Part 23

_Lyb._ Yet suffer me to say the surpluse of my sawe; What wote ye where vpon I wyll conclude? I say, there is no welthe where as lyberte is subdude; I trowe ye can not say nay moche to this; To lyue vnder lawe, it is captyuyte; Where drede ledyth the daunce, there is no ioy nor blysse; Or howe can you proue that there is felycyte, And you haue not your owne fre lyberte To sporte at your pleasure, to ryn and to ryde? 80 Where lyberte is absent, set welthe asyde.

_Hic intrat MEASURE._

_Meas._ Cryst you assyste in your altrycacyon!

_Fel._ Why, haue you harde of our dysputacyon?

_Meas._ I parceyue well howe eche of you doth reason.

_Lyb._ Mayster Measure, you be come in good season.

_Meas._ And it is wonder that your wylde insolence Can be content with Measure presence.

_Fel._ Wolde it please you then—

_Lyb._ Vs to informe and ken—

_Meas._ A, ye be wonders men! 90 Your langage is lyke the penne Of hym that wryteth to fast.

_Fel._ Syr, yf any worde haue past Me other fyrst or last, To you I arecte it, and cast Therof the reformacyon.

_Lyb._ And I of the same facyon; Howe be it, by protestacyon, Dyspleasure that you none take, Some reason we must make. 100

_Meas._ That wyll not I forsake, So it in measure be: Come of, therfore, let se; Shall I begynne or ye?

_Fel._ Nay, ye shall begynne, by my wyll.

_Lyb._ It is reason and skyll, We your pleasure fulfyll.

_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._

_Magn._ To assure you of my noble porte and fame, Who lyst to knowe, Magnyfycence I hyght. But, Measure my frende, what hyght this mannys name?

_Meas._ Syr, though ye be a noble prynce of myght, Yet in this man you must set your delyght; And, syr, this other mannys name is Lyberte. 170

_Magn._ Welcome, frendys, ye are bothe vnto me: But nowe let me knowe of your conuersacyon.

_Fel._ Pleasyth your grace, Felycyte they me call.

_Lyb._ And I am Lyberte, made of in euery nacyon.

_Magn._ Conuenyent persons for any prynce ryall. Welthe with Lyberte, with me bothe dwell ye shall, To the gydynge of my Measure you bothe commyttynge: That Measure be mayster, vs semeth it is syttynge.

_Meas._ Where as ye haue, syr, to me them assygned, Suche order, I trust, with them for to take, 180 So that welthe with measure shalbe conbyned, And lyberte his large with measure shall make.

_Fel._ Your ordenaunce, syr, I wyll not forsake.

_Lyb._ And I my selfe hooly to you wyll inclyne.

_Magn._ Then may I say that ye be seruauntys myne, For by measure, I warne you, we thynke to be gydyd; Wherin it is necessary my pleasure you knowe, Measure and I wyll neuer be deuydyd For no dyscorde that any man can sawe; For measure is a meane, nother to by nor to lawe, 190 In whose attemperaunce I haue suche delyght, That measure shall neuer departe from my syght.

_Fel._ Laudable your consayte is to be acountyd; For welthe without measure sodenly wyll slyde.

_Lyb._ As your grace full nobly hath recountyd, Measure with noblenesse sholde be alyde.

_Magn._ Then, Lyberte, se that Measure be your gyde, For I wyll vse you by his aduertysment.

_Fel._ Then shall you haue with you prosperyte resydent.

_Meas._ I trowe, good fortune hath annexyd vs together, 200 To se howe greable we are of one mynde; There is no flaterer, nor losyll so lyther, This lynkyd chayne of loue that can vnbynde. Nowe that ye haue me chefe ruler assyngned, I wyll endeuour me to order euery thynge Your noblenesse and honour consernynge.

_Lyb._ In ioy and myrthe your mynde shalbe inlargyd, And not embracyd with pusyllanymyte; But plenarly all thought from you must be dyschargyd, If ye lyst to lyue after your fre lyberte: 210 All delectacyons aquayntyd is with me, By me all persons worke what they lyste.

_Meas._ Hem, syr, yet beware of Had I wyste! Lyberte in some cause becomyth a gentyll mynde, Bycause course of measure, yf I be in the way: Who countyth[782] without me, is caste to fer behynde Of his rekenynge, as euydently we may Se[783] at our eye the worlde day by day; For defaute of measure all thynge dothe excede.

