PERSEVERANCE. Nay, nay, Manhood, say not so. Beware of Manhood, for he is a foe. A new name I shall give you too: I clepe you Repentance, For, and you here repent your sin, Ye are possible heaven to win: But with great contrition ye must begin, And take you to abstinence: For though a man had do alone The deadly sins everychone, And he with contrition make his moan To Christ our heaven king, God is all so glad of him, As of the creature that never did sin. AGE. Now, good sir, how should I contrition begin? PERSEVERANCE. Sir, in shrift of mouth without varying; And another ensample I shall show you too. Think on Peter and Paul, and other mo: Thomas, James, and John also, And also Mary Magdalene. For Paul did Christ's people great villainy, And Peter at the passion forsook Christ thrice, And Magdalene lived long in lechery, And St Thomas believed not in the resurrection: And yet these to Christ are darlings dear, And now be saints in heaven clear. And therefore, though ye have trespassed here, I hope ye be sorry for your sin. AGE. Yea, Perseverance, I you plight, I am sorry for my sin both day and night. I would fain learn with all my might, How I should heaven win. PERSEVERANCE. Sir,[272] to win heaven five necessary things there been, That must be knowen to all mankind. The five wits doth begin, Sir, bodily and spiritually. AGE. Of the five wits I would have knowing. PERSEVERANCE. Forsooth, sir, hearing, seeing, and smelling, The remanant tasting and feeling: These being the five wits bodily, And, sir, other five wits there been. AGE. Sir Perseverance, I know not them. PERSEVERANCE. Now, Repentance, I shall you ken. They are the power of the soul: Clear in mind, there is one, Imagination and all reason, Understanding and compassion: These belong unto Perseverance. AGE. Gramercy, Perseverance, for your true teaching. But, good sir, is there any more behind That is necessary to all mankind, Freely for to know?