Well, Humanity, now I see plainly That thou hast used much folly, The while I have been absent.
HU. Sir, I trust I have done nothing That should be contrary to your pleasing, Nor never was mine intent; For I have followed the counsel clear, As ye me bade, of Studious Desire, And for necessity among Sometime Sensual Appetite's counsel, For without him, ye know right well, My life cannot endure long.
Though it be for thee full necessary For thy comfort sometime to satisfy Thy sensual appetite, Yet it is not convenient for thee To put therein thy felicity And all thy whole delight; For if thou wilt learn no science, Nother by study nor experience, I shall thee never advance; But in the world thou shalt dure then, Despised of every wise man, Like this-rude beast Ignorance.
THE TRAGI-COMEDY OF CALISTO AND MELIBAEA.
_A new comedy in English in manner of an interlude right elegant and full of craft of rhetoric: wherein is shewed and described as well the beauty and good properties of women, as their vices and evil conditions, with a moral conclusion and exhortation to virtue. [Col.] Johes rastell me imprimi fecit. Cum privilegio regali. Folio, black letter_.
The only copy known of this piece is among the books of Malone in the Bodleian Library, and it has never hitherto been reprinted. An account of it is given, however, by Collier (_History of English Dramatic Poetry_, ii. 408-12).
AN INTERLUDE, SHOWING THE BEAUTY AND GOOD PROPERTIES OF WOMEN.
Franciscus Petrarcus, the poet laureate, Saith that Nature, which is mother of all things, Without strife can give life to nothing create; And Heraclitus, the wise clerk, in his writing, Saith in all things create strife is their working; And there is nothing under the firmament With any other in all points equivalent. And, according to their diets rehearsed as thus, All things are create in manner of strife. These foolish lovers, then, that be so amorous, From pleasure to displeasure how lead they their life: Now sorry, now sad: now joyous, now pensive: Alas! I, poor maiden, then what shall I do, Cumbered by dotage of one Calisto? I know that Nature hath given me beauty, With sanguineous complexion, favour, and fairness: The more to God ought I to do fea'ty With will, life, land, and love of perfectness. I deny not but Calisto is of great worthiness, But what of that? for all his high estate, His desire I defy, and utterly shall hate. Oh, his sayings and suits so importune, That of my life he maketh me almost weary! Oh, his lamentations and exclamations on fortune, With similitude [of] manner as one that should die! But who shall pity this? In faith, not I. Shall I accomplish his carnal desire? Nay, yet at a stake rather bren in a fire. Of truth, I am sorry for his trouble; To strive with himself thus for love of me; But though his sorrows, I assure you, should double, Out of his danger[29] will I be at liberty.