Man. Me?
Pride. Yea, sir! I make mine avow
They give you a praising good I know;
I heard never none such.
And, surely, ye be right worthy!
I see well now they do not lie;
And, therefore, I did me hither hie
To acquaint me with you—
But ye may say that I am bold.
Man. Nay, ye are worth thy weight of gold!
Methinketh me to you much behold;
I pray you what is your name?
Pride. My name is Worship.
Man. Worship? now, surely,
The world told me it was my destiny
To come to Worship or I die.
Pride. Truly, I am the same.
Man. Now, Worship, I pray you me tell
Your wisdom and also counsel;
Ye can advertise me passing well
In things that I have to do.
Pride. In good faith! anything that I
May do to your pleasure it is ready;
I am your own, and pray you, heartily,
That ye accept me so.
But where ye ask counsel of me
Meseemeth ye save not your honesty!
Man. Mine honesty? Wherefore, let see;
I pray you show me why!
Pride. Marry, sir! for it is right fitting
That a man of your behaving
Should have alway sufficient cunning
Of worldly wit and policy
To guide himself everywhere;
And not to be led by the ear,
And beg wit, here and there,
Of every Jack-a-pie.
Ye are well complexioned, be ye sure;
And Nature hath done on you her cure
As much as upon any creature
That ever I saw with mine eye.
And, by likelihood, sir! I wis
Ye have wit according to all this;
Or else Nature hath wrought amiss:
And that is not likely.