Lyly, John · published 1591 · first performed or written 1588 [Feb 2(?)] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) · before the Court unassigned nearest T56 Magic, spells and conjuring · 516 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T56: magic, faustus, charms, charm, conjure, spirits, skill, ho, power, spells.
What, is thy Master landed? Know you not that my Master is Libre tenens? Samias What's that? A Freeholder. But I will after him. And we to hear what news of Endymion for the conclusion. Who would have thought that Tellus being so fair by nature, so honourable by birth, so wise by education, would have entered into a mischief to the Gods so odious, to men so detestable, and to her friend so malicious. If Bagoa had not bewrayed it, how then should it have come to light? But we see that Gold and fair words, are of force to corrupt the strongest men; And therefore able to work silly women like wax. I marvel what Cynthia will determine in this cause. I fear as in all causes, hear of it in justice, and then judge of it in mercy; for how can it be that she that is unwilling to punish her deadliest foes with disgrace, will revenge injuries of her train with death. That old witch Dipsas in a rage, having understood her practise to be discovered, turned poor Bagoa to an Aspen tree, but let us make haste and bring Tellus before Cynthia, for she was coming out after us. Let us go. Dipsas, thy years are not so many as thy vices, yet more in number then commonly nature doth afford, or justice should permit. Hast thou almost these fifty years practised that detested wickedness of witchcraft? Wast thou so simple, as for to know the nature of Simples, of all creatures to be most sinful? Thou hast threatened to turn my course awry, and alter by thy damnable Art, the government that I now possess by the eternal Gods. But know thou Dipsas, and let all the Enchanters know, that Cynthia being placed for light on earth, is also protected by the powers of heaven. Breath out thou mayst words, gather thou mayst herbs, find out thou mayst stones agreeable to thine Art, yet of no force to appall my heart, in which courage is so rooted, and constant persuasion of the mercy of the Gods so grounded, that all thy witchcraft I esteem as weak, as the world doth thy case wretched. This noble Gentleman Geron, once thy husband, but now thy mortal hate, didst thou procure to live in a Desert, almost desperate. Endymion the flower of my Court, and the hope of succeeding time, hast thou bewitched by Art, before thou wouldest suffer him to flourish by nature. Madam, things past may be repented, not recalled: there is nothing so wicked that I have not done, nor any thing so wished for as death. Yet among all the things that I committed, there is nothing so much tormenteth my rented and ransacked thoughts, as that in the prime of my husband's youth, I divorced him by my devilish Art, for which, if to die might be amends, I would not live till to morrow. If to live and still be more miserable would better content him, I would wish of all creatures to be oldest and ugliest.
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)
What, is thy Maister landed? Know you not that my Maister is Liber tenens? Samias What's that? A Free-holder. But I will after him. And wee to heare what newes of Endimion for the conclusion. Who would haue thought that Tellus beeing so fayre by nature, so honourable by byrth, so wise by education, woulde haue entred into a mischiefe to the Gods so odious, to men so detestable, and to her freend so malicious. If Bagoa had not bewraied it, howe then shoulde it haue come to light? But wee see that Golde and fayre words, are of force to corrupt the strongest men; And therefore able to worke sillie women like waxe. I maruell what Cynthia will determine in this cause. I feare as in all causes, heare of it in iustice, and then iudge of it in mercy; for howe can it be that shee that is vnwilling to punish her deadliest foes with dysgrace, will reuenge iniuries of her trayne vvith death. That olde witch Dipsas in a rage, hauing vnderstoode her practise to bee discouered, turned poore Bagoa to an Aspen tree, but let vs make hast and bring Tellus before Cynthia, for she was comming out after vs. Let vs goe. Dipsas, thy yeeres are not so manie as thy vices, yet more in number then commonly nature dooth affoorde, or iustice shoulde permit. Hast thou almost these fiftie yeeres practised that detested wickednes of witchcraft? Wast thou so simple, as for to know the nature of Simples, of all creatures to be most sinfull? Thou hast threatned to turne my course awry, and alter by thy damnable Arte, the gouernment that I now possesse by the eternall Gods. But knowe thou Dipsas, and let all the Enchaunters knowe, that Cynthia beeing placed for light on earth, is also protected by the powers of heauen. Breath out thou mayst wordes, gather thou mayst hearbes, finde out thou maist stones agreeable to thine Arte, yet of no force to appall my heart, in which courage is so rooted, and constant perswasion of the mercie of the Gods so grounded, that all thy witch-craft I esteeme as weake, as the world dooth thy case wretched. Thys noble Gentleman Geron, once thy husband, but nowe thy mortall hate, didst thou procure to lyue in a Deserte, almost desperate. Endimion the flovvre of my Courte, and the hope of succeeding time, hast thou bewitched by Arte, before thou wouldest suffer him to florish by nature. Madam, thinges past may be repented, not recalled: there is nothing so wicked that I haue not doone, nor any thing so wished for as death. Yet among al the things that I committed, there is nothing so much tormenteth my rented and ransackt thoughts, as that in the prime of my husbands youth, I diuorced him by my deuillish Arte, for which, if to die might be amendes, I would not liue till to morrowe. If to liue and still be more miserable would better content him, I would wish of all creatures to be oldest and vgliest.