Mundus et Infans 001a Here begynneth a propre newe Interlude of the 001b worlde and the chylde/otherwyse called [Mundus 001c & Infans] & it sheweth of the estate of Chyldehode 001d and Manhode. 001 MUNDUS. Syrs, seace of your sawes, what-so befall, 002 And loke ye bow bonerly to my byddynge, 003 For I am ruler of realmes, I warne you all, 004 And ouer all fodys I am kynge,-- 005 For I am kynge and well knowen in these realmes rounde. 006 I haue also paleys ypyght; 007 I haue stedes in stable stalworthe and stronge, 008 Also stretes and strondes full strongely ydyght; 009 For all the Worlde wyde, I wote well, is my name; 010 All rychesse, redely, it renneth in me, 011 All pleasure wordely, both myrthe and game. 012 My-selfe semely in sale I sende with you to be, 013 For I am the Worlde, i warne you all, 014 Prynce of powere and plente. 015 He that cometh not whan I do hym call, 016 I shall hym smyte with pouerte, 017 For pouerte I parte in many a place 018 To them that wyll not obedyent be. 019 I am a kynge in euery case; 020 Me thynketh I am a god of grace, 021 The floure of vertu foloweth me. 022 Lo! here I sette semely in se! 023 I commaunde you all obedyent be, 024 And with fre wyll ye folowe me. 025 INFANS. Cryst, our kynge, graunte you clerly to know the case! 026 To meue of this mater that is in my mynde, 027 Clerely [to] declare it Cryst graunte me grace! 028 Now, semely syrs, beholde on me 029 How mankynde doth begynne: 030 I am a chylde, as you may se, 031 Goten in game and in grete synne. 032 Fourty wekes my moder me founde, 033 Flesshe and blode my fode was tho; 034 Whan I was rype from her to founde, 035 In peryll of dethe we stode bothe two. 036 Now to seke dethe I must begyn, 037 For to passe that strayte passage; 038 For body and soule that shall twynne 039 And make a partynge of that maryage. 040 Fourty wekes I was frely fedde 041 Within my moders wombe; 042 Full oft of dethe she was adred 043 Whan that I sholde parte her from. 044 Now in to the Worlde she hathe me sent, 045 Poore and naked as ye may se; 046 I am not worthely wrapped nor went, 047 But powerly prycked in pouerte. 048 Now in to the Worlde wyll I wende, 049 Some comforte of hym for to craue. 050 All hayle, comely crowned kynge! 051 God, that all made, you se and saue! 052 MUNDUS. Welcome, fayre chylde! What is thy name? 053 INFANS. I wote not, syr, withouten blame; 054 But ofte tyme my moder, in her game, 055 Called me Dalyaunce. 056 MUNDUS. Dalyaunce, my swete chylde? 057 It is a name that is ryght wylde, 058 For, whan thou waxest olde, 059 It is a name of no substaunce. 060 But, my fayre chylde, what woldest thou haue? 061 INFANS. Syr, of some comforte I you craue, 062 Mete and clothe my lyfe to saue; 063 And I your true seruaunt shall be. 064 MUNDUS. Now, fayre chylde, I graunte the thyne askynge; 065 I wyll the fynde whyle thou art yinge, 066 So thou wylte be obedyent to my byddynge. 067 These garmentes gaye I gyue to the; 068 And also I gyue to the a name, 069 And clepe the Wanton, in euery game, 070 Tyll xiiij yere be come and gone,-- 071 And than come agayne to me. 072 WANTON. Gramercy, Worlde, for myne araye! 073 For now I purpose me to playe. 074 MUNDUS. Fare-well, fayre chylde, and haue good-daye! 075 All rychelesnesse is kynde for the. 076 Wanton. A ha! Wanton is my name! 077 I can many a quaynte game: 078 Lo, my toppe I dryue in same,-- 079 Se, it torneth rounde! 080 I can with my scorge-stycke 081 My felowe vpon the heed hytte, 082 And wyghtly from hym make a skyppe, 083 And blere on hym my tonge. 084 If brother or syster do me chyde, 085 I wyll scratche and also byte; 086 I can crye and also kyke 087 And mocke them all be rewe. 088 If fader or moder wyll me smyte, 089 I wyll wrynge wyth my lyppe 090 And lyghtly from hym make a skyppe 091 And call my dame shrewe. 092 A ha! a newe game haue I founde! 093 Se this gynne, it renneth rounde; 094 And here another haue I founde; 095 And yet mo can I fynde. 096 I can mowe on a man; 097 And make a lesynge well I can, 098 And mayntayne it ryght well than,-- 099 This connynge came me of kynde. 100 Ye, syrys, I can well gelde a snayle; 101 And catche a cowe by the tayle,-- 102 This is a fayre connynge; 103 I can daunce and also skyppe; 104 I can play at the chery pytte; 105 And I can wystell you a fytte, 106 Syres, in a wylowe ryne. 107 Ye, syrys, and euery daye 108 Whan I to scole shall take the waye, 109 Some good mannes gardyn I wyll assaye, 110 Perys and plommes to plucke. 111 I can spye a sparowes nest. 112 I wyll not go to scole but whan me lest, 113 For there begynneth a sory fest 114 Whan the mayster sholde lyfte my docke. 115 But, syrs, whan I was seuen yere of age, 116 I was sent to the Worlde to take wage, 117 And this seuen yere I haue ben his page 118 And kept his commaundement. 119 Now I wyll wende to the Worlde, that worthy emperou[r]. 120 Hayle, lorde of grete honour! 121 This vij yere I haue serued you in hall and in boure 122 With all my trewe entent. 123 MUNDUS. Now, welcome, Wanton, my derlynge dere! 124 A newe name I shall gyue the here: 125 Loue, Lust, Lykynge, in-fere,-- 126 These thy names they shall be,-- 127 All games and gle and gladnes, 128 All loue-longynge in lewdenes. 