_Health._ Gracious Remedy! I thank you; yet I am half ashamed To show you my malady and my name--I was called Health; Therefore, I am well worthy to be punished and blamed Because I have not followed your counsel, but all thing may be suffered save Wealth.
_Rem._ Are you Health? this maketh me very pensive and sad: Yet be of good cheer, and show how you were infect; To remedy you and succour you, I would be very glad; For God will punish the people when they be detect.
_Health._ Sir! I thank God therof; for well worthy I am, My conscience doth judge; some trouble have I must; Amends I will make to God, and if I can. Wit and Will hath deceived me: in them I put my trust. D2,_v_.
_Rem._ If thou have done amiss and be sorry therefore, Then half amends is made, for that is contrition. Let that pass! now will I axe you one thing more: Where be Wealth and Liberty? be they of good disposition?
_Health._ As for Wealth [he] is fallen in decay and necessity By waste and war, through Ill-Will and Shrewd Wit; And Liberty is kept in durance and captivity. God help us all, and send us good remedy for it!
_Rem._ For to hear this tale, it maketh my heart heavy; Yet, be of good comfort! God is full of grace, and I am good.
_Health._ Sir! then I beseech you, help us in the way of charity!
_Rem._ I would fain, but I cannot tell which way to begin, Except I might catch Will and Wit; then, I trow, I could Tie them shorter; for they destroy Wealth, Health, and Liberty by sin. If I had the thieves, punish them extremely I would.
_Health._ You may soon catch them if ye will stand aside; From this place they two will not long abide.
_Rem._ Methinketh I hear them come; help to hold them fast.
_Ill-W._ Come in, Wit! for here is nobody; We may be bold, and talk largely Our hearts to ease, and show plainly What we have done. [SHREWD WIT _comes in_.
_Wit._ I must needs laugh, I cannot forbear To remember War, that knave! Will ye hear? The whoreson Fleming was beshitten for fear, Because he should void so soon.
_Ill-W._ Hark! now do I marvel, by this bread! For I ween, surely, that Health be dead! I saw him go with a kercher on his head, As he should go to hanging.
_Wit._ Hark, in thine ear!--if the whoreson hap To complain to him that wears the red cap, I fear then shortly he will us clap D3,_r._ By the heels from our living.