Lupton, Thomas · published 1578 · first performed or written 1577 [1559-1577] (Annals) moral T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness typicality 0.83 · 517 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
Opes eiusmodi parandae quae navi fracta simul cum Dno quaeant enatare: These riches of men are chiefly to be gotten Which may swim to land with his master when the ship is broken. Well I have no learning to defend my cause withal, But here is a friend will plead my matter in Westminster hall. By the old proverb every man may not wear a fourde hood, But if my coat were furred it would do me more good: When I was able I laboured but now I wax old, If I had sufficient meat to feed my body, And also necessary cloth to keep away the cold There is none of you would be so merry as I: I have neither learning nor money myself to maintain, Therefore to beg for my living I am both glad and fain. Godliness is great riches if a man be therewith content, God for the godly will prepare that he shall have sufficient. Thou art unhappy and borne in an evil hour, That hast no money, nor for any canst labour. Do you see how he esteems this poor and simple wight, Perhaps he is more accepted than thou in God's sight: He thinks none is happy but such as have money I will prove this man richer than thou by and by, For he would be content with sufficient cloth and food, And thou art not satisfied with twenty men's good. In opiae nauca desunt, avaritiae omnia, saith Horacius: Few things to the needy but all wanting to the covetous, Thou represents dives who had all his pleasure here, But he represents Lazarus who now hath heavenly cheer: Beware lest through thy riches thou have not endless pain, The faithful and contented wight in th'end shall heaven attain. For Christ's sake I suffer this poverty meekly, The cross of Christ I embrace most willingly: The rich for the most part be so hard hearted That nothing I can get wherewith to be relieved, Yet God doth open the hearts of the poor sort That I have always sufficient myself to comfort: It is a world to see how greedy they be of money, For having an hundredth pound they will not part with a penny But they will not stick vainly to consume and spend A noble at a shot upon a feigned friend: God's grace I fear me from such hard hearts is passed That will not give the four score part of that they spend in waste. Neither learning nor money I am called wherever I go, Whereby I do suffer much pain, hunger and woe: Therefore good gentleman I beseech you of your goodness Give me your charity my body to refresh: And though I be not able God will pay it certain At the last day with treble fold again. God forbid I should from the poor withdraw my hand, For then I should not be able before the Lord to stand: What we give to the poor that we give to Christ, To give to the needy poor God grant us always priest.
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)
¶ Opes eiusmodi parandae quae naui fracta simul cum Dn̄o quaeant enatare: These riches of men are chiefly to be gotten Which may swimme to land with his master whē the ship is brokē. ¶ Well I haue no learning to defende my cause withall, But here is a friend will pleade my matter in Westminster hall. By the olde prouerbe euerie man may not weare a fourde hood, But if my coat were furred it would do me more good: When I was able I laboured but nowe I waxe olde, If I had sufficient meate to feede my body, And also necessarie clothe to keepe away the colde There is none of you would be so metie as I: I haue neither learning nor money my selfe to maintaine, Therefore to begge for my liuing I am both glad and faine. ¶ Godlines is great riches if a man be therewith content, God for the godly will prepare that he shall haue sufficient. ¶ Thou art vnhappie and borne in an euill houre, That hast no money, nor for anie canst labour. ¶ Doe you see howe he esteemes this poore and simple wight, Perhaps he is more accepted then thou in Gods sight: He thinkes none is happie but such as haue money I will prooue this man richer then thou by and by, For he would be content with sufficient clothe and food, And thou art not satisfied with twentie mens good. In opiae nauca desunt, auaritiae omnia ▪ saith Horacius: Fewe things to the needie but all wanting to the couetous, Thou represents Diues who had all his pleasure here, But he represents Lazarus who now hath heauenly chere: Beware least through thy riches thou haue not endles payne, The faithful and contented wight in thend shall heauen attaine. ¶ For Christes sake I suffer this pouertie meekely, The crosse of Christ I embrace most willingly: The riche for the most part be so hard hearted That nothing I can get wherewith to be releeued, Yet God doeth open the heartes of the poore sort That I haue alwayes sufficient my selfe to comfort: It is a world to see howe greedie they be of money, For hauing an hundreth pound they will not part with a peny But they wil not sticke vainly to consume and spende A noble at a shot vpon a fayned friende: Gods grace I feare me from such hard heartes is past That will not giue the foure score part of that they spend in wast. Neither learning nor money I am called where euer I goe, Whereby I do suffer much payne, hunger and woe: Therefore good gentleman I beseech you of your goodnes Giue me your charitie my bodie to refreshe: And though I be not able God will paye it certaine At the last day with treble foulde againe. ¶ God forbid I should from the poore withdrawe my hande, For then I should not be able before the Lord to stande: What we giue to the poore that we giue to Christ, To giue to the needie poore God graunt vs alway prest.