A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 36

G.o.d's wounds, who gave thee that counsel?

FREEWILL.

Perseverance and Contemplation, I thee tell.

IMAGINATION.

A vengeance on them, I would they were in h.e.l.l.

FREEWILL.

Amend, Imagination, and mercy cry.

IMAGINATION.

By G.o.d's sides, I had liever be hanged on high; Nay, that would I not do: I had liever die.

By G.o.d's pa.s.sion, and I had a long knife, I would bereave these two wh.o.r.esons of their life: How, how? twenty pounds for a dagger!

CONTEMPLATION.

Peace, peace, good son, and speak softer, And amend, ere death draw his draught; For on thee he will steal full soft, He giveth never no man warning, And ever to thee he is coming: Therefore remember thee well.

IMAGINATION.

Ah, wh.o.r.eson, if I were jailer of h.e.l.l, I-wis, some sorrow should thou feel; For to the devil I would thee sell, Then should ye have many a sorry meal, I would never give you meat ne drink, Ye should fast, wh.o.r.esons, till ye did stink, Even as a rotten dog; yea, by Saint Tyburn of Kent.

PERSEVERANCE.

Imagination, think what G.o.d did for thee; On Good Friday He hanged on a tree, And spent all His precious blood, A spear did rive His heart asunder, The gates He brake up with a clap of thunder, And Adam and Eve there delivered He.

IMAGINATION.

What devil! what is that to me?

By G.o.d's fast, I was ten year in Newgate, And many more fellows with me sat, Yet he never came there to help me ne my company.

CONTEMPLATION.

Yes, he holp thee, or thou haddest not been here now.

IMAGINATION.

By the ma.s.s, I cannot show you, For he and I never drank together, Yet I know many an ale stake;[164]

Neither at the stews, i-wis, he never came thither: Goeth he arrayed in white or in black?

For, and he out of prison had holp me, I know well once I should him see, What gown weareth he, I pray you?

PERSEVERANCE.

Sir, he halp you out by his might.

IMAGINATION.

I cannot tell you, by this light; But methought that I lay there too long, And the wh.o.r.eson fetters were so strong, That had almost brought my neck out of joint.

PERSEVERANCE.

Amend, son, and thou shall know him, That delivered thee out of prison; And if thou wilt forsake thy miss, Surely thou shalt come to the bliss, And be inheritor of heaven.

IMAGINATION.

What, sir, above the moon?

Nay, by the ma.s.s, then should I fall soon; Yet I keep not to climb so high; But to climb for a bird's nest, There is none between east and west, That dare thereto venter better than I: But to venter to heaven--what, and my feet slip?

I know well then I should break my neck, And, by G.o.d, then had I the worse side; Yet had I liever be by the nose tied In a wench's a.r.s.e somewhere, Rather than I would stand in that great fear, For to go up to heaven--nay, I pray you, let be.

FREEWILL.

Imagination, wilt thou do by the counsel of me?

IMAGINATION.

Yea, sir, by my troth, whatsomever it be.

FREEWILL.

Amend yet for my sake, It is better betime than too late; How say you? will you G.o.d's hests fulfil?

IMAGINATION.

I will do, sir, even as you will; But, I pray you, let me have a new coat, When I have need, and in my purse a groat, Then will I dwell with you still.