_Health._ Yes! I can tell what you are; be not displeased. Wealth is of great substance; that cannot be denied. Yet, show your commodities, and ye shall be answered: I promise you wealth is fugitive. _Wealth._ What sayst thou? am I a tagetive? I was never so taken up in my life, Nor called unsure--well! I will make no strife. Yet, whereas thou dost say That I should show my commodities always, The best for myself, whereof I ask praise, If I should stand here all my life days Yet I could not say. Nor half the benefits that cometh of me, It cannot be told nor recited shortly. Wealth is the flower of all thing earthly-- That you cannot deny. First, God save our sovereign lady, the Queen; With all the Council, and all that with them been. Am not I, Wealth, with them ever at ene? Who should be there but I? Men of the law, and jolly rich merchants There be, wealthy both; of goods and lands, Without comparison, is in their hands: I, Wealth, have all treasure. _Health._ O good sir! of whom cometh all this? A3,_v._ Of God only: to you no thank, I wis. And yet man's wealth stands not all in riches: I dare say that boldly. When a man hath a competent living, With the grace of God that passeth all thing, Love of his neighbour, and good reporting: Then is he wealthy. Wealth of goods is but a fame; He is wealthy that hath a good name; Every wise man will covet the same: For other wealth I not rech. If a man have never so much good name Every wise man will covet the same; If his dispositions be nought and wood, Then he is but a wretch. _Wealth._ Nay! thou art a wretch, and a fool unwise, Wealth of riches thus to despise; Dost thou not see all the world arise By goods and substance? He that hath plenty of silver and gold May have all thing, whatsoever he would. When can Wealth lack, seeing all thing is sold, And Wealth is of assurance? _Health._ I deny that; your saying is nought: Grace, heaven, nor cunning cannot be bought Without great pain, and good deeds wrought; Else man cannot them have. _Wealth._ Stop thereat, and hold thy peace! May not men buy heaven with richesse, As to build churches and make by-ways? Such deeds man's soul doth save. _Health._ Yea! but yet ye must mark one thing, A4,_r._ If these goods came with wrong-doing Shall ye have heaven for so spending, Or yet any meed? Nay, nay! except that man himself do meek, And make resistance the right honour to seek, Else all such good deeds is not worth a leek. Wealth! hereof take heed! _Wealth._ Why thinkest thou that all men which hath wealth Getteth their goods with bribery and stealth? Thy report is nought; therefore, Health, I counsel thee to say the best.