Upon him, Shame! with stripes enow smitten,
While I rehearse his faults herein written!
First, he hath broken his promise formerly
Made to me, Reason, my daughter to marry;
Next, he hath broken his promise promised
To obey Instruction, and him despised;
Thirdly, my daughter Science to reprove,
Upon Idleness he hath set his love;
Fourthly, he hath followed Idleness' school
Till she hath made him a very stark fool;
Lastly, offending both God and man,
Swearing great oaths as any man can,
He hath abused himself, to the great shame
Of all his kindred, and loss of his good name.
Wherefore, spare him not, Shame! beat him well there!
He hath deserved more than he can bear.
[WIT _kneeleth down_.
[_Wit._] Oh father Reason, be good unto me!
Alas! these stripes of Shame will undo me!
_Rea._ Be still awhile, Shame! Wit, what sayest thou?
_Wit._ Oh sir! forgive me, I beseech you!
_Rea._ If I forgive thee thy punishment,
Wilt thou then follow thy first intent
And promise made, my daughter to marry?
_Wit._ Oh sir! I am not worthy to carry
The dust out where your daughter should sit.
_Rea._ I wot well that; but if I admit
Thee, unworthy, again to her wooer,
Wilt thou then follow thy suit unto her?
_Wit._ Yea, sir! I promise you, while life endureth.
_Rea._ Come near, masters! here is one ensureth
_Here cometh_ INSTRUCTION, STUDY, _and_ DILIGENCE _in_.
In words to become an honest man!
Take him, Instruction; do what ye can!
_Inst._ What, to the purpose he went before?
_Rea._ Yea to my daughter prove him once more!
Take him, and trim him in new apparel,
And give that to Shame there to his farewell!
_Inst._ Come on your way, Wit! be of good cheer!
After stormy clouds cometh weather clear.
[INSTRUCTION, STUDY, WIT _and_
DILIGENCE _go out_.
_Rea._ Who list to mark now this chance here done,
May see what Wit is without Reason.
What was this Wit better than an ass
Being from Reason strayed, as he was?
But, let pass now! since he is well punished;
And thereby, I trust, meetly well monished.
Yea, and I like him never the worse, I,
Though Shame hath handled him shamefully;
For like as if Wit had proudly bent him
To resist Shame, to make Shame absent him,
I would have thought then that Wit had been--
As the saying is, and daily seen--
Past Shame once, and past all amendment:
So contrary, since he did relent
To Shame, when Shame punished him even ill,
I have, I say, good hope in him still.
I think, as I thought--if join they can--
My daughter well bestowed on this man.
But all the doubt now is to think how
My daughter taketh this; for I may tell you
I think she knew this Wit even as well
As she seemed here to know him no deal,
For lack of knowledge in Science there is none;
Wherefore, she knew him, and thereupon
His misbehaviour perchance even striking
Her heart against him, she--now misliking,
As women oft-times will be hard-hearted--
Will be the stranger to be reverted.
This must I help; Reason must now walk,
On Wit's part with my Science to talk.
A near way to her know I, whereby
My son's coming prevent now must I.
Perchance, I may bring my daughter hither;
If so, I doubt not to join them together
[_Exeat_ REASON.
CONFIDENCE _cometh in._
[_Conf._] I thank God, yet at last I have found him;
I was afraid some mischance had drowned him,
My master, Wit, with whom I have spoken;
Yea, and delivered token for token,
And have another to Science again--
A heart of gold, signifying, plain,
That Science hath won Wit's heart forever--
Whereby, I trust, by my good endeavour,
To that good lady, so sweet and so sortly,
A marriage between them ye shall see shortly.
[CONFIDENCE _exeat_.
INSTRUCTION _cometh in with_ WIT, STUDY,
_and_ DILIGENCE.
[_Inst._] Lo, sir! now ye be entered again
Toward that passage where doth remain
Tediousness, your mortal enemy;
Now may ye choose whether ye will try
Your hands again on that tyrant stout,
Or else walking a little about.
_Wit._ Nay; for God's passion, sir, let me meet him!
Ye see I am able now for to greet him:
This sword of comfort, sent from my love,
Upon her enemy needs must I prove!
_Inst._ Then, forth there! and turn on your right hand
Up that mount, before ye shall see stand.
