A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 5

HUMILITY.

That shall you see even anon; I will unto him gone, And see what he will say.

RIOT.

Hardily go on thy way; I know well he will say nay.

YOUTH.

Yea, sir, by G.o.d that me dear bought, Methink ye labour all for nought; Weenest thou that I will for thee Or thy brother Charity Forsake this good company?

Nay, I warrant you.

PRIDE.

No, master, I pray you of that, For anything forsake us not, And all our counsel rule you by; Ye may be emperor, ere ye die.

YOUTH.

While I have life in my body, Shall I be ruled by Riot and thee.

RIOT.

Sir, then, shall ye do well, For we be true as steel; Sir, I can teach you to play at the dice, At the queen's game[19] and at the Irish;[20]

The treygobet[21] and the hazard[22] also, And many other games mo; Also at the cards I can teach you to play, At the triump and one-and-thirty, Post,[23] pinion,[24] and also aums-ace, And at another they call dewce-ace; Yet I can tell you more, and ye will con me thank, Pink[25] and drink, and also at the blank,[26]

And many sports mo.

YOUTH.

I thank thee, Riot, so mot I the, For the counsel thou hast given me; I will follow thy mind in every thing, And guide me after thy learning.

CHARITY.

Youth, leave that counsel, for it is nought, And amend that thou hast miswrought, That thou may'st save that G.o.d hath bought.

YOUTH.

What say ye, Master Charity?

What hath G.o.d bought?

By my troth, I know not Whether he goeth in white or black; He came never at the stews, Nor in no place, where I do use; I-wis he bought not my cap, Nor yet my jolly hat; I wot not what he hath bought for me; And he bought anything of mine, I will give him a quart of wine, The next time I him meet.

CHARITY.

Sir, this he did for thee; When thou wast bond, he made thee free, And bought thee with his blood.

YOUTH.

Sir, I pray you tell me, How may this be: That I know, I was never bond Unto none in England.

CHARITY.

Sir, I shall tell you-- When Adam had done great trespa.s.s, And out of Paradise exiled was; Then all the souls, as I can you tell, Were in the bondage of the devil of h.e.l.l, Till the Father of heaven, of his great mercy, Sent the Second Person in Trinity Us for to redeem, And so with his precious blood He bought us on the rood, And our souls did save.

YOUTH.

How should I save it, tell me now, And I will be ruled after you My soul to save.

RIOT.

What, youth; will ye forsake me?

I will not forsake thee.

HUMILITY.

I shall tell you shortly; Kneel down and ask G.o.d mercy, For that you have offended.

PRIDE.

Youth, wilt thou do so?

Follow them, and let us go?

Marry, I trow, nay.

YOUTH.

Here all sin I forsake, And to G.o.d I me betake; Good Lord, I pray thee have no indignation, That I, a sinner, should ask salvation.

CHARITY.

Now thou must forsake Pride, And all Riot set aside.

PRIDE.

I will not him forsake, Neither early ne late; I ween'd he would not forsake me; But if it will none otherwise be, I will go my way.

YOUTH.

Sir, I pray G.o.d be your speed, And help you at your need.

RIOT.

I am sure thou wilt not forsake me, Nor I will not forsake thee.

YOUTH.

I forsake you also, And will not have with you to do.

RIOT.

And I forsake thee utterly: Fie on thee, caitiff, fie!

Once a promise thou did me make, That thou would me never forsake, But now I see it is hard For to trust the wretched world; Farewell, masters, everychone.

HUMILITY.

For your sin look ye mourn, And evil creatures look ye turn; For your name, who maketh inquisition, Say it is Good Contrition That for sin doth mourn.

CHARITY.

Here is a new array, For to walk by the way, Your prayer for to say.

HUMILITY.

Here be beads[27] for your devotion, And keep you from all temptation; Let not vice devour.

When you see misdoing men, Good counsel give them, And teach them to amend.

YOUTH.

For my sin I will mourn, All creatures I will turn; And when I see misdoing men, Good counsel I shall give them, And exhort them to amend.

CHARITY.

Then shall ye be an heritor of bliss, Where all joy and mirth is.

YOUTH.

To the which eternal G.o.d bring the persons all Here being, amen!

HUMILITY.

Thus have we brought our matter to an end Before the persons here present; Would every man be content, Lest another day we be shent.