The Contention between Liberality and Prodigality · chunk 5 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 0.91 · 523 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Report hath spread, that Virtue here in place Arrived is, her silly court to hold: And therefore I am come with faster pace, t''encounter her, whose countenance is so bold. I doubt not, but by this my pompous show, By vestures wrought with gold so gorgeously, By reverence done to me of high and low, By all these ornaments of bravery, By this my train that now attends me so, By Kings that hale my Chariot to and fro, Fortune is known the Queen of all renown, That makes, that mars, sets up, and throws adown. Well is it known, what contrary effects, Twixt Fortune and dame Virtue hath been wrought: How still I her contemn, she me rejects; I her despise, she setteth me at nought: So as great wars are grown for sovereignty, And strife as great, twixt us for victory. Now is the time of trial to be had, The place appointed, eke in present here: So as the truth to all sorts, good and bad, More clear than light, shall presently appear. It shall be seen, what Fortune's power can do, When Virtue shall be forced to yield thereto. It shall be seen when Virtue cannot bide, But shrink for shame, her silly face to hide. Then Fortune shall advance herself before All harms to help, all losses to restore. But why do I myself thus long restrain, From executing this I do intend? Time posts away, and words they be but vain, For deeds (indeed) our quarrel now must end. Therefore in place I will no longer stay, But to my stately throne myself convey. Reuerence, due reuerence, &c. HOw seldom is it seen, that Virtue is regarded, Or men of virtuous sort, for virtuous deeds rewarded? So wonts the world to pamper those that nought deserve, Whiles such as merit best, without relief do starve. Great imperfections are in some of greatest skill, That colours can discern, white from black, good from ill. O blind affects of men, how are you led awry, To leave assured good, to like frail Vanity! If some of virtues train, for Prince and Countries good, To show their faithful hearts, shall hazard life and blood, And guerdonless depart, without their due reward, Small is th'encouragement, th'example very hard. Where any well deserve, and are rewarded well, There Prince and people both, in safety sure do dwell. Where he that truly serves, hath nothing for his pain, More hearts are lost, then pecks of gold can ransom home again. Let States therefore that wish to maintain stately dignity, Seek to acquaint themselves with Liberality: For that is it which wins the subjects faithful love, Which faithful love, all harms from them and theirs remove. Liberality am I, virtues Steward here, Who for the virtuous sort, do nothing hold too dear. But few to Virtue seek, all sorts to Fortune fly, There seeking to maintain their chief prosperity. But whoso marks the end, shall be enforced to say, O Fortune, thou art blind: let Virtue lead the way. But who comes here? It seemeth old Tenacity. I must away; for contraries cannot agree.
seed 43: T13 · seed 44: T16 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Report hath spread, that Vertue here in place Arriued is, her silly courtto hold: And therefore I am come with faster pace, Tencounter her, whose countenance is so bold. I doubt not, but by this my pompous shew, By vestures wrought with gold so gorgeously, By reuerence done to me of high and lowe, By all these ornaments of brauerie, By this my trayne that now attends me so, By Kings that hale my Chariot to and fro, Fortune is knowne the Queene of al renowne, That makes, that marres, sets vp, and throwes adowne. Well is it knowne, what contrary effects, Twixt Fortune and dame Vertue hath beene wrought: How still I her contemne, she me reiects; I her despise, she setteth me at nought: So as great warres are growne for soueraignty, And strife as great, twixt vs for victorie. Now is the time of triall to be had, The place appoynted, eke in present here: So as the trueth to all sorts, good and bad, More cleere then light, shall presently appeare. It shall be seene, what Fortunes power can doe, When Vertue shall be forst to yeeld thereto. It shall be seene when Vertue cannot bide, But shrinke for shame, her silly face to hide. Then Fortune shall aduance her selfe before All harmes to helpe, all losses to restore. But why do I my selfe thus long restrayne, From executing this I do entend? Time posts away, and words they be but vaine, For deedes (indeed) our quarrell now must end. Therefore in place I will no longer stay, But to my stately throne my selfe conuay. Reuerence, due reuerence, &c. HOw seldome is it seene, that Vertue is regarded, Or men of vertuous sort, for vertuous deeds rewarded? So wonts the world to pamper those that nought deserue, Whiles such as merit best, without reliefe do sterue. Great imperfections are in some of greatest skill, That colours can discerne, white from blacke, good from ill. O blind affects of men, how are you led awry, To leaue assured good, to like frayle Vanity! If some of Vertues traine, for Prince and Countries good, To shew their faithfull hearts, shall hazard life and blood, And guerdonlesse depart, without their due reward, Small is th'encouragement, th'example verie hard. Where any well deserue, and are rewarded well, There Prince and people both, in safety sure do dwell. Where he that truly serues, hath nothing for his paine, More hearts are lost, then pecks of gold can ransome home agayne. Let States therefore that wish to maintayne stately dignity, Seeke to acquaint themselues with Liberalitie: For that is it which winnes the subiects faithfull loue, Which faithfull loue, all harmes from them and theirs remoue. Liberalitie am I, Vertues Steward heere, Who for the vertuous sort, do nothing hold too deere. But few to Vertue seeke, all sorts to Fortune flye, There seeking to maintaine their chiefe prosperity. But whoso markes the end, shall be enforst to say, O Fortune, thou art blind: let Vertue lead the way. But who comes here? It seemeth old Tenacitie. I must away; for contraries cannot agree.