Wager, William · published 1570 · first performed or written 1560 [c.1559-c.1570] (Annals) moral T37 Riches, poverty and covetousness typicality 0.74 · 494 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T37: wealth, riches, money, god, rich, poverty, men, learning, poor, ic.
Enough is as good as a feast, well you wots: Moore then enough: a man needeth not. Whether it be lands, money, friends or store: if he have enough: what needeth he any more? I perceive that against us two you do grudge: Can a man of policy and ready wit have to much? The noble king Solomon was rich & had wisdom great store Yet he seized not daily to pray to God for more. Get thee store of friends (saith Cicero) for it is deemed: A true friend more than Kinsfolk is to be esteemed. It is an old proverb and of an ancient time: Which saith, it is not all Gold, that like Gold doth shine. Not more are all friends that friendship pretend: As it approved with many in the end. Yea enough, but I am sure that this policy: And this ready wit are my friends verily. Are we? ye faith there of you may be sure: We are they which your wealth shall procure. Enough is not enough without us two: For having not us, what can enough do? Enough is maintained by wisdom and policy: Which is contained of a ready wit naturally. Having a ready wit and of policy the skill: You need not to care for this enough except you wil. There is another enough which is invisible: Which enough, to want is impossible. As for this Enough is enough I cannot deny: But this enough serveth but even competently. You have no more now then doth yourself serve: So that your poor brethren for all you may starve But enough that cometh by us twain: Is able yourself and many other to sustain. Your words are even as true as the Gospel: As one named Reason of late to me did tell. You may be more heavenly saith he having riches: Then if you had nothing the truth to express. I find his words true for when alms I would give I have not wherewith the needy to relieve. Enough I have for myself I cannot say nay: But I would I had more to secure the needy always These words proceed from a covetous mind: And from a worldly lust which doth you blind. was not the poor widow for her offering praised more Than all they that offered of their superfluity & store. The sacrifice of God as the prophet David doth say Is a broken heart and a good mind always. He says well by Lady, yea and like an honest man, But yet Sir, riches to be good, well prove I can. For every man is not called after one sort: But some are called to prophecy, some to preach & exhort. And he by that means Heaven joys to win: But every man knoweth not that way to walk in. Therefore every man (as his vocation is) must walk: I am sure that against this you will not talk.
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)
Inough is as good as a feaſt, wel you wot: More then inough: a man needeth not. Whether it be lands, money, freends or ſtore: if he haue inough: what néedeth he any more? I perceiue that againſt vs two you doo grutch: Can a man of policy and redy wit haue to much? The noble king Salomon was rich & had wiſdome great ſtore Yet he ſeaſſed not dayly to pray to God for more. Get thée ſtore of fréends (ſaith Cicero) for it is déemed: A true freend more then Kinſfolke is to be eſtéemed. It is an olde prouerbe and of an ancient time: Which ſaith, it is not all Golde, that like Golde dooth ſhine. No more are all fréends that freendſhip pretend: As it approoued with many in the end. Yea inough, but I am ſure that this policy: And this redy wit are my fréends verely. Are we? ye faith there of you may be ſure: We are they which your welth ſhall procure. Inough is not inough without vs two: For hauing not vs, what can inough doo? Inough is maintained by wiſdome and policy: Which is contained of a redy wit naturally. Hauing a redy wit and of polycy the ſkil: You need not to care for this inough except you wil. There is another inough which is inuiſible: Which inough, to want is impoſſible. As for this Inough is inough I cannot deny: But this inough ſerueth but euen competently. You haue no more now then dooth your ſelf ſerue: So that your poor Bréethern for all you may ſterue But inough that commeth by vs twain: Is able your ſelf and many other to ſuſtain. Your words are euen as true as the Goſpel: As one named Reaſon of late to me did tel. You may be more heauenly ſaith he hauing riches: Then if you had nothing the trueth to expreſſe. & I finde his wordꝭ true for whē almes I wold giue I haue not wherwith the néedy to releeue. Inough I haue for my ſelf I cannot ſay nay: But I would I had more to ſuccour the néedy alway Theſe woords procéed from a couetouſe minde: And from a worldly luſt which dooth you blinde. was not ye poor widdow for her offring praiſed more Then all they yt offred of their ſuperfluitie & ſtore. The ſacrifice of God as the prophet Dauid dooth ſay Is a broken hart and a good minde alway. He ſayes wel by Lady, yea and like an honeſt man, But yet Sir, riches to be good, wel prooue I can. For euery man is not called after one ſorte: But ſome are called to prophecy, ſome to preach & exhorte. And he by that meanes Heauen ioyes to win: But euery man knoweth not that way to walke in. Therfore euery man (as his vocation is) muſt walke: I am ſure that againſt this you wil not talke.