University of Virginia Library

The first Scene

Enter Seueritie and his wife Indulgence & there sonne wit/
Seueritie
My sonne Draue neare giue eare to me
and marke the cause aright
for wc h I call the to this place
lett all thy whole Delight
be still in seruing god aright
& trading vertues trace
& labour learning for to gett
whilste thou hast time & space
I now haue brought the on the way
the thing forto attaine
wc h sonne if thou mightst hap to hit
wilturne vnto thy gaine
thow knowest how chargiable athing
thy learning is to me
thou knowest also the care I take
for to prouide for the
& now since that thyne age drawe ones
to natures riper state
my purpose is and full intent
to find for the amate
wt h whome thou mayest Dispend [&] the rest
of this thy life to come
& Ioye as I thy father haue
wt h this thy mother Done

Indulgence
In deed good husband that were good
we haue no more but he
my hart my thinkes wold be at rest
him matched for to see
but yet my deare seueritie
be headfull for yor [selfe] life
that she be able for to liue
that ye shall take to wyfe/

Seueritie
Well as for that I shall for se
for why I knowe rite well
that she whome I doe meane is rich
& highly doth Excell
wherefore sonne witt marke well my tale
Dame wisdome is the wight
whome you shall laboure to espouse
wt h all yor maine & might
& if that she will be yor wyfe
looke what I leaue be hind
you shall possesse it full & whole
according vnto kind
but if you find some worser haunt
& hap to rune by rote
I promise the before these folke
thoust neuer cost me grote/

Witt
deare father for yor graue aduice
right humble thainkes I giue
Entending to obay yor charge
so long as I shall liue
now if that witt with wisdome may
be linked fast in loue
then witt shall think him selfe
right blest
of god that sites aboue

Indulgence
well said good witt & hold the there
I tell the this before
indulgence when they maried art
hath buttur pence in store

Seueritie
Such pampring motheres doe more harme
then ere thay can doe good

Indulgence
If you had felt the paine we feel
you then wold change yor mood

Seueritie
you showe that you the mother are
of this the outward man
& not of mine for if you ware
you wold be carfull then
to giue him counsell how to vse
him selfe for to aspire
to wisdomes frendshipes & her looue
the wc h we doe desire/

Indulgence
Alas good sir why harken wit
what counsell I can giue
when as thou commest to wisdoms house
then mayest thou it appreue
take heade that thou art nete & fine
& go straight bolt vppright
& cast a chearfull looke on her
smilling at the first sight
& when thou commest to talke wt h her
for gett not for to praise
her house her selfe & all her things
& still be glad to please
be diligent to doe for her
be pleasant in her sight
say as she sayeth a«ll» thought that she
doe say the crowe is white
& if she haue ainde to ought
all thought it cost red gould
prouide it for her & thou mayest be
more welcome & more bolde

Seueritie
Se se what counsell you can giue
you shoue yor nature plaine
this counsell liketh wit right well
& maketh him al to faine
but sirra if thou list to thriue
marke well what I shall say
that wisdome may become yor wife
this is the redy waye
applie yor booke & still beware
of Idlenes I say
for he aenimy hath bine
to vertue many a day
be weare of ircksomnis I say
wc h is amonstor fell
& neare to lady wisdomees house
Doth alwayes vse to dwell
for he will haue afling at you
& so will Idlenes
therefore beware of these to foes
& god will sure you blesse

Wit
As dutie doth requier in me
I thaink you humbly
for these yor ffatherly preceptes
& purpose earnestly
for to obserue that you command
& these my foes to watches
least they perhapes ere I beware
me in there snares shuld catch

Indulgence
Well yet before the goest hold heare
my blessing in a cloute
well fare the mother at a neede
stand to thy tackling stout

Wit
Mother I thaink you hartily
& you father likwise
& both yor blessinges heare I craue
in this my enterprise

bothe
God blese the wit our sonne
& send the good successe

[Exeunt Seueritie & indulgence]
Wit
I thaink you both & pray to god
to send to you no lesse

Exeunt Seueritie & indulgence/
Wit
God grant this my purpose may
come vnto good effect/
well now I must a boute this geare
I must it not forgett/

Exit