Lyly, John · published 1591 · first performed or written 1588 [Feb 2(?)] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) · before the Court T4 Love-longing and the lover's complaint typicality 0.81 · 491 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T4: love, heart, sweet, loves, fair, phillis, eyes, beauty, amyntas, lovers.
Semele madam. Semele Eumenides? is it Semele? the very wasp of all women, whose tongue stingeth as much as an adder's tooth? It is Semele, Cynthia: the possessing of whose love, must only prolong my life. Nay sith Endymion is restored, we will have all parties pleased. Semele, are you content after so long trial of his faith, such rare secrecy, such unspotted love, to take Eumenides? Why speak you not? Not a word? Silence madam consents: that is most true. It is true Endymion. Eumenides, take Semele. Take her I say. Humble thanks madam, now only do I begin to live. A hard choice madam, either to be married if I say nothing, or to lose my tongue if I speak a word. Yet do I rather choose to have my tongue cut out, than my heart distempered: I will not have him. Speaks the parrot? she shall nod hereafter with signs: cut off her tongue, nay her head, that having a servant of honourable birth, honest manners, 〈◊〉 true love, will not be persuaded. He is no faithful I 〈…〉 or then would he have asked his Mistress. Had he not been faithful, he had never seen into the fountain, and so lost his friend and Mistress. Thine own thoughts sweet Semele, witness against thy words, for what hast thou found in my life but love? and as yet, what have I found in my love but bitterness? madam pardon Semele, and let my tongue ransom hers. Thy tongue Eumenides? what shouldst thou live wanting a tongue to blaze the beauty of Semele. Well Semele, I will not command love, for it cannot be enforced: let me entreat it. I am content your Highness shall command, for now only do I think Eumenides faithful, that is willing to lose his tongue for my sake: yet loath, because it should do me better service. madam, I accept of Eumenides. I thank you Semele. Ah happy Eumenides, that hast a friend so faithful, and a mistress so fair: with what sudden mischief will the Gods daunt this excess of joy? Sweet Semele, I live or die as thou wilt. What shall become of Tellus? Tellus you know Endymion is vowed to a service, from which death cannot remove him. Corsites casteth still a lovely looks towards you, how say you will have your Corsites, and so receive pardon for all that is past? madam most willingly. But I cannot tell whether Corsites, be agreed. I Madame more happy to enjoy Tellus then the Monarchy of the world. Why she caused you to be pinched with Fairies. ay but her fairness hath pinched my heart more deeply. Well enjoy thy love. But what have you wrought in the Castle Tellus? Only the picture of Endymion. Then so much of Endymion as his picture cometh to, possess and play withal. Ah my sweet Tellus, my love shall be as thy beauty is, matchless.
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)
Semele Madame. Semele Eumenides? is it Semele? the very waspe of all women, whose tongue stingeth as much as an Adders tooth? It is Semele, Cynthia: the possessing of whose loue, must onelie prolong my life. Nay sith Endimion is restored, wee will haue all parties pleased. Semele, are you content after so long triall of his faith, such rare secresie, such vnspotted loue, to take Eumenides? Why speake you not? Not a word? Silence Madame consents: that is most true. It is true Endimion. Eumenides, take Semele. Take her I say. Humble thanks Madame, now onely doe I begin to liue. A harde choyce Madame, either to be married if I say nothing, or to lose my tongue if I speake a word. Yet doe I rather choose to haue my tongue cut out, then my heart distempered: I will not haue him. Speakes the Parrat? shee shall nod heereafter with signes: cut off her tongue, nay her heade, that hauing a seruant of honourable birth, honest manners, true loue, will not be perswaded. He is no faithfull I or then would he haue asked his Mistris. Had he not beene faithfull, he had neuer seene into the fountaine, and so lost his friend and Mistrisse. Thine own thoughts sweet Semele, witnesse against thy wordes, for what hast thou founde in my life but loue? and as yet, what haue I founde in my loue but bitternesse? Madame pardon Semele, and let my tongue ransome hers. Thy tongue Eumenides? what shouldst thou liue wanting a tongue to blaze the beautie of Semele. Well Semele, I will not commaund loue, for it cannot bee enforced: let me entreat it. I am content your Highnesse shall command, for now only do I thinke Eumenides faithfull, that is willing to lose his tongue for my sake: yet loth, because it should doe me better seruice. Madame, I accept of Eumenides. I thanke you Semele. Ah happie Eumenides, that hast a friend so faithfull, and a mistris so faire: with what sodaine mischiefe will the Gods daunt this excesse of ioye? Sweet Semele, I liue or dye as thou wilt. What shall become of Tellus? Tellus you know Endimion is vowed to a seruice, from which death cannot remooue him. Corsites casteth still a louely lookes towards you, how say you will haue your Corsites, and so receiue pardon for all that is past? Madame most willingly. But I cannot tel whether Corsites, be agreed. I Madame more happie to enioy Tellus then the Monarchie of the world. Why she caused you to be pincht with Fairies. I but her fairenesse hath pinched my hart more deepelie. Well enioy thy loue. But what haue you wrought in the Castle Tellus? Onely the picture of Endimion. Then so much of Endimion as his picture commeth to, possesse and play withall. Ah my sweete Tellus, my loue shal be as thy beautie is, matchlesse.