_Meas._ Then ye must bothe consent You to holde content With myne argument; 110 And I muste you requyre Me pacyently to here. _Fel._ Yes, syr, with ryght good chere. _Lyb._ With all my herte intere. _Meas._ Oracius to recorde, in his volumys olde, With euery condycyon measure must be sought: Welthe without measure wolde here hymselfe to bolde, Lyberte without measure proue a thynge of nought; I ponder by nomber, by measure all thynge is wrought, As at the fyrst orygynall by godly opynyon, 120 Whych prouyth well that measure shold haue domynyon: Where measure is mayster, plenty dothe none offence; Where measure lackyth, all thynge dysorderyd is; Where measure is absent, ryot kepeth resydence; Where measure is ruler, there is nothynge amysse; Measure is treasure: howe say ye, is it not this? _Fel._ Yes, questyonlesse, in myne opynyon, Measure is worthy to haue domynyon. _Lyb._ Vnto that same I am ryght well agrede, So that lyberte be not lefte behynde. 130 _Meas._ Ye, lyberte with measure nede neuer drede. _Lyb._ What, lyberte to measure then wolde ye bynde? _Meas._ What ellys? for otherwyse it were agaynst kynde: If lyberte sholde lepe and renne where he lyst, It were no vertue, it were a thynge vnblyst; It were a myschefe, yf lyberte lacked a reyne, Where with to rule hym with the wrythyng of a rest: All trebyllys and tenours be rulyd by a meyne; Lyberte without measure is acountyd for a beste; There is no surfet where measure rulyth the feste; 140 There is no excesse where measure hath his helthe; Measure contynwyth prosperyte and welthe. _Fel._ Vnto your rule I wyll annex my mynde. _Lyb._ So wolde I, but I wolde be lothe, That wonte was to be formyst, now to come behynde: It were a shame, to God I make an othe, Without I myght cut it out of the brode clothe, As I was wonte euer at my fre wyll. _Meas._ But haue ye not herde say, that wyll is no skyll? Take sad dyreccyon, and leue this wantonnesse. 150 _Lyb._ It is[781] no maystery. _Fel._ Tushe, let Measure precede, And after his mynde herdely your selfe adresse; For, without measure, pouerte and nede Wyll crepe vpon vs, and vs to myschefe lede; For myschefe wyll mayster vs, yf measure vs forsake. _Lyb._ Well, I am content your wayes to take. _Meas._ Surely, I am ioyous that ye be myndyd thus. Magnyfycence to mayntayne, your promosyon shalbe. _Fel._ So in his harte he may be glad of vs. 160 _Lyb._ There is no prynce but he hath nede of vs thre, Welthe, with Measure and plesaunt Lyberte. _Meas._ Nowe pleasyth you a lytell whyle to stande; Me semeth Magnyfycence is comynge here at hande. _Hic intrat MAGNYFYCENCE._