129 This seuen yere forsake all sadnes, 130 And than come agayne to me. 131 LUST-AND-LYKYNG. A ha! now Lust and Lykyng is my name! 132 I am as fresshe as flourys in Maye; 133 I am semely shapen in same, 134 And proudely apperelde in garmentes gaye; 135 My lokes ben full louely to a ladyes eye, 136 And in loue-longynge my harte is sore sette; 137 Myght I fynde a fode that were fayre and fre, 138 To lye in hell tell domysdaye for loue I wolde not let, 139 My loue for to wynne. 140 All game and gle, 141 All myrthe and melodye, 142 All reuell and ribaudye, 143 And of bost wyll I neuer blynne. 144 But, syrs, I am now xix wynter olde; 145 I-wys, I waxe wonder bolde. 146 Now I wyll go to the Worlde, 147 A heygher seyence to assaye. 148 For the Worlde wyll me auaunce, 149 I wyll kepe his gouernaunce; 150 For he is a kynge in all substaunce, 151 His plesynge wyll I praye. 152 All hayle, mayster, full of myght! 153 I haue you serued bothe day and nyght; 154 Now I come as I you beehyght,-- 155 One and twenty wynter is comen and gone. 156 MUNDUS. Now, welcome, Loue, Lust and Lykynge! 157 For thou hast ben obedyent to my byddynge, 158 I encrease the in all thynge 159 And myghtly I make the a man. 160 Manhode myghty shall be thy name; 161 Bere the prest in euery game, 162 And wayte well that thou suffre no shame 163 Neyther for londe nor for rente. 164 Yf ony man wolde wayte the with blame, 165 Withstonde hym with thy hole entent; 166 Full sharpely thou bete hym to shame 167 With doughtynesse of dente! 168 For of one thynge, Manhode, I warne the: 169 I am moost of bounte, 170 For seuen kynges sewen me, 171 Bothe by daye and nyght; 172 One of them is the kynge of Pryde; 173 The kynge of Enuy, doughty in dede; 174 The kynge of Wrathe, that boldely wyll abyde, 175 For mykyll is his myght; 176 The kynge of Couetous is the fourt[h]e; 177 The fyfte kynge he hyght Slouthe; 178 The kynge of Glotony hath no iolyte 179 There pouerte is pyght; 180 Lechery is the seuenth kynge, 181 All men in hym haue gret delytynge, 182 Therfore worshyp hym aboue all thynge, 183 Manhode, with all thy myght. 184 MANHODE. Yes, syr kynge, wythout lesynge 185 It shall be wrought! 186 Had I knowynge of the fyrst kynge, 187 Well ioyen I mought. 188 MUNDUS. The fyrste kynge hyght Pryde. 189 MANHODE. A, lorde! wyth hym fayne wolde I byde. 190 MUNDUS. Ye, but woldest thou serue hym truely in euery tyde? 191 MANHODE. Ye, syr; and therto my trouthe I plyght. 192 That I shall truely Pryde present 193 I swere by Saynt Thomas of Kent; 194 To serue hym truely is myn entent, 195 With mayne and all my myght. 196 MUNDUS. Now, Manhode, I wyll araye the newe 197 In robes ryall, ryght of good hewe; 198 And I praye the pryncypally be trewe; 199 And here I dubbe the a knyght,-- 200 And haunte alwaye to chyualry! 201 I gyue the grace and also beaute, 202 Gold and syluer, gret plente, 203 Of the wronge to make the ryght. 204 MANHODE. Gramercy, Worlde and emperour! 205 Gramercy, Worlde and gouernoure! 206 Gramercy, comforte in all coloure! 207 And now I take my leue; fare-well! 208 MUNDUS. Farewell, Manhode, my gentyll knyght! 209 Fare-well, my sone, semely in syght! 210 I gyue the a swerde and also strength and myght, 211 In batayle boldly to bere the well. 212 MANHODE. Now I am dubbed a knyght hende, 213 Wonder wide shall waxe my fame! 214 To seke aduentures now wyll I wende, 215 To please the Worlde in gle and game. 216 MUNDUS. Lo, syrs, I am a prynce, peryllous yprovyde, 217 I-preuyd full peryllous and pethely i-pyght, 218 As a lorde in eche londe I am belouyd; 219 Myn eyen do shyne as lanterne bryght; 220 I am a creature comely, out of care; 221 Emperours and kynges they knele to my kne; 222 Euery man is a-ferde whan I do on hym stare, 223 For all mery medell-erthe maketh mencyon of me; 224 Yet all is my hande-werke, both by downe and by dale, 225 Bothe the see and the lande and foules that fly; 226 And I were ones moued, I tell you in tale, 227 There durst no sterre stere, that stondeth in the sky, 228 For I am lorde and leder so in that londe, 229 All boweth to my byddynge bonerly aboute; 230 Who that styreth with ony stryfe or wayteth me with wronge, 231 I shall myghtly make hym to stamer and stowpe, 232 For I am rychest in myne araye, 233 I haue knyghtes and toures, 234 I haue ladyes bryghtest in bourys. 235 Now wyll I fare on these flourys; 236 Lordynges, haue good-daye! 237 MANHODE. Peas, now peas, ye felowes all aboute! 238 Peas now, and herken to my sawes! 239 Foe I am lorde bothe stalworthy and stoute; 240 All londes are ledde by my lawes. 241 Baron was there neuer borne that so well hym bare, 242 A better ne a bolde[r] nor a bryghter of ble; 243 For I haue myght and mayne ouer countrees fare, 244 And Manhode myghty am I namyd in euery countre; 245 For Salerne and Samers and Ynde the loys, 246 Caleys, Kente, and Cornewayle I haue conquered clene, 247 Pycardye and Pountes and gentyll Artoys, 248 Florence, Flaunders and Fraunce, and also Gascoyne,-- 249 All I haue conquered as a knyght. 