The Contention between Liberality and Prodigality · chunk 1 of 19
Anonymous · published 1602 · first performed or written 1601 [Feb 22] (Annals) moral · Children of the Chapel (second) · before the Court T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions typicality 0.81 · 517 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
THe Proverb is, How many men, so many minds. Which maketh proof, how hard a thing it is, Of sundry minds to please the sundry kinds. In which respect, I have inferred this, That where men's minds appear so different, No play, no part, can all alike content. The grave Divine calls for Divinity; The Civil student, for Philosophy: The Courtier craves some rare found history: The baser sort, for knacks of pleasantry. So every sort desireth specially, What thing may best content his fantasy. But none of these our barren toy affords. To pulpits we refer Divinity: And matters of Estate, to Council boards. As for the quirks' of sage Philosophy, Or points of squirgliting scurrility; The one we shun, for childish years too rare, Th' other unfit, for such as present are. But this we bring, is but to serve the time, A poor device, to pass the day withal: To loftier points of skill we dare not climb, Lest perking overhigh, with shame we fall. Such as doth best beseem such as we be, Such we present, and crave your courtesy: That courtesy, that gentleness of yours, Which wonted is, to pardon faults of ours: Which granted, we have all that we require: Your only favour, only our desire. IN words, to make description of my name, My nature or conditions, were but vain, Sith this attire so plainly shows the same, As showed cannot be in words more plain. For lo, thus round about in feathers dight, Doth plainly figure mine inconstancy, As feathers, light of mind, of wit as light, subjected still to mutabilitie. And for to paint me forth more properly, Behold each feather decked gorgeously, With colours strange in such variety, As plainly pictures perfect Vanity. And so I am to put you out of doubt, Even Vanity wholly, within, without, In head, in heart, in all parts round about: But whence I come, and why I hither come, And upon whom I daily do attend, In brief, to show you in a little sum, My special meaning is, and so an end. I came from Fortune, my most sovereign dame, Amongst whose chiefest servants I am one, Fortune that earthly goddess great of name, To whom all suits I do prefer alone, She minding in this place forthwith t'appear, In her most gorgeous pomp, and Princely port, Sends me to see all things in Presence here, Prepared and furnished in the bravest sort. Here will she mount this stately sumptuous throne, As she is wont to hear each man's desire: And who so wins her favour by his moan, May have of her, the thing he doth require. And yet another Dame there is, her enemy, 'Twixt whom remains continual emulation; Virtue, who, in respect of Fortune's sovereignty, Is held, God wot, of simple reputation: Yet hither comes (poor soul) in her degree, This other seat half forced to supply: But twixt their states, what difference will be, yourselves shall judge, and witness when you see: Therefore I must go deck up handsomely, What best beseems Dame Fortune's dignity.
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Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
THe Prouerbe is, How many men, so many mindes. Which maketh proofe, how hard a thing it is, Of sundry mindes to please the sundry kindes. In which respect, I haue inferred this, That vvhere mens mindes appeare so different, No play, no part, can all alike content. The graue Diuine calles for Diuinitie; The Ciuell student, for Philosophie: The Courtier craues some rare found historie: The baser sort, for knacks of pleasantrie. So euery sort desireth specially, What thing may best content his fantasie. But none of these our barren toy affoords. To pulpits we referre Diuinitie: And matters of Estate, to Councill boords. As for the quirkes' of sage Philosophie, Or points of squirgliting scurrilitie; The one we shunne, for childish yeeres too rare, Th' other vnfit, for such as present are. But this vve bring, is but to serue the time, A poore deuice, to passe the day withall: To loftier points of skill we dare not clime, Lest perking ouer-hie, vvith shame vvee fall. Such as doth best beseeme such as vve be, Such vve present, and craue your courtesie: That courtesie, that gentlenes of yours, Which wonted is, to pardon faults of ours: Which graunted, vve haue all that vve require: Your only fauour, onely our desire. IN words, to make description of my name, My nature or conditions, were but vaine, Sith this attire so plainely shewes the same, As shewed cannot be in words more plaine. For lo, thus round about in feathers dight, Doth plainely figure mine inconstancie, As feathers, light of minde, of wit as light, Subiected still to mutabilitie. And for to paint me forth more properly, Behold each feather decked gorgeously, With colours strange in such varietie, As plainely pictures perfect Vanitie. And so I am to put you out of doubt, Euen Vanitie wholly, within, without, In head, in heart, in all parts round about: But whence I come, and why I hither come, And vpon whom I dayly do attend, In briefe, to shew you in a little summe, My speciall meaning is, and so an end. I came from Fortune, my most soueraigne dame, Amongst whose chiefest seruants I am one, Fortune that earthly goddesse great of name, To whome all suites I doe preferre alone, She minding in this place forthwith t'appeare, In her most gorgeous pompe, and Princely port, Sends me to see all things in Presence here, Prepar'd and furnisht in the brauest sort. Here will she mount this stately sumptuous throne, As she is wont to heare each mans desire: And who so winnes her fauour by his mone, May haue of her, the thing he doth require. And yet another Dame there is, her enemie, 'Twixt whom remaines continuall emulation; Vertue, who, in respect of Fortunes soueraignety, Is held, God wot, of simple reputation: Yet hither comes (poore soule) in her degree, This other seate halfe forced to supplie: But 'twixt their states, what difference will be, Your selues shall iudge, and witnesse when you see: Therefore I must goe decke vp handsomly, What best beseemes Dame Fortunes dignitie.