Campaspe (Alexander, Campaspe, and Diogenes) · chunk 20 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 T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 530 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
You are disposed to mistake, I hope you do not mistrust. What will you say, if Alexander perceive your love? I will say, it is no treason to love. But how if he will not suffer thee to see my person? Then will I gaze continually on thy picture. That will not feed thy heart. Yet shall it fill mine eye: besides the sweet thoughts, the sure hopes, thy protested faith, will cause me to embrace thy shadow continually in mine arms, of the which by strong imagination I will make a substance. Well, I must be gone: but this assure yourself, that I had rather be in thy shop grinding colours, then in Alexander's court, following higher fortunes. Foolish wench, what hast thou done? that alas which cannot be undone, and therefore I fear me undone. But content is such a life, I care not for abundance. O Apelles, thy love cometh from the heart, but Alexander's from the mouth. The love of Kings is like the blowing of winds, which whistle sometimes gently among the leaves, and straight ways turn the trees up by the roots, or fire which warmeth afar off, and burneth near hand, or the sea, which maketh men hoist their sails in a flattering calm, and to cut their masts in a rough storm. They place affection by times, by policy, by appointment, if they frown, who dares call them unconstant, if bewray secrets, who will term them untrue, if fall to other loves, who trembles not, if he call them unfaithful. In kings there can be no love, but to Queens: for as near must they meet in majesty, as they do in affection. It is requisite to stand aloof from king's love, love, and lightening. Now Apelles, gather thy wits together: Campaspe is no less wise than fair, thyself must be no less cunning then faithful. It is no small matter to be rival with Alexander. Apelles, you must come away quickly with the picture, the king thinketh that now you have painted it, you play with it. If I would play with pictures, I have enough at home. None perhaps you like so well. It may be I have painted none so well. I have known many fairer faces. And I many better boys. I have brought my sons Diogenes, to be taught of thee. What can thy sons do? You shall see their qualities: Dance sirrah. How like you this? doth he well? The better, the worser. The music very good. The Musicians very bad, who only study to have their strings in tune, never framing their manners to order. Now shall you see the other: tumble sirrah. How like you this? why do you laugh? To see a wag, that was born to break his neck by destiny, to practise it by art. This dog will bite me, I will not be with him. Fear not boy, dogs eat no thistles. I marvel what dog thou art, if thou be a dog. When I am hungry, a mastiff, and when my belly is full, a spaniel. Dost thou believe that there are any gods, that thou art so dogged?
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)
You are disposed to mistake, I hope you do not mistrust. What will you saye, if Alexander perceiue your loue? I will say, it is no treason to loue. But how if he will not suffer thee to see my person? Then will I gase continually on thy picture. That will not feede thy heart. Yet shall it fill mine eie: beesides the sweete thoughtes, the sure hopes, thy protested faith, will cause me to embrace thy shadow continuallye in mine armes, of the which by stronge imagination I will make a substaunce. Wel, I must be gon: but this assure your self, that I had rather be in thy shop grinding colours, then in Alexanders court, following higher fortunes. Foolish wench, what hast thou done? that alas which cannot be vndone, and therefore I feare me vndone. But content is such a life, I care not for aboundance. O Apelles, thy loue commeth from the hearte, but Alexanders from the mouth. The loue of Kynges is lyke the blowinge of windes, whiche whistle sometimes gently amonge the leaues, and straight waies turne the trees vp by the rootes, or fire which warmeth a farre off, and burneth neere hand, or the sea, which maketh men hoyse their sayles in a flattering calme, and to cut their mastes in a rough storme. They place affection by times, by pollicie, by appointment, if they frowne, who dares call them vnconstant, if bewray secretes, who wil tearme them vntrue, if fall to other loues, who trembles not, if he call them vnfaithfull. In kinges there can be no loue, but to Queenes: for as neere must they meete in maiestie, as they doe in affection. It is requisite to stande aloofe from kings loue, loue, and lightening. Now Apelles, gather thy wittes together: Campaspe is no lesse wise then faire, thy selfe must be no lesse cunning then faithfull. It is no small matter to be riuall with Alexander. Apelles, you must come away quicklye with the picture, the king thinketh that nowe you haue painted it, you play with it. If I would playe with pictures, I haue enough at home. None perhaps you like so well. It may be I haue painted none so well. I haue knowne many fairer faces. And I many better boies. I haue brought my sons Diogenes, to bee taught of thee. What can thy sonnes doe? You shall see their qualities: Daunce sirha. How like you this? doth he well? The better, the worser. The musicke very good. The Musitions very badde, who onelye studie to haue their stringes in tune, neuer framing their manners to order. Now shall you see the other: tumble sirha. How like you this? why do you laugh? To see a wagge, that was born to break his neck by destinie, to practise it by arte. This dogge will bite me, I wil not be with him. Feare not boy, dogges eate no thistles. I meruaile what dog thou art, if thou be a dog. When I am hungry, a mastiue, and when my belly is full, a spaniell. Doest thou beleeue that there are any gods, that thou art so dogged?