Lupton, Thomas · published 1578 · first performed or written 1577 [1559-1577] (Annals) moral T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness typicality 0.76 · 503 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
I would I knew them which speak such words of me, They are but beggarly knaves I durst lay a wager, I would hoist them at the next term & they should not know why Then should you see the villains begin to crouch and flatter: But yet for all that my money and my riches Get me all the pleasures I can desire or wish. These words of pleasures are written by Cato, Malorum esca voluptas qua homines capiuntur vt pisces hamo: Pleasure is the meat of evil men thus means the text and book Wherewith men be catched as fishes with the hook. And again he hath written, read the same who list Nulla capitalior pestis, quam corporis voluptas, hominibus à natura data est There is no greater plague given to man by nature Then is of the body the desire or pleasure. And Sallust in few words thereof writeth thus, In regno voluptatis, virtuti non est locus: In the kingdom of pleasure there is no place for virtue, For pleasure bringeth loathsomeness as Plinie doth show, Nulla est adeo quae non assiduitate sui fastidium pariat voluptas. No pleasure but with much use brings loathsomeness. Nay that is not true, for the more money I have The more I desire so god me help and save. Juvenalis' words herein doth thee rightly hit, Crescit amor nummi quantum ipsa pecunia crescit: The love of money increaseth as much as money itself To what mischief bringeth us this vile and wicked pelf. Money makes no man rich unless there be contentation, But the poor man contented is richer I say As in ultimo paradoxo I find a good probation, Contentum suis rebus esse, maximae sunt certissimaeque divitiae: The most great and certain riches that is Hath he that is content with that which is his: Therefore thou art most poor as I may well define, For thou art not content with that which is thine. Egens est qui non satis habet, & is cvi nihil satis potest esse: He is poor that hath not enough or whom nothing will satisfy: And in primo paradoxo thou art trimly painted, And such as thou art as be never satisfied. Nunquam expletur nec satiatur cupiditatis sitis, Neque solum ea quae habent libidine augendi cruciantur, sed etiam amittendi metu: The thirst of desire is never satisfied nor filled, And these goods they have to increase their desire Whereby they are not only grievously tormented, But also to lose them they have as great a fear. Horace doth verify your saying I am sure Saying, Crescentem pecuniam cura sequitur. And eloquent Cicero sayeth in this phrase Virtuti qui pra diti sunt soli sunt divites: They are only rich that with virtue are adorned, So that without virtue a man can not be enriched: Were it not for my learning I should be more covetous, Therefore learning is to be preferred before any thing, Literae pulcherrimae sunt divitiae hominis: The most fair riches of man is knowledge and learning.
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)
¶ I would I knewe them which speake such wordes of me, They are but beggerly knaues I durst laye a wager, I would hoyse them at the next terme & thei should not know why Then should you see the villaines beginne to croutch and flatter: But yet for all that my money and my riches Get me all the pleasures I can desire or wishe. ¶ These wordes of pleasures are written by Cato, Malorum esca voluptas qua homines capiuntur vt pisces hamo: Pleasure is the meate of euill men thus meanes the text and booke Wherewith men be catched as fishes with the hooke. And againe he hath written, reade the same who list Nulla capitalior pestis, quā corporis voluptas, hominibus à natur dat est There is no greater plague giuen to man by nature Then is of the bodie the desire or pleasure. ¶ And Salust in fewe wordes thereof writeth thus, In regno voluptatis, virtuti non est locus: In the kingdome of pleasure there is no place for vertue, For pleasure bringeth lothsomnes as Plinie doeth shewe, Nulla est adeo quae non assiduitate sui fastidium pariat voluptas. No pleasure but with much vse bringes lothsomnes. ¶ Nay that is not true, for the more money I haue The more I desire so god me helpe and saue. ¶ Iuuenalis wordes herein doeth thee rightly hit, Crescit amor nummi quantum ipsa pecunia crescit: The loue of money increaseth as much as money it selfe To what mischiefe bringeth vs this vile and wicked pelfe. Money makes no man riche vnles there be contentation, But the poore man contented is richer I saye As in vltimo paradoxo I finde a good probation, Contentum suis rebus esse, maximae sunt certissimae que diuitiae: The most great and certaine riches that is Hath he that is content with that which is his: Therefore thou art most poore as I may well define, For thou art not content with that which is thine. Egens est qui non satis habet, & is cui nihil satis potest esse: He is poore that hath not ynough or whom nothing will satisfie: And in primo paradoxo thou art trimly painted, And such as thou art as be neuer satisfied. Nunquam expletur nec satiatur cupiditatis sitis, Ne que solum ea quae habent libidine augendi cruciantur, sed etiam amittendi metu: The thirst of desire is neuer satisfied nor filled, And these goods they haue to increase their desire Whereby they are not onely grieuously tormented, But also to loose them they haue as great a feare. ¶ Horace doeth verifie your saying I am sure Saying, Crescentem pecuniam cura sequitur. And eloquent Cicero sayeth in this phrase Virtuti qui pra diti sunt soli sunt diuites: They are onely riche that with vertue are adorned▪ So that without vertue a man can not be enriched: Were it not for my learning I should be more couetous, Therefore learning is to be preferred before any thing, Literae pulcherrimae sunt diuitiae hominis▪ The most fayer riches of man is knowledge and learning.