A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 11

But my conscience crieth out, and bids me take heed To love my Lord G.o.d above all earthly gain; Whereby all this while I stand in great dread, That if I should G.o.d's statutes disdain, In wretched state then I should remain.

Thus crieth my conscience to me continually, Which if you can stay, I will yield to you gladly.

CARDINAL.

I can say no more than I have done already.

Thou heardest that I called thee heretic and fool: If thou wilt not consent to me, and that speedily, With a new master thou shalt go to school.

HYPOCRISY.

Thou hast no more wit, I see, than this stool, Far unfit to dispute and reason with my lord: He can subdue thee with fire and sword quite with one word.

TYRANNY.[49]

Come follow apace, Sensual Suggestion, Or else I will leave you to come all alone.

SUGGESTION.

You go in haste, you make expedition: Nay, if you run so fast, I will none.

This little journey will make me to groan.

I use not to trouble myself in this wise, And now to begin I do not advise.

TYRANNY.

Have I not plied me, which am come again so soon, And yet have finished such sundry business?

I have caused many pretty toys to be done, So that now I have each thing in readiness.

CARDINAL.

What, Master Zeal, you are praiseworthy, doubtless.

Art thou prepared this gentleman to receive?

He will roast a f.a.got, or else he me deceive.

TYRANNY.

In simple manner I will him entertain, Yet must he take it all in good part; And though his diet be small, he may not disdain, Nor yet contemn the kindness of my heart: For though I lack instruments to put him to smart, Yet shall he abide in a h.e.l.lish black dungeon: As for blocks, stocks, and irons, I warrant him want none.

HYPOCRISY.

Well, farewell Philologus, you hear of your lodging.

I would yet do you good, if that I wist how.

CARDINAL.

Let him go, Hypocrisy; stand not all day dodging: You have done too much for him, I make G.o.d avow.

HYPOCRISY.

Stay; for Suggestion doth come yonder now.

Come on, lazy lubber, you make but small haste: Had you stayed a while longer, your coming had been waste.

SUGGESTION.

You know of myself I am not very quick, Because that my body I do so much tender; For Sensual Suggestion will quickly be sick, If that his own ease he should not remember.

Thus one cause of my tarriance to you I do render: Another I had as I came by the way, Which did me the longer from your company stay.

HYPOCRISY.

What was that, Suggestion? I pray thee to us utter, For I am with child, till that I do it hear.

SUGGESTION.

A certain gentlewoman did murmur and mutter, And for grief of mind her hair she did tear: She will at last kill herself, I greatly do fear.

HYPOCRISY.

What is the cause why this grief she did take?

SUGGESTION.

Because her husband her company did forsake.

Her children also about her did stand, Sobbing and sighing, and made lamentation, Knocking their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and wringing their hand, Saying they are brought to utter desolation By the means of their father's wilful protestation; Whose goods, they say, are already confiscate, Because he doth the Pope's laws violate.

And indeed I saw Avarice standing at the door, And a company of ruffians a.s.sisting him there.

PHILOLOGUS.

Alas, alas! this pincheth my heart full sore.

Mine evils he doth declare, mine own woe I do hear, Wherefore from tears I cannot forbear.

HYPOCRISY.

Ha, ha! doth this touch you, Master Philologus?

You need not have had it, being rul'd by us.

SUGGESTION.

Why, what is he thus, Master Hypocrisy, That taketh such sorrow at the words which I spake?

HYPOCRISY.

One that is taken and convinced of heresy,[50]

And, I fear me much, will burn at a stake: Yet to reclaim him much pains would I take, And have done already, howbeit in vain.

I would crave thine a.s.sistance, were it not to thy pain.

SUGGESTION.

I will do the best herein that I can: Yet go thou with me to help at a need.

[_To Phil_.] With all my heart, G.o.d save you, good gentleman, To see your great sorrow my heart doth wellnigh bleed.

But what is the cause of your trouble and dread?

Disdain not to me your secret to tell: A wise man sometime of a fool may take counsel.

PHILOLOGUS.

Mine estate, alas! is now most lamentable, For I am but dead, whichever side I take: Neither to determine herein am I able, With good advice mine election to make, The worse to refuse, and the best for to take: My spirit covets the one; but alas! since your presence, My flesh leads my spirit therefro by violence.

For at this time, I being in great extremity, Either my Lord G.o.d in heart to reject, Or else to be oppressed by the legate's authority, And in this world to be counted an abject, My lands, wife, and children also to neglect: This later part to take my spirit is in readiness, But my flesh doth subdue my spirit doubtless.

SUGGESTION.

Your estate, perhaps, seemeth to you dangerous, The rather because you have not been used To incur beforetime such troubles perilous, But to your power such evils have refused: Howbeit, of two evils the least must be choosed: Now which is the least evil, we will shortly examine, That which part to take yourself may determine.

On the right hand, you say, you see G.o.d's just judgment, His wrath and displeasure on you for to fall, And instead of the joys of heaven ever permanent, You see for your stipend the torments infernal.

PHILOLOGUS.

That is it indeed which I fear most of all; For Christ said: fear not them which the body can annoy, But fear him which the body and soul can destroy.

SUGGESTION.

Well, let that lie aside awhile as it is, And on the other side make the like inquisition: If on the left side you fall, then shall you not miss But to bring your body to utter perdition; For at man's hand, you know, there is no remission.

Beside, your children fatherless, your wife desolate, Your goods and possessions to other men confiscate.

PHILOLOGUS.

Saint Paul to the Romans hath this worthy sentence: I accompt the afflictions of this world transitory, Be they never so many, in full equivalence Cannot countervail those heavenly glory, Which we shall have through Christ his propitiatory.

I also accompt the rebukes of our Saviour Greater gains to me than this house full of treasure.