250 There is no emperour so kene 251 That dare me lyghtly tene, 252 For lyues and lymmes I lene, 253 So mykyll is my myght; 254 For I haue boldely blode full dyspyteously spyldee, 255 There many hath lefte fyngers and fete, both heed and face. 256 I haue done harme on hedes and knyghtes haue I kyld; 257 And many a lady for my loue hath sayd "alas." 258 Brygaunt ernys I hauee beten to backe and to bonys, 259 And beten also many a grome to grounde; 260 Brestplates I haue beten as Steuen was with stonys; 261 So fell a fyghter in felde was there neuer yfounde. 262 To me no man is makyde; 263 For Manhode myghty, that is my name, 264 Many a lorde haue I do lame; 265 Wonder wyde walketh my fame, 266 And many a kynges crowne haue I crakyd. 267 I am worthy and wyght, wytty and wyse, 268 I am ryall arayde to reuen vnder the ryse, 269 I am proudely aparelde in purpure and byse, 270 As gold I glyster in gere; 271 I am styffe, stronge, stalworthe and stoute, 272 I am the ryallest redely that tenneth in this route, 273 There is no knyght so grysly that I drede nor dout, 274 For I am so doughtly dyght ther may no dint me dere. 275 And the kynge of Pryde, full prest, with all his proude presens, 276 And the kynge of Lechery louely his letters hath me sent, 277 And the kynge of Wrathe full wordely, with all his entent, 278 They wyll me mayntayne with mayne and all theyre might; 279 The kynge of Couetouse, and the kynge of Glotony, 280 The kynge of Slouthe, and the kynge of Enuy, 281 All those sende me theyr leuery. 282 Where is now so worthy a wyght?-- 283 A wyght? 284 Ye, as a wyght wytty, 285 Here in this sete sytte I; 286 For no loues lette I 287 Here for to sytte. 288 CONSCYENCE. Cryst, as he is crowned kynge, 289 Saue all this comely company, 290 And graunte you all his dere blessynge, 291 That bonerly bought you on the rode-tree! 292 Now praye you prestly on euery syde 293 To God onmypotent 294 To set our enemy sharpely on-syde 295 That is, the deuyll and his couent,-- 296 And all men to haue a clere knowynge 297 Of heuen blysse, that hye toure. 298 Me thynke it is a nessarye thynge 299 For yonge and olde, bothe ryche and pore, 300 Poore Concyence for to knowe; 301 For Conscyence clere it is my name. 302 Conscyence counseyleth both hye and lowe, 303 And Conscyence comely bereth grete blame,-- 304 Blame? 305 Ye, and oftentymes set in shame. 306 Wherfore I rede you men, both in ernest and in game, 307 Conscyence that ye knowe. 308 For I knowe all the mysterys of man, 309 They be as symple as they can; 310 And in euery company where I come 311 Conscyence is out cast. 312 All the worlde dothe Conscyence hate; 313 Mankynde and Conscyence ben at debate, 314 For yf mankynde myght Conscyence take 315 My body wolde they brast,-- 316 Brast? 317 Ye, and warke me moche wo. 318 MANHODE. Say, how felowe! who gaue the leue this way to go? 319 What! wenest thou I dare not come the to? 320 Say, thou harlot! whyder in hast? 321 CONSCYENCE. What! let me go, syr; I knowe you nought! 322 MANHODE. No, bychyde brothell? Thou shalt be taught! 323 For I am a knyght, and I were sought; 324 The Worlde hath auaunced me, 325 CONSCYENCE. Why, good syr knyght, what is your name? 326 MANHODE. Manhode, myghty in myrthe and in game; 327 All powere of Pryde haue I tane; 328 I am as gentyll as iay on tre. 329 CONSCYENCE. Syr, thoughe the Worlde haue you to manhode brought, 330 To mayntayne maner[s] ye were neuer taught: 331 No; Conscyence clere ye knowe ryght nought, 332 And this longeth to a knyght. 333 MANHODE. Conscyence! what the deuyll, man, is he? 334 CONSCYENCE. Syr a techer of spyrytualete. 335 MANHODE. Spyrytualyte! what the deuyll may that be? 336 CONSCYENCE. Syr, all that be leders in-to lyght. 337 MANHODE. Lyght? Ye, but herke, felowe, yet! Lyght fayne wolde I se. 338 CONSCYENCE. Wyll ye so, syr knyght? Than do after me. 339 MANHODE. Ye, and it to Prydes pleasynge be, 340 I wyll take thy techynge. 341 CONSCYENCE. Nay, syr; beware of Pryde, and you do well,-- 342 For pryde Lucyfer fell in-to hell; 343 Tyll domysday ther shall he dwell, 344 Withouten ony out-comynge; 345 For pride, syr, is but a vayne glorye. 346 MANHODE. Peas, thou brothell, and lette those wordes be! 347 For the Worlde and Pryde hath auaunced me; 348 To me men lewte full lowe. 349 CONSCYENCE. And to beware of pryde, syr, I wolde you counsayll; 350 And thynke on Kynge Robert of Cysell, 351 How he for pryde in grete pouerte fell 352 For he wolde not Conscyence knowe. 353 MANHODE. Ye, Conscyence, go forthe thy waye, 354 For I loue Pryde and wyll go gaye; 355 All thy techynge is not worthe a straye, 356 For Pryde I clepe my kynge. 357 CONSCYENCE. Syr, there is no kynge but God alone, 358 That bodely bought vs wyth payne and passyon 359 Bycause of mannes soule redempcyon,-- 360 In Scrypture thus we fynde. 361 MANHODE. Saye, Consyence, syth thou woldest haue Pryde fro me, 362 What seyest thou by thy kynge of Lechery? 363 With all mankynde he must be, 364 And wyth hym I loue to lende. 365 CONSCYENCE. Nay, Manhode, that may not be; 366 From Lechery fast you fle, 367 For in combraunce it wyll bryngee the 368 And all that to hym wyll wende. 369 MANHODE. Saye, Conscyence, of the kynge of Slouthe! 