[_Man_]. Sith I shall depart, bless me, father! hence then I go-- God send us all plenty of His great mercy!
_Mer. Dominus custodi[a]t te ab omni malo!_ _In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti._ Amen! [_Hic exit_ MANKIND.
Worship[f]ul sovereigns! I have do my property; Mankind is delivered by my several patrociny. God preserve him from all wicked captivity; And send him grace, his sensual conditions to mortify! Now for His love, that for us received His humanity, Search your conditions with due examination! Think and remember: the world is but a vanity, As it is proved daily by d[i]verse transmutation, Mankind is wretched; he hath sufficient proof; Therefore, God [keep] you all _per suam misericordiam_, That ye may be pleyseris with the angels above, And have to your portion _vitam eternam_. Amen!
_O liber, si quis cui constas forte queretur,_ _Hyngham, quem monacho dices, super omnia_ _consta[s]._
[Illustration: [_Reduced Facsimile of Title-page of "Nature," from copy_ _now in the British Museum._ C34,e,54.]]
A GOODLY INTERLUDE OF NATURE, COMPILED BY MASTER HENRY MEDWALL
CHAPLAIN TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD JOHN MORTON
SOMETIME CARDINAL AND ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
NATURE MAN REASON SENSUALITY INNOCENCY WORLDLY AFFECTION BODILY LUST WRATH ENVY SLOTH GLUTTONY HUMILITY CHARITY ABSTINENCE LIBERALITY GARCON CHASTITY GOOD OCCUPATION SHAMEFACEDNESS MUNDUS PATIENCE PRIDE
_First cometh in_ MUNDUS, _and sitteth down,_ _and saith nothing; and with him_ WORLDLY AFFECTION, _bearing a gown and cap and a_ _girdle for_ MAN.
_Then cometh in_ NATURE, MAN, REASON, _and_ INNOCENCY; _and_ NATURE _sitteth down and_ _saith_.
_Nature._ Th' almighty God that made each creature, As well in heaven as other place earthly, By His wise ordinance hath purveyed me, Nature, To be as minister, under Him immediately, For th' encheson that I should, perpetually, His creatures in such degree maintain As it hath pleased His grace for them to ordain.
To me it longeth, by natural engendure, Thing to continue that hath spirit of life; Which, nor were my help, should never endure, But suddenly perish and wax all caitiff. Atwixt th' elements, that whilom were at strife, I have suaged the old repugnance And knit them together, in manner of alliance.