Wager, William · published 1570 · first performed or written 1560 [c.1559-c.1570] (Annals) moral T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness typicality 0.82 · 505 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
It is true, and therefore a mind well content, Is great riches as wise king Solomon doth say: For we have seen of late days this canker pestilent Corrupting our Realm to our utter decay. Ambition I mean which chiefly doth reign, Among those who should have been example to other: Yea we see how the brethren they did disdain, And burned with fire, the Child with the mother. It is often seen that such monstrous Ambition, As spareth not to spill the blood of the innocent: Will not greatly stick to fall to sedition, The determinations of God thereby to prevent, But God I trust shall disappoint their intent. And overthrow the power of fading treasure: And 'cause us all to wish for the heavenly pleasure. O you ancient men whom God hath furnished with fame, Be ye always mindful to walk in the ways of the Just, And ad ever more virtue to your honest name, And at no hand be over come with covetous or lust, But in God's holy promise put confidence and trust. And then double felicity at the last we shall possess: And then in all Earthly doings God shall give good success You poor men and commons walk in your vocation, Banish fond fantasies which are not convenient: Settle your minds with enough to have contentation, Considering that that leadeth to treasures most excellent, For these are uncertain, but they are most permanent. Your necessity apply with treasure, faith and trust: And you shall have enough always among the Just. And indeed enough is as good as a feast, Good Lord how your words have altered my mind: A new heart me thinks is entered in my breast, For no thought of mine old in me I can find. I would to God you would take me in your company, And learn me how I may be an heavenly man: For now I perceive this world is but vanity, Let a man therefore make of it as much as he can. Do you speak as you think? and as you mind do you say? Can you be content to lead the rules of a godly life? I do mean it truly and I will study them night and day, For I regard neither treasure, Children nor wife. Give me your hand then together let us depart: And I will wait on you sir, with all my heart. When Covetous is busy, Then we three be all merry, for he doth trimly invent: To make us fine frolic cheer Be victuals never so dear, and all our money clean spent Therefore we spare for no cost We can be trusted of our host For shillings xx. and one: Covetous hath a good wit, He findeth a mean to pay it, when all our money is gone. Therefore trole the bowl to me, With huf child & have to thee, the longest liver pay all: Our trust is in Covetise, For he is prudent and wise, therefore money cannot fall.
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)
It is true, and therfore a minde wel content, Is great riches as wiſe king Salomon dooth ſay: For we haue ſéen of late dayes this canker peſtilent Corrupting our Realme to our vtter decay. Ambition I mene which chéefly dooth reign, Amongſt thoſe who ſhould haue béen example to other: Yea we ſée how the Bréethern they did diſdain, And burned with fire, the Childe with the mother. It is often ſéen that ſuch monſtrous Ambition, As ſpareth not to ſpil the blood of the innocent: Wil not greatly ſtick to fall to ſedition, The determinations of God therby to preuent, But God I truſt ſhall diſapoint their intent. And ouerthrowe the power of fading treaſure: And cauſe vs al to wiſh for the heauenly pleaſure. O you ancient men whome God hath furniſhed wt fame, Be ye alwaies mindeful to walke in the waies of the Iuſt, And ad euer more vertue to your honeſt name, And at no hand be ouer come with couetouſe or luſt, But in Gods holy promiſe put confidence and truſt. And then double felicitie at the laſt we ſhall poſſeſſe: And then in all Earthly dooings God ſhall giue good ſucceſſe Ye poor men and commons walke in your vocation, Baniſh fond fantaſyes which are not conuenient: Settle your mindes with inough to haue contentation, Conſidering that that leadeth to treaſures moſte excellent, For theſe are vncertain, but they are moſte parmanent. Your neceſſitie apply with treaſure, faith and truſt: And you ſhall haue inough alwaies among the Iuſt. And indéed inough is as good as a feaſt, Good Lord how your woords haue altred my minde: A new hart me thinks is entred in my breſt, For no thought of mine olde in me I can finde. I would to God you would take me in your company, And learne me how I may be an heauenly man: For now I perceiue this world is but vanitie, Let a man therfore make of it aſmuch as he can. Doo you ſpeak as you think? and as you minde doo you ſay? Could you be content to lead the rules of a godly life? I doo mean it truly and I wil ſtudy them night and day, For I regarde neither treaſure, Children nor wife. Giue me your hand then togither let vs departe: And I wil wait on you ſir, with all my hart. When Couetouſe is buſy, Then we three be all mery, for he dooth trimly inuent: To make vs fine frolike chéer Be vitailes neuer ſo déer, and all our money clene ſpēt Therfore we ſpare for no coſt We cā be truſted of our hoſte For ſhillings xx. and one: Couetouſe hath a good wit, He findeth a mene to pay it, whē all our money is gone. Therfore trole the boule to me, With huf childe & haue to thee, the longeſt liuer pay all: Our truſt is in Couetiſe, For he is prudent and wiſe, therfore money cannot fall.