Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Ha Sergeant I have known thee to serve long, And yet thou stick'st, belike thou lik'st thy game: Try friends and fortune, may be it will hit To make thee higher on preferments step; Stand not on thorns: adventure, draw a card. So may I draw, and draw myself quite out: And striving to get more, lose that I have. Times are not now as they were erst, when you Did haunt the fields, and led a soldiers life: Men had respect, and then were looked upon For their deserts; but now 'tis nothing so. Reward goes backward, honour on his head, And due deserts are sleight regarded now: He that wants gold, seeks place, may stand aloof; Stand fast he that would rise, or else he falls; That now is sold, which then was but free gift; Promotions fall not, but are bought before; He that mounts now, he doth not as of old; Rise by his virtues, but helped up with gold. With leave and reverence may I speak my mind; What though my friends be rich? it grieves me much To see poor Soldiers walk in mean attire; And less respect that have deserved well, Grown old in wars, and got nothing but blows, Wide gaping wounds, lost limbs and broken bones, And just preferment, which another gets, And they deserved, and perhaps a man That never saw the field, nor chimneys smoke; But those at home within his native soil. Each man would up, there's none I am sure would down; And they may use their talents as their own To their own good and glory; not the hurt Of poor or rich, of Kingdoms, commonwealths; I blame not those that seek to increase their wealth, Or better their estates by honest means; I wrong not Princes, touch not their affairs. carp not at men, but times corruptions; Some climb too fast, and climbing catch a fall; If please God he can help it, he helps all. The Romans used to make their Worthies known, By honoured titles, and with ornaments, As rings and chains, gilt swords, and spurs of gold, Which none might wear but such as were allowed. But now Jack Sauce will be in's gilded spurs, Whose father brewed good Ale for honest men: Lodged peddlers, Tinkers, Bearwards such a crew, The scum of men, the plain rascality, Such was Auratus Eques miles called; The French men now, call him Unchevalier; We call them Rydders, the English name them Knights; 'twas strange to see, what Knighthood once would do; Stir great men up, to lead a martial life, Such as were nobly borne, of great estates To gain this honour, and this dignity; So noble a mark to their posterity. But now alas, it's grown ridiculous, Since bought with money, sold for basest prize; That some refuse it, which are counted wise.
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)
Ha Serieant I haue known thee to ſerue long, And yet thou ſtick'ſt, belike thou lik'ſt thy game: Trie friends and fortune, may be it will hitte To make thee higher on preferments ſteppe; Stand not on thornes: aduenture, draw a carde. So may I draw, and draw my ſelfe quite out: And ſtriuing to get more, looſe that I haue. Times are not now as they were erſt, when you Did haunt the fields, and ledde a Souldiers life: Men had reſpect, and then were lookt vpon For their deſerts; but now tis nothing ſo. Reward goes backeward, honour on his head, And due deſerts are ſleight regarded now: He that wants gold, ſeekes place, may ſtand aloofe; Stand faſt he that would riſe, or elſe he falles; That now is ſould, which then was but free guift; Promotions fall not, but are bought before; He that mounts now, he doth not as of olde; Riſe by his vertues, but helpt vp with gold. With leaue and reuerence may I ſpeake my mind; What though my friends be rich? it grieues me much To ſee poore Souldiers walke in meane attire; And leſſe reſpect that haue deſeru'd well, Growne olde in warres, and got nothing but blowes, Wide gaping wounds, loſt limmes and broken bones, And iuſt preferment, which another gets, And they deſeru'd, and perhaps a man That neuer ſaw the field, nor chimneis ſmoake; But thoſe at home within his natiue ſoyle. Each man would vp, there's none I am ſure would downe; And they may vſe their talents as their owne To their owne good and glory; not the hurt Of poore or rich, of Kingdomes, Common-wealthes; I blame not thoſe that ſeeke to encreaſe their wealth, Or better their eſtates by honeſt meanes; I wrong not Princes, touch not their affaires. Carpe not at men, but times corruptions; Some climbe too faſt, and climbing catch a fall; If pleaſe God he can helpe it, he helpes all. The Romans vſd to make their Worthies knowne, By honourde titles, and with ornaments, As rings and chaines, gilt ſwordes, and ſpurs of gold, Which none might weare but ſuch as were allowde. But now Iacke Sauce will be in's gilded ſpurs, Whoſe father brewde good Ale for honeſt men: Lodg'd Pedlers, Tynkers, Bearewards ſuch a crew, The ſcumme of men, the plaine raſcality, Such was Auratus Eques miles calde; The French men now, call him Vncheualier; We call them Rydders, the Engliſh name them Knights; T'was ſtrange to ſee, what Knighthood once would doe; Stirre great men vp, to lead a martiall life, Such as were nobly borne, of great eſtates To gaine this honour, and this dignity; So noble a marke to their poſterity. But now alas, it's growne ridiculous, Since bought with money, ſold for baſeſt prize; That ſome refuſe it, which are counted wiſe.