_Oppr._ Solace we must needs have, when that we are weary. _Adul._ It prolongeth life of man to be merry. _Avar._ An if ye sing so much, Honesty! without fail, Christ and you, at length, I fear, will make a battle. But go to! sing on! if there be no remedy-- An ye look at my bags ye mar my melody. _Cantent: "Hey, nony, nony, ho for money!" etc._ _Oppr._ Now, about profit devise we ourselves abroad. _Avar._ Yea, and hear ye, masters! while time is, lay on load! Consider! ye have but a time of haymaking; And harvest is not mowed without painstaking. Now, time will not tarry; and, therefore, take good heed! Despatch while time serveth, and all your matte[r]s speed! Time hath no rein nor bridle, but renneth apace! _Insol._ Mark Policy's words, sirs! excellent in our case. _Avar._ And time hath this one ungracious property: To blab at length, and open all that he doth see. Then, a daughter eke he hath, called Verity; As unhappy a long-tongued girl as can be: She bringeth all to light; some she bring[eth] to shame; She careth not a groat what man hath thank or blame. If men be praiseworthy, she doth so declare them; And, if otherwise, in faith! she doth not spare them. _Oppr._ We will feather our nests ere time may us espy; Or Verity have power, our doings to descry. _Avar._ Remember this verse: _Ut sint omnia salva,_ _Fronte capillata, post hec occasio calva._ _Oppr._ Make me understand that fine rag of rhetoric! _Avar._ Lo! here a fine fellow to have a bishopric! A verse of Latin he cannot understand; Yet, dareth he presume, boldly to take in hand, Into a deanery or archideaconry to chop; And to have the livelood away from a bishop! _Oppr._ A mercy! show thy verse, and leave this persuasion! _Avar._ Forsooth, sir! it was of the goddess Occasion! She weareth a great long tuffet of hair before; And, behind, hath not one hair, neither less nor more! Whereby is taught you that, when Occasion is, Ye must take it betime, or of your purpose miss. _Adul._ Then, while Occasion doth now serve so well, I pray you, give ear to one thing that I must tell. _Insol. and Oppr._ What is that? _Adul._ Mounsire! if ye hear People mumbling, Ye must storm, and sharply take him up for stumbling. Ye would not think what he said, a little while since, Of us, to Respublica, in mine own presence! _Insol._ When I meet them next I shall tell them both my mind. _Avar._ And Policy, to help you, will not be behind. _Adul._ Gentle Respublica was soon pacified; But People was sturdy, and would not be qualified. _Avar._ Alas! good, poor, silly soul! bear her fair in hand, And ye may win her, as you lust, to use her land. _Oppr._ But of goddess Occasion one little more.