Nashe, Thomas · published 1600 · first performed or written 1592 (Annals) comedy · Unknown T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness typicality 0.72 · 438 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
A small matter. I know one spent in less than a year, eight and fifty pounds in mustard, and another that ran in det, in the space of four or five year, above fourteen thousand pound in lute strings and grey paper. O monstrous unthrift, whoe'er heard the like? The seas vast throat in so short tract of time, Devoureth nor consumeth half so much. How well mightst thou have lived within thy bounds? What talk you to me, of living within my bounds? I tell you, none but Asses live within their bounds: the silly beasts, if they be put in a pasture, that is eaten bare to the very earth, & where there is nothing to be had but thistles, will rather fall soberly to those thistles, and be hunger-starved, than they will offer to break their bounds; whereas the lusty courser, if he be in a barren plot, and spy better grass in some pasture near adjoining, breaks over hedge and ditch, and to go, ere he will be pent in, and not have his belly full. Peradventure, the horses lately sworn to be stolen, carried that youthful mind, who, if they had been Asses, would have been yet extant. Thus we may see, the longer we live, the more we shall learn: I ne'er thought honesty an ass, till this day. This world is transitory, it was made of nothing, and it must to nothing: wherefore, if we will do the will of our high Creator, (whose will it is, that it pass to nothing) we must help to consume it to nothing. Gold is more vile than men: Men die in thousands, and ten thousands, yea, many times in hundredth thousands in one battle. If then, the best husband be so liberal of his best handiwork, to what end should we make much of a glittering excrement, or doubt to spend at a banquet as many pounds, as he spends men at a battle? methinks I honour Geta the Roman Emperor, for a brave minded fellow: for he commanded a banquet to be made him of all meats under the Sun; which were served in after the order of the Alphabet; and the clerk of the kitchen following the last dish (which was two mile off from the foremost) brought him an Index of their several names: Neither did he pingle when it was set on the board, but for the space of three days and three nights, never rose from the Table. O intolerable lying villain, that was never begotten without the consent of a whetstone. Ungracious man, how fondly he argueth!
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)
A small matter. I knowe one spent in lesse then a yere, eyght and fifty pounds in mustard, and an other that ranne in det, in the space of foure or siue yeere, aboue foureteene thousand pound in lute strings and gray paper. O monstrous vnthrift, who e're heard the like? The seas vast throate in so short tract of time, Deuoureth nor consumeth halfe so much. How well mightst thou haue liu'd within thy bounds? What talke you to me, of liuing within my bounds? I tell you, none but Asses liue within their bounds: the silly beasts, if they be put in a pasture, that is eaten bare to the very earth, & where there is nothing to be had but thistles, will rather fall soberly to those thistles, and be hungerstaru'd, then they will offer to breake their bounds; whereas the lusty courser, if he be in a barrayne plot, and spye better grasse in some pasture neere adioyning, breakes ouer hedge and ditch, and to goe, e're he will be pent in, and not haue his belly full. Peraduenture, the horses lately sworne to be stolne, carried that youthfull mind, who, if they had bene Asses, would haue bene yet extant. Thus we may see, the longer we liue, the more wee shall learne: I ne're thought honestie an asse, till this day. This world is transitory, it was made of nothing, and it must to nothing: wherefore, if wee will doe the will of our high Creatour, (whose will it is, that it passe to nothing) wee must helpe to consume it to nothing. Gold is more vile then men: Men dye in thousands, and ten thousands, yea, many times in hundreth thousands in one battaile. If then, the best husband bee so liberall of his best handyworke, to what ende should we make much of a glittering excrement, or doubt to spend at a banket as many pounds, as he spends men at a battaile? Me thinkes I honour Geta the Romane Emperour, for a braue minded fellow: for he commaunded a banket to bee made him of all meats vnder the Sunne; which were serued in after the order of the Alphabet; and the Clarke of the kitchin following the last dish (which was two mile off from the formost) brought him an Index of their seuerall names: Neyther did he pingle when it was set on the boord, but for the space of three dayes and three nights, neuer rose from the Table. O intolerable lying villayne, that was neuer begotten without the consent of a whetstone. Vngratious man, how fondly he argueth!