Pride. Thou were not there it seemeth thereby!
Envy. Not I there, quod a? yes, hardely!
And that to my great pain;
But, as soon as the battles joined together,
I came my way straight hither
For to tell tidings.
Pride. What the devil tidings canst thou tell?
Envy. Marry! I can show you nothing of the battle,
But of many other tidings.
Ye are out of conceit, I tell you, for ever;
Because ye did not you[r] endeavour
At this great voyage;
Insomuch that ye are like to lese,
Both your office and all your fees,
And put clean out of wages.
Pride. That is not true, as I suppose.
Envy. Sir! and it be not, take my nose
And my head also!
Your office was given or I came thence.
Pride. Marry! that was a very short sentence;
And I not called thereto.
Now, Envy, what counsel wilt thou give me?
Envy. By my troth, Pride! thou mayst believe me,
If I were in thy case
I would withdraw me for a season;
Though it be neither felony, nor treason,
Nor yet wilful trespass.
Yet the same is worst of all;
For every knave will thee call
A coward to thy face.
Pride. I am unhappy, I see it well,
For th' expense of mine apparel
Towards this voyage,
What in horses and other array,
Hath compelled me for to lay
All my land to mortgage.
And now, when I have all do,
To lose mine office and fees also
For my true intent,
I may say that all my cost
And all my time is evil lost
In service that I have spent.
Well, whatsoever betide me,
For a season I will hide me,
After thy counsel.
And, sith it will no better be,
Farewell! I take my leave of thee.
Envy. Now, gentle Pride, farewell! [Exit.
Alas! that I had no good fellow here
To bear me company, and laugh at this gear:
This game was well found.