Lyly, John · published 1584 · first performed or written c.1583 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Chapel (first) (Oxford's Boys) · before the Court unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 510 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
The ferry, fair Lady, that bendeth to Syracusa. I fear if the water should begin to swell thou wilt want cunning to guide. These waters are commonly as the passengers be, and therefore carrying one so fair in show, there is no cause to fear a rough sea. To pass the time in thy boat, canst thou devise any pastime? If the wind be with me, I can angle, or tell tales: if against me, it will be pleasure for you to see me take pains. I like not fishing: yet was I borne of the sea. But he may bless fishing, that caught such an one in the sea. It was not with an angle, my boy, but with a net. So was it said, that vulcan caught Mars with Venus. Didst thou hear so? It was some tale. Yea madam and that in the boat I did mean to make my tale. It is not for a ferry man to talk of the God's loves: but to tell how thy father could dig, and thy mother spin. But come, let us away. I am ready to wait. Pandion, since your coming from the university to the court, from Athens to Syracusa, how do you feel yourself altered either in humour or opinion? Altered Trachinus, I say no more, and shame that any should know so much. Here you see as great virtue, far greater bravery, the action of that which you contemplate, Sapho, fair by nature, by birth royal, learned by education by government politic, rich by peace: insomuch as it is hard to judge, whether she be more beautiful or wise, virtuous or fortunate. Besides, do you not look on fair Ladies in steed of good letters, and behold fair faces instead of fine phrases: In universities virtues and vices are but shadowed in colours white and black, in courts showed to life good and bad. There, times past are read of in old books, times present set down by new devices, times to come conjectured at by aim, by prophesy, or chance here, are times in perfection, nor by device, as fables, but in execution, as truths. Believe me Pandion, in Athens you have but tombs, we in court the bodies, you the pictures of Venus & the wise Goddesses, we the persons & the virtues. What hath a scholar found out by study, that a courtier hath not found out by practice. Simple are you that think to see more at the candle snuff, than the sun beams, to sail further in a little brook, then in the main Ocean, to make a greater harvest by gleaning, then reaping. How say you Pandion, is not all this true? Trachinus, what would you more, all true. Cease then to lead thy life in a study, pinned with a few boards, and endeavour to be a courtier to live in embossed ruffs. A labour intolerable for Pandion. Why? Because it is harder to shape a life to dissemble, than to go forward with the liberty of truth.
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)
The ferrie, faire Lady, that bendeth to Syracusa. I feare if the water should begin to swel thou wilt want cunning to guide. These waters are commonly as the passengers be, and therefore carying one so faire in shew, there is no cause to feare a rough sea. To passe the time in thy boate, canst thou deuise any pastime? If the winde be with me, I can angle, or tell tales: if against me, it will be pleasure for you to see mee take paines. I like not fishing: yet was I borne of the sea. But he may blesse fishing, that caught such an one in the sea. It was not with an angle, my boy, but with a nette. So was it said, that vulcan caught Mars with Venus. Didst thou heare so? It was some tale. Yea Madame and that in the boate I didde meane to make my tale. It is not for a ferry man to talk of the Gods loues: but to tell how thy father could dig, and thy mother spinne. But come, let vs away. I am ready to waite. Pandion, since your comming from the vniuersitie to the court, from Athens to Syracusa, how doe you feele your self altered either in humor or opinion? Altered Trachinus, I say no more, and shame that any should know so much. Here you see as great vertue, far greater braue ry, the action of that which you cōtemplate▪ Sapho, faire by nature, by birth royall, learned by education by gouernment politike, rich by peace: insomuch as it is hard to iudge, whether she be more beautifull or wise, vertuous or fortunate. Beesides, doe you not looke on faire Ladies in steede of good letters, and behold faire faces in steed of fine phrases: In vniuersities vertues and vices are but shadowed in colours white and blacke, in courtes shewed to life good and bad. There, times paste are read of in old bookes, times present set downe by new deuises, times to come coniectured at by aime, by prophesie, or chaunce here, are times in perfection, nor by deuise, as fables, but in execution, as trueths. Beleeue me Pandion, in Athens you haue but tombs, we in court the bodies, you the pictures of Venus & the wise Goddesses, we the persons & the vertues. What hath a seh oller found out by study, that a courtier hath not found out by practise. Simple are you that think to see more at the candle snuffe, then the sunne beams, to saile further in a litle brooke, then in the maine Ocean, to make a greater haruest by gleaning, then reaping. How say you Pandion, is not all this true? Trachinus, what would you more, all true. Cease then to lead thy life in a study, pinned with a fewe boardes, and endeuour to be a courtier to liue in emboste rouffes. A labour intollerable for Pandion. Why? Because it is harder to shape a life to dissemble, then to goe forward with the libertie of trueth.