Youth 001 CHARITY. Jesu, that his arms did spread 002 And on a tree was done to dead, 003 From all perils he you defend. 004 I desire audience till I have made an end, 005 For I am come fro God above 006 To occupy his laws to your behove 007 And am named Charity. 008 There may no man saved be 009 Without help of me, 010 For he that Charity doth refuse, 011 Other virtues though he do use-- 012 Without Charity 013 It will not be; 014 For it is written in the fay: 015 Qui manet in charitate, in Deo manet. 016 I am the gate, I tell thee, 017 Of heaven, that joyful city. 018 There may no man thither come 019 But of Charity he must have some, 020 Or he may not come, iwis, 021 Unto heaven, the city of bliss. 022 Therefore, charity, who will him take, 023 A pure soul it will him make 024 Before the face of God. 025 In the A.B.C., of books the least, 026 It is written: Deus charitas est. 027 Lo! charity is a great thing; 028 Of all virtues it is the king. 029 When God in earth was here living, 030 Of charity he found none ending. 031 I was planted in his heart; 032 We two might not depart. 033 Out of his heart I did spring 034 Through the might of the Heaven-king, 035 And all priests that be 036 May sing no mass without charity; 037 And charity to them they do not take, 038 They may not receive him that did them make, 039 And all this world, of nought. 040 YOUTH. Aback, fellows, and give me room, 041 Or I shall make you to avoid soon! 042 I am goodly of person; 043 I am peerless wherever I come. 044 My name is Youth, I tell thee. 045 I flourish as the vine tree. 046 Who may be likened unto me 047 In my youth and jollity? 048 My hair is royal and bushed thick, 049 My body pliant as a hazel stick; 050 Mine arms be both big and strong; 051 My fingers be both fair and long, 052 My chest big as a tun; 053 My legs be full light for to run, 054 To hop and dance and make merry. 055 By the mass, I reck not a cherry 056 Whatsoever I do! 057 I am the heir of all my father's land, 058 And it is come into my hand-- 059 I care for no mo! 060 CHARITY. Are you so disposed to do, 061 To follow vice and let virtue go? 062 YOUTH. Yea, sir, even so, 063 For nowadays he is not set by 064 Without he be unthrifty. 065 CHARITY. You had need to ask God mercy. 066 Why did you so praise your body? 067 YOUTH. Why, knave, what is that to thee? 068 Wilt thou let me to praise my body? 069 Why should I not praise it, and it be goodly? 070 I will not let for thee. 071 CHARITY. What shall it be when thou shalt flit 072 Fro thy wealth into the pit? 073 Therefore, of it be not too bold, 074 Lest thou forthink it when thou art old. 075 Ye may be likened to a tree: 076 In youth, flourishing with royalty, 077 And in age it is cut down 078 And to the fire is thrown. 079 So shalt thou, but thou amend, 080 Be burned in hell without end. 081 YOUTH. Yea, whoreson, trowest thou so? 082 Beware, lest thou thither go. 083 Hence, caitiff, go thy way, 084 Or with my dagger I shall thee slay! 085 Hence, knave, out of this place, 086 Or I shall lay thee on the face! 087 Sayest thou that I shall go to hell, 088 For evermore there to dwell? 089 I had liever thou had evil fare. 090 CHARITY. A, yet, sir, do by my rede, 091 And ask mercy for thy misdeed, 092 And thou shalt be an heritor of bliss 093 Where all joy and mirth is, 094 Where thou shalt see a glorious sight 095 Of angels singing with saints bright 096 Before the face of God. 097 YOUTH. What, sirs! above the sky? 098 I had need of a ladder to climb so high. 099 But what and the ladder slip? 100 Then I am deceived yet. 101 And if I fall, I catch a queck; 102 I amy fortune to break my neck, 103 And that joint is ill to set. 104 Nay, nay, not so. 105 CHARITY. O yet remember and call to thy mind 106 The mercy of God passeth all thing; 107 For it is written by noble clerks 108 The mercy of God passeth all works. 109 That witnesseth Holy Scripture, saying thus: 110 Miserationes Domini super omnia opera eius. 111 Therefore, doubt not God's grace; 112 Thereof is plenty in every place. 