_Abst._ My name is Abstinence; And this other that cometh with me Is called Chastity, or else Continence: It is his guise, and his property, To follow me wheresoever I be; Likewise as lechery, that deadly sore, Followeth the beastly sin of gluttony evermore, _Quia delicia sunt instrumenta voluptatis_. But now to do that I came for. Again the sin of gluttony the remedy is this: Use scarcer diet than thou did'st before; Beware of superfluity and surfeit evermore; Take no more than sufficeth nature; Nor of delicate meat set thou no store. Now have I said all that longeth to my cure.
_Chas._ And I must needs confirm his saying: For, as he rehearsed now right well, Glutting of hot meats and delicate feeding Causeth sinful lusts in a man to swell; And, over that, this is my counsel: Eschew idleness before all thing If thou wilt be chaste and clean of living. Flee also the company and the occasion Of that sin, which is damnable; As soon as thou feelest any temptation Put it clean away, by means convenable. Of all other sins it is most abominable; And soonest will thy soul endanger and blame-- There be so many great sins annexed to the same. If thou list not, for fear of damnation, This sin to forbear; then, on that other side, Do it for love of thine own salvation. Think what rewards in heaven doth thee abide Which, if thou live chaste, cannot be denied. My wit sufficeth not to tell and express What joy thou shalt have for thy chaste cleanness.
_Man._ I thank you both for your advice. And now would I speak with Repentance fain.
_Abst._ I can bring you to him on the best wise.
_Man._ Then will I await upon you twain; And after that I will come hither again, Trusting that God will send me the grace To comfort my soul with ghostly solace.
_Then they go out and_ REASON _cometh in._
_Rea._ I hear say, to my great joy and gladness, That according to my counsel and advice, This mortal creature doth well his business To correct and forsake all his old vice. And that he is in good way, and likely to arise From the vale of sin, which is full of darkness, Toward the contemplation of light that is endless. Lo, sirs! are not we all much behold To our Maker for this great patience. Which, notwithstanding our sins manifold Wherein we daily do Him offence, Yet of His merciful and great magnificence He doth not punish as soon as we offend, But suffereth in hope that we will amend. He suffereth a sinner sometime to endure A long life in honour and great prosperity: It is a thing that daily is put in ure. And many a great danger escapeth he Where good men perish: this may ye see; And all because that He would him win And have him to turn and forsake his sin.