JUVENTUS. Whether were[102] I better to be ignorant and blind, And to be damned in hell for infidelity; Or to learn godly knowledge, wherein I shall find The right path-way to eternal felicity?
HYPOCRISY. Can you deny, but it is your duty Unto your elders to be obedient?
JUVENTUS. I grant I am bound to obey my parents In all things honest and lawful.
HYPOCRISY. Lawful, quod-a? ah, fool, fool! Wilt[103] thou set men to school, When they be old? I may say to you secretly, The world was never merry, Since children were so bold: Now every boy will be a teacher, The father a fool, and the child a preacher; This is pretty gear: The foul presumption[104] of youth Will turn shortly to great ruth, I fear, I fear, I fear.
JUVENTUS. The sermon will be done, ere I can come there: I care not greatly whether I go or no; And yet for my promise, by God I swear, There is no remedy but I must needs go: Of my companions there will be mo, And I promised them, by God's grace, To meet them there as the sermon was.
HYPOCRISY. For once breaking promise do not you pass; Make some excuse the matter to cease, What have they to do? And you and I were, I wot[105] where, We would be as merry as there, Yea, and merrier too.
JUVENTUS. I would gladly in your company go; But, if my companions should chance to see, They would report full evil by me: And peradventure, if I should[106] it use, My company they would clean refuse.
HYPOCRISY. What, are those fellows so curious, That yourself you cannot excuse? I will teach you the matter to convey; Do what your own lust, and say as they say; And if you be reproved with your own affinity, Bid them pluck the beam out of their own eye: The old popish priests mock and despise, And the ignorant people, that believe their lies, Call them papists, hypocrites, and joining of the plough; Face[107] out the matter, and then good enough! Let your book at your girdle be tied, Or else in your bosom that he may be spied; And then it will be said both with youth and age, Yonder fellow hath an excellent knowledge. Tush, tush! I could so beat[108] the bush, That all should be flush, That ever I did.
JUVENTUS. Now, by my truth, you are merrily disposed; Let us go thither as you think best.