MUNDUS. Now welcome, Love-Lust and Liking, For thou hast been obedient to my bidding. I increase thee in all thing, And mightly[207] I make thee a man: Manhood Mighty shall be thy name. Bear thee prest[208] in every game, And wait[209] well that thou suffer no shame, Neither for land nor for rent: If any man would wait thee with blame, Withstand him with thy whole intent, Full sharply thou beat him to shame With doughtiness of deed: For of one thing, Manhood, I warn thee, I am most of bounty, For seven kings sewen[210] me Both by day and night. One of them is the king of pride, The king of envy doughty in deed, The king of wrath that boldly will abide, For mickle is his might: The king of covetise is the fourth: The fifth king he hight sloth, The king of gluttony hath no jollity, There[21l] poverty is pight:[212] Lechery is the seventh king, All men in him have great delighting, Therefore worship him above all thing, Manhood, with all thy might. MANHOOD. Yea, sir king, without lesing It shall be wrought.[213] Had I knowing of the first king, without lesing Well joyen I mought. MUNDUS. The first king hight pride. MANHOOD. Ah, Lord, with him fain would I bide. MUNDUS. Yea, but wouldst thou serve him truly in every tide?[214] MANHOOD. Yea, sir, and thereto my troth I plight: That I shall truly pride present I swear by Saint Thomas of Kent.[215] To serve him truly is mine intent, With main and all my might. MUNDUS. Now, Manhood, I will array thee new In robes royal of right[216] good hue, And I pray thee principally be true, And here I dub thee a knight, And haunt alway to chivalry. I give thee grace and also beauty: Gold and silver great plenty, Of the wrong to make thee right. MANHOOD. Gramercy, World and Emperor, Gramercy, World and Governor, Gramercy, comfort in all colour, And now I take my leave. Farewell! MUNDUS. Farewell, Manhood, my gentle knight: Farewell, my son, seemly in sight. I give thee a sword, and also strength and might In battle boldly to bear thee well. MANHOOD. Now I am dubbed a knight bend,[217] Wonder wide shall wax my fame: To seek adventures now will I wend, To please the world in glee and game.