_Bod. Lust._ Nay, certainly! Howsobeit, if I should not lie At the first blush, I ensure you, faithfully, I had forgot you clean; Because ye be thus defensibly arrayed. What meaneth that? are ye afraid? Who hath you grieved? _Wrath._ Nay, I fear no man that beareth a head; Yet had I liever that I were dead Than that should be proved. _Bod. Lust._ By my faith! ye are wont to be as bold As it were a lion of Cotswold; But now, to my question: What meaneth all this defensible array? _Wrath._ Marry! Sloth warned us two this same day, Even sith it was noon, That our master and Reason should make a fray; And, therefore, he had us, without delay, To await on our captain. _Bod. Lust._ Ah! now I know the matter right well; But what shall come thereof I cannot tell: It passeth my brain. Our master willed that we twain Should tarry here till he come again. _Envy._ What wilt thou do then? _Bod. Lust._ Who, I? nay, care not for me! I will not come where strokes be; I am not so mad a man. And I wis it is not for any fear; But it is a thing that I can well forbear, And will as long as I can. Of lust and pleasure is all my mind; It longeth to me of property and kind; And if I should to the war, And lie in mine harness, as other men do, With hunger and thirst a day or two, It should me utterly mar. _Envy._ It were a great loss if thou were marred! Now, fie on the stark whoreson coward! By Cock's precious blood! It were no sin to slay such a knave. Hast not thou wages as other men have? And few of us so good; Yet wilt thou fail us at this need! Now, whosoever shall quit my meed, I will no further go Till I have slain him [with] mine own hand, Though I should forswear the land Even when I have do. [_Then goeth out_ BODILY LUST. Hold him in, sirs! I you require-- Alas! would ye not, at my desire, Do so much for me? I wis it would have done me more good To have seen the knave's heart-blood Than twenty shillings of fee. [MAN _returneth_. _Man._ What ho, sirs! what meaneth this gear? Will ye slay each other here? No more of this work! _Envy._ By the heart of God! and he had abiden A little while he should never have spoken With priest nor with clerk. _Man._ Who was that? _Envy._ Your own minion, Bodily Lust. _Man._ Why, what hath he done? _Envy._ Even like a lurden He saith that ye have given him licence To abide at home, and keep residence While we bear the burden, And serve you now at your need!