113 YOUTH. What! methink ye be clerkish, 114 For ye speak good gibb'rish. 115 Sir, I pray you, and you have any store, 116 Soil me a question or ye cast out any more, 117 Lest when your conning is all done 118 My question have no solution. 119 Sir, and it please you this, 120 Why do men eat mustard with salt fish? 121 Sir, I pray you soil me this question 122 That I have put to your discretion. 123 CHARITY. This question is but a vanity. 124 It longeth not to me 125 Such questions to assoil. 126 YOUTH. Sir, by God that me dear bought, 127 I see your conning is little or nought. 128 And I should follow your school, 129 Soon ye would make me a fool. 130 Therefore, crake no lenger here, 131 Lest I take you on the ear 132 And make your head ache. 133 CHARITY. Sir, it falleth not me to fight 134 Neither by day ne by night. 135 Therefore, do by my counsel, I say; 136 Then to heaven thou shalt have the way. 137 YOUTH. No, sir, I think ye will not fight, 138 But to take a man's purse in the night 139 Ye will not say nay, 140 For such holy caitiffs 141 Were wont to be thieves; 142 And such would be hanged as high 143 As a man may see with his eye. 144 In faith, this same is true. 145 CHARITY. God save every Christen body 146 From such evil destiny, 147 And send us of his grace 148 In heaven to have a place. 149 YOUTH. Nay, nay, I warrant thee, 150 He hath no place for thee. 151 Weenest thou he will have such fools 152 To sit on his gay stools? 153 Nay, I warrant thee, nay. 154 CHARITY. Well, sir, I put me in God's will 155 Whether he will me save or spill. 156 And, sir, I pray you do so, 157 And trust in God whatsoever you do. 158 YOUTH. Sir, I pray thee, hold thy peace 159 And talk to me of no goodness, 160 And soon look thou go thy way, 161 Lest with my dagger I thee saly! 162 In faith, and thou move my heart, 163 Thou shalt be weary of thy part 164 Or thou and I have done. 165 CHARITY. Think what God suffered for thee, 166 His arms to be spread upon a tree; 167 A knight with a spear opened his side; 168 In his heart appeared a wound wide 169 That bought both thee and me. 170 YOUTH. God's fast! what is that to me? 171 Thou daw! wilt thou rede me 172 In my youth to leese my jollity? 173 Hence, knave, and go thy way, 174 Or with my dagger I shall thee slay! 175 CHARITY. O sir! hear what I will you tell, 176 And be ruled after my counsel, 177 That ye might sit in heaven on high 178 With God and his company. 179 YOUTH. A, yet of God wilt thou not cease 180 Till I fight in good earnest? 181 On my faith I tell thee true, 182 If I fight, thou wilt it rue 183 All the days of thy life. 184 CHARITY. Sir, I see it will none otherwise be. 185 I will go to my brother Humility 186 And take counsel of him 187 How it is best to be do therein. 188 YOUTH. Yea, marry, sir, i pray you of that; 189 Methink it were a good sight of your back. 190 I would see your heels hither, 191 And your brother and you together 192 Fettered fine fast. 193 Iwis, and I had the kay, 194 Ye should sing wellaway 195 Or I let you loose. 196 CHARITY. Farewell, my masters eueryone! 197 I will come again anon 198 And tell you how I have done. 199 YOUTH. And thou come hither again, 200 I sahll send thee hence in the devil's name. 201 What, now I may have my space 202 To jet here in this place! 203 Before I might not stir 204 When that churl Charity was here, 205 But now among all this cheer 206 I would I had some company here. 207 Iwis, my brother Riot would help me 208 For to beat Charity 209 And his brother too. 210 RIOT. Huffa, huffa! who calleth after me? 211 I am riot, full of jollity, 212 My heart is light as the wind, 213 And all of riot is my mind 214 Wheresoever I go. 215 But wot ye what I do here? 216 To seek Youth, my compeer. 217 Fain of him I would have a sight-- 218 But my lips hang in my light! 219 God speed, Master Youth, by my fay! 220 YOUTH. Welcome, Riot, in the devil way! 221 Who brought thee hither today? 