_Insol._ We have oft found People most disobedient
To orders most requisite and expedient.
Who such a maintainer of wrong opinions
As People, in all countries and dominions?
Ye ought, therefore, to rebuke him, at all hours,
For discouraging any minister of yours.
_Oppr._ Ye must tarry time, ere we can your purpose serve.
_People._ Ye[a], and then, while the grass shall grow, the horse
shall sterve.
_Insol._ Do ye not see this, by all experience plain,
That men, from diseases recover[ed] again
Do, after sickness passed, remain a long time weak?
_Resp._ People, hark! Authority doth good reason speak.
_Insol._ So ye, though oppressed with long adversity,
Yet, doubt not! are toward wealth and prosperity.
_Resp._ Lo! People! to hope a while longer shall be best.
_People._ Well, then cham perswaged to do at your inquest.
_Insol._ Madame! mistrust not us, your painful ministers!
_Avar._ Never had lady more watchful officers!
_Oppr._ For my part, I will swear the gospel book upon,
That if the laws I have made should, everyone,
Redound to mine own singular commodity,
They could not be friendlier framed than they be.
_Insol._ Therefore, repose yourself, Madame, awhile, and wink!
Ye are in better case toward than you can think.
_Avar._ We shall here remain, and give People good counsel;
Quiet for to be, till Policy may prevail.
_Resp._ He will do well with your good informations.
_People._ Yea, vay! chil volow their good exaltations.
_Resp._ Then I leave you all here to God: I will depart.
[_Exeat_ RESP[UBLICA].
_People._ Now, ho! destructions to member in my heart?
_Avar._ Destructions? ye miser!
_Insol._ Ye peasant!
_Oppr._ Ye lout!
_Insol._ [Can ye naught] else do but rage, and rave, and cry out?
_Oppr._ And cannot tell on whom?
_Avar._ No more than can a daw!
_Oppr._ Crow against your betters!
_Insol._ And murmur against the law!
Let me hear thee prate as thou hast done heretofore!
_Avar._ Or trouble Lady Respublica any more!
_Oppr._ Thou canst not see, thou wretch! canst thou, when thou
art well?
_Avar._ Is't part of thy play with such high matters to mell?
_Insol._ Doth it become thee to bark with such a wide throat?
_Avar._ And to have an oar in everybody's boat?
_Insol._ If thou do so again, it shall with thee be worse.
_Oppr._ We shall wring and pinch thee, both by belly and purse.
_Insol._ I would advise you, friend! to grunt and groan no more.
_Oppr._ Do the like again, and thou shalt rue it full sore!
_Avar._ It were best for you, friend! all murmuring to cease.
_People._ Bum vay, then! chil e'en go home, and vair hold my peace.
_Insol._ Do so by my rede, and fall to honest labour.
_Avar._ Hence home, and be quiet! and thou shalt find favour.
_People._ Then chil bid you varewell!
_Oppr._ No words, but hence, apace!
This was done as should be.
_Avar._ This was done in right place.
_People._ But ho! one word erch go; ye'll give volk leave to think?
_Oppr._ No, marry! will we not, nor to look, but wink!
_People._ Yes, by Gis! but chil lo[ok]; nay, lo there! thought is free,
And a cat, they zaith, may look on a king, pardy! [_Exeat._
_Insol._ Now, where do we be come? I, home! [_Exeat._
_Oppr._ And I abroad! [_Exeat._
_Avar._ And I must see what feet about my door have trod.
[_Exeat._
ACTUS QUINTI, SCENA PRIMA.
[MISERICORDIA.]
_Miser._ Wherein appeareth the graciousness of God
More than, infinitely to exceed man's goodness,
But that He keepeth back the sharp stroke of His rod
When man would rage in most furious woodness?
Scarce any amends may man's eagerness appease;
Yea, and though he forgive, he will not soon forget;
Towards true penitence God's wrath forthwith doth cease,
And He, their past sins, behind His back doth set.
Of long sufferance He is with weakness to bear,
While any hope of amendment doth remain;
And though He plague sinners, to call them home by fear,
Yet His mercy and grace are aye ready again.
His grievous displeasure dureth not for ever.
And why? _quia miserationes ejus_;
Which to show He chiefly delighteth ever,
_Manent super omnia opera ejus_.
