Edwards, Richard · published 1571 · first performed or written 1564 [1564-1568] (Annals) comedy · Children of the Chapel (first) (Oxford's Boys) · before the Court unassigned nearest T35 Fools, wit and railing · 481 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T35: fool, wit, aristippus, achilles, wise, fools, patroclus, thersites, master, men.
TOO strange (perhaps) it seems to some, That I Aristippus, a Courtier am become: A Philosopher of late, not of the meanist name, But now to the Courtly behaviour my life I frame, Muse he that list, to you of good skill, I say that I am a Philosopher still: Lovers of Wisdom, are termed Philosophy, Than who is a Philosopher so rightly as I? For in loving of wisdom, proof doth this try, That Frustra sapit, qui non sapit sibi: I am wise for myself, then tell me of troth, Is not that great Wisdom as the world goeth? Some Philosophers in the street go ragged and torn, And feeds on vile Roots, whom Boys laugh to scorn: But I in fine Silks haunt Dionysius Palace, Wherein with dainty fare myself I do solace: I can talk of Philosophy as well as the best, But the straight kind of life I leave to the rest: And I profess now the Courtly Philosophy, To crouch, to speak fair, myself I apply, To feed the kings humour with pleasant devices, For which I am called Regius Canis: But wots ye who named me first the kings Dog? It was the Rogue Diogenes that vile grunting Hog: Let him roll in his Tub to win a vain praise, In the Court pleasantly I will spend all my days: Wherein what to do, I am not to learn, What will serve mine own turn I can quickly discern: All my time at School I have not spent vainly, I can help one, is not that a good point of Philosophy? I beshrew your fine ears, since you came from School,, In the Court you have made many a wiseman a fool: And though you paint out your feigned Philosophy, So God help me, it is but a plain kind of flattery: Which you use so finely in so pleasant a sort, That none but Aristppus, now makes the King sport, Ere you came hither, poor I was somebody, The King delighted in me, now I am but a noddy. In faith Carisophus, you know yourself best, But I will not call you noddy, but only in jest, And thus I assure you, though I came from school, To serve in this Court, I came not yet to be the kings fool, Or to fill his ears with servile squirilitie, That office is yours, you know it right perfectly, Of Parasites and Scicophants you are a grave bencher, The King feeds you often from his own trencher, I envy not your state, nor yet your great favour, Then grudge not at all, if in my behaviour: I make the King merry, with pleasant urbanity, Whom I never abused to any man's injury. Be cock sir, yet in the Court you do best thrive, For you get more in on day than I do in five.
seed 43: T58 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
TOO strange (perhaps) it séemes to some, That I Aristippus, a Courtier am become: A Philosopher of late, not of the meanist name, But now to the Courtly behauiour my lyfe I frame, Muse he that lyst, to you of good skill, I say that I am a Philosopher styll: Louers of Wisdom, are termed Philosophie, Then who is a Philosopher so rightly as I? For in louyng of wisdom, proofe doth this trie, That Frustra sapit, qui non sapit sibi: I am wyse for my selfe, then tell me of troth, Is not that great Wisdom as the world goth? Some Philosophers in the stréete go ragged and torne, And féedes on vyle Rootes, whom Boyes laugh to scorne: But I in fine Silkes haunt Dionysius Pallace, Wherin with dayntie fare my selfe I do solace: I can talke of Philosophie as well as the best, But the strayte kynde of lyfe I leaue to the rest: And I professe now the Courtly Philosophie, To crouche, to speake fayre, my selfe I applie, To féede the Kinges humour with pleasant deuises, For whiche I am called Regius Canis: But wot ye who named me first the Kinges Dogge? It was the Roage Diogenes that vile grunting Hogge: Let him rolle in his Tubbe to winne a vayne prayse, In the Courte pleasantly I wyll spende all my dayes: Wherin what to doo, I am not to learne, What wyll serue myne owne turne I can quickly discearne: All my tyme at Schoole I haue not spent vaynly, I can helpe one, is not that a good poinct of Philosophy? ¶I beshrew your fine eares, since you came from Schoole,, In the Court you haue made many a wiseman a foole: And though you paint out your fayned Philosophie, So God helpe me, it is but a playne kinde of flattery: Whiche you vse so finely in so pleasant a sorte, That none but Aristppus, now makes the Kinge sporte, Ere you came hyther, poore I was sombody, The Kinge delighted in mee, now I am but a noddy. ¶In faith Carisophus, you know your selfe best, But I will not call you noddie, but only in iest, And thus I assure you, though I came from schoole, To serue in this Court, I came not yet to be the Kinges foole, Or to fill his eares with seruile squirilitie, That office is yours, you know it right perfectlie, Of Parasites and Scicophants you are a graue bencher, The Kinge féedes you often from his owne trencher, I enuye not your state, nor yet your great fauour, Then grudge not at all, if in my behauiour: I make the Kinge mery, with pleasant vrbanitie, Whom I neuer abused to any mans iniurie. ¶ Be cocke sir, yet in the Courte you doo best thriue, For you get more in on day then I doo in fiue.