_Rea._ Forsooth! these words be greatly to allow If they from meek and lowly heart proceed. Now, Mankind, sith thou hast made this vow, Shape thee, thereafter, thy life to lead; And let thy word be cousin to thy deed: That is to say, do thou none otherwise Than thou here openly to God dost promise.
_Inno._ Yea, sir! and ever look that ye abstain, Not only from deed, but also from the assent; See that ye commit neither of them twain If ye will observe the high commandment. For, surely ye may not be cleped innocent, Nor guiltless of sin, as far as I can find, If once ye assent to folly in your mind.
_Mun._ This is an hard word, sister, that ye have spoken; An hard word, surely, and an heavy sentence! But think ye God's commandment broken For a light trifle and matter of insolence? Alas! have ye such a spiced conscience That will be entriked with every merry thought? Leave it, woman! leave it! For it is nought.
And man! as for you, ye shall not take that way; That manner of observance is too hard and strait. Ye must attempt the world; and, therein assay Whether ye can live after that endrait. These two folk harp both on refrait; And ever enbusieth them to rebuke you of sin That never was spotted, nor found guilty therein.
Take no heed of them! their words be but wind; And, as for this time, I command them to silence. And let us see now how prately ye can find, By sage policy and worldly prudence, To maintain the state, in honour and reverence, That ye shall be in while ye in the world dwell. Speak of this matter and ponder it well!
First, meseemeth necessary to provide What manner folks your servants shall be; For, surely, ye are nothing accompanied According to a man of your degree: Ye have here with you two persons or three That pleaseth you happily, in the best wise; Yet it appeareth not so to every man's guise.
_Man._ Reason, sir! my chief counsellor; And this Innocency, my nourice hitherto; And Sensuality that other, by whom I have power To do as all sensate beasts do. But Reason and Innocency, chiefly these two, Have the whole rule and governy of me; To whom eke is subdued my Sensuality.
_Sens._ For certain, sir! Reason hath done me wrong; More than ever he shall be able to recompense. God knoweth, sir! I thought the season very long Till we were brought unto your presence. But now, I pray you to annul the sentence That Nature gave unto me by Reason's advice, To my great hurt and utter prejudice.