It grieveth Him sore when He must needs take vengeance;
His delight and glory is mercy to practise;
His tender compassion, on true repentance,
He hath still, from the beginni[n]g, sought t' exercise.
The mass of this world in His mercy did He frame:
The sky, earth, and sea His mercy replenished;
In His mercy did He after redeem the same,
When else, remediless, it must have perished.
In His mercy was Israel delivered
From the 'gyptian thraldom and captivity;
In His mercy the same through the Red Sea was led;
And through wilderness to a land of liberty.
Sith that time all commonwealths He hath protected;
And to such as, with earnest prayer, have made moan,
Me, Compassion, He hath amically directed
To revive and recover them every one.
Now, lastly, hath he heard the most doleful lament
Of woeful Respublica, his darling most dear!
Therefore me, Compassion, with speed he hath sent,
Her most sorrowful heart to recomfort and cheer.
I tarry her coming that I may her salute:
And lo! methinketh I see her appear in place;
Of friendship devoid, and of succour destitute--
I will hear her, and then give words of solace.
ACTUS QUINTI, SCENA SECUNDA.
RESPUBLICA. MISERICORDIA. AVARICE. ADULATION.
_Resp._ O Lord! hast Thou for ever closed up Thine ear?
Wilt Thou never more the desolate's prayer hear?
Wilt Thou still turn away Thy face from my distress?
Wilt Thou clean forsake me and leave me comfortless?
The secret sighs, and sobs, and prayers of mine heart,
Shall they not forever Thine eyes to me convert?
I grant that mine offences have so much deserved;
But for whom, save sinners, is this mercy reserved?
[Thou reservst it] so, which hitherto hath been just;
Despair, Lord! I will not; nor Thy goodness mistrust.
Lo[ok] down on my distress! and for Thy glory sake,
Though I be ill worthy it, mercy on me take!
_Miser._ Now will I speak to her.
_Resp._ Who maketh me afeard?
_Miser._ No, I will thee comfort: God hath thy prayer heard;
And now, Respublica, be of good hope and trust!
_Resp._ O Lord! now do I see that Thou art ever just.
_Miser._ I am sent to recomfort thee, Respublica!
_Resp._ O Lady Compassion! Misericordia!
_Miser._ What say ye to me? What, woman! can ye not speak?
I am come down, all your sorrows at once to break.
Speak, woman!
_Resp._ Misericordia!
_Miser._ Out, comfortably!
Ye shall have now no more cause to speak despairably.
_Resp._ My heart, in God's mercy, is so dilated,
That my very spirit to heaven is elated.
O Lady Compassion! welcome, verament!
Ever be God praised that you, to me, hath sent!
_Miser._ Now that I have put you in sure hope of relief,
I must go fet Verity to try out all your grief.
Verity shall oper how your decay hath grown;
And then, the causers thereof shall be overthrown.
_Resp._ Who be the causers thereof I cannot discern:
But yond cometh one of them that do me govern.
_Miser._ What is his name?
_Resp._ Policy!
_Miser._ Policy is good;
He doth work you many good things of likelihood.
_Avar._ A vengeance upon him! and God give him His curse!
I am besieged now of every cutpurse;
I can go nowhere now; in city, neither town,
But Piers Pickpurse playeth at organs under my gown.
_Miser._ What talketh he?
_Avar._ Who speaketh yond, Respublica?
_Resp._ What of the pickpurse?
_Avar._ Forsooth, dame Respublica!
I said, an we had two pillories mo, 'twere no the worse;
For it is a light thing now to meet Piers Pickpurse.
God preserve you, right fair lady! and Christ you save!
Who are you? and what would ye in this country have?
_Resp._ This same is the Lady Misericordia,
Sent from God purposely.
_Avar._ Unto you, Respublica?
_Miser._ Yea!
_Avar._ Then must ye needs be most heartily welcome:
We had ne'er more need of you, by my halidom!
There be in this country which, but ye comfort [send],
Are full like to make both a mad and a short end.
_Miser._ I will go to do that I said, Respublica!
And return with speed.
_Resp._ Sweet Misericordia!
[_Exeat_ MI[SERICORDI]A.
_Avar._ Good Misericordia, now! and lady most dear!--
Christ blister on your heart! what make you here?
