Now. I shall go to William Baker of Walton;
To Richard Bollman of Gayton;
I shall spare Master Wood of Fulbourn:
He is a noli-me-tangere!
Nought. I shall go to William Patrick of Massingham;
I shall spare Master Allington of Bottisham,
And Hammond of Swaftham,
For dread of In manus tuas queck.
Fellows, come forth! and go we hence together!
New G. Sith we shall go, let us see well where and whither;
If we may be take, we come no more hither;
Let us con well our neck-verse that we have not a check.
Titi. Go your way—a devil way—go your way, all!
I bless you with my left hand: foul you befall!
Come again, I warn, as soon as I you call,
A[nd] bring your advantage into this place!
[They go out and leave Titivillus.
To speak with Mankind I will tarry here this tide,
And assay his good purpose for to set aside;
The good man, Mercy, shall no longer be his guide:
I shall make him to dance another trace!
Ever I go invisible—it is my jet—
And before his eye, thus, I will hang my net
To blench his sight; I hope to have his foot met.
To irk him of his labour I shall make a frame:
This board shall be hid under the earth, privily;
His spade shall enter, I hope, unreadily.
By then he hath assayed he shall be very angry,
And lose his patience, pain of shame!
I shall menge his corn with drawk and with darnel;
It shall not be like to sow nor to sell—
Yonder he cometh: I pray of counsell;
He shall ween grace were wane.
[Enter Mankind.]
Man. Now, God, of His mercy, send us of His sonde!
I have brought seed here to sow with my lond;
While I over-delve it, here it shall stond.
In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus sancti! now I will begin.
This land is so hard, it maketh unlusty and irk;
I shall sow my corn at winter, and let God work.
Alas! my corn is lost; here is a foul work!
I see well, by tilling, little shall I win;
Here I give up my spade, for now and for ever.
[Here Titivillus goes out with the spade.
To occupy my body, I will not put me in dever;
I will hear my evensong here or I dissever.
This place I assign as for my kirk;
Here, in my kirk, I kneel on my knees:
Pater noster, qui es in celis—