University of Virginia Library

Act 4.

sena 1.

VVitte, VVill, Instruction, Studie, Diligence.
VVill.
Tushe tushe Instruction, your talke is of no force,
You tell vs a tale of a rosted horse,
Whych by hys woundes except we set to it,
As fast as we make, this fellowes wyll vndo it,
Their talke is nothing but soft and fayre and tary,
If you folow their counsell you shall neuer mary.

Instruction.
To followe our counsayle youre charge and promys was,

VVitte
I would I had neuer knowen you by the masse.
Muste I looke so longe and spend my lyfe wyth toyle
Naye sure, I will eyther wynne it, or take the foyle.

Studye.
The surer is your grounde, the better you shall beare it.

VVill.
Ground vs no ground, let him winne it and weare it.

Instruction.
Good sir be ruled and leaue this peuish elfe.

VVitte.
I had euen as leafe ye bad me hange my selfe,
Leaue him: no no I would you all knewe,
You be but loyterers to him, my Will telles me true,
I could be cōtent with a weke, yea a month or twaine,
But 3. or 4. yeares, mary that were a payne,
So longe to kepe me, and lye like a hogge.

VVill.
A life wythall my hart I would not wyshe a dogge.

VVitte.
Wyll a weke serue.

Studie.
Noo.

VVitte
A monthe.

Studie.
Neyther.

VVitte.
Noo.

Studie.
Not so.

Instruction.
No nor so many moe.

VVitte.
Then farewell all for as I hope to thriue,
I wyll proue him or I sleape, if I be aliue,
And if ye be mine and good fellowes all three,
Goe thyther, out of hand and take your chaunce wyth mee.

Instruction.
For my part, I know I can do you no good.

VVill.
You are a proper man of your handes by the Roode,
Yet welfare hym that neuer his master forsaketh.

VVitte.
What sayst thou Studie.

Studie.
My head aketh.

VVitte.
Out vpon the coward: speake Diligence,
Agaynst Instructions mynd, I am lothe to go hence,
Yet I will make one, rather then you should lacke.

VVitte.
Perhappes we may fynd them at this time in bedde.

VVill.
So much the rather loke you to be sped,
Care for no more, but once to come within her,
And when you haue done: then let another win her.

VVitte.
To come within her child, what meanst thou by that.

VVill.
One masse for a penye, you know what is what.

VVitte.
Hard you euer such a counsell of such a Iacke sprot.

VVill.
Why sir do ye thinke to doe any good,
If ye stande in a corner like Roben hood,
Nay you must stoute it, and face it out with the best.
Set on a good countenaūce, make the most of the lest,
Who soeuer skippe in, loke to your part,
And whyle you liue beware of a false hart.

VVitte.
Both blame and shame, rashe boldnes doth breede.

VVill.
You must aduenture both, spare to speake, spare to speede,
What tell you me of shame, it is shame to steale a horse.

VVitte.
More hast then good speede, makes many fare the worse.

VVill.
But he that takes not such time while he maye,
Shal leape at a whyting when time is a waye.

VVitte.
But he that leapes before he loke, good sonne,
Maye leape in the myre, and mysse when he hath done.

Science.
Me thinke I heare the voyce of Will, VVittes boye.

VVitte.
I see her come, her sorow and my Ioye,
My salue, and yet my sore, my comfort, and my care,
The causer of my wound, and yet the wil of my welfare:
O happye wight, that haue the saynte of your request,
O hoples hope that holdeth me frō yt which likes me best,
Twixte hope and feare I stande, to marre or els to make,
This day to be reliued quit, or els my death woūd to take.

Reason.
Here let vs rest a whyle and pause all three:

Experience.
Daughter sit downe, belike this same is hee.

VVill.
Be of good chere sir be ruled by me
Women are best pleased, tyll they be vsed homely,
Loke her in the face and tell your tale stoutely.