_Resp._ Come back, Policy!
_Avar._ I come!
_Resp._ Whither would ye now?
_Avar._ Convey myself hence honestly, if I wist how.
_Resp._ When come ye, Policy? what look ye? something lost!
_Avar._ Anon! if I tarry, it will turn to my cost.
_Resp._ Ah, friend, Policy!
_Avar._ Yea!
_Resp._ Now shall I be in bliss.
_Avar._ Thanks to God!--we must find provision for this.
_Resp._ Ha!
_Avar._ Did not I e'er tell you that God would you save?
Ye may see now what it is, good rulers to have.
_Resp._ Ye say truth; but look! yonder cometh Honesty.
_Avar._ Pray God, amen!
_Resp._ Yes, look else!
_Avar._ What news bringeth he?
_Adul._ I should speak a word in th' ear of Policy;
If I may not so, I will speak it openly.
_Resp._ I have not seen you a great while, Honesty.
_Adul._ O noble Lady Respublica! well you be?
_Resp._ All shall be now, such news I have to me brought.
_Adul._ I hear it told for truth, Policy, all will be nought.
_Resp._ Hearest thou any joyful news abroad, or not?
_Adul._ Yea! I have certain news, which are both brim and hot.
There is new start-up, a lady called Verity.
_Resp._ Then am I all safe, and sure of prosperity.
How was it spoken?
_Adul._ This is Latin, gross and blunt:
_Misericordia et Veritas sibi obviaverunt_;
That is, Mercy and Truth are both met together.
_Resp._ Then will it not be long ere they both come hither.
_Avar._ Hither? how so?
_Resp._ Yea, both Mercy and Verity.
_Avar._ A pestle on them both, saving my charity!
But soft, brother Honesty! ye might mistake it:
Of which Verity was't, trow you, that they spake it?
_Adul._ Of the general Verity, Old Time's daughter.
_Avar._ Faith! they were not our friends that first hither brought her.
Old Time's daughter? that shuttle-brained, tall, long man!
That ne'er standeth still, but flyeth as fast as he can,
Much like as he swimmed or glided upon ice?
_Adul._ Yea!
_Resp._ For all that, of wise men, he is thought most wise.
_Avar._ I know him; he carrieth a clock on his head;
A sand glass in his hand, a dial in his forehead.
_Resp._ Ye say truth, Policy: the same is very he.
_Avar._ Old Time, the eavesdropper: I know him, pardy!
An ancient turner of houses upside down,
And a common consumer of city and town.
Old Time's daughter, (quod he?), I shrew his naked heart!
Many of my friends hath he brought to pain and smart.
Compassion and that Truth come hither to you?
_Resp._ Mercy, before ye came, promised so right now.
_Avar._ It is no time now, Honesty, to be idle.
_Adul._ Something breweth?
_Avar._ It is time for us to bridle.
Well, go your ways, afore, in all haste, Honesty:
And tell Reformation and Authority
That both these ladies, in all goodly fashion,
Must be entertained here in this nation.
Madame Respublica! is't not your pleasure so?
_Resp._ What else? in all the haste, Honesty, see ye go:
_Avar._ Say further, that I would we four, anon, might meet
Here, or where they will, save in the open street.
And hear you, Honesty!
_Adul._ What now?
_Avar._ A little near!
Provide in any wise that Verity come not here:
Let Insolence and Oppression keep her hence.
_Adul._ We shall, all three, therein do our best diligence.
_Avar._ Bid them well remember the world will wax quaisy;
Some of us, ere long, may hap leap at a daisy;
Or put out the _i_ of Misericordia,
And without an _i_ play e'en plain trussing corda.
[_Exeat_ ADUL[ATION].
_Resp._ Policy, what is it that ye talk there so long?
_Avar._ I send instructions that they may not do wrong.
_Resp._ Send ye aught to him that may not be told to me?
_Avar._ Should we with ery trifling trifle trouble ye?
Well then, ye look for these two ladies, [I am sure].
_Resp._ I trust they will not fail on me to do their cure.
_Avar._ I told you ever, did I not, that your wealth would frame?
_Resp._ I shall reward your pains: or else I were to blame.
_Avar._ Then best I go now straight to my fellows and see--
_Resp._ That things needful for us may not unready be;
Do so, I pray you!
