PALMER. Sir, though ye were bound of equity To do as ye have done to me, Yet do I thank you of your pain, And will requite some part again.
PARDONER. Marry, sir, ye can no less do, But thank him as much as it cometh to; And so will I do for my part. Now a vengeance on thy knave's heart, I never knew a pedlar a judge before, Nor never will trust pedling knave more. What doest thou there, thou whoreson noddy?
'POTHECARY. By the mass, learn to make courtesy: Courtesy before, and courtesy behind him, And then on each side, the devil blind him! Nay, when ye[548] have it perfitly, Ye shall have the devil and all of courtesy: But it is not soon learned, gentle[549] brother, One knave to make courtesy to another. Yet when I am angry, that is the worst, I shall call my master knave at the first.
PALMER. Then would some master perhaps clout ye, But, as for me, ye need not doubt ye; For I had liever[550] be without ye, Than have such business about ye.
'POTHECARY. So help me God, so were ye better; What, should a beggar be a jetter?[551] It were no whit your honesty To have us twain jet after ye.
PARDONER. Sir, be your sure he telleth you true, If we should wait, this would ensue: It would be said, trust me at a word, Two knaves made[552] courtesy to the third.
PEDLAR. Now, by my troth, to speak my mind, Since they be so both to be assigned,[553] To let them lose I think it best. And so shall ye live the better[554] in rest.
PALMER. Sir, I am not on them so fond, To compel them to keep their bond; And since ye list not to wait on me, I clearly of waiting do discharge ye.
PARDONER. Marry, sir, I heartily thank you.
'POTHECARY. And likewise I, to God I vow.[555]
PEDLAR. Now be ye all even as ye began; No man hath lost, nor no man hath wan. Yet in the debate wherewith ye began, By way of advice I will speak as I can. I do perceive that pilgrimage Is chief[556] the thing ye have in usage; Whereto in effect, for the love of Christ, Ye have, or should have been enticed: And who so doth with such intent, Doth well declare his time well-spent. And so do ye in your pretence, If ye procure thus[557] indulgence Unto your neighbours charitably, For love of them in God only. All this may be right well applied To show[558] you both well occupied: For though ye walk not both one way, Yet walking thus, this dare I say, That both your walks come to one[559] end; And so for all that do pretend By aid of God's grace to ensue Any manner kind of virtue; As some great alms for to give: Some, in wilful poverty to live: Some, to make highways and such like[560] works, And some to maintain priests and clerks To sing and pray for soul departed: These, with all other virtues well marked, Although they be of sundry kinds, Yet be they not used with sundry minds. But as God only doth all those move, So every man only for his love, With love and dread obediently Worketh in these virtues uniformly. Thus every virtue, if we list to scan, Is pleasant to God and thankful to man. And who that, by grace of the Holy Ghost, To any one virtue is moved most, That man by that grace that one apply, And therein serve God most plentifully,[561] Yet not that one so far wide to wrest: So liking the same, to mislike the rest. For who so wresteth, his work is in vain; And even in that case I perceive you twain: Liking your virtue in such wise, That each other's virtue ye do despise. Who walketh this way for God, would find him, The farther they seek him, the farther behind him. One kind of virtue to despise another, Is like as the sister might hang the brother.