A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 12

SUGGESTION.

You have spoken reasonably; but yet, as they say, One bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; So you, now enjoying these worldly joys, may Esteem the other as light as a rush: Thus may you 'scape this perilous push.

PHILOLOGUS.

Yea, but my salvation to me is most certain; Neither doubt I that I shall suffer this in vain.

SUGGESTION.

Is your death meritorious, then, in G.o.d's sight, That you are so sure to attain to salvation?

PHILOLOGUS.

I do not think so; but my faith is full pight In the mercies of G.o.d, by Christ's mediation; By whom I am sure of my preservation.

SUGGESTION.

Then to the faithful no hurt can accrue, But what so he worketh, good end shall ensue.

PHILOLOGUS.

Our Saviour Christ did say to the tempter, When he did persuade him from the pinnacle to fall, And said, he might safely that danger adventure, Because that G.o.d's angels from hurt him save shall: See that thy Lord G.o.d thou tempt not at all.

So I, though persuaded of my sins' free remission, May not commit sin upon this presumption.

CARDINAL.

What, have you not yet done your foolish tattling With that froward heretic! I will then away: If you will tarry to hear all his prattling, He would surely keep you most part of the day.

It is now high dinner-time, my stomach doth say; And I will not lose one meal of my diet, Though thereon did hang an hundred men's quiet.

SUGGESTION.

By your lordship's patience, one word with him more, And then, if he will not, I give him to Tyranny.

HYPOCRISY.

I never saw my lord so patient before, To suffe[r] one to speak for himself so quietly; But you were not best to trust to his courtesy: It is evil waking of a dog that doth sleep.

While you have his friendship, you were best it to keep.

CARDINAL.

I promise thee, Philologus, by my vowed chast.i.ty, If thou wilt be ruled by thy friends that be here, Thou shalt abound in wealth and prosperity, And in the country chief rule thou shalt bear, And a hundred pounds more thou shalt have in the year.

If thou will this courtesy refuse, Thou shalt die incontinent: the one of these choose.

SUGGESTION.

Well, sith it is no time for us to debate In formal[51] manner what is in my mind, I will at once to thee straight demonstrate Those worldly joys which here thou shalt find.

And for because thou art partly blind, In this respect look through this mirror, And thou shalt behold an unspeakable pleasure.

[_Shows him a mirror_.

PHILOLOGUS.

O peerless pleasures, O joys unspeakable, O worldly wealth, O palaces gorgeous, O fair children, O wife most amiable; O pleasant pastime, O pomp so glorious, O delicate diet, O life lascivious; O dolorous death which would me betray, And my felicity from me take away!

I am fully resolved without further demur[52]

In these delights to take my whole solace; And what pain soever hereby I incur, Whether heaven or h.e.l.l, whether G.o.d's wrath or grace, This gla.s.s of delight I will ever embrace.

But one thing most chiefly doth trouble me here: My neighbours inconstant will compt me, I fear.

HYPOCRISY.

He that will seek each man to content Shall prove himself at last most unwise.

Yourself to save harmless think it sufficient, And weight not the people's clamorous outcries.

Yet their mouths to stop I can soon devise: Say that the reading of the works of St Self-love And Doctor Ambition did your errors remove.

And hark in thine[53] ear, delay no more time: The sooner the better in end you will say.

[_Aside_.] We have now caught him as bird is in lime.[54]

TYRANNY.

Come on, sirs; have ye done? I would fain away.

HYPOCRISY.

Go even when you will, we do you not stay.

Philologus hath drunk such a draught of hypocrisy, That he minds not to die yet; he will master this malady.

CARDINAL.

Come on, Master Philologus: are you grown to a stay?

I am glad to hear that you become tractable.

PHILOLOGUS.

If it please your lordship, I say even what you say, And confess your religion to be most allowable.

Neither will I gainsay your customs laudable: My former follies I utterly renounce; That myself was an heretic, I do here p.r.o.nounce.

CARDINAL.

Nay, Master Philologus, go with me to my palace, And I shall set down the form of recantation, Which you shall read on Sunday next in open place.

This done, you shall satisfy our expectation, And shall be set free from all molestation: Into the bosom of the Church we will you take, And some high officer therein will you make.

PHILOLOGUS.

I must first request your lordship's favour, That I may go home my wife for to see, And I will attend on you within this hour.

CARDINAL.

Nay, I may not suffer you alone to go free, Unless one of these your surety will be.

SUGGESTION.

I, Sensual Suggestion, for him will undertake.

CARDINAL.

Very well, take him to you: your prisoner I him make.

Come you, Master Hypocrisy, and bear me company, Or else I am sure no meat I should eat; And go before, Zeal, to see each thing ready, That, when we once come, we stay not for meat.

HYPOCRISY.

With small suit hereto you shall me intreat.

[_Exit_ TYRANNY.

CARDINAL.

Farewell, Philologus, and make small delay: Perhaps of our dinners for you I will stay.

[_Exeunt_ CARDINAL _and_ HYPOCRISY.

SUGGESTION.

Had not you been a wise man, yourself to have lost, And brought your whole family to wretched estate!

Where now of your blessedness yourself you may boast, And of all the country accompt yourself fortunate.

PHILOLOGUS.

Such was the wit of my foolish pate.