_Avar._ Fare ye well, Respublica,
Till I see you next! [_Exeat._
_Resp._ Now, Misericordia!
When shall be thy pleasure? bring hither Verity?
Behold! e'en with the word speaking, where they both be.
_Intrant_ MI[SERICORDI]A _and_ VERITAS.
ACTUS QUINTI, SCENA TERTIA.
MISERICORDIA. VERITAS. RESPUBLICA.
_Miser._ I daresay Respublica thinketh the time long.
_Ver._ Who can blame her, having endured so much wrong?
But as meat and drink, and other bodily food
Is never found to be so pleasant, nor so good,
As when fretting hunger and thirst hath pinched afore;
And as health after sickness is sweeter evermore,
So, after decay and adversity overcome,
Wealth and prosperity shall be double welcome.
_Miser._ How now, Respublica? have I not been long hence?
_Resp._ Come ye first or last, ye bless me with your presence.
_Miser._ As I was commanded, I bring you Verity,
To help you, your people, and their posterity.
_Ver._ Dear jewel Respublica! I do you embrace.
_Resp._ I thank your goodness, and submit me to your grace.
_Miser._ Embrace Verity for ever, Respublica,
And cleave fast to her!
_Resp._ Yes, Misericordia!
_Miser._ Now please it you to declare, sister Verity!
How she may recover her old prosperity;
Her honour, her wealth, her riches, her substance,
Her commons, her people, her strength, and her puissance.
_Ver._ All this will be recovered incontinent;
And, to better state also, by good government.
_Resp._ No lady of my name upon earth, I esteem,
Hath had better administers than mine have been:
Policy, Reformation, and Authority.
_Miser._ These three be very good.
_Resp._ And the four[th], Honesty.
_Ver._ But what if these, which have had you and yours to keep,
Have been ravening wolves in the clothing of sheep?
_Resp._ If I heard not you, Verity, such sentence give,
By no man's persuasion I could it believe.
_Ver._ Ah, good Respublica! thou hast been abused;
Whom thou chosest are vices to be refused.
Whom thou callst Honesty, is Adulation;
And he that in pretence was Reformation,
Is indeed Oppression and huge violence;
Whom thou callst Authority, is proud Insolence;
Then he that was Policy, the chief man of price,
Indeed is most stinking and filthy Avarice.
He first inveigled thee, and his purpose to frame,
Cloaked each of these vices with a virtuous name.
_Resp._ Benedicite! is this a possible case?
_Ver._ Ye shall see it proved true before your own face;
They shall be convinced before you, one by one.
_Resp._ O Lord! what marvel if my thrift were well nigh gone?
But what redress shall I have hereof? and when?
_Miser._ Such as may be most fit, and as soon as we can.
Justice and peace are appointed to descend;
Th' one to keep you quiet; the other you to defend.
As soon as we four sisters together shall be met,
An order for your establishment shall be set:
By the eternal providence it is decreed so.
_Resp._ O most merciful Lord, all praise be thee unto!
_Miser._ I will leave you here with my sister Verity,
And learn of their coming with all celerity.
_Ver._ Ye need not; for I know they be now very near;
And, behold! they begin already to appear.
ACTUS QUINTI, SCENA QUARTA.
PAX. JUSTITIA. VERITAS. MISERICORDIA. RESPUBLICA.
_Peace._ Now, once again, in God let us two sisters kiss,
In token of our joining to make a perfect bliss.
_Justitia._ And now, let us never be sundered any more
Till we may Respublica perfectly restore.
_Ver._ Let us meet them, sister Misericordia!
_Miser._ And unto their sight present Respublica.
_Just., Pax._ All hail, most dear sisters, Mercy and Verity!
And, all hail, Respublica, with all sincerity!
_Resp._ O ye ladies celestial! how much am I bound
With thanks to fall flat before you on the ground,
That ye thus vouchsafe a forlorn creature
By your heave[n]ly protection to recure.
_Just._ I, Justice, from heaven am come you to visit.
_Pax._ And I, Peace, for ever with you to inhabit.
_Miser._ And all we four sisters, to th' utmost of our power,
Shall restore, establish, and defend your honour.
_Just._ We shall first restore your most happy estate,
And suppress all them that had made you desolate.