_Fel._ All that ye say is as trewe as the Crede; 220 For howe be it lyberte to welthe is conuenyent, And from felycyte may not be forborne, Yet measure hath ben so longe from vs absent, That all men laugh at lyberte to scorne; Welth and wyt, I say, be so threde bare worne, That all is without measure, and fer beyonde the mone.

_Magn._ Then noblenesse, I se well, is almoste vndone, But yf therof the soner amendys be made; For dowtlesse I parceyue my magnyfycence Without measure lyghtly may fade, 230 Of to moche lyberte vnder the offence: Wherfore, Measure, take Lyberte with you hence, And rule hym after the rule of your scole.

_Lyb._ What, syr, wolde ye make me a poppynge fole?

_Meas._ Why, were not your selfe agreed to the same, And now wolde ye swarue from your owne ordynaunce?

_Lyb._ I wolde be rulyd, and I myght for shame.

_Fel._ A, ye make me laughe at your inconstaunce.

_Magn._ Syr, without any longer delyaunce, Take Lyberte to rule, and folowe myne entent. 240

_Meas._ It shalbe done at your commaundement.

_Itaque MEASURE exeat locum cum LIBERTATE, et maneat MAGNYFYCENCE cum FELICITATE._

_Magn._ It is a wanton thynge this Lyberte; Perceyue you not howe lothe he was to abyde The rule of Measure, notwithstandynge we Haue deputyd Measure hym to gyde? By measure eche thynge duly is tryde: Thynke you not thus, my frende Felycyte?

_Fel._ God forbede that it other wyse sholde be!

_Magn._ Ye coulde not ellys, I wote, with me endure.

_Fel._ Endure? no, God wote, it were great payne; 250 But yf I were orderyd by iust measure, It were not possyble me longe to retayne.

_Hic intrat FANSY._

_Fan._ Tusche, holde your pece, your langage is vayne. Please it your grace to take no dysdayne, To shewe you playnly the trouth as I thynke.

_Magn._ Here is none forsyth whether you flete or synke.

_Fel._ From whens come you, syr, that no man lokyd after?

_Magn._ Or who made you so bolde to interrupe my tale?

_Fan._ Nowe, _benedicite_, ye wene I were some hafter, Or ellys some iangelynge Jacke of the vale; 260 Ye wene that I am dronken, bycause I loke pale.

_Magn._ Me semeth that ye haue dronken more than ye haue bled.

_Fan._ Yet amonge noble men I was brought vp and bred.

_Fel._ Nowe leue this iangelynge, and to vs expounde Why that ye sayd our langage was in vayne.

_Fan._ Mary, vpon trouth my reason I grounde, That without largesse noblenesse can not rayne; And that I sayd ones, yet I say agayne, I say without largesse worshyp hath no place, For largesse is a purchaser of pardon and of grace. 270

_Magn._ Nowe, I beseche thé, tell me what is thy name?

_Fan._ Largesse, that all lordes sholde loue, syr, I hyght.

_Fel._ But hyght you, Largesse, encreace of noble fame?

_Fan._ Ye, syr, vndoubted.

_Fel._ Then, of very ryght, With Magnyfycence, this noble prynce of myght, Sholde be your dwellynge, in my consyderacyon.

_Magn._ Yet we wyll therin take good delyberacyon.

_Fan._ As in that, I wyll not be agaynst your pleasure.

_Fel._ Syr, hardely remembre what may your name auaunce. 280

_Magn._ Largesse is laudable, so it in measure be.

_Fan._ Largesse is he that all prynces doth auaunce; I reporte me herein to Kynge Lewes of Fraunce.

_Fel._ Why haue ye hym named, and all other refused?

_Fan._ For, syth he dyed, largesse was lytell vsed. Plucke vp your mynde, syr; what ayle you to muse? Haue ye not welthe here at your wyll? It is but a maddynge, these wayes that ye vse: What auayleth lordshyp, yourselfe for to kyll With care and with thought howe Jacke shall haue Gyl? 290

_Magn._ What? I haue aspyed ye are a carles page.

_Fan._ By God, syr, ye se but fewe wyse men of myne age; But couetyse hath blowen you so full of wynde, That _colica passio_ hath gropyd you by the guttys.

