For the virtuous do not the virtuous' company mislike.
But the vicious do the virtuous' company eschew:
And like will unto like, this is most true.
It is not my meaning your ears for to weary,
With hearkening what is the 'ffect of our matter:
But our pretence[327] is to move you to be merry,
Merrily to speak, meaning no man to flatter.
The name of this matter, as I said whilere,
Is, Like will to Like, quoth the Devil to the Collier.
Sith pithy proverbs in our English tongue doth abound,