CONSCIENCE. Say, Manhood, friend, whither will ye go? MANHOOD. Nay, sir, in faith my name is not so. Why, frere, what the devil hast thou to do, Whether I go or abide? CONSCIENCE. Yes, sir, I will counsel you for the best MANHOOD. I will none of thy counsel, so have I rest: I will go whither me lest,[261] For thou canst nought else but chide. CONSCIENCE. Lo, sirs, a great ensample you may see, The frailness of mankind, How oft he falleth in folly Through temptation of the fiend: For when the fiend and the flesh be at one assent, Then Conscience clear is clean outcast. Men think not on the great judgment, That the seely soul shall have at the last, But would God all men would have in mind Of the great day of doom, How he shall give a great reckoning Of evil deeds that he hath done: But [it is] needless, sith it is so, That Manhood is forth with Folly wende, To seech[262] Perseverance now will I go, With the grace of God omnipotent. His counsels been in fere: Perseverance' counsel is most dear, Next to him is Conscience, clear From sinning. Now into this presence to Christ, I pray, To speed me well in my journey: Farewell, lordings, and have good day: To seek Perseverance will I wend. PERSEVERANCE. Now, Christ, our comely creator,[263] clearer than crystal clean, That craftly made every creature by good recreation, Save all this company that is gathered here bi-dene,[264] And set all your souls into good salvation. Now, good God, that is most wisest and welde of wits, This company counsel, and comfort, and glad, And save all this simplitude that seemly here sits. Now, good God, for his mercy, that all men made: Now, Mary mother, meekest that I mean, Shield all this company from evil inversation, And save you from our enemy, as she is bright and clean, And at the last day of doom deliver you from everlasting damnation, Sirs, Perseverance is my name, Conscience born brother [that] is, He sent me hither mankind to indoctrine, That they should to no vices incline: For oft mankind is governed amiss, And through Folly mankind is set in shame, Therefore in this presence to Christ I pray, Ere that I hence wend away, Some good word that I may say To borrow[265] man's soul from blame.