Peele, George · published 1584 · first performed or written 1581 [c.1581-1584] (Annals) pastoral · Children of the Chapel (first) (Oxford's Boys) · before the Court T12 Olympian gods: Jupiter, Juno, Venus and typicality 0.74 · 483 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T12: iupiter, saturn, iuno, venus, gods, mars, earth, titan, love, fair.
Then Iuno may it not enjoy, so every one says no, But I will prove myself the fairest, ere I lose it so. The brief is this, 〈...〉. Let this unto the fairest given tree, The fairest of the three, and I am she. Detur Pulche The fairest 〈...〉. Detur Pulcherrima.〈 〈...〉 The fairest of the three, and I am she. My face is fair, 〈...〉 That all the gods in heaven 〈...〉, have made them choose me of the 〈◊〉, To be the wife of Jove, and Queen of heaven. Y then this prize be to beautye, The only she that wins this prize am I. That Venus is the fairest▪ this doth prove, That Venus is the lovely Queen of love. The name of Venus is in deed but beauty, And men me fairest call, per excellency. If then this prize be but bequeathed to beauty, The only she that wins this prize, am I. To stand on terms of beauty as yow take it, believe me, Ladies, is but to mistake it: The beauty that this subtle prize must win, No outward beauty hight, but dwells within. And sift it as you please, and you shall find, This beauty, is the beauty of the mind. This fairness, Virtue hight, in general, That many branches hath in special: This beauty wisdom height, whereof am I, By heaven appointed, goddess worthily. And look how much the mind, the better part, Doth overpass the body in desert: So much the mistress of those gifts divine, Excels thy beauty, and that state of thine. Then if this prize be thus bequeathed to beauty, The only she that wins this prize, am I. Nay, Pallas, by your leave, you wander clean, we must not construe hereof as you mean: But take the sense as it is plainly meant, And let the fairest hate, I am content. Our reasons will be infinite, I trow, Unless unto some other point we grow. For first here's none methinks disposed to yield, And none but will with words maintain the field. Then if you will to avoid a tedious grudge, Refer it to the sentence of judge, Who ere he be that cometh next in place, Let him bestow the ball, and end the case. So can it not go wrong with me not at all. I am agreed however it befall. And yet by common doom, so may it be, I may be said the fairest of the three. Then yonder lo that shepherd swain is he, That must be umpire in this controversy. Iuno, in happy time, I do accept the man, It seemeth by his looks, some skill of love he can. The nymph is gone, and I all solitary, Must wend to tend my charge, oppressed with melancholy. This day (or else me fails my shepherd's skill) Will tide me passing good, or passing ill.
seed 43: T28 · seed 44: T22 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Then Iuno may it not enioy, so euery one sayes no, But I will proue my selfe the fayrest, er I lose it so. The breyfe is this, . Let this vnto fayrest gyven , The fayrest of the three▪ and am shee. Detur Pulche The fayrest . Detur Pulcherrimae. The fayrest of the thre, and I am . My face is fayre, That all the gods in heauen , Hae made them chuse of the , To bee the wyfe of Ie, and Queene of heauen. Y then this prize be to beautye, The only shee that wins this prize am I. That Venus is the fayrest▪ this dothe proue, That Venus is the louely Queen of loue. The name of Venus is in deede but bautye, And men me fayrest call, per excellencye. Yf then this prize be but bequeathed to beautye, The only shee that wins this prize, am I. To stand on tearmes of beautye as yow take it, Beeleue me, Ladies, is but to mystake it: The beautye that this subtill prize must vvin, No outvvarde beautye highte, but dvvels vvithin. And fyfte as yovv please, and yovv shall finde, This beautye, is the beautye of the minde. This fayrenes, Vertue highte, in generall, That many braunches hathe in speciall: This beauty vvysdom hight, vvhereof am I, By heauen appointed, goddesse vvorthelye. And looke hovv muche the minde, the better , Doth ouerpasse the bodye in deserte: So much the mistris of those guyfts devine, Excells thy beautie, and that state of thine. Then yf this prize bee thus bequeathed to beautye, The only she that vvins this prize, am I. Nay, Pallas▪ by your leaue, yovv vvander cleane, Wee must not conster heereof as yovv meane: But take the sense as it i plainly ment, And let the fayrest hate, I am content. Our reasons ilbe infinite, I trowe, Vnles vnto some other point we grow. For fist heres none mee thinkes disposed to yelde, And none but will with wordes maintaine the fielde. Then if you will to auoyde a tedious grudge, Refer it to the sentence of iudge, Who ere he be that commeth next in place, Let him bestowe the ball, and ende the . So can it not go wronge with me not at al. I am agreed how euer it befall. And yet by common doome, so may it bee, I may be sayde the fayrest of the three. Then yonder loe that sheepeherde swaine is he, That must be in this controuersie. Iuno, in happie time, I do accept the man, It seemeth by his lookes, some skill of loue he can. The nymphe is gone, and I all solitarie, Must wend to tend my charge, opprest with melancholy. This day (or else me fayles my sheepeherdes skill) Will tide me passing good, or passing ill.