University of Virginia Library

Act. 5

sena 1.

VVitte, Science, Reason.
VVitte.
Up and to goe, why sleape I here so sound:
How fals it out that I am left vpon the naked ground.
God graunt that all be well, whylest I lye dreaming here:
Me thinckes all is not as it was, nor as I would it were,
And yet I wot not why, but so my fancies giues mee:
That some one thinge or other, is my tryer that greues mee.
That are but fancies let them goe, to Science now wyll I,
My sute and busines yet once againe, to labor and aplye.

Science.
What is become trow yee, of Witte, our spouse that would be:

Reason.
Daughter I feare all is not, as it should bee.

VVitte.
Yes yes haue ye no doubt, all is and shalbe well:

Reason.
What one art thou? therof howe canst thou tell.

VVitte.
Reason most noble sir, and you my Lady deare:
How haue you done in all this time, since first I sawe you here?

Science.
The foole is mad I wene, stand backe and touch me not.

VVitte.
You speake not as you thinke, or haue you me forgot,

Science.
I neuer saw thee in my life, vntil this time I wotte,
Thou art some mad braine, or some foole, or some disguised Scot.

VVitte.
Gods fishe hostes, and knowe you not mee.

Science.
I had bene well at ease in deede, to be acquainted wyth thee.

VVitte,
Hope haliday, mary this is preety cheere,
I haue lost my selfe, I can not tell where
An olde sayd sawe it is, and to true I finde,
Soone hot, sone cold, out of sight, out of mind.
What maddam, what meaneth this sodaine change,
What meanes this scornefull looke, this countenāce so straunge.
It is your fashion so to vse, your louers at the furst:
Or haue all women this delite, to scould and to be curst.

Reason.
Good felow whence art thou, what is thy name?

VVitte.
I weene ye are disposed to make at me some game.
I am the sonne of Lady Nature, my name is Witte.

Reason.
Thou shalt say soe longe enough, or we beleue it.

Science.
Thou Witte? nay thou art some madde braine out of thy wit.

VVitte.
Unto your selues, this triall I remit.
Loke on me better, and marke my personne well,

Science.
Thy loke is like to one, that came out of hell:

Reason.
If thou be Witte, let see, what tokens thou canst tell.
How comst thou first acquainted here? what sayd wee?
How did we like thy sute, what intertaynment made wee?

VVitte.
What tokens?

Science.
Yea what tokens? speake and let vs know?

VVitte.
Tokens good store I can reherse a rowe.
First as I was aduised, by my mother Nature:
My lackey Will, presented you with my picture.

Science.
Stay there? now loke how these two faces agree:

VVitte.
This is the very same that you receyued from mee.

Science.
From thee? why loke, they are no more like:
Then chalke to cheese, then blacke to white.

Reason.
To put thee out of doubt, if thou thinke we saye not true,
It weare good for thee, in a glasse thy face to viewe.

VVitte.
Well remembred, and a glasse I haue in deede,
Whych glasse you gaue me, to vse at neede.

Reason.
Hast thou the glasse, which I to Witte did gyue.

VVitte.
I haue it in my purse, and will kepe it while I lyue.

Reason
These markes me muse, howe should he come therby:

VVitte,
Sir muse no more for it is euen I.
To whome you gaue the glasse, and here it is.

Reason.
Wee are content thou trye thy case by this.

VVitte.
Eyther my glasse is wonderfully spotted,
Or els my face is wonderfully blotted.
This is not my Cote, why wher had I this weede,
By the Masse I loke like a very foole in deede.
O heapes of happes, O rufull chaunce to me,
O Idlenes woo worth the time, that I was ruled by thee.
Why did I lay my head, within thy lappe to rest?
Why was I not aduised by her, that wissht and wil me best.
O ten times troble blessed wights, whose corpes in graue do lye:
That are not driuen to behould, these wretched cares which die.
On me your furies all on me, haue poured out your spite,
Come nowe and slay me at the last, and ridde my sorowes quite.
What coast shall me receyue, wher shal I shew my head:
The world wyll saye this same is hee, that if he list had sped.
This same is he that toke, an enterpryse in hand,
This same is hee that scarce one blow, his ennemy did withstand.
This same is he that fought, and fell in open field:
This same is he that in the songe, of Idlenes did yelde.
This same is he that was in way, to winne the game:
To ioyne himselfe wherby he should, haue won immortal fame.
And now is wrapt in woe, and buried in dispayre,
O happye cace for the if death would rid the quite of care.

sena. 2.

Shame, Reason, Science, VVitte.
Reason.
Shame.

Shame.
Who calls for shame?

Reason.
Here is a marchant Shame, for thee to tame.

Shame.
A shame come to you all, for I am almost lame,
Wyth trudging vp and downe, to them that lose their game,

Reason.
And here is one whom thou must rightly blame,
That hath preferde his folly to his fame.

