Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T39: conscience, lucre, usury, lucar, fraud, dissimulation, simony, london, lady, nemo.
For if we lend for reward how can we say we are our neighbours french O how blessed shall that man be that lends without abuse: But thrice accursed shall he be that greatly covets use: For he that covets over much insatiate is his mind, So that to perjury and cruelty he wholly is inclined: Wherewith they sore oppress the poor, by divers sundry ways, Which makes them cry unto the Lord to shorten cutthroats days: Paul calleth them thieves that doth not give the needy of their store, And thrice accursed are they that take one penny from the poor, But while I stand reasoning thus I forget my market clean, And sith God hath ordained this way, I am to use the mean, Have ye any old shoes, or have ye any boots, have ye any bufkins, or will ye buy any broom. Who bargains or chops with Conscience, what will no customer come? Who is it that cries brooms, what Conscience selling brooms above the street? What Usury, it is great pity thou art unhanged yet. Believe me Conscience, it grieves me thou art brought so low. Believe me Usury it grieves me thou wast not hanged long ago For if thou hadst been hanged before thou slewest Hospitality, Thou hadst not made me and thousands more to feel the like poverty. methought I heard one cry brooms along the door. I marry Madam it was Conscience, who seems to be offended at me very sore. Alas Conscience art thou become a poor broom wife? Alas Lucar, wilt thou continue a harlot all days of thy life? Alas methinks it is a grief to thee that thou art so poor. Alas Lucar, methinks it is no pain to thee that thou still platest the whore. Well well Conscience, that sharp tongue of thine hath not been thy furtherance. If thou hadst kept thy tongue, thou hadst kept thy friend, and not have had such hindrance. But wottest thou who shall be married tomorrow? Love with my Dissimulation: For I think to bid the guess, they are by this time well nigh gone, And having occasion to buy brooms, I care not if I buy them all. Then give me a shilling, and with a good will have them you shall. Usury, carry in these brooms, and give them to the maid. For I know of such store she will be well apaid. Hold Conscience, though thy brooms be not worth a quarter so much, Yet to give thee a piece of gold I do it not grudge: And if thou wouldst follow my mind, thou shouldst not live in such sort, But pass thy days with pleasure store of every kind of sport. I think you lead the world in a string, for everybody follows you, And sith every one doth it, why may not I do it too: For that I see your free heart, and great liberality, I marvel not that all people are so willing to follow ye.
seed 43: T41 · seed 44: T39 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
For if we lend for reward how can we say we are our neighbors fren O how blessed shall that man be that lends without abuse: But thrise accursed shall he be that greatly couets vse: For he that couets ouer much insaciate is his minde, So that to perurie and crueltie he wholly is inclinde: Wherewith they sore oppresse the poore, by diuers sundrie waies, Which makes them crie vnto the Lord to shorten cutthrotes dayes: Paule calleth them theeues that doth not giue the needie of their store, And thrise accurst are they that take one penny from the poore, But while I stand reasoning thus I forget my market cleane, And sith God hath ordained this way, I am to vse the meane, Haue ye any olde shoes, or haue ye any bootes, haue ye any busins, or w ye buy any broome. Who bargens or chops with Conscience, what will no customer come? Who is it that cries broomes, what Conscience selling broomes aboue the street? What Usurie, it is great pittie thou art vnhanged yet. Beleeue me Conscience, it greeues me thou art brought so low. Beleue me Usurie it greeues me thou wast not hanged long ago For if thou hadst beene hanged before thou slewest Hospitalitie, Thou hadst not made me and thousands more to feele the like pouertie. Me thought I heard one crie broomes along the dore. I mary Madam it was Conscience, who seemes to be offended at me verie sore. Alas Conscience art thou become a poore broome wife? Alas Lucar, wilt thou continue a harlot all dayes of thy life? Alas me thinks it is a griefe to thee that thou art so poore. Alas Lucar, me thinkes it is no paine to thee that thou still platest the whore. Well well Conscience, that sharpe tongue of thine hath not beene thy furtherance. If thou hadst kept thy tongue, thou hadst kept thy friend, and not haue had such hinderance. But wottest thou who shall be married to morrow? Loue with my Dissimulation: For I thinke to bid the gesse, they are by this time well nie gone, And hauing occasion to buy brooms, I care not if I buy them all. Then giue me a shilling, and with a good will haue them you shall. Usurie, carry in these broomes, and giue them to the mayd. For I know of such store she will be well apaid. Hold Conscience, though thy broomes be not worth a quarter so much, Yet to giue thee a peece of gold I do it not grutch: And if thou wouldst follow my mind, thou shouldst not liue in such sort, But passe thy daies with pleasure store of euery kind of sport. I thinke you lead the world in a string, for euery body followes you, And sith euery one doth it, why may not I do it too: For that I see your free heart▪ and great liberalitie, I maruell not that all people are so willing to follow ye.