MANHOOD. Say, Conscience, sith thou wouldst have pride from me, What sayest thou by the king of lechery? With all mankind he must be, And with him I love to ling. CONSCIENCE. Nay, Manhood, that may not be: From lechery fast you flee. For incumbrance it will bring thee, And all that to him will lind.[236] MANHOOD. Say, Conscience, of the king of sloth. He hath behight me mickle troth, And I may not forsake him for ruth. For with him I think to rest. CONSCIENCE. Manhood, in Scripture thus we find, That sloth is a traitor to heaven king: Sir knight, if you will keep your king[237] From sloth clean you cast. MANHOOD. Say, Conscience, the king of gluttony: He sayeth he will not forsake me, And I purpose his servant to be With main and all my might. CONSCIENCE. Think, Manhood, on substance, And put out gluttony for cumbrance, And keep you with good governance, For this longeth to a knight. MANHOOD. What, Conscience, from all my masters thou wouldst have me: But I will never forsake envy, For he is king of company, Both with more and lass.[238] CONSCIENCE. Nay, Manhood, that may not be. And[239] ye will cherish envy; God will not well pleased be To comfort you in that case. MANHOOD. Ay, ay, from five kings thou hast counselled me, But from the king of wrath I will never flee, For he is in every deed doughty, For him dare no man rowt. CONSCIENCE. Nay, Manhood, beware of wrath; For it is but superfluity that cometh and goeth: Yea, and all men his company hateth, For oft they stand in doubt.[240] MANHOOD. Fie on thee, false flattering frere:[241] Thou shalt rue the time that thou came here. The devil mot set thee on a fire, That ever I with thee meet, For thou counsellest me from all gladness, And would me set into all sadness; But ere thou bring me in this madness, The devil break thy neck! But, sir frere, evil mot thou the,[242] From six kings thou hast counselled me, But that day shall thou never see To counsel me from covetise. CONSCIENCE. No, sir, I will not you from covetise bring, For covetise I clepe a king. Sir, covetise in good doing Is good in all wise: But, sir knight, will ye do after me, And covetise your king shall be? MANHOOD. Ye, sir, my troth I plight to thee. That I will wark at thy will. CONSCIENCE. Manhood, will ye by this word stand? MANHOOD. Yea, Conscience, here my hand. I will never from it fong,[243] Neither loud ne still.