But notwithstanding this mine abusion,
I trust that by the help of your good advice
I may be made the child of salvation.
Rea. Yes, and ye will, sir! on warrantise;
So that ye utterly forsake and despise
All your old servants, in will and deed,
And do by my counsel.
Man. Yes, have ye no dread!
Rea. Then, my soul for yours I lay to wed;
Ye shall do well—have ye no mistrust!
And first, to begin with, I you forbid
All manner of despair; and secondly, ye must
Put to your mind and good will
To be recured of your great excess;
For, without your help, it cannot be, doubtless!
As in this example: if so be the patient
Of himself be willing to have any remedy,
It is a great furtherance to that intent
So that to the precepts of physic he apply;
And whoso doth the contrary, no marvel, truly,
Though he miscarry. What! should I bring
Any mo examples for so plain a thing?
Man. It shall be no need, as in this case;
I know right well what ye mean thereby;
And that will I follow, by God's grace!
Rea. Then, as I told you, it shall be no maistry
Yourself to comfort, and to have good remedy
Against the great surfeits that thou hast done,
By which thou hast deserved endless damnation.
But do as I shall tell thee, and have no dread;
And, for to give thee medicines most according
Ayenst thy sores, do by my rede.
Look! what disease is hot and brenning
Take ever such a medicine as is cold in working;
So that the contrary, in all manner of wise,
Must heal his contrary, as physic doth devise.
Right so whoso lusteth from sin to arise,
Where he hath in pride done any offence,
He can be helpen thereof none otherwise
But only by meekness: that is the recompense.
Again wrath and envy, take charity and patience;
Take alms deed again the sin of covetise.
And, to repress gluttony, acquaint ye with abstinence;
Again foul lust of body, take chastity and continence.
Much sin groweth by sloth and by idleness,
And that must be eschewed by men of good business.
Lo! these be preparatives, most sovereign,
Against thy sores, which be mortal
Unless that these medicines to them be lain.
When thou hast received these preparatives all
I will come again, if thou me call,
And order thee further after my mind.