A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Vi Part 13

But what do we stay so long in this place?

I shall not be well, whilst I am with my Lord's grace.

[_Exeunt_.

ACT IV. SCENE 4.

SPIRIT, PHILOLOGUS, SUGGESTION.

[SPIRIT.]

Philologus, Philologus, Philologus, I say, In time take heed, go not too far, look well thy steps unto: Let not suggestion of thy flesh thy conscience thee betray, Who doth conduct thee in the path that leadeth to all woe.

Weigh well this warning given from G.o.d, before thou further go, And sell not everlasting joy for pleasures temporal, From which thou soon shalt go, or they from thee bereaved shall.

PHILOLOGUS.

Alas! what voice is this I hear, so dolefully to sound Into mine ears, and warneth me in time yet to beware?

Why, have not I the pleasant path of worldly pleasures found?

To walk therein for my delight no man shall me debar.

SUGGESTION.

Look in this gla.s.s, Philologus: for nought else do thou care.

What dost thou see within the same? is not the coast all clear?

PHILOLOGUS.

Nought else but pleasure, pomp and wealth herein to me appear.

SUGGESTION.

Give me thy hand: I will be guide, and lead thee in the way.

What, dost thou shrink, Philologus, where I dare go before?

SPIRIT.

Yea, shrink so still, Philologus; in time turn back, I say: In Sensual Suggestion's steps see that thou tread no more; And though the frailty of the flesh hath made thee fall full sore, And to deny with outward lips thy Lord and G.o.d most dear, The same to 'stablish with consent of conscience stand in fear.

Thou art yet free, Philologus; all torments thou may'st 'scape, Only the pleasures of the world thou shalt awhile forbear.

Renounce thy crime, and sue for grace, and do not captivate Thy conscience unto mortal sin: the yoke of Christ do bear.

Shut up these words within thy breast, which sound so in thine ear: The outward man hath caused thee this enterprise to take; Beware lest wickedness of spirit the same do perfect make.

PHILOLOGUS.

My heart doth tremble for distress; my conscience p.r.i.c.ks me sore, And bids me cease that course in time, which I would gladly run.

The wrath of G.o.d, it doth me tell, doth stand my face before: Wherefore I hold it best to cease that race I have begun.

SUGGESTION.

These are but fancies certainly; for this way thou shalt shun All worldly woes: look in thy gla.s.s and tell me what it show.

Thou wilt not credit other men before thyself, I trow.

PHILOLOGUS.

O gladsome gla.s.s, O mirror bright, O crystal clear as sun, The joys cannot be uttered which herein I behold!

Wherefore I will not thee forsake, what evil soever come.

SPIRIT.

If needs thou wilt thyself undo, say not but thou art told.

PHILOLOGUS.

Hap what hap will, I will not lose these pleasures manifold.

Wherefore conduct me once again: here, take me by the hand.

SUGGESTION.

That Sensual Suggestion doth lead him, understand.

ACT IV., SCENE 5.[55]

CONSCIENCE, PHILOLOGUS, SUGGESTION.

[CONSCIENCE.]

Alas, alas! thou woful wight, what fury doth thee move So willingly to cast thyself into consuming fire?

What Circe hath bewitched thee thy worldly wealth to love More than the blessed state of Soul, this one thing I desire?

Weigh well the cause with sincere heart, thy conscience thee require, And sell not everlasting joys for pleasures temporal.[56]

Resist Suggestion of the flesh, who seeks thee for to spoil; From which thou soon shalt go, or they from thee bereaved shall, And take from thee, which G.o.d elect, true everlasting soil.

See where confusion doth attend to catch thee in his snare, Whose hands, if that thou goest on still, thou shalt no way eschew.

PHILOLOGUS.

What wight art thou, which for my health dost take such earnest care?

CONSCIENCE.

Thy crazed conscience, which foresee the plagues and torments due, Which from just Judge, whom thou denyest, shall by and by ensue.

SUGGESTION.

Thou hast good trial of the faith which I to thee do bear: Commit thy safety to my charge; there is no danger near.

CONSCIENCE.

Such is the blindness of the flesh, that it may not descry Or see the perils which the soul is ready to incur; And much the less our own estates we can ourselves espy, Because Suggestion in our hearts such, fancies often stir: Whereby to worldly vanities we cleave as fast as burr, Esteeming them with heavenly joys in goodness comparable, Yet be they mostly very p.r.i.c.ks to sin abhominable.

For proof we need no further go than to this present man, Who by the blessing of the Lord of riches having store, When with his heart to fancy them this worldling once began, And had this gla.s.s of vanities espied his eyes before, He G.o.d forsook, whereas he ought have loved him the more; And chooseth rather with his goods to be thrown down to h.e.l.l, Than by refusing of the same with G.o.d in heaven to dwell.

SUGGESTION.

Nay, hark, Philologus, how thy Conscience can teach, And would detain thee with glosings untrue: But hearest thou, Conscience, thou mayest long enough preach, Ere words, from whence reason or truth none ensue, Shall make Philologus to bid me adieu.

What, shall there no rich man dwell in G.o.d's kingdom?

Where, then, is Abraham, Job, and David become?

CONSCIENCE.

I speak not largely of all them which have this worldly wealth, For why I know that riches are the creatures of the Lord; Which of themselves are good each one, as Solomon us telleth, And are appointed to do good withal by G.o.d's own word; But when they let us from the Lord, then ought they be abhorr'd: Which caused Christ himself to say, that with much lesser pain Should camel pa.s.s through needle's eye, than rich men heaven obtain.

Hereby rich men Christ did not mean each one which wealth enjoy, But those which fast'ned have their love upon this worldly dust; Wherefore another cries and saith, O death, how great annoy Dost thou procure unto that man, which in his goods doth trust.

That thou dost this, Philologus, thou needs acknowledge must; Whereby each one may easily see, thou takest more delight In mundane joys, than thou esteemest to be with angels bright.

PHILOLOGUS.

This toucheth the quick: I feel the wound, which if thou canst not cure, As maimed in limbs I must retire; I can no further go.