INFANS. Christ our king, grant you clearly to know the case. To meve[191] of this matter that is in my mind, [And] clearly declare it, Christ grant me grace. Now, seemly sirs, behold on me, How mankind doth begin: I am a child, as you may see, Gotten in game and in great sin. Forty weeks my mother me found,[192] Flesh and blood my food was tho: When I was ripe from her to sound, In peril of death we stood both two. Now to seek death I must begin, For to pass that strait passage For body and soul, that shall then twin,[193] And make a parting of that marriage. Forty weeks I was freely fed Within my mother's possession: Full oft of death she was a-dread, When that I should part her from: Now into the world she hath me sent, Poor and naked, as ye may see, I am not worthily wrapped nor went, But poorly pricked in poverty. Now into the world will I wend, Some comfort of him for to crave. All hail! comely crowned king, God that all made you see and save!
MUNDUS. Welcome, fair child, what is thy name?
INFANS. I wot not, sir, withouten blame; But oftime my mother in her game Called me Dalliance.
MUNDUS. Dalliance, my sweet child, It is a name that is right wild,[194] For when thou waxest old, It is a name of no substance, But, my fair child, what wouldst thou have?
INFANS. Sir, of some comfort I you crave: Meat and clothes my life to save, And I your true servant shall be.
MUNDUS. Now, fair child, I grant thee thine asking: I will thee find while thou art ying,[195] So thou wilt be obedient to my bidding. These garments gay I give to thee, And also I give to thee a name, And clepe thee Wanton in every game, Till fourteen year be come and gone, And then come again to me.
WANTON. Gramercy, world, for mine array; For now I purpose me to play.
MUNDUS. Farewell, fair child, and have good day: All recklessness is kind for thee.
WANTON. Ha, ha, Wanton is my name: I can many a quaint game. Lo, my top I drive in same, See, it turneth round! I can with my scourge-stick My fellow upon the head hit, And lightly[196] from him make a skip, And blear on him my tongue. If brother or sister do me chide, I will scratch and also bite: I can cry, and also kick, And mock them all berew.[197] If father or mother will me smite, I will ring with my lip, And lightly from him make a skip, And call my dame shrew. Aha, a new game have I found: See this gin, it renneth round! And here another have I found, And yet mo can I find. I can mow[198] on a man, And make a lesing[199] well I can, And maintain it right well then. This cunning came me of kind, Yea, sirs, I can well geld a snail, And catch a cow by the tail: This is a fair cunning, I can dance and also skip, I can play at the cherry-pit,[200] And I can whistle you a fit,[201] Sires, in a willow rine: Yea, sirs, and every day, When I to school shall take the way Some good man's garden I will essay, Pears and plums to pluck. I can spy a sparrow's nest, I will not go to school but when me lest,[202] For there beginneth a sorry feast, When the master should lift my dock. But, sirs, when I was seven year of age, I was sent to the world to take wage,[203] And this seven year I have been his page, And kept his commandment. Now I will wend to the world the worthy emperor. Hail! Lord of great honour, This seven year I have served you in hall and in bow'r With all my true intent.[204]