370 He hath behyght me mykell trouthe; 371 And I may not forsake hym for ruthe, 372 For with hym I thynke to rest. 373 CONSCYENCE. Manhode, un Scrypture thus we fynde, 374 That Slouthe is a traytour to heuene kynge; 375 Syr knyght, yf you wyll kepe your kynde, 376 Frome Slouthe clene you cast. 377 MANHODE. Say, Conscyence, [of] the kynge of Glotonye! 378 He sayth he wyll not for-sake me; 379 And I purpose his saruaunt to be, 380 With mayne and all my myght. 381 CONSCYENCE. Thynke, Manhode, on substaunce, 382 And put out Glotonye for combraunce, 383 And kepe with you Good-Gouernaunce, 384 For this longeth to a knyght. 385 MANHODE. What! Conscyence, frome all my maysters thou woldest haue me; 386 But I wyll neuer forsake Enuy, 387 For he is kynge of company, 388 Bothe with more and lasse. 389 CONSCYENCE. Nay, Manhode, that may not be; 390 And ye wyll cherysshe Enuy, 391 God wyll not well pleased be 392 To comforte you in that case. 393 MANHODE. Ey, ey! from fyue kynges thou hast counseyled me; 394 But from the kynge of Wrathe I wyll neuer fle, 395 For he is in euery dede doughty, 396 For hym dare no man rowte. 397 CONSCYENCE. Nay, Manhode, beware of Wrathe, 398 For it is but superfluyte that cometh and goeth; 399 Ye, and all men his company hateth, 400 For ofte they stonde in doubte. 401 MANHODE. Fye on the, fals flatterynge frere! 402 Thou shalte rewe the tyme that thou came here; 403 The deuyll mote set the on a fyre, 404 That euer I with the mete! 405 For thou counseylest me from all gladnes 406 And wolde me set vnto all sadnes, 407 But, or thou brynge me in this madnes, 408 The deuyll breke thy necke! 409 But, syr frere,--euyll mote thou thye!-- 410 Frome vi kynges thou hast conseyled me; 411 But that daye shall thou neuer se 412 To counsayll me frome Couetous, 413 CONSCYENCE. No, syr, I wyll not you from couetous brynge, 414 For Couetous I clepe a kynge: 415 Syr Couetous in good doynge 416 Is good in all wyse. 417 But, syr knyght, wyll ye do after me, 418 And Couetous your kynge shall be? 419 MANHODE. Ye, syr, my trouthe I plyght to the 420 That I wyll warke at thy wyll. 421 CONSCYENCE. Manhode, wyll ye by this worde stande? 422 MANHODE. Ye, Conscyence, here my hande! 423 I wyll neuer from it fonge, 424 Neyther loude ne styll. 425 CONSCYENCE. Manhode, ye must loue God aboue all thynge; 426 His name in ydelnes ye may not mynge; 427 Kepe your holy daye from worldly doynge; 428 Your fader and moder worshyppe aye; 429 Coueyte ye to sle no man; 430 Ne do no lechery with no woman; 431 Your neyboures good take not be no waye; 432 And all false-wytnesse ye must denaye; 433 Neyther ye must not couete no mannes wyfe, 434 Nor no good that hym be-lythe,-- 435 This couetys shall kepe you out of stryfe: 436 These ben the commaundementes ten. 437 Manhode, and ye these commaundementes kepe, 438 Heuen blysse I you behete, 439 For Crystes commaundementes [ben] all ful swete 440 And full necessary to all men. 441 MANHODE. What! Conscyence, is this thy Couetous? 442 CONSCYENCE. Ye, Manhode, in all wyse! 443 And couetyse to Crystes seruyse, 444 Bothe to matyns and to masse! 445 Ye must, Manhode, with all your myght 446 Mayntayne Holy Chyrches ryght, 447 For this longeth to a knyght, 448 Playnly in euery place. 449 MANHODE. What! Conscyence, sholde I leue all game and gle? 450 CONSCYENCE. Nay, Manhode, so mote I thye; 451 All myrthe in measure is good for the, 452 But, syr, measure is in all thynge. 453 MANHODE. Measure, Consyence, what thynge may measure be? 454 CONSCYENCE. Syr, kepe you in charyte, 455 And from all euyll company 456 For doubte of foly doynge. 457 MANHODE. Folye? what thynge callest thou folye? 458 CONSCYENCE. Syr, it is Pryde, Wrathe and Enuy, 459 Slouthe, Couetous and Glotonye,-- 460 Lechery the seuente is: 461 These seuen synnes I call folye. 462 MANHODE. What, thou lyest! To this 463 Seuen the Worlde delyuered me, 464 And sayd they were kynges of grete beaute 465 And most of mayne and myghtes; 466 But yet I pray the, syr, tell me 467 May I not go arayde honestly? 468 Yes, Manhode, hardely, 469 In all maner of degre. 470 MANHODE. But I must haue sportynge of playe. 471 CONSCYENCE. Sykerly, Manhode, I say not naye, 472 But good gouernaunce kepe both nyght and daye, 473 And mayntayne mekenes and all mercy. 474 MANHODE. All Mercy, Conscyence? what may that be? 475 CONSCYENCE. Syr all dyscrecyon that God gaue the. 476 MANHODE. Dyscressyon I knowe not, so mote I the! 477 Syr, it is all the wyttes that God hath you sende. 478 MANHODE. A, Conscyence, Conscyence! now I knowe and se 479 Thy cunnynge is moche more than myne; 480 But yet I pray the, syr, tell me: 481 What is moost necessary for man in euery tyme? 482 CONSCYENCE. Syr, in euery tyme beware of folye, 483 Folye is full of false flatteynge; 484 In what occupacyon that euer ye be, 485 Alwaye, or ye begyn, the endyngynge, 486 For blame. 487 Nowe fare-well, Manhode; I must wende. 488 MANHODE. Now fare-well, Conscyence, myne owne frende! 489 CONSCYENCE. I pray you, Manhode, have God in mynde 490 And beware of Foly and Shame. 491 MANHODE. Yes, yes! Ye, come wynde and rayne, 492 God let hym neuer come here agayne! 