Meaning & Analysis
Literally, the phrase means to lay down (pitch) money and immediately pay for what is taken or received—requiring instant payment without credit or delay.
Insights
Immediate Accountability
The proverb urges individuals to take responsibility and settle their obligations promptly, warning against reliance on trust or credit.
Honest Dealing
It advocates for straightforwardness and integrity in transactions, suggesting that those who pay their dues up front need not fear consequences or mistrust.
Consequences of Action
Reminds that every action ('pitch') carries its cost ('pay'), subtly invoking the moral of facing up to the consequences of one's decisions.
Historical Commercial Practice
In early modern marketplaces, cash transactions were the norm, and the expression 'pitch and pay' highlighted the expectation of immediate payment. This proverb reflects a society wary of debt and the unreliability of credit systems.
Social Trust and Mistrust
Shakespeare’s use of the phrase—'Trust none'—underscores a climate of suspicion, where only those who pay immediately are considered trustworthy. The proverb thus encapsulates an anxiety about honesty in social and economic life.
Ethical Self-Sufficiency
The phrase advocates for self-reliance and personal responsibility. In a world where trust is fragile, fulfilling one’s obligations directly serves as a form of ethical independence and protection.
Contrast with Spiritual Debt
The related proverb 'It is hard to pay and pray too' highlights the tension between material and spiritual obligations, suggesting that the burden of constant payment may leave little room for higher, spiritual pursuits.
Rhetorical Devices
Parataxis
The concise, two-part structure ('pitch and pay') reflects transactional immediacy and leaves no room for ambiguity, mirroring the proverb’s insistence on straightforward action.
Alliteration
The repetition of the 'p' sound in 'pitch' and 'pay' gives the phrase a catchy, memorable rhythm, aiding its transmission and recall.
Metonymy
Both 'pitch' (to throw or lay down) and 'pay' stand in for the broader concepts of offering and settling, using concrete verbs to evoke the entire act of honest exchange.
Transcription
Quotations
Yt ys full hard bothe to pyche and paye.
I vsed playnnesse, euer pitch and pay.
But pitch and paie, and goe your waie.
Yet I hope so long as we Pitch and Pay .. wee shall not goe to hell for a small matter.
Will you pitch and pay, or will your worship run?
He that will purchase this, Must pitch and pay.
Shakespeare Citations
The word is 'Pitch and pay.' Trust none.
Cross References
Annotations
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.