Randolph, Thomas · published 1638 · first performed or written 1630 [licensed for stage, Nov 25] (Annals) moral · King's Revels Company unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 469 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
I'll see it. Honour is a babies rattle, And let blind Fortune where she will, bestow her; Lay me on earth, and I shall fall no lower. Colax what news? The Persian Emperor Is desperately sick. Heaven take his soul! When I am the Grand Sophy, as 'tis likely I may be, Colax thou art made for ever. The Turk they say prepares again for Poland. And I no Basshaw yet? Sultan repent it! The State of Venice too is in distraction. And can that State be so supinely negligent, As not to know whom they may choose their Duke? Our Merchants do report th'inhabitants there Are now in consultation, for the settling The Crown upon a more deserving head Then his that bears it. Then my fortunes rise On confident wings, and all my hopes fly certain. Colax be bold: thou seest the Prester Iohn. Well England, of all Countries in the World Most blind to thy own good. other Nations Woo me to take the bridle in my hands With gifts and presents; had I lived in Rome Who durst with Caunus stand a candidate? I might have choice of Aedile, Consul, Tribune, Or the perpetual Dictator's place. I could discharge 'em all: I know my merits Are large, and boundless: A Cesar might be hewed Out of a Carpenter, if a skilful workman But undertook it. 'tis a worthy confidence. Let Birds of night and shame, with their owls eyes Not dare to gaze upon the sun of Honour; They are no precedents for Eagles: Bats Like dull Micropsychus; things of earth, and lead, May love a private safety; men in whom Prometheus has spent much of his stolen fire, Mount upwards like a flame, and court bright honour Hedged in with thousand dangers! What's a man Without desert? and what's desert to him That does not know he has it? Is he rich That holds within his house some buried chests Of Gold, or Pearl, & knows not where to look then? What was the Loadstone, till the use was found, But a fowl dotard on a fouler Mistress? I praise your Argus eyes, that not alone Shoot their beams forwards, but reflect and turn Back on themselves, and find an object there More worthy their intentive contemplation. You are at home no stranger, but are grown Acquainted with your virtues, and can tell What use the pearl is of, which Dunghill cocks Scrape into dirt again. This searching judgement Was not intended to work wood, but men. Honour attends you. I shall live to see A Diadem crown that head. There is within A Glass that will acquaint you with all places Of Dignity, authority, and renown, The State, and carriage of them: Choose the best, Such as deserve you, and refuse the rest.
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)
I'le see it. Honour is a babies rattle, And let blind Fortune where she will, bestow her; Lay me on earth, and I shall fall no lower. Colax what newes? The Persian Emperour Is desperatly sick. Heaven take his soule! When I am the Grand Sophie, as 'tis likely I may be, Colax thou art made for ever. The Turke they say prepares again for Poland. And I no Basshaw yet? Sultan repent it! The State of Venice too is in distraction. And can that State be so supinely negligent, As not to know whom they may choose their Duke? Our Merchants doe report th'inhabitants there Are now in consultation, for the setling The Crown upon a more deserving head Then his that bears it. Then my fortunes rise On confident wings, and all my hopes fly certain. Colax be bold: thou seest the Prester Iohn. Well England, of all Countries in the World Most blind to thy own good. other Nations Wooe me to take the bridle in my hands With gifts and presents; had I liv'd in Rome Who durst with Caunus stand a candidate? I might have choice of Aedile, Consull, Tribune, Or the perpetuall Dictators place. I could discharge 'em all: I know my merits Are large, and boundlesse: A Cesar might be hewed Out of a Carpenter, if a skilfull workman But undertooke it. Tis a worthy confidence. Let Birds of night and shame, with their owles eyes Not dare to gaze upon the sunne of Honour; They are no presidents for Eagles: Bats Like dull Micropsychus; things of earth, and lead, May love a private safety; men in whom Prometheus has spent much of his stolne fire, Mount upwards like a flame, and court bright honour Hedg'd in with thousand dangers! Whats a man Without desert? and what's desert to him That does not know he has it? Is he rich That holds within his house some buried chests Of Gold, or Pearle, & knowes not where to look thē? What was the Load-stone, till the use was found, But a fowle dotard on a fowler Mistresse? I praise your Argus eyes, that not alone Shoote their beames forwards, but reflect and turne Back on themselves, and finde an object there More worthy their intentive contemplation. You are at home no stranger, but are growne Acquainted with your vertues, and can tell What use the pearle is of, which Dunghill cocks Scrape into dirt againe. This searching judgement Was not intended to worke wood, but men. Honour attends you. I shall live to see A Diadem crowne that head. There is within A Glasse that will acquaint you with all places Of Dignity, authority, and renowne, The State, and carriage of them: Choose the best, Such as deserve you, and refuse the rest.