222 RIOT. That did my legs, I tell thee. 223 Methought thou did call me, 224 And I am come now here 225 To make royal cheer 226 And tell thee how I have done. 227 YOUTH. What! I weened thou haddest be hanged, 228 But I see thou escaped; 229 For it was told me here 230 That you took a man on the ear, 231 His purse in your bosom did fly, 232 And so in new all night he did lie. 233 RIOT. So it was, i beshrew your pate! 234 I come lately from Newgate, 235 But I am as ready to make good cheer 236 As he that never came there, 237 For, and I have spending, 238 I will make as merry as a king 239 And care not what I do; 240 For I will not lie long in prison, 241 But I will get forth soon, 242 For I have learned policy 243 That will loose me lightly 244 And soon let me go. 245 YOUTH. I love well thy discretion, 246 For thou art all of one condition: 247 Thou art stble and steadfast of mind 248 And not changeable as the wind. 249 But, sir, I pray you at the least, 250 Tell me more of that jest 251 That thou told me right now. 252 RIOT. Moreover, I shall tell thee, 253 The Mayor of London sent for me 254 Forth of Newgate for to come 255 For to preach at Tyburn. 256 YOUTH. By Our Lady, he did promote thee 257 To make thee preach at the gallow-tree. 258 But, sir, how diddest thou scape? 259 RIOT. Verily, sir, the rope brake, 260 And so I fell to the ground 261 And ran away safe and sound. 262 By the way I met with a courtier's lad, 263 And twenty nobles of gold in his purse he had. 264 I took the lad on the ear; 265 Beside his horse I felled him there. 266 I took his purse in my hand, 267 And twenty nobles therein I fand. 268 Lord, how I was merry! 269 YOUTH. God's foot! thou diddest enough there 270 For to be made knight of the collar. 271 RIOT. Yea, sir, I trust to God Almight 272 At the next sessions to be dubbed a knight. 273 YOUTH. Now, sir, by this light, 274 That would I fain see! 275 And I plight thee, 276 So God me save, 277 That a surer collar thou shalt have; 278 And because gold collars be so good cheap, 279 Unto the roper I shall speak 280 To make thee one of a good price, 281 And that shall be of warrantise. 282 RIOT. Youth, I pray thee, have ado, 283 And to the tavern let us go; 284 And we will drink diverse wine, 285 And the cost shall be mine. 286 Thou shalt not pay one penny, iwis; 287 Yet thou shalt have a wench to kiss 288 Whensoever thou wilt. 289 YOUTH. Marry, Riot, I thank thee 290 That thou wilt bestow it on me, 291 And for thy pleasure so be't. 292 I would not Charity should us meet 293 And turn us again, 294 For right now he was with me 295 And said he would go to Humility 296 And come to me again. 297 RIOT. Let him come, if he will. 298 He were better to bide still. 299 And he give thee crooked language, 300 I will lay him on the visage; 301 And that thou shalt see soon, 302 How lightly it shall be done. 303 And he will not be ruled with knocks, 304 We shall set him in the stocks 305 To heal his sore shins. 306 YOUTH. I shall help thee, if I can, 307 To drive away that hangman. 308 Hark, Riot, thou shalt understand 309 I am heir of my father's land, 310 And now they be come to my hand! 311 Methink it were best, therefore, 312 That I had one man more 313 To wait me upon. 314 RIOT. I can speed thee of a servant of price 315 That will do thee good service-- 316 I see him go here beside. 317 Some men call him Master Pride. 318 I swear by God in Trinity 319 I will go fetch him unto thee, 320 And that even anon. 321 YOUTH. Hie thee apace, and come again, 322 And bring with thee that noble swain. 323 RIOT. Lo! Master Youth, here he is, 324 A pretty man and a wise. 325 He will be glad to do you good service 326 In all that ever he may. 327 YOUTH. Welcome to me, good fellow! 328 I pray thee, whence comest thou? 329 And thou wilt my servant be, 330 I shall give thee gold and fee. 331 PRIDE. Sir, I am content, iwis, 332 To do you any service 333 That ever I can do. 334 YOUTH. By likelihood thou should do well enow. 335 Thou art a likely fellow. 336 PRIDE. Yes, sir, I warrant you, 337 If ye will be ruled by me, 338 I shall you bring to high degree. 