But hear ye! If your enemy chance to rise,
Follow my counsel in anywise;
Let Study and Diligence flee their touch--
The stroke of Tediousness--and then couch
Themselves, as I told ye: ye wot how.
_Wit._ Yea, sir! for that how, mark the proof now!
_Inst._ To mark it, indeed, here will I abide,
To see what chance of them will betide;
For here cometh the pith, lo! of this journey.
That mountain, before which they must assay,
Is called in Latin _Mons Parnassus_;
Which mountain, as old authors discuss,
Who attaineth once to sleep on that mount,
Lady Science his own he may count.
But or he come there ye shall see fought
A fight with no less policy wrought
Than strength, I trow, if that may be praised.
_Ted._ Oh! ho! ho!
_Inst._ Hark!
_Ted._ [_entering_]. Out, ye caitiffs!
_Inst._ The fiend is raised!
_Ted._ Out, ye villains! be ye come again?
Have at ye, wretches!
_Wit._ Flee, sirs! ye twain!
_Ted._ They flee not far hence!
_Dil._ Turn again, Study!
_Study._ Now, Diligence!
_Inst._ Well said! Hold fast now!
_Study._ He fleeth!
_Dil._ Then follow!
_Inst._ With his own weapon now work him sorrow!
Wit lieth at receipt!
_Ted._ (_dieth_). Oh! ho! ho!
_Inst._ Hark! he dieth!
Where strength lacketh, policy supplieth.
_Here_ WIT _cometh in and bringeth in the head_ _upon his sword, and
sayeth as followeth:_
[_Wit._] I can ye thank, sirs! this was well done!
_Study._ Nay, yours is the deed!
_Dil._ To you is the thank!
_Inst._ I can ye thank, all; this was well done!
_Wit._ How say ye, man? Is this field well won?
CONFIDENCE _cometh running in._
[_Conf._] Yea, by my faith, so sayeth your dear heart.
_Wit._ Why, where is she, that here now thou art?
_Conf._ Upon yonder mountain, on high,
She saw ye strike that head from the body;
Whereby ye have won her, body and all;
In token whereof receive here ye shall
A gown of knowledge, wherein you must
Receive her here straight.
_Wit._ But sayest thou just?
[_Conf._] So just I say that, except ye hie ye,
Or ye be ready, she will be by ye.
_Wit._ Hold! Present unto her this head here,
And give me warning when she cometh near.
[_Exit_ CONFIDENCE.
Instruction! will ye help to devise
To trim this gear now in the best wise?
_Inst._ Give me that gown, and come with me, all!
_Dil._ Oh, how this gear to the purpose doth fall!
CONFIDENCE _cometh running in._
[_Conf._] How, master, master! Where be ye now?
_Wit._ Here, Confidence! what tidings bring'st thou?
_Conf._ My lady at hand here doth abide ye;
Bid her welcome! What, do ye hide ye?
_Here_ WIT, INSTRUCTION, STUDY, _and_ DILIGENCE _sing "Welcome, my
own,"_ _and_ SCIENCE, EXPERIENCE, REASON _and_ CONFIDENCE _come in at
L[eft],_ _and answer every second verse:_
_Welcome, mine own!_
_Welcome, mine own!_
_Wit and his Company. O lady dear,_
_Be ye so near_
_To be known?_
_My heart you cheer_
_Your voice to hear;_
_Welcome, mine own!_
_Sci. and her Company. As ye rejoice_
_To hear my voice_
_Fro me thus blown,_
_So in my choice_
_I show my voice_
_To be your own._
_Wit and his Company._ _Then draw we near_
_To see and hear_
_My love long grown!_
_Where is my dear?_
_Here I appear_
_To see mine own._
_Sci. and her Company._ _To see and try_
_Your love truly_
_Till death be flown,_
_Lo! here am I,_
_That ye may spy_
_I am your own._
_Wit and his Company._ _Then let us meet,_
_My love so sweet,_
_Half-way here thrown!_
_Sci. and her Company._ _I will not sleet_
_My love to greet._
_Welcome, mine own!_
_Wit and his Company._ _Welcome, mine own!_
_All sing:_ _Welcome, mine own!_
[_And when the song is done_, REASON _sendeth_ INSTRUCTION,
STUDY, _and_ DILIGENCE, _and_ CONFIDENCE _out; and_ _then,
standing in the middle of the_ _place_, WIT _sayeth as
followeth_:
_Wit._ Welcome, mine own! with all my whole heart,
Which shall be your own till death us depart!
