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قراءة كتاب A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 3
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اللغة: English
الصفحة رقم: 2
objects us do fail
Sometimes, then our judgment shall but little avail
In some things, as such, where doubt giveth denial
Of them in the best wise to make any trial.
Which saying is evident, as well shall appear
In this little interlude, which we present here;
Whereby we may learn how grossly we err,
Taking one thing for another, which differ so far,
As good doth from bad. Example therefore
You may take by these persons, if you mark no more.
For the primitive constitution, which was first appointed
Even by God himself and by Christ his annointed;
Confirmed by th' Apostles, and of great antiquity:
See, how it is perverted by man's wicked iniquity,
To be called New Custom or New Constitution,
Surely a name of too much ungodly abusion.
Which our author, indifferently scanning in his mind,
In his simple opinion this cause he doth find:
That, by reason of ignorance which beareth great sway,
And also stubborn doctrine, which shutteth up the way
To all good instruction and knowledge of right:
No marvel it was, though of the truth we were ignorant quite.
For truly in such a case the matter was but small
To make the ignorant soul to credit them all,
Whatsoever they said, were it truth or a lie.
For no man able was then to prove them the contrary.
Wherefore their own fancies they set in great price,
Neglecting the true way, like men far unwise.
Making semblant of antiquity in all that they did,
To th' intent that their subtlety by such means might be hid.
New Custom also hath he named this matter verily,
In consideration that the people so speaketh commonly,
Confuting the same by reasons most manifest,
Which in consequent order of talk are exprest.
This sense hath our author followed herein, as we said,
For other meaning: moreover he will not have it denayed,
But diverse may invent much distant from this,
Which in no wise he will have prejudicial to his,
Nor his unto theirs, whatsoever they be,
For many heads, many wits,[2] we do plainly see.
Only he desireth this of the worshipful audience:
To take in good part without all manner offence,
Whatsoever shall be spoken, marking the intent,
Interpreting it no otherwise but as it was meant.
And for us, if of patience you list to attend,
We are ready to declare you the matter to the end.
FINIS PROLOGI.
NEW CUSTOM
ACTUS I., SCÆNA 1.
Perverse Doctrine and Ignorance enter.
Perv. Doc. It is even so indeed, the world was never in so evil a state;
But this is no time for us of these matters to debate.
It were good we invented some politic way
Our matters to address in good orderly stay.
And for us reason would we looked to ourselves.
Do you not see how these new-fangled prattling elves
Prink up so pertly of late in every place,
And go about us ancients flatly to deface?
As who should say in short time, as well learned as we,
As wise to the world, as good they might accounted be,
Nay, nay, if many years and grey hairs do know no more,
But that every peevish boy hath even as much wit in store:
By the mass, then, have I lived too long, and I would I were dead,
If I have not more knowledge than a thousand of them in my head,
For how should they have learning that were born but even now?
As fit a sight it were to see a goose shod or a saddled cow,
As to hear the prattling of any such Jack Straw.
For, when he hath all done, I count him but a very daw.
As in London not long since, you wot well where,
They rang to a sermon, and we chanced to be there.
Up stert the preacher, I think not past twenty years old,
With a sounding voice and audacity bold,
And began to revile at the holy sacrament and transubstantiation:
I never heard one knave or other make such a declaration.
But, if I had had the boy in a convenient place,
With a good rod or twain, not past one hour's space.
I would so have scourged my merchant,[3] that his breech should ache,
So long as it is since that he those words spake.
What, young men to be meddlers in divinity? it is a goodly sight!
Yet therein now almost is every boy's delight,
No book now in their hands, but all scripture, scripture:
Either the whole Bible or the New Testament, you may be sure.
The New Testament for them? and then too for Coll my dog![4]
This is the old proverb—to cast pearls to an hog.
Give them that which is meet for them, a racket and a ball,
Or some other trifle to busy their heads withal:
Playing at quoits or nine-holes,[5] or shooting at butts,
There let them be, a God's name, till their hearts ache and their guts!
Let us alone with divinity, which are of riper age.
Youth is rash, they say, but old men hath the knowledge.
For while they read they know not what, they omit the verity,
And that is now the cause so many fall into heresy,
Every man hath his own way, some that and some this,