MUNDUS. Sirs, cease of your saws what so befall, And look ye bow bonerly[185] to my bidding, For I am ruler of realms, I warn you all, And over all fodes[186] I am king: For I am king, and well known in these realms round, I have also palaces i-pight: I have steeds in stable stalwart and strong, Also streets and strands full strongly i-dight: For all the world[187] wide I wot well is my name, All riches readily it renneth in me, All pleasure worldly, both mirth and game. Myself seemly in sale[188] I send with you to be, For I am the world, I warn you all, Prince of power and of plenty: He that cometh not, when I do him call, I shall him smite with poverty, For poverty I part[189] in many a place To them that will not obedient be. I am a king in every case: Methinketh I am a God of grace, The flower of virtue followeth me! Lo, here I sit seemly in se,[190] I command you all obedient be, And with free will ye follow me. INFANS. Christ our king, grant you clearly to know the case. To meve[191] of this matter that is in my mind, [And] clearly declare it, Christ grant me grace. Now, seemly sirs, behold on me, How mankind doth begin: I am a child, as you may see, Gotten in game and in great sin. Forty weeks my mother me found,[192] Flesh and blood my food was tho: When I was ripe from her to sound, In peril of death we stood both two. Now to seek death I must begin, For to pass that strait passage For body and soul, that shall then twin,[193] And make a parting of that marriage. Forty weeks I was freely fed Within my mother's possession: Full oft of death she was a-dread, When that I should part her from: Now into the world she hath me sent, Poor and naked, as ye may see, I am not worthily wrapped nor went, But poorly pricked in poverty. Now into the world will I wend, Some comfort of him for to crave. All hail! comely crowned king, God that all made you see and save! MUNDUS. Welcome, fair child, what is thy name? INFANS. I wot not, sir, withouten blame; But oftime my mother in her game Called me Dalliance. MUNDUS. Dalliance, my sweet child, It is a name that is right wild,[194] For when thou waxest old, It is a name of no substance, But, my fair child, what wouldst thou have? INFANS. Sir, of some comfort I you crave: Meat and clothes my life to save, And I your true servant shall be. MUNDUS. Now, fair child, I grant thee thine asking: I will thee find while thou art ying,[195] So thou wilt be obedient to my bidding. These garments gay I give to thee, And also I give to thee a name, And clepe thee Wanton in every game, Till fourteen year be come and gone, And then come again to me. WANTON. Gramercy, world, for mine array; For now I purpose me to play. MUNDUS. Farewell, fair child, and have good day: All recklessness is kind for thee.