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A Song in several parts, ushering towards the high table, a Personage in armour representing Honour holding in his hand a sheaf of arrows.
Mean.
A hall! a hall! below, stand clear?
What, are you ready?

Base.
[Enter.]

Mean.
Then
Present your duties to those men
Of worth and honour.

Chorus.
We rejoice
When so we spend art, hour, and voice.

Mean.
Tell me, oh tell me, what is he appears
So like a son of Fame, and bears
A sheaf of arrows bound with silken bands?

Base.
'Tis Honour, with two armed hands,
Showing the figure of his [worth],
Who gives it and deserves [it both].

Mean.
Ay, braver emblem for the place
I ne'er beheld.

Base.
Nor for his race
A fitter symbol,—without pride or spite
Being arm'd at all points to do merit right.

Mean.
What word's that?

Base.
Diligentia.
Fortunæ Mater.

Mean.
[This honour'd] day
Makes good that motto; 'tis exprest
Not in him only, but in every guest,
I joy to see.

Chorus.
We joy to see
Your places and your works agree.

[Finis 1st Song.
Then Honour delivers this speech.
Though in this martial habit I [appear],
I bring nor cause of doubt nor thought [of fear]:
'Tis only a way found to express best
The worthy figure of your noble crest.
Nor barely to be shown is the intent
And scope of this time's service; more is meant;
There's use and application, whence arise
Profit and comfort to the grave and wise,
A noble emblem of charge, power, and place;
Justice and valour never yet did grace
[A station] more; a crest becomes the state.
[A Christian] champion, a good magistrate:
Two armed arms—to what may they allude
More properer than to truth and fortitude,
The armour of a Christian, to be strong
In a just cause? Then to these arms belong
The sheafs of arrows: what do they imply
But shafts of justice 'gainst impiety?
Yet they must pass through a judicious hand
To see they're tied with Mercy's silken band;
They must not inconsiderately be spent,
But used like weapons of just punishment:
And as it is in course of combat known
'Tis not the property of one hand alone
Both to defend and offend at one time,
So let not one hand pass upon a crime,
The weight may fall too heavy; but take both,
Mercy with Justice, twins of equal growth:
Those carry a cause level through the land,
For no man shoots an arrow with one hand.
[Believe me] this: do envy what it can,
[Religious] conscience is an armed man.
Another way to make it general,
For 'tis an emblem that concerns you all.
You of the honourable brotherhood,
Knit all together for the city's good,
In whose grave wisdoms her fair strength doth stand,
You are the sheaf; the magistrate's the band
Whose love is wound about you. Witness be
His bounty and his welcome, both most free.
And as this day you saw the golden sheaf
Of this bless'd city's works in the relief
Of the poor fatherless, may you behold
That sheaf of glory that makes dross of gold.
Th'Almighty's arrows on your enemies fall,
And Heaven's arm'd arms protect you all.

2nd Song.
Mean.
Joy be ever at your feasts.

Base.
Bounty welcome all your guests.

Chorus.
That this city's honour may
Spread as far as morn shoots day.

Mean.
Fair your fortunes ever be.

Base.
Plenty bless the land that's free.

Chorus.
That this city's honour may
Spread as far as morn shoots day.

Mean.
Health your powers with gladness fill.

Base.
Justice be your armour still.

Mean.
Pious works the golden sheaf.

Base.
Those arrows strike the [wicked deaf.]

Mean.
And dumb.

Base.
And lame.

Chorus.
So Virtue may
Spread forth as far as morn shoots day.