A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 12

ABHOMINABLE LIVING.

What, man? you need not to fume, Seeing he is come into my company now; He is as well welcome as the best of you: And if it lie in me to do him pleasure, He shall have it, you may ye sure.

FELLOWSHIP.

Then old acquaintance is clean out of favour: Lo, Friendship, this gear goeth with a sleight;[134]

He hath driven us twain out of conceit.

HYPOCRISY.

Out of conceit, quod-a? no, no; I dare well say, she thinketh not so: How say you, Unknown Honesty?

Do not you love Fellowship and me?

ABHOMINABLE LIVING.

Yea, by the ma.s.s, I love you all three; But yet indeed, if I should say the truth, Amongst all other, welcome Master Youth.

JUVENTUS.

Full greatly I do delight to kiss your pleasant mouth.

[_He kisseth_ ABHOMINABLE LIVING.

I am not able your kindness to recompence; I long to talk with you secretly, therefore let us go hence.

ABHOMINABLE LIVING.

I agree to that; for I would not for twenty pence,[135]

That it were known where I have been.

HYPOCRISY.

What, and it were known? it is no deadly[136] sin: As for my part, I do not greatly care, So that they find not your proper b.u.t.tocks bare.

ABHOMINABLE LIVING.

Now much fie upon you! how bawdy[137] you are!

I-wis, Friendship, it mought[138] have been spoken at twice: What think you, for your saying that the people will surmise?

JUVENTUS.

Who dare be so bold us to despise?

And if I may hear a knave speak one word, I will run thorough his cheeks with my sword.

FELLOWSHIP.

This is an earnest fellow, of G.o.d's Word!

See, I pray you, how he is disposed to fight!

JUVENTUS.

Why should I not, and if my cause be right?

What, and if a knave do me beguile, Shall I stand crouching like an owl?

No, no; then you might count me a very cow; I know what belongeth to G.o.d's law as well as you.

ABHOMINABLE LIVING.

Your wit therein greatly I do allow; For, and if I were a man, as you are, I would not stick to give a blow, To teach other knaves to beware, I beshrew you twice, and if you do spare, But lay load on the flesh, whatsoever befall, You have strength enough to do it with all.

FELLOWSHIP.

Let us depart, and if that we shall; Come on, masters, we twain will go before.

JUVENTUS.

Nay, nay, my friend, stop there; It is not you, that shall have her away, She shall go with me, and if she go to-day--

HYPOCRISY.

She shall go with none of you, I dare well say;

ABHOMINABLE LIVING.

To forsake any of your company I would be very loth; Therefore I will follow you all three.

HYPOCRISY.

Now I beshrew his heart, that to that will not agree; But yet because the time shall not seem very long, Ere we depart, let us have a merry song.

_They sing as followeth_:

Why should not youth fulfil his own mind, As the course of nature doth him bind?

Is not everything ordained to do his kind?

_Report me to you, report me to you_.

Do not the flowers spring fresh and gay, Pleasant and sweet in the month of[139] May?

And when their time cometh, they fade away.

_Report me to you, report me to you_.

Be not the trees in winter bare?

Like unto their kind, such they are; And when they spring, their fruits declare.

_Report me to you, report me to you_.

What should youth do with the fruits of age, But live in pleasure in his[140] pa.s.sage?

For when age cometh, his l.u.s.ts will suage.

_Report me to you, report me to you_.

Why should not youth fulfil his own mind, As the course of nature doth him bind? &c.

[_They go forth_.

_Here entereth_ GOOD COUNSEL.

O merciful Lord, who can cease to lament, Or keep his heart from continual mourning, To see how Youth is fallen from thy word and testament,[141]

And wholly inclined to Abhominable Living?

He liveth nothing according to his professing;[142]

But, alas! his life is to thy word['s] abusion, Except thy great mercy, to his utter confusion.

O, where is now[143] the G.o.dly conversation, Which should be among the professors[144] of thy word!

O, where may a man find now one faithful congregation,[145]

That is not infected with dissension or discord?

Or amongst whom are all vices utterly abhorred![146]

O, where is the brotherly love between man and man!

We may lament the time our vice began.

O, where is the peace and meekness, long suffering and temperance, Which are the fruits of G.o.d's holy spirit?

With whom is the flesh brought under obedience, Or who readeth the scripture with intent to follow it?

Who useth not now covetousness and deceit?

Who giveth unto the poor that which is due?

I think, in this world few that live now.