_Fel._ In fayth, broder Largesse, you haue a mery mynde.

_Fan._ In fayth, I set not by the worlde two Dauncaster cuttys.

_Magn._ Ye wante but a wylde flyeng bolte to shote at the buttes: Though Largesse ye hyght, your langage is to large; For whiche ende goth forwarde ye take lytell charge.

_Fel._ Let se, this checke yf ye voyde canne. 300

_Fan._ In faythe, els had I gone to longe to scole, But yf I coulde knowe a gose from a swanne.

_Magn._ Wel, wyse men may ete the fysshe, when ye shal draw the pole.

_Fan._ In fayth, I wyll not say that ye shall proue a fole, But ofte tymes haue I sene wyse men do mad dedys.

_Magn._ Go, shake the dogge,[784] hay, syth ye wyll nedys! You are nothynge mete with vs for to dwell, That with your lorde and mayster so pertly can prate: Gete you hens, I say, by my counsell; I wyll not vse you to play with me checke mate. 310

_Fan._ Syr, yf I haue offended your noble estate, I trow I haue brought you suche wrytynge of recorde, That I shall haue you agayne my good lorde: To you recommendeth Sad Cyrcumspeccyon, And sendeth you this wrytynge closed vnder sele.

_Magn._ This wrytynge is welcome with harty affeccyon: Why kepte you it thus longe? howe dothe he? wele?

_Fan._ Syr, thanked be God, he hath his hele.

_Magn._ Welthe, gete you home, and commaunde me to Mesure; Byd hym take good hede to you, my synguler tresure. 320

_Fel._ Is there ony thynge elles your grace wyll commaunde me?

_Magn._ Nothynge but fare you well tyll sone; And that he take good kepe to Lyberte.

_Fel._ Your pleasure, syr, shortely shall be done.

_Magn._ I shall come to you myselfe, I trowe, this after none.[785] I pray you, Larges, here to remayne, Whylest I knowe what this letter dothe contayne.

_Hic faciat tanquam legeret litteras tacite. Interim superveniat cantando COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE suspenso gradu, qui, viso MAGNYFYCENCE, sensim retrocedat; at[786] tempus post pusillum rursum accedat COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE prospectando et vocitando a longe; et FANSY animat[787] silentium cum manu._

_C. Count._ What, Fansy, Fansy!

_Magn._ Who is that that thus dyd cry? Me thought he called Fansy. 330

_Fan._ It was a Flemynge hyght Hansy.

_Magn._ Me thought he called Fansy me behynde.

_Fan._ Nay, syr, it was nothynge but your mynde: But nowe, syr, as touchynge this letter—

_Magn._ I shall loke in it at leasure better: And surely ye are to hym beholde; And for his sake ryght gladly I wolde Do what I coude to do you good.

_Fan._ I pray, God kepe you in that mood!

_Magn._ This letter was wryten ferre hence. 340

_Fan._ By lakyn, syr, it hathe cost me pence And grotes many one, or I came to your presence.

_Magn._ Where was it delyuered you, shewe vnto me.

_Fan._ By God, syr, beyonde the se.

_Magn._ At what place nowe, as you gesse?

_Fan._ By my trouthe, syr, at Pountesse; This wrytynge was taken me there, But neuer was I in gretter fere.

_Magn._ Howe so?

_Fan._ By God, at the see syde, 350 Had I not opened my purse wyde, I trowe, by our lady, I had ben slayne, Or elles I had lost myne eres twayne.

_Magn._[788] By your soth?

_Fan._ Ye, and there is suche a wache, That no man can scape but they hym cache. They bare me in hande that I was a spye; And another bade put out myne eye, Another wolde myne eye were blerde, Another bade shaue halfe my berde; 360 And boyes to the pylery gan me plucke, And wolde haue made me Freer Tucke, To preche out of the pylery hole, Without an antetyme or a stole; And some bade sere hym with a marke: To gete me fro them I had moche warke.

_Magn._ Mary, syr, ye were afrayde.

_Fan._ By my trouthe, had I not payde and prayde, And made largesse as I hyght, I had not ben here with you this nyght; 370 But surely largesse saued my lyfe, For largesse stynteth all maner of stryfe.

_Magn._ It dothe so sure nowe and than, But largesse is not mete for euery man.