493 Now he is forwarde, i am ryght fayne, 494 For in faythe, syr, he had nere counsayled me all amys. 495 A, a! now I haue be-thought me! Yf I shall heuyn wyn, 496 Conscyence techynge I must begyn, 497 And clene forsake the kynges of synne, 498 That the Worlde me taught, 499 And Conscyence seruaunt wyll I be, 500 And beleue, as he hath taught me, 501 Upon one God and persones thre 502 That made all thynge of nought. 503 For Conscyence clere I clepe my kynge 504 And [me] his knyght in good doynge, 505 For, ryght of reason as I fynde, 506 Conscyence techynge trewe is. 507 The Worlde is full of boost, 508 And sayth he is of myghtes moost; 509 All his techynge is not worthe a toost, 510 For Conscyence he dothe refuse. 511 But yet wyll I hym not forsake, 512 For mankynde he doth wery make. 513 Thoughe the Worlde and Conscyence be at debate, 514 Yet the Worlde wyll I not despyse; 515 For bothe in chyrche and in chepynge 516 And in other places beynge, 517 The Worlde fyndeth me all thynge 518 And dothe me grete seruyse. 519 Now here full prest 520 I thynke to rest! 521 Now myrthe is best! 522 FOLYE. What, hey now, care awaye! 523 My name is Folye! Am I not gaye? 524 Is here ony man that wyll say naye! 525 That renneth in this route! 526 A, syr, God gyue you good eue! 527 MANHODE. Stonde vtter, felowe! Where doest thou thy curtesy preue? 528 FOLYE. What! I do but clawe myne ars, syr, be your leue. 529 I pray you, syr, ryue me this cloute. 530 MANHODE. What, stonde out, thou sayned shrewe! 531 FOLYE. By my faythe, syr, there the cocke crewe, 532 For I take recorde of this rewe 533 My thedome is nere past. 534 MANHODE. Now, trewly, it may well be so. 535 FOLYE. By God, syr, yet yet haue I felowes mo, 536 For in euery countre where I go 537 Some man hys thryfte hath lost. 538 MANHODE. But herke, felowe; art thou ony craftes man? 539 FOLYE. Ye, syr, I can bynde a syue and tynke a pan 540 And, therto, a cortyous bukler-player I am. 541 Aryse, felowe; wyll thou assaye? 542 MANHODE. Now, truely, syr, I trow thou canst but lyttell skyl of playe. 543 Yes, by Cockes bones, that I can! 544 I wyll neuer fle for no man 545 That walketh by the waye. 546 MANHODE. Felowe, thoughe thou haue kunnynge, 547 I counsayll the leue thy bostynge, 548 For here thou may thy felowe fynde, 549 Whyder thou wylte at longe or shorte. 550 FOLYE. Come, loke, and thou darest not, in good faye, 551 MANHODE.Ye, syr, but yet Conscyence byddeth me naye. 552 FOLYE. No, syr, thou darest not, in good faye, 553 For truely thou faylest no false herte. 554 MANHODE. What sayst thou? haue I false herte? 555 FOLYE. Ye, syr, in good faye. 556 MANHODE. Manhode wyll not that I saye naye! 557 Defende the, Folye, yf thou maye, 558 For, in feythe, I purpose to wete what thou art. 559 How sayste thou now Folye? hast thou not a touche? 560 FOLYE. No, ywys, but a lytell on my pouche; 561 On all this meyne I wyll me wouche, 562 That stondeth here aboute. 563 MANHODE. And I take recorde on all this rewe 564 Thou hast two touches, though I saye but fewe. 565 FOLYE. Ye, this place is not without a shrewe, 566 I do you all out of doute. 567 MANHODE. But herke, felowe; by thy faythe, where was thou bore? 568 FOLYE. By my faythe, In Englonde haue I dwelled yore, 579 And all myne auncetters me before; 570 But, syr, in London is my chefe dwellynge. 571 MANHODE. In London? Where, yf a man the sought? 572 FOLYE. Syr, in Holborne I was forthe brought; 573 And with the courtyers I am betaught; 574 To Westmynster I vsed to wende. 575 MANHODE. Herke, felowe! why doost thou to Westminster drawe? 576 FOLYE. For I am a seruaunt of the lawe; 577 Couetous is myne owne felowe,-- 578 We twayne plete for the kynge; 579 And poore men that come from vplande, 580 We wyll take theyr mater in hande,-- 581 Be it ryght or be it wronge, 582 Theyr thryfte with vs shall wende. 583 MANHODE. Now here, felowe! I praye the whyder wendest thou than? 584 FOLYE. By my feyth, syr, into London I ran 585 To the tauernes to drynke the wyne; 586 And than to the innes I toke the waye, 587 And there I was not welcome to the osteler, 588 But I was welcome to the fayre tapester, 589 And to all the householde I was ryght dere, 590 For I haue dwelled with her many a daye 591 MANHODE. Now, I pray the, whyder toke thou the waye than? 592 FOLYE. In feythe, syr, ouer London-brydge I ran, 593 And the streyght waye to the stewes I came, 594 And toke lodgynge for a nyght; 595 And there I founde my brother, Lechery: 596 There men and women dyde folye, 597 And euery man made of me as worthy 598 As thoughe I had ben a knyght. 599 MANHODE. I praye the yet tell me mo of thyne aduentures. 600 FOLYE. In feythe, euen streyght to all the freres, 601 And with them I dwelled many yeres; 602 And they crowned Folye a kynge. 603 MANHODE. I praye the, felowe, whyder wendest thou tho? 604 FOLYE. Syr, all Englande to and fro, 605 In-to abbeys and in-to nonneryes also; 606 And alwaye Folye dothe felowes fynde. 607 MANHODE. Now, herke, felowe! I pray the, tell me thy name . 608 FOLYE. I-wys, I hyght bothe Folye and Shame. 609 MANHODE. A ha! thou arte he that Conscyence dyd blame, 610 Whan he me taught. 611 I pay the, Folye, go hens and folowe not me. 612 FOLYE. Yes, good syr, let me your seruaunt be! 613 MANHODE. Naye, so mote I thye, 614 For than a shrewe had I caught! 