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.
Health. So I will; but yet, I must say true.
And now a little more I will say to you:
Much sorrow and care wealth doth brew;
He is seldom in rest.
When a man is a little hite and wealthy,
And hath in his chest treasures plenty,
Then will he wrangle, and do shrewdly
By his power and might.
With his neighbours he will go to law;
And a-wreak his malice for value of straw:
Wealth is fickle and out of awe,
Wilful in wrong or right.
Wealth. Thou speakest with a slanderous tongue,
All of evil will; and yet, it is wrong:
Wealth in this realm hath been long;
Of me cometh great honour.
Because that I, Wealth, hath great port,
All the world hither doth resort;
Therefore I, Wealth, am this realm's comfort,
And here I will endure.
Health. So I would ye should, and I shall do the same. A4,v.
Health I am called, and that is my name;
If I would not abide here I were to blame,
For here I am well cherished.
Yet say yourself now, indifferently,
And if every man do not love me,
Health, as well as Wealth? yes, verily!
Thereof I dare be reported.