THE DISPUTE OF THE HEART AND BODY OF FRANÇOIS VILLON

Who is this I hear?— Lo, this is I, thine heart,

That holds on merely now by a slender string.

Strength fails me, shape and sense are rent apart,

The blood in me is turned to a bitter thing,

Seeing thee skulk here like a dog shivering.—

Yea, and for what?— For that thy sense found sweet.—

What irks it thee?— I feel the sting of it.—

Leave me at peace.— Why?— Nay now, leave me at peace;

I will repent when I grow ripe in wit.—

I say no more.— I care not though thou cease.—

What art thou, trow?— A man worth praise, perfay.—

This is thy thirtieth year of wayfaring.—

‘ Tis a mule's age.— Art thou a boy still?— Nay.—

Is it hot lust that spurs thee with its sting,

Grasping thy throat? Know'st thou not anything?—

Yea, black and white, when milk is specked with flies,

I can make out.— No more?— Nay, in no wise.

Shall I begin again the count of these?—

Thou art undone.— I will make shift to rise.—

I say no more.— I care not though thou cease.—

I have the sorrow of it, and thou the smart.

Wert thou a poor mad fool or weak of wit,

Then might'st thou plead this pretext with thine heart;

But if thou know not good from evil a whit,

Either thy head is hard as stone to hit,

Or shame, not honour, gives thee most content.

What canst thou answer to this argument?—

When I am dead I shall be well at ease.—

God! what good hope!— Thou art over eloquent.—

I say no more.— I care not though thou cease.—

Whence is this ill?— From sorrow and not from sin.

When Saturn packed my wallet up for me

I well believe he put these ills therein.—

Fool, wilt thou make thy servant lord of thee?

Hear now the wise king's counsel; thus saith he:

All power upon the stars a wise man hath;

There is no planet that shall do him scathe.—

Nay, as they made me I grow and I decrease.—

What say'st thou?— Truly this is all my faith.—

I say no more.— I care not though thou cease.—

Wouldst thou live still?— God help me that I may!—

Then thou must — What? turn penitent and pray?—

Read always — What?— Grave words and good to say;

Leave off the ways of fools, lest they displease.—

Good; I will do it.— Wilt thou remember?— Yea.—

Abide not till there come an evil day.

I say no more.— I care not though thou cease.