VVitte.
O pearle of passing pryse, sent downe from god on hye,
The swetest beauty to entise that hath bene sene with eye.
The wel of wealth to all, that no man doth annoye:
The kaye of Kingedomes & the steale of euerlasting ioye.
The treasure and the store, whom al good things began,
The nurse of Lady wysedoms lore, the lincke of mā & mā.
What wordes shal me suffice, to vtter my desyre,
What heate of talke shal I deuise, for to expresse my fyer
I burne and yet I freese, I flame and coole as fast,
In hope to wyn and for to leese my pensiuenes doth last,
Why should my dulled spryte, apal my courage soo.
O salue my sore, or slee me quite, by saying yea, or noo,
You are the marke at whome, I shot to hit or misse,
My life it stayes on you alone, to you my sute it is,
Amitie not much vnmete wyth you some griefe to fynde,
Dame Natures sonne, my name is Witte yt fancieth you by kind,
And here I come this day, to wayte and to attende
In hope to haue my hoped pray, or elles my life to ende.

Science.
Good cause there is wherfore I should embrase,
This louing hart whyche you haue borne to me
And glad I am that we be both in place,
Ech one of vs eche others lookes to see,
Your picture and your person doth agree,
Your princelike port and ecke your noble face,
Wherin so many sygnes of vertue be:
That I must needes be moued in your case:

Reason.
Friend Witte? are you the man in dede whych you intēd,
Can you be well content vntill your life doth ende,
To ioyne and knit most sure with this my daughter here,
And vnto her alone your fixed fayth to beare.

VVitte.
As I am bente to this so let my suite be sped,
If I do fayle ten Thousāde plagues & more, lighte on my head.

Experience.
There are that promise fayre, and meane as well,
As any heare can thinke, or tongue can tell,
Which at the first are hot, and kindle in desyre,
But in one month or twayne, quit quenched is the fyre.
Such is the trade of youth whome famies force doth lede,
Whose loue is only at the plonge & cannot longe procede.

VVitte.
Credit my wordes, and ye shall find me true.

Experience.
Suppose you kepe not touch, who shuld this bargaine rue.

VVitte.
I will be sworne here solemnly before you both.

Experience.
Who breaketh promise, wil not sticke likewyse to breake his othe.

VVitte.
I wyll be bound in all that euer I can make.

Experience.
What good were that to vs if we thaduantage take.

VVitte.
Wyll neyther promyse serue: nor othe nor bandes,
What other assuraunce wyll ye aske at my handes.

VVill.
My maister is a gentilman. I tell you and his word,
I would you knewe it shall with his deedes accord.

Reason.
We know not whom to trust, the world is so ill.

VVill.
In dede sir as you say you may mend when ye wyll,
But in good earnest Madam, speake of or on,
Shal we speede at your hand, or shall we begone,
I loue not this delayes, say so if we shall haue you,
If not, say no, and let another craue you.

VVitte.
Soft and fayre sir boye, you talke you wot not what?

VVill.
Can you abyde to be driuen of wyth this and that,
Can they aske any more then good assuraunce at your hands.

Experience.
All is now to little sonne, as the matter standes,

VVill.
If al be to litle both goodes and landes,
I know not what will please you, except Darbyes bandes
I haue an enemy, my frend Witte a mortal fo to me,
And therwithall the greatest plague that can befall to the.

VVitte.
Must I fyght wyth him.

Reason.
Can you fyght if neede be.

VVill.
If any such thing fall, count the charge to me,
Trouble not your selfe.

VVitte.
Hould thy peace elfe.

