Randolph, Thomas · published 1638 · first performed or written 1630 [licensed for stage, Nov 26] (Annals) pastoral · King's Revels Company · before the Court T21 Cupid, Venus and the nymphs typicality 0.79 · 503 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T21: cupid, venus, love, ceres, diana, fair, nymphs, goddess, bow, damon.
And what Damon? He? Ceres' self, were she not yet a Mother: Crect, Crect! There is no Labyrinth but a woman●… Laurinda, gentle Mistress tell me which Of these you love? Why Damon best of any. Why so, that's well and plain. Except Alexis. Why then you love Alexis best? Of any. I am glad on't. But my Damon. Be this true And I'll be sworn Cupid is turned a juggler? Praesto! you love Alexis best but Damon, And Damon but Alexis! Love you Damon? I do. And not Alexis? And Alexis. She would ha'both I think. Not I by Ceres. Then you love neither? Yes, I do love either. Either, and yet not both, both best, yet neither; Why do you torture those with equal Racks, That both vow service to you? If your love Have pray fered Damon, tell Alexis of it; Or if Alexis, let poor Damon know it, That he which is refused, smothering his flame, May make another choice, now doubtful hope Kindles desires in both. Ah Dorylas, Thy years are yet uncapable of love! Thou hast not learned the mysteries of Cupid! Dost thou not see through all Sicilia, From gentlest shepherds to the meanest swains, What inauspitious torches Hymen lights At every wedding? what unfortunate hands Link in the wedding ring? Nothing but fears jars, discontents, suspicions, jealousies, These many years meet in the Bridal sheets. Or if all these be missing, yet a Barrenness, A curse as cruel, or Abortive births Are all the blessings crown the Genial bed▪ Till the success prove happier, and I find A blessed change, i'll temper my affection Conceal my flames, dissemble all my fires And spend those years I owe to Love and Beauty Only in choosing on whose love to fix My Love and beauty. Rare Feminine wisdom: Will you admit 'em. Yes, go call them hither. Yet do not, now I think on't: yet you may too; And yet come back again. Nay I will go. Why Dorylas. What news? Come back I say. Yes to be sent again. You'll stay I hope. Not I by Ceres. Dorylas. No good Mistress Farewell for I at length have learned to know You call me back only to bid me go. 'tis no great matter sirrah:— when they come I'll bear myself so equal unto both, As both shall think I love him best, this way I keep both fires alive, that when I please I may take which I please.— But who comes here? O Thestylis y'are welcome! If Laurinda, My too abrupt intrusion come so rudely As to disturb your private Meditations, I beg your pardon! How now Thestylis? Grown Orator of late? has learned Mopsus Read Rhetoric unto you, that you come To see me with Exordiums? No Laurinda; But if there be a charm called Rhetoric; An art, that woods and forests cannot skill; That with persuasive magic could command A pity in your soul, I would my tongue Had learned that powerful art!
nodes 90–175 (positions in the processed text, not lines of the printed book) · chunk 2 of 42 in this edition
Length
503 words · 691 tokens
Topic (seed 42)
T21 — Cupid, Venus and the nymphscross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · typicality 0.791 (cosine to the topic centroid)
Other seeds
seed 43: T21 · seed 44: T24 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
And what Damon? Hee? Ceres selfe, were she not yet a Mother: Creet, Creet! There is no Labyrinth but a woman Laurinda, gentle Mistresse tell mee which Of these you love? Why Damon best of any. Why so, that's well and plain. Except Alexis. Why then you love Alexis best? Of any. I am glad ont. But my Damon. Be this true And Ile be sworne Cupid is turn'd a jugler? Praesto! you love Alexis best but Damon, And Damon but Alexis! Love you Damon? I doe. And not Alexis? And Alexis. Shee would ha'both I thinke. Not I by Ceres. Then you love neither? Yes, I doe love either. Either, and yet not both, both best, yet neither; Why doe you torture those with equall Racks, That both vow service to you? If your love Have pre fer'd Damon, tell Alexis of it; Or if Alexis, let poore Damon know it, That he which is refus'd, smothering his flame, May make another choice, now doubtfull hope Kindles desires in both. Ah Dorylas, Thy yeares are yet uncapable of love! Thou hast not learn'd the mysteries of Cupid! Dost thou not see through all Sicilia, From gentlest sheapheards to the meanest swaines, What inauspitious torches Hymen lights At every wedding? what unfortunate hands Linke in the wedding ring? Nothing but feares Iarres, discontents, suspicions, jealousies, These many yeares meet in the Bridall sheetes. Or if all these be missing, yet a Barrennesse, A curse as cruell, or Abortive births Are all the blessings crowne the Geniall bed▪ Till the successe prove happier, and I finde A blessed change, ile temper my affection Conceale my flames, dissemble all my fires And spend those yeares I owe to Love and Beauty Only in choosing on whose love to fixe My Love and beauty. Rare Feminine wisdome: Will you admit 'em. Yes, goe call them hither. Yet doe not, now I thinke on't: yet you may too; And yet come back againe. Nay I will goe. Why Dorylas. What newes? Come back I say. Yes to be sent againe. You'l stay I hope. Not I by Ceres. Dorylas. No good Mistresse Farewell for I at length have learn'd to know You call me back only to bid mee goe. Tis no great matter sirrah:—when they come Ile beare my selfe so equall unto both, As both shall thinke I love him best, this way I keepe both fires alive, that when I please I may take which I please.—But who comes here? O Thestylis y'are welcome! If Laurinda, My too abrupt intrusion come so rudely As to disturbe your private Meditations, I beg your pardon! How now Thestylis? Grown Orator of late? has learned Mopsus Read Rhetorique unto you, that you come To see me with Exordiums? No Laurinda; But if there be a charme call'd Rhetorique; An art, that woods and forrests cannot skill; That with persuasive magique could command A pitty in your soule, I would my tongue Had learn'd that powerfull art!