Recently Recovered "Lost" Tudor Plays with some others

by Unknown

Rea. Sir World! it is the mind and also pleasure
Of lady Nature, as she bade us to you tell,
That ye accept and receive this her creature
With you, for a season here to dwell;
Desiring you heartily to entreat him well,
With all the favour that ye can devise;
Wherein ye shall do her great pleasure and service.

The World. Sirs! ye be welcome to us heartily.
Your message is to us right acceptable.
Be ye assured there is nothing earthly
To us so joyful, nor yet so delectable,
As to be acquainted with persons honourable;
Namely, such as ye seem to be,
Men of high honour and of great dignity.

And, as touching the message that ye have brought,
Have thereof the full mind and intent;
Assuring you that our busy thought
Shall be to do dame Nature's commandment.
And, thereunto, we will be diligent
To do her pleasures in that we may;
And so we would ye should to her say.

And where ye show unto me that this man
Is ordained to reign here, in this empery
I assent well; for, or nature began
To shape the world she thought finally
To ordain man therein to occupy;
He to take upon him as mighty governor,
Having all things subdued to his power.

Wherefore, I receive greatly his coming.
Mankind, sir, heartily welcome ye be!
Ye are the person, without feigning,
That I have evermore desired to see:
Come! let me kiss you. O, benedicite!
Ye be all naked! alas, man! why thus?
I make you sure it is right perilous.

Man. I thank you; but I need none other vesture;
Nature hath clothed me as yet sufficiently.
Guiltless of sin, and as a maiden pure,
I wear on me the garment of innocency.

Inno. Yea, hardely wear that garment continually:
It shall thy body sufficiently safeguard
From stormy weather, my life to jeopard.

The World. Be peace, fair woman! ye are not very wise;
Care ye not if this body take cold?
Ye must consider this is not paradise,
Nor yet so temperate by a thousandfold.
Whoso liveth here, be he young or old,
He must suffer both fervent cold and heat;
And be out of temperance oft time in his diet.

Also, he must needs do as the world doth
That intendeth any while here to reign;
And follow the guise that now-a-day goeth,
As far as his estate may it maintain.
And who doth the contrary—I will be plain—
He is abject and despised utterly;
And standeth ever banished from all good company.
Sith God, therefore, had ordained this body
To dwell here in this earthly region,
Of convenience he must himself apply
To worldly things; and be of such condition
As all men be; and leave each fond opinion
That is not approvable of wiser men than he;
To take such way it is but vanity.
Take this garment! man, do as I you bid!
Be not ashamed hardely to do it on.
So, lo! now this girdle have gird it in the mid;
And this for your head go set it upon:
By the charge of me! you be a goodly one
As ever I saw sith that I was born;
Worth a thousand that ye were beforne.
Give me your hand! be not in fear!
Sit down as ye are born to occupy this place!
I give you here authority and power
Over all thing that conceived is, in the space
Of all the earth that round is in compass,
To be as lord of every region;
And, thereof, I give you peaceable possession.

Man. Blessed be Thou, my Lord, most bounteous!
That of Thy great abundant charity
Me, Thy wretched creature, hast honoured thus
With natural gifts and worldly dignity.
Now, I beseech Thee, for Thy great pity,
Sith Thou hast set me in so noble way,
Suffer me not hereafter wretchedly to decay.
For, certes! it is mine heart's desire
So to demean me in this life present
As may be most unto Thy pleasure,
And unto nature not disconvenient.
This is my will and my chief intent;
This will I observe, Thy grace to borrow,
Though I, therefore, suffer much worldly sorrow.