339 YOUTH. What shall I do? tell me, 340 And I will be ruled by thee. 341 PRIDE. Marry, I shall tell you. 342 Consider ye have ngood enow, 343 And think ye come of noble kind. 344 Above allmeen exalt thy mind. 345 Put down the poor, and set nought by them. 346 Be in company with gentelmen. 347 Jet up and down in the way, 348 And your clothes--look they be gay, 349 The pretty wenches will say then, 350 "Yonder goeth a gentleman," 351 And every poor fellow that goeth you by 352 Will do off his cap and make you courtesy. 353 In faith, this is true. 354 YOUTH. Sir, I thank thee, by the rood, 355 For thy counsel that is so good, 356 And I commit me even now 357 Under the teaching of Riot and you. 358 RIOT. Lo, Youth, I told you 359 That he was a lust fellow. 360 YOUTH. Marry, sir, I thank thee 361 That you would bring him unto me. 362 PRIDE. Sir, it were expedient that ye had a wife, 363 To live with her all your life. 364 RIOT. A wife! nay, nay, for God avow, 365 He shall have flesh enow, 366 For, by God that me dear bought, 367 Overmuch of one thing is nought. 368 The devil said hee had liever burn all his life 369 Than once for to take a wife. 370 Therefore, I say, so God me save, 371 He shall no wife have. 372 Thou hast a sister fair and free. 373 I know well his leman she will be; 374 Therefore, I would she were here, 375 That we might go and make good cheer 376 At the wine somewhere. 377 YOUTH. I pray you, hither thou do her bring, 378 For she is to my liking. 379 PRIDE. Sir, I shall do my diligence 380 To bring her to your presence. 381 YOUTH. Hie thee apace, and come again. 382 To have a sight I would be fain 383 Of that lady free. 384 RIOT. Sir, in faith, I shall tell you true: 385 She is a fresh and fair of hue 386 And very proper of body. 387 Men call her Lady Lechery. 388 YOUTH. My heart burneth, by God of might, 389 Till of that lady I have a sight. 389a Intret Superbia cum Luxuria, et dicat Superbia: 390 PRIDE. Sir, I have fulfilled your intent 391 And have brought you in this present 392 That you have sent me for. 393 YOUTH. Thou art a ready messenger. 394 Come hither to me, my heart so dear. 395 Ye be welcome to me 396 As the heart in my body. 397 LADY LECHERY. Sir, I thank you, and at your pleasure I am. 398 Ye be the same unto me. 399 YOUTH. Masters, will ye to tavern walk? 400 A word with you there will I talk 401 And give you the wine. 402 LADY LECHERY. Gentleman, I thank you verily, 403 And I am all ready 404 To wait you upon. 405 RIOT. What, sister Lechery! 406 Ye be welcome to our company. 407 LADY LECHERY. Well, wanton, well! fie, for shame, 408 So soon ye do express my name! 409 What, if no man should have known? 410 Iwis, I shall you beat, well, wanton, well! 411 RIOT. A little pretty misot, 412 Ye be well nice, God wot! 413 Ye be a little pretty pie; 414 Iwis, ye go full gingerly. 415 LADY LECHERY. Well, I see your false eye 416 Winketh on me full wantonly. 417 Ye bull full wanton, iwis. 418 YOUTH. Pride, I thank you of your labour 419 That you had to fetch this fair flower. 420 PRIDE. Lo, Youth, I told thee 421 That I would bring her with me. 422 Sir, I pray you, tell me now, 423 How doth she like you? 424 YOUTH. Verily, well she pleased me, 425 For she is courteous, gentle and free. 426 How do you, fair lady? 427 How fare you, tell me. 428 LADY LECHERY. Sir, if it please you, 429 I do well enow, 430 And the better that you will wit. 431 YOUTH. Riot, I would be at tavern fain, 432 Lest Charity us meet and turn us again. 433 Then would I be sorry 434 Because of this fair lady. 435 RIOT. Let us go again betime, 436 That we may be at the wine 437 Or ever that he come. 438 PRIDE. Hie thee apace, and go we hence. 439 We will let for none expense. 440 YOUTH. Now we will fill the cup and make good cheer. 441 I trust I have a noble here. 442 Hark! sirs, for God Almight, 443 Hearest thou not how they fight? 444 In faith, we shall them part; 445 If there be any wine to sell, 446 They shall no longer together dwell. 447 No, then I beshrew my heart! 448 RIOT. No, sir, mote I thee, 449 Let not thy servants fight within thee, 450 For it is a careful life 451 Evermore to live in strife. 