[Enter Titivillus.]
Titi. I promise you I have no lead on my heels;
I am here again to make this fellow irk.
Whist! peace! I shall go to his ear and tittle therein—
[Goes to Mankind.
A short prayer thirleth heaven—of thy prayer blin!
Thou art holier than ever was any of thy kin:
Arise, and avent thee! nature compels!
Man. I will into thi yard, sovereigns! and come again soon;
For dread of the colic, and eke of the stone,
I will go do that needs must be done;
My beads shall be here for whosomever will come. [Mankind goes out.
Titi. Mankind was busy in his prayer, yet I did him arise;
He is conveyed, by Christ! from his divine service.
Whither is he? trow ye? I-wis, I am wonder-wise:
I have sent him forth to shit lesings.
If ye have any silver, in hap pure brass,
Take a little pow[d]er of Paris and cast over his face;
And even in the owl-flight let him pass—
Titivillus can learn you many pretty things!
I trow Mankind will come again soon,
Or else, I fear me, evensong will be done:
His beades shall be triced aside, and that anon.
Ye shall [see] a good sport if ye will abide—
Mankind cometh again; well fare he!
I shall answer him ad omnia quare.
There shall he set abroach a clerical maller;
I hope of his purpose to set him aside.
[Re-enter Mankind.]
Man. Evensong hath be in the saying, I trow, a fair while;
I am irk of it; it is too long by one mile.
Do way! I will no more, so oft, on the church stile;
Be as it may, I shall do another.
Of labour and prayer, I am near irk of both;
I will no more of it though Mercy be wroth.
My head is very heavy; I tell you, forsooth!
I shall sleep, full my belly and he were my brother.
[Mankind sleeps and snores.