_Sens._ Marry! I hold it best that we go Hereby, to some place, And semble together all our company; To hear their minds, by and by, And every man's opinion What shall be best for to do. _Envy._ By my troth, and be it so! I hold it well done. [_Then they go forth and_ REASON _and_ MAN _come in_. _Rea._ Sir! I have ofttimes you advised To live virtuously, and showed you the way; And that notwithstanding ye have me despised, And followed Sensuality many a day. Will ye so continue? yea, or nay? If ever ye purpose yourself to amend, It is time; for your life draweth fast to th' end. _Man._ I cannot continue though I would; For Age hath wained me clean therefro. And yet, Reason! when ye me told Of this gear, many day ago, I thought little I should have come hereto, But had of your words great scorn and disdain. Would God that my life were to begin again! _Rea._ Speak not thereof! that may not be. A thing done cannot be called again; But the thing that most feareth me, On your behalf, I tell you plain, Is that ye would in nowise abstain From sinful lusts, as I willed you to do Till now that age compelleth you thereto. _Man._ That is full true, without feigning; As long as mine appetite did endure I followed my lusts in everything; Which now, by the course and law of nature, And not of my policy or good endeavour, Is taken from me for evermore: And so can I deserve no meed therefore. But notwithstanding this mine abusion, I trust that by the help of your good advice I may be made the child of salvation. _Rea._ Yes, and ye will, sir! on warrantise; So that ye utterly forsake and despise All your old servants, in will and deed, And do by my counsel. _Man._ Yes, have ye no dread! _Rea._ Then, my soul for yours I lay to wed; Ye shall do well--have ye no mistrust! And first, to begin with, I you forbid All manner of despair; and secondly, ye must Put to your mind and good will To be recured of your great excess; For, without your help, it cannot be, doubtless! As in this example: if so be the patient Of himself be willing to have any remedy, It is a great furtherance to that intent So that to the precepts of physic he apply; And whoso doth the contrary, no marvel, truly, Though he miscarry. What! should I bring Any mo examples for so plain a thing? _Man._ It shall be no need, as in this case; I know right well what ye mean thereby; And that will I follow, by God's grace! _Rea._ Then, as I told you, it shall be no maistry Yourself to comfort, and to have good remedy Against the great surfeits that thou hast done, By which thou hast deserved endless damnation.