I trust, lady! this knot even since knit.
_Sci._ I trust the same; for since ye have smit
Down my great enemy, Tediousness,
Ye have won me forever, doubtless,
Although ye have won a clog withal!
_Wit._ A clog, sweetheart? what?
_Sci._ Such as doth fall
To all men that join themselves in marriage,
In keeping their wives; a careful carriage!
_Wit._ Careful? Nay, lady! that care shall employ
No clog, but a key of my most joy.
To keep you, sweet heart! as shall be fit,
Shall be no care, but most joy to Wit!
_Sci._ Well, yet I say--mark well what I say!--
My presence bringeth you a clog; no nay!
Not in the keeping of me only,
But in the use of Science chiefly;
For I, Science, am, in this degree,
As all, or most part, of women be:
If ye use me well, in a good sort,
Then shall I be your joy and comfort;
But if ye use me not well, then doubt me,
For sure ye were better then without me!
_Wit._ Why, lady! think you me such a wit,
As being affianced by you, and yet
Would misuse ye? Nay, if ye doubt that,
Here is one loveth thee more than somewhat:
If Wit misuse ye at any season,
Correct me then your own father, Reason.
_Rea._ Ho, daughter! can ye desire any more?
What need these doubts? Avoid them, therefore!
_Exp._ By' lakyn, sir! but, under your favour,
This doubt our daughter doth well to gather
For a good warning now, at beginning,
What Wit, in the end, shall look for in winning.
Which shall be this, sir! if Science here,
Which is God's gift, be used mere
Unto God's honour, and profit both
Of you and your neighbour, which goth
In her, of kind, to do good to all:
This seen to, Experience! I, shall
Set you forth, Wit, by her to employ
Double increase to your double joy;
But if you use her contrariwise
To her good nature, and so devise
To evil effects to wrest and to wry her,
Yea, and cast her off and set nought by her,
Be sure I, Experience, shall than
Declare you so before God and man;
That this talent from you shall be taken
And you punished for your gain forsaken.
_Wit._ "Once warned, half-armed," folk say, namely when
Experience shall warn a man, then
Time to take heed. Mother Experience!
Touching your daughter, my dear heart, Science,
As I am certain that to abuse her
I breed mine own sorrow, and well to use her
I increase my joy; and so to make it
God's grace is ready if I will take it:
Then--but ye count me no wit at all--
Let never these doubts into your head fall;
But, as yourself, Experience, clearing
All doubts at length, so, till time appearing,
Trust ye with me in God; and, sweetheart,
While your father, Reason, taketh with part
To receive God's grace as God shall send it,
Doubt ye not our joy till life's end [end] it!
_Sci._ Well, then, for the end of all doubts past,
And to that end which ye spake of last,
Among our wedding matters here rendering,
Th' end of our lives would be in remembering;
Which remembrance, Wit, shall sure defend ye
From the misuse of Science and send ye
The gain my mother to mind did call:
Joy without end--that wish I to all!
_Rea._ Well said! and as ye, daughter! wish it,
That joy, to all folk in general,
So wish I, Reason, the same; but yet
First in this life wish I here to fall
To our most noble King and Queen in especial,
To their honourable Council, and then to all the rest,
Such joy as long may rejoice them all best! [_All say Amen._
_Here cometh in four with viols and sing, "Remember_ _me," and,
at the last, choir all make_ _curtsey, and so go forth
singing._
* * * * *
_Thus endeth the Play of Wit and Science,_ _made by Master John
Redford._
[Illustration]
RESPUBLICA
A.D. 1553
A DRAMA OF REAL LIFE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF QUEEN MARY
A MERRY INTERLUDE, ENTITLED
RESPUBLICA
MADE IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1553, AND
THE FIRST YEAR OF THE MOST PROSPEROUS
REIGN OF OUR MOST GRACIOUS
SOVEREIGN QUEEN MARY
THE FIRST
¤#The Parts and Names of the Players:#¤
THE PROLOGUE, a Poet
AVARICE, _alias_ POLICY, the Vice of the Play
INSOLENCE, _alias_ AUTHORITY, the Chief Gallant
OPPRESSION, _alias_ REFORMATION, another Gallant
ADULATION, _alias_ HONESTY, the Third Gallant
PEOPLE, representing the Poor Commonalty
RESPUBLICA, a Widow
MISERICORDIA, }
VERITAS, } four Ladies
JUSTICIA, }
PAX, }
NEMESIS, the Goddess of Redress and Correction, a Goddess
[Illustration]
RESPUBLICA.
