A Select Collection of Old English Plays, vol 1 | Page 9

why that should so be, no cause
can be found, But only by reason that the earth is round.
HUMANITY.
That reason proveth the earth at the least, One ways to be round, I
cannot gainsay, As for to account from the east to the west; But yet,

notwithstanding all that, it may Lese his roundness by some other way.
STUDIOUS DESIRE.
Nay, no doubt it is round everywhere, Which I could prove, thou
shouldst not say nay, If I had thereto any time and leisure; But I know a
man called Experience, Of divers instruments is never without, Could
prove all these points, and yet by his science Can tell how many mile
the earth is about, And many other strange conclusions, no doubt. His
instruments could show thee so certain, That every rude carter should
them perceive plain.
HU. Now would to God I had that man now here For the contemplation
of my mind! STU. If ye will, I shall for him inquire, And bring him
hither, if I can him find. HU. Then might I say ye were to me right kind.
STU. I shall assay, by God that me dear bought, For cunning is the
thing that would be sought. SEN. Well hit, quoth Hykman, when that
he smote His wife on the buttocks with a beer-pot. Aha! now good even,
fool, good even! It is even thee, knave, that I mean. Hast thou done thy
babbling? STU. Yea, peradventure, what then? SEN. Then hold down
thy head like a pretty man, and take my blessing. Benedicite! I grant to
thee this pardon, And give thee absolution For thy sooth saws; stand up,
Jackdaw! I beshrew thy father's son, Make room, sirs, and let us be
merry, With huffa gallant, sing tirl on the berry, And let the wide world
wind![15] Sing, frisky jolly, with hey troly lolly, For I see well it is but
a folly For to have a sad mind: For rather than I would use such folly,
To pray, to study, or be pope holy, I had as lief be dead. By Gog's body,
I tell you true! I speak as I think now, else I beshrew Even my next
fellow's head! Master Humanity, sir, by your leave, I were right loth
you to grieve, Though I do him despise; For if ye knew him as well as I,
Ye would not use his company, Nor love him in no wise. HU. Sir, he
looketh like an honest man, Therefore I marvel that ye can This wise
him deprave. SEN. Though he look never so well, I promise you he
hath a shrewd smell. HU. Why so? I pray you tell. SEN. For he
savoureth like a knave. STU. Hold your peace, sir, ye mistake me!
What, I trow, that ye would make me Like to one of your kin. SEN.
Hark, sirs, hear ye not how boldly He calleth me knave again by policy?

The devil pull off his skin! I would he were hanged by the throat, For
by the mass I love him not: We two can never agree; I am content, sir,
with you to tarry, And I am for you so necessary, Ye cannot live
without me. HU. Why, sir, I say, what man be ye? SEN. I am called
Sensual Appetite, All creatures in me delight; I comfort the wits five,
The tasting, smelling, and hearing; I refresh the sight and feeling To all
creatures alive. For when the body waxeth hungry For lack of food, or
else thirsty, Then with drinks pleasant I restore him out of pain, And oft
refresh nature again With delicate viand. With pleasant sound of
harmony The hearing alway I satisfy, I dare this well report; The
smelling with sweet odour, And the sight with pleasant figure And
colours, I comfort; The feeling, that is so pleasant, Of every member,
foot, or hand, What pleasure therein can be By the touching of soft and
hard, Of hot or cold, nought in regard, Except it come by me. HU. Then
I cannot see the contrary, But ye are for me full necessary, And right
convenient. STU. Yea, sir, beware yet what ye do, For if you forsake
my company so, Lord Nature will not be content. Of him ye shall never
learn good thing, Nother virtue nor no other cunning, This dare I well
say. SEN. Marry, avaunt, knave! I thee defy! Did Nature forbid him my
company? What sayest thou thereto? Speak openly. HU. As for that I
know well nay. SEN. No, by God! I am right sure; For he knoweth well
no creature Without me can live one day. HU. Sir, I pray you be
content, It is not utterly mine intent Your company to exile; But only to