University of Virginia Library

The viij Scena

Enter good nurture
To them whose shoulders doe supporte
the charge of tender youth
one greefe fales on an otheres neck
& youth will haue his rueth
since first I gaue to nurture wit
full many cares hath past
but when he had slaind Ircksomnis
I thought me safe at last
but now I se the very end
of that my late distresse
is abegining vnto greefe
wc h wilbe nothing lesse
for when I thought that wit of late
to wisdomes house had gone
he came not there but god knowes where
this retchlesse witt is run
ne knowe I where to seeke him now
whereby I learne wt h paine
there is no greefe so fare gone past
but may returne a gaine

Here wit cryeth out in prison and sayeth this
The silly bird once caught in net
if she ascape aliue
will come no more so ny the snare
her fredome to depriue
but rather she will leaue her haunt
the wc h the vsed before
but I alas when steede is stolne
doo shut the stable dore
for being often caught before
yet could I not refraine/
more foolish then the witlis birde
I came to hand a gaine
alas the chaines oppresse me sore
wherewt h I now am lad
but yet the paine doth pich me more
wherein my hart is clad
o mightie Ioue now grant
that some good man may passe this place
by whose good helpe I might be brougth
out of this wofull case

good nurture
what noyse is this what petious plaint
are sounding in my eare
my hart doth giue me it is wit
the wc h I now do heare
I will drawe nere & see
He commith nere the prison
what wight art thou
which doost lament
& thus doost pine in paine

Wit
/ My name is witt
my greefe is greate
how should I then refrane

good Nurture
what wit how camest thou heare
o god what chaunce is this

wit
/ Dame fancy brought me in this case
I know I did amis

good Nurture
/ what fancy where is she
oh that I once might catch her

wit
/ wold god you could or els some one
that able weare to matche[r] her
but she no soner heard yor voyce
there standing at the dore
then she wt h all her folkes hath fled
& will be seene no more
but I poore sowle ly here in chaines

Here entreth and releaseth him good Nurture
once more I haue releast the of thy paines

wit
/ yor most vnworthy schollard
giues to you immortall thainkes

good Nurture
/ I pray you now take better heed
you play no more such pranckes
pluck vp yor sperites yor marige day
is come euen at [now at] hand
to morow wisdome shall you wed
[I shall contented be] I let you vnderstand

wit
/ right so as you think good
I shall contented be

good nurture
/ then let vs goe for to prepare
come one I say wt h me

/ Exeunt