Volume I Part 55 (1/2)

MANHOOD. But I must have sporting of play.

CONSCIENCE. Sickerly,[246] Manhood, I say not nay: But good governance keep both night and day, And maintain meekness and all mercy.

MANHOOD. All mercy, Conscience: what may that be?

CONSCIENCE. Sir, all discretion that G.o.d gave thee.

MANHOOD. Discretion I know not, so mot I the.

CONSCIENCE. Sir, it is all the wits that G.o.d hath you send.

MANHOOD. Ah, Conscience! Conscience! now I know and see Thy cunning is much more than mine: But yet I pray thee, sir, tell me, What is most necessary for man in every time?

CONSCIENCE. Sir, in every time beware of folly: Folly is full of false flattering; In what occupation that ever ye be, Alway, ere ye begin, think on the ending for blame.

Now farewell, Manhood, I must wend.

MANHOOD. Now farewell, Conscience, mine own friend.

CONSCIENCE. I pray you, Manhood, have G.o.d in mind, And beware of folly and shame.

MANHOOD. Yes, yes: yea, come wind and rain, G.o.d let him never come here again.

Now he is forward, I am right fain, For in faith, sir, he had near counselled me all amiss.

Ah, ah! now I have bethought me, if I shall heaven win, Conscience teaching I must begin, And clean forsake the kings of sin, That the world me taught; And Conscience' servant will I be, And believe, as he hath taught me, Upon one G.o.d and persons three, That made all things of nought: For Conscience clear I clepe my king, And his knight in good doing: For right of reason, as I find, Conscience teaching is true: The world is full of boast, And saith he is of might most: All his teaching is not worth a cost; For Conscience he doth refuse.

But yet will I him not forsake, For mankind he doth merry make: Though the world and Conscience be at debate, Yet the world will I not despise, For both in church and in cheaping,[247]

And in other places being, The world findeth me all thing, And doth me great service.

Now here full prest I think to rest, Now mirth is best.

FOLLY. What, heigho! care away!

My name is Folly, I am not gay.

Is here any man that will say nay That renneth in this rout?

Ah, sir, G.o.d give you good eve.

MANHOOD. Stand utter,[248] fellow, where dost thou thy courtesy preve?

FOLLY. What, I do but claw mine a.r.s.e, sir, by your leave.

I pray you, sir, rive me this clout.

MANHOOD. What, stand out, thou sained[249] shrew!

FOLLY. By faith, sir, there the c.o.c.k crew; For I take record of this rew My thedom[250] is near past.

MANHOOD. Now, truly, it may well be so.

FOLLY. By G.o.d, sir, yet have I fellows mo, For in every country, where I go, Some man his thrift hath lost.

MANHOOD. But hark, fellow, art thou any crafts-man?

FOLLY. Yea, sir, I can bind a sieve and tink a pan, And thereto a curious buckler-player I am.