Lyly, John · published 1591 · first performed or written 1588 [Feb 2(?)] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) · before the Court unassigned nearest T35 Fools, wit and railing · 504 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T35: fool, wit, aristippus, achilles, wise, fools, patroclus, thersites, master, men.
Poor Endymion, how wast thou affrighted? What else? After her immediately appeared an aged man, with a beard as white as snow, crying in his hand a book with three leaves, & speaking as I remember these words. Endymion, receive this book with three leaves, in which are contained counsels, policies, and pictures, and with that he offered me the book, which I rejected: wherewith moved with a disdainful pity, he rent the first leaf in a thousand shivers, the second time he offered it, which I refused also: at which bending his brows, and pitching his eyes fast to the ground, as though they were fixed to the earth, and not again to be removed: then suddenly casting them up to the heavens, he tore in a rage the second leaf, and offered the book only with one leaf. I know not whether fear to offend, or desire to know some strange thing, moved me: I took the book, and so the old man vanished. What didst thou imagine was in the last leaf? There I portrayed to life, with a cold quaking in every joint. I beheld many wolves barking at thee Cynthia, who having ground their teeth to bite, did with striving bleed themselves to death. There might I see ingratitude with an hundred eyes, gazing for benefits, and with a thousand teeth, gnawing on the bowels wherein she was bred. Treachery stood all clothed in white, with a smiling countenance, but both her hands bathed in blood. Envy with a pale and meager face, (whose body was so lean, that one might tell all her bones, and whose garment was so tottered, that it was easy to number every thread) stood shooting at stars, whose darts fell down again on her own face. There might I behold Drones, or Beetles, I know not how to term them creeping under the wings of a princely Eagle, who being carried into her nest, sought there to suck that vein, that would have killed the Eagle. I mused that things so base, should attempt a fact so barbarous, or durst imagine a thing so bloody. And many other things madam, the repetition whereof, may at your better leisure seem more pleasing: for. Bees surfeit sometimes with honey, and the Gods are glutted with harmony, and your highness may be dulled with delight. I am content to be dieted, therefore let us in. Eumenides, see that Endymion be well tended, lest either eating immoderately, or sleeping again too long, he fall into a deadly surfeit, or into his former sleep. See this also be proclaimed, that whosoever will discover this practice, shall have of Cynthia infinite thanks, and no small rewards. Ah Endymion, none so joyful as Floscula, of thy restoring. Yes Floscula, let Eumenides be somewhat gladder, and do not that wrong to the settled friendship of a man, as to compare it with the light affection of a woman. Ah my dear friend Endymion suffer me to die, with gazing at thee.
seed 43: T2 · seed 44: T3 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Poore Endimion, how wast thou affrighted? What els? After her immediatly appeared an aged man, with a beard as white as snow, crying in his hand a book with three leaues, & speaking as I remēber these words. Endimion, receiue this booke with three leaues, in which are contained counsels, policies, and pictures, and with that he offered mee the booke, which I reiected: wherwith moued with a disdainefull pittie, hee rent the first leafe in a thousand shiuers, the second time hee offered it, which I refused also: at which bending his browes, and pitching his eyes fast to the ground, as though they were fixed to the earth, and not againe to be remoued: then sodainlie casting them vp to the heauens, he tore in a rage the second leafe, and offered the booke only with one leafe. I know not whether feare to offende, or desire to knowe some strange thing, moued mee: I tooke the booke, and so the olde man vanished. What diddest thou imagine was in the last leafe? There I portraid to life, with a colde quaking in euery ioynt. I behelde many wolues barking at thee Cynthia, who hauing ground their teeth to bite, did with striuing bleede themselues to death. There might I see ingratitude with an hundred eyes, gazing for benefites, and with a thousand teeth, gnawing on the bowelles wherein shee was bred. Trecherie stoode all cloathed in white, with a smyling countenance, but both her handes bathed in blood. Enuye with a pale and megar face, (whose bodie was so leane, that one might tell all her bones, and whose garment was so totterd, that it was easie to number euery thred) stood shooting at starres, whose dartes fell downe againe on her owne face. There might I beholde Drones, or Beetles, I knowe not howe to terme them creeping vnder the winges of a princely Eagle, who being carried into her neast, sought there to sucke that veine, that woulde haue killed the Eagle. I mused that thinges so base, shoulde attempt a facte so barbarous, or durst imagine a thing so bloody. And manie other thinges Madame, the repeticion whereof, may at your better leysure seeme more pleasing: for. Bees surfette sometimes with honnie, and the Gods are glutted with harmony, and your highnesse may be dulled with delight. I am content to bee dieted, therefore lette vs in. Eumenides, see that Endimion bee well tended, least eyther eating immoderatlie, or sleeping againe too long, hee fall into a deadly surfette, or into his former sleepe. See this also bee proclaimed, that whosoeuer will discouer this practise, shall haue of Cynthia infinite thankes, and no small rewardes. Ah Endimion, none so ioyfull as Floscula, of thy restoring. Yes Floscula, let Eumenides be somewhat gladder, and doe not that wrong to the setled friendship of a man, as to compare it with the light affection of a woman. Ah my deere friend Endimion suffer mee to dye, with gazing at thee.