Money Quote by George Herbert
““Having been tenant long to a rich Lord, Not thriving, I resolved to be bold, And make a suit unto him, to afford A new small-rented lease, and cancell th’ old. In heaven at his manour I him sought: They told me there, that he was lately gone About some land, which he had dearly bought Long since on earth, to take possession. I straight return’d, and knowing his great birth, Sought him accordingly in great resorts; In cities, theatres, gardens, parks, and courts: At length I heard a ragged noise and mirth Of theeves and murderers: there I him espied, Who straight, Your suit is granted, said, and died. ””
About This Quote
Source Poem: The Temple, 1633
A speaker, after serving a wealthy patron, seeks a new lease by confronting the patron in various social venues, only to be told his request is granted as the patron dies.
In simple terms: A servant tries to negotiate a new arrangement with his master, only to learn the master has died.
Key Takeaway
Accept change and mortality as inevitable.
Themes
service
mortality
social ambition
negotiation
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
literary
poetic
When to use this quote
- courtly pursuits
- urban life
- legal contracts
- personal ambition
- death
Key Concepts
patronage
impermanence
authority
social mobility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do power dynamics shift when a patron dies?
- What does the speaker’s boldness reveal about his values?
A Different Perspective
The narrative assumes agency that may not exist; the patron’s death may be symbolic rather than literal.
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