_Health._ O, good Lord, help me! by your license, my Sovereign! I am homely to come here in your presence, thus diseased. Need constraineth me, for Remedy I would have fain; I am infect, both body and soul, I pray you be not displeased. _Rem._ Why, what ail you? show me! yet, you I do not know; Glad I am to remedy any man that is affirmity; I perceive by your phisn'amy that ye are very weak, feeble, and low; Yet show me your grief, and I will help you gladly. _Health._ Gracious Remedy! I thank you; yet I am half ashamed To show you my malady and my name--I was called Health; Therefore, I am well worthy to be punished and blamed Because I have not followed your counsel, but all thing may be suffered save Wealth. _Rem._ Are you Health? this maketh me very pensive and sad: Yet be of good cheer, and show how you were infect; To remedy you and succour you, I would be very glad; For God will punish the people when they be detect. _Health._ Sir! I thank God therof; for well worthy I am, My conscience doth judge; some trouble have I must; Amends I will make to God, and if I can. Wit and Will hath deceived me: in them I put my trust. D2,_v_. _Rem._ If thou have done amiss and be sorry therefore, Then half amends is made, for that is contrition. Let that pass! now will I axe you one thing more: Where be Wealth and Liberty? be they of good disposition? _Health._ As for Wealth [he] is fallen in decay and necessity By waste and war, through Ill-Will and Shrewd Wit; And Liberty is kept in durance and captivity. God help us all, and send us good remedy for it! _Rem._ For to hear this tale, it maketh my heart heavy; Yet, be of good comfort! God is full of grace, and I am good. _Health._ Sir! then I beseech you, help us in the way of charity! _Rem._ I would fain, but I cannot tell which way to begin, Except I might catch Will and Wit; then, I trow, I could Tie them shorter; for they destroy Wealth, Health, and Liberty by sin. If I had the thieves, punish them extremely I would. _Health._ You may soon catch them if ye will stand aside; From this place they two will not long abide. _Rem._ Methinketh I hear them come; help to hold them fast. [ILL-WILL _turneth_. _Ill-W._ Come in, Wit! for here is nobody; We may be bold, and talk largely Our hearts to ease, and show plainly What we have done. [SHREWD WIT _comes in_. _Wit._ I must needs laugh, I cannot forbear To remember War, that knave! Will ye hear? The whoreson Fleming was beshitten for fear, Because he should void so soon. _Ill-W._ Hark! now do I marvel, by this bread! For I ween, surely, that Health be dead! I saw him go with a kercher on his head, As he should go to hanging.