615 FOLYE. Why, good syr, what is your name? 616 MANHODE. Manhode myghty, that bereth no blame. 617 FOLYE. By the roode, and Mankynde mystereth in euery game 618 Somedele to cherysshe Folye; 619 For Folye is felowe with the Worlde, 620 And gretely beloued with many a lorde, 621 And yf ye put me out of your warde, 622 The Worlde ryght wroth wyll be. 623 MANHODE. Ye, syr, yet had I leuer the Worlde be wrath 624 Than lese the cunnynge that Conscyence me gaue. 625 FOLYE. A cuckowe for Conscyence, he is but a dawe! 626 He can not elles but preche. 627 MANHODE. Ye; I preye the, leue thy lewde claterynge, 628 For Conscyence is a counseler for a kynge. 629 FOLYE. I wolde not gyue a strawe for his techynge, 630 He dooth but make men wrothe. 631 But wottest thou what I saye, man? 632 By that ylke trouthe that God me gaue, 633 Had I that bychyde Conscyence in this place, 634 I sholde so bete hym with my staffe 635 That all his stownes sholde stynke. 636 MANHODE. I praye the, Folye, go hens and folowe me. 637 FOLYE. Yes, syr, so mote I thye, 638 Your seruaunt wyll I be; 639 I axe but mete and drynke. 640 MANHODE. Peace, man! I may not haue the for thy name; 641 For thou sayst thy name is bothe Folye and Shame. 642 FOLYE. Syr, here in this cloute I knyt Shame, 643 And clype me but Propre Folye. 644 MANHODE.Ye, Folye, wyll thou be my trewe seruaunt? 645 Ye, syr Manhode; here my hande! 646 MANHODE. Now let vs drynke at this commaunt, 647 For that is curtesy. 648 FOLYE. Mary, mayster, ye shall haue in hast. 649 A ha! syrs, let the catte wynke! 650 For all ye wote not what I thynke, 651 I shall drawe hym suche a draught of drynke 652 That Conscyence he shall awaye cast. 653 Haue, mayster, and drynke well, 654 And let vs make reuell, reuell! 655 For I swere by the chyrche of Saynt Myghell 656 I wolde we were at stewes, 657 For there is nothynge but reuell-route; 658 And we were there, I haue no doubte 659 I sholde be knowen all aboute, 660 Where Conscyence they wolde refuse. 661 MANHODE. Feas, Folye, my fayre frende! 662 For, by Cryste, I wolde not that Conscyence sholde me here fynde. 663 FOLYE. Tusshe, mayster, thereof speke no-thynge, 664 For Conscyence cometh no tyme here. 665 MANHODE. Peace, Folye; there is no man that knoweth me. 666 FOLYE. Syr, here my trouthe I plyght to the, 667 And thou wylte go thyder with me, 668 For knowlege haue thou no care. 669 MANHODE. Pease! but it is hence a grete waye. 670 FOLYE. Parde, syr, we may be there on a daye. 671 Ye, and we shall be ryght welcome, I dare well saye, 672 In Estchepe for to dyne; 673 And than we wyll with Lombardes at passage playe, 674 And at the Popes Heed swete wyne assaye; 675 We shall be lodged well a-fyne. 676 MANHODE. What sayest thou, Folye; is this the best? 677 FOLYE. Syr all this is manhode, well thou knowest. 678 MANHODE. Now, Foly, go we hens in hast; 679 But fayne wolde I chaunge my name, 680 For well I wote he wolde me chyde. 681 Ryght well I wote he wolde me chyde. 682 FOLYE. Syr, for fere of you his face he shall hyde: 683 I shall clepe you Shame. 684 MANHODE. Now, gramercy, Folye, my felowe in-fere! 685 Go we hens; tary no lenger here; 686 Tyll we be gone me thynke it seuen yere,-- 687 I haue golde and good to spende. 688 FOLYE. A ha! mayster, that is good chere. 689 And or it be passes halfe a yere, 690 I shall the shere ryght a lewde frere, 691 And hyther agayne the sende. 692 MANHODE. Folye, go before and teche me thy waye. 693 FOLYE. Come after, Shame, I the preye, 694 And Conscyence clere ye cast awaye. 695 Lo, syrs, thys Folye techeth aye, 696 For where Conscyence cometh with his cunnynce, 697 Yet Folye full fetely shall make hym blynde: 698 Folye before and Shame behynde,-- 699 Lo, syrs, thus fareth the worlde alwaye! 700 MANHODE. Now I wyll. folowe Folye, 701 For Folye is my man; 702 Ye, Folye is my felowe 703 And hath gyuen me a name: 704 Conscyence called me Manhode, 705 Folye calleth me Shame. 706 Folye wyll lede me to London to lerne reuell; 707 Ye, and Conscyence is but a flaterynge brothell, 708 For euer he is carpynge of care. 709 The Worlde and Folye counseylleth me to all gladnes; 710 Ye, and Conscyence counseyllth me to all gladnes; 711 Ye, to moche sadnes myght brynge me in-to madnes. 712 And now haue good-daye, syrs; to London 713 CONSCYENCE. Saye, Manhode, frende, whyder wyll ye go? 714 MANHODE. Nay, syr, in faythe, my name is not so. 715 Why, frere, what the deuyll hast thou to do 716 Whyder I go or abyde? 717 CONSCYENCE. Yes, syr, I will counsell you for the best! 718 MANHODE. I wyll none of thy counsell, so haue I rest! 719 I wyll go whyder me lest, 720 For thou canst nought elles but chyde. 721 CONSCYENCE. Lo, syrs, a grete ensample you may se: 722 The freylnes of Mankynde, 723 How ofte he falleth in folye 724 Throughe temptacyon of the fende; 725 For, whan the fende and the flesshe be at one assent, 726 Than Conscyence clere is clene out cast; 727 Men thynke not on the grete iugement 728 That the sely soule shall haue at the last; 729 But wolde God, all men wolde haue in mynde 730 Of the grete daye of dome, 731 How he shall gyue a grete rekenynge 732 Of euyll dedes that he hath done. 733 But natheles, syth it is so, 734 That Manhode is forthe with Folye wende, 735 To seche Persueraunce now wyll I go, 736 With the grace of God Omnypotent. 