Lupton, Thomas · published 1578 · first performed or written 1577 [1559-1577] (Annals) moral T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness typicality 0.84 · 457 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
Who may be compared to me in degree? Who is more happy than Learning with money? Learning at the first to riches me preferred: And money is the cause that I am now honoured, Learning with money I am of all men called Who is not desirous my favour to win, For my money and riches my learning is esteemed: Very few or none but at my table have been. The learned Seneca these words hath expressed Iners malorum remedium ignorantia est. Then if you counterpoise me Learning with money, Of all evils and mischief I am the best remedy. Learning may aswell counsel where money doth want, But riches causeth the common sort to esteem counsel best: For if a rich man well appareled have a fine tongue to descant, He shallbe taken for learned though he know never a letter. My learning as good as yours I dare be bold to compare, Yet there is great difference between our estimations, But if your attire, as mine is, were course and as bare, Than he should be best esteemed that had best conditions. My name is Learning without money in poor degree, god wot, I have not to help my need, either penny or groat. And though I have no money at this time present Yet I thank God, through my knowledge and learning I ever have enough wherewith I am content, So that contentation makes me as rich as a king. The difference between our two livings is this only, You live idly in pleasure, and I in study take pain Which you can not away with but think it a misery: But if with labour I have sufficient I am right glad and fain, Who will not be content with poverty to have sufficient gain? Surely to live godly with poverty I had rather Than be damned in sin with continual pleasure. I will not say but that riches be a great occasion That we do live wanton and out of God's fear, But learning doth cause us to bridle our affection: Therefore learning rules my riches everywhere. Who so is rich doth fall into many annoysome lust, But the godly poor always in God doth put his trust: If you do rule your goods and bestow them as you ought, Few fellows you have as I by proof have tried, Of many learned rich I craved but could get nought, But the poor sort unlearned have given me to feed: Many that be learned and riches have withal Are more out of frame then some who nothing have at all. Their learning makes them think with their riches to be so strong, That they will oppress their neighbour be it never so wrong.
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)
¶ Who may be compared to me in degree? Who is more happie then Learning with money? Learning at the first to riches me preferd: And monie is the cause that I am nowe honoured, Learning with money I am of all men called Who is not desirous my fauour to winne, For my money and riches my learning is esteemed: Uerie fewe or none but at my table haue bin. The learned Seneca these wordes hath exprest Iners malorum remedium ignorantia est. Then if you counterpease me Learning with money, Of all euils and mischiefe I am the best remedie. Learning may aswel counsell where money doeth want, But riches causeth the common sorte to esteeme counsell best: For if a riche man well apparelled haue a fine tong to descant, He shalbe taken for learned though he knowe neuer a letter. My learning as good as yours I dare be bolde to compare, Yet there is great difference betweene our estimations, But if your attire, as mine is, were course and as bare, Then he should be best esteemed that had best conditions. My name is Learning without money in poore degree, god wote, I haue not to helpe my neede, eyther penie or grote. And though I haue no money at this time present Yet I thanke God, through my knowledge and learning I euer haue ynough wherewith I am content, So that contentation makes me as rich as a king. The difference betweene our two liuings is this onely, You liue idely in pleasure, and I in studie take payne Which you can not away with but thinke it a miserie: But if with labour I haue sufficient I am right glad and fayne, Who will not be content with pouertie to haue sufficient gayne? Surely to liue godly with pouertie I had rather Then be damned in sinne with continual pleasure. ¶ I will not say but that riches be a great occasion That we do liue wantonly and out of Gods feare, But learning doeth cause vs to bridle our affection: Therefore learning rules my riches euerie where. ¶ Who so is riche doeth fall into manie anoysome lust, But the godly poore alway in God doeth put his trust: If you do rule your goods and bestowe them as you ought, Fewe fellowes you haue as I by proofe haue tryde▪ Of manie learned riche I craud but could get nought, But the poore sorte vnlearned haue giuen me to feede: Many that be learned and riches haue withall Are more out of frame then some who nothing haue at all. Their learning makes them think with their riches to be so strong, That they will oppresse their neighbour be it neuer so wrong.