A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 03
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 03
English drama
JUST. As I, being properly nominate Just,
Am here associate with Contentation,
So have I my whole felicity in Trust,
Who illumineth mine eyes to see my salvation.
TRUST. Fear ye not, shortly you shall have consolation,
If I were once grown in you to perfection,
Even thus goeth it always with the children of election.
JUST. I will depart now; will ye go with me, Trust?
TRUST. Yea, I must always associate the Just.
CONT. A psalm of thanksgiving first let us sing,
To the laud and praise of the immortal King.
[_Here, if you will, sing "the man is blest
that feareth God," &c.--Go out._
_Enter_ INCLINATION, _laughing_.
INC. Lust (quod he); now in faith he is lusty,
Lady Treasure and he hath made a match;
He thinketh that I were marvellous trusty,
Because I teach him to claw and to catch,
And nowadays amity doth therein consist;
He that can flatter shall be well beloved;
But he that saith, _thus_ and _thus, saith Christ_,
Shall as an enemy be openly reproved.
Friendship, yea, friendship consisteth now in adulation;
Speak fair and please the lust of thy lord,
I warrant thee be had in great estimation,
When those that tell truth shall be abhorr'd.
Ah, unhappy Lingua, whither wilt thou ren?
Take heed, I advise thee, lest thou be shent;
If ye chance to tell any tales of these gentlewomen,
With flesh-hooks and nails you are like to be rent;
Nay, for the passion of me be not so moved,
And I will please you incontinent again.
Above all treasures you are worthy to be loved,
Because you do no men deride nor disdain;
You do not contemn the simple and poor;
You be not high-minded, proud, and presumptuous,
Neither wanton nor wily you be nevermore,
But gentle, loving modesty, and virtuous,
Behold how a lie can please some folks' diet,
O[r] pacify their minds marvellous well!
All hist, I warrant ye, so they [be] in quiet.
How to please you hereafter now I can tell:
Hark, I hear Lust and my Lady Treasure,
They are given to solace, singing and pleasure.
_Enter_ LUST _and_ TREASURE, _a woman finely appareled_.
LUST. Ah, amorous lady, of beautiful face,
Thou art heartily welcome into this place;
My heart is inclined to thee, Lady Treasure,
My love is insatiate, it keepeth no measure.
TREAS. It is I, Master Lust, that will you advance;
Treasure it is that things doth enhance:
Upon me set your whole affection and lust,
And pass not a point for the ways of the Just.
Treasure is a pleasure, bear that in mind;
Both trusty and true ye shall me always find.
INC. As trusty as is a quick eel by the tail! [_Aside._
What, Lady Treasure, welcome without fail;
To be better acquainted with you once I trust,
But I dare not in the presence of my Master Lust.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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