 | A New Spring Shadowed in sundry Pithie Poems |  |
The Shrift.
A Time there was, and diuers there be yet,
VVhose riper yeares can well remember it:
VVhen folke were shriuen for th'sinnes they did commit
And had their Absolution as was fit:
Mongst which, as one crime doth another get,
VVhere hope of Pardon doth authorize it,
For Vertues Turtle-like doe single sit,
But th'troope of Vices still in squadrons meete;
A Boone-Companion to his liquor giuen,
Came thither with his Neighbours to be shriuen.
Steuen (quoth Frier) for's Christen name was Steuen,
VVhat sinnes hast done to grieue the Lord of Heauen?
Speake freely man, and it is ten to seauen,
But by due Pennance I will make all euen:
Confession is the way, when Man is driuen
Into Despaire, that guides him vnto Heauen.
VVhose riper yeares can well remember it:
VVhen folke were shriuen for th'sinnes they did commit
And had their Absolution as was fit:
Mongst which, as one crime doth another get,
VVhere hope of Pardon doth authorize it,
For Vertues Turtle-like doe single sit,
But th'troope of Vices still in squadrons meete;
A Boone-Companion to his liquor giuen,
Came thither with his Neighbours to be shriuen.
Steuen (quoth Frier) for's Christen name was Steuen,
VVhat sinnes hast done to grieue the Lord of Heauen?
Speake freely man, and it is ten to seauen,
But by due Pennance I will make all euen:
Confession is the way, when Man is driuen
Into Despaire, that guides him vnto Heauen.
I haue beene drunke last day and this day to,
And may be next day too for ought I know:
Tell me then (holy Frier) directly how
Or in what sort I may my Pennance doe?
Drunke (quoth the Frier) now by the faith I owe
I know not what it meanes, nor as I trow
Vnder Confession had I't ere till now,
Yet come next day thou's heare what thou shalt doe.
Meane while the Frier would not neglect his time,
To know the secret of this drunken crime,
Therefore betime, ere foure a clock did chime,
This profane practice grew to be diuine:
For Vpsefreese he drunke from foure to nine,
So as each Sense was steeped well in Wine,
Yet still he kept his rouse, till he in fine,
Grew extreame sicke with hugging Bacchus Shrine:
Vpward and downeward it did worke so sore,
As if his vitall spirits could worke no more,
Or that he were ariuing on the Shore
Where Mortalls must ariue: but rid of store,
That did oppresse his stomach ore and ore,
At last he got a nap vpon the floore,
Which hauing tempered his Braines, he swore
To trye conclusions with the Pot no more.
Stephen kept his steauen, and to the time he gaue,
Came to demand what Pennance he should haue?
What Pennance (quoth the Frier?) I'le tell thee knaue,
I thinke it fit this Pennance to receiue:
“Goe and be drunke againe; for if it haue
“Th'effect with thee it had with mee, Ide craue
“No sharper Pennance to the sinfullst slaue,
“For soone it would possesse me of my graue.
“Thus in this Sea of Sodome where each shelfe
“Menaceth ruine to the forlorne Elfe,
“The Drunkard is a Pennance to himselfe.
And may be next day too for ought I know:
Tell me then (holy Frier) directly how
Or in what sort I may my Pennance doe?
Drunke (quoth the Frier) now by the faith I owe
I know not what it meanes, nor as I trow
Vnder Confession had I't ere till now,
Yet come next day thou's heare what thou shalt doe.
Meane while the Frier would not neglect his time,
To know the secret of this drunken crime,
Therefore betime, ere foure a clock did chime,
This profane practice grew to be diuine:
So as each Sense was steeped well in Wine,
Yet still he kept his rouse, till he in fine,
Grew extreame sicke with hugging Bacchus Shrine:
Vpward and downeward it did worke so sore,
As if his vitall spirits could worke no more,
Or that he were ariuing on the Shore
Where Mortalls must ariue: but rid of store,
That did oppresse his stomach ore and ore,
At last he got a nap vpon the floore,
Which hauing tempered his Braines, he swore
To trye conclusions with the Pot no more.
Stephen kept his steauen, and to the time he gaue,
Came to demand what Pennance he should haue?
What Pennance (quoth the Frier?) I'le tell thee knaue,
I thinke it fit this Pennance to receiue:
“Goe and be drunke againe; for if it haue
“Th'effect with thee it had with mee, Ide craue
“No sharper Pennance to the sinfullst slaue,
“For soone it would possesse me of my graue.
“Thus in this Sea of Sodome where each shelfe
“Menaceth ruine to the forlorne Elfe,
“The Drunkard is a Pennance to himselfe.
| A New Spring Shadowed in sundry Pithie Poems | |