_Health._ So I will; but yet, I must say true. And now a little more I will say to you: Much sorrow and care wealth doth brew; He is seldom in rest. When a man is a little hite and wealthy, And hath in his chest treasures plenty, Then will he wrangle, and do shrewdly By his power and might. With his neighbours he will go to law; And a-wreak his malice for value of straw: Wealth is fickle and out of awe, Wilful in wrong or right. _Wealth._ Thou speakest with a slanderous tongue, All of evil will; and yet, it is wrong: Wealth in this realm hath been long; Of me cometh great honour. Because that I, Wealth, hath great port, All the world hither doth resort; Therefore I, Wealth, am this realm's comfort, And here I will endure. _Health._ So I would ye should, and I shall do the same. A4,_v._ Health I am called, and that is my name; If I would not abide here I were to blame, For here I am well cherished. Yet say yourself now, indifferently, And if every man do not love me, Health, as well as Wealth? yes, verily! Thereof I dare be reported. _Wealth._ Why should they love thee--that would I know-- As well as me? I pray you, show! I am the superior of high and low; No man may compare with me. _Health._ To show why, I will not be afraid; For, I can bide by that I have said: If wealthy men be very well apaid, Or much they set you by. But of wealth, if they have never so much-- Goods, treasure, and gold--and be called rich, Yet, if they lack health, their pain is such That they were better die. A man to wear gold and be in pain, What joy hath he? None! but would be fain To give all his treasure for health, plain; Or else he were very mad. For, if a man be never so poor, Yet if he have health, that is a treasure; Then, for his living, he may labour, And in his heart be glad. _Wealth._ I never marked thus much, nor understood That health was such a treasure, and to man so good; Wherefore, I am sorry, and will change my mood: Now, I pray you, forgive me! _Health._ I will forgive, or else I were to blame; B1,_r._ And I pray you to forgive me the same; I love you heartily, and will praise your name If it please you to keep my company. _Here entereth_ LIBERTY _with a song_, _and after speaketh._ _Liberty._ Why tarry, sirs! whither are ye going? I see well ye looked not for my coming. Lo! out of sight, out of remembering; Absence is cause of strangeness. What look ye on? wherewhy are ye so strange? From your fellow, Liberty, doth your minds change? In your company I was wont to range; What needs all this business?