In words to become an honest man!
Take him, Instruction; do what ye can!
Inst. What, to the purpose he went before?
Rea. Yea to my daughter prove him once more!
Take him, and trim him in new apparel,
And give that to Shame there to his farewell!
Inst. Come on your way, Wit! be of good cheer!
After stormy clouds cometh weather clear.
[Instruction, Study, Wit and Diligence go out.
Rea. Who list to mark now this chance here done,
May see what Wit is without Reason.
What was this Wit better than an ass
Being from Reason strayed, as he was?
But, let pass now! since he is well punished;
And thereby, I trust, meetly well monished.
Yea, and I like him never the worse, I,
Though Shame hath handled him shamefully;
For like as if Wit had proudly bent him
To resist Shame, to make Shame absent him,
I would have thought then that Wit had been—
As the saying is, and daily seen—
Past Shame once, and past all amendment:
So contrary, since he did relent
To Shame, when Shame punished him even ill,
I have, I say, good hope in him still.
I think, as I thought—if join they can—
My daughter well bestowed on this man.
But all the doubt now is to think how
My daughter taketh this; for I may tell you
I think she knew this Wit even as well
As she seemed here to know him no deal,
For lack of knowledge in Science there is none;
Wherefore, she knew him, and thereupon
His misbehaviour perchance even striking
Her heart against him, she—now misliking,
As women oft-times will be hard-hearted—
Will be the stranger to be reverted.
This must I help; Reason must now walk,
On Wit's part with my Science to talk.
A near way to her know I, whereby
My son's coming prevent now must I.
Perchance, I may bring my daughter hither;
If so, I doubt not to join them together
[Exeat Reason.
Confidence cometh in.
[Conf.] I thank God, yet at last I have found him;
I was afraid some mischance had drowned him,
My master, Wit, with whom I have spoken;
Yea, and delivered token for token,
And have another to Science again—
A heart of gold, signifying, plain,
That Science hath won Wit's heart forever—
Whereby, I trust, by my good endeavour,
To that good lady, so sweet and so sortly,
A marriage between them ye shall see shortly.
[Confidence exeat.