The Magnetic Lady, or Humors Reconciled · chunk 17 of 45
Jonson, Ben · published 1640 · first performed or written 1632 [licensed for stage, Oct 12] (Annals) comedy · King's Men T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness typicality 0.80 · 478 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
First, we all know the soul of man is infinite I what it covets. Who desireth knowledge, Desires it infinitely. Who covets honour, Covets it infinitely, It will be than No hard thing, for a coveting man, to prove Or to confess, he aims at infinite wealth. His soul lying that way. Next, every man Is i'the hope, or possibility Of a whole world: this present world being nothing, But the dispersed issue of first one: And therefore I not see, but a just man May with just reason, and in office aught Propound unto himself. An infinite wealth! He bear the burden: Go you on Sir Moth. Thirdly, if we consider man a member, But of the body politic, we know, By just experience, that the Prince hath need Moore of one wealth, than ten fight men. There you went out o' the road, a little from us. And therefore, if the Prince's aims be infinite, It must be in that, which makes all. Infinite wealth. Fourthly, 'tis natural to all good subjects, To set a price on money; more than fools Ought on their Mrs. Picture; every piece Fro' the penny to the twelve pence, being the Hieroglyphic, And sacred Sculpture of the Sovereign. A manifest conclusion, and a safe one. Fiftly, wealth gives a man the leading voice, At all conventions; and displaceth worth, With general allowance to all parties: It makes a trade to take the wall of virtue; And the mere issue of a shop, right Honourable. Sixtly, it doth enable him that hath it To the performance of all real actions, Referring him to himself still: and not binding His will to any circumstance; without him; It gives him precise knowledge of himself; For, be he rich, he strait with evidence knows Whether he have any compassion, Or inclination unto virtue, or no; Where the poor knave erroneously believes, If he were rich, he would build Churches, or Do such mad things. Seventhly, your wise poor men Have ever been contented to observe Rich Fools, and so to serve their turns upon them: Subjecting all their wit to the others wealth. And become Gentlemen Parasites, Squire Bawds, To feed their Patrons honourable humours. Eightly, 'tis certain that a man may leave His wealth, or to his Children, or his friends; His wit he cannot so dispose, by Legacy? As they shall be a Harrington the better for't. He may entail a Jest upon his house, though: Or leave a tale to his posterity, To be told after him. As you have done here? T'invite your friend, and brother to a feast, Where all the Guests are so mere heterogene, And strangers, no man knows another, or cares If they be Christians, or Mahumetans! That here are met. Is't any thing to you brother, To know Religions more than those you fight for?
seed 43: T35 · seed 44: T34 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Firſt, wee all know the ſoule of man is infinite I what it covets. Who deſireth knowledge, Deſires it infinitely. Who covets honour, Covets it infinitely, It will be then No hard thing, for a coveting man, to prove Or to confeſſe, hee aimes at infinite wealth. His ſoule lying that way. Next, every man Is i'the hope, or poſſibility Of a whole world: this preſent world being nothing, But the diſperſed iſſue of firſt one: And therefore I not ſee, but a juſt man May with juſt reaſon, and in office ought Propound unto himſelfe. An infinite wealth! He beare the burden: Goe you on Sir Moath. Thirdly, if wee conſider man a member, But of the body politique, we know, By juſt experience, that the Prince hath need More of one wealthy, then ten fighting men. There you went out o' the road, a little from us. And therefore, if the Princes aimes be infinite, It muſt be in that, which makes all. Infinite wealth. Fourthly, 'tis naturall to all good ſubjects, To ſet a price on money; more then fooles Ought on their Mrs. Picture; every piece Fro' the penny to the twelve pence, being the Hieroglyphick, And ſacred Sculpture of the Soveraigne. A manifeſt concluſion, and a ſafe one. Fiftly, wealth gives a man the leading voice, At all conventions; and diſplaceth worth, With generall allowance to all parties: It makes a trade to take the wall of vertue; And the mere iſſue of a ſhop, right Honourable. Sixtly, it doth inable him that hath it To the performance of all reall actions, Referring him to himſelfe ſtill: and not binding His will to any circumſtance; without him; It gives him preciſe knowledge of himſelfe; For, be he rich, he ſtraight with evidence knowes Whether he have any compaſſion, Or inclination unto vertue, or no; Where the poore knave erroniouſly beleeves, If he were rich, he would build Churches, or Doe ſuch mad things. Seventhly, your wiſe poore men Have ever beene contented to obſerve Rich Fooles, and ſo to ſerve their turnes upon them: Subjecting all their wit to the others wealth. And become Gentlemen Paraſites, Squire Bauds, To feed their Patrons honorable humors. Eightly, 'tis certaine that a man may leave His wealth, or to his Children, or his friends; His wit hee cannot ſo diſpoſe, by Legacie? As they ſhall be a Harrington the better for't. He may intaile a Jeſt upon his houſe, though: Or leave a tale to his poſteritie, To be told after him. As you have done here? T'invite your friend, and brother to a feaſt, Where all the Gueſts are ſo mere heterogene, And ſtrangers, no man knowes another, or cares If they be Chriſtians, or Mahumetans! That here are met. Is't any thing to you brother, To know Religions more then thoſe you fight for?