Woodes, Nathaniel · published 1581 · first performed or written 1572 [1570-1581] (Annals) moral unassigned nearest T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness · 448 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
WHen whirling winds which blow with blust'ring blast, Shall cease their course, and not the Air move. But still unstirred it doth stand, it chanceth at the last, To be infect, the truth hereof even day by day we prove, For deep within the Caves of earth, of force it doth behove, Sith that no winds do come thereto, the Air out to beat, By standing still the closed air, doth breed infections great. The stream or flood, which runneth up and down, Is far more sweet, then is the standing brook. If long unworn, you leave a Cloak or Gown, moths will it mar, unless you thereto look: Again, if that upon a shelf, you place, or set a book, And suffer it there still to stand, the worms will soon it eat: A Knife likewise, in sheath laid up, the rust will mar and fret. The good road horse, if still at rack he stand, To resty Jade will soon transformed be, If long untilled, you leave a fertile land, From strecke, and weed, no place willbe left free: By these examples, and such like, approve then well may we, That idleness more evils doth bring, into the mind of man, Then labour great in longer time, again expel out can. Which thing our Author marking well, when wearied was his mind, From reading grave and ancient works, yet loathe his time to lose, Bethought himself, to ease his heart, some recreance to find And as he mused in his mind, immediately arose, A strange example done of late, which might as he suppose, Stir up their minds to godliness, which should it see or hear, And therefore humbly doth you pray, to give attentive care. The argument or ground whereon our Author chiefly stayed, Is (sure) a History strange and true, to many men well known, Of one through love of worldly wealth, and fear of death dismayed, Because he would his life and goods, have kept still as his own, From state of grace wherein he stood, was almost overthrown: So that he had no power at all, in heart firm faith to have, Till at the last, God changed his mind his mercies for to crave. And here, our Author, thought it meet, the true name to omit, And at this time, imagine him PHILOLOGUS to be, First, for because, a Comedy, will hardly him permit, The vices of one private man, to touch particularly, Again, now shall it stir them more, who shall it hear or see, For if this worldling had been named, we would straight deem in mind, That all by him then spoken were, ourselves we would not find.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
VVHen whirling windes which blowe with blſtng blaſt, Shall ceaſe their courſe, and not the Ayre ooue. But ſtill vnſtirred it doth ſtand, it chaunceth at the laſt, To be infect, the trueth hereof euen day by day we prooue, For deepe within the Caues of earth, of force it doth behoe, Sith that no windes do come thereto, the Ayre out to beate, By ſtanding ſtil the cloſed ayre, doth breede infections great. ¶ The ſtreame or flood, which runneth vp and downe, Is far more ſweete, then is the ſtanding brooke. If long vnworne, you leaue a Cloake or Gowne, Moathes will it marre, vnleſſe you thereto looke: Againe, if that vppon a ſhelfe, you place, or ſet a booke▪ And ſuffer it there ſtill to ſtand, the wormes will ſoone it eate: A Knife likewiſe, in ſheath layde vp, the ruſt will marre and freat. ¶ The good road horſſe, if ſtill at racke he ſtand, To reſty ade will ſoone tranſformed be, If long vnld, you leaue a fertile lande, From ſtrecke, and weede, no place wilbe left free: By theſe examples, and ſuch like, approoue then well may wee, That idlenes more euills doth bring, into the minde of man, Then labour great in longer tyme, againe expell out can. ¶ Which thing our Author marking well, when weried was his minde, From reading graue and auncient workes, yet loth his time to looſe, Bethought himſelfe, to eaſe his heart, ſome recreance to fynde And as he muſed in his minde, immediately aroſe, A ſtraunge example done of late, which might as he ſuppoſe, Stirre vp their mindes to godlines, which ſhoulde it ſee or heare, And therefore humbly doth you pray, to geue attentiue care. ¶ The argument or ground wheron our Author chefely ſtayed, Is (ſure) a Hyſtory ſtraunge and true, to many men well knowne, Of one through loue of worldly wealth, and feare of death diſmaide, Becauſe he would his lyfe and goods, haue kept ſtill as his owne, From ſtate of grace wherein he ſtoode, was almoſt ouerthrowne: So that he had no power at all, in heart firme fayth to haue, Tyll at the laſt, God chaungd his mynde his mercies for to craue. ¶ And here, our Author, thought it meete, the true name to omit, And at this time▪ imagine him PHILOLOGVS to be, Firſt, for becauſe▪ a Comedie, will hardly him permit, The vices of one priuate man, to touch particulerly, Againe, nowe ſhall it ſtirre them more, who ſhall it heare or ſee, For if this worldling had ben namde, we wold ſtraight deeme in minde, That all by him then ſpoken were, our ſelues we would not finde.