_Rea._ And, upon that condition, I take thee unto my tuition With all heart's affection, Never to part atwain. And, for this season, Here we make an end Lest we should offend This audience; as, God defend! It were not to be done. Ye shall understand, nevertheless, That there is much more of this process; Wherein we shall do our business, And our true endeavour To show it unto you, after our guise: When my lord shall so devise I shall be at his pleasure.
_Rea._ I assemble the life of mortal creature To the assiege again a strong town or castle: In which there is much busy endeavour; Much worldly policy; with diligent travail, On every side, which part shall prevail By sleight of engines, or by strong power, That other to subdue and bring into danger.
In such case and manner of condition Is wretched man, here in this life earthly, While he abideth within the garrison Of the frail carcase and caronous body; Whom to impugn laboureth incessantly The world, the flesh, the enemy--these three-- Him to subdue and bring into captivity.
And, for to show you what wise they us impugn, First doth the world give us an allective To covet riches and worldly renown, With other vanities that be used in this life. Next, that our flesh, which ever is in strife, Again our spirit doth provoke and excite Us to accomplish our sensual appetite.
The last of all is our great enemy; Which ever hath us in continual hatred Of old encankered malice and envy That he oweth to us, and all the kindred Of all the ancestors of whom we do succeed; Nor yet ceaseth his malice, unto this day, Us to endanger in all that he can or may. And certes! these, our said enemies, Be of their nature so mighty and so strong That hard it will be for us, in any wise, Again them war or battle to underfong; Also our garrisons and fortress to maintain long Again their engines; without spiritual grace We can not perform in no manner case. Wherefore, it is to us right behovable Busily to pray to God, that is immortal, Beseeching Him, as He is merciable, To have compassion and pity on us all; And not to suffer us any wise to fall Into such folly and utter mischance As should them grieve and do displeasance. Also, it behoveth on our part To flee all such manner of occasion As may us put in fear and jeopardy Of their displeasure, in any condition. Newfangleness, and other nice invention, We must forsake in all manner wise; And acquaint us with their contraries: _Quia contraria contrariis curantur._ etc. I tell this tale, sir! to you, Trusting that it be not done in waste: Ye remember, as I suppose, well enow, How it is not fully three days past Sith ye me promised, and bound it fast, From that day forth to be obedient Unto my counsel and advisement?