BEN JONSON

from The Alchemist, II, i

SIR EPICURE MAMMON:

                    Come on, sir. Now you set your foot on shore
     In Novo Orbe; here’s the rich Peru,
     And there within, sir, are the golden mines,
     Great Solomon’s Ophir! He was sailing to ’t
     Three years, but we have reached it in ten months.
     This is the day wherein, to all my friends,
     I will pronounce the happy word, ‘Be rich!’
     This day you shall be spectatissimi.
     You shall no more deal with the hollow die,
     Or the frail card. No more be at charge of keeping
     The livery-punk for the young heir, that must
     Seal, at all hours, in his shirt; no more,
     If he deny, ha’ him beaten to ’t, as he is
     That brings him the commodity; no more
     Shall thirst of satin, or the covetous hunger
     Of velvet entrails for a rude-spun cloak,
     To be displayed at Madam Augusta’s, make
     The sons of sword and hazard fall before
     The golden calf, and on their knees, whole nights,
     Commit idolatry with wine and trumpets,
     Or go a-feasting after drum and ensign.
     No more of this. You shall start up young viceroys,
     And have your punks and punketees, my Surly.
     And unto thee I speak it first, ‘Be rich!’