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 T21 Cupid, Venus and the nymphs · 566 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T21: cupid, venus, love, ceres, diana, fair, nymphs, goddess, bow, damon.
Yet harken two words, thou shalt get friendship by dissembling, love by hatred, unless thou perish, thou shalt perish: in digging for a stone, thou shalt reach a star: thou shalt be hated most, because thou art loved most. Thy death shallbe feared & wished: so much for prophecy, which nothing can prevent: and this for counsel, which thou mayst follow. Keep not company with Ants, that have wings, nor talk with any, near the hill of a mole, where thou smellest the sweetness of serpent's breath, beware thou touch no part of the body. Be not merry among those that put bugloss in their wine, and sugar in thine. If any talk of the Eclipse of the sun, say thou never sawest it. Nourish no coneys in thy vaults, nor swallows in thine eves. Sow next thy vine mandrake, and ever keep thine ears open, and thy mouth shut, thine eyes upward, and thy fingers down: so shalt thou do better than otherwise, though never so well as I wish. Alas madam, your prophesy threateneth miseries, and your counsel warneth impossibilities. Farewell, I can answer no more. Unhappy Phao. But soft, what gallant troop is this? What Gentlewoman in this? Sapho, a Lady here in Sicily. What fair boy is that? Phao, the Ferry man of Syracusa. I never saw one more brave: be all Ladies of such majesty? No, this is she that all wonder at and worship. I have seldom seen a sweeter face. Be all Ferry men of that fairness? No madam, this is he that Venus determined among men to make the fairest. Seeing I am only come forth to take the air, I will cross the Ferry, and so the fields, then going in through the park, I think the walk will be pleasant. You will much delight in the flattering green, which now beginneth to be in his glory. Sir boy, will ye undertake to carry us over the water? Are you dumb, can you not speak? madam, I crave pardon, I am spurblind, I could scarce see. It is pity in so good a face there should be an evil eye. I would in my face there were never an eye. Thou canst never be rich in a trade of life of all the basest. Yet content madam, which is a kind of life of all the best. Wilt thou forsake the ferry, and follow the court as a Page? As it pleaseth fortune madam, to whom I am a prentice. Come, let us go? Will you go Pandion. Yea. Criticus comes in good time, I shall not be alone. What news Criticus? I taught you that lesson, to ask what news, & this is the news: to morrow there shallbe a desperate fray between two, made at all weapons, from the brown bill to the bodkin. Now thou talkest of Frays, I pray thee what is that, whereof they talk so commonly in court, valour, the stab, the pistol, for the which every man that dareth is so much honoured? O Molus, beware of valour, he that can look big, and wear his dagger pommel lower than the point, that lieth at a good ward, and can hit a button with a thrust, and will into the field man to man for a bout or two, he, Molus, is a shrewd fellow, and shall be well followed.
seed 43: T21 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Yet hearken two words, thou shalt get friendshippe by dissembling, loue by hatred, vnlesse thou perish, thou shalt perish: in digging for a stone, thou shalt reach a starre: thou shalt be hated most, because thou art loued most. Thy death shalbe feared & wished: so much for prophecie, which nothing can preuent: and this for counsell, which thou maist follow. Keepe not companie with Antes, that haue winges, nor talke with any, neere the hill of a mowle, where thou smellest the sweetnesse of serpents breath, beware thou touch no parte of the bodie. Be not mery among those that put Buglosse in their wine, and suger in thine. If any talke of the Eclipse of the sunne, say thou neuer sawest it. Nourishe no conies in thy vaultes, nor swallowes in thine eues. Sowe next thy vine Mandrage, and euer keepe thine eares open, and thy mouth shut, thine eies vpwarde, and thy fingers downe: so shalt thou doe better then otherwise, though neuer so well as I wishe. Alas Madame, your prophesie threatneth miseries, and your counsell warneth impossibilities. Farewell, I can answere no more. Vnhappy Phao. But softe, what gallant troupe is this? What Gentlewoman in this? Sapho, a Lady heere in Sycily. What faire boy is that? Phao, the Ferrie man of Syracusa. I neuer saw one more braue: be al Ladies of such maiestie? No, this is she that al wonder at and worship. I haue seldome seene a sweeter face. Be all Ferrie men of that fairenesse? No Madame, this is he that Venus determined among men to make the fairest. Seeing I am onely come forth to take the ayre, I will crosse the Ferrie, and so the fieldes, then going in through the park, I thinke the walke wil be pleasant. You wil much delight in the flattering greene, which now beginneth to be in his glory. Sir boy, will yee vndertake to cary vs ouer the water? Are you dumb, can you not speake? Madame, I craue pardon, I am spurblinde, I could scarse see. It is pitie in so good a face there should bee an euill eie. I would in my face there were neuer an eie. Thou canst neuer be rich in a trade of life of all the basest. Yet content Madame, which is a kind of life of all the best. Wilt thou forsake the ferrie, and followe the court as a Page? As it pleaseth fortune Madame, to whome I am a prentice. Come, let vs goe? Will you goe Pandion. Yea. Cryticus comes in good time, I shall not bee alone. What newes Cryticus? I taught you that lesson, to aske what newes, & this is the newes: to morow ther shalbe a desperate fray betweene two, made at all weapons, from the browne bill to the bodkin. Now thou talkest of Frayes, I pray thee what is that, whereof they talke so commonlye in courte, valour, the stab, the pistoll, for the which euery man that dareth is so much honoured? O Molus, beware of valour, hee that can looke bigge, and weare his dagger pomel lower thē the point, that lyeth at a good warde, and can hit a button with a thrust, and will into the field man to man for a boute or two, he, Molus, is a shrewd fellow, and shall be well followed.