Cowley, Abraham · published 1638 · first performed or written 1633 [c.1633-1636] (Annals) pastoral unassigned nearest T21 Cupid, Venus and the nymphs · 492 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T21: cupid, venus, love, ceres, diana, fair, nymphs, goddess, bow, damon.
And there sits Capricorn. A Welshman is't not? There Cancer creeps along with gouty pace, As if his feet were sleepy, there, Do you mark it? ay, ay, Alderman-like a walking after dinner, His paunch o'ercharged with capon and with white broth. But now, now, now, now, gaze eternally Hadst thou as many eyes as the black night They would be all too little; seest thou Virgo? No by my troth, there are so few on earth, I should be loath to swear there's more in heaven, Then only one. That was my Mistress once, but is of late Translated to the height of deserved glory, And adds new ornaments to the wondering heavens. Why do I stay behind then, a mere nothing Without her presence to give life and being? If there be any hill whose lofty top Nature hath made contiguous with heaven, Though it be steep, rugged as Neptune's brow, Though armed with cold, with hunger, and diseases, And all the other soldiers of misery, Yet I would climb it up, that I might come Next place to thee, and there be made a star. I prithee do, for amongst all the beasts That help to make up the celestial signs There's a Calf wanting yet. But stay— Nay, I have learned enough Astrology. Hunger and faintness have already seized me, 'Tis a long journey thither, I shall want Provision; canst thou help me, gentle shepherd? And when I am come thither I will snatch The Crown of Ariadne, and fling't down To thee for a reward. No doubt you will; But you shall need no victuals, when you have ended Your toilsome journey, kill the Ram you talk of, And feed yourself with most celestial mutton. thou'rt in the right, if they deny me that I'll pluck the Bear down from the Arctic Pole, And drown it in those waters it avoids, And dares not touch; I'll tug the Hyades And make them to sink down in spite of Nature; I'll meet with Charles his Wain, and overturn it And break the wheels of 't, till Boötes start For fear, and grow more slow than e'er he was. By this good light he'll snuff the Moon anon, Here's words indeed would fright a Conjurer 'Tis pity that these huge Gigantic speeches Are not upon the stage, they would do rarely For none would understand them, I could wish Some Poet here now, with his table-book. I'll cuff with Pollux, and outride thee, Castor, When the fierce Lion roars I'll pluck his heart out And be called Cordelion; I'll grapple with the Scorpion, Take his sting out and fling him to the earth. To me good Sir, It may perhaps raise me a great estate With showing it up and down for pence apiece Alcides freed the earth from savage monsters, And I will free the heavens and be called Don Hercules Alcido de secundo. A brave Castilian name.
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)
And there sits Capricorne. A Welchman is't not? There Cancer creepes along with gouty pace, As if his feet were sleepy, there, Doe you marke it? I, I, Alderman-like a walking after dinner, His paunch orechargd with capon and with white broth. But now, now, now, now, gaze eternally Hadst thou as many eyes as the blacke night They would be all too little; seest thou Virgo? No by my troth, there are so few on earth, I should be loth to sweare there's more in heaven, Then onely one. That was my Mistris once, but is of late Translated to the height of deserv'd glory, And addes new ornaments to the wondring heavens. Why doe I stay behind then, a meere nothing Without her presence to give life and being? If there be any hill whose lofty top Nature hath made contiguous with heaven, Though it be steepe, rugged as Neptunes brow, Though arm'd with cold, with hunger, and diseases, And all the other souldiers of misery, Yet I would climbe it up, that I might come Next place to thee, and there be made a starre. I prithee doe, for amongst all the beasts That helpe to make up the coelestiall signes There's a Calfe wanting yet. But stay — Nay, I have learn'd enough Astrology. Hunger and faintnesse have already seaz'd me, 'Tis a long journey thither, I shall want Provision; canst thou helpe me, gentle shepheard? And when I am come thither I will snatch The Crowne of Ariadne, and fling't downe To thee for a reward. No doubt you will; But you shall need no victuals, when you have ended Your toylesome journey, kill the Ram you talke of, And feed your selfe with most celestiall mutton. Thou'rt in the right, if they deny me that I'le pluck the Beare downe from the Artique Pole, And drowne it in those waters it avoids, And dares not touch; I'le tugge the Hyades And make them to sinke downe in spight of Nature; I'le meet with Charles his Wayne, and overturne it And breake the wheeles of 't, till Böotes start For feare, and grow more slow then e're he was. By this good light he'le snuffe the Moone anon, Here's words indeed would fright a Conjurer 'Tis pitty that these huge Giganticke speeches Are not upon the stage, they would doe rarely For none would understand them, I could wish Some Poet here now, with his table-booke. I'le cuffe with Pollux, and out-ride thee, Castor, When the fierce Lyon roares I'le plucke his heart out And be call'd Cordelion; I'le grapple with the Scorpion, Take his sting out and fling him to the earth. To me good Sir, It may perhaps rayse me a great estate With shewing it up and downe for pence apiece Alcides freed the earth from savadge monsters, And I will free the heavens and bee call'd Don Hercules Alcido de secundo. A brave Castilian name.