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Pope, Alexander, 1688-1744

"A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 2"


YOUTH.
Sir, by my truth, I thee say
I will make merry, whiles I may,
I cannot tell you how long.
PRIDE.
Yea, sir, so mot I thrive,
Thou art not certain of thy life;
Therefore thou wert a stark fool
To leave mirth and follow their school.
HUMILITY.
Sir, I shall him exhort
Unto us to resort,
And you to forsake.
PRIDE.
Ask him if he will do so,
To forsake us and follow you two;
Nay, I warrant you, nay!
HUMILITY.
That shall you see even anon;
I will unto him gone,
And see what he will say.
RIOT.
Hardily go on thy way;
I know well he will say nay.
YOUTH.
Yea, sir, by God that me dear bought,
Methink ye labour all for nought;
Weenest thou that I will for thee
Or thy brother Charity
Forsake this good company?
Nay, I warrant you.
PRIDE.
No, master, I pray you of that,
For anything forsake us not,
And all our counsel rule you by;
Ye may be emperor, ere ye die.
YOUTH.
While I have life in my body,
Shall I be ruled by Riot and thee.
RIOT.
Sir, then, shall ye do well,
For we be true as steel;
Sir, I can teach you to play at the dice,
At the queen's game[19] and at the Irish;[20]
The treygobet[21] and the hazard[22] also,
And many other games mo;
Also at the cards I can teach you to play,
At the triump and one-and-thirty,
Post,[23] pinion,[24] and also aums-ace,
And at another they call dewce-ace;
Yet I can tell you more, and ye will con me thank,
Pink[25] and drink, and also at the blank,[26]
And many sports mo.


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