Nabbes, Thomas · published 1637 · first performed or written 1637 (Annals) masque · King's Revels Company (?) · Salisbury Court unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 517 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
My heart's too narrow to contain the joys This reconciliation fills it with. Chain me again to misery, and make me Wretched beyond despair when next I fall. Let this my resolution be enrolled Amongst eternal acts not to be canceled. Then man is happy, and his bliss is full When he's directed by his better soul. It must not be; his glory is my shame. Mischief attempted if it want success, Is the contrivers punishment. As darts Shot at resisting walls, in their return May light on him that did direct them. Malice Suggests a new attempt. I'll practise all That hell can teach me, but I'll work his fall. Who's here? Into what misery hath riot Brought my decayed state? Whilst I had the means To purchase pleasures, all delights were sold me. Those gone, necessity and lust than made me A mercenary prostitute, and since By the gradation of a wanton life, I'm fallen to this. Want and a loathsome sickness Make me reflect; nor can I but accuse myself At Conscience bar, but not with penitence; That's still in opposition with my will, Now custom hath confirmed me in all ill. T' accuse Physander, thither will I go, And if all fail try what despair can do. he's here. I shall not need your diligence. Your treachery (although forgiven) hath made me Watchful upon ye. I have gotten now A careful guide to manage my affairs. Retire. I do embrace thy fellowship Prudence, thou virtue of the mind, by which We do consult of all that's good or evil Conducing to felicity. Direct My thoughts and actions by the rule of reason. Teach me contempt of all inferior vanities. Pride in a marble portal guilded over; Assyrian carpets; chairs of ivory; The luxury of a stupendious house; Garments perfumed; gems valued not for use But needless ornament; a sumptuous table, And all the baits of sense. A vulgar eye Sees not the danger which beneath them lie. she's a majestic ruler, and commands Even with the terror of her awful brow. As in a throng sedition being raised, Th' ignoble multitude inflamed with madness, Firebrands and stones fly; fury shows them weapons: Till spying some grave man honoured for wisdom, They straight are silent, and erect their ears, Whilst he with his sage counsel doth assuage Their mind's disorder, and appease their rage. So Prudence, when rebellious appetites Have raised temptations, with their batteries Assaulting reason, she doth interpose, And keep it safe. Th'attempts of sense are weak, If their vain forces wisdom deign to break. Temperance, to thee I owe my after life; Thou that command'st o'er pleasures, hating some, When thou dispens'st with others; still directing All to a sound mean: under thy low roof I'll eat and sleep, whilst grave Philosophy Instructs my soul in justice. What is she? A habit of the mind by which just things Perfect their working. Man's the best of creatures Enjoying Law and justice; but the worst If separated from them. 'Tis established By fear of Law, and by Religion; Distributes due to all.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
My heart's too narrow to conteine the joyes This reconciliation fills it with. Chayne me agen to misery, and make me Wretched beyond despayre when next I fall. Let this my resolution be enroll'd Amongst eternall acts not to be cancell'd. Then man is happy, and his blisse is full When hee's directed by his better soule. It must not be; his glory is my shame. Mischiefe attempted if it want successe, Is the contrivers punishment. As darts Shot at resisting walls, in their returne May light on him that did direct them. Malice Suggests a new attempt. Ile practise all That hell can teach me, but Ile work his fall. Who's here? Into what misery hath riot Brought my decayed state? Whilst I had the meanes To purchase pleasures, all delights were sold me. Those gone, necessity and lust then made me A mercenary prostitute, and since By the gradation of a wanton life, I'm fall'n to this. Want and a loathsome sicknesse Make me reflect; nor can I but accuse my self At Conscience barre, but not with penitence; That's still in opposition with my will, Now custome hath confirm'd me in all ill. T' accuse Physander, thither will I goe, And if all fayle try what despaire can doe. Hee's here. I shall not need your diligence. Your trecherie (although forgiven) hath made me Watchfull upon ye. I have gotten now A carefull guide to manage my affayres. Retire. I do embrace thy fellowship Prudence, thou vertue of the mind, by which We do consult of all that's good or evill Conducing to felicity. Direct My thoughts and actions by the rule of reason. Teach me contempt of all inferiour vanities. Pride in a marble portall guilded ore; Assyrian carpets▪ chayres of ivory; The luxurie of a stupendious house; Garments perfum'd; gemmes valew'd not for use But needlesse ornament; a sumptuous table, And all the baytes of sense. A vulgar eye Sees not the danger which beneath them lye. Shee's a majestick ruler, and commands Even with the terrour of her awfull brow. As in a throng sedition being rays'd, Th' ignoble multitude inflam'd with madnesse, Firebrands and stones fly; fury shews them weapons: 'Till spying some grave man honour'd for wisdome, They straight are silent, and erect their eares, Whilst he with his sage counsayle doth asswage Their minds disorder, and appease their rage. So Prudence, when rebellious appetites Have rays'd temptations, with their batteryes Assaulting reason, she doth interpose, And keep it safe. Th'attemps of sense are weake, If their vaine forces wisdome deigne to breake. Temperance, to thee I owe my after life; Thou that command'st o're pleasures, hating some, When thou dispens'st with others; still directing All to a sound meane: under thy low roofe Ile eate and sleepe, whilst grave Philosophy Instructs my soule in Iustice. What is she? A habit of the mind by which just things Perfect their working. Man's the best of creatures Enjoying Law and Iustice; but the worst If separated from them. 'Tis establisht By feare of Law, and by Religion; Distributes due to all.