FOLLY. By my faith, in England have I dwelled yore, And all mine ancestors me before. But, sir, in London is my chief dwelling. MANHOOD. In London? where, if a man thee sought? FOLLY. Sir, in Holborn I was forth brought, And with the courtiers, I am betaught, To Westminster I used to wend. MANHOOD. Hark, fellow, why dost thou to Westminster draw? FOLLY. For I am a servant of the law. Covetise is mine own fellow: We twain plete[252] for the king, And poor men that come from upland, We will take their matter in hand, Be it right or be it wrong, Their thrift with us shall wend. MANHOOD. Now hear, fellow, I pray thee, whither wendest thou than? FOLLY. By my faith, sir, into London I ran, To the taverns to drink the wine: And then to the inns I took the way, And there I was not welcome to the ostler, But I was welcome to the fair tapester, And to all the household I was right dear, For I have dwelled with her many a day. MANHOOD. Now I pray thee, whither took thou then the way? FOLLY. In faith, sir, over London bridge I ran, And the straight way to the Stews I came, And took lodging for a night: And there I found my brother lechery. There men and women did Folly, And every man made of me as worthy, As though I had been a knight. MANHOOD. I pray thee yet tell me mo of thine adventures. FOLLY. In faith, even straight to all the freres, And with them I dwelled many years, And they crowned Folly a king. MANHOOD. I pray thee, fellow, whither wendest thou tho? FOLLY. Sir, all England to and fro: Into abbeys and into nunneries also, And alway Folly doth fellows find. MANHOOD. Now hark, fellow, I pray thee tell me thy name. FOLLY. I-wis, I hight both Folly and Shame. MANHOOD. Ah, ah! thou art he that Conscience did blame, When he me taught. I pray thee, Folly, go hence, and follow not me. FOLLY. Yes, good sir, let me your servant be. MANHOOD. Nay, so mot I the, For then a shrew had I caught. FOLLY. Why, good sir, what is your name? MANHOOD. Manhood Mighty, that beareth no blame. FOLLY. By the rood, and Manhood mistereth[253] in every game Some deal to cherish Folly: For Folly is fellow with the world, And greatly beloved by many a lord, And if ye put me out of your ward, The world right wrath will be. MANHOOD. Yea, sir, yet had I liever the world be wrath, Than lese the cunning that Conscience me gave. FOLLY. A cuckoo for Conscience[254]; he is but a daw: He cannot else but preach. MANHOOD. Yea, I pray thee, leave thy lewd clattering, For Conscience is a councillor for a king. FOLLY. I would not give a straw for his teaching: He doth but make men wrath. But wottest thou what I say, man? By that ilk[255] truth that God me gave, Had I that bitched Conscience in this place, I should so beat him with my staff, That all his stones should stink. MANHOOD. I pray thee, Folly, go hence and follow not me. FOLLY. Yes, sir, so mot I the, Your servant will I be. I axe but meat and drink.