THE PROLOGUE, } TOM TOSSPOT, } _For one._ HANKIN HANGMAN, } TOM COLLIER. } HANCE, } VIRTUOUS LIFE, } _For one._ GOD'S PROMISE, } CUTHBERT CUTPURSE. } LUCIFER, } RALPH ROISTER, } _For one._ GOOD FAME, } SEVERITY. } PHILIP FLEMING, } PIERCE PICKPURSE, } _For another._ HONOUR. } NICHOL NEWFANGLE, _the Vice_. THE PROLOGUE. Cicero in his book _De Amicitia_, these words doth express, Saying nothing is more desirous than like is unto like; Whose words are most true and of a certainty doubtless: For the virtuous do not the virtuous' company mislike. But the vicious do the virtuous' company eschew: And like will unto like, this is most true. It is not my meaning your ears for to weary, With hearkening what is the 'ffect of our matter: But our pretence[327] is to move you to be merry, Merrily to speak, meaning no man to flatter. The name of this matter, as I said whilere, Is, Like will to Like, quoth the Devil to the Collier. Sith pithy proverbs in our English tongue doth abound, Our author thought good such a one for to choose, As may show good example, and mirth may eke be found, But no lascivious toys he purposeth for to use. Herein, as it were in a glass, see you may The advancement of virtue, of vice the decay: To what ruin ruffians and roisters are brought; You may here see of them the final end: Begging is the best, though that end be nought; But hanging is worse, if they do not amend. The virtuous life is brought to honour and dignity: And at the last to everlasting eternity. And because divers men of divers minds be, Some do matters of mirth and pastime require: Other some are delighted with matters of gravity, To please all men is our author's chief desire. Wherefore mirth with measure to sadness[328] is annexed: Desiring that none here at our matter will be perplexed. Thus, as I said, I will be short and brief, Because from this dump you shall relieved be: And the Devil with the collier, the thief that seeks the thief, Shall soon make you merry, so shortly you shall see; And sith mirth for sadness is a sauce most sweet, Take mirth then with measure, that best sauceth it. FOOTNOTES: [327] [Intention.] [328] [Seriousness.] LIKE WILL TO LIKE. [_Here entereth_ NICHOL NEWFANGLE _the Vice, laughing, and hath a knave of clubs in his hand which, as soon as he speaketh, he offereth unto one of the men or boys standing by_.