Volume I Part 27 (1/2)

Alas, that is a heavy case, That so great sin is used in every place; I pray G.o.d it amend.

CONTEMPLATION.

Now G.o.d, that ever hath been man's friend, Some better tidings soon us send!

For now I must be gone.

Farewell, good brethren here; A great errand I have elsewhere, That must needs be done: I trust I will not long tarry; Thither will I hie me shortly, And come again, when I have done.

PERSEVERANCE.

Hither again, I trust, you will come; Therefore G.o.d be with you.

CONTEMPLATION.

Sir, needs I must depart now; Jesu me speed this day.

PERSEVERANCE.

Now, brother Contemplation, let us go our way.

FREEWILL.

Aware, fellows, and stand a-room: How say you? am not I a goodly person?

I trow, you know not such a guest: What, sirs, I tell you, my name is Freewill, I may choose whether I do good or ill; But for all that I will do, as me list: My conditions ye know not, perde, I can fight, chide, and be merry; Full soon of my company ye would be weary, And ye knew all.

What, fill the cup, and make good cheer!

I trow I have a n.o.ble here: Who lent it me? By Christ, a frere; And I gave him a fall.

Where be ye, sir? be ye at home?

c.o.c.k's pa.s.sion, my n.o.ble is turned to a stone.

Where lay I last? Beshrew your heart, John; Now, by these bones, she hath beguiled me: Let see; a penny my supper, a piece of flesh ten-pence; My bed right nought: let all this expense-- Now, by these bones, I have lost a halfpenny.

Who lay there? my fellow Imagination; He and I had good communication Of Sir John and Sybil, How they were spied in bed together; And he prayed her oft to come hither, For to sing _lo, le, lo, lowe_.

They twain together had good sport; But at the stews' side I lost a groat: I trow I shall never i-the.[114]

My fellow promised me here to meet, But I trow the wh.o.r.eson be asleep With a wench somewhere.

How, Imagination, come hither, And you thrive, I lose a feather; Beshrew your heart, appear.

IMAGINATION.

What, how, how, who called after me?