_Fan._ No, but for you grete estates: Largesse stynteth grete debates; And he that I came fro to this place Sayd I was mete for your grace; And in dede, syr, I here men talke, By the way as I ryde and walke, 380 Say howe you excede in noblenesse, If you had with you largesse.

_Magn._ And say they so in very dede?

_Fan._ With ye, syr, so God me spede.

_Magn._ Yet mesure is a mery mene.

_Fan._ Ye, syr, a blannched almonde is no bene. Measure is mete for a marchauntes hall, But largesse becometh a state ryall. What, sholde you pynche at a peeke of otes, Ye wolde sone pynche at a pecke of grotes. 390 Thus is the talkynge of one and of oder, As men dare speke it hugger mugger; A lorde a negarde, it is a shame, But largesse may amende your name.

_Magn._ In faythe, Largesse, welcome to me.

_Fan._ I pray you, syr, I may so be, And of my seruyce you shall not mysse.

_Magn._ Togyder we wyll talke more of this: Let vs departe from hens home to my place.

_Fan._ I folow euen after your noble grace. 400

_Hic discedat MAGNIFICENS cum FANSY, et intrat[789] COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE._

_C. Count._ What, I say, herke a worde.

_Fan._ Do away, I say, the deuylles torde!

_C. Count._ Ye, but how longe shall I here awayte?

_Fan._ By Goddys body, I come streyte: I hate this blunderyng that thou doste make.

_C. Count._ Nowe to the deuyll I thé betake, For in fayth ye be well met. Fansy hath cachyd in a flye net This noble man Magnyfycence, Of Largesse vnder the pretence. 410 They haue made me here to put the stone: But nowe wyll I, that they be gone, In bastarde ryme, after the dogrell gyse, Tell you where of my name dothe ryse. For Counterfet Countenaunce knowen am I; This worlde is full of my foly. I set not by hym a fly, That can not counterfet a lye, Swere, and stare, and byde therby, And countenaunce it clenly, 420 And defende it manerly. A knaue wyll counterfet nowe a knyght, A lurdayne lyke a lorde to fyght,[790] A mynstrell lyke a man of myght, A tappyster lyke a lady bryght: Thus make I them wyth thryft to fyght, Thus at the laste I brynge hym[791] ryght To Tyburne, where they hange on hyght. To counterfet I can by praty wayes: Of nyghtys to occupy counterfet kayes, 430 Clenly to counterfet newe arayes, Counterfet eyrnest by way of playes: Thus am I occupyed at all assayes; What so euer I do, all men me prayse, And mekyll am I made of nowe adays: Counterfet maters in the lawe of the lande, Wyth golde and grotes they grese my hande, In stede of ryght that wronge may stande, And counterfet fredome that is bounde; I counterfet[792] suger that is but founde; 440 Counterfet capytaynes by me are mande; Of all lewdnesse I kyndell the brande; Counterfet kyndnesse, and thynke dyscayte; Counterfet letters by the way of sleyght; Subtelly vsynge counterfet weyght; Counterfet langage, fayty bone geyte. Counterfetynge is a proper bayte; A counte to counterfet in a resayte; To counterfet well is a good consayte. Counterfet maydenhode may well be borne, 450 But counterfet coynes is laughynge to scorne; It is euyll patchynge of that is torne; Whan the noppe is rughe, it wolde be shorne; Counterfet haltynge without a thorne; Yet counterfet chafer is but euyll corne; All thynge is worse whan it is worne. What, wolde ye, wyues, counterfet The courtly gyse of the newe iet? An olde barne wolde be vnderset: It is moche worthe that is ferre fet. 460 What, wanton, wanton, nowe well ymet! What, Margery Mylke Ducke, mermoset! It wolde be masked in my net; It wolde be nyce, thoughe I say nay; By Crede, it wolde haue fresshe aray, And therfore shall my husbande pay; To counterfet she wyll assay All the newe gyse, fresshe and gaye, And be as praty as she may, And iet it ioly as a iay: 470 Counterfet prechynge, and byleue the contrary; Counterfet conscyence, peuysshe pope holy; Counterfet sadnesse, with delynge full madly; Counterfet holynes is called ypocrysy; Counterfet reason is not worth a flye; Counterfet wysdome, and workes of foly; Counterfet countenaunce euery man dothe occupy: Counterfet worshyp outwarde men may se; Ryches rydeth out, at home is pouerte; Counterfet pleasure is borne out by me: 480 Coll wolde go clenly, and it wyll not be, And Annot wolde be nyce, and laughes, tehe wehe; Your counterfet countenaunce is all of nysyte, A plummed partrydge all redy to flye: A knokylbonyarde wyll counterfet a clarke, He wolde trotte gentylly, but he is to starke, At his cloked counterfetynge dogges dothe barke; A carter a courtyer, it is a worthy warke, That with his whyp his mares was wonte to yarke; A custrell to dryue the deuyll out of the derke, 490 A counterfet courtyer with a knaues marke. To counterfet this freers haue lerned me; This nonnes nowe and then, and it myght be, Wolde take in the way of counterfet charyte The grace of God vnder _benedicite_; To counterfet thyr counsell they gyue me a fee; Chanons can not counterfet but vpon thre, Monkys may not for drede that men sholde them se.

