 | Liberalitie and Prodigalitie |  |
SCENE III.
Enter Vertue, and Equitie, with other attendants.Vert.
My Lords, you see how far this worldly state peruerted is,
From good declinde, enclined still to follow things amisse.
You see but verie few, that make of Vertue any price:
You see all sorts with hungry willes, run headlong into vice.
Equit.
We see it oft, we sorrow much, and hartily lament,
That of himselfe, man should not haue a better gouernment.
Ver.
The verie beasts that be deuoyd of reason, dul & dumbe,
By nature learne to shun those things, wherof their hurt may come.
If man were then but as a beast, onely by nature taught,
He would also by nature learne, to shun what things are naught.
But man with reason is indude, he reason hath for stay,
Which reason should restraine his will, from going much astray.
Equit.
Madam, tis true:
Where reason rules, there is the golden meane,
Ver.
But most men stoope to stubborne will,
Which conquereth reason cleane.
Equit.
And Will againe to fancie yeelds,
Which twaine be speciall guides,
That traine a man to treade ill pathes,
Where ease and pleasure bides.
Ver.
No ease, no pleasure, can be good, that is not got with paines.
Equit.
That is the cause from Vertues loue,
Mans fancy still refraines.
And paines, I thinke, they feele likewise,
That vnto vice doe bend.
Equit.
They feele, no doubt: but yet such paines
Come not before the end.
Ver.
I grieue for man, that man should be, of ill attēpts so faine.
Equit.
Grieue not for that, euill tasted once, turnes him to good againe.
Ver.
Then will I take a chearefull mind,
Vnpleasant thoughts expell,
And cares for man commit to them,
That in the heauens doe dwell.
Equit.
Do so, deare Madam, I beseech you most heartily,
And recreate your selfe before you goe hence, with some sweet melody.
THE SONG.
If
pleasure be the only thing,
That man doth seeke so much:
Chiefe pleasures rest, where vertue rules:
No pleasure can be such.
That man doth seeke so much:
Chiefe pleasures rest, where vertue rules:
No pleasure can be such.
Though Vertues wayes be very streight,
Her rocks be hard to clime:
Yet such as doe aspire thereto,
Enioy all ioyes in time.
Her rocks be hard to clime:
Yet such as doe aspire thereto,
Enioy all ioyes in time.
Plaine is the passage vnto vice,
The gappes lye wide to ill:
To them that wade through lewdnes lake,
The Ise is broken still.
The gappes lye wide to ill:
To them that wade through lewdnes lake,
The Ise is broken still.
This therefore is the difference,
The passage first seemes hard:
To vertues traine: but then most sweet,
At length is their reward.
The passage first seemes hard:
To vertues traine: but then most sweet,
At length is their reward.
To those againe that follow vice,
The way is faire and plaine:
But fading pleasures in the end,
Are bought with fasting paine.
If pleasure be the only thing, &c.
The way is faire and plaine:
Are bought with fasting paine.
If pleasure be the only thing, &c.
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