THE PROLOGUE.
First, health and success, with many a good new year,
Wished unto all this noble presence here!
I have more t' entreat you of gentle sufferance
That this our matter may have quiet utterance.
We, that are th' authors, have ourselves dedicate
With some Christmas devise, your spirits to recreate;
And, our poet trusteth, the thing we shall recite
May, without offence, the hearers' minds delight;
Indeed, no man speaketh words so well fore pondered,
But the same, by some means, may be misconstrued.
Nor, nothing so well meant but that, by some pretence,
It may be wrong interpreted from the author's sense.
But, let this be taken no worse than it is meant,
And I hope nor we, nor our poet, shall be shent.
But now, of th' argument to touch a word or twain:
The name of our play is Respublica, certain.
Our meaning is--I say not, as by plain story,
But as it were in figure by an allegory--
To show that all commonweals ruin and decay
From time to time hath been, is, and shall be alway,
When Insolence, Flattery, Oppression,
And Avarice have the rule in their possession.
But, though these vices, by cloaked collusion,
And by counterfeit names hidden their abusion,
Do reign for a while to commonweals' prejudice,
Perverting all right, and all order of true justice;
Yet time trieth all, and time bringeth truth to light;
That wrong may not ever still reign in place of right.
For, when pleaseth God such commonweals to restore
To their wealth and honour, wherein they were afore,
He sendeth down His most tender compassion,
To cause truth go about in visitation.
Verity, the daughter of sage old Father Time,
Sheweth all as it is, be it virtue or crime;
Then doth Justice, all such as commonwealth oppress--
Tempered with mercy--endeavour to suppress;
With whom, anon, is linked tranquillity and peace,
To commonweals' joy and perpetual increase.
But shall boys, (saith some now), of such high matters play?
No! not as discussers; but yet, the book doth say:
_Ex ore infantium perferisti laudem._
For, when Christ came riding into Jerusalem,
The young babes, with th' old folk, cried out all and some:
"Blessed be the man that in the Lord's name doth come!"
So, for good England's sake, this present hour and day,
In hope of her restoring from her late decay,
We children, to you old folk, both with heart and voice,
May join all together to thank God, and rejoice
That He hath sent Mary, our sovereign and queen,
To reform th' abuses which hitherto hath been;
And that ills which long time have reigned uncorrect
Shall now, for ever, be redressed with effect.
She is our most wise and most worthy Nemesis;
Of whom our play meaneth, t' amend that is amiss;
Which, to bring to pass, that she may have time and space,
Let us, both young and old, to God commend her grace!
Now, if you so please, I will go and hither send
That shall make you laugh well, if ye abide th' end.
FINIS.
[Illustration]
RESPUBLICA.
ACTUS PRIMI, SCENA PRIMA.
[AVARICE.]
_Avarice._ Now, godigod! everyone, both great and small,
From highest to lowest, Godigod to you all!
Godigod! what should I say? even or morn,
If I mark how the day goeth--God give me sorrow!
But, godigod! each one, twenty and twenty score
Of that ye most long for--what would ye have more?
Ye must pardon my wits, for I tell you, plain,
I have a hive of humble bees swarming in my brain;
And he that hath the compass to fetch that I must fetch,
I may say, in counsel, had need his wits to stretch.
But now, what my name is, and what is my purpose--
Taking you all for friends--I fear not to disclose.
My very true, unchristian name is Avarice,
Which I may not have openly known, in no wise;
For, though to most men I am found commodious,
Yet, to those that use me, my name is odious.
For, who is so foolish that the evil he hath wrought
For his own behoof, he would to light should be brought?
Or, who had not rather, his ill doings to hide,
Than to have the same bruited on every side?
Therefore, to work my feat, I will my name disguise;
And call my name Policy instead of Covetise.