Shame.
Who? this good fellowe, what call you his name?

Reason.
Witte? that on wooing, to Lady Science came.

Shame.
Come aloft child let me see, what friscoles you can fet,

Reason.
He hath deserued it, let him be well bet.

VVitte.
O spare mee wyth the whippe, and sley mee with thy knife:
Ten thousand times more deare to mee, were present death then lyfe

Shame.
Naye naye my frend, thou shalt not die as yet.

Reason.
Remember in what case, Dame Nature left thee Witte,
And how thou hast abused the same.
Thou hast deceaued all our hope as all the world may see.

Shame.
A shame come to it.

Reason.
Remember what fayre words, and promises thou diddest make,
That for my daughters loue, no paynes thou wouldest forsake.
Remember in what sorte, we had a care of the:
Thou hast deceyued all our hope, as all the world may see.

Shame.
A shame come to it.

Reason.
Remember how Instruction, should haue bene followed styll,
And howe thou wouldest be ruled, by none but by Wyll.
How Idelnes hath crept, and raigneth in thy breast,
How Ignoraunce her sonne, hath wholly thee possest.

Shame.
A shame come to it.

VVitte.
O woofull wretch to whom shall I complaine,
What salue may serue to salue my sore, or to redresse my payne.
Naye I can tell the more: remember howe,
Thou was subdued of Tediousnes right nowe.
Remember with what crakes thou went vnto hys denne,
Against the good aduise, and Counsell of thy men,
What Recreacion did for the, in these thy rufull happes,
And howe the second tyme, thou fell into the lappe.

Shame.
A shame come to thee.

VVitte.
O let me breath a whyle, and hold thy heauy hand,
My greuouse faultes with shame enoughe I vnderstande.
Take ruthe and pittie on my playnt, or els I am forlorne,
Let not the world continue thus, in laughing mee to scorne.
Madame if I be hee, to whom you once were bente,
With whom to spend your time, sometime you were content.
If any hope be left, if any recompence,
Be able to recouer this for passed negligence.
O helpe mee now poore wretche in this most heauy plight,
And furnishe me yet once agayne, wyth Tediousnes to fyght.

Science.
Father be good to these yonge tender yeares,
See howe he doth bewayle his folly past with teares,

Reason.
Hould slaue take thou his Coote for thy labor,
We are content at her request, to take you to our fauor.
Come in and dwell with vs, til time shall serue:
And from Instruction rule, loke that thou neuer swerue
Wythin we shall prouide, to set you vp once more,
This scourge hath taught you, what defaulte was in you heretofore

sena 3.

VVill.
Once in my life I haue, an od haulfe hower to spare:
To ease my selfe of all, my trauaile and my care.
I stoode not still so longe this xx. dayes I weene,
But euer more sent forth on messages I haue bene.
Such trudging and such toyle, by the masse was neuer seene,
My body is worne out, and spent with labor cleane.
And this it is that makes me loke so leane.
That lettes my groth, and makes me seene a squall,
What then althoughe my stature be not tall.
Yet I am as proper as you, so neate and clenlye,
And haue my ioyntes at commaundement full of acteuitie,
What should a seruaunt do, wyth all this fleshe and bones,
That makes them runne with leaden heeles, & stur them self like stoones
Giue me a proper squier much after my pitche
And marke howe he from place, to place will squitche.
Fayre or foule, thicke or thinne, mire or dusty,
Clouds or rayne, light or darke, cleare or mystie.
Ride or runne, to or froe, badde or good,
A neate litle fellowe, on his busynes wyll scud.
These great labores are neyther actiue nor wyse,
That feede till they slepe, and sleape out their eyes.
So heauy, so dul, so vntoward in their doinge,
That it is a good sight, to see them leaue working.
But all this while, while I stand prating here,
I see not my mayster, I left hym snorting here,

sena 4.

Science, VVitte, VVill, Instruction Studie Diligence Tediousnes.
Science.
Myne one deare Witte, the hope of mine auaile,
My care, my comfort, my treasure and my trust,
Take hart of grace, our ennemye to assaile,
Lay vp these thynges, whych you haue hard discust.
So doinge, vndoubtingly you can not fayle.
To winne the fyeld to scape. all these vnhappy shewers,
To glad your frendes, to cause your foes to wayle,
To matche wyth vs, and then the gayne is youres.
Here in this Closet our selfe, wil sette and see,
Your manly feates, and your successe in fyght:
Strike home couragiously, for you and mee,
Learne wher and howe to fende, and howe to smite:
In any wyse, be ruled by these three,
They shall direct both you, and Wyll aryght.
Farewell and let our louing counsell bee
At euery hande before you in your fyght,

VVitte.
Here in my sight good Maddam sitte and viewe:
That when I list, I may loke vppe on you.
This face this noble face, this liuely hiew,
Shal harden mee, shal make our enemye rue.
O faythful mates, that haue this care of mee:
How shal I euer recompence, your paynes wyth gold or fee.
Come now and as you please, enioyne me how to doe it,
And you shall see me preest, and seruisable to it.

