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 · 350 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T4: love, heart, sweet, loves, fair, phillis, eyes, beauty, amyntas, lovers.
Who is there? One not worthy to be one. Fair Phao? Unfortunate Phao. Come in. So I will, and quite thy tale of Phoebus, with one whose brightness darkeneth Phoebus. I love Sapho, Sibylla, Sapho, ah Sapho, Sibylla. A short tale Phao, and a sorrowful, it asketh pity rather than counsel. So it is Sibylla: yet in those firm years methinketh there should harbour such experience, as may defer, though not take away, my destiny. It is hard to cure that by words, which cannot be eased by herbs, and yet if thou wilt take advice, be attentive. I have brought mine ears of purpose, and will hang at your mouth, till you have finished your discourse. Love, fair child, is to be governed by art, as thy boat by an oar: for fancy, though it cometh by hazard, is ruled by wisdom. If my precepts may persuade, (and I pray thee let them persuade) I would wish thee first to be diligent: for that women desire nothing more than to have their servants officious. Be always in sight, but never slothful. Flatter I mean, lie, little things catch light minds, and fancy is a worm, that feedeth first upon fennel. Imagine with thyself all are to be won, otherwise mine advise were as unnecessary as thy labour. It is unpossible for the brittle metal of women to withstand the flattering attempts of men: only this, let them be asked, their sex requireth no less, their modesties are to be allowed so much. Be prodigal in praises and promises, beauty must have a trumpet, & pride a gift. Peacocks never spread their feathers, but when they are flattered, & Gods are seldom pleased, if they be not bribed. There is none so foul, that thinketh not herself fair. In commending thou canst lose no labour. for of every one thou shalt be believed. O simple women, that are brought rather to believe what their ears hear of flattering men, then what their eyes see in true glasses. You digress only to make me believe, that women do so lightly believe.
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)
Who is there? One not worthy to be one. Faire Phao? Vnfortunate Phao. Come in. So I wil, and quite thy tale of Phoebus, with one whose brightnesse darkeneth Phoebus. I loue Sapho, Sybilla, Sapho, ah Sapho, Sybilla. A short tale Phao, and a sorowfull, it asketh pitie rather then counsell. So it is Sybilla: yet in those firm yeares me thinketh there shold harbour such experience, as may deferre, though not take away, my destinie. It is hard to cure that by wordes, which cannot be eased by hearbes, and yet if thou wilt take aduice, be attentiue. I haue brought mine eares of purpose, and will hāg at your mouth, til you haue finished your discourse. Loue, faire child, is to be gouerned by arte, as thy boat by an oare: for fancie, thogh it cōmeth by hazard, is ruled by wisdome. If my preceptes may perswade, (and I pray thee let them perswade) I woulde wish thee first to be diligent: for that womenne desire nothing more then to haue their seruants officious. Be alwaies in sight, but neuer slothful. Flatter I meane, lie, litle things catch light mindes, and fancy is a worme, that feedeth first vpon fenell. Imagine with thy selfe all are to bee won, otherwise mine aduise were as vnnecessary as thy labour. It is vnpossible for the brittle mettall of womē to withstand the flattering attemptes of men: only this, let them be asked, their sex requireth no lesse, their modesties are to be allowed so much. Be prodigall in prayses and promises, bewtie must haue a trumpet, & pride a gifte. Peacocks neuer spread their feathers, but when they are flattered, & Gods are seldome pleased, if they be not bribed. There is none so foule, that thinketh not her selfe faire. In commending thou canst loose no labor. for of euery one thou shalt be beleeued. O simple women, that are brought rather to beleeue what their eares heare of flattering men, then what their eies see in true glasses. You degresse onely to make me beleeue, that women do so lightly beleeue.