The name of Policy is praised of each one;
But, to rake gromwell-seed, Avarice is alone;
The name of Policy is of none suspected--
Policy is ne'er of any crime detected.
So that, under the name and cloak of Policy,
Avarice may work facts, and scape all jealousy.
And, now is the time come that--except I be a beast,
E'en to make up my mouth, and to feather my nest--
A time that I have waited for, a great long space;
And now may I speed my purpose, if I have grace.
For, hear ye, sirrah! our great, grand lady mother,
Noble Dame Respublica, she and none other--
Of the offals, the refuse, the rags, the parings;
The baggage, the trash, the fragments, the sharings;
The odd ends, the crumbs, the driblets, the chippings;
The patches, the pieces, the broklets, the drippings;
The flittance, the scrapings, the wild wai[f]s and strays;
The skimmings, the gubbings of booties and preys;
The gleanings, the casualties, the blind escheats;
The forging of forfeit[s], the scape of extreats;
Th' excess, the waste, the spoils, the superfluities;
The windfalls, the shreddings, the fleecings, the petty fees;
With a thousand things more, which she may right well lack--
Would fill all these same purses that hang at my back.
Yea! and ten times as many more bags as these,
Which should be but a flea-biting for her to lese;
That, if I may have the grace and hap to blind her,
I doubt not, a sweet lady I shall find her.
To her it were nothing; yet, many a small maketh a great;
And all things would help me whatever I may geat:
Full little know men the great need that I am in.
Do not I spend daily of that that I do win?
Then, age cometh on; and what is a little gold
To keep a man by drede that is feeble and old?
No man, therefore, blame me though I would have more:
The world waxeth hard, and store, (they say), is no sore.
Now, the chance of thieves, in good hour be it spoken--
Out, alas! I fear I left my coffer open.
I am surely undone! alas! where be my kays?
It is gone, that I have sweat for all my live-days!
Woe worth all whoreson thieves, and such covetous knaves!
That, for their winding sheet, would scrape men out of their graves!
[_Exeat._
ACTUS PRIMI, SCENA SECUNDA.
ADULATION. INSOLENCE. OPPRESSION.
_Intrant Canta[n]tes._
_Adulation._ Oh, noble Insolence! if I could sing as well,
I would look in heaven among angels to dwell.
_Insolence._ Sing! now, do I sing but as other many do?
_Adul._ Yes, an angel's voice ye have, to hearken unto.
_Insol._ Yea! but what availeth that to high dignity?
_Oppression._ By His arms! not a whit, as far as I can see!
_Insol._ Or, what helpeth that thing to set a man aloft?
_Oppr._ By His wounds! not a straw; so have I told you oft.
_Adul._ No! but ye are one of such goodly personage,
Of such wit and beauty, and of sage parentage,
So excellent in all points of every art--
_Insol._ Indeed, God and nature in me have done their part--
_Adul._ That, if ye will put yourself forward to the most,
Ye may, throughout the whole land, rule all the roste--
How say you, Oppression? is it not even so?
_Oppr._ Thou sayest sooth, Adulation! so might I go:
If he were disposed to take the charge in hand,
I warrant him a chive to rule all the whole land.
_Adul._ So, Master Insolence! ye hear Oppression?
_Insol._ I thank both him and thee, good Adulation!
And long have I dreamed of such an enterprise;
But how, or where to begin, I cannot devise.
_Oppr._ Wherefore serve friends, but your enterprise to allow?
_Adul._ And then must you support them, as they must maintain you.
_Oppr._ And, wherefore do friends serve, but to set you in?
_Adul._ Ye shall have all my help whenever ye begin.
_Insol._ But we may, herein, nothing attempt, in no wise,
Without the counsel of our founder, Avarice.
_Adul._ He must direct all this gear by his holy ghost.
_Oppr_. For he knoweth what is to be done in each coast;
He knoweth where, and how that money is to be had--
And, yonder he cometh! methinketh more than half mad!
[_Intrat_ AVARICE.
ACTUS PRIMI, SCENA TERTIA.
AVARICE. INSOLENCE. OPPRESSION. ADULATION.
_Avarice._ It was a fair grace that I was not undone clean;
Yet my key was safe locked under mine locks, I ween.
But e'en, as against such a thing my heart will throb,
I found knaves about my house, ready me to rob.
