Wager, William · published 1570 · first performed or written 1560 [c.1559-c.1570] (Annals) moral T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness typicality 0.74 · 498 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
Let this pass and go we to the Argument, Which we will declare in words general: Now such as have a learned judgement, Know that among the Poets comical, In brief sentence it was usual. To show the whole contents of the Comedy: In the argument which did well verily. But our tongues hath not so comely a grace, In that point, as hath the Latin and Greek: We cannot like them our sentences eloquently place, That our Poets to their Orators may be like As they know well which for such matters do seek. But to do our best, indeed we will not neglect: Trusting that wise men the same will accept. Our title is Enough is as good as a feast, Which Rethorically we shall amplify: So that it shall appear both to most and lest That our meaning is but honesty, Yet now and then we will dally merrily. So we shall please them that of mirth be desirous: For we play not to please them that be curious. For a Preface I fear I am to long But I have said that I will say now: The Worldly man is frolic lusty and strong, Who will show his qualities before you, Stout he is and in any wise will not bow. Behold yonder he cometh into this place: Therefore thus I finish our simple Preface. BEcause I am a man endued with treasure, Therefore a worldly man men do me call: In deed I have riches and money at my pleasure, Yea, and I will have more in spite of them all. A common saying better is envy then ruth, I had rather they should spite then pity me: For the old saying now a days proveth truth, nought have nought set by as daily we see. I wis I am not of the mind as some men are, Which look for no more than will serve necessity: Not against a day to come I do prepare, That when age cometh I may live merrily. O saith one enough is as good as a feast, Yea, but who can tell what his end shallbe? Therefore I count him worse than a Beast, That will not have that in respect and see. As by mine own Father an example I may take, He was beloved of all men and kept a good house: Whilst riches lasted, but when that did slake, There was no man that did set by him a Louse. And so at such time as as he from the world went, I mean when he died he was not worth a groat: And they that all his substance had spent, For the value of xii. pence would have cut his throat. But I trow I will take heed of such, They shall go ere they drink when they come to me: It doth me good to tell the chinks in my hutch, Moore than at the Tavern or ale house to be
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)
¶Let this paſſe and go we to the Argument, Which we wil declare in woords generall: Now ſuch as haue a learned iudgement, Knowe that among the Poets comicall, In breef ſentence it was vſuall. To ſhowe the whole contents of the Comedye: In the argument which did wel verily. ¶But our tungs hath not ſo comely a grace, In that point, as hath the Latin and Gréek: We cannot like them our ſentences eloquently place, That our Poets to their Orators may be like As they knowe wel which for ſuch matters doo ſeek. But to doo our beſt, indéed we wil not neglect: Truſting that wiſe men the ſame wil accept. ¶Our title is Inough is as good as a feaſt, Which Rethorically we ſhall amplyfye: So that it ſhall appéer bothe to moſte and leaſt That our meaning is but honeſtie, Yet now and then we wil dally merily. So we ſhall pleaſe them that of mirth be deſirous: For we play not to pleaſe them that be curious. ¶For a Preface I fear I am to long But I haue ſaid that I wil ſay now: The Worldly man is frolike luſty and ſtrong, Who wil ſhowe his qualities before you, Stowt he is and in any wiſe wil not bow. Beholde yonder he commeth into this place: Therfore thus I finiſh our ſimple Preface. BEcauſe I am a man indewed with treaſure, Therfore a worldly man men doo me call: In deed I haue riches and money at my pleaſure, Yea, and I wil haue more in ſpight of them all. A common ſaying better is enuy then rueth, I had rather they ſhould ſpite then pitty me: For the olde ſaying now a dayes proueth trueth, Naught haue naught ſet by as dayly we ſee. I wis I am not of the minde as ſome men are, Which look for no more then wil ſerue neceſſitie: No againſt a day to come I doo prepare, That when age commeth I may liue merily. Oh ſaith one inough is as good as a feaſt, Yea, but who can tel what his end ſhalbe? Therfore I count him wurſe then a Beaſt, That wil not haue that in reſpect and ſée. As by mine owne Father an example I may take, He was belooued of all men and kept a good houſe: Whilſt riches laſted, but when that did ſlake, There was no man that did ſet by him a Louſe. And ſo at ſuch time as as he from the world went, I mene when he dyed he was not worth a grote: And they that all his ſubſtance had ſpent, For the value of xij. pence would haue cut his throte. But I trowe I wil take héed of ſuch, They ſhall go ere they drink when they come to me: It dooth me good to tel the chinks in my hutch, More then at the Tauern or ale houſe tobe.