Science.
Here out my tale, I haue a mortall foe:
That lurketh in the woode, hearby as you come and goe,
This monstrous Giant, beares a grudge to me and mine,
And wyll attempt to kepe thee backe, from this desier of thine.
The bane of youth, the roote of ruine and desires:
Deuouring those that sue to me, his name is Tediousnes.
No soner he espyes, the noble Witte beginne:
To styr and payne it selfe the loue of me to winne.
But forth he steppes and with strong hands by might and maine:
He beates and buffettes downe, the force and liuelynes of braine.
That done in deepe dispayre, he drownes him villanously,
Ten thousand suters in a yere, are cast away therby.
Now if your mind be surelye fixed soe,
That for no toyle nor cost, my loue you will forgoe.
Bethinke you well, and of this monster take good heede,
Then may you haue with mee, the greater hope to speede.
Herein vse good aduise, to make you strong and stout,
To send and kepe him of a whyle, vntill his rage be out.
Then when you feele your selfe, well able to preuayle:
Byd you the battell, and that so coragiously assayle.
If you can wyn the field, present me wyth his head,
I aske no more and I forthwith, shall be your owne to bedde.

VVitte.
Il might I thriue, and lacke that likes me best,
If I be not a scourge to him, that bredes your vnrest.
Madam assure your selfe, he liues not in the land,
With whom I would not in your cause, encounter hand to hand.
And as for Tediousnes that wretch, your common foe,
Let mee alone, we twayne shall cope before I sleape I troe.

VVill.
Lustely spoken, let me claw thee by the backe:
Howe say you now sir, here are three agaynst twayne,

Studye.
Go that go list, I will at home remayne,
I haue more neede to take a nappe in my bedde.

VVill,
Do soe and here you couche a coddes head.

Instruction.
Well since it wyl none otherwyse frame.
Let vs twayne Studie, & retourn from whens we came.

Studie,
Agreed.

Exit.
VVitte.
And let vs three bestyre our selues like men.
Unlikely thinges are brought to passe, by courage now and then.
My wyll be alwayes prest, and ready at an ynche.
To saue thy selfe to succour me, to helpe at euery pinche.
Both twayne on eyther syde, assaulte him if ye can,
And you shal see me in the middes, howe I wil play the man,
Thys is the deadly denne, as farre as I perceaue,
Approche we neere and valiantly let vs the vnset geue.
Come forth thou monster fell, in drowsy darkenes hydde,
For here is vvitte Dame Natures sonne, yt doth thee battaile bid.

sena 2.

Tediousnes, VVitte, VVill, Diligence.
Tediousnes.
What pryncox haue we heere, that dares me to assayle,
Alas poore boy, and winest thou, against me to preuaile.
Full smal was he thy frend, whoeuer sent the hyther,
For I must driue the backe with shame, or slay thee altogether.

VVitte.
Great bost small rost, I warrant thee do thy best,
Thy head must serue my tourne, this day to set my hart at rest.

VVill.
And I must haue a legge of the if I can catche it.
Tediousnes. Fight, strike at vvill.
First I must quise this brayne of thine, if I can reach it.

VVitte.
Well shifted VVill, now haue at thee sir knaue.

Tediousnes.
These friscoles shal not serue your tourne for al your vauntes so braue
Hoh hoh, did I not tell thee thou camst to thy payne.

Diligence.
Helpe, helpe, helpe, our maister is slaine.

VVill.
Helpe, helpe, helpe &c.

Tediousnes.
Where are these lustye blouds, that make their matche with mee?
Here lyes a pattorne for them all, to loke at and to see.
To teach them to conspire against my force and might,
To promise for their womans loue, to vanquishe me in fight:
Nowe let them goe and crake, howe wiselye they haue sped,
Such is the end of those, that seke this curious Dame to wed.
Hoh hoh hoh.

sena 3.

VVill. Recreation, VVitte.
VVill.
Rub and chafe him.
For goddes loue hast, see loe where he doth lye.

Recreation.
He is not cold, I warrant him, I.

Singe.
Giue a legge, geue an arme, aryse, aryse,
Hould vp thy head, lift vs thy eyes,

1
A legge to stand vp right,

2
An arme to fyght a mayne,

1
The head to hould thy braynes in plight,

2
The eyes to loke agayne.
A wake ye drowned powers.
Ye sprites for dull wyth toyle:
Resyne to me this care of yours,
And from dead sleape recoyle.
Thinke not vpon your lothsome lucke,
But arise and daunce with vs a plucke.

