LADY MAYORESS. Good madame, pardon me; it may not be.
LADY. In troth, I'll have it so: I'll sit here by ye.-- Good ladies, sit.--More stools here, ho!
LADY MAYORESS. It is your favour, madame, makes me thus Presume above my merit.
LADY. When we come to you, Then shall you rule us as we rule you here. Now must I tell ye, madame, we have a play, To welcome ye withal; how good so ere, That know not I; my lord will have it so.
MORE. Wife, hope the best; I am sure they'll do their best: They that would better, comes not at their feast. My good Lord Cardinal's players, I thank them for it, Play us a play, to lengthen out your welcome: They say it is The Marriage of Wit and Wisdom, A theme of some import, how ere it prove; But, if art fail, we'll inch it out with love.--
[Enter a Servant.]
What, are they ready?
SERVANT. My lord, one of the players craves to speak with you.
MORE. With me! where is he?
[Enter Inclination, the Vice, ready.]
INCLINATION. Here, my lord.
MORE. How now! what's the matter?
INCLINATION. We would desire your honor but to stay a little; one of my fellows is but run to Oagles for a long beard for young Wit, and he'll be here presently.
MORE. A long beard for young Wit! why, man, he may be without a beard till he come to marriage, for wit goes not all by the hair. When comes Wit in?
INCLINATION. In the second scene, next to the Prologue, my lord.
MORE. Why, play on till that scene come, and by that time Wit's beard will be grown, or else the fellow returned with it. And what part playest thou?
INCLINATION. Inclination the Vice, my lord.
MORE. Gramercies, now I may take the vice if I list: and wherefore hast thou that bridle in thy hand?
INCLINATION. I must be bridled anon, my lord.
MORE. And thou beest not saddled too, it makes no matter, for then Wit's inclination may gallop so fast, that he will outstrip Wisdom, and fall to folly.
INCLINATION. Indeed, so he does to Lady Vanity; but we have no folly in our play.
MORE. Then there's no wit in 't, I'll be sworn: folly waits on wit, as the shadow on the body, and where wit is ripest there folly still is readiest. But begin, I prithee: we'll rather allow a beardless Wit than Wit all beard to have no brain.
INCLINATION. Nay, he has his apparel on too, my lord, and therefore he is the readier to enter.
MORE. Then, good Inclination, begin at a venter.--
[Exit Inclination.]
My Lord Mayor, Wit lacks a beard, or else they would begin: I'd lend him mine, but that it is too thin. Silence, they come.
[The trumpet sounds; enter the Prologue.]
PROLOGUE. Now, for as much as in these latter days, Throughout the whole world in every land, Vice doth increase, and virtue decays, Iniquity having the upper hand; We therefore intend, good gentle audience, A pretty short interlude to play at this present, Desiring your leave and quiet silence, To show the same, as is meet and expedient, It is called The Marriage of Wit and Wisdom, A matter right pithy and pleasing to hear, Whereof in brief we will show the whole sum; But I must be gone, for Wit doth appear.
[Exit. Enter Wit ruffling, and Inclination the Vice.]
WIT. In an arbor green, asleep whereas I lay, The birds sang sweetly in the midst of the day, I dreamed fast of mirth and play,-- In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure, Methought I walked still to and fro, And from her company I could not go; But when I waked, it was not so,-- In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure. Therefore my heart is surely plight, Of her alone to have a sight, Which is my joy and heart's delight,-- In youth is pleasure, in youth is pleasure.
MORE. Mark ye, my lord, this is Wit without a beard: what will he be by that time he comes to the commodity of a beard?
INCLINATION. Oh, sir, the ground is the better on which she doth go; For she will make better cheer with a little she can get, Than many a one can with a great banquet of meat.
WIT. And is her name Wisdom?
INCLINATION. I, sir, a wife most fit For you, my good master, my dainty sweet Wit.