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Reason. Then, in remembrance of Reason, hold ye
A glass of Reason, wherein behold ye
Yourself to yourself. Namely, when ye
Come near my daughter, Science, then see
That all things be clean and trick about ye;
Lest of some sluggishness she might doubt ye;
This glass of Reason shall show ye all;
While ye have that, ye have me, and shall.
Get ye forth, now! Instruction, farewell!
Instruction. Sir, God keep ye!
Here all go out save Reason.
Rea. And ye all from peril!
If any man now marvel that I
Would bestow my daughter thus basely,
Of truth I, Reason, am of this mind:
Where parties together be inclined,
By gifts of graces, to love each other,
There let them join the one with the tother.
This Wit such gifts of graces hath in him
That maketh my daughter to wish to win him:
Young, painful, tractable and capax—
These be Wit's gifts which Science doth axe.
And, as for her, as soon as Wit sees her,
For all the world he would not then lese her.
Wherefore, since they both be so meet matches
To love each other, straw for the patches
Of worldly muck! Science hath enough
For them both to live. If Wit be through
Stricken in love, as he since hath showed,
I doubt not my daughter well bestowed:
Th' end of his journey will prove all.
If Wit hold out, no more proof can fall;
And, that the better hold out he may,
To refresh me soon, Wit, now, by the way,
Some solace for him I will provide.
An honest woman dwelleth here, beside,
Whose name is called Honest Recreation;
As men report, for Wit's consolation
She hath no peer; if Wit were half dead,
She could revive him—thus is it said.
Wherefore, if money or love can hire her,
To hie after Wit I will desire her. [Reason goeth out.
Confidence cometh in with a picture of Wit.
[Confidence.] Ah, sir! what time of day is't, who can tell?
The day is not far past, I wot well;
For I have gone fast, and yet I see
I am far from whereas I would be.
Well! I have day enough yet, I spy;
Wherefore, or I pass hence, now must I
See this same token here, a plain case,
What Wit hath sent to my lady's grace. [Examines his packet.
Now, will ye see a goodly picture
Of Wit himself? his own image sure!
Face, body, arms, legs, both limb and joint,
As like him as can be, in every point;
It lacketh but life. Well I can him thank;
This token indeed shall make some crank;
For, what with this picture so well favoured,
And what with those sweet words so well savoured—
Distilling from the mouth of Confidence—
Shall not this appease the heart of Science?
Yes! I thank God I am of that nature,
Able to compass this matter sure;
As ye shall see now, who list to mark it,
How neatly and featly I shall work it.
[Confidence goeth out.
Wit cometh in without Instruction, with Study, etc.
[Wit.] Now, sirs! come on! which is the way now?
This way or that way? Study! how say you?
[Study reflecteth.