A Select Collection of Old English Plays, vol 2 | Page 7

their school.
HUMILITY. Sir, I shall him exhort Unto us to resort, And you to
forsake.
PRIDE. Ask him if he will do so, To forsake us and follow you two;
Nay, I warrant you, nay!
HUMILITY. That shall you see even anon; I will unto him gone, And
see what he will say.
RIOT. Hardily go on thy way; I know well he will say nay.
YOUTH. Yea, sir, by God that me dear bought, Methink ye labour all
for nought; Weenest thou that I will for thee Or thy brother Charity
Forsake this good company? Nay, I warrant you.
PRIDE. No, master, I pray you of that, For anything forsake us not,
And all our counsel rule you by; Ye may be emperor, ere ye die.
YOUTH. While I have life in my body, Shall I be ruled by Riot and
thee.
RIOT. Sir, then, shall ye do well, For we be true as steel; Sir, I can
teach you to play at the dice, At the queen's game[19] and at the
Irish;[20] The treygobet[21] and the hazard[22] also, And many other

games mo; Also at the cards I can teach you to play, At the triump and
one-and-thirty, Post,[23] pinion,[24] and also aums-ace, And at another
they call dewce-ace; Yet I can tell you more, and ye will con me thank,
Pink[25] and drink, and also at the blank,[26] And many sports mo.
YOUTH. I thank thee, Riot, so mot I the, For the counsel thou hast
given me; I will follow thy mind in every thing, And guide me after thy
learning.
CHARITY. Youth, leave that counsel, for it is nought, And amend that
thou hast miswrought, That thou may'st save that God hath bought.
YOUTH. What say ye, Master Charity? What hath God bought? By my
troth, I know not Whether he goeth in white or black; He came never at
the stews, Nor in no place, where I do use; I-wis he bought not my cap,
Nor yet my jolly hat; I wot not what he hath bought for me; And he
bought anything of mine, I will give him a quart of wine, The next time
I him meet.
CHARITY. Sir, this he did for thee; When thou wast bond, he made
thee free, And bought thee with his blood.
YOUTH. Sir, I pray you tell me, How may this be: That I know, I was
never bond Unto none in England.
CHARITY. Sir, I shall tell you-- When Adam had done great trespass,
And out of Paradise exiled was; Then all the souls, as I can you tell,
Were in the bondage of the devil of hell, Till the Father of heaven, of
his great mercy, Sent the Second Person in Trinity Us for to redeem,
And so with his precious blood He bought us on the rood, And our
souls did save.
YOUTH. How should I save it, tell me now, And I will be ruled after
you My soul to save.
RIOT. What, youth; will ye forsake me? I will not forsake thee.
HUMILITY. I shall tell you shortly; Kneel down and ask God mercy,
For that you have offended.
PRIDE. Youth, wilt thou do so? Follow them, and let us go? Marry, I
trow, nay.
YOUTH. Here all sin I forsake, And to God I me betake; Good Lord, I
pray thee have no indignation, That I, a sinner, should ask salvation.
CHARITY. Now thou must forsake Pride, And all Riot set aside.
PRIDE. I will not him forsake, Neither early ne late; I ween'd he would
not forsake me; But if it will none otherwise be, I will go my way.

YOUTH. Sir, I pray God be your speed, And help you at your need.
RIOT. I am sure thou wilt not forsake me, Nor I will not forsake thee.
YOUTH. I forsake you also, And will not have with you to do.
RIOT. And I forsake thee utterly: Fie on thee, caitiff, fie! Once a
promise thou did me make, That thou would me never forsake, But
now I see it is hard For to trust the wretched world; Farewell, masters,
everychone.
HUMILITY. For your sin look ye mourn, And evil creatures look ye
turn; For your name, who maketh inquisition, Say it is Good Contrition
That for sin doth mourn.
CHARITY. Here is a new array, For to walk by the way, Your prayer
for to say.
HUMILITY. Here be beads[27] for your devotion, And keep you from
all temptation; Let not vice devour. When you see misdoing men, Good
counsel give them, And teach them to amend.
YOUTH. For my sin I will mourn, All creatures I will turn; And when I
see misdoing men, Good counsel I shall give them, And exhort them to
amend.
CHARITY.