Campaspe (Alexander, Campaspe, and Diogenes) · chunk 1 of 25
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 T24 Apollo, Phoebus and the Muses · 594 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T24: apollo, phoebus, midas, muses, ears, play, hedone, gods, siren, time.
THey that fear the flinging of Wasps make fans of peacocks tails, whose spots are like eyes. And Lepidus, which could not sleep for the chatting of birds, set up a beast, whose head was like a Dragon: and we which stand in awe of report, are compelled to set before our owl Pallas shield, thinking by her virtue to cover the other's deformity. It was a sign of famine to Egypt, when Nilus flowed less than twelve Cubits, or more than eighteen, and it may threaten despair unto us, if we be less curious than you look for, or more cumbersome. But as Theseus being promised to be brought to an eagle's nest, and travailing all the day, found but a wren in a hedge, yet said, this is a bird: so we hope, if the shower of our swelling mountain seem to bring forth some elephant, perform but a mouse, you will gently say, this is a beast? Basill softly touched, yieldeth a sweet sent, but chafed in the hand, a rank savour. we fear even so that our labours slily glanced on, will breed some content, but examined to the proof, small commendation. The haste in performing shall be our excuse, There went two nights to the begetting of Hercules. Feathers appear not on the Phoenix under seven months, and the Mulberry is twelve in budding, but our travails are like the Hares, who at one time bringeth forth, nourisheth, and engendereth again, or like the brood of Trasbylus, whose eggs in the same moment that they are laid, become birds. But howsoever we finish our work, we crave pardon, if we offend in matter, and patience if we transgress in manners. we have mixed mirth with counsel, and discipline with delight, thinking it not amiss in the same garden to sow potherbs, that we set flowers. But we hope, as Hearts that cast their horns, Snakes their skins, Eagles their bills, become more fresh for any other labour: so our charge being shaken off, we shallbe fit for greater matters. But least like the Mindyans, we make our gates greater than our town, and that our play runs out at the preface, we here conclude: wishing that although there be in your precise judgements an universal mislike, yet we may enjoy by your wonted courtesies a general silence. we are ashamed that our bird, which fluttered by twilight seeming a Swan, should be proved a Bat set against the sun. But as Iupiter placed Silenus' Ass among the stars, and Alcibiades covered his pictures being Owls and Apes, with a curtain embroidered with lions and Eagles, so are we enforced upon a rough discourse to draw on a smooth excuse, resbling Lapidaries, who think to hide the crack in a stone by setting it deep in gold. The Gods supped once with poor Baucis, the Persian kings sometimes shaved sticks, our hope is your highness will at this time lend an ear to an idle pastime. Appion raising Homer from hell, demanded only who was his father, and we calling Alexander from his grave, seek only who was his love. Whatsoever we present, we wish it may be thought the dancing of Agrippa his shadows, who in the moment they were seen, were of any shape one would conceive: or Lynxes, who having a quick fight to discern, have a short memory to forget. With us it is like to fare, as with these torches, which giving light to others, consume themselves, and we showing delight to others, shame ourselves.
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)
THey that feare the flinging of Waspes make fannes of Peacokes tailes, whose spots are like eies. And Lepidus, which coulde not sleepe for the chattinge of birdes, set vp a beaste, whose head was like a Dragon: and we which stande in awe of reporte, are compelled to sette beefore our owle Pallas shield, thinking by her vertue to couer the others deformitie. It was a signe of famine to Aegypte, when Nylus flowed lesse then twelue Cubittes, or more then eighteene, and it may threaten dispaire vnto vs, if wee be lesse curious then you looke for, or more cumbersome. But as Theseus being promised to bee brought to an Eagles neast, and trauailing all the day, found but a wrenne in a hedg, yet said, this is a bird: so we hope, if the shower of our swelling mountaine seeme to bring forth some Eliphant, perfourme but a mouse, you will gently saye, this is a beast? Basill softly touched, yeeldeth a sweete sent, but chafed in the hande, a ranke sauour. Wee feare euen so that our labours slylye glaunced on, will breede some content, but examined to the proofe, small commendation. The haste in perfourming shall be our excuse, There went two nightes to the begetting of Hercules. Feathers appeare not on the Phoenix vnder seauen monethes, and the Mulbery is twelue in buddinge, but our trauailes are like the Hares, who at one time bringeth forth, nourisheth, and engendreth againe, or like the broode of Trasbylus, whose egges in the same moment that they are layd, become birdes. But howsoeuer we finish our worke, we craue pardō, if we offend in matter, and patience if we transgresse in manners. Wee haue mixed mirth with counsell, and discipline with delight, thinking it not amisse in the same garden to sowe pothearbes, that we set flowers. But wee hope, as Harts that cast their hornes, Snakes their skinnes, Eagles their bils, become more fresh for any other labour: so our charge being shaken off, we shalbe fitte for greater matters. But least like the Mindyans, we make our gates greater then our towne, and that our play runnes out at the preface, we here conclude: wishing that although there bee in your precise iudgementes an vniuersall mislike, yet wee maye enjoy by your woonted curtesies a generall silēce. WEe are ashamed that our birde, which fluttered by twilight seeming a Swan, should be proued a Batte sette against the sunne. But as Iupiter placed Silenus Asse among the starres, and Alcebiades couered his pictures being Owles and Apes, with a courtaine embroidered with Lyons and Eagles, so are we enforced vpon a rough discourse to draw on a smooth excuse, resbling Lapidaries, who thinke to hide the cracke in a stone by setting it deepe in golde. The Gods supped once with poore Baucis, the Persian kinges sometimes shaued stickes, our hope is your heighnesse will at this time lend an eare to n idle pastime. Appion raising Homere from hell, demā ded onely who was his father, and we calling Alexander from his graue, seeke onely who was his loue. Whatsoeuer we present, we wish it may be thought the daunsing of Agrippa his shadowes, who in the moment they were seene, were of any shape one woulde conceiue: or Lynces, who hauing a quicke fight to discerne, haue a short memorie to forgette. With vs it is like to fare, as with these torches, which giuing light to others, consume themselues, and wee shewing delight to others, shame our selues.