452 Therefore, if ye will be ruled by my tale, 453 We will go to the ale 454 And see how we can do. 455 I trust to God that sitteth on high 456 To leese that little company 457 Within an hour or two. 458 PRIDE. Now let us go, for God's sake, 459 And see how merry we can make. 460 RIOT. Now let us go apace. 461 And I be last there, I beshrew my face! 462 YOUTH. Now let us go, that we were there 463 To make this lady some cheer. 464 LADY LECHERY. Verily, sir, I thank thee 465 That ye will bestow it on me, 466 And when it please you on me to call 467 My heart is yours, body and all. 468 YOUTH. Fair lady, I thank thee. 469 On the same wise ye sha;; have me 470 Whensoever ye please. 471 PRIDE. Riot, we tarry long. 472 RIOT. We will go even now with a lusty song. 473 PRIDE. In faith, I will be rector chory. 474 YOUTH. Go to it then hardily, 475 And let us be agate. 476 CHARITY. Abide, fellow! a word with thee. 477 Whither go ye, tell me. 478 Abide, and hear what I shall you tell, 479 And be ruled by my counsel. 480 PRIDE. Nay, no fellow, ne yet mate! 481 I trow thy fellow be in Newgate. 482 Shall we tell thee whither we go? 483 Nay, iwis, good John a Pepo. 484 Who learned thee, thou mistaught man, 485 To speak so to a gentleman? 486 Though his clothes be never so thin, 487 Yet he is come of noble kin. 488 Though thou give him such a mock, 489 Yet he is come of a noble stock, 490 I let thee well to wit. 491 RIOT. What! Sir John, what say ye? 492 Would you be fettered now? 493 Think nat too long, I pray you. 494 It may fortune come soon enow; 495 Ye shall think it a little soon. 496 CHARITY. Yet, sirs, let this cease, 497 And let us talk of goodness. 498 YOUTH. He turned his tale; he is afeard, 499 But, faith, he shall be scared. 500 He weeneth by flattering to please us again, 501 But he laboureth all in vain. 502 CHARITY. Sir, I pray you me not spare, 503 For nothing I do care 504 That ye can do to me. 505 RIOT. No, whoreson? sayst thou so? 506 Hold him, Pride, and let me go. 507 I shall fet a pair of rings 508 That shall sit to his shins, 509 And that even anon. 510 PRIDE. Hie thee apace, and come again, 511 And bring with thee a good chain 512 To hold him here still. 513 CHARITY. Jesu, that was born of Mary mild, 514 From all evil he us shield 515 And send you grace to amend 516 Or our life be at an end, 517 For I tell you truly 518 That ye live full wickedly. 519 I pray God it amend. 520 RIOT. Lo, sirs, look waht I bring. 521 Is not this a jolly ringing? 522 By my troth, I trow it be. 523 I will go wit of Charity. 524 How sayest thou, Master Charity? 525 Doth this gear please thee? 526 CHARITY. They please me well indeed. 527 The more sorrow, the more meed; 528 For God said, while he was a man: 529 Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur propter justitiam. 530 Unto his apostles he said so 531 To teach them how they should do. 532 PRIDE. We shall see how they can please. 533 Sit down, sir, and take your ease. 534 Methink these same were full meet 535 To go about your fair feet. 536 YOUTH. By my truth, I you tell 537 They would become him very well; 538 Therefore, hie that they were on, 539 Unto the tavern that we were gone. 540 RIOT. That shall ye see anon, 541 How soon they shall be on; 542 And after we will not tarry long, 543 But go hence with a merry song. 544 PRIDE. Let us begin all at once. 545 YOUTH. Now have at it, by Cock's bones, 546 And soon let us go. 547 CHARITY. Lo, masters, here you may see beforn 548 That the weed overgroweth the corn. 549 Now may ye see all this in tide 550 How vice is taken, and virtue set aside. 551 Yonder ye may see Youth is not stable, 552 But evermore changeable; 553 And the nature of men is frail, 554 That he wotteth not what may avail 555 Virtue for to make. 556 O good Lord! it is a pitiful case, 557 Sith God hath lent man wit and grace 558 To choose of good and evil, 559 That man should voluntarily 560 To such things himself apply, 561 That his soul should spill. 562 HUMILITY. Christ, that was crucified and crowned with thorn 563 And of a virgin for man was born, 564 Some knowledge send to me 565 Of my brother Charity. 