A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 62

_Pour temps_, for time.

WIT.

A very pretty one: I would it were in rhyme.

WEALTH.

In rhyme, Wit! why so?

WIT.

Because it wants reason.

WILL.

Look for my fist, Wit, if ye rap out such treason.

WIT.

Treason to what, boy?

WILL.

To my master's bird.

WIT.

Now, Will, my thumb wags: it was but to his word.

WILL.

'Tis a pleasant gentleman, this young Master Wit.

Your master hath something too: I pray ye, what's it?

WIT.

Look, Will, and guess.

WILL.

'Tis a toad in a sh.e.l.l.

WEALTH.

I had as lief ye had said a frog in a well.

WIT.

Is't not a great b.u.t.terfly? Will, can'st thou tell?

WILL.

What is it in sadness?

WIT.

A tortoise, my boy; whose sh.e.l.l is so hard that a loaden cart may go over and not break it, and so she is safe within, and wheresoever she goes she bears it on her back, needing neither other succour or shelter, but her sh.e.l.l. The word underneath her is _Providens securus_, the provident is safe, like the tortoise armed with his own defence, and defended with his own armour; in shape somewhat round, signifying compa.s.s, wherein always the provident foresee to keep themselves within their own compa.s.s, my boy.

WILL.

Wittily spoken. Now, Wealth's master hath got a daffadowndilly.

WEALTH.

If Will had not been wilful, now, he might have said a lily, whose glory is without comparison and beauty matchless; for Solomon, the most sumptuous king that ever was, was never comparable in glory with the lily; neither is there any city matchable with the pomp of London.

Mistake me not, good boys, that this pomp tends to pride; yet London hath enough, but my Lord Pomp doth rightly represent the stately magnificence and sumptuous estate, without pride or vainglory, to London accommodate; and therefore the word is well applied to the impress (_Glory sans peere_), for that the lily is neither proud of the beauty, nor vainglorious of the pomp; no more is London; but if it be joyful of anything, it is of the grace and plenty, both flowing from two such fountains as becomes not us to name. Now, therefore, my good boys, know that my master is rather Magnificence than Pomp in bad sense, and rather Pomp than Pride in the best sense.

WILL.

And my lord is not Pleasure sprung of Voluptuousness, but of such honourable and kind conceit as heaven and humanity well brooks and allows: Pleasure pleasing, not pernicious.

WIT.

Who would have thought that Will had been so philosophous? But what means the word _Pour temps_ in the shield for time?

WILL.

Wit, shall I call the[e] fool? the best pleasure of all lasts but a time: For of all pleasures most pleasing to sight, Methinks there is none to the falcon's high flight; Yet diseases end it: the breach of a wing, Nay, the breach of a feather, spoils that sweet thing.

WIT.

And so my master hath the 'vantage, will ye or no.

Pomp and Pleasure may be ill.

WILL.

May not Policy be bad?

WEALTH.

Wit, well-overtaken by Will, that crafty lad.

WIT.

A crafty goose: the gander gives him health.

Bad Policy's seldom found in so Christian a commonwealth As London is, I trust, where my master is a lord.

WILL.

And ours so too.

WEALTH.

Well, let us accord; For Wit's a good thing, yet may be ill-applied.

WIT.

And so may Wealth, be it employed in pride, And Will worst of all, when it disdains a guide.

WILL.

A Jackanapes hath wit.

WIT.

And so he hath Will.

WEALTH.

But he never hath Wealth: now ye are both still.

WIT.

Yes, he wears a chain.[234]

WILL.

Well-spoke, and like a bearward.

WEALTH.