Health. How so? let me hear that, I pray thee heartily!
Ill-W. Will and Liberty is of ancestry old: B3,r.
Without Liberty, Will dare not be bold;
And where Will lacketh, Liberty is full cold;
Therefore, Will and Liberty must needs be of kin.
Lib. Indeed, as he saith, it may well be;
For Will ever longeth unto Liberty:
Therefore, good friend, welcome to me!
I pray you all be good to him. [And goeth out.
Wealth. For your sake he is welcome to us all;
Let him come to our place, and then he shall
Have succour of us and help withal:
And now we will depart.
[And Wealth and Health goeth out.
Ill-W. Will ye go hence? I thank ye, masters, with all my heart!
I will seek you out, I warrant you! fear not!
Now they be gone; I am glad, by Saint Mary!
A little while here I purpose to tarry:
How to deceive Wealth, Health, and Liberty
Now must I devise.
For I am a child that is past grace;
Ill-Will—I am called that in every place—
Doth much mischief; this is a plain case:
Virtue I do utterly despise.
But if they wist what I were,
Then of my purpose I should be never the near:
I will keep my tongue lest that I mar
My whole intent and will.
But now I marvel, by this day!
Where Shrewd Wit is gone astray;
Some crafty touch is in his way—
I hear him! peace! stand still!
[Entereth Shrewd Wit with a song.
Dieu vous garde playsaunce!
On seven or on mumchance, what yonkers dare avance B3,v.
To play a groat or twain?
Lo! here I have in store
Two or three groats, and no more;
I take great thought, therefore,
For to keep it; it is much pain.
I come now out of a place
Where is a company of small grace:
Thieves and whores that spends apace—
They were drunken all the sort.
One of their purses I did aspy
Out of his sleeve, where it did lie;
And one winked on me with his eye:
But there began the sport.
There False Falsehood, and I, Crafty Wit
Got the purse: lo! here I have it.
I came my way and let him sit,
Smoke and shitten arse together.
And if that I had Ill-Will here,
With this money we would make good cheer.
Gentle brother Will! I pray thee, appear!
For thou art in some corner.
Ill-W. [from without.] I would come in, but I am afeard
Lest that I be taken by the beard
With some catchpoll; I have heard
How thou hast stolen a purse.