Massinger, Philip · published 1633 · first performed or written 1625 (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness · 514 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
And well know our distance. Do so, and talk not't will become your breeding. Now my good Lord; if I may use my freedom, As to an honoured friend? You lessen else Your favour to me. I dare then say thus; As you are Noble (howe'er common men Make sordid wealth the object, and sole end Of their industrious aims) 'twill not agree With those of eminent blood (who are engaged More to prefer their Honours, than to increase The State left to 'em, by their Ancestors) To study large additions to their fortunes And quite neglect their births: though I must grant Riches well got to be a useful Servant) But a bad Master. Madam, 'tis confessed; But what infer you from it? This my Lord; That as all wrongs, though thrust into one scale Slide of themselves off, when right fills the other, And cannot bide the trial: so all wealth (I mean if ill acquired) cemented to Honour By virtuous ways achieved, and bravely purchased, Is but as rubbage poured into a river (howe'er intended to make good the bank) Rendering the water that was pure before, Polluted, and unwholesome. I allow The heir of Sir Giles Overreach. Margaret. A maid well qualified, and the richest match Our North part can make boast of, yet she cannot With all that she brings with her fill their mouths, That never will forget who was her father; Or that my husband Alworth's lands, and Welborne's (How wrung from both needs now no repetition) Were real motive, that more worked your Lordship To join your families; than her form, and virtues. You may conceive the rest. I do sweet Madam; And long since have considered it I know The sum of all that makes a just man happy Consists in the well choosing of his wife And there well to discharge it, does require Equality of years, of birth, of fortune, For beauty being poor, and not cried up By birth or wealth, can truly mix with neither. And wealth, where there's such difference in years, And fair descent, must make the yoke uneasy: But I come nearer. Pray you do my Lord. Were Overreach, stat's thrice centupled; his daughter Millions of degrees, much fairer than she is, (howe'er! might urge precedents to excuse me) I would not so adulterate my blood By marrying Margaret, and so leave my issue Made up of several pieces, one part scarlet And the other London-blue. In my own tomb I will inter my name first. I am glad to hear this: Why then my Lord pretend you marriage to her? Dissimulation but ties false knots On that strait line, by which you hitherto Have measured all your actions? I make answer And aptly, with a question. Wherefore have you, That since your husband's death, have lived a strict, And chaste nun's life, on the sudden given yourself To visits, and entertainments? think you Madam 'Tis not growge public conference? or the favours Which you too prodigally have thrown on Welborne Being too reserved before, incur not censure?
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)
And well know our distance. Doe so, and talke not't will become your breeding. Now my good Lord; if I may vse my freedome, As to an honour'd friend? You lessen else Your fauour to me. I dare then say thus; As you are Noble (how e're common men Make sordid wealth the obiect, and sole end Of their industrious aimes) 'twill not agree With those of eminent blood (who are ingag'd More to prefer their Honours, than to increase The State left to 'em, by their Ancestours) To study large additions to their fortunes And quite neglect their births: though I must grant Riches well got to be a vsefull Seruant) But a bad Master. Madam, 'tis confessed; But what infer you from it? This my Lord; That as all wrongs, though thrust into one scale Slide of themselues off, when right fills the other, And cannot bide the triall: so all wealth (I meane if ill acquir'd) cemented to Honor By vertuous wayes atchieu'd, and brauely purchas'd, Is but as rubbage powr'd into a riuer (How e're intended to make good the bancke) Rendring the water that was pure before, Polluted, and vnholsome. I allow The heire of Sir Giles Ouerreash. Margaret. A maide well qualified, and the richest match Our North part can make boast of, yet she cannot With all that she brings with her fill their mouthes, That neuer will forget who was her father; Or that my husband Alworths lands, and Welbornes (How wrunge from both needs now no repetition) Were reall motiue, that more work'd your Lordship To ioyne your families; than her forme, and vertues. You may conceaue the rest. I doe sweet Madam; And long since haue consider'd it I know The summe of all that makes a iust man happy Consists in the well choosing of his wife And there well to discharge it, does require Equality of yeares, of birth, of fortune, For beauty being poore, and not cried vp By birth or wealth, can truely mixe with neither. And wealth, where there's such difference in yeares, And faire descent, must make the yoke vneasie: But I come neerer. Pray you doe my Lord. Were Ouerreach, stat's thrice centupl'd; his daughter Millions of degrees, much fairer than she is, (How e're! might vrge presidents to excuse me) I would not so adulterate my blood By marrying Margaret, and so leaue my issue Made vp of seuerall peeces, one part skarlet And the other London-blew. In my owne tombe I will interre my name first. I am glad to heare this: Why then my Lord pretend you marriage to her? Dissimulation but tyes false knots On that straite line, by which you hitherto Haue measur'd all your actions? I make answer And aptly, with a question. Wherefore haue you, That since your Husbands death, haue liu'd a strict, And chaste Nuns life, on the suddaine giu'n your selfe To visits, and entertainments? thinke you Madam 'Tis not growge publike conference? or the fauours Which you too prodigally haue throwne on Welborne Being too reseru'd before, incurre not censure?