And private profit prowled for pence ...

from A Discourse of Virtue

When virtue laid her down to sleep
and would no longer wake,
And wicked world did wanton wax
as vice would triumph make:

I sat and mused all the while
on things of wondrous weight:
As though our latter judgement day
at hand were coming straight.

For lo! each land and kingdom large
in compass of my view
Stood all bespread with wailing wights
and sudden sorrows new.

...

In this discourse and doleful bruits
came revel roughly clad,
And made wild havoc sound the drum
as all the world were mad.

And so was hairbrain broils abroach,
and men imbrued in blood
Began to strive with stout attempts
for rule and worldly good.

...

The common sort beholding this
left labour, care and toil,
And thought through sleights and snatching shifts
to thrive and live by spoil.

...

True dealing was but called a dolt,
or else God's fool indeed;
Dame Flattery claimed friendship's place,
yet failed her friend at need.

And robbery was good purchase held,
and lust was solace sweet,
And they were called the lively lads
that had the quickest sprete.*

...

And private profit prowled for pence,
her purse lay open wide:
Thus public state with rueful noise
unto the heavens cried ...

*spirit

Thomas Churchyard (1520?–1604)

first published in 1575

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