Dekker, Thomas · published 1600 · first performed or written 1599 [Nov 9-30, payment] (Annals) romance · Admiral's (Nottingham's) Men · before the Court T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness typicality 0.80 · 483 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
'tis not the crabtree faced world neither that makes mine sour Her gifts toys: well brother virtue, we have let slip the ripe plucking of those toys so long, that we flourish like Apple trees in September, (which having the falling sickness) bear neither fruit nor leaves. Nay by my troth, master, none flourish in these withering times, but Ancient bearers and trumpeters. Shadow, when thou provest a substance, than the tree of virtue and honesty, and such fruit of heaven shall flourish upon earth. True, or when the Sun shines at midnight, or women fly, and yet they are light enough. 'twas never merry world with us, since purses and bags were invented, for now men set lime twigs to catch wealth: And gold, which riseth like the sun out of the East Indies, to shine upon every one, is like a Conte taken napping in a Pursenet, and suffers his glistering yellow face deity to be leapt up in Lambskins, as if the innocency of those leather prisons, should dispense with the chevril consciences of the Iron hearted jailers. Snudges may well be called jailers: for if a poor wretch steal but into a debt of ten pound, they lead him straight to execution. Doth it not vex thee, Shadow, to stalk up and down Cyprus, and to meet the outside of a man, leapt all in Damask, his head and beard as white as milk, only with conjuring in the snowy circles of the field Argent, and his nose as red as Scarlet, only with kissing the ruddy lips of Angels, and such an Image to wear on his thumb, three men's livings in the shape of a seal King, whilst my brother virtue here, And you his brother Vice. Most true, my little lean Iniquity, whilst we three, if we should starve, cannot borrow five shillings of him neither in word nor deed: does not this vex thee, Shadow? Not me; it vexes me no more to see such a picture, than to see an Ass laden with riches, because I know when he can bear no longer, he must leave his burden to some other beast. Art not thou mad, to see money on goldsmiths stalls, and none in our purses? It mads not me, I thank the destinies. By my poverty, and that's but a threadbare oath, I am more than mad, to see silks and velvets, lie crowding together in Mercers shops, as in prisons, only for fear of the smell of wax (they cannot abide to see a man made out of wax) for these Satin commodities have such smooth consciences, that they'll have no man give his word for them, or stand bound for their coming forth, but vow to lie till they rot in those shop Counters, except Monsieur money bail them. Shadow, I am out of my little wits to see this.
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)
Tis not the crab-trée fac'd world neither that makes mine sowre Her gifts toyes: wel brother vertue, we haue let slip the ripe plucking of those toyes so long, that wee florish like Apple trées in September, (which hauing the falling sicknes) beare neither fruit nor leaues. Nay by my troth, master, none flourish in these withering times, but Auncient bearers and trumpettors. Shaddow, when thou prouest a substance, then the trée of vertue and honestie, and such fruit of heauen shall florish vpon earth. True, or when the Sunne shines at midnight, or women flie, and yet they are light enough. Twas neuer merie world with vs, since purses and bags were inuented, for now men set lime twigges to catch wealth: And gold, which ryseth like the sunne out of the East Indies, to shine vpon euery one, is like a Conte taken napping in a Pursenet, and suffers his glistring yellow face deitie to be lapt vp in Lambskins, as if the innocencie of those leather prisons, should dispence with the Cheuerill consciences of the Iron harted Iaylers. Snudges may well be called Iaylers: for if a poore wretch steale but into a debt of tenne pound, they leade him straight to execution. Doth it not vex thée, Shaddow, to stalke vp and downe Cyprus, and to méete the out-side of a man, lapt all in Damaske, his head and beard as white as milke, onely with coniuring in the snowie circles of the field Argent, and his nose as red as Scarlet, onely with kissing the ruddie lippes of Angels, and such an Image to weare on his thumbe, thrée mens liuings in the shape of a seale King, whilst my brother vertue here, And you his brother Uice. Most true, my little leane Iniquitie, whilst wee thrée, if we should starue, cannot borrow fiue shillings of him neither in word nor déede: does not this vexe thée, Shaddow? Not me; it vexes me no more to sée such a picture, then to sée an Asse laden with riches, because I know when hee can beare no longer, he must leaue his burthen to some other be ast. Art not thou mad, to see money on Goldsmithes stalles, and none in our purses? It mads not me, I thanke the destinies. By my pouertie, and thats but a thréed-bare oath, I am more then mad, to see silkes and veluets, lie crowding together in Mercers shops, as in prisons, onely for feare of the smell of waxe (they cannot abide to see a man made out of waxe) for these Satten commodities haue such smooth consciences, that theile haue no man giue his word for them, or stand bownd for their comming foorth, but vow to lie till they rot in those shop Counters, except Monsteur money baile them. Shaddow, I am out of my little wits to sée this.