_Adul._ Well now, we may come near; may we not, if we lust?
_Avar._ Ye are near enough: out of my reach I dare you trust.
_Adul._ Well now, let us sing, if it please Authority; To refresh our spirits it is restority.
_Insol._ I reck not, for company sake, to sing once [more].
_Avar._ I have less mind to sing now than I had before: Then had I no lust to sing, because I was bare; And now, how to keep that I have got, I do care.
_Oppr._ Solace we must needs have, when that we are weary.
_Adul._ It prolongeth life of man to be merry.
_Avar._ An if ye sing so much, Honesty! without fail, Christ and you, at length, I fear, will make a battle. But go to! sing on! if there be no remedy-- An ye look at my bags ye mar my melody.
_Cantent: "Hey, nony, nony, ho for money!" etc._
_Oppr._ Now, about profit devise we ourselves abroad.
_Avar._ Yea, and hear ye, masters! while time is, lay on load! Consider! ye have but a time of haymaking; And harvest is not mowed without painstaking. Now, time will not tarry; and, therefore, take good heed! Despatch while time serveth, and all your matte[r]s speed! Time hath no rein nor bridle, but renneth apace!
_Insol._ Mark Policy's words, sirs! excellent in our case.
_Avar._ And time hath this one ungracious property: To blab at length, and open all that he doth see. Then, a daughter eke he hath, called Verity; As unhappy a long-tongued girl as can be: She bringeth all to light; some she bring[eth] to shame; She careth not a groat what man hath thank or blame. If men be praiseworthy, she doth so declare them; And, if otherwise, in faith! she doth not spare them.
_Oppr._ We will feather our nests ere time may us espy; Or Verity have power, our doings to descry.
_Avar._ Remember this verse: _Ut sint omnia salva,_ _Fronte capillata, post hec occasio calva._
_Oppr._ Make me understand that fine rag of rhetoric!
_Avar._ Lo! here a fine fellow to have a bishopric! A verse of Latin he cannot understand; Yet, dareth he presume, boldly to take in hand, Into a deanery or archideaconry to chop; And to have the livelood away from a bishop!
_Oppr._ A mercy! show thy verse, and leave this persuasion!
_Avar._ Forsooth, sir! it was of the goddess Occasion! She weareth a great long tuffet of hair before; And, behind, hath not one hair, neither less nor more! Whereby is taught you that, when Occasion is, Ye must take it betime, or of your purpose miss.