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Now let them drink, till they nod and wink,
Even as good fellows should do,
They shall not miss to have the bliss
Good ale doth bring men to:

And all poor souls that have scoured bowls,
Or have them lustily trowled,

God save the lives of them and their wives,
Whether they be young or old.

Back and side go bare, &c.

JOHN REDFORD.

15

[John Redford was a contemporary of John Heywood's, a fact sufficiently shown by the MS. of Wit and Science, already referred to, which Mr. Halliwell thinks is probably contemporary with the author, and which includes several songs by Heywood. Of John Redford nothing more is known than is disclosed by the MS., which contains the moral play of Wit and Science, and a few lines of two other interludes by the same author. Mr. Collier conjectures that Redford was a professor of music, perhaps employed at court. Wit and Science, which is after the manner of Heywood's interludes, must have been written sometime in the reign of Henry VIII., probably towards its close. The characters, like those in Heywood's pieces, are pure abstractions, and their conversation throughout consists of the same sort of dreary discussion, mottled over with the species of wordcatching in vogue at that period. The dialogue,' says Mr. Halliwell, 'is not in some respects without humour, but the poetry is too contemptible to be patiently endured.'

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The song is curious as an illustration of the manner of these interludes. It is supposed to be sung by a character called Honest Recreation, coming in to the help of Wit, who has been overthrown in a contest with Tediousness, and who, according to the stage directions, 'falleth down and

dieth,' when he is recovered by Honest Recreation, with the assistance of his friends Comfort, Quickness, and Strength.]

THE PLAY OF WIT AND SCIENCE.

SONG OF HONEST RECREATION.

I

HEN travels grete* in matters thick

WE

Have dulled your wits and made them sick,

What medicine, then, your wits to quick,
If ye will know, the best physic,

Is to give place to Honest Recreation :
Give place, we say now, for thy consolation.

2

Where is that Wit that we seek than?
Alas! he lyeth here pale and wan:
Help him at once now, if we can.

O, Wit! how doest thou? Look up, man.

O, Wit! give place to Honest Recreation—
Give place, we say now, for thy consolation.

3

After place given let ear obey:

Give an ear, O Wit! now we thee pray;
Give ear to what we sing and say;

Give an ear and help will come straightway:
Give an ear to Honest Recreation;

Give an ear now, for thy consolation.

4

After ear given, now give an eye:
Behold, thy friends about thee lie,
Recreation I, and Comfort I,

Quickness am I, and Strength here bye.

Give an eye to Honest Recreation :

Give an eye now,

for thy consolation.

* Become enlarged.

5

After an eye given, an hand give ye:
Give an hand O Wit! feel that ye see;
Recreation feel, feel Comfort free;

Feel Quickness here, feel Strength to thee.

Give an hand to Honest Recreation:

Give an hand now, for thy consolation.

6

Upon his feet, would God he were!
To raise him now we need not fear;
Stay you his hand, while we here bear:
Now, all at once upright him rear.

O Wit! give place to Honest Recreation:
Give place, we say now, for thy consolation.

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THOMAS INGELEND.

15

[ALL the information that has come down to us respecting Thomas Ingelend is to be found on the title-page of the interlude of the Disobedient Child, where he is designated as late student in Cambridge.' It is the only literary record by which he is known. The original edition has no date, but Mr. Halliwell, who edited a reprint of it for the Percy Society, thinks it was published about 1560. Mr. Collier remarks that the Disobedient Child is less like a moral play than most others of the same class, the introduction of the Devil, in the usual manner, constituting its strongest resemblance to that species of dramatic representation. In other points of view it approaches more nearly to the realization of the actual characters of every-day life than the dramatic allegories of Heywood. The persons of the drama, instead of representing abstract qualities, indicate certain social conditions and relations that are brought into direct collision by the story. Thus we have the Rich Man,

and the Rich Man's Son, the Young Woman, whom the Rich Man's Son is determined to marry against the wishes of his father, the Priest who marries them, and the Devil who stirs up strife in their household. The titles of these characters reveal the plot, and the following illustrates the main incident, the resolution of the son to pursue his own inclinations in opposition to the will of his father-a brave resolution, for which he pays dearly in the sequel. The Young Woman turns out a vixen, and after she has beaten him and rendered him sufficiently miserable, he is glad to make his escape from her, and seek refuge in his father's house.]

THE DISOBEDIENT CHILD.

SPITE

MY FANTASY WILL NEVER TURN.

PITE of his spite,* which that in vain,
Doth seek to force my fantasy,

I am professed for loss or gain,

To be thine own assuredly:

Wherefore let my father spite and spurn,
My fantasy will never turn!

Although my father of busy wit,
Doth babble still, I care not though;
I have no fear, nor yet will flit,
As doth the water to and fro;
Wherefore, &c.

For I am set and will not swerve,
Whom spiteful speech removeth nought;
And since that I thy grace deserve,
I count it is not dearly bought;

Wherefore, &c.

Anger.

And that which spites me more than all these wants.'

SHAKESPEARE.

Who is afraid, let you him fly,
For I shall well abide the brunt:
Maugre to his lips that listeth to lie,
Of busy brains as is the wont;
Wherefore, &c.

Who listeth thereat to laugh or lour,*
I am not he that aught doth reach;
There is no pain that hath the power,
Out of my breast your love to fetch;
Wherefore, &c.

For whereas he moved me to the school,
And only to follow my book and learning:
He could never make me such a fool,
With all his soft words and fair speaking;
Wherefore, &c.

This minion here, this mincing trull,†
Doth please me more a thousand fold,
Than all the earth that is so full
Of precious stones, silver and gold;
Wherefore, &c.

Whatsoever I did it was for her sake,
It was for her love and only pleasure;
I count it no labour such labour to take,
In getting to me so high a treasure.
Wherefore, &c.

This day I intended for to be merry,
Although my hard father be far hence,
I know no cause for to be heavy,
For all this cost and great expense.
Wherefore, &c.

*To look sad.

† Not a term of reproach.-Cf. 1 Henry VI.-HALLIWELL.

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