_Ver._ Verity shall all truth open as it is.
_Just._ I, Justice, shall redress whate'er is found amiss.
_Miser._ I, Mercy, where the member may recured be,
Shall temper the rigour and slake extremity.
_Pax._ I, Peace, when th' uncurable is clean cut away
And th' ill made good, shall flourish for ever and aye.
_Resp._ And I, which cannot otherwise your goodness deserve,
Shall your wholesome directions duly observe.
And what if Insolence shall come, or Avarice?
_Ver._ Detest them, abhor them, and refuse their service.
I doubt not but they will be still haunting hither,
Till we four shall them four take here altogether.
_Miser._ Now, sisters! go we, and Respublica with us,
To be new apparelled otherwise than thus.
_Just._ Come on, Respublica! with us to wealth from woe:
God hath given us in charge that it must be so.
_Ver._ The blissful renovation ye shall reign in
Must, from henceforth, now immediately begin.
[_Cantent: "The mercy of God," et exeant, etc._
ACTUS QUINTI, SCENA QUINTA.
AVARICE. ADULATION.
_Avar._ Such greedy covetous folk as now-of-days been,
I trow, before these present days were never seen;
An honest man can go in no place of the street
But he shall, I think, with an hundred beggars meet.
"Give for God's sake!" "Give for saint Charity!"
"Give for our Lady's sake!" "Give for the Trinity!"
"Give in the way of your good-speed!" "Give, give!" "Give, give!"
Find we our money in the street, do they believe?
If I had not a special grace to say Nay,
I were but undone amongst them, in one day.
But who cometh yond? Honesty? he cometh in haste.
_Adul._ I seek Policy.
_Avar._ Here, boy!
_Adul._ All is in waste!
_Avar._ How so?
_Adul._ We strive against the stream, all that we do.
_Avar._ Wherein?
_Adul._ That Verity come not this place unto.
For wot ye what?
_Avar._ I shall when he have spoke the word.
_Adul._ Justice, and Peace too, with full consent and accord
Are come down from heaven and have kissed together.
_Avar._ God give grace that they twain also come not hither!
_Adul._ As Mercy and Truth _sibi obviaverunt_,
So _Justicia et Pax osculatae sunt_.
_Avar._ Is it true? are they come?
_Adul._ And have kissed together.
_Avar._ Then carry in apace for fear of foul weather.
Have they kissed together?
_Adul._ Yea!
_Avar._ What needeth that?
Men should kiss women--and what point be they at?
_Adul._ All the four sisters, I do you t' understand,
Have already taken Respublica in hand.
They four progress with her in every border,
And mar all that ever we have set in order.
_Avar._ And what doth Insolence, or what saith he to that?
_Adul._ He stampeth, he stareth, and snuffeth sore thereat.
_Avar._ I advise him to storm, and to show himself stout:
They be women and perchance may be faced out;
And Peace is an honest lady and a quiet.
_Adul._ Verity and Justice are not for our diet.
_Avar._ Then Mercy is a good one; I like her well.
_Adul._ Yet oft turneth she her face away, and will not mell.
_Avar._ Well--fall back, fall edge--I am once at a point,
If Respublica come, t' adventure a joint.
_Adul._ She is fresh and gay and flourisheth; who but she?
_Avar._ Who brought it to such pass, will I tell her, but we?
Or else, making these new ladies of her weary,
We should triumph and reign.
_Adul._ Oh, never so merry!
_Avar._ Well, go to our company, I will remain here;
I may perhaps see Dame Respublica appear:
I will in hand with her, and make a good face.
_Adul._ And what shall I do?
_Avar._ Give warning, in the mean space,
That Insolence shrink not, but play the stout man.
_Adul._ That I know, he will do; for once I know he can.
_Avar._ And that you, all three, be pressed to come hither;
When need shall require, we lay our heads together.
Why, art thou here yet?
_Adul._ I am gone with all my might.
[_Exeat._
_Avar._ And, lo! where Respublica appeareth in sight.
[_Intrat_ RESP[UBLICA].
She is now at [hand,] her nymphs bearing up her train;
I will stand aside, and listen a word or twain.
ACTUS QUINTI, SCENA SEXTA.
RESPUBLICA. AVARICE.
