Jonson, Ben · published 1641 · first performed or written 1618 [Jan 6] (Annals) masque · before the Court T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions typicality 0.72 · 524 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
COme on, come on; and where you go, so interweave the curious knot, As even th'observer scarce may know which lines are Pleasures, and which not: First figure out the doubtful way, at which a while all youth should stay, Where she and Virtue did contend, which should have Hercules to friend. Than as all actions of mankind, are but a labyrinth, or maze: So let your Dances be entwined, yet not perplex men unto gaze; But measured, and so numerous too, as men may read each act they do; And when they see the graces meet, admire the wisdom of your feet: For dancing is an exercise, not only shows the movers wit, But maketh the beholders wise, as he hath power to rise to it. O Moore, and more, this was so well, As praise wants half his voice to tell, again yourselves compose, And now put all the aptness on, Of figure, that proportion, or colour can disclose. That if those silent Arts were lost, Design, and picture, they might boast, from you a newer ground, Instructed by the heightening sense Of dignity and reverence, in their true motions found. Begin, begin; for look, the fair Do longing, listen to what air you form your second touch; That they may vent their murmuring hymns, Just to the— you move your limbs, and wish their own were such. Make haste, make haste, for this The labyrinth of beauty is. IT follows now you are to prove The subtlest maze of all, that's Love, and if you stay too long, The fair will think you do'em wrong: Go choose among— But with a mind as gentle as the stroking wind runs over the gentler flowers. And so let all your actions smile, As if they meant not to beguile, the Ladies but the hours. Grace, laughter, and discourse may meet, and yet the beauty not go less: For what is noble should be sweet, But not dissolved in wantonness. Will you that I give the law to all your sport and some-it, It should be such should envy draw, but— overcome it. AN eye of looking back were well, Or any murmur that would tell Your thoughts, how you were sent, and went To walk with Pleasure, not to devil. These, these are hours by virtue spared Herself, she being her own reward: But she will have you know, that though Her sports be soft, her life is hard: You must return unto the Hill and their advance With labour, and inhabit still that height and Crown, From whence you ever may look down upon triumphed chance. She, she it is in darkness shines, 'Tis she that still herself refines, by her own light to every eye: Moore seen, more known when vice stands by. And though a stranger here on earth, In Heaven she hath her right of birth: There, there is Virtue's seat, Strive to keep her your own, 'tis only she can make you great, Though place here make you known. This pleased the KING so well, as he would see it again, when it was presented with these additions.
seed 43: T13 · seed 44: T16 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
COme on, come on; and where you go, ſo interweave the curious knot, As ev'n th'obſerver ſcarce may know which lines are Pleaſures, and which not: Firſt figure out the doubtfull way, at which a while all youth ſhould ſtay, Where ſhe and Vertue did contend, which ſhould have Hercules to friend. Then as all actions of mankinde, are but a laborinth, or maze: So let your Dances be entwin'd, yet not perplex men unto gaze; But meaſur'd, and ſo numerous too, as men may read each act they doe; And when they ſee the graces meet, admire the wiſedome of your feet: For dancing is an exerciſe, not onely ſhowes the movers wit, But maketh the beholders wiſe, as he hath power to riſe to it. O More, and more, this was ſo well, As praiſe wants halfe his voyce to tell, againe your ſelves compoſe, And now put all the aptneſſe on, Of figure, that proportion, or colour can diſcloſe. That if thoſe ſilent Arts were loſt, Deſigne, and picture, they might boaſt, from you a newer ground, Inſtructed by the heightning ſence Of dignitie and reverence, in their true motions found. Begin, begin; for looke, the faire Do longing, liſten to what ayre you forme your ſecond touch; That they may vent their murmuring hymnes, Juſt to the — you move your limbs, and wiſh their owne were ſuch. Make haſte, make haſt, for this The laborinth of beautie is. IT followes now you are to prove The ſubt'leſt maze of all, that's Love, and if you ſtay too long, The faire will thinke you do'em wrong: Goe chooſe among—But with a minde as gentle as the ſtroaking winde runs ore the gentler flowers. And ſo let all your actions ſmile, As if they meant not to beguile, the Ladies but the houres. Grace, laughter, and diſcourſe may meet, and yet the beauty not goe leſſe: For what is noble ſhould be ſweet, But not diſſolv'd in wantoneſſe. Will you that I give the law to all your ſport and ſome-it, It ſhould be ſuch ſhould envie draw, but—overcome it. AN eye of looking backe were well, Or any murmure that would tell Your thoughts, how you were ſent, and went To walke with Pleaſure, not to dwell. Theſe, theſe are houres by vertue ſpar'd Her ſelfe, ſhe being her owne reward: But ſhe will have you know, that though Her ſports be ſoft, her life is hard: You muſt returne unto the Hill and their advance With labour, and inhabit ſtill that height and Crowne, From whence you ever may looke downe upon triumphed chance. She, ſhe it is in darkneſſe ſhines, 'Tis ſhe that ſtill her ſelfe refines, by her owne light to every eye: More ſeene, more knowne when vice ſtands by. And though a ſtranger here on earth, In Heaven ſhe hath her right of birth: There, there is Vertues ſeate, Strive to keepe her your own, Tis onely ſhe can make you great, Though place here make you knowne. This pleaſ'd the KING ſo well, as he would ſee it againe, when it was preſented with theſe additions.