And sir! I ask none amends earthly,
But that Reason may have a checkmate;
A little knack, a little pretty congy,
His haut courage some thing to abate.
For, hitherto, he hath kept great estate;
And had of me the over hand and stronger:
But be not displeased! I will suffer it no longer.
Mun. Thou hast had great wrong, and that is pity;
For, if thou be the person that I take thee for,
Thou should'st be as honourable as he.
* * * * *
Sens. Lord! ye say well; but would God ye would see
Some manner help and remedy for this evil;
And let me not alway live thus like a drivel.
Mun. Sir! ye know well that if so it were
A man should suddenly come to a strange place,
Wherein he is but alien and stranger,
He must needs be compelled, in that case,
To put himself in the favour and grace
Of some singular person, that can show him the way
Of all the behaviour and guise in that country.
So it is now that ye be hither sent;
This country, as yet, to you unknown.
In mine opinion it is expedient
To take some other counsel than your own,
Of well inured men, such as have grown
In worldly experience, and have thereof the drift,
And can best for you in time of need shift.
Homo. Certes! ye move right well and prudently;
And I am well content that it so be;
But, as yet, have I not the policy
To know which men have most ability.
Mun. Dare ye commit the matter unto me?
Homo. Yea, sir! right well; I am fully content
That all thing be done by your assignment.
Mun. Then thus I will, that above all thing,
From henceforward, ye be like and conformable
Unto other persons in all your demeaning;
Namely, to such as be companable,
Be they never so vicious or abominable;
For every man clepeth him wise
That doth after the common guise.