A Select Collection of Old English Plays, vol 2 | Page 4

that shall be of warrantise.
RIOT. Youth, I pray thee have ado, And to the tavern let us go, And we
will drink divers wine, And the cost shall be mine; Thou shalt not pay
one penny, i-wis, Yet thou shalt have a wench to kiss, Whensoever
thou wilt.
YOUTH. Marry, Riot, I thank thee, That thou wilt bestow it on me,
And for thy pleasure so be it; I would not Charity should us meet, And
turn us again, For right now he was with me, And said he would go to
Humility, And come to me again.
RIOT. Let him come, if he will; He were better to bide still; And he
give thee crooked language, I will lay him on the visage, And that thou
shalt see soon, How lightly it shall be done; And he will not be ruled

with knocks, We shall set him in the stocks, To heal his sore shins!
YOUTH. I shall help thee, if I can, To drive away that hangman; Hark,
Riot, thou shalt understand I am heir of my father's land, And now they
be come to my hand, Methink it were best therefore, That I had one
man more To wait me upon.
RIOT. I can speed thee of a servant of price, That will do thee good
service; I see him go here beside; Some men call him Master Pride; I
swear by God in Trinity I will go fetch him unto thee, And that even
anon.
YOUTH. Hie thee apace and come again, And bring with thee that
noble swain.
RIOT. Lo, Master Youth, here he is, A pretty man and a wise; He will
be glad to do you good service In all that ever he may.
YOUTH. Welcome to me, good fellow, I pray thee, whence comest
thou? And thou wilt my servant be, I shall give thee gold and fee.
PRIDE. Sir, I am content, i-wis, To do you any service That ever I can
do.
YOUTH. By likelihood thou should do well enou'; Thou art a likely
fellow.
PRIDE. Yes, sir, I warrant you, If ye will be ruled by me, I shall you
bring to high degree.
YOUTH. What shall I do, tell me, And I will be ruled by thee.
PRIDE. Marry, I shall tell you: Consider ye have good enou' And think
ye come of noble kind; Above all men exalt thy mind; Put down the
poor, and set nought by them; Be in company with gentlemen; Get up
and down in the way, And your clothes look they be gay; The pretty
wenches will say then, Yonder goeth a gentleman; And every poor
fellow that goeth you by, Will do off his cap, and make you courtesy:
In faith, this is true.
YOUTH. Sir, I thank thee, by the rood, For thy counsel that is so good;
And I commit me even now Under the teaching of Riot and you.
RIOT. Lo, Youth, I told you That he was a lusty fellow.
YOUTH. Marry, sir, I thank thee That you would bring him unto me.
PRIDE. Sir, it were expedient that ye had a wife, To live with her all
your life.
RIOT. A wife? nay, nay, for God avow, He shall have flesh enou', For,
by God that me dear bought, Over-much of one thing is nought; The

devil said he had liever burn all his life Than once for to take a wife;
Therefore I say, so God me save, He shall no wife have: Thou hast a
sister fair and free, I know well his leman she will be; Therefore I
would she were here, That we might go and make good cheer At the
wine somewhere.
YOUTH. I pray you hither thou her do bring, For she is to my liking.
PRIDE. Sir, I shall do my diligence To bring her to your presence.
YOUTH. Hie thee apace, and come again; To have a sight I would be
fain Of that lady free.
RIOT. Sir, in faith I shall tell you true, She is fresh and fair of hue, And
very proper of body; Men call her Lady Lechery.
YOUTH. My heart burneth, by God of might, Till of that lady I have a
sight.
(Intret Superbia cum Luxuria et dicat Superbia.)
PRIDE. Sir, I have fulfilled your intent, And have brought you in this
present, That you have sent me for.
YOUTH. Thou art a ready messenger; Come hither to me, my heart so
dear, Ye be welcome to me as the heart in my body.
LECHERY. Sir, I thank you, and at your pleasure I am; Ye be the same
unto me.
YOUTH. Masters, will ye to tavern walk? A word with you here will I
talk, And give you the wine.
LECHERY. Gentleman,