Both sing giue a legge, as is before.
2
What thoughe thou hast not hit,
The toppe of thy desyre,
Tyme is not soo farre spente as yit
To cause the to retyre,
Arise and ease thy self of payne,
And make thee stronge to fight agayne,

Singe bothe.
Let not thy foes reioyse,
Let not thy frendes lament,
Let not thy Ladies ruful voice,
In sobbes and sighes be spent,
Thy fayth is plight forget it not,
Twixt her and the to knit the knot.
Singe.
Gyue a legge &c.
This is no deadly wounde,
It may be cured well.
Se here what Phisicke we haue found,
Thy sorowes to expell.
VVitte lyfting himselfe vp, sitting on the grounde
The way is plaine, the marcke is fayre,
Lodge not thy selfe in deepe despaire.

VVill.
What noise is this that ringeth in my eares,
Her noyse that greueth my myshap with teares,
Ah my mishap my desperate mishap,
In whom ill fortune poureth downe, all mishap at a clappe,
What shall become of me, where shal I hyde my head?
Oh what a death is it to liue for him that would be dead?
But since it chanceth so, what euer wyght thou be,
That fyndeth me here, in heauy plight, goe tel her this from mee.
Causles I perishe here, and cause to curse I haue.
The time that erst I lyued to loue, and now must die her slaue,
The matche was ouer much for me, she vnderstoode,
Alas why hath she this delite, to lap in giltles blode.
How did I giue her cause to shewe me this despyght,
To matche me wher she wist full wel, I should be slaine in fight.
But go and tell her playne, although to late for me,
Accursed be the time and hower, which first I did her see.
Accursed be the wyght, that wilde me first thereto,
And cursed be they all at once, that had therwith to doe.
Nowe get the hence in hast, and suffer me to die.
Whom scornfull chaunce & lawles loue, haue slaine most trayterouslye

Recreation.
O noble Witte the miracle of God, and eke of Nature:
Why cursest thou thy selfe, and euery other creature.
What causeth the thine innocent deare Lady to accuse?
Who would lament it more then she, to here this wofull newes.
Why wylt thou dye, wheras thou mayst be sure of health?
Wheras thou seeth a playne path waye, to worship and to wealth.
Not euery foyle doth make a fal, nor euery soyle doth slaye,
Comfort thy selfe be sure thy lucke, wyll mend from day to daye.

VVill.
This gentil newes of good Will, are come to make you sound,
They know which way to salue your sore, and how to cure your woūd
Good sir be ruled by her then, and pluck your spirite to you:
There is no doubt, but you shall find, your louing lady true.

VVitte.
Ah Wyll art thou aliue, that doth my hart some ease,
The sight of the swete boy, my sorowes doth appeace:
How hast thou scapte, what fortune the befell?

VVill.
It was no trusting to my handes, my heeles did serue me wel
I ran wyth open mouth, to crye for helpe amayne,
And as good fortune would, I hit vpon these twayne.

VVitte.
I thanke both thee and them, what wyll ye haue me do.

Recreation.
To ryse and daunce a little space with vs two?

VVitte.
What then.

Recreation.
That done, repayre agayne to Studie and Instruction,
Take better hould by their aduise, your foe to set vpon.

VVitte.
Can any recompence recouer this my fall?

Recreacion
My life to yours it may be mended all.

VVitte.
Speake Wyll.

VVill.
I haue no doubt sir it shalbe as you would wishe.

VVitte.
But yet this repulse of myne, they wyll lay in my dishe.

Recreation.
No man shall let them know therof, vnlesse your selfe do it.

VVitte.
On that condicion a gods name, fall we to it.

VVill.
Naye stande we to it, and let vs fall no more.

VVitte.
Will daunsing serue, and I will daunce vntil my bones be sore,
Pype vs vp a Galiard mynstrel, to begynne,

Let vvill call for daunces, one after an other.
VVill.
Come Damsell in good fayth, and let me haue you in,
Let him practise in daunsing al things to make himselfe brethles.

Recreation.
Enough at once, now leeue, and let vs part.

