Envy. And ye will play an hundred pound at a cast,
He will keep you play.
Pros. Then let us go our way;
I sit on thorns till I come there.
Envy. That shall make your thrift full bare.
Pros. What will it do?
Envy. I say, we shall have good cheer
When we come there. [Exeunt ambo.
[Peace entereth.
Peace. When Phebus draweth into the occidental, D2,r.
And obscured with clouds misty and dark,
Then trees, herbs, and grass, by course natural,
Want their chief comfort: thus saith many a clerk.
And, likewise, that a man in his wark
Is destitute of reason following sensual operation.
The last time I was in this place
Prosperity unto Misrule put his whole confidence.
He regarded not my counsel; he lacked grace;
Which, in time coming, shall turn him to inconvenience.
With hazarders and rioters he keepeth residence
At clash and cards, with all unthrifty game;
Which, in continuance, shall bring him shame.
To him yet I will resort:
If he be brought in poverty
I shall do him all the comfort
And all the help that lieth in me;
I will never rest till I him see.
But seek about, from place to place,
And bring him to some better grace. [Exit.
[Enter Misrule.]
Mis. Colhazard! art thou there?
Whoreson knave! wilt thou no appear?
By my troth! I had went to have found him here;
I hold him gone some other way.
And where is Envy? I cannot him espy:
I trow he is with Prosperity. [Enter Envy.
Prosperity? Nay! I may call him Foolish Poverty,
As wise as a drake.
I have brought him to dice, cards, and clash;
And ever on his side ran the loss,
That he is not worth a handful of moss,
Neither hath not a whole brat to his back!
Envy. Passion of God! is it come to that? D2,v.
These tidings maketh my heart glad.