737 His counseylles ben [with God] in-fere; 738 Perseueraunce counsell is moost dere; 739 Nexte to hym is Conscyence clere 740 From synnynge. 741 Now in-to thys presence, to Cryst I praye 742 To spede me well in my iournaye! 743 Fare-well, lordynges, and haue good daye; 744 To seke Perseueraunce wyll I wende. 745 PERSEUERAUNCE. Now Cryst, our comely Creature, clerer than crystal clene, 746 That craftly made euery creature by good recreacyon, 747 Saue all this company that is gathered here, bydene, 748 And set all your soules in-to good saluacyon! 749 Now good God, that is moost wysest and welde of wyttes, 750 This company counsll, comforte and glad, 751 And saue all this multytude that semely here syttes! 752 Now, good God, for his mercy, that all men made,-- 753 Now Mary, Moder, mekest that I mene, 754 Shelde al this company from euyll conuersacyon, 755 And saue you from our enemy, as she is bryght and clene, 756 And at the last day of dome delyuer you from euerlastynge dampnac[y]on! 757 Syrs, Perseueraunce is my name; 758 Conscyence [my] borne broder is; 759 He sente me hyder mankynde to endoctryne, 760 That they sholde to no vyces enclyne, 761 For ofte mankynde is gouerned amys 762 And throughe foly mankynde is set in shame> 763 Therfore in this presens to Cryst I praye, 764 Or that I hens wende awaye, 765 Some good worde that I may saye 766 To borowe mannes soul from blame. 767 AGE. Alas, alas, that me is wo! 768 My lyfe, my lykynge I haue forlorne; 769 My rentes, my rychesse, it is all ygo; 770 Alas the daye that I was borne! 771 For I was borne Manhode, most of myght, 772 Styffe, stronge, both stalworthy and stoute 773 The Worlde full worthely hath made me a knyght, 774 All bowed to my byddynge bonerly aboute; 775 Than Conscyence clere, comely and kynde, 776 Mekely he met me in sete there I sate, 777 He lerned me a lesson of hys techynge, 778 And the vij deedly synnes full lothely he dyde hate: 779 Pryde, Wrathe and Enuy and Couetous in kynde,-- 780 The Worlde all these synnes delyuered me vntyll,-- 781 Slouthe, Glotony, and Lechery, that is full of false flaterynge,-- 782 All these Conscyence reproued both lowde and styll. 783 To Conscyence I helde vp my hande 784 To kepe Crystes commaundementes, 785 He warned me of Folye, that traytour, and bade me beware; 786 And thus he went his way. 787 But I haue falsly me forsworne,-- 788 Alas the daye that I was borne! 789 For body and soule I haue forlorne, 790 I clynge as a clodde in claye. 791 In London many a daye 792 At the passage I wolde playe, 793 I thought to borowe and neuer paye; 794 Than was I sought and set in stockes. 795 In Newgate I laye vnder lockes; 796 If I sayd ought, I caught many knockes,-- 797 Alas! where was Manhode tho? 798 Alas, my lewdenes hath me lost! 799 Where is my body so proud and prest? 800 I coughe and rought, my body wyll brest, 801 Age dothe folowe me so. 802 I stare and stacker as I stonde, 803 I grone grysly vpon thee grounde; 804 Alas! Deth, why lettest thou me lyue so longe? 805 I wander as a wyght in wo 806 And care. 807 For I haue done yll, 808 Now wende I wyll 809 My-selfe to spyll, 810 I care not whyder nor where! 811 PERSEUERAUNCE. Well ymet, syr! well ymet! and whyder awaye? 812 AGE. Why, good syr, wherby do ye saye? 813 PERSEUERAUNCE. Tell me, syr, I you praye 814 And I with you wyll wende. 815 AGE. Why, good syr, what is your name? 816 PERSEUERAUNCE. Forsothe, syr, Perseueraunce, the same. 817 AGE. Syr, ye are Conscyence brother that me dyd blame, 818 I may not with you lende. 819 PERSEUERAUNCE. Yes, yes, Manhode, my frende in-fere. 820 AGE. Nay, sir, my name is in another maner, 821 For Folye his ownee selfe was here 822 And hath clepyd me Shame. 823 PERSEUERAUNCE. Shame! Nay, Manhode, let hym go, 824 Folye and his felowes also; 825 For they wolde the brynge in-to care and wo, 826 And all that wyll folowe his game. 827 AGE. Ye, game who-so game, 828 Folye hath gyuen me a name; 829 So where-euer I go 830 He clypped me Shame. 831 Now Manhode is gone, 832 Folye hath folowed me so. 833 Whan I fyrst from my moder cam, 834 The Worlde made me a man, 835 And fast in ryches I ran 836 Tyll I was dubbed a knyght: 837 And than I met with Conscyence clere, 838 And he me set in suche manere 839 Me thought his techynge was ful dere 840 Bothe by daye and nyght: 841 And than Folye met me, 842 And sharpely he beset me, 843 And from Conscyence he fet me, 844 He wolde not fro me go; 845 Many a day he keped me, 846 And to all folkes he cleped me 847 For Shame, 848 And vnto all synnes he set me. 849 Alas, that me is wo! 850 For I haue falsely me forsworne; 851 Alas that I was borne! 852 Body and soule I am but lorne; 853 Me lyketh neyther gle nor game. 854 PERSEUERAUNCE. Nay, nay, Manhode, saye not so! 855 Be-ware of Wanhope, for he is a fo. 856 A newe name I shall gyue you to, 857 I clepe you Repentaunce; 858 For, and you here repente your synne, 859 Ye are possyble heuen to wynne, 860 But with grete contrycyon ye must begynne 861 And take you to abstynence. 