The Contention between Liberality and Prodigality · chunk 10 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 0.86 · 533 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
The more a man with virtuous dealing doth himself enure, The less with worldly business, he is molested sure, Which maketh proof, that as turmoils still toss the worldly mind: So minds exempt from worldly toil, desired quiet find. And chiefly where the life is led in virtuous exercise, There is no toil, but ease, and contentation to the wise: But what account, how sleight regard, is had of virtue here, By actions on this worldly stage, most plainly doth appear. Men see without most just desert, of virtue nought is got, To Fortune therefore fly they still, that giveth all by lot; And finding Fortune's gifts, so pleasant, sweet and savoury, They build thereon, as if they should endure perpetually. But this is sure, and that most sure, that Fortune is unsure, herself most frail, her gifts as frail, subject to every shower: And in the end, who buildeth most upon her surety, Shall find himself cast headlong down, to depth of misery. Then having felt the crafty sleights of Fortune's fickle train, Is forced to seek by virtues aid, to be relieved again. This is the end, run how he list, thus man of force must do, Unless his life be clean cut off, this man must come unto: In time therefore man might do well, to care for his estate, Lest letted by extremity, repentance come too late. Sir, I beseech you speak a good word for me to the Prince, That by her letters, I may be commended to some Province, Where service is to be had, either there to die with fame, Or else to get me somewhat, whereon to live without shame: For beg I cannot, and steal I may not, the truth is so; But need doth make, the Proverb saith, th'old wife to trot for woe. Yet whom stark need doth pinch, at length the devil drives to go: Therefore, I beseech you, pity his extremity, That would not make this suit without necessity. Who be you, my friend? By birth a Gentleman, by profession a soldier, Who, though I say it, in all our sovereign's war, With hazard of my blood and life, have gone as far, As haply some others, whole fortunes have been better: But I in service yet, could never be a getter, Ne can I impute it but to mine own destiny: For well I know, the Prince is full of liberality, What is your name, sir? My name is, Weldon. Are you Captain Weldon? Though unworthy, sir, I bear that name. Give me your hand, Captain Weldon, for your fame, In feats of Arms, and service of your Country, I have heard oft, you have deserved greatly: Therefore think this, that as you merit much, So the consideration thereof shall be such, As duly doth pertain to your desert. Trust me, the Prince herself, unmoved of my part, Your dutiful service hath specially regarded, And expressly commands that it be well rewarded: Wherefore you shall not need to seek service abroad. I exhort you at home still to make your abode: That if in this realm occasion of wars be offered, You and others your like may be employed.
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Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
The more a man with vertuous dealing doth himselfe invre, The lesse with worldly businesse, he is molested sure, Which maketh proofe, that as turmoyles still tosse the worldly minde: So mindes exempt from worldly toyle, desired quiet finde. And chiefly where the life is led in vertuous exercise, There is no toyle, but ease, and contentation to the wise: But what account, how sleight regard, is had of vertue here, By actions on this worldly stage, most plainely doth appeare. Men see without most iust desert, of vertue nought is got, To Fortune therefore flie they still, that giueth all by lot; And finding Fortunes gifts, so pleasant, sweet and sauery, They build thereon, as if they should ondure perpetually. But this is sure, and that most sure, that Fortune is vnsure, Her selfe most fraile, her giftes as , to euery shewre: And in the end, who buildeth most vpon her suerty, Shall finde himselfe cast headlong downe, to depth of . Then hauing felt the crafty sleights of Fortunes fickle traine, Is forst to seeke by vertues aid, to be relieu'd againe. This is the end, runne how he list, thus man of force must doe, Vnlesse his life be cleane cut off, this man must come vnto: In time therefore man might doe well, to for his estate, Lest letted by extremity, repentance come too late. Sir, I beseech you speak a good word for me to the Prince, That by her letters, I may be commended to some Prouince, Where seruice is to be had, either there to die with fame, Or elsto get me somewhat, whereon to liue without shame: For begge I cannot, and steale I may not, the truth is so; But need doth make, the Prouerbe saith, th'old wife to trot for woe. Yet whom starke need doth pinch, at length the diuel driues to go: Therefore, I beseech you, pittie his extremity, That would not make this sute without necessity. Who be you, my friend? By birth a Gentleman, by profession a souldier, Who, though I say it, in all our Soueraignes warre, With hazard of my blood and life, haue gone as farre, As haply some others, whole fortunes haue bin better: But I in seruice yet, could be a getter, Ne can it but to mine owne destiny: For well I know, the Prince is full of liberalitie, What is your name, sir? My name is, Wel-don. Are you Captaine Wel-don? Though vnworthy, sir, I beare that name. Giue me your hand, Captaine Wel-don, for your fame, In feates of Armes, and seruice of your Country, I haue heard oft, you haue deserued greatly: Therefore thinke this, that as you much, So the consideration thereof shall be such, As duely doth pertaine to your desert. Trust me, the Prince her selfe, of my part, dutifull seruice hath specially regarded, And expresly commaunds that it be well rewarded: Wherefore you shall not need to seeke seruice abroad. I exhort you at home still to make your aboade: That if in this realme occasion of warres be offered, You and others your like may be employed.