Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 17 (nat, leaguer, assyrian, mowche, bashas, andalle…). Matches are highlighted.
¶ I think I had come in vain unless he had sent me, Sir here is a dossen Portagewes if you will help me. ¶ His name is Nicholas, we are both of one name: But no kin at all I am sure he is to me. Yet though my title be nought I will
Full speech
¶ I think I had come in vain unless he had sent me, Sir here is a dossen Portagewes if you will help me. ¶ His name is Nicholas, we are both of one name: But no kin at all I am sure he is to me. Yet though my title be nought I will weary him with money: The law is open I am sure for every man: Marry let him make his plee as well as he can: Do not many give over their titles in a year, Some for want of money, and some for very fear. ¶ Do you not think that I have feigned a dissent, And thereby claim a right that never was before, The rich may soon overcome the moneyles and the poor: And yet that I shall lose it, I surely am afraid, Unless you cause judgement the next term to be stayed. ¶ I will get it stayed, I have thee now promised: ¶ Marry Sir this is the way that must needs prevail, I thank you Sir heartily for telling me this tale. ¶ There is a poor knave by me hath a piece of ground, Not worth by year passed three or four pound, And I have at the villain such hate and spite That I would have it from him although it be his right: The land lies so handsomely at the back side of my house, That I am as greedy thereof as cat of a mouse. ¶ So that I have it I care not for hereafter, When I am dead and rotten, it will be good for my children.
Plot summary
Plot — All for Money
The play satirizes the domination of money in a sequence of discrete episodes. Theology, Science, and Art lament that they are now primarily studied out ofa desire for money. Money becomes ill and vomits up Pleasure, who in turn gives birth to Sin in the same manner, whose progeny in turn is Damnation. Satan is pleased that Money’s wide popularity will consign so many souls to hell, and asks Sin to assist in the process. The relative values of money and learning are assessed in an encounter between four characters who have or lack them in various permutations: learning is shown to be superior to money, and poverty in this world carries the promise of a heavenly reward in the next; the clinching point is that Learning with Money gives alms to the poor where Money without Learning refuses. Money feels overworked and Sin gives him an associate, All for Money, who presides over a corrupt court: he pardons theft and assault, infanticide, and bigamy, but hangs a poor thief who is unable to bribe him. He also advises two suitors to procure false witnesses to support their causes, and protects a corrupt and incompetent cleric. Judas and Dives, two souls damned for monetary sins, lament their situation; Damnation drives them off to hell. Godly Admonition warns the audience not to repent too late, and to give up cupidity.