Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Oh wicked muses that have such delight, In evil conversation wicked and abominable: And from virtues love withdraw yourselves quite, And lean to vice most base and detestable. How prone and prone we are vice to ensue, How deaf we be good counsel to hear? How strange we make it our hearts to be near? How little we have Gods threats in fear? Saint Augustine saith in his 5. book de civitate Dei, Coniuncta sunt edes Vertutis et honoris (saith he) The house of Virtue and Honour joined together be. And so the way to honour's house is disposed, that through virtues house he must needs pass: Or else from honour he shall soon be deposed, and brought to that point that he before was. But if through virtue honour be attained: The path to salvation may soon be gained. Some there be that do fortune prefer, Some esteem pleasure more than virtuous life: But in mine opinion all such do err, For virtue and fortune be not at strife. Where virtue is, fortune must needs grow: But fortune without virtue hath soon the overthrow. Thrice happy are they that do virtue embrace, For a Crown of glory shall be their reward: Sathan at no time may him any thing deface, For God over him will have such regard. That his foes he shall soon tread under his foot: And by God's permission, pluck them up by the root. It booteth not vice against virtue to stur, For why vice is feeble and of no force: But Victus eterna preclaraque habentur. wherefore I would all men would have a remorse. And eschew evil company vile and pernicious. And as the end of virtue is honour and felicity, So mark well the end of wickedness and vice: Shame in this world and pain eternally, Wherefore you that are here learn to be wise. And the end of the one, with the other way: By that tune you have heard the end of this play. But why do I thus much say in the praise of Virtue? Sith the thing praise worthy need no praise at all: It praiseth itself sufficiently this is true, Which chaseth away sin as bitter as gall. And where Virtue is, it need not to be praised: For the renown thereof shall soon be raised. Oh virtuous life God rest you merry, to you I am come to attend, Good Fame you are welcome heartily, I pray you who did you hither send? Even God's promise hath sent me unto you, willing me not from you to depart: But always to give attendance due, And in no wise from you to start. For god of his promise hath most liberally, Sent me good fame to you Virtuous life: Whereby it may be seen manifestly, God's great zeal to virtue both in man and wife. For why they may be sure that I good Fame, From the Virtuous life will stray: Whereby honour and renown may grow to their name, And eternal salvation at the latter day.
seed 43: T13 · seed 44: T16 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
¶ Oh wicked that haue such deligt, In euil conuersation wicked and And from vertues lo withdraw yourselues quite, And lean to vice most and dtestale. How prone and to insue, How defe we be good to heare? How strange we make it our hats to be nere? How little we haue Gods threats in feare? Saint Augustine saith in his 5. book de ciuitate Dei, Coniuncta sunt edes Vertutis et honoris (saith he) The house of Vertue and Honour ioyned togither be. And so the way to Honours house is disposed, that through vertues house he must needs passe: Or else from honour he shall soone be deposed, and brought to that point that he before was. But if through vertue honour be attained: The path to saluation may soon be gained. Some there be that doo fortune prefer, Some esteem plesure more then vertuous life: But in mine opinion all such doo erre, For vertue and fortune be not at strife. Where vertue is, fortune must needs growe: But fortune without vertue hath soon the ouerthrowe. Thrise happy are they that doo vertue imbrace, For a Crowne of glory shall be their rewarde: Sahan at no time may him any thing deface, For God ouer him wil haue such regarde. That his foes he shall soon tread vnder his foot: And by Gods permission, pluck them vp by the root. It booteth not vice against vertue to stur, For why vice is feeble and of no force: But Vitus eterna preclaraque habentur. wherfore I would all men would haue a remorse. And eschue euil company vile and pernicious. And as the end of vertue is honour and felicitie, So mark wel the end of wickednes and vice: Shame in his world and pain eternally, VVherfore you that are heere learn to be wise. And the end of the one, with the other waye: By that tune you haue heard the end of this play. But why doo I thus much say in the praise of Vertue? Sith the thing praise woorthy need no praise at all: It praiseth it self sufficiently this is true, VVhich chaseth away sinne as bitter as gall. And where Vertue is, it need not to be praised: For the renowne therof shall soon be raised. ¶ Oh vertuous life God rest you mery, to you I am come to attend, ¶ Good Fame you are welcome hartely, I pray you who did you hether send? ¶ Euen Gods promise hath sent me vnto you, willing me not from you to depart: But alwaies to giue attendance due, And in no wise from you to start. For god of his promise hath moste liberally, Sent me good fame to you Vertuous life: VVherby it may be seene manifestly, Gods great zeale to vertue both in man and wife. For why they may be sure that I good Fame, From the Vertuous life will stray: Wherby honour and renown may grow to their name, And eternall saluation at the latter day.