Histriomastix, or The Player Whipped · chunk 22 of 25
Marston, John · published 1610 · first performed or written 1599 [1598-1599] (Annals) moral · Unknown T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness typicality 0.81 · 499 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
Were Poverty a word more miserable Than man's austere invention could propound, Yet is poor Honesty rich honours ground: Whose eyes unveiled like to th'unhooded Hawk, Look straight on high, and in the end aspire, To feel the warmth of Princes holy fire. Yet Honour, Wealth, Lands, and who wins the prize, Obtains but Vanity of Vanities. Come follow me my never failing friend. The broils of war wherein I gloried more Than Priam's Hector, who by burning walls, Was trailed along (dread victories deep fall) So from these gates myself in mean disgrace Am banished forth, pinched through with poverty. Who tells us all 'tis true that she hath said, Poor flies will tickle lions being dead. The thirst of Honour called me to the wars, Where I have drunk a health (too deep a draft) My full-mouthed bags may now be filled with air, The Devil and Ambition taught it me. Is that Philarchus that complains? 'tis so, See how Mavortius turns away his face, To seek to friends 'tis holden for disgrace. Time was, I could have dined amongst my friends, Now stands at every door a lack and Apes And tells me 'tis too late, his Lord hath dined. This miserable world would make one mad; I stepped unto a Vintner at the Bar, And offered him my Rapier for a pawn; The saucy slave took it in such a scorn, And flung it in the streets, replying thus, Mere want brings weapons out of use with us. See poor Philarchus pouring out his plaints, To unrelenting walls, relentless men. Are wounds rewards for Soldiers in the field? What? sell our lands, are these the fruits of War? Then die Philarchus, let not shame survive, Thy fainting honour, dead and yet alive. Here come our wives, how wretchedly they look. My jewels pawned, my rings are gone to wrack, The greedy Usurer hath gotten all. I am a prey to wretched Poverty, Ill featured Famine will devour us up, Whose wrinkled face, is like pale death's aspect. Behold my wife like Winter's paramour, robbed and bereaved of nuptial Ornaments. " Hide thee Philarchus lower then the grave, The Earth will cover though it cannot save. If men lament, whose wonted iron-hearts, Were harder than the Armour they have worn, And wail the Agent of a woman's voice, What shall weak women and poor Ladies do? Fall to those tears, that we were borne unto. Could I but learn (with Croesus) to endure The falling sickness of sad Poverty, Who lost a rich commanding Empery Patience would prove a tutor to my grieves. Thou wants a Solon to consort with thee, To prove affliction is the perfect way That leads to Ioues tribunal dignity; Ill haste thou governed thy prosperity, That canst not smile in mere adversity. Look upon me (the poorest slave in show, That ever fortune buried in mishap:) Yet this is Nature's richest jewel-house And teacheth me to weep at all your wants.
seed 43: T35 · seed 44: T34 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Were Pouerty a word more miserable Then Mans austere inuention could propound, Yet is poore Honesty rich Honors ground: Whose eyes vnuail'd like to th'vnhoodded Hawke, Looke straight on high, and in the end aspire, To feele the warmth of Princes holy fire. Yet Honor, Wealth, Lands, and who wins the prize, Obtaines but Vanity of Vanities. Come follow me my neuer failing friend. The broyles of warre wherein I gloried more Then Priams Hector, who by burning walls, Was traild along (dread victories deepe fall) So from these gates my selfe in meane disgrace Am banisht forth, pinch't through with pouerty. Who tels vs all 'tis true that shee hath sed, Poore flyes will tickle Lyons being dead. The thirst of Honour call'd me to the warres, Where I haue drunke a health (too deepe a draught) My full-mouthd bags may now be fild with ayre, The Diuell and Ambition taught it me. Is that Philarchus that complaines? 'tis so, See how Mauortius turnes away his face, To seeke to friends 'tis holden for disgrace. Time was, I could haue din'd amongst my friends, Now stands at euery doore a lack and Apes And tels me 'tis too late, his Lord hath din'd. This miserable world would make one mad; I stept vnto a Vintner at the Barre, And offered him my Rapier for a pawne; The sawcie slaue tooke it in such a scorne, And flung it in the streets, replying thus, Meere want brings weapons out of vse with vs. See poore Philarchus powring out his plaints, To vnrelenting walls, relentlesse men. Are wounds rewards for Souldiers in the field? What? sell our lands, are these the fruits of Warre? Then dye Philarchus, let not shame suruiue, Thy fainting honour, dead and yet aliue. Heere come our wiues, how wretchedly they looke. My Iewels pawnd, my rings are gone to wrack, The greedy Vsurer hath gotten all. I am a prey to wretched Pouerty, Ill featur'd Famine will deuoure vs vp, Whose wrinkled face, is like pale deaths aspect. Behold my wife like Winters parramour, Rob'd and bereau'd of nuptiall Ornaments. "Hide thee Philarchus lower then the graue, "The Earth will couer though it cannot saue. If men lament, whose wonted yron-hearts, Were harder then the Armour they haue worne, And waile the Agent of a womans voyce, What shall weake women and poore Ladies doe? Fall to those teares, that we were borne vnto. Could I but learne (with Craesus) to endure The falling sicknesse of sad Pouerty, Who lost a rich commanding Emperie Patience would prooue a tutor to my grieues. Thou want's a Solan to consort with thee, To proue affliction is the perfect way That leads to Ioues tribunall dignity; Ill hast thou gouern'd thy prosperity, That canst not smile in meere aduersity. Looke vppon me (the poorest slaue in shew, That euer fortune buried in mishappe:) Yet this is Natures richest lewell-house And teacheth me to weepe at all your wants.