VVill
Why mayster whyther way, what hast am I no body?

Instruction.
What Will, we maye not mysse thee, for no money.

VVitte.
Welcome good Wyll, and doe as thou art bydde,
This daye or neuer, must Tediousnes be ridde.

VVill.
God spede vs well, I will make one at all assayes.

Instruction.
Thou shalt watche to take him at certayne bayes,
Come not in the thronge, but saue thy selfe alwayes.
You twayne on eyther syde, first wyth your sword and buckler.
After the first conflict, fight wyth your sworde and daggers,
You sir with a Iaueling and your Targett in your hand,
See how ye can, his deadly strokes wythstand.
Kepe at the foyne, come not wythin his reache,
Untyll you see, what good aduauntage you may ketche.
Then hardly leaue him not, tyll time you strike him dead,
And of all other partes, especially saue your head.

VVitte.
Is this all, for I would fayne haue done?

VVill.
I would we weare at it, I care not how sone.

Instruction.
Now when ye please, I haue no more to tell,
But hartely to praye for you, and wyshe you well.

VVitte.
I thancke you, goe thou and bidde the battayle Wyll.

VVill.
Come out thou monster fell, that hast desire to spill,
The knot and linked loue, of Science and of Witte,
Come trie the quarel in the fyeld, and fyght with vs a fitte.

sena. 5.

Tediousnes, VVitte, VVill, Instruction, Studie, Diligence.
Tediousnes.
A doughtie durte these iiii. boyes will doe,
I will eate them by morsels two and two.
Thou fyghteste for a wyfe a rod a rodde,
Had I wist this, I would haue layed on loade,
And beate thy brayne and thys my cloobe together,
And made thee safe inoughe for retourninge hyther,

VVill.
A foule horesone what a sturdie thife it is?
But we wyll pelt thee knaue vntill for woe thou pisse,

Tediousnes.
Let me come to that elfe.

VVitte.
Nay nay thou shalt haue worke inoughe to saue thy selfe,

Fight.
Instruction.
Take breath and chaunge your weapones playe the men,
Some what it was that made thee come agaen,
Thou stickest some what better to thy takling I see,
But what, no force ye are but Iack sprot to mee.

VVitte.
Haue houlde heare is a morsell for thee to eate,

Studie, Instruction.
Here is a pelt to make youre knaues hart freete,

Diligence.
There is a blowe able to fell a hogge,

VVitte.
And here is a foyne behynde for a madde dogge,
Let will trippe you downe.
Houlde houlde houlde the lubber is downe,

Tediousnes.
Oh

VVill.
Stryke of his hed whyle I houde hym by the crowne,

VVitte.
Thou monstrous wretch, thou mortall foe to me and myne,
Which euermore at my good lucke and fortune didest repyne,
Take here thy iuste desert and payment for thy hire.
Thy hed this day shall mee prefer vnto my hartes desyre,

Instruction.
O noble Witte, the prayse, the game is thine,

Studie.
Houe vp his head vpon your speare, soe here a ioyfull signe.

Diligence.
O valiant Knighte, O conquest full of prayes.

VVill.
O blest of god to see these happie dayes.

VVitte.
You you, my faithful Squiers deserues no lesse,
Whose tried trust, well knowen to mee in my distres.
And certain hope of your fixt fayth, and faste good will,
Made me attempt this famouse fact most nedefull to fulfill,
To you I yeald great thancks, to me redownds the gaine,
Now home a pace, and ringe it out, that Tediousnes is slayne.
Say all at once, Tediousnes is slaine.

sena. 6.

Science, VVitte.
Science.
I heare and see the ioyfull newes, wherin I take delight,
That Tediousnes our mortall foe, is ouercome in fight.
I see the signe of victorye, the signe of manlines:
The heape of happy happes: the ioy yt tongue cannot expresse.
O welcome fame from day to day for euer shal arise.

VVitte.
Auaunt ye griping cares, and lodge no more in mee,
For you haue lost, and I haue wonne continuall ioyes and fee.
Nowe let me freely touche, and freely you embrace,
And let my frendes with open mouth proclame my blisfull case.

Science.
The world shall know doubt not, and shal blow out your fame,
Then true report shall send abrode, your euerlasting name.
Nowe let our parentes deere, be certifyed of this,
So that our mariage may forthwith procede as meete it is.
Come after mee all fiue, and I will lead you in.

VVitte.
My payne is paste, my gladnes to beginne,
My taske is done, my hart is set at rest,
My foe subdued, my Ladyes loue possest.
I thancke my frends, whose helpe I haue at neede,
And thus you see, howe Witte and Science are agreed,
Wee twaine hence forth one soule, in bodyes twayne must dwel
Reioyse I praye you all with mee, my frendes and fare ye well.