_Wit._ By'r Lady! not thou! wench! I judge yet. _Hon. Rec._ No? Is your judgment such then that ye Can neither pe[r]ceive that beast, how she Goeth about to deceive you, nor yet Remember how I saved your life, Wit? Think you her meet with me to compare By whom so many wits cured are? When will she do such an act as I did, Saving your life when I you revived? And, as I saved you, so save I all That in like jeopardy chance to fall. When Tediousness to ground hath smitten them, Honest Recreation up doth quicken them With such honest pastimes, sports or games, As unto mine honest nature frames; And not, as she saith, with pastimes such As be abused little or much: For, where honest pastimes be abused, Honest Recreation is refused; Honest Recreation is present never But where honest pastimes be well used ever. But, indeed, Idleness, she is cause Of all such abuses; she, lo! draws Her sort to abuse mine honest games; And, thereby, full falsely my name defames. Under the name of Honest Recreation She bringeth in all her abomination, Destroying all wits that her embrace, As yourself shall see within short space. She will bring you to shameful end, Wit, Except the sooner from her ye flit. Wherefore, come away, Wit, out of her paws! Hence, drab! let him go out of thy claws! _Idle._ Will ye get ye hence? or, by the mace! These claws shall claw you by your drab's face! _Hon. Rec._ Ye shall not need; since Wit lieth as one That neither heareth nor seeth, I am gone. [_Exeat._ _Idle._ Yea, so? farewell! And well fare thou, tongue! Of a short peal, this peal was well rung, To ring her hence, and him fast asleep, As full of sloth as the knave can creep! How, Wit! awake! How doth my baby? _Neque vox neque sensus_, by'r Lady! A meet man for Idleness, no doubt. Hark, my pig! how the knave doth rout! Well, while he sleepeth in Idleness' lap, Idleness' mark on him shall I clap. Some say that Idleness cannot wark; But those that so say, now let them mark! I trow they shall see that Idleness Can set herself about some business; Or, at the least, ye shall see her tried, Neither idle, nor well occupied. [_She marketh_ WIT. Lo, sir! yet ye lack another toy! Where is my whistle to call my boy? _Here she whistleth, and_ INGNORANCY _cometh in._ [_Ingnorancy._] I come! I come! _Idle._ Come on, ye fool! All this day or ye can come to school? _Ingn._ Um! mother will not let me come. _Idle._ I would thy mother had kissed thy bum! She will never let thee thrive, I trow! Come on, goose! Now, lo! men shall know That Idleness can do somewhat, yea! And play the schoolmistress, too, if need be. Mark what doctrine by Idleness comes! Say thy lesson, fool!