_Hic ingrediatur FANSY properanter cum CRAFTY CONUEYAUNCE, cum famine multo[793] adinvicem garrulantes: tandem, viso COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE, dicat CRAFTY CONUEYAUNCE._

_Cr. Con._ What, Counterfet Countenaunce!

_C. Count._ What, Crafty Conueyaunce! 500

_Fan._ What, the deuyll, are ye two of aquayntaunce? God gyue you a very myschaunce!

_Cr. Con._ Yes, yes, syr, he and I haue met.

_C. Count._ We haue bene togyder bothe erly and late: But, Fansy my frende, where haue ye bene so longe?

_Fan._ By God, I haue bene about a praty pronge; Crafty Conueyaunce, I sholde say, and I.

_Cr. Con._ By God, we haue made Magnyfycence to ete a flye.

_C. Count._ Howe coulde ye do that, and [I] was away?

_Fan._ By God, man, bothe his pagent and thyne he can play. 510

_C. Count._ Say trouth?

_Cr. Con._ Yes, yes, by lakyn, I shall thé warent, As longe as I lyue, thou haste an heyre parent.

_Fan._ Yet haue we pyckyd out a rome for thé.

_C. Count._ Why, shall we dwell togyder all thre?

_Cr. Con._ Why, man, it were to great a wonder, That we thre galauntes sholde be longe asonder.

_C. Count._ For Cockys harte, gyue me thy hande.

_Fan._ By the masse, for ye are able to dystroy an hole lande.

_Cr. Con._ By God, yet it muste begynne moche of thé. 520

_Fan._ Who that is ruled by vs, it shalbe longe or he thee.

_C. Count._ But, I say, kepest thou the olde name styll that thou had?

_Cr. Con._ Why, wenyst thou, horson, that I were so mad?

_Fan._ Nay, nay, he hath chaunged his, and I haue chaunged myne.

_C. Count._ Nowe, what is his name, and what is thyne?

_Fan._ In faythe, Largesse I hyght, And I am made a knyght.

_C. Count._ A rebellyon agaynst nature, So large a man, and so lytell of stature! But, syr, howe counterfetyd ye? 530

_Cr. Con._ Sure Surueyaunce[794] I named me.

_C. Count._ Surueyaunce! where ye suruey, Thryfte hathe lost her cofer kay.

_Fan._ But is it not well? howe thynkest thou?

_C. Count._ Yes, syr, I gyue God auowe, Myselfe coude not counterfet it better. But what became of the letter, That I counterfeyted you vnderneth a shrowde?

_Fan._ By the masse, odly well alowde.

_Cr. Con._ By God, had not I it conuayed, 540 Yet Fansy had ben dysceyued.

_C. Count._ I wote, thou arte false ynoughe for one.

_Fan._ By my trouthe, we had ben gone: And yet, in fayth, man, we lacked thé For to speke with Lyberte.

_C. Count._ What is Largesse without Lyberte?

_Cr. Con._ By Mesure mastered yet is he.

_C. Count._ What, is your conueyaunce no better?

_Fan._ In faythe, Mesure is lyke a tetter, That ouergroweth a mannes face, 550 So he ruleth ouer all our place.

_Cr. Con._ Nowe therfore, whylest we are togyder,— Counterfet Countenaunce, nay, come hyder,— I say, whylest we are togyder in same—

_C. Count._ Tushe, a strawe, it is a shame That we can no better than so.