862 For, thoughe a man had do alone 863 The dedly synnes euerychone, 864 And he with contrycyon make his mone 865 To Cryst our heuyn kynge, 866 God is also gladde of hym 867 As of the creature that neuer dyde syn. 868 AGE. Now, good syr, how sholde I contrycyon beegyn? 869 PERSEUERAUNCE. Syr, in shryfte of mouthe without varyenge; 870 And another ensample I shall shewe you to: 871 Thynke on Peter and Poule and other mo, 872 Thomas, James, and Johan also, 873 And also Mary Maudeleyn; 874 For Poule dyde Crystes peopple grete vylany, 875 And Peter at the Passyon forsoke Cryst thry, 876 And Maudelayne lyued longe in lechery, 877 And Saynt Thomas byleued not in the Resurreccyon, 878 And yet these to Cryst are derlynges dere, 879 And now be sayntes in heuen clere; 880 And therfore, though ye haue trespased here, 881 I hope ye be sory for your synne. 882 AGE. Ye, Perseueraunce, I you plyght, 883 I am sory for my synne both daye and nyght; 884 I wolde fayne lerne with all my myght 885 How I sholde heuyn wynne. 886 PERSEUERAUNCE. So to Wynne heuyn v nessaryr thynges there ben 887 That must be knowen to all mankynde; 888 The v wyttes doth begynne, 889 Syr, bodely and sprytually. 890 AGE. Of the v wyttes I wolde haue knowynge. 891 PERSEUERAUNCE. Forsoth, syr, herynge seynge, and smellynge, 892 The remenaunte, tastynge and felynge,-- 893 These ben the v wyttes bodely. 894 And, syr, other v wyttes ther ben. 895 AGE. Syr Perseueraunce, I knowe not them. 896 PERSEUERAUNCE. Now, Repentaunce, I shall you ken,-- 897 They are the power of the soule: 898 Clere in mynde,--there is one,-- 899 Imagynacyon and all reason, 900 Understondynge and compassyon,-- 901 These belonge vnto Perseueraunce. 902 AGE. Gramercy, Perseueraunce, for your trewe techynge! 903 But, good syr, is there ony more behynde 904 That is necessary to all mankynde 905 Frely for to knowe? 906 PERSEUERAUNCE. Ye, Repentaunce, more there be 907 That euery man must on byleue,-- 908 The xij artycles of the byleue 909 That mankynde must on trowe: 910 The fyrst, that God is on one substaunce, 911 And also that God is in thre persones, 912 Begynnynge and endynge without varyaunce, 913 And all this worlde made of nought; 914 The seconde, that the Sone of God, sykerly, 915 Toke flesshe and blode of the Vyrgyn Mary 916 Without touchynge of mannes flessh[l]e companye,-- 917 This must be in euery mannes thought; 918 The thyrde, that that same God Sone, 919 [Was] borne of that Holy Vyrgyn, 920 And she after his byrthe mayden as she was beforne 921 And clerer in all kynde; 922 Also the fourthe, that same Cryst, God and man, 923 He suffred payne and passyon 924 Bycause of mannes soule redempcyon, 925 And on a crosse dyd hynge; 926 The fyfte artycle I shall you tell,-- 927 Than the Spyryte of Godhed went to hell, 928 And bought out the soules that there dyde dwell, 929 By the power of his owne myght; 930 The vi artycle I shall you saye,-- 931 Cryst rose vpon the thyrde, 932 Very God and man wythouten naye, 933 That all shall deme and dyght; 934 He sent mannes soule in-to heuen, 935 Alofte all the aungelles auerychone, 936 There is the Fader [and] the Sone, 937 And sothfast Holy Goost; 938 The eyght artycle we must beleue on,-- 939 That same God shall come downe, 940 And deme mannes soule at the daye of dome, 941 And on mercy than must we trust; 942 The ix artycle, with-outen stryfe,-- 943 Euery man, mayden, and wyfe, 944 And all the bodyes that euer bare lyfe 945 And at the day of dome body and soule shall pere; 946 Truely the x artycle is,-- 947 All they that hath kepyd Goddes seruyse, 948 They shall be crowned in heuen blysse 949 As Crystes seruauntes, to hym full dere; 950 The xi artycle, the sothe to sayne,-- 951 All they that hath falsely to God guyded them, 952 They shall be put in-to hell-payne, 953 There shall be no synne couerynge; 954 Syr, afet the xii we must wyrche, 955 And beleue in all the sacramentes of Holy Chyrche, 956 That they be necessary to both last and fyrste, 957 To all maner of mankynde. 958 Syr, ye must also here and knowe the commaundementes x. 959 Lo, syr, this is your beleue and all men; 960 Do after it and ye shall heuen wyn, 961 Without doubte, I knowe. 962 AGE. Gramercy, Perseueraunce, for your trewe techynge, 963 For in spyryte of my soule wyll I fynde 964 That it is necessary to all mankynde 965 Truely for to knowe. 966 Now, syrs, take all ensample by me, 967 How I was borne in symple degre; 968 The Worlde ryall receyued me 969 And dubbed me a knyght; 970 Than Conscyence met me; 971 So after hym came Folye; 972 Folye falsely deceyued me, 973 Than Shame my name hyght. 974 PERSEUERAUNCE. Ye, and now is your name Repentaunce 975 Throughe the grace of God Almyght; 976 And therfore, withoute ony dystaunce, 977 I take my leue of kynge and knyght; 978 And I praye to Jhesu whiche [h]as made vs all, 979 Couer you with his mantell perpetuall! 980 Amen! 980a Here endeth the Interlude of Mundus et Infans. Imprynted 980b at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the Sonne by me wynkyn 980c de worde. The yere of our Lorde M.CCCCC and xxij. The 980d the .xvii. daye of July.