VVitte.
This exercise hath done me good, euen to the very hart.
Let vs be bould with you, more acquaintaunce to take
And daunce a round, yet once more for my sake,
Enoughe is enoughe, farewel, and at your neede:
Use my acquaintaunce if it may stande you in steede.
Right worthy Damsels both, I knowe you seke no gaynes,
In recompence of this desert your vndeserued paynes.
But loke what other thinge my seruice maye deuise,
To shewe my thankefull harte in any enterprise.
Be ye as bolde therwyth, as I am bold on you,
And thus wyth hartye thankes, I take my leaue as nowe.

Recreation.
Farewell frend Witte, and since you are relieued,
Thynke not vpon your foyle, whereat you were so grieued.
But take your hart to you, and giue attempte once more:
I warrant you to speede, much better then before.

sena 4.

VVitte, VVill, Idlenes, Ignoraunce.
VVitte.
One daunce for the and mee, my boye come on.

VVill.
Daunce you sir if you please, and I wil loke vpon.

VVitte.
This geare doth make me sweate, and breath a pace.

Idlenes.
Sir ease your selfe a whyle, heare is a restinge place.

VVitte.
Home Will and make my bedde, for I will take a nappe.

Ignoraunce.
Sure and it please youre mastership here in my Dames lap.

Idlenes
syngeth.
Come come lye doune and thou shalte see,
Non lyke to mee to entertayne,
Thye bones and thee opprest wyth payne,
Come come and ease thee in my lappe,
And yf it pleace thee take a nappe,
A nappe that shall delight thee soo,
That fancies all wyll thee forgoe,
Bye musinge styll what canst thou fynde,
But wantes of wyll and restles mynde,
A mynde that marres and mangles all,
And breadeth iarres to worke thy falle,
Come gentle Witte I thee requyre,
And thou shalt hytt thy chiefe desyre,
Thy chiefe desire thy hooped praye,
Fyrste ease thee here and then away,

VVitte.
(Falle doune in to her lapp.)
My bones are styff and I am wearyed sore,
And still me thynck I faynte and feble moore and moore,
Wake mee agayne in tyme for I haue thinges to doe,
And as you wyll mee for myne ease, I doe assent thereto,

Idlenes.
(Lul hym.)
Welcome wyth all my harte: Syr boye houlde here thys fan,
And softly coole his face slepe sowndly gentleman,
Thys chayer is chared well now ignoraunce my sonne,
Thou seest all this howe fittlye it is done,
But wotste thou whye?

Ignoraunce.
Nay bumfaye mother not I,
Well I wotte tis agaye whorchit tricke and tryme,
Choulde reiounce my harte to chaunce cootes with hym,

Idlenes.
Doste thou remember how many I haue serued in the like sorte,

Ignoraunce.
It doth my hart good to thyncke on this sporte

Idlenes.
Wylte thou see thys proper fellowe serued soe,

Ignoraunce
Choulde geue twaye pence to see it and tway pence moore,

Idlenes.
Come of then, let me see thee in thy doublet and thy hose.

Ignoraunce.
You shall see a taule felow mother, I suppose,

Idlenes.
Helpe of with this sleue softly, for feare of waking,
Wee shal leaue the gentilman, in a pretie takinge.
Giue me thy Cote, hold this in thy hand:
This fellowe would be maried to Science I vnderstād.
But or we leaue him, tell me an other tale:
Now let vs make him loke, some what stale.
There laye and there bee, the prouerbe is verified,
I am neither idle, nor yet wel occupied.

Ignoraunce.
Mother must I haue his Cote, now mother must?
Chal be a liuely lad, with hey tistye tosty.

Idlenes.
Sleape sound and haue no care, to occupie thy head,
As neare vnto thy body now, as if thou hadst ben dead.
For Idelnes hath wonne, and wholly the possest,
And vtterly dishabled thee, from hauing thy request.
Come on with me my sonne let vs goe coutche againe,
And let this lusty ruffling Witte, here like a foole remayne.