The Contention between Liberality and Prodigality · chunk 11 of 19
Anonymous · published 1602 · first performed or written 1601 [Feb 22] (Annals) moral · Children of the Chapel (second) · before the Court unassigned nearest T6 Money, debt and credit · 523 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T6: money, master, pound, law, lawyer, chain, gentleman, gold, pay, pray.
My duty binds me to obey. Then for this time you shall not need to stay. As for your cause I will remember it, And see it holpen too as shall be fit. Truly, if I should not have care of this man's necessity, I should both swerve from virtue and from honesty. Sir, I humbly beseech you help to prefer my suit. What is it? There is an office fallen, which I would gladly execute. Who be you? A servant here in Court. Do you serve the Prince? No and please you. Whom then? A noble man near about her Majesty. In what degree. Forsooth, sir, as his Secretary. How long have you served? A year or twain. And would you so soon be preferred? In troth, my friend, I would be glad, as I may, To do you any good: but this I say, Who seeks by virtue, preferment to In virtuous proceeding must take more Then can be well taken in a year or For time gives experience of every man's deeds, And each man by merit accordingly speeds. Go forward, my friend, in virtue with diligence, And time, for your service, shall yield you recompense. Your Lord and Master is very honourable, And him in your suits you shall find favourable: And as for my part, as erst I did say, I never will hinder, where further I may. Let this for this time be your answer. Sir, with my boldness, I beseech you to bear. God be with you. Some men deserve, and yet do want their due; Some men again, on small deserts do sue, It therefore standeth PRINCE's Officers in hand, The state of every man rightly to understand, That so by balance of equality, Each man may have his hire accordingly. Well, since dame virtue, unto me, doth charge of many things refer, I must go do that best beseems a faithful officer. Liberty, liberty, now I cry liberty: Catch me again when you can, Prodigality. Never was there poor soul so cruelly handled: I was at the first, like a Cockney dandled, Stroked on the head, kissed and well cherished, And so thought surely I should have continued: But now how my case is altered suddenly; You would not believe, unless you saw it apparently. i'faith since ye saw me, I have been turmoiled From post to pillar: see how I am spoiled. The villains among them provided the rost, But Money was forced to pay for the cost, Both of their feasting, and of their chamber cheer, Yea in every place, they have fleeced me so near, He a fleece and she a fleece; that nothing could I keep, But glad to run away like a new shorn sheep. And though I have been pinched very near, I am glad to see you in good health every one here: And now I have escaped the traitorous treachery Of such a thriftless Roisting company, To my mother in haste again I will get me, And keep at home safely: from thence let them fet me. What, master Money, how goeth the world with you?
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
My dutie binds me to obey. Then for this time you shall not need to stay. As for your I will remember it, And see it holpen too as shall be fit. Truely, if I should not haue care of this mans necessity, I should both swerue from vertue and from honesty. Sir, I humbly beseech you help to preferre my suite. What is it? There is an office falne, which I would gladly . Who be you? A seruant here in Court. Doe you serue the Prince? No and please you. Whom then? A noble man neere about her Maiesty. In what degree. Forsooth, sir, as his Secretarie. How long haue you serued? A yeare or twaine. And would you so soone be preferred? In , my friend, I would be glad, as I may, To you any good: but this I say, Who seekes by vertue, ; In vertuous proceeding must , Then can be well taken in a : For time giues experience of euery mans deeds, And ech man by merit accordingly speeds. Goe forward, my friend, in vertue with diligence, And time, for your seruice, shall yeeld you recompence. Your Lord and Master is very honourable, And him in your sutes you shall finde fauourable: And as for my part, as earst I did say, I neuer will hinder, where further I may. Let this for this time be your answere. Sir, with my boldnesse, I beseech you to . God be with you. Some men deserue, and yet doe want their due; Some men againe, on small deserts doe sue, It therefore standeth Princes Officers in hand, The state of euery man rightly to vnderstand, That so by ballance of equality, Ech man may haue his hire accordingly. Wel, since dame vertue, vnto me, doth charge of many things refer, I must goe doe that best beseemes a faithfull officer. Libertie, libertie, now I cry libertie: Catch me againe when you can, Prodigalitie. Neuer was there poore soule so cruelly handled: I was at the first, like a Cockney dandled, Stroakt on the head, kist and well cherished, And so thought surely I should haue continued: But now how my case is altered suddenly; You would not beleeue, vnlesse you saw it apparantly. Ifaith ye saw me, I turmoyled From post to piller: see how I am spoyled. The villaines among them prouided the roft, But Money was forced to pay for the cost, Both of their feasting, and of their chamber cheere, Yea in euery place, they haue fleec't me so neere, He a fleece and she a fleece; that nothing could I keepe, But glad to runne away like a new shorne . And though I haue pinched very neere, I am glad to see you in good health euery one here: And now I haue escaped the traiterous treachery Of such a thriftlesse Roysting company, To my mother in haste againe I will get me, And keepe at home safely: from thence let fet me. What, master Money, how goeth the world with you?