+wealth+ What sayst thou, am I a fagetyue
I was neuer so taken vp in my lyfe
Nor called vnsure, well I wyll make no stryfe
yet where as thou dost say,
Thai I should show my commodityes alwayes 80
The best for my selfe wherof I aske prayse
yf I shoulde stand her all my lyfe dayes
yet I coulde not say.
Nor halfe the benefites that commeth of me
yt cannot be tolde nor resyted shortly
Welth is the floure of althing earthly
That you cannot denye.
Ferste god saue, our soueraine Ladye the Queene
With all the counsel and all that with them bene
Am not I welth with them euer at ene 90
Who should be there but I?
Men of the lawe, and ioly rych marchauntes
There be welthy both of goodes and lands,
Without comparyson is in their handes
I welth hatg all freasure.
+Health.+ O good syr, of whom commeth all this
Of god only, to you no thanke Iwys
And yet mans welth stands not all in ryches
I dare saye that boldly,
Whan a man hath a cempetent liuing 100
with the grace of god that passeth all thyng
Loue of his neyghbour, and good reporting
Then is he welthy,
Welth of goodes is but a fame
Ye is welthy that hath a good name
Euery wyse man wyll coueyte the same
For otherwelth I not reche
yf a man haue neuer so much good name
Euerywise man wyll coueyte the same
if his dtsposicions be nought and wood 110
Then he is but a wretch,
+Welth.+ Nay thou art a wretch, and a foole vnwyse
welth of ryches thus to despyse
Doest thou not se all the worlde aryse
By goodes and substaunce
He that hath plenty of syluer and golde
May haue all thyng whatsoeuer he woulde
Whan can welth lacke, seing all thing is solde
And welth is of assuraunce.
+Health+ I denye that, your saying is nought 120
Grace, heauen, nor cunning, cannot be bought
without great paine, ad good dedes wrought
Els man cannot them haue.
+wealth+ Stop thereat, and hold thy peace
May not men by heauen with richesse
As to bylde churches and make bye wayes
Such deedes mans soule doth saue
+Health+ Yea, but yet ye must marke one thynge
yf these goodes came with wronge doyng
Shall ye haue heauen for so spendynge 130
Or yet any mede.
Nay nay except that man himselfe doo meeke
And make resystance the ryght honour to seeke
Els all such good dedes is not woth a leeke
welth hereof take heede.
+wealth.+ Why thinkest thou that all men which hath welth
Getteth theyr goodes with brybry and stealeth
Thy reporte is nought therfore Helthe
I counsell thee to say the best.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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