"It would be needless to point out the absurdities in the plan and conduct of the foregoing play: they are evidently great. It is sufficient to observe that, bating the moral and religious reflections of Pity, &c., the piece is of a comic caste, and contains a humorous display of some of the vices of the age. Indeed, the author has generally been so little attentive to the allegory, that we need only substitute other names to his personages, and we have real characters and living manners." The woodcuts prefixed to this and the foregoing play were very minutely traced and executed by a masterly hand; and there being something singular in giving the portraits of the _dramatis personae_, it is presumed the following will be particularly pleasing to the reader.[110] [It appears to have been from this drama or interlude, that the saying arose of "Hickscorner's jests." (See Mr J.P. Collier's Diary, part iii. p. 13.)] [Illustration] [Illustration] HICKSCORNER. PITY. Now Jesu the gentle, that brought Adam fro hell, Save you all, sovereigns, and solace you send: And, of this matter that I begin to tell, I pray you of audience, till I have made an end; For I say to you, my name is Pity, That ever yet hath been man's friend. In the bosom of the second person in Trinity I sprang as a plant, man's miss to amend; You for to help I put to my hand: Record I take of Mary that wept tears of blood; I Pity within her heart did stand; When she saw her son on the rood, The sword of sorrow gave that lady wound; When a spear clave her son's heart asunder, She cried out, and fell to the ground; Though she was woe, it was little wonder, This delicate colour [had] that goodly lady, Full pale and wan, she saw her son all dead, Splayed on a cross with the five wells of pity, Of purple velvet powdered with roses red. Lo, I Pity thus made your errand to be sped, Or else man for ever should have been forlore. A maiden so laid his life to wed, Crowned as a king the thorns pricked him sore. Charity and I of true love leads the double rein; Whoso me loveth damned never shall be. Of some virtuous company I would be fain; For all that will to heaven needs must come by me, Chief porter I am in that heavenly city, And now here will I rest me a little space, Till it please Jesu of his grace Some virtuous fellowship for to send. CONTEMPLATION.