316 Elbert N. S. Thompson 
absolution, seeks refuge in the Castle of Perseverance, where he 
hopes to escape his tempters. But the vices rally about the 
standard of Belial, and advance in a body to assault the castle. Of 
the actual engagement that follows only the most meager de- 
scription is given by the churchly author. Pride confesses himself 
beaten by Meekness: 
I weyle & wepe, with wondys wete; 
I am betyn in pe hed. 
my prowde pride a-doun is dreuyn, 
so scharpely Mekenes hath me schreuyn, 
pat I may no lenger leuyn; - 
my lyf is me be-reuyd. (2203—08) 
Envy, in turn, reports herself repulsed by the roses that Charity 
has thrown from the walls. This paucity of narrative detail, how- 
ever, is amply made up for by an extreme fulness of preaching ; 
the battle, in short, was the theologian’s. Before the assault is at- 
tempted, the seven virtues fortify Mankind with effective little 
homilies. Industry urges him: 
In besynesse, man, loke pou be, 
with worpbi werkis goode & pykke! 
to slawthé, if pou casté bee, 
it schal bee drawe to bowtis wyckke. 
Osiositas parit omne malum ; 
it puttyth a man to pouerte, 
& pullyth hym to peynys prycke, 
Do sum-what al-wey for loue of me, 
pou bou schuldyst but thwyte a stycke; 
with bedys, sum tyme pee blys! 
Sum tyme rede, & sum tyme wryte, 
& sum tyme pleye at pi delyte: 
pe deuyl bee waytyth with dyspyte 
whanne pou art in Idylnesse. (1644—56) 
Meanwhile, the vices are considering what means each one, ac- 
cording to his nature, has of regaining their escaped prisoner: 
help we, Mankynde fro zone castel to keuere! 
helpe! we mon hym wynne. 
schete we all at a schote, 
with gere bat we cunne best note, 
to chache Mankynde fro zene cote 
In-to dedly synne. (1955—60) 