There was such tooting, such looking, and such prying;
Such hearkening, such stalking, such watching, such spying.
"What would ye, my masters?" "We look after a cat."
"What make ye hereabout?" "We have smelled a rat."
Now, a weal on such noses! thought I, by and by,
That so quickly can scent where hidden gold doth lie.
But had I not come when I did, without all fails,
I think they had digged up my walls with their nails!
_Insol._ Let us speak to him, and break his chafing talk.
_Avar._ Such greediness of money among men doth walk
That, have it they will, either by hook or by crook!
_Oppr._ Let us call to him that he may this way look.
_Avar._ Whether by right, or by wrong, in faith! some care not:
Therefore, catch that catch may, hardely, and spare not!
_Adul._ All hail our founder and chief, Master Avarice!
_Avar._ The devil is a knave, an I catch not a flyce.
_Adul._ When ye see your time, look this way, your friends upon!
_Avar._ I doubt not to scamble and rake as well as one.
_Adul._ Here be that would fain be disciples of your art.
_Avar._ I will not be behind to get a child's part.
_Adul._ Now, if ye have done, I pray you look this way back.
_Avar._ Who buzzeth in mine ear so? what? ye saucy Jack!
_Adul._ Are ye yet at leisure, with your good friends to talk?
_Avar._ What, clawest thou mine elbow, pratling merchant? walk!
Ye flatterabundus, you! you flearing clawback, you!
You the-crow-is-white, you! you the-swan-is-black, you!
You John-hold-my-staff, you! you what-is-the-clock, you!
You _ait-aio_ you! you _negat-nego_ you!
_Adul._ I marvel you speak to me in such fashion.
_Avar._ Why troublest thou me then in my contemplation?
_Adul._ I came of right good love, not minding you to let.
_Avar._ Thou ne'er camest to any man of good love yet.
_Adul._ And these men's minds it was I should so do.
_Avar._ As false wretches as thine own self, and falser too!
_Insol and Oppr._ We have been loving to you, and faithful alway.
_Avar._ For your own profits, then; and not mine, I daresay;
And e'en, veray! you three it was, and others none,
That would have robbed me, not yet half an hour gone.
_Insol._, _Oppr._, _Adul._ We never robbed any man, later or rather.
_Avar._ Yes, many a time and oft, your own very father.
_Oppr._ And to you have we borne hearty favours alway.
_Avar._ And, I warrant you hanged for your labours one day.
_Oppr._, _Adul._ And, as our god, we have alway honoured you.
_Avar._ And, e'en as your god, I have aye succoured you.
_Oppr._ We call you our founder, by All Holy Hallows!
_Avar._ Founder me no found'ring; but beware the gallows!
_Insol._ I pray you leave these words, and talk friendly at last.
_Avar._ Content! at your request, my fame is now well past;
And, in faith! what saith our friend, Adulation?
_Adul._ I wonder at your rough communication,
That ye would to me use words of such vehemence.
_Avar._ Faith, man! I spake but even to prove your patience,
That if thou hadst grunted or stormed thereat.
_Adul._ Nay! few times do I use such loud manner as that.
_Avar._ Come! shake hands! for ever we two be at one.
_Adul._ As for grudge in me, there shall never remain none.
_Avar._ Now, Master Insolence! to your ghostly purpose!
_Insol._ We accorded a matter to you to disclose.
_Avar._ I understand all your agreement and accord;
For, I laid in your bosoms when ye spake the word;
And I like well the advice of Oppression,
And eke of Flattery, for your progression.
_Insol._ If there were matter whereon to work, I care not.
_Avar._ Ye shall have matter enough; be doing, spare not!
_Insol._ What! to come to honour and wealth for us all three?
_Avar._ Ah then! ye could be content to leave out me!
_Insol._ No! for I know ye can, for yourself well provide.
_Avar._ Yea! that I can; and for twenty hundred beside.
_Adul._ Oh, would Christ, good founder! ye would that thing open.
_Avar._ Bones, knave! wilt thou have it ere it can be spoken?
_Oppr._ For the passion of God! tell it us with all speed!
_Avar._ By the cross, not a word! here is haste made indeed.
_Insol._ Yes, good, sweet Avarice! dispatch, and tell at once!