The Three Lords and Three Ladies of London · chunk 38 of 41
Wilson, Robert · published 1590 · first performed or written 1588 [1588-1590] (Annals) moral · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) T39 Profit, conscience and dishonest dealing typicality 0.75 · 475 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T39: conscience, lucre, usury, lucar, fraud, dissimulation, simony, london, lady, nemo.
In golden letters on this stone is written Care. Care with desire of lucre well agrees, the rather for that London's Lucre may not be separated from London's Pomp, so you may take that stone if ye will, but the Lady you cannot have. And a stone is a cold comfort instead of Lucre. Devotion to Conscience (I speak now to you my Lord that are learned) is sorrow for sin, or in one word read. On this sweating stone in brass is set Remorse. And that is your portion, for Conscience is bestowed on London's Pleasure, because London makes a conscience what pleasure they use and admit, and what time they bestow therein, and to what end: so my Lord Devotion, either that or nothing. A stone is a hard lot in stead of a Lady. My Lord Delight, that to delight in Love, you must I love, for making choice of mine. Love is my portion, and that Flint is yours. Here in lead is written, Charity: and what of this? If you be (as I doubt not) honest delight in love, then in the best sense, you can have but Charity, if you be (which I suspect not) other Delight in Love, you must be noted for Concupiscence, and that you will blush to be: well Charity is your best, then that is your portion: For, mark ye, London's policy joins with London's Love: to show, that all our policy is for love of London's common wealth: and so our love cannot be separate from our policy, you bear this. A Flint's a hard change for so fair a wife. And thus Lords, Desire of Lucre may take Care, Devotion of Conscience may have Remorse, and Delight of Love may have Charity, other recompense none. And so we three leave you three with Care, Remorse, & charity. With Care and Remorse I swear, ye do leave us, but what charity I cannot tell. Well. yet must we use Charity though we fail of our desire, and we are answered with such reason as is not to be gainsaid. Indeed my Lord your calling is to persuade to Charity, but if I use patience, it shall be perforce. Yet being so wisely warned, methinks we should be armed And take this in worth, that the world wonder no further, I will take up my hard burden of Remorse and be gone. It is good to follow examples of good, I'll take this heavy burden of Care, and follow as I may. Because I'll not be slagular, I'll frame myself to follow, taking this cold portion of Charity as my share. Come on M. diligence, I have been seeking ye, as a man should seek a load of hay in a needles eye. And why hast thou sought me (I pray thee) so earnestly?
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)
In golden letters on this stone is written Care. Care with desire of lucre well agrees, the rather for that Londons Lucre may not be seperated from Londons Pompe, so you may take that stone if ye will, but the Lady you cannot haue. And a stone is a cold comfor in steed of Lucre. Deuotion to Conscience (I speake now to you my Lord that are learned) is sorrow for sinne, or in one word read. On this sweating stone in brasse is set Remorse. And that is your portion, for Conscience is bestowed on Londons Pleasure, because London maks a conscience what pleasure they vse and admit, and what time they bestowe therein, and to what end: s my Lord Deuotion, either that or nothing. A stone is a hard lot in stod of a Ladie. My Lord Delight, that to delight in Loue, you must I loue, for making choice of mine. Loue is my portion, and that Flint is yours. Here in lead is written, Charitie: and what of this? If you be (as I doubt not) honest delight in loue, then in the best sene, you can haue but Charitie, if you be (which I suspect not) other Delight in Loue, you must be noted for Concupiscence, and that you will blush to be: wel Charitie is your best, then that is your portion: For, marke ye, Londons pollicy ioines with Londons Loue: to shew, that all our policie is for loue of Londons common wealth: and so our loue cannot be seperte from our pollicy, you beare this. A Flint's a hard change for so faire a wife. And thus Lords, Desire of Lucre may take Care, Deuotion of Conscience may haue Remorse, and Delight of Loue may haue Charitie, other recompence none. And so we thrée leaue you three with Care, Remorse, & charity. With Care and Remorse I sweare, ye doo leaue vs, but what charitie I cannot tell. Wel. yet must we vse Charity though we faile of our desire, and we are answered with such reason as is not to be gainsaid. Indeed my Lord your calling is to perswade to Charity, but if I vse patience, it shall be perforce. Yet being so wisely warn'd, me thinks wée should be arm'd And take this in worth, that the world wonder no further, I wil take vp my hard burden of Remorse and be gone. It is good to follow examples of good, Ile take this heauy burden of Care, and follow as I may. Because Ile not be slagular, Ile frame my selfe to follow, taking this cold portion of Charitie as my share. Come on M. Didligence, I haue bene seeking ye, as a man should seek a load of hay in a néedles eie. And why hast thou sought me (I pray thee) so earnestly?