LADY. When we come to you, Then shall you rule us as we rule you here. Now must I tell ye, madame, we have a play, To welcome ye withal; how good so ere, That know not I; my lord will have it so. MORE. Wife, hope the best; I am sure they’ll do their best: They that would better, comes not at their feast. My good Lord Cardinal’s players, I thank them for it, Play us a play, to lengthen out your welcome: They say it is The Marriage of Wit and Wisdom, A theme of some import, how ere it prove; But, if art fail, we’ll inch it out with love.— [Enter a Servant.] What, are they ready? SERVANT. My lord, one of the players craves to speak with you. MORE. With me! where is he? [Enter Inclination, the Vice, ready.] INCLINATION. Here, my lord. MORE. How now! what’s the matter? INCLINATION. We would desire your honor but to stay a little; one of my fellows is but run to Oagles for a long beard for young Wit, and he’ll be here presently. MORE. A long beard for young Wit! why, man, he may be without a beard till he come to marriage, for wit goes not all by the hair. When comes Wit in? INCLINATION. In the second scene, next to the Prologue, my lord. MORE. Why, play on till that scene come, and by that time Wit’s beard will be grown, or else the fellow returned with it. And what part playest thou? INCLINATION. Inclination the Vice, my lord. MORE. Gramercies, now I may take the vice if I list: and wherefore hast thou that bridle in thy hand? INCLINATION. I must be bridled anon, my lord. MORE. And thou beest not saddled too, it makes no matter, for then Wit’s inclination may gallop so fast, that he will outstrip Wisdom, and fall to folly. INCLINATION. Indeed, so he does to Lady Vanity; but we have no folly in our play. MORE. Then there’s no wit in ’t, I’ll be sworn: folly waits on wit, as the shadow on the body, and where wit is ripest there folly still is readiest. But begin, I prithee: we’ll rather allow a beardless Wit than Wit all beard to have no brain. INCLINATION. Nay, he has his apparel on too, my lord, and therefore he is the readier to enter. MORE. Then, good Inclination, begin at a venter.— [Exit Inclination.] My Lord Mayor, Wit lacks a beard, or else they would begin: I’d lend him mine, but that it is too thin. Silence, they come. [The trumpet sounds; enter the Prologue.] PROLOGUE. Now, for as much as in these latter days, Throughout the whole world in every land, Vice doth increase, and virtue decays, Iniquity having the upper hand; We therefore intend, good gentle audience, A pretty short interlude to play at this present, Desiring your leave and quiet silence, To show the same, as is meet and expedient, It is called The Marriage of Wit and Wisdom, A matter right pithy and pleasing to hear, Whereof in brief we will show the whole sum; But I must be gone, for Wit doth appear. [Exit. Enter Wit ruffling, and Inclination the Vice.]