Now truly ye be welcome into this country. PITY. I thank ye heartily, sir Perseverance. PERSEVERANCE. Master Pity, one thing is come to my remembrance; What tithings hear you now? PITY. Sir, such as I can I shall show you: I have heard many men complain piteously; They say they be smitten with the swerd of poverty. In every place where I do go: Few friends poverty doth find, And these rich men been unkind; For their neighbours they will nought do, Widows doth curse lords and gentle men, For they constrain them to marry with their men, Yea, whether they will or no: Men marry for good,[113] and that is damnable, Yea, with old women that is fifty and beyond: The peril now no man dread will; All is not God's law that is used in land; Beware will they not, till death in his hand Taketh his sword, and smiteth asunder the life vein, And with his mortal stroke cleaveth the heart atwain: They trust so in mercy, the lantern of brightness, That no thing do they dread God's rightwiseness. PERSEVERANCE. O Jesu, sir, here is a heavy tiding. PITY. Sir, this is true, that I do bring. CONTEMPLATION. How am I beloved, master Pity, where ye come? PITY. In good faith, people have now small devotion; And as for with you, brother Contemplation, There meddleth few or none. CONTEMPLATION. Yet, I trust, that priests love me well? PITY. But a few, i-wis, and some never a deal. CONTEMPLATION. Why, sir, without me they may not live clean. PITY. Nay, that is the least thought that they have of fifteen; And that maketh me full heavy. CONTEMPLATION. How, trow you that there be no remedy? PITY. Full hard, for sin is now so grievous and ill, That I think that it be growen to an impossible, And yet one thing maketh me ever mourning: That priests lack utterance to show their cunning; And all the while that clerks do use so great sin, Among the lay people look never for no mending. PERSEVERANCE. Alas, that is a heavy case, That so great sin is used in every place; I pray God it amend. CONTEMPLATION. Now God, that ever hath been man's friend, Some better tidings soon us send! For now I must be gone. Farewell, good brethren here; A great errand I have elsewhere, That must needs be done: I trust I will not long tarry; Thither will I hie me shortly, And come again, when I have done. PERSEVERANCE. Hither again, I trust, you will come; Therefore God be with you. CONTEMPLATION. Sir, needs I must depart now; Jesu me speed this day. PERSEVERANCE. Now, brother Contemplation, let us go our way. FREEWILL.