SUGGESTION. A certain gentlewoman did murmur and mutter, And for grief of mind her hair she did tear: She will at last kill herself, I greatly do fear. HYPOCRISY. What is the cause why this grief she did take? SUGGESTION. Because her husband her company did forsake. Her children also about her did stand, Sobbing and sighing, and made lamentation, Knocking their breasts, and wringing their hand, Saying they are brought to utter desolation By the means of their father's wilful protestation; Whose goods, they say, are already confiscate, Because he doth the Pope's laws violate. And indeed I saw Avarice standing at the door, And a company of ruffians assisting him there. PHILOLOGUS. Alas, alas! this pincheth my heart full sore. Mine evils he doth declare, mine own woe I do hear, Wherefore from tears I cannot forbear. HYPOCRISY. Ha, ha! doth this touch you, Master Philologus? You need not have had it, being rul'd by us. SUGGESTION. Why, what is he thus, Master Hypocrisy, That taketh such sorrow at the words which I spake? HYPOCRISY. One that is taken and convinced of heresy,[50] And, I fear me much, will burn at a stake: Yet to reclaim him much pains would I take, And have done already, howbeit in vain. I would crave thine assistance, were it not to thy pain. SUGGESTION. I will do the best herein that I can: Yet go thou with me to help at a need. [_To Phil_.] With all my heart, God save you, good gentleman, To see your great sorrow my heart doth wellnigh bleed. But what is the cause of your trouble and dread? Disdain not to me your secret to tell: A wise man sometime of a fool may take counsel. PHILOLOGUS. Mine estate, alas! is now most lamentable, For I am but dead, whichever side I take: Neither to determine herein am I able, With good advice mine election to make, The worse to refuse, and the best for to take: My spirit covets the one; but alas! since your presence, My flesh leads my spirit therefro by violence. For at this time, I being in great extremity, Either my Lord God in heart to reject, Or else to be oppressed by the legate's authority, And in this world to be counted an abject, My lands, wife, and children also to neglect: This later part to take my spirit is in readiness, But my flesh doth subdue my spirit doubtless. SUGGESTION. Your estate, perhaps, seemeth to you dangerous, The rather because you have not been used To incur beforetime such troubles perilous, But to your power such evils have refused: Howbeit, of two evils the least must be choosed: Now which is the least evil, we will shortly examine, That which part to take yourself may determine. On the right hand, you say, you see God's just judgment, His wrath and displeasure on you for to fall, And instead of the joys of heaven ever permanent, You see for your stipend the torments infernal. PHILOLOGUS. That is it indeed which I fear most of all; For Christ said: fear not them which the body can annoy, But fear him which the body and soul can destroy.