Lyly, John · published 1592 · first performed or written 1585 [1583-1585] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) (?) · before the Court unassigned nearest T12 Olympian gods: Jupiter, Juno, Venus and · 484 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T12: iupiter, saturn, iuno, venus, gods, mars, earth, titan, love, fair.
To hear these sweet marvels, I would mine eyes were turned also into ears. But at the last, our Countrymen repenting, and not too late, because at last, Neptune either weary of his wrath, or wary to do them wrong, upon condition consented to ease their miseries. What condition will not miserable men accept? The condition was this, that at every five years day, the fairest and chastest virgin in all the Country, should be brought unto this Tree, & here being bound, (whom neither parentage shall excuse for honour, nor virtue for integrity) is left for a peace offering unto Neptune. Dear is the peace that is bought with guiltless blood. I am not able to say that, but he sendeth a Monster called the Agar, against whose coming the waters roar, the fowls fly away, and the Cattle in the field for terror, shun the banks. And she bound to endure that horror? And she bound to endure that horror. Doth this Monster devour her? Whether she be devoured of him, or conveyed to Neptune, or drowned between both, it is not permitted to know, and incurreth danger to conjecture; Now Galathea here endeth my tale, & beginneth thy tragedy. Alas father, and why so? I would thou hadst been less fair, or more fortunate, then shouldest thou not repine that I have disguised thee in this attire, for thy beauty will make thee to be thought worthy of this God; to avoid therefore destiny (for wisdom ruleth the stars) I think it better to use an unlawful means (your honour preserved) then intolerable grief, both life and honour hazarded, and to prevent (if it be possible) thy constellation by my craft. Now hast thou heard the custom of this Country, the cause why this Tree was dedicated unto Neptune, and the vexing care of thy fearful Father. Father, I have been attentive to hear, and by your patience am ready to answer. Destiny may be deferred, not prevented; and therefore it were better to offer myself in triumph, than to be drawn to it with dishonour. Hath nature (as you say) made me so fair above all, and shall not virtue make me as famous as others? Do you not know, (or doth overcarefulness make you forget) that an honourable death is to be preferred before an infamous life. I am but a child, and have not lived long, and yet not so childish, as I desire to live ever: virtues I mean to carry to my grave, not grey hairs. I would I were as sure that destiny would light on me, as I am resolved it could not fear me. Nature hath given me beauty, Virtue courage, Nature must yield me death, Virtue honour. Suffer me therefore to die, for which I was borne, or let me curse that I was borne, sith I may not die for it.
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)
To heare these sweete maruailes, I would mine eyes were turned also into eares. But at the last, our Country-men repenting, and not too late, because at last, Neptune either wearie of his wroth, or warie to doe them wrong, vpon condition consented to ease theyr miseries. What condition will not miserable men accept? The condition was this, that at euery fiue yeeres day, the fairest and chastest virgine in all the Countrey, should be brought vnto this Tree, & heere beeing bound, (whom neither parentage shall excuse for honour, nor vertue for entegrity) is left for a peace offering vnto Neptune. Deere is the peace that is bought with guiltlesse blood. I am not able to say that, but hee sendeth a Monster called the Agar, against whose comming the waters rore, the fowles flie away, and the Cattell in the field for terror, shunne the bankes. And she bound to endure that horror? And she bound to endure that horror. Doth thys Monster deuoure her? Whether she be deuoured of him, or conueied to Neptune, or drowned between both, it is not permitted to knowe, and encurreth danger to coniecture; Now Gallathea heere endeth my tale, & beginneth thy tragedie. Alas father, and why so? I would thou hadst beene lesse faire, or more fortunate, then shouldest thou not repine that I haue disguised thee in this attyre, for thy beautie will make thee to be thought worthy of this God; to auoide therfore desteny (for wisedome ruleth the stars) I thinke it better to vse an vnlawfull meanes (your honour preserued) then intollerable greefe, both life and honor hazarded, and to preuent (if it be possible) thy constellation by my craft. Now hast thou heard the custome of this Countrey, the cause why thys Tree was dedicated vnto Neptune, and the vexing care of thy fearefull Father. Father, I haue beene attentiue to heare, and by your patience am ready to aunswer. Destenie may be deferred, not preuented; and therefore it were better to offer my selfe in tryumph, then to be drawne to it with dishonour. Hath nature (as you say) made mee so faire aboue all, and shall not vertue make mee as famous as others? Doe you not knowe, (or dooth ouercarefulnes make you forget) that an honorable death is to be preferred before an infamous life. I am but a child, and haue not liued long, and yet not so childish, as I desire to liue euer: vertues I meane to carry to my graue, not gray haires. I woulde I were as sure that destiny would light on me, as I am resolued it could not feare me. Nature hath giuē me beauty, Vertue courage, Nature must yeeld mee death, Vertue honor. Suffer mee therefore to die, for which I was borne, or let me curse that I was borne, sith I may not die for it.