_Good hostess, lay a crab in the fire, and broil a mess of souse-a: That we may toss the bowl to and fro, and brinks them all carouse-a._ _And I will pledge Tom Tosspot, till I be drunk as a mouse-a: Whoso will drink to me all day, I will pledge them all carouse-a._ _Then we will not spare for any cost, so long as we be in house-a: Then, hostess, fill the pot again, for I pledge them all carouse-a._ [_When this is spoken,_ V. LIVING _must pause a while, and then say as followeth_. O wicked imps, that have such delight, In evil conversation wicked and abhoninable: And from virtue's lore withdraw yourselves quite, And lean to vice most vile and detestable. How prone and ready we are vice to ensue? How deaf we be good counsel to hear? How strange we make it our hearts to renew? How little we have God's threats in fear? Saint Augustine say'th in his fifth book, _De Civitate Dei, Conjunctæ sunt ædes Virtutis et Honoris_, say'th he; The houses of virtue and honour joined together be. And so the way to honour's house is disposed, That through virtue's house he must needs pass: Or else from honour he shall soon be deposed, And brought to that point, that he before was. But if through virtue honour be attained: The path to salvation may soon be gained. Some there be, that do fortune prefer; Some esteem pleasure more than virtuous life. But in my opinion all such do err; For virtue and fortune be not at strife. Where virtue is, fortune must needs grow: But fortune without virtue has soon the overthrow. Thrice happy are they, that do virtue embrace, For a crown of glory shall be their reward: Satan at no time may him anything deface, For God over him will have such regard, That his foes he shall soon tread under foot; And by God's permission pluck them up by the root. It booteth not vice against virtue to stir, For why vice is feeble and of no force: But _virtus eterna preclaraque habetur_. Wherefore I would all men would have remorse, And eschew evil company vile and pernicious: Delight in virtuous men, and hate the vicious. And as the end of virtue is honour and felicity, So mark well the end of wickedness and vice! Shame in this world and pain eternally, Wherefore you, that are here, learn to be wise, And the end of the one with the other weigh, By that time you have heard the end of this play. But why do I thus much say in the praise of virtue, Sith the thing praiseworthy needs no praise at all? It praiseth itself sufficiently, this is true, Which chaseth away sin as bitter as gall? And where virtue is, it need not to be praised, For the renown thereof shall soon be raised. _Intrat_ GOOD FAME.