Descensus Astraeae (The Descent of Astraea) · chunk 2 of 2
Peele, George · published 1591 · first performed or written 1591 [Oct 29] (Annals) civic play; pageant unassigned nearest T38 Death, parting and grief at court · 527 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T38: queen, king, death, dead, heart, life, die, lord, royal, news.
A peerless Queen, a Royal princely dame, Enrolled in register of eternal fame. The Graces through their balm about her sacred head, Whose government her realms true happiness hath bred. That happiness continue in her land, Great Israel's God, spring of all heavenly peace: And let thine angels in her rescue stand, With her lives wane done England's joys decrease O let her princely days never have fine, Whose virtues are immortal and divine. Such virtues as her throne do beautify, And make her honours mount and scale the sky. Where hope of her eternal bliss doth rest, Conceived in her sweet & sacred breast. With radiant beams, reflecting on the earth, Even from the snowy brows of Albion, Beyond the utmost verge of Christendom, As bright as is the burning lamp of heaven, Shineth my mistress honour, in whose fame The heathen carols sing and all admire, From Icy Tanais to the sevenfold Nile, Her glory that commands this Western I'll. In whose defence my colours I advance, And girt me with my sword, and shake my lance: These British Lions rampant in this field, That never learned in battles rage to yield: Breath terror to the proud aspiring foe, Ranging the world commanding where they go. Therefore in vain this misproud Malcontent, Threatens her state whose harms the heavens prevent Sit safe sweet Nymph among thy harmless sheep, Thy sacred person angels have in keep. What meaneth this, I strive and cannot strike, She is preserved by miracle belike: If so then, wherefore threaten we in vain, That Queen, whose cause the gracious heavens maintain. No marvel then although we faint and quail, For mighty is the truth and will prevail. Thus while my wheel with ever turning gyres, At heavens high hest serves earthly men's desires, I wind the Web that kind so well begins: While Fortune doth enrich what Nature spins. List gentle Lords, and bubbling stream be still And whistling winds your angry murmur cease Let Thetis Nymph unfold the goddess hest: Behold embarked thus bravely as you see, Laden with treasure and with precious ore From where in Tellus veins the parching sun, Doth gold and glittering murals create, Are come these strangers lovingly inflamed To gratulate to you my lovely Lord. This gladsome day wherein your honours spring. And by the bar that thwarts this silver stream, Even to the beauteous verge of Troynovant That decks this Thamesis on either side, Thus far these friends have pierced, & all by me; Salute your honour and your company. Thrice worthy Praetor of this ancient town. The mortar of these walls tempered in peace, Yet holds the building sure, as are the sprigs Woven from the spreading root in knotty box. Labour fair Lord as other Majors of yore To beautify this city with deserts. So wish these friendly strangers, man by man Pass with advisement to receive thy oath: Keep it inviolate for thy sovereign's hope, Virtues pure mirror, London's great mistress, unsheath the sword committed to thy sway, With merciful regard of every cause. So go in peace happy by sea and land, Guided by grace, and heavens immortal hand.
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)
A peerelesse Queene, a Royall princely dame, Enrold in register of eternall fame. The Graces through their balme about hir sacred head, Whose gouernment hir realms true happines hath bred. That happinesse continue in her land, Great Israels God, spiing of all heauenly peace: And let thine angels in her reskew stand, With hir liues wane done Englands ioyes decrease O let hir princely daies neuer haue fine, Whose vertues are immortall and deuine. Such vertues as her throne do beautifie, And make hir honors mount and skale the skie. Where hope of hir eternall blisse doth rest, Conceaued in hir sweete & sacred brest. With radiant beames, reflecting on the earth, Euen from the snowie browes of Albion, Beyond the vtmost verge of Christendome, As bright as is the burning lampe of heauen, Shineth my mistresse honor, in whose fame The heathen carrols sing and all admire, From Icy Tanais to the seuenfold Nyle, Her glorie that commands this Westerne Ile. In whose defence my colours I aduaunce, And girt me with my sword, and shake my lance: These Brittish Lions rampant in this field, That neuer learned in battails rage to yeeld: Breath terror to the proud aspiring foe, Ranging the world commanding where they go. Therefore in vaine this misproud Malecontent, Threatens hir state whose harms the heauēs preuēt Sit safe sweet Nymph among thy harmlesse sheep, Thy sacred person angels haue in keep. What meaneth this, I striue and cannot strike, She is preserued by myracle belike: If so then, wherefore threaten we in vaine, That Queene, whose cause the gracious heauens maintain. No maruell then although we faint and quaile, For mightie is the truth and will preuaile. Thus while my wheele with euer turning gyres, At heauens hie heast serues earthly mens desires, I wind the Web that kinde so well beginnes: While Fortune doth enrich what Nature spinnes. List gentle Lords, and bubling streame be still And whistling windes your angrie murmur cease Let Thetis Nymph vnfold the goddesse hest: Behold imbarckt thus brauely as you see, Laden with treasure and with precious ore From where in Tellus veynes the parching sunne, Doth gold and glittering munerals create, Are come these strangers louingly inflamde To gratulate to you my louely Lord. This gladsome day wherein your honors spring. And by the barre that thwarts this siluer streame, Euen to the beauteous verge of Troynouant That deckes this Thamesis on eyther side, Thus farre these friendes haue pierced, & all by me; Salute your honour and your companie. Thrice worthy Praetor of this auntient towne. The morter of these walles tempered in peace, Yet holdes the building sure, as are the sprigges Wouen from the spreading roote in knottie boxe. Labour fayre Lord as other Maiors of yore To beutifie this citie with desertes. So wish these friendly strangers, man by man Passe with aduisement to receiue thy oth: Keepe it inuiolate for thy soueraignes hope, Vertues pure mirror, Londons great mistresse, Vnsheath the sword committed to thy swaie, With mercifull regard of euery cause. So go in peace happie by sea and land, Guided by grace, and heauens immortall hand.