The Puritan, or The Widow of Watling Street (The Puritan Widow) · chunk 4 of 37
Middleton, Thomas · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (second) unassigned nearest T35 Fools, wit and railing · 533 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T35: fool, wit, aristippus, achilles, wise, fools, patroclus, thersites, master, men.
Well, I cannot tell, but I am sure it goes wrong with me, for since the cessure of the wars, I have spent above a hundred crowns out a purse: I have been a soldier any time this forty years, and now I perceive an old soldier, and an old Courtier have both one destiny, and in the end turn both into hobnails. Pretty mystery for a beggar, for indeed a hobnail is the true emblem of a beggars shoe-sole; I will not say but that war is a bloodsucker, and so; but in my conscience, (as there is no soldier but has a piece of one, though it be full of holes like a shot Ancient, no matter, 'twill serve to swear by) in my conscience, I think some kind of Peace, has more hidden oppressions, and violent heady sins, (though looking of a gentle nature) than a professed war. Troth, and for mine own part, I am a poor Gentleman, & a Scholar, I have been matriculated in the University, wore out sixe Gowns there, seen some fools, and some Scholars, some of the City, and some of the Country, kept order, went bareheaded over the Quadrangle, eat my Commons with a good stomach, and Battled with Discretion; at last, having done many sleights and tricks to maintain my wit in use (as my brain would never endure me to be idle,) I was expelled the University, only for stealing a Cheese out of Iesus College. Is't possible? Oh! there was one Welshman (God forgive him) pursued it hard; and never left, till I turned my staff toward London, where when I came, all my friends were pit-holed, gone to Graves, (as indeed there was but a few left before) then was I turned to my wits, to shift in the world, to tower among Sons and Heirs, and Fools, and Gulls, and ladies eldest Sons, to work upon nothing, to feed out of Flint, and ever since has my belly been much beholding to my brain: But now to return to you old Skirmish. I say as you say, and for my part wish a Turbulency in the world, for I have nothing to lose but my wits, and I think they are as mad as they will be: and to strengthen your Argument the more, I say an honest war, is better than a bawdy peace: as touching my profession; The multiplicity of Scholars, hatched, and nourished, in the idle calms of peace, makes 'em like Fishes one devour another; and the community of Learning has so played upon affections, and thereby almost Religion is come about to Fantasy, and discredited by being too much spoken off— in so many & mean mouths, I myself being a Scholar and a Graduate, have no other comfort by my learning, but the Affliction of my words, to know how Scholarlike to name what I want, & can call myself a Beggar both in Greek and Latin, and therefore not to cog with Peace, I'll not be afraid to say, 'tis a great Breeder, but a barren Nourisher: a great-getter of Children, which must either be Thieves or richmen, Knaves or Beggars.
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)
Well, I cannot tell, but I am sure it goes wrong with me, for since the cessure of the wars, I haue spent aboue a hundred crownes out a purse: I haue beene a souldier any time this forty yeares, and now I perceiue an olde souldier, and an olde Courtier haue both one destinie, and in the end turne both into hob-nayles. Prety mistery for a begger, for indeed a hob-naile is the true embleme of a beggers shoo-soale; I will not say but that warre is a bloud-sucker, and so; but in my conscience, (as there is no souldier but has a pice of one, tho it bee full of holes like a shot Antient, no matter, twill serue to sweare by) in y conscience, I thinke some kinde of Peace, ha's more hidden oppressions, and violent heady sinnes, (th looking of a gentle nature) then a profest warre. Troth, and for mine owne part, I am a poore Gentleman, & a Scholler, I haue beene matriculated in the Vniuersitie, wore ut ixe Gownes there, seene some fooles, and some Schollers, some of the Citty, and some of the Countrie, kept order, went bare-headed ouer the Quadrangle, eate my Commons with a good stomacke, and Battled with Discretion; at last, hauing done many slights and trickes to maintaine my witte in vse (as my braine would neuer endure mee to bee idle,) I was expeld the Vniuersitie, onely for stealing a Cheese out of Iesus Colledge. Ist possible? Oh! there was one Welshman (God forgiue him) pursued it hard; and neuer left, till I rnmde my staffe toward London, where when I came, all my friends were pitt-hold, gone to Graues, (as indeed there was but a few left before) then was I turnde to my wittes, to shift in the world, to towre among Sonnes and Heyres, and Fooles, and Gulls, and Ladyes eldest Sonnes, to worke vpon nothing, to feede out of Flint, and euer since has my belly beene much beholding to my braine: But now to returne to you old kirmish. I say as you say, and for my part wish a Turbulency in the world, for I haue nothing to loose but my wittes, and I thinke they are as mad as they will be: and to strengthen your Argument the more, I say an honest warte, is better then a bawdy peace: as touching my profession; The multiplicitie of Schollers, hatcht, and nourisht, in the idle Calmes of peace, makes 'em like Fishes one deuoure another; and the communitie of Learning ha's so plaide vpon affections, and thereby almost Religion is come about to Phantasie, and discredited by being too much spoken off—in so many & meane mouths, I my selfe being a Scholler and a Graduate, haue no other comfort by my learning, but the Affliction of my words, to know how Scholler-like to name what I want, & can call my selfe a Begger both in Grecke and Lattin, and therfore not to cogg with Peace, Ile not be afraide to say, 'tis a great Breeder, but a barren Nourisher: a great-getter of Children, which must either be Theeues or Rich-men, Knaues or Beggers.