Fond Wretch, it was not _Conscience_, but feare, That made the first man (Adam) to forbeare To tast the fruite, of the forbidden Tree, Lest, if offending hee were found to bee, (According as _Iehouah_ saide on hye, For his so great Transgression, hee should dye.) Feare curbd his minde, it was not _Conscience_ then, (For _Conscience_ freely, rules the harts of men) And is a godly motion of the mynde, To euerie vertuous action inclynde, And not enforc'd, through feare of Punishment, But is to vertue, voluntary bent: Then (simple Trul) be packing presentlie, For in this place, there is no roome for thee.
Aye mee (distressed Wight) what shall I doe? Where shall I rest? Or whither shall I goe? Vnto the rich? (woes mee) they, doe abhor me: Vnto the poore? (alas) they, care not for me: Vnto the Olde-man? hee; hath mee forgot: Vnto the Young-man? yet hee, knowes me not: Vnto the Prince? hee; can dispence with me: Vnto the Magistrate? that, may not bee: Vnto the Court? for it, I am too base: Vnto the Countrey? there, I haue no place: Vnto the Citty? thence; I am exilde: Vnto the Village? there; I am reuilde: Vnto the Barre? the Lawyer there, is bribed? Vnto the Warre? there, _Conscience_ is derided: Vnto the Temple? there, I am disguised: Vnto the Market? there, I am dispised: Thus both the young and olde, the rich and poore, Against mee (silly Creature) shut their doore. Then, sith each one seekes my rebuke and shame, Ile goe againe to Heauen (from whence I came.) This saide (me thought) making exceeding mone, She went her way, and left the Carle alone, Who vaunting of his late-got victorie, Aduanc'd himselfe in pompe and Maiestie: Much like a Cocke, who hauing kild his foe, Brisks vp himselfe, and then begins to crow. So _Couetise_, when _Conscience_ was departed, Gan to be proud in minde, and hauty harted: And in a stately Chayre of state he set him, (For _Conscience_ banisht) there are none to let him. And being but one entrie, to this Plaine, (Whereof as king and Lord, he did remaine) _Repentance_ cald, he causd that to be kept, Lest _Conscience_ should returne, whilst as he slept: Wherefore he causd it, to be watcht and warded Both night and Day, and to be strongly guarded: To keepe it safe, these three he did intreat, _Hardnesse of hart_, with _Falshood_ and _Deceat:_ And if at any time, she chaunc'd to venter, _Hardnesse of hart_, denide her still to enter. When _Conscience_ was exilde the minde of Man, Then _Couetise_, his gouernment began. This once being seene, what I had seene before, (Being onely seene in sleepe) was seene no more; For with the sorrowe, which my Soule did take At sight hereof, foorthwith I did awake.