University of Virginia Library

SCENE XIV

[DETRACCIO]
Ad CARNEM:
Heyl, kynge, I calle!
Heyl, prinse, proude prekyd in palle!
Heyl, hende in halle!
Heyl, syr kynge, fayre þe befalle!

CARO.
Boy Bakbytynge,
Ful redy in robys to rynge,
Ful glad tydynge,
Be Belyalys bonys, I trow þow brynge.

DETRACCIO.
Ȝa, for God, owt I crye
On þi too sonys and þi dowtyr ȝynge:
Glotoun, Slawthe, and Lechery
Hath put me in gret mornynge.
Þey let Mankynd gon up hye
Into ȝene castel at hys lykynge,
Þerin for to leue and dye,
Wyth þo ladys to make endynge,
Þo flourys fayre and fresche.
He is in þe Castel of Perseuerauns
And put hys body to penauns.
Of hard happe is now þi chauns,
Syre kynge, Mankyndys Flesche.

Tunc CARO clamabit ad GULAM, ACCIDIAM, et LUXURIAM
LUXURIA.
Sey now þi wylle.
Syr Flesch, why cryest þou so schylle?

CARO.
A, Lechery, þou skallyd mare!
And þou Gloton, God ȝeue þe wo!
And vyle Slawth, euyl mote þou fare!
Why lete ȝe Mankynd fro ȝou go
In ȝone castel so hye?
Euele grace com on þi snowte!
Now I am dressyd in gret dowte.
Why ne had ȝe lokyd betyr abowte?
Be Belyalys bonys, ȝe schul abye.

Tunc uerberabit eos in placeam
DETRACCIO.
Now, be God, þis is good game!
I, Bakbyter, now bere me wel.
If I had lost my name,
I vow to God it were gret del.
I schape þese schrewys to mekyl schame;
Iche rappyth on oþyr wyth rowtynge rele.
I, Bakbyter, wyth fals fame
Do brekyn and brestyn hodys of stele.
Þorwe þis cuntre I am knowe.
Now wyl I gynne forth to goo
And make Coueytyse haue a knoke or too,
And þanne iwys I haue doo
My deuer, as I trowe.