_Resp._ O Lord! Thy mercies shall I sing evermore
Which dost so tenderly Thy handmaid restore.
But what creature would suspicion have had
That my late administers had been men so bad?
Or, who would have thought them counterfeits to have been
That had heard their words, and their countenance seen?
And chiefly Avarice, which did the matter break?
_Avar._ That word toucheth me: now is time for me to speak.
_Resp._ I thought him Policy, as just and true as steel.
_Avar._ I am glad that by me ye do such goodness feel.
_Resp._ And that my wealth did grow, as it hath grown of late.
_Avar._ I ever told ye you should grow to this estate.
_Resp._ Thou tell me?
_Avar._ Yea! I told you so in very deed;
And highly I rejoice it doth so well succeed.
And _salva festa dies_ upon you, Madame!
I am glad ye have got a new robe, so I am:
What saint in the calendar do we serve to-day,
That ye be so gorgeously decked, and so gay?
_Resp._ In rejoicing that I shall be clean rid of thee.
_Avar._ Nay, by this cross! ye shall never be rid for me.
_Resp._ And of thy compeers.
_Avar._ Well, let them do as they lust!
I will ride upon Jill, mine own mare; that is just.
Other ways I shall do you service of the best.
_Resp._ Thou wicked wretch! darest thou with me to jest?
_Avar._ What? I now see, _honores mutant mores_,
But, as seemeth here, _raro in meliores_.
_Resp._ Thee, and all thy service I do from me exile.
_Avar._ Is that the high reward ye promised me erewhile?
Is not this a wise woman, and minded to thrive,
That would me, Policy, out of the country drive?
_Resp._ Thee and thy complices from me I shall outcast.
_Avar._ Then, I pray you, pay us for our pains that are past.
_Resp._ Ye shall be paid.
_Avar._ Once I have done the best I can;
Authority also, he hath played the man;
Reformation hath done his part, I can tell.
If ye mistrust Honesty, faith! ye do not well.
And as for Avarice, he is conveyed quite:
I bade him get him hence, or I would him indite.
I, Policy, have made him to pluck in his horns:
I sware I would else lay him on prickles and thorns,
Where he should take no rest, neither day nor night;
So he had as lief be hanged as come in sight.
_Resp._ I may say with Job, how vainly do ye cheer me,
When all the words ye give, from truth doth disagree;
And with the wise man, I may most justly say this:
_Just[ici]a tamen non luxit in nobis._
Or else, with the prophet, in most sorrowful mood,
The fruit of our justice is turned into wormwood.
Well, the best of you is a detestable vice;
And thou, for thy part, art most stinking Avarice.
_Avar._ Jesu! when were you wont so foul-mouthed to be,
To give such nicknames? Ah, in faith! dame Verity
Hath had you in schooling of late; well, in God's name!
I am sorry for you, e'en sorry, that [I am].
I wis I have wrought to set you in good state,
And watched for that purpose, both early and late.
And I wis, if you would abide my framing,
And not thus to have fall to checking and blaming,
I would, ere long, of you made such carpenter work
That ye should have said, Policy had been a clerk;
Nay! you should have seen, how I would have you compact.
_Resp._ Yea, no doubt! ye would have done some great and fine act.
_Avar._ I would have brought half Kent into Northumberland;
And Somersetshire should have raught to Cumberland.
Then would I have stretched the county of Warwick
Upon tenter hooks, and made it reach to Berwick.
A piece of the bishopric should have come southward--
Tut, tut! I tell you, I had wondrous feats toward.
_Resp._ God hath placed me already in the best wise.
_Avar._ Yea! but yet not half so well as I could devise--
But no force; well then, I see ye will none of me?
_Resp._ No!
_Avar._ Then ye can be content I depart from ye?
_Resp._ Yea!
_Avar._ Well! yet and ye pray me, I will tarry still.
_Resp._ No!
_Avar._ Well, speak me fair, and woo me yet, and I will.
_Resp._ No; hence, avaunt!
_Avar._ Have I had of you such a clog,
And now [you] bid me avaunt and make me a dog?
_Resp._ Hence, at once!
_Avar._ Nay, tut! and ye will ha' us, ha' us.
_Resp._ Out of my presence!
_Avar._ Well then, ye will not ha' us?
_Resp._ No, avoid, I charge thee!