For as much as man is naturally prone To evil from his youth, as Scripture doth recite,[33] It is necessary that he be speedily withdrawn From concupiscence of sin, his natural appetite: An[34] order to bring up youth Ecclesiasticus doth write,-- An untamed horse will be hard, saith he, And a wanton child wilful will be. Give him no liberty in youth, nor his folly excuse, Bow down his neck, and keep him in good awe, Lest he be stubborn: no labour refuse To train him to wisdom and teach him God's law, For youth is frail and easy to draw By grace to goodness, by nature to ill: That nature hath ingrafted, is hard to kill. Nevertheless, in youth men may be best Trained to virtue by godly mean; Vice may be so mortified and so supprest, That it shall not break forth, yet the root will remain; As in this interlude by youth you shall see plain, From his lust by Good Counsel brought to godly conversation, And shortly after to frail nature's inclination. The enemy of mankind, Satan, through Hypocrisy Feigned or chosen holiness of man's blind intent, Forsaking[35] God's word, that leadeth right way, Is brought to Fellowship and ungracious company, To Abhominable Living till he be wholly bent, And so to desperation, if good counsel were not sent From God, that in trouble doth no man forsake That doth call, and trust in him for Christ's sake. Finally, youth by God's special grace Doth earnestly repent his abhominable living By the doctrine of good counsel, and to his solace God's mercy entereth to him reciting God's merciful promises, as they be in writing: He believeth and followeth, to his great consolation.[36] And these parts ye shall see briefly played in their fashion. _Here entereth_ LUSTY JUVENTUS, _or_ YOUTH, _singing as followeth_: In a herber[37] green, asleep[38] where as I lay, The birds sang sweet in the middes of the day; I dreamed fast of mirth and play: In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure. Methought I walked still to and fro, And from her company I could not go; But when I waked, it was not so: In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure. Therefore my heart is surely pight[39] Of her alone to have a sight, Which is my joy and heart's delight: In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure. Finis. LUSTY JUVENTUS, _or_ YOUTH, _speaketh_. What, ho? Are they not here? I am disappointed, by the blessed mass! I had thought to have found them making good cheer; But now they are gone to some secret place. Well, seeing they are gone, I do not greatly pass;[40] Another time I will hold them as much, Seeing they break[41] promise, and keep not the tweche.[42] What shall I do now to pass away the day? Is there any man here that will go to game? At whatsoever he[43] will play, To make one I am ready to the same: Youth full of pleasure is my proper name. To be alone is not my appetite,[44] For of all things in the world I love merry company.