PERSEVERANCE.
Brother, let us unbind him of his bonds.
CONTEMPLATION.
Unloose the feet and the hands.
PITY.
I thank you for your great kindness, That you two show in this distress; For they were men without any mercy, That delighteth all in mischief and tyranny.
PERSEVERANCE.
I think, they will come hither again, Freewill and Imagination, both twain: Them will I exhort to virtuous living, And unto virtue them to bring, By the help of you, Contemplation.
CONTEMPLATION.
Do my counsel, brother Pity; Go you, and seek them through the country, In village, town, borough, and city, Throughout all the realm of England: When you them meet, lightly them arrest, And in prison put them fast, Bind them sure in irons strong; For they be so fast and subtle; That they will you beguile, And do true men wrong.
PERSEVERANCE.
Brother Pity, do as he hath said, In every quarter look you espy, And let good watch for them be laid, In all the haste that thou can, and that privily; For, and they come hither, they shall not scape, For all the craft that they can make.
PITY.
Well, then will I hie me as fast as I may, And travel through every country; Good watch shall be laid in every way, That they steal not into sanctuary.
Now farewell, brethren, and pray for me; For I must go hence in deed.
PERSEVERANCE.
Now God be your good speed.
CONTEMPLATION.
And ever you defend, when you have need.
PITY.
Now, brethren both, I thank you.
FREEWILL.
Make you room for a gentleman, sirs, and peace; "Dieu garde, seigneurs, tout le preasse,"[141]
And of your jangling if ye will cease, I will tell you where I have been: Sirs, I was at the tavern, and drank wine, Methought I saw a piece that was like mine, And, sir, all my fingers were arrayed[142] with lime, So I conveyed a cup mannerly: And yet, i-wis, I played all the fool, For there was a scholar of mine own school; And, sir, the whoreson espied me.
Then was I 'rested, and brought in prison; For woe then I wist not what to have done, And all because I lacked money, But a friend in court is worth a penny in purse:[143]
For Imagination, mine own fellow, i-wis, He did help me out full craftily.
Sirs, he walked through Holborn, Three hours after the sun was down, And walked up towards Saint Giles-in-the-Field: He hoved still, and there beheld, But there he could not speed of his prey, And straight to Ludgate he took the way; Ye wot well, that pothecaries walk very late, He came to a door and privily spake To a prentice for a penny-worth of euphorbium,[144]
And also for a halfpenny-worth of alum plumb; This good servant served him shortly, And said, is there ought else that you would buy?
Then he asked for a mouthful of quick brimstone;[145]
And down into the cellar, when the servant was gone, Aside as he kest[146] his eye, A great bag of money did he spy, Therein was an hundred pound: He trussed him to his feet, and yede his way round, He was lodged at Newgate at the Swan, And every man took him for a gentleman; So on the morrow he delivered me Out of Newgate by this policy: And now will I dance and make royal cheer.
But I would Imagination were here, For he is peerless at need; Labour to him, sirs, if ye will your matters speed.
Now will I sing, and lustily spring; But when my fetters on my legs did ring, I was not glad, perde; but now _Hey, troly, loly_, Let us see who can descant on this same; To laugh and get money, it were a good game, What, whom have we here?
A priest, a doctor, or else a frere.
What, Master Doctor Dotypoll?
Cannot you preach well in a black boll, Or dispute any divinity?
If ye be cunning, I will put it in a prefe:[147]
Good sir, why do men eat mustard with beef?
By question can you assoil me?
PERSEVERANCE.
Peace, man, thou talkest lewdly, And of thy living, I reed,[148] amend thee.
FREEWILL.
Avaunt, caitiff, dost thou _thou_ me!
I am come of good kin, I tell thee!
My mother was a lady of the stews' blood born, And (knight of the halter) my father ware an horn; Therefore I take it in full great scorn, That thou shouldest thus check me.
CONTEMPLATION.
Abide, fellow, thou hast little courtesy, Thou shalt be charmed, ere thou hence pass, For thou troubled Pity, and laid on him felony: Where is Imagination, thy fellow that was?
FREEWILL.
I defy you both; will you arrest me?
PERSEVERANCE.
Nay, nay; thy great words may not help thee, Fro us thou shalt not escape.
FREEWILL.