A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 6

CHARITY.

We thank all this presence Of their meek audience.

HUMILITY.

Jesu that sitteth in heaven so high, Save all this fair company:[28]

Men and women that here be, Amen, amen, for Charity.[29]

l.u.s.tY JUVENTUS.

A MORALITY.

_An Enterlude called l.u.s.ty Juuentus, lyuely describing the frailtie of youth: of natur p.r.o.ne to vyce: by grace and good counsayll traynable to vertue.

The parsonages that speake.

Messenger, l.u.s.ty Juuentus, Good Counsaill, Knowledge, Sathan the deuyll, Hypocrisie, Felowship, Abhominable Lyuyng, G.o.ds mercifull promises.

Foure maye playe it easely, takyng such partes as they thinke best: so that any one take of those partes that be not in place at once.

[Col.] Imprynted at London, in Lothbury, ouer agaynst Sainct Margarits Church, by Wyllyam Copland. 4, black-letter_.[30]

HAWKINS'S PREFACE.

The editor has been favoured with two copies of this moral interlude; one of which is preserved in the library belonging to Lincoln Cathedral,[31] the other is in the possession of Mr. Garrick. It was written in the reign of Edward the Sixth by one R. Wever, of whom the editor can give the reader no further information. The former was printed at London by Abraham Vele. The latter is a very different copy from the other. A more obsolete spelling runs through the whole, and it contains great variations besides, which the reader will find at the bottom of each page. The conclusion being imperfect, the printer's colophon is wanting, so that it cannot be known where this edition was printed. According to Dr Percy's tables, it was printed by Richard Pinson.[32]

The design of this interlude was to expose the superst.i.tions of the Romish Church, and to promote the Reformation. The stage (as the learned Dr Percy observes) in those days literally was what wise men have always wished it--a supplement to the pulpit: chapter and verse are as formally quoted as in a sermon. See "Prologue of the Messenger,"

&c. From this play we learn that most of the young people were new gospellers, or friends to the Reformation; and that the old were tenacious of the doctrines imbibed in their youth, for thus the Devil is introduced lamenting the downfall of superst.i.tion--

The old people would believe still in my laws, But the younger sort lead them a contrary way; They will not believe, they plainly say, In old traditions and made by men, But they will live as the scripture teacheth them, &c.

And in another place Hypocrisy urges--

The world was never merry, Since children were so bold; Now every boy will be a teacher, The father a fool, and the child a preacher.

[This is certainly a piece of rather heavy and tedious morality, replete with good instruction, but didactic to a fault. It is deficient in the curious allusions, which abound in other productions of the same kind; and even that mysterious character, _Abominable Living_, whose introduction promises some amus.e.m.e.nt and ill.u.s.tration, moves off the scene almost immediately after her first appearance, while _Little Bess_, whose entrance might have been a vehicle for some diverting or sentimental situation, does not "come on" at all.]

l.u.s.tY JUVENTUS.

THE PROLOGUE OF THE MESSENGER.

For as much as man is naturally p.r.o.ne To evil from his youth, as Scripture doth recite,[33]

It is necessary that he be speedily withdrawn From concupiscence of sin, his natural appet.i.te: An[34] order to bring up youth Ecclesiasticus doth write,-- An untamed horse will be hard, saith he, And a wanton child wilful will be.

Give him no liberty in youth, nor his folly excuse, Bow down his neck, and keep him in good awe, Lest he be stubborn: no labour refuse To train him to wisdom and teach him G.o.d's law, For youth is frail and easy to draw By grace to goodness, by nature to ill: That nature hath ingrafted, is hard to kill.

Nevertheless, in youth men may be best Trained to virtue by G.o.dly mean; Vice may be so mortified and so supprest, That it shall not break forth, yet the root will remain; As in this interlude by youth you shall see plain, From his l.u.s.t by Good Counsel brought to G.o.dly conversation, And shortly after to frail nature's inclination.

The enemy of mankind, Satan, through Hypocrisy Feigned or chosen holiness of man's blind intent, Forsaking[35] G.o.d's word, that leadeth right way, Is brought to Fellowship and ungracious company, To Abhominable Living till he be wholly bent, And so to desperation, if good counsel were not sent From G.o.d, that in trouble doth no man forsake That doth call, and trust in him for Christ's sake.

Finally, youth by G.o.d's special grace Doth earnestly repent his abhominable living By the doctrine of good counsel, and to his solace G.o.d's mercy entereth to him reciting G.o.d's merciful promises, as they be in writing: He believeth and followeth, to his great consolation.[36]

And these parts ye shall see briefly played in their fashion.

_Here entereth_ l.u.s.tY JUVENTUS, _or_ YOUTH, _singing as followeth_:

In a herber[37] green, asleep[38] where as I lay, The birds sang sweet in the middes of the day; I dreamed fast of mirth and play: In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.

Methought I walked still to and fro, And from her company I could not go; But when I waked, it was not so: In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.

Therefore my heart is surely pight[39]

Of her alone to have a sight, Which is my joy and heart's delight: In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.

Finis.

l.u.s.tY JUVENTUS, _or_ YOUTH, _speaketh_.

What, ho? Are they not here?

I am disappointed, by the blessed ma.s.s!

I had thought to have found them making good cheer; But now they are gone to some secret place.

Well, seeing they are gone, I do not greatly pa.s.s;[40]

Another time I will hold them as much, Seeing they break[41] promise, and keep not the tweche.[42]

What shall I do now to pa.s.s away the day?

Is there any man here that will go to game?

At whatsoever he[43] will play, To make one I am ready to the same: Youth full of pleasure is my proper name.

To be alone is not my appet.i.te,[44]

For of all things in the world I love merry company.

Who knoweth where is e'er a minstrel?

By the ma.s.s, I would fain go dance a fit[45]

My companions[46] are at it, I know right well; They do not all this while in a corner sit: Against another time they have taught me[47] wit: I beshrew their hearts for serving me this,[48]

I will go seek them, whether I hit or miss.

_Here entereth_ GOOD COUNSEL, _to whom_ YOUTH _yet speaketh_.

Well i-met, father, well i-met: Did you hear any minstrels play, As you came hitherward upon your way?

And if you did, I pray you wish[49] me thither, For I am going to seek them, and, in faith, I know not whither.