Heywood, Thomas · published 1633 · first performed or written 1633 [Oct 29] (Annals) civic play; pageant T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions typicality 0.71 · 488 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Grave Praetor, with your Censors, (Sheriffs elected, And now in place) it is from you expected, That having your Authority from Kings, (And many hundred years since) all such things As Custom (by Time strengthened) hath made good, You should maintain, withal your livelihood, Which that you will perform, we doubt the less. When we consider who's your patroness, The Holy and blessed Virgin, (further) this Fabric before you placed, The Bower of bliss. If we to greater, less things may compare These present, but the petty Symbols are Of what is future; for bare Prudence here Pt and confin'd in humane knowledge, there Shall be reduced to Wisdom that's Divine. Temperance (which is bare Abstinence) shall shine In clarity immaculate: justice, which Oft sways the Balance so, that to the Rich It most inclines, shall by an equal Scale, (Leaning nor this, nor that way) so prevail, That Right in glorious Star-wreaths shallbe crowned, And Injury in tenebrous Lethe drowned. Brave Fortitude which chiefly doth subsist In opposition of the Antigonist, (Whether that he the Bodies mortal state Seek to supplant, or Soul insidiate) Shall stand impugnable, and thenceforth be Fined and repured to all Eternity: When you arrive at yon Celestial Tower, Which aptly may be titled freeman's Bower. The way to find which, through these virtues lies Called Cardinal: The steps by which to rise, These Grace's show, Faith, Hope, and Love attend you: Who on their unseen wings shall soon ascend you. These (when all Earth's pomp fails) your prayers shall bring Where Saints and Angels Haleluiahs' sing. Sleep may you soundly Sir, to morrow pressed To a years trouble for this one nights rest, In which may Stars and Planits all conspire, To warm you so by their celestial Fire Aries whose Gold-Fleece Greece doth so renown May both enrich you and this Glorious town, That Taurus in your strength may so appear, You this great weight may on your Shoulders bear: That the two Twins the Mother's blessed increase, May in this City still continue peace. That Cancer who incites to hate and spleen May not in your fair Government be seen That Leo waiting on your judgement seat May moderate his rage and scorching heat, That the Celestial Maid may you advice Virgins and Orphans still to patronise And rather than your justice here should fail, Libra no more be seen with Golden scale And that the Scorpion's sting may be so charmed The poor may not be wronged, nor innocent harmed, That Chirons' bent bow so may guide your will, You may still aim, but never shoot to kill: And Capricorn though all things said to dare Though he have power, yet may have will to spare That as Aquarius doth his water power You may your goodness on this City shower, Pisces, the last of Twelve, the Feet they guide, From Head to Foot, O may you so provide.
seed 43: T13 · seed 44: T16 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
GRaue Praetor, with your Censors, (Sheriffes elected, And now in place) it is from you expected, That hauing your Authority from Kings, (And many hundred yeares since) all such things As Custome (by Time strengthned) hath made good, You should maintaine, withall your liuelyhood, Which that you will performe, we doubt the lesse. When we consider who's your patronesse, The Holy and blest Virgin, (further) this Fabricke before you plac't, The Bower of blisse. If we to greater, lesse things may compare These present, but the petty Symbols are Of what is future; for bare Prudence here Pt and confin'd in humane knowledge, there Shall be reduc't to Wisedome that's Diuine. Tempeance (which is bare Abstinence) shall shine In clarity immaculate: Iustice, which Oft swayes the Ballance so, that to the Rich It most inclines, shall by an equall Scale, (Leaing nor this, nor that way) so preuaile, That Right in glorious Star-wreaths shalbe crown'd, And Iniury in tenebrous Lethe drownd. Braue Fortitude which chiefely doth subsist In opposition of the Antigonist, (Whether that hee the Bodies mortall state Seeke to supplant, or Soule inidiate) Shall stand impugnable, and thenceforth be Fin'd and repur'd to all Eternity: When you arriue at yo Caelestiall Tower, Which aptly may be titled FREMANS Bower. The way to finde which, through these vertues lies Call'd Cardinal: The stepps by which to rise, These Graces shewe, Faith, Hope, and Loue attend you: Who on their vnseene wings shall soone ascend you. These (when all Earths pompe ales) your prayers shal bring Where Saints and Angels Haleluiahs sing. SLeepe may you soundly Sir, to morrow prest To a yeares trouble for this one nights rest, In which may Starres and Planits all conspire, To warme you so by their celestiall Fire Aries whose Gold-Fleece Greece doth so renowne May both inrich you and this Glorious owne, That Taurus in your strength may so appeare, You this great wieght may on your Shoulders beare: That the two Twins the Mothers blest increase, May in this Citty still continue peace. That Cancer who incites to hate and spleene May not in your faire Gouernment be seene That Leo waiting on your iudgement seate May moderate his rage and scorching heate, That the Celestiall Maide may you aduice Virgins and Orphans still to patronize And rather then your iustice heere should faile, Libra no more be seene with Golden scale And that the Scorpions sting may be so charm'd The poore may not be wrong'd, nor innocent harm'd, That Chirons bent bow so may guide your will, You may still aime, but neuer shoot to kill: And Capricorne though all things said to dare Though he haue power, yet may haue will to spare That as Aquarius doth his water power You may your goodnes on this Citty shower, Pisces, the last of Twelue, the Feete they guide, From Head to Foot, O may you so prouide.