A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume I Part 56

There men and women did Folly, And every man made of me as worthy, As though I had been a knight.

MANHOOD. I pray thee yet tell me mo of thine adventures.

FOLLY. In faith, even straight to all the freres, And with them I dwelled many years, And they crowned Folly a king.

MANHOOD. I pray thee, fellow, whither wendest thou tho?

FOLLY. Sir, all England to and fro: Into abbeys and into nunneries also, And alway Folly doth fellows find.

MANHOOD. Now hark, fellow, I pray thee tell me thy name.

FOLLY. I-wis, I hight both Folly and Shame.

MANHOOD. Ah, ah! thou art he that Conscience did blame, When he me taught.

I pray thee, Folly, go hence, and follow not me.

FOLLY. Yes, good sir, let me your servant be.

MANHOOD. Nay, so mot I the, For then a shrew had I caught.

FOLLY. Why, good sir, what is your name?

MANHOOD. Manhood Mighty, that beareth no blame.

FOLLY. By the rood, and Manhood mistereth[253] in every game Some deal to cherish Folly: For Folly is fellow with the world, And greatly beloved by many a lord, And if ye put me out of your ward, The world right wrath will be.

MANHOOD. Yea, sir, yet had I liever the world be wrath, Than lese the cunning that Conscience me gave.

FOLLY. A cuckoo for Conscience[254]; he is but a daw: He cannot else but preach.

MANHOOD. Yea, I pray thee, leave thy lewd clattering, For Conscience is a councillor for a king.

FOLLY. I would not give a straw for his teaching: He doth but make men wrath.

But wottest thou what I say, man?

By that ilk[255] truth that G.o.d me gave, Had I that b.i.t.c.hed Conscience in this place, I should so beat him with my staff, That all his stones should stink.

MANHOOD. I pray thee, Folly, go hence and follow not me.

FOLLY. Yes, sir, so mot I the, Your servant will I be.

I axe but meat and drink.

MANHOOD. Peace, man: I may not have thee for thy name, For thou sayest thy name is both Folly and Shame.

FOLLY. Sir, here in this clout I knit Shame, And clepe me but proper Folly.

MANHOOD. Yea, Folly, will thou be my true servant?

FOLLY. Yea, Sir Manhood, here my hand.

MANHOOD. Now let us drink at this comnant,[256]

For that is courtesy.

FOLLY. Marry, master, ye shall have in haste.

Ah, ah, sirs, let the cat wink,[257]

For all ye wot not what I think, I shall draw him such a draught of drink, That Conscience he shall away cast.

Have, master, and drink well And let us make revel, revel, For I swear by the church of Saint Michael, I would we were at stews: For there is nothing but revel rout.

And we were there, I had no doubt I should be knowen all about, Where Conscience they would refuse.

MANHOOD. Peace, Folly, my fair friend, For, by Christ, I would not that Conscience should me here find.

FOLLY. Tush, master, thereof speak no thing, For Conscience cometh no time here.

MANHOOD. Peace, Folly, there is no man that knoweth me.

FOLLY. Sir, here my troth I plight to thee, And thou wilt go thither with me, For Knowledge have thou no care.

MANHOOD. Peace, but it is hence a great way.

FOLLY. Parde, sir, we may be there on a day.

Yea, and we shall be right welcome, I dare well say, In Eastcheap for to dine: And then we will with lombards[258] at pa.s.sage[259] play, And at the Pope's-Head sweet wine a.s.say, We shall be lodged well a-fine.

MANHOOD. What sayest thou, Folly, is this the best?

FOLLY. Sir, all this is Manhood, well thou knowest.

MANHOOD. Now, Folly, go we hence in haste.

But fain would I change my name: For well I wot, if Conscience meet me in this tide, Right well I wot, he would me chide.

FOLLY. Sir, for fear of you his face he shall hide: I shall clepe you Shame.

MANHOOD. Now gramercy, Folly, my fellow infere,[260]

Go we hence, tarry no lenger here.

Till we be gone, methink it seven year: I have gold and good to spend.

FOLLY. Ah, ah! master, that is good cheer, And ere it be pa.s.sed half a year, I shall thee shear right a lewd frere, And hither again thee send. [_Aside_.

MANHOOD. Folly, go before, and teach me the way.

FOLLY. Come after, Shame, I thee pray, And Conscience clear ye cast away.

Lo, sirs, this Folly teacheth aye: For where Conscience cometh with his cunning, Vet Folly full featly shall make him blind.

Folly before, and Shame behind.

Lo, sirs, thus fareth the world alway.

MANHOOD. Now, I will follow Folly, for Folly is my man: Yea, Folly is my fellow, and hath given me a name: Conscience called me Manhood, Folly calleth me Shame.

Folly will me lead to London to learn revel; Yea, and Conscience is but a flattering brothel; For ever he is carping of care: The world and Folly counselleth me to all gladness, Yea, and Conscience counselleth me to all sadness; Yea, too much sadness might bring me into madness.

And now have good day, sirs, To London to seek Folly will I fare.

CONSCIENCE. Say, Manhood, friend, whither will ye go?