566 CHARITY. Dear brother Humility, 567 Ye be welcome unto me. 568 Where have ye be so long? 569 HUMILITY. I shall do you to understand 570 That I have said mine evensong. 571 But, sir, I pray you, tell me now 572 How this case happened to you. 573 CHARITY. I shall tell you anon. 574 The fellows that I told you on 575 Have me thus arrayed. 576 HUMILITY. Sir, I shall undo the bands 577 From your feet and your hands. 578 Sir, I pray you, tell me anon 579 Whither they be gone 580 And when they come again. 581 CHARITY. Sir, to the tavern they be gone, 582 And they will come again anon, 583 And that shall you see. 584 HUMILITY. Then will we them exhort 585 Unto virtue to resort 586 And to forsake sin. 587 CHARITY. I will help you that I can 588 To convert that wicked man. 589 YOUTH. Aback, gallants, and look unto me, 590 And take me for your special! 591 For I am promoted to high degree. 592 By right I am king eternal-- 593 Neither duke ne lord, baron ne knight, 594 That may be likened unto me; 595 They be subdued to me by right, 596 As servants to their masters should be. 597 HUMILITY. Ye be welcome to this place here. 598 We think ye labour all in vain; 599 Wherefore your brains we will stir 600 And keel you a little again. 601 YOUTH. Sayest thou by brains thou wilt stir? 602 I shall lay thee on the ear. 603 Were thou born in Trumpington 604 And brought up at Hogs Norton? 605 By my faith, it seemeth so. 606 Well, go, knave, go! 607 CHARITY. Do by our counsel and our rede, 608 And ask mercy for thy misdeed, 609 And endeavour thee, for God's sake, 610 For thy sins amends to make 611 Or ever that thou die. 612 RIOT. Hark, Youth, for God avow, 613 He would have thee a saint now! 614 But Youth, I shall you tell, 615 A young saint, an old devil. 616 Therefore, I hold thee a fool, 617 And thou follow his school. 618 YOUTH. I warrant thee, I will not do so. 619 I will be ruled by you two. 620 PRIDE. Then shall ye do well; 621 If ye be ruled by our counsel, 622 We will bring you to high degree 623 And promote you to dignity. 624 HUMILITY. Sir, it is a pitiful case 625 That ye would forsake grace 626 And to vice apply. 627 YOUTH. Why, knave, doth it grieve thee? 628 Thou shalt not answer for me. 629 When my soul hangeth on the hedge once, 630 Then take thou and cast stones 631 As fast as thou wilt. 632 CHARITY. Sir, if it please you to do thus, 633 Forsake them and do after us. 634 The better shall you do. 635 RIOT. Sir, he shall do well enow, 636 Though he be ruled by neither of you. 637 Therefore, crake no longer here, 638 Lest thou have on the ear, 639 And that a good knock. 640 PRIDE. Lightly see thou avoid the place, 641 Or I shall give thee on the face. 642 Youth, I trow that he would 643 Make you holy or ye be old, 644 And I swear by the rood 645 It is time enough to be good 646 When that ye be old. 647 YOUTH. Sir, by my truth, I thee say, 648 I will make merry whiles I may. 649 I cannot tell you how long. 650 RIOT. Yea, sir, so mote I thrive, 651 Thou art not certain of thy life. 652 Therefore, thou were a stark fool 653 To leave mirth and follow their school. 654 HUMILITY. Sir, I shall him exhort 655 Unto us to resort 656 And you to forsake. 657 PRIDE. Ask him if he will do so, 658 To forsake us and follow you two. 659 Nay, I warrant you, nay. 660 HUMILITY. That shall you see even anon. 661 I will unto him gone 662 And see what he will say. 663 RIOT. Hardily, go on thy way. 664 I know well he will say nay. 665 YOUTH. Yea, sir, by God that me dear bought, 666 Methink ye labour all for nought. 667 Weenest thou that I will for thee 668 Or thy brother, Charity, 669 Forsake this good company? 670 Nay, I warrant thee. 671 PRIDE. No, master, I pray you of that, 672 For anything forsake us nat. 673 And all our counsel rule you by, 674 Ye may be Emperor or ye die. 675 YOUTH. While I have life in my body 676 Shall I be ruled by Riot and thee. 677 RIOT. Sir, then shall ye do well, 678 For we be true as steel. 