Davenant, William · published 1639 · first performed or written 1640 [Jan 21] (Annals) not in BritDrama · before the Court unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 431 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
YOu that so wisely studious are, To measure, and to trace each Star, How swift they travail, and how far, Now number your celestial store, Planets, or lesser lights, and try, If in the face of all the sky, You count so many as before? If you would practise how to know The chief for influence, or show; Level your perspectives below! For in this nether Orb they move! Each here (when lost in's doubtful Art) May by his Eyes, advance his Heart, And through his Optic learn to love! But what is she that rules the night? That kindles Ladies with her light, And gives to Men the power of sight? All those who can her virtue doubt, Her Mind, will in her face advise, For through the Casements of her Eyes, Her Soul is ever looking out. And with its beams, she doth survey Our growth in Virtue or decay; Still lighting us in honour's way! All that are good, she did inspire! Lovers are chaste, because they know It is her will, they should be so; The valiant take from her their Fire! WHy stand you still, and at these Beauty's gaze, As if you were afraid, Or they were made, Much more for wonder than delight? Sure those whom first their virtue did amaze, Their feature must at last invite. Time never knew, the mischiefs of his haste! Nor can you force him stay To keep off day: Make then fit use of Triumphs here; It were a crime 'gainst pleasant youth, to waste This night, in overcivil fear. Move then like Time, for Love (as well as he) Hath got a Calendar, Where must appear, How evenly you these measures tread; And when they end, we far more grieved shall be, Than for his Hours when they are fled. SO musical as to all Ears, Doth seem the music of the Spheres, Are you, unto each other still; Tuning your thoughts to either's will. All that are harsh, all that are rude, Are by your harmony subdued; Yet so, into obedience wrought, As if not forced to it, but taught. Live still, the pleasure of our sight; Both our examples and delight. So long, until you find, the good success Of all your virtues, in one happiness. Till we so kind, so wise, and careful be, In the behalf of our Posterity, That we may wish your Sceptres ruling here, (Loved even by those, who should your justice fear) When we are gone, when to our last remove We are dispatched, to sing your praise above.
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)
YOu that ſo wiſely ſtudious are, To meaſure, and to trace each Starr, How ſwift they travaile, and how farr, Now number your celeſtiall ſtore, Planets, or leſſer lights, and trie, If in the face of all the skie, You count ſo many as before? If you would practiſe how to know The chiefe for influence, or ſhow; Levell your perſpectives below! For in this neather Orb they move! Each here (when loſt in's doubtfull Art) May by his Eyes, advance his Heart, And through his Opticke learne to love! But what is ſhe that rules the night? That kindles Ladies with her light, And gives to Men the power of ſight? All thoſe who can her virtue doubt, Her Minde, will in her face adviſe, For through the Caſements of her Eyes, Her Soule is ever looking out. And with its beames, ſhe doth ſurvay Our growth in Virtue▪ or decay; Still lighting us in Honours way! All that are good, ſhe did inſpire! Lovers are chaſte, becauſe they know It is her will, they ſhould be ſo; The valiant take from her their Fire! WHy ſtand you ſtill, and at theſe Beauties gaze, As if you were afraid, Or they were made, Much more for wonder than delight? Sure thoſe whom firſt their virtue did amaze, Their feature muſt at laſt invite. Time never knew, the miſchiefs of his haſte! Nor can you force him ſtay To keepe off day: Make then fit uſe of Tiumphs heere; It were a crime 'gainſt pleaſant youth, to waſte This night, in overcivill feare. Move then like Time, for Love (as well as he) Hath got a Kalender, Where muſt appeare, How evenly you theſe meaſures tred; And when they end, we far more griev'd ſhall be, Than for his Howers when they are fled. SO muſicall as to all Eares, Doth ſeeme the muſick of the Sphears, Are you, unto each other ſtill; Tuning your thoughts to eithers will. All that are harſh, all that are rude, Are by your harmony ſubdu'd; Yet ſo, into obedience wrought, As if not forc'd to it, but taught. Live ſtill, the pleaſure of our ſight; Both our examples and delight. So long, untill you finde, the good ſucceſſe Of all your virtues, in one happineſſe. Till we ſo kinde, ſo wiſe, and carefull be, In the behalfe of our Poſteritie, That we may wiſh your Scepters ruling heere, (Lov'd even by thoſe, who ſhould your juſtice feare) When we are gone, when to our laſt remove We are diſpatch'd, to ſing your prayſe above.