Daniel, Samuel · published 1615 · first performed or written 1614 [Feb 2] (Annals) pastoral; tragicomedy · before the Court unassigned nearest T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness · 504 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
But after that accursed greediness Of wealth began to enter and possess The hearts of men, integrity was lost, And with it they themselves, for never more; Came they to be in their own power again. That Tyrant vanquished them, made them all slaves, That brought base servitude into the world, Which else had never been; that only made Them to endure all whatsoever weights power could devise to lay upon their neck. For rather than they would not have, they would not be But miserable. So that no device Needs else to keep them under, they themselves Will bear far more than they are made, themselves Will add unto their fetters, rather than They would not be, or held to be great men. Then Dorcas, how much more are we to prize Our mean estate, which they so much despise? Considering that we do enjoy thereby, The dearest thing in nature, Liberty. And are not tortured with those hopes and fears, Th'affliction laid on superfluities, Which make them to obscure, and serve the times: But are content with what the earth, the woods And rivers near do readily afford And therewithal furnish our homely board. Those unbought cates please our unlearned throats That understand not dainties, even as well As all their delicates, which do but stuff And not sustain the stomach: and indeed A well observing belly doth make much For liberty; for he that can but live, Although with roots, and have no hopes, is free Without the verge of any sovereignty. And is a Lord at home, commands the day As his till night, and then reposes him At his own hours. thinks on no stratagem But how to take his game, hath no design To cross next day: no plots to undermine. But why Montanus do you look so sad? What is the cause your mind is not as free As your estate? what, have you had of late Some coy repulse of your disdainful nymph, To whom love hath subdued you? who indeed Our only master is, and no Lord else But he, hath any power to vex us here; Which had he not, we too too happy were. In troth I must confess, when now you two Found me in yonder thicket, I had lost myself, by having seen that which I would I had not had these eyes to see; and judge If I great reason have not to complain: You see I am a man, though not so gay And delicately clad, as are your fine And amorous dainty herdsmen; yet a man, And that not base, not unallied to Pan; And of a spirit doth not degenerate From my robustious manly ancestors, Being never foiled in any wrestling game, But still have borne away the chiefest prize In every brave and active exercise. Yet notwithstanding that disdainful maid, Proud Phillis, doth despise me and my love, And will not deign so much as hear me speak, But doth abjure, forsooth, the thought of love.
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)
But after that accursed greedinesse Of wealth began to enter and possesse The hearts of men, integrity was lost, And with it they themselues, for neuer more; Came they to be in their owne powre againe. That Tyrant vanquisht them, made them all slaues, That brought base seruitude into the world, VVhich else had neuer bin; that only made Them to endure all whatsoeuer weights Powre could deuise to lay vpon their necke. For rather thē they would not haue, they would not be But miserable. So that no deuice Needes else to keepe them vnder, they themselues Will beare farre more then they are made, thēselues Will adde vnto their fetters, rather then They would not be, or held to be great men. Then Dorcas, how much more are we to prize Our meane estate, which they so much despise? Considering that we doe enioy thereby, The dearest thing in nature, Liberty. And are not tortur'd with those hopes and feares, Th'afflction laid on superfluities, VVhich make them to obscure, and serue the times: But are content with what the earth, the woods And riuers neere doe readily afforde And therewithall furnish our homly borde. Those vnbought cates please our vnlearned throats That vnderstand not dainties, euen as well As all their delicates, which doe but stuffe And not sustaine the stomacke: and indeede A well obseruing belly doth make much For libertie; for he that can but liue, Although with rootes, and haue no hopes, is free VVithout the verge of any sou'raintie. And is a Lord at home, commands the day As his till night, and then reposes him At his owne houres. thinkes on no stratagem But how to take his game, hath no deseigne To crosse next day: no plots to vndermine. But why Montanus doe you looke so sad? VVhat is the cause your minde is not as free As your estate? what, haue you had oflate Some coy repulse of your disdainfull nymph, To whome loue hath subdu'd you? who indeede Our only master is, and no Lord else But he, hath any power to vexe vs here; Which had he not, we too too happy were. In troth I must confesse, when now you two Found me in yonder thicket, I had lost My selfe, by hauing seene that which I would I had not had these eyes to see; and iudge If I great reason haue not to complaine: You see I am a man, though not so gay And delicately clad, as are your fine And amorous dainty heardsmen; yet a man, And that not base, not vn-allyde to Pan; And of a spirit doth not degenerate From my robustious manly ancestours, Being neuer foild in any wrastling game, But still haue borne away the chiefest prize In euery braue and actiue exercise. Yet notwithstanding that disdainfull maid, Prowd Phillis, doth despise me and my loue, And will not daigne so much as here me speake, But doth abiure, forsooth, the thought of loue.