A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 10

PHILOLOGUS.

G.o.d keep me and all men from such a frenzy, As to think anything Christ's power to surpa.s.s, When his will to his power joined was; But where his will wanteth, his power is ineffectual: As Christ can be no liar, G.o.d cannot be mortal.

Set down therefore some proof of his will That he would be made bread, and then I recant.

CARDINAL.

This caitiff mine ears with wind he doth fill: His words both truth and reason doth want.

Christ's word is his will; this must thou needs grant.

PHILOLOGUS.

He spake the word likewise, when he said, "I am the door,"

Was his body transformed into timber therefore?

CARDINAL.

Nay, if thou beest obstinate, I will say no more.

Have him hence to prison, and keep him full sure: I will make him set by my friendship more store.

But hearest thou, Zeal? go first and procure Some kind of new torment which he may not endure.

TYRANNY.

I am here in readiness to do your commandment, And will return hither again incontinent.

HYPOCRISY.

At thy return bring hither Sensual Suggestion, That, if need be, he may us a.s.sist, Lest that both I and Careful Provision The zeal of Philologus may not fully resist; But he in his obstinacy doth still persist: To put him to death would accuse us of tyranny; But if we could win him, he should do us much honesty.

TYRANNY.

I hear you, and will fulfil your words speedily.

[_Exit_ TYRANNY.

HYPOCRISY.

Good Master Philologus, I pity your case, To see you so foolish yourself to undo: I durst yet promise to purchase you grace, If you would, at length, your errors forego.

Therefore, I pray you, be not your own foe.

PHILOLOGUS.

Call you those errors which the gospel defends?

I know not, then, whence true d[o]ctrine descends.

CARDINAL.

Nay, Master Hypocrisy, you spend time in vain To reason with him: he will not be removed.

AVARICE.

Had I so much to live by, as he hath certain, I would not lose that which I so well loved.

CARDINAL.

He stands in his reputation: he will not be reproved; And that is the cause that he is so obstinate: [_To Phil_.] But I shall well enough thy courage abate.

PHILOLOGUS.

I humbly beseech you of Christian charity, You seek not of purpose my blood for to spill; For if I have displeased your authority, In reasonable causes redress it I will: But in this respect I fear I should kill My soul for ever, if against my conscience I should to the Pope's laws acknowledge obedience.

HYPOCRISY.

Cease from those words, if your safety you love: As though no man had a soul more than you.

Such nips, perchance, my lord's patience will move; Then would you please him, if that you wist how.

But if you will be ruled by my honesty, I vow I will do the best herein that I can, Because you seem to be a good gentleman.

AVARICE.

Were it not better for you to live at ease, And spend that merrily which earst you have got, Than by your own folly yourself to disease, And bring you to trouble, which other men seek not?

HYPOCRISY.

In faith, Philologus, your zeal is too hot, Which will not be quench'd, but with your heart-blood; If I were so zealous, I would think myself wood.

CARDINAL.

Tush! it will not be: he thinks we do but jest.

Wherefore, that some trial of my mind he may have, That Careful Provision should go I think best Into the town, and there a.s.sistance crave, His house for to enter, and his goods for me save: Lest when his wife know that they be confiscate, Into other men's keeping the same she doth dissipate.

HYPOCRISY.

You speak very wisely in my simple judgment: Therefore you were best to send him away.

CARDINAL.

Go to, Careful Provision, depart incontinent, And fulfil the words which I to you say.

AVARICE.

Of pardon herein I do your lordship pray.

You doubt not, I trust, of my willing mind, Which herein is most ready, you always shall find: For who is more ready by fraud to purloin Other men's goods than I am each where?

But lest some man at me should chance to foin, And kill me at once, I greatly do fear.

I had rather persuade him his folly to forbear.

CARDINAL.

Prove then, if thou canst do him any good: He shall not say that we seek his blood.

AVARICE.

Ah, Master Philologus! you see your own case, That both life and goods are in my lord's will: Therefore you were best to sue for some grace, And be content his words to fulfil.

If you neglect this, hence straightway I will, And all your goods I will sure confiscate: Then will you repent it, when it is too late.

PHILOLOGUS.

My case indeed I see most miserable, As was Susanna betwixt two evils placed; Either to consent to sin most abhominable, Or else in the world's sight to be utterly disgraced; But as she her chast.i.ty at that time embraced, So will I now spiritual wh.o.r.edom resist, And keep me a true virgin to my loving spouse Christ.

AVARICE.

Wilt thou then neglect the provision of thy household?

Thou art therefore worse than an infidel is.

PHILOLOGUS.

That you abuse G.o.d's word, to say I dare be bold, And the saying of Paul you interpret amiss.

CARDINAL.

I never saw the like heretic that this is.

Away, Careful Provision, about your business.

AVARICE.

Sith there is no remedy, I am here in readiness.

[_Exit_ AVARICE.

PHILOLOGUS.

I beseech your lordship, even from the heart-root, That you would vouchsafe, for my contentation, To approve unto me by G.o.d's holy book Some one of the questions of our disputation: For I will hear you with heart's delectation, Because I would gladly to your doctrine consent, If that I could so my conscience content.