The Sophister (Fallacy, or The Troubles of Great Hermenia) · chunk 10 of 32
Zouche, Richard · published 1639 · first performed or written 1614 [c.1614-1620] (Annals) comedy unassigned nearest T35 Fools, wit and railing · 508 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T35: fool, wit, aristippus, achilles, wise, fools, patroclus, thersites, master, men.
Why? what is the matter? good Proposition speak. Oh, I shall speak too soon: Our Lord Discourse, is fall'n stark mad. fall'n mad? Oh fatal calamity! What shall we do? Nay, worse than this. Worse cannot be. Demonstration, Topicus, and Fallacy, are hot in contention who must govern. How comes Fallacy near him, lately he could no endure him? I know not how: but now he seems exceedingly to affect him. Have they no more care of their Father? this is too bad; 'twere good for to take some order with them presently. Let us go visit him, hereafter we will go finish these businesses. HE is not here: 'tis common to say, He is a true man that never deceiveth his Master: and I think it may properly be said, He is a rare Master that never deceiveth his man. This is not the first time my Master Fallacy hath sent me on such idle errands: He is right like the fellow that when he had nothing to steal, filled his Pockets with Rushes: rather than he will deceive nobody, he will deceive me. But let him take heed he play not like the mad fellow Aiax, who when he had left nothing else to kill, slew himself: and so when he can no longer cozen others, he'll cozen himself: His golden Letters, written with an angel's quill, will do him no good: But here I think he comes; no, it is Distinction: This Villain I can no more endure than Demosthenes could Photion: he is the fatal Axe of all my Policies, the Atropos of all my subtle Devices. My Lords, what are they gone? it had been folly for them to stay for Demonstration. He must not be of our Council, if Opposition should chance to come. There was ado indeed: Old Discourse talking nothing but of Quadratures, of Circles, of Lines running nearer and nearer, but never coming together: of Hexities, Ideas, Quintessences, Sublimations, Corporal Ubiquities, infinite Quantities, Consubstantiations, Transubstantiations; things beside impossible: I wonder what he means; surely he is besides himself. Well, I must adventure on him, delay may prove dangerous. How now Distinction, what news is stirring? Oh Sir, I see that stirring head of yours is weary of our better state: you listen to hear of some new change? What are there windows in my breast? this fellow knows my heart. Not I Distinction. No, you are Ambiguity. You may mistake me. Yes, if I take thee for any other than thou art. What's that Sir? An honest man. Indeed you say true, he doth mistake me that thinks me other than an honest man. But you say false: I say he doth mistake that takes thee for an honest man, otherwise than thou art. Why Distinction? 'tis not you can find fault with my honesty. No, I'll be sworn. Why say you so then? Because I can find no honesty with thy faults. Come, come Distinction, if I have been faulty, you know no man is borne without faults.
seed 43: T58 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Why? what is the matter? good Proposition speake. Oh, I shall speake too soone: Our Lord Discourse, is falne starke madde. Falne mad? Oh fatall calamity! What shall we doe? Nay, worse than this. Worse cannot bee. Demonstration, Topicus, and Fallacy, are hot in contention who must governe. How comes Fallacy neare him, lately he could no endure him? I know not how: but now he seemes exceedingly to affect him. Have they no more care of their Father? this is too bad; 'twere good for to take some order with them presently. Let us goe visite him, hereafter we will goe finish these businesses. HE is not here: 'tis common to say, Hee is a true man that never deceiveth his Master: and I thinke it may properly be said, He is a rare Master that never deceiveth his man. This is not the first time my Master Fallacy hath sent me on such idle errands: He is right like the fellow that when hee had nothing to steale, filled his Pockets with Rushes: rather than he will deceive no body, he will deceive me. But let him take heede he play not like the madde fellow Aiax, who when he had left nothing else to kill, slew himselfe: and so when he can no longer cozen others, he'le cozen himselfe: His golden Letters, written with an Angels quill, will doe him no good: But here I thinke he comes; no, it is Distinction: This Villaine I can no more endure than Demosthenes could Phocion: he is the fatall Axe of all my Policies, the of all my subtle Devices. My Lords, what are they gone? it had beene solly for them to stay for Demonstration. He must not be of our Councell, if Opposition should chance to come. There was adoe indeede: Old Discourse talking nothing but of Quadratures, of Circles, of Lines running nearer and nearer, but never comming together: of Hexities, Ideas, Quintessences, Sublimations, Corporall Ubiquities, infinite Quantities, Consubstantiations, Transubstantiations; things beside impossible: I wonder what he meanes; surely he is besides himselfe. Well, I must adventure on him, delay may prove dangerous. How now Distinction, what newes is stirring? Oh Sir, I see that stirring head of yours is weary of our better state: you listen to heare of some new change? What are there windowes in my breast? this fellow knowes my heart. Not I Distinction. No, you are Ambiguity. You may mistake me. Yes, if I take thee for any other than thou art. What's that Sir? An honest man. Indeede you say true, hee doth mistake me that thinkes me other than an honest man. But you say false: I say hee doth mistake that takes thee for an honest man, otherwise than thou art. Why Distinction? 'tis not you can finde fault with my honesty. No, Ile be sworne. Why say you so then? Because I can finde no honesty with thy faults. Come, come Distinction, if I have beene faulty, you know no man is borne without faults.