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 T4 Love-longing and the lover's complaint · 543 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T4: love, heart, sweet, loves, fair, phillis, eyes, beauty, amyntas, lovers.
I cannot but oftentimes smile to myself, to hear men call us weak vessels, when they prove themselves broken hearted, us frail, when their thoughts cannot hang together, studying with words to flatter, and with bribes to allure, when we commonly wish their tongues in their purses, they speak so simply, and their offers in their bellies, they do it so peevishly. It is good sport to see them want matter: for then fall they to good manners, having nothing in their mouths but sweet mistress, wearing our hands out with courtly kissings, when their wits fail in courtly discourses. Now ruffling their hairs, now setting their ruffs, then gazing with their eyes, then sighing with a privy wring by the hand, thinking us like to be wooed by signs and ceremonies. Yet we, when we swear with our mouths we are not in love, than we sigh from the heart and pine in love. we are mad wenches, if men mark our words: for when I say, I would none cared for love more than I, what mean I, but I would none loved but I, where we cry away, do we not presently say, go too: & when men strive for kisses, we exclaim, let us alone, as though we would fall to that ourselves. Nay, than Canope, it is time to go, and behold Phao. Where? In your head Ismena, nowhere else: but let us keep on our way. Wisely. Phao, thy mean fortune causeth thee to use an oar, and thy sudden beauty a glass: by the one is seen thy need, in the other thy pride. O Venus, in thinking thou hast blessed me, thou hast cursed me, adding to a poor estate, a proud heart: and to a disdained man, a disdaining mind. Thou dost not flatter thyself Phao, thou art fair: fair? I fear me fair, be a word too foul for a face so passing fair. But what availeth beauty, hadst thou all things thou wouldest wish, thou mightst die tomorrow, and didst thou want all things thou desirest, thou shalt live till thou diest. Tush Phao, there is grown more pride in thy mind, than favour in thy face. Blush foolish boy, to think on thine own thoughts: cease complaints, & crave counsel. And lo, behold Sibylla in the mouth of her cave, I will salute her. Lady, I fear me I am out of my way, and so benighted withal that I am compelled to ask your direction. Fair youth, if you will be advised by me, you shall for this time seek none other Inn, than my cave: for that it is no less perilous to travail by night, then uncomfortable. Your courtesy offered hath prevented what my necessity was to entreat. Come near, take a stool, and sit down. Now, for that these winter nights are long, and that children delight in nothing more than to hear old wives tales, we will beguile the time with some story. And though you behold wrinkles and furrows in my tawny face: yet may you happily find wisdom and counsel in my white hairs. Lady nothing can content me better than a tale, neither is there any thing more necessary for me then counsel.
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)
I cannot but oftentimes smile to my selfe, to heare men call vs weake vesselles, when they proue thē selues broken hearted, vs fraile, when their thoughtes cannot hang togeather, studying with words to flatter, and with bribes to allure, when we commōly wish their tongues in their purses, they speake so simply, and their offers in their bellies, they doe it so peeuishly. It is good sporte to see them want matter: for then fall they to good manners, hauing nothing in their mouthes but sweet mistresse, wearing our hands out with courtly kissings, when their wits faile in courtly discourses. Now rufling their haires, now setting their ruffes, then gazing with their eies, then sighing with a priuie wring by the hand, thinking vs like to be wowed by signes and ceremonies. Yet we, when we sweare with our mouthes wee are not in loue, then we sigh from the heart and pine in loue. Wee are madde wenches, if men marke our wordes: for whē I say, I would none cared for loue more then I, what meane I, but I woulde none loued but I, where we cry away, doe we not presently say, go too: & when men striue for kisses, we exclaime, let vs alone, as though we would fall to that our selues. Nay, then Canope, it is time to goe, and beehold Phao. Where? In your heade Ismena, no where els: but let vs keepe on our way. Wisely. Phao, thy meane fortune causeth thee to vse an oare, and thy sodaine bewtie a glasse: by the one is seene thy need, in the other thy pride. O Venus, in thinking thou hast blest me, thou hast curst me, adding to a poore estate, a proud heart: and to a disdained man, a disdaining minde. Thou doest not flatter thy selfe Phao, thou art faire: faire? I feare me faire, be a word too foule for a face so passing fayte. But what auaileth bewtie, hadst thou all things thou wouldest wish, thou mightst die to morrow, and didst thou want al things thou desirest, thou shalt liue till thou diest. Tushe Phao, there is growne more pride in thy minde, then fauour in thy face. Blush foolish boy, to think on thine own thoughts: cease complaints, & craue counsell. And loe, behold Sybilla in the mouth of her caue, I will salute her. Ladye, I feare me I am out of my way, and so benighted withall that I am compelled to aske your direction. Faire youth, if you will be aduised by mee, you shal for this time seeke none other Inne, then my caue: for that it is no lesse perillous to trauaile by night, then vncomfortable. Your curtesie offered hath preuented what my necessity was to entreate. Come neere, take a stoole, and sit downe. Now, for that these winter nights are long, and that children delight in nothing more then to heare old wiues tales, we will beguile the time with some storie. And though you behold wrinkles and furrowes in my tawny face: yet may you happily finde wisdome and counsell in my white haires. Lady nothing can content me better thē a tale, neither is there any thing more necessary for mee then counsell.