A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 7

GOOD COUNSEL.

Sir, I will ask you a question by your favour: What would you with the minstrel do?

JUVENTUS.

Nothing but have a dance or two, To pa.s.s the time away in pleasure.

GOOD COUNSEL.

If that be the matter, I promise you sure, I am the more sorrier that it should so be; For there is no such pa.s.sing the time appointed in the Scripture, Nor yet thereunto it doth not agree!

I wish that ye would so use your liberty, To walk as you are bound to do, According to the vocation which G.o.d hath called you to.

JUVENTUS.

Why, sir, are you angry, because I have spoken so?

By the ma.s.s, it is alone for my appet.i.te.

GOOD COUNSEL.

Show me your name, I pray you heartily, And then I will my mind express.

JUVENTUS.

My name is called Juventus, doubtless: Say what you will, I will give you the hearing.

GOOD COUNSEL.

For as much as G.o.d hath created you of nothing, Unto his own likeness by spiritual illumination, It is unmeet that ye should lead your living Contrary to his G.o.dly determination.

Saint Paul unto the Ephesians giveth good exhortation, Saying, walk circ.u.mspectly, redeeming the time; That is, to spend it well, and not to wickedness incline.

JUVENTUS.

No, no, hardily none of mine; If I would live so strait, you might count me a fool; Let them keep those rules, which are doctors divine, And have be brought up all their days in school.

GOOD COUNSEL.

Moses in the law exhorteth his people, As in the book of Deuteronomy he doth plainly write, That they should live obedient and thankful; For in effect[50] these words he doth recite: All ye this day stand before the Lord's sight, Both princes, rulers, elders, and parents, Children, wives, young, and old; therefore obey his commandments.

JUVENTUS.

I am too young to understand his doc.u.ments;[51]

Wherefore did all they stand before his presence?

GOOD COUNSEL.

To enter with G.o.d peace and alliance, Promising that they would him honour, fear, and serve: All kind of people were bound in those covenants, That from his law they should never swerve; For G.o.d useth no partiality.

JUVENTUS.

What, am I bound, as well as the clergy, To learn and follow his precepts and law?

GOOD COUNSEL.

Yea, surely, or else G.o.d will withdraw His mercy from you, promised in his covenant; For, except you live under his obedience and awe, How can you receive the benefits of his Testament?

For he that[52] submitteth himself to be a servant, And his master's commandment will not fulfil nor regard, According as he hath done, is worthy his reward.

JUVENTUS.

It is as true a saying as ever I heard; Therefore your name, I pray you[53] now tell, For, by my truth, your communication I like wonders well.

GOOD COUNSEL.

My name is called Good Counsel.

JUVENTUS.

Good Counsel?

Now, in faith, I cry you mercy: I am sorry that I have you thus offended; But, I pray you, bear with me patiently, And my misbehaviour shall be amended: I know my time I have rudely spended, Following my own l.u.s.t, being led by ignorance; But now I hope of better knowledge through your acquaintance.

GOOD COUNSEL.

I pray G.o.d guide you with his gracious a.s.sistance Unto the knowledge of his truth, your ignorance to undo, That you may be one of those numbered Christians, Which followeth the lamb whither he doth go: The lamb Jesus Christ my meaning is so, By sure faith and confidence in his bitter death and pa.s.sion, The only price of our health and salvation.

JUVENTUS.

Sir, I thank you for your hearty oration: And now, I pray you, show me your advis.e.m.e.nt, How I may live in this my vocation, According to G.o.d's will and commandment.

GOOD COUNSEL.

First of all, it is most expedient, That you exercise yourself in continual prayer, That it might please the Lord omnipotent To send unto you his holy spirit and comforter, Which will lead you every day and hour Unto the knowledge of his word and verity, Wherein you may learn to live most christianly.

JUVENTUS.

O Lord, grant me of thy infinite[54] mercy [_He kneeleth_.

The true knowledge of thy[55] law and will, And illumine my heart with spirit continually, That I may[56] be apt thy holy precepts to fulfil; Strengthen me, that I may persever still Thy commandments to obey: And then shall I never slip nor fall away.

[_He riseth_.

GOOD COUNSEL.

Full true be these words, which Christ himself did say, He that seeketh shall surely find.

KNOWLEDGE _entereth_.

Behold, Youth, now rejoice we may, For I see Knowledge of G.o.d['s][57] Verity stand here behind: He is come now to satisfy your mind In those things which you will desire; Therefore together let us approach him near.

JUVENTUS.

Ah, Good Counsel, now[58] it doth appear, That G.o.d never rejecteth the humbles[t] pet.i.tion.

KNOWLEDGE.

Now the Lord bless you all with his heavenly benediction, And with his fiery love your hearts inflame, That of his merciful promises you may have the fruition, The subtlety of the devil utterly to defame.

Now, good Christian audience, I will express my name, The True Knowledge of G.o.d's Verity, this[59] my name doth hight, Whom G.o.d hath appointed to give the blind their sight.

GOOD COUNSEL.

All praise be given to that Lord of might, Which hath appointed you hither at this present hour; For I trust you will so instruct youth aright, That he shall live according to G.o.d's pleasure.

JUVENTUS.

And I thank Jesus Christ my Saviour, That he is come to my company.

KNOWLEDGE.

I thank you, my friends, most heartily For your gentle salutation.

JUVENTUS.

Sir, I will be so bold, by your deliberation, To open my mind unto you now, Trusting that, by your good exhortation, I shall learn those things which I never knew: This one thing chiefly I would learn of you, How I may my life in this my vocation lead, According as G.o.d hath ordained and decreed.

KNOWLEDGE.

The prophet David saith, that the man is blessed, Which doth exercise himself in the law of the Lord, And doth not follow the way of the wicked; As the first psalm doth plainly record:[60]

The fourscore and thirteenth psalm thereunto doth accord; Blessed is the man whom thou teachest, O Lord, saith he, To learn thy[61] law, precepts, word, or verity.

And Christ in the gospel saith manifestly: Blessed is he which heareth the Word of G.o.d and keepeth it; That is, to believe his word and live accordingly, Declaring the faith by the fruits of the spirit, Whose fruits are these, as St. Paul to the Galathi doth write, Love, joy, peace, long suffering, and faithfulness, Meekness, goodness, temperance, and gentleness.