril! take no care;
This answer will I defer and spare
Till I be certain
What answer Bodily Lust shall bring
Of this other pretty new thing
When he cometh again.
_Wor. Aff._ Will it please you that I go to Margery
In your stead?
_Man._ Marry! that were merry;
Wouldst thou serve me so?
_Wor. Aff._ Why, sir, by my troth! I mean but well.
_Man._ Yea, what thou meanest I can not tell,
But that shall thou not do.
_Wor. Aff._ In good faith, sir! ye may do worse;
For, while I have anything in my purse,
Or any penny to spend,
I will make her even such cheer
As I would mine own wife if she were here;
Else, God defend!
_Man._ Yea, I thank thee for thy good will;
But as for that cheer, keep it still
Till I call thereon!
_Wor. Aff._ By God, sir! for good love I spake it;
And now that I see ye will not take it
I shall let it alone. [_Re-enter_ BODILY LUST.
_Man._ How now? hast thou been yonder away?
_Bod. Lust._ Yea, sir!
_Man._ Et que novellys?
_Bod. Lust._ Je nescey.
I could not speak with her
No[r] with none of her folks.
_Man._ Not with one?
_Bod. Lust._ No! they be asleep everyone:
All that ever dwell there.
_Man._ How knowest thou whether they be asleep or no?
_Bod. Lust._ Marry! she herself told me so
When I rapped at the door.
_Man._ It seemeth she was not asleep then.
_Bod. Lust._ No! she was abed with a strange man.
_Man._ A mischief on her, whore!
I would this fire were in her tail, I make God avow!
_Bod. Lust._ That needeth not; she is hot enow;
It were more alms to get
Some cold water her fire to quench:
I tell you, it is as warm a wench
As any in all this street--
I supposed I had angered her ill.
_Man._ How so?
_Bod. Lust._ For I rang her a knil
That waked her from her sleep;
I gave her a peal for her friends' souls--
A man might have heard the noise from Poules
To the farthest end of Cheap.
She saw that I would not cease but knock
And rap still at the gate;
She opened a window and put forth her head--
Hence, Forty Pence! quo' she, Jack Noble is a-bed!
This night ye come too late.
Ah! standeth the wind so cold, quod I?
K. q. tytle! we have a bry--
This gear goeth all wide.
And so I came thence a great pace
Till I came hither; lo! this is the case--
Have I not well hied?
_Man._ Well, man! there is no more to do;
That we cannot have we must forego;
There is none other remedy.
Lo, Worldly Affection! now mayst thou see
Thy counsel was nought that thou gavest me.
_Wor. Aff._ No more it was truly!
_Man._ Yea, I told thee as much before,
It is good to be sure evermore;
Therefore, now let us go
And resort again to our old hostess:
That is the best way now, as I guess.
_Wor. Aff._ Yea, hardely do so!
[_Then they three go out,_ [SENSUALITY
_remaining_,] _and_ PRIDE _cometh in_.
_Pride._ Sirs! remember ye that this other day
Man promised me, even in his stead,
That I should with him dwell; and now, I hear say
The wild worm is come into his head;
So that by Reason only he is led:
It may well be so; but, I am sure
That Reason shall not alway with him endure.
Methinketh that Sensuality doth not his part
According to the duty of his office;
For, nobody can better turn a man's heart,
Nor yet a readier mean devise
To put away such foolish fantasy,
Than Sensuality if he lust to assay,
For he is chief ruler when Reason is away.
_Sens._ [_coming forward_]. Yea, a ruler will I be though Reason
say Nay.
_Pride._ Ah, Sensuality! welcome, by this day!
What, tidings good?
_Sens._ Yea, by my fay!
As good as can be told.
I have brought this man to his old guise.
_Pride._ Hast thou so?
_Sens._ Yea, on warrantise!
_Pride._ Now, forsooth! I give thee prick and praise;
Thou art worth thy weight of gold.
Of this tidings I am glad and fain;
But shall I be welcome to him again
And all our company?
_Sens._ Yea, hardely!
As welcome as ever ye were before.
_Pride._ God's blessing have thine heart, therefore;
Thus am I in thy debt, more and more.
_Sens._ Japes! why say ye so?
_Pride._ For--I speak it after my mind--
Thou art to me alway so kind.
But, where shall I our master find?
To him will I go.
_Sens._ He is busy--hark! in your ear--
With little Margery--ye wot where?
And, as soon as I had brought him there
I came my way apace.
And, because he should not be alone,
I left with him Worldly Affection,
And other errand had I none.
Now to this place,
But even to show you what is done;
And from hence I must anon,
For to seek another companion
To give attendance.
_Pride._ Who is that?
_Sens._ Marry! Gluttony.
Our master calleth for him busily--
Sawest thou him not?
_Pride._ No, certainly!
To my remembrance.
_Sens._ I must go seek him without any tarrying--
But, Pride! I warn you of one thing
While I think thereon:
When my master and ye shall meet,
In any wise see that ye him greet
In the old fashion;
And make as though ye know nothing
Of his divers and variable dealing;
Keep that in your breast.
Ye cannot do him more displeasure
Than thereof to make reporture;
Therefore, let it rest!
To speak thereof it is high treason. [_Then he goeth out._
_Pride._ I am glad ye warn me thus in season;
I shall be the better ware.
By this warning I shall be wise
And do as ye me advertise:
Take thereof no care. [_Enter_ SLOTH.
_Sloth._ Will ye be wise, quod a? marry! that is a thing--
By God! ye had need to have better warning
Or ye bring that about.
_Pride._ What, brother Sloth! from whence comest thou?
_Sloth._ Straight from my bed, I make God avow!
Mine eyes be almost out
For lack of sleep--but this, sir! to you:
Methought ye called me Sloth, right now;
Peace, no more of that!
I have a new name as well as ye.
_Pride._ What is that? Ease?
_Sloth._ Yea, parde!
But it forceth not
While our master is not present.
Between us twain I am content
Call me what ye will--
But where is our master?
_Pride._ Wottest thou ne'er?
_Sloth._ No!
_Pride._ No more do I.
_Sloth._ There, there, there!
Thou shalt dwell with me still;
Thou art as good a waiter as I.
_Pride._ I shrew the better of us both, hardely!
But, surely we do not well;
We shall not continue with yonder man
But we await better, now and than.
Therefore, by my counsel,
Let us twain go together
To seek our master.
_Sloth._ But wottest thou whither
We shall now go
To find our master?
_Pride._ I shall assay.
Thou shalt see me guess the way;
And, happily, find him too.
Now must I to the stewes, as fast as I may,
To fetch this gentleman; but, sirs! I say,
Can any man here tell me the way?
For I came never there.
Ye know the way, parde! of old;
I pray thee tell me which way shall I hold--
Will ye see this whoreson cuckold?
I trow he cannot hear--
Now it were alms to clap thee on the crown!
[_Then cometh in_ MAN _and_ WORLDLY AFFECTION.
_Man._ Why, be there any cuckolds in town?