679 Sir, I can teach you to play at the dice, 680 At the queen's game and at the Irish, 681 The treygobet and the hazard also, 682 And many other games mo. 683 Also at the cards I can teach you to play, 684 At the triumph and one-and-thirty, 685 Post, pinion and also ambs-ace, 686 And at another they call deuce-ace. 687 Yet I can tell you more, and ye shall con me thank, 688 Pink and drink and also at the blank, 689 And many sports mo. 690 YOUTH. I thank thee, Riot, so mote I thee, 691 For the counsel thou hast given me. 692 I will follow thy mind in everything 693 And guide me after thy learning. 694 CHARITY. Youth, leave that counsel, for it is nought, 695 And amend that thou hast miswrought, 696 That thou mayst save that God hath bought. 697 YOUTH. What say ye, Master Charity? 698 What hath God bought for me? 699 By my troth, I know nat 700 Whether that he goeth in white or black. 701 He came never at the stews, 702 Nor in no place where I do use. 703 Iwis, he bought not my cap, 704 Nor yet my jolly hat. 705 I wot not what he hath bought for me. 706 And he bought anything of mine, 707 I will give him a quart of wine 708 The next time I him meet. 709 CHARITY. Sir, this he did for thee: 710 When thou wast bond he made thee free 711 And bought thee with his blood. 712 YOUTH. Sir, I pray you, tell me 713 How may this be. 714 That I know, I was never bond 715 Unto none in England. 716 CHARITY. Sir, I shall tell you. 717 When Adam had done great trespass 718 And out of Paradise exiled was, 719 Then all the souls, as I can you tell, 720 Were in the bondage of the devil of hell, 721 Till the Father of heaven, of his great mercy, 722 Sent the second person in Trinity 723 Us for to redeem, 724 And so with his precious blood 725 He bought us on the rood 726 And our souls did save. 727 YOUTH. How should I save it, tell me now, 728 And I will be ruled after you, 729 My soul to save. 730 RIOT. What! Youth, will you forsake me? 731 I will not forsake thee. 732 HUMILITY. I shall tell you shortly. 733 Kneel down and ask God mercy 734 For that you have offended. 735 PRIDE. Youth, wilt thou do so-- 736 Follow them and let us go? 737 Marry, I trow, nay. 738 YOUTH. Here all sin I forsake 739 And to God I me betake. 740 Good Lord, I pray thee, have no indignation 741 That I, a sinner, should ask salvation. 742 CHARITY. Now thou must forsake Pride 743 And all Riot set aside. 744 PRIDE. I will not him forsake 745 Neither early ne late. 746 I weened he would not forsake me, 747 But, if it will none otherwise be, 748 I will go my way. 749 YOUTH. Sir, I pray God be your speed 750 And help you at your need. 751 RIOT. I am sure thou wilt not forsake me; 752 Nor I will not forsake thee. 753 YOUTH. I forsake you also 754 And will not have with you to do. 755 And I forsake thee utterly. 756 Fie on thee caitiff, fie! 757 Once a promisee thou did me make 758 That thou would me never forsake, 759 But now I see it is hard 760 For to trust the wretched world. 761 Farewell, masters everyone! 762 HUMILITY. For your sin look ye mourn, 763 And evil creatures look ye turn. 764 For your name who maketh inquisition, 765 Say it is Good Contrition, 766 That for sin doth mourn. 767 CHARITY. Here is a new aray 768 For to walk by the way, 769 Your prayer for to say. 770 HUMILITY. Here be beads for your devotion, 771 And keep you from all temptation. 772 Let not vice devour. 773 When ye see misdoing men, 774 Good counsel give them 775 And teach them to amend. 776 YOUTH. For my sin I will mourn, 777 All creatures I will turn, 778 And when I see misdoing men 779 Good counsel I shall give them 780 And exhort them to amend. 781 CHARITY. Then shall ye be an heritor of bliss 782 Where all joy and mirth is. 783 YOUTH. To the which, eternal 784 God bring the persons all 785 Here being. Amen. 786 HUMILITY. Thus have we brought our matter to an end 787 Before the persons here present. 788 Would every man be content, 789 Lest another day we be shent. 790 CHARITY. We thank all this presence 791 Of their meek audience. 792 HUMILITY. Jesu, that sitteth in heaven so high, 793 Save all this fair company, 794 Men and women that here be. 795 Amen, amen, for charity. 795a Finis.