Britannia Triumphans (Britain Triumphing) · chunk 2 of 7
Davenant, William · published 1637 · first performed or written 1638 [licensed for performance, Jan 8] (Annals) not in BritDrama · before the Court T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation typicality 0.70 · 468 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
Even so believe't, and in their chiefest growth They follow but my Grandsire Mahomet's Divinity, who doth allow the good a handsome Girl On earth, the valiant two in Paradise. Thou art so read in humane appetites That were the Devil licensed to assume A body, thou might'st be his Cook, yet know If you endeavour it, you may persuade yourself, there are some few 'mongst men That as our making is erect, look up To face the Stars, and fancy nobler hopes Than you allow, not downward hang their heads Like Beasts to meditate on earth, on abject things Beneath their feet. 'tis a thin number sure, And much dispersed, for they will hardly meet In Counsels and in Synods to enact Their Doctrine by consent, That the next age May say they parted friends. 'Tis possible 'less you steal in amongst them to disturb Their peace, disguised in a Canonic weed, Nor are these such, that by their reasons strict And rigid discipline, must fright nice Court Philosophers from their belief, such as impute A tyrannous intent to heavenly powers, And that their tyranny alone did point At men, as if the Fawn and Kid were made To frisk and caper out their time, and it Were sin in us to dance, the Nightingale To sing her tragic tales of love, and we To recreate ourselves with Groans, as if All perfumes for the Tiger were ordained 'cause he excels in scent: colours, and gaudy tinctures for The Eastern birds, whilst all our ornament Are russet robes, like melancholy Monks. There are Sir of this rigid sect, and much They govern too, that think the Godwit and The Rail were meant the eagle's food, and men Designed to feed on Salads in a mead, As if we were created but a great And larger kind of Frogs. It is confessed; There are some sullen Clerks that love To injure and to scant themselves, yet you May find a few whose wisdoms merit greater sway That will allow us pleasures 'bove our cares, Yet these we must not compass with our guilt, But every Act be squared by virtue's rule. Virtue, 'tis a mere name, Virgins that want A dowry, learned by rote, to raise the price Of old unhandsome looks: admit, there's one Or two allow in nature such a thing, And that it is no dream: These mighty Lords Of reason have but a few followers, And those go ragged too, the prosperous, brave Increasing multitude pursue my steps. The great devourer of mysterious books Is come, Merlin, whose deep Prophetic Art Foretold that at this particle of Time He would forsake's unbodied friends below And waste one usual circuit of the Moon On earth, to try how Nature's face is changed Since his decease.
seed 43: T4 · seed 44: T5 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Even so beleev't, and in their chiefest growth They follow but my Grandsire Mahomets Divinitie, who doth allow the good a handsome Girle On earth, the valiant two in Paradise. Thou art so read in humane appetites That were the Divell licenc'd to assume A body, thou might'st bee his Cooke, yet know If you endevour it, you may perswade Your selfe, there are some few 'mongst men That as our making is erect, looke up To face the Starres, and fancy nobler hopes Than you allow, not downward hang their heads Like Beasts to meditate on earth, on abject things Beneath their feet. T'is a thinne number sure, And much disperst, for they will hardly meet In Councels and in Synods to enact Their Doctrine by consent, That the next age May say they parted friends. 'Tis possible 'Lesse you steale in amongst them to disturbe Their peace, disguisd in a Canonick weed, Nor are these such, that by their reasons strict And rigid discipline, must fright nice Court Philosophers from their beleefe, such as impute A tyrannous intent to heavenly powers, And that their tyrannie alone did point At men, as if the Fawne and Kid were made To friske and caper out their time, and it Were sinne in us to dance, the Nightingale To sing her tragick tales of love, and wee To recreate our selves with Groanes, as if All perfumes for the Tyger were ordain'd Cause he excels in scent: colours, and gaudy tinctures for The Easterne birds, whilst all our ornament Are russet robes, like melancholy Monks. There are Sir of this rigid sect, and much They governe too, that thinke the Godwit and The Rayle were meant the Eagles food, and men Design'd to feed on Salads in a meade, As if we were created but a great And larger kinde of Frogs. It is confess'd; There are some sullen Clarkes that love To injure and to scant themselves, yet you May finde a few whose wisedomes merit greater sway That will allow us pleasures 'bove our cares, Yet these wee must not compasse with our guilt, But every Act bee squar'd by vertues rule. Vertue, 'tis a meere name, Virgins that want A dowry, learn't by rote, to raise the price Of old unhansome lookes: admit, ther's one Or two allow in nature such a thing, And that it is no dreame: These mighty Lords Of reason have but a few followers, And those goe ragged too, the prosperous, brave Increasing multitude pursue my steps. The great devourer of mysterious bookes Is come, Merlin, whose deepe Prophetick Art Foretold that at this particle of Time He would forsake's unbodied friends below And waste one usuall circuit of the Moone On earth, to trie how Natures face is chang'd Since his decease.