[Money, Money!]
(British Library MS Royal 17.B.xlvii fols. 160v-162r)
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Money, money, now hay goode day! Money, where haste thow be? Money, money, thow gost away And wylt not byde wyth me. Above all thing thow arte a kyng, And rulyst the world over all; Who lakythe the, all joy, pardé, Wyll sone then frome hym ffall! In every place thow makyste solas, Gret joye, spoorte, and uelfare; When money ys gone, comfort ys none, But thowght, sorowe, and care. In kynges corte, where money dothe route, Yt makyth the galandes to jett, And for to were gorgeouse ther gere, 1 Ther cappes awry to sett. In the heyweyes ther joly palfreys 2 Yt makyght to lepe and praunce, It maket justynges, pleys, dysguysynges, Ladys to synge and daunce. For he that alway wantyth money Stondyth a mated chere, Can never wel syng, lang daunce nor springe, Nor make no lusty chere. 3 At cardes and dyce yt bereth the pryce, As kyng and emperoure; At tables, tennes, and al othere games, Money hathe ever the floure. Wythe squyer and knyght and every wyghte Money maketh men fayne; And causeth many in sume compeney Theyr felowes to dysdayne. In marchandys who can devyse So good a ware, I say? At al tymys the best ware ys Ever redy money. Money to incresse, marchandys never to cease Wyth many a sotell wyle; Men say the wolde for sylver and golde Ther owne faders begyle. Women, I trowe, love money also To by them joly gere; For that helpythe and oft causethe Women to loke full fayre. In Westmyaster Hall the criers call; The sergeauntes plede apace. Attorneys appere, now here, now ther, Renning in every place. Whatesoever he be, and yf that he Whante money to plede the lawe, Do whate he cane in ys mater than Shale prove not worthe a strawe. I know yt not, but well I wotte I have harde often tymys tell, Prestes use thys guyse, ther benefyce For moyeny to bey and sell. Craftysmen that be in every cyté, They worke and never blynne; Sum cutte, sume shave, sume knoke, sum grave, Only money to wynne. The plowman hymselfe dothe dyge and delve In storme, snowe, frost, and rayne, Money to get with laboure and swete, Yet small geynes and muche peyne. And sume for money lye by the wey Another mannes purse to gett; But they that long use yt amonge Ben hangyd by the neke. The beggers eke in every strete Ly walowyng by the wey; They begge, the crye, oft the cume by, And all ys but for money. In every coste men love yt moste, In Ynglonde, Spayne, and Francs, For every man lackyng yt than Is clene owte of countenaunce. Of what degré so ever he be, Of werteouse conyng he have, And wante moné, yet men wyll sey, That he ys but a knave. Where indede, so God me spede, Sey all men whate they cane; Yt ys allwayes sene nowadayes That money makythe the man. finis |
have a been rule; everywhere worships thee; by God soon; from; (see note) comfort; (see note) diversion; prosperity anxiety; (see note) court; gather gallants; swagger; (see note) (see note) causes jousts; masquerades; (see note) always lacks; (see note) flustered countenance; (see note) long; (see note) (see note) backgammon, tennis; (see note) is foremost person; (see note) eager (see note) merchandise defense (see note) subtle ruse they; (see note) deceive; (see note) buy; apparel (see note) Westminster; (see note) barristers (see note) Running (see note) Lacks; plead Whatever he can do in his lawsuit then (see note) know heard buy; (see note) Guildsmen; (see note) cease hammer; engrave; (see note) dig; (see note) sweat gains; (see note) wait in ambush get neck Lie wallowing they; (see note) country England; France Is utterly humiliated useful scholarship If [he] lacks money; (see note) (see note) whatever they can (see note) |