Char. Why, hast thou been envious before this day?
Man. Yes, as God knoweth well! and that I rue sore.
Char. Well, this must be the remedy—mark what I say:
There is no sin that displeaseth God more
Than doth this sin of Envy; and, therefore,
If so be thou wilt thine own soul safeguard,
Be thou never envious from this day forward.
Also, that sin is to man unnatural;
More than any other, in mine opinion.
For all other sins—mark therein well—
A man committeth with some delectation;
But Envy is ever full of pain and passion,
And tormenteth himself with sorrowful sadness
When he seeth his neighbour's prosperity or gladness.
He is never glad, nor taketh any solace
But at his neighbour's harm, loss, or heaviness.
He speaketh sometime fair before a man's face,
And yet within his heart he is full of doubleness;
For, behind his back, he will never cease
With slanderous words, to appair his good name;
And many a-falsely doth he report for the same.
Ye know, sir! whether it be thus or no;
But now another while to speak of remedy.
If ye will be holpen, sir! thus must ye do:
First, before all things, love God entirely;
Next, that thy neighbour love as thine own body;
That is to say, thou must thee to him behave
And do him such courtesy as thou wouldst of him have.
Observe these two things: and do no more
In recompense of thy great trespass,
Touching the sin of envy, rehearsed before.
Man. To observe them well, God send me His grace!
And I thank you for your comfort and counsel in this case:
I shall myself endeavour according thereto.
Char. God send thee His grace well so to do!
`Then he goeth out [and Patience cometh in].
Patience. The remedy of wrath and outrageous ire
Must needs come of me, and none otherwise.
For I am called Patience, which quencheth the fire
And flames of wrath: it is also my guise,
By soft words and sufferance, to overcome mine enemies.
Man. Now, welcome Patience, for whom I have sought!
Help me with your counsel for His love that all wrought.
Pat. This is my counsel: if thou wilt withstand
Thy ghostly enemy, and this temptation,
Thou must have me, Patience, ever ready at hand;
Specially in suffering of worldly tribulation.
Remember how Christ died, in time of His passion!
There mayst thou learn how to be patient
In any adversity that to thee shall be sent.
And yet there may be no comparison
Betwixt the least part of His pain
And the greatest wrong that to thee can be done:
Wherefore, thou, wretch! shouldst not disdain;
But gladly thou shouldst thyself refrain
From ireful passions, as I said before,
Sith thou shalt have a reward in heaven therefore.