Lyly, John · published 1592 · first performed or written 1585 [1583-1585] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) (?) · before the Court unassigned nearest T35 Fools, wit and railing · 485 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T35: fool, wit, aristippus, achilles, wise, fools, patroclus, thersites, master, men.
Why be they dead that be drowned, I had thought they had been with the fish, and so by chance been caught up with them in a Net again. It were a shame a little cold water should kill a man of reason, when you shall see a poor minnow lie in it, that hath no understanding. Thou art wise from the crown of thy head upwards; seek you new fortunes now, I will follow mine old. I can shift the Moon and the Sun, and know by one Card, what all you cannot do by a whole pair. The Loadstone that always holdeth his nose to the North, the two and thirty points for the wind, the wonders I see would make all you blind: you be but boys, I fear the Sea no more than a dish of water. Why fools it is but a liquid element, farewell. It were good we learned his cunning at the Cards, for we must live by cozenage, we have neither Lands nor wit, nor Masters, nor honesty. Nay I would fain have his thirty two, that is, his three dozen lacking four points, for you see betwixt us three there is not two good points. Let us call him a little back that we may learn those points. Sirrah a word, I pray thee show us thy points. Will you learn? I. Then as you like this I will instruct you in all our secrets: for there is not a clout nor card, nor board, nor post, that hath not a special name, or singular nature. Well begin with your points, for I lack only points in this world. North. North & by East. North North East. North-east and by North, North-east. North-east and by East. East North-east, East and by North. East. I'll say it, North, north-east, North-east, Nore nore and by north-east. I shall never do it. This is but one quarter. I shall never learn a quarter of it. I will try. North, North-east, is by the West side, North and by North. Passing ill. Hast thou no memory. Try thou. North North and by North. I can go no further. O dullard, is thy head lighter than the wind, and thy tongue so heavy it will not wag. I will once again say it. I will never learn this language, it will get but small living, when it will scarce be learned till one be old. Nay then farewell, and if your fortunes exceed not your wits, you shall starve before ye sleep. Was there ever such cozening? Come let us to the woods, and see what fortune we may have before they be made ships: as for our Master he is drowned. I will this way. I this. I this, & this day twelvemonth let us all meet here again: it may be we shall either beg together, or hang together.
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)
Why be they deade that be drownd, I had thought they had beene with the fish, and so by chance beene caught vp with them in a Nette againe. It were a shame a little cold water should kill a man of reason, when you shall see a poore Mynow lie in it, that hath no vnderstanding. Thou art wise from the crowne of thy heade vpwards; seeke you new fortunes nowe, I will followe mine olde. I can shift the Moone and the Sunne, and know by one Carde, what all you cannot do by a whole payre. The Lode-stone that alwaies holdeth his nose to the North, the two and thirty poynts for the winde, the wonders I see woulde make all you blinde: you be but boyes, I feare the Sea no more then a dish of water. Why fooles it is but a liquid element, farewell. It were good wee learned his cunning at the Cardes, for we must liue by cosenage, we haue neyther Lands nor wit, nor Maisters, nor honestie. Nay I would faine haue his thirty two, that is, his three dozen lacking foure points, for you see betwixt vs three there is not two good points. Let vs call him a little backe that wee may learne those points. Sirra a word, I pray thee shewe vs thy points. Will you learne? I. Then as you like this I will instruct you in all our secretes: for there is not a clowte nor carde, nor boord, nor post, that hath not a speciall name, or singuler nature. Well begin with your points, for I lacke onlie points in this world. North. North & by East. North North East. North-east and by North, North-east. North-east and by East. East North-east, East and by North. East. Ile say it, North, north-east, North-east, Nore nore and by Nore-east. I shall neuer doe it. Thys is but one quarter. I shall neuer learne a quarter of it. I will try. North, North-east, is by the West side, North and by North. Passing ill. Hast thou no memorie. Try thou. North North and by North. I can goe no further. O dullerde, is thy head lighter then the wind, and thy tongue so heauie it will not wagge. I will once againe say it. I will neuer learne this language, it wil get but small liuing, when it will scarce be learned till one bee olde. Nay then farewell, and if your fortunes exceede not your wits, you shall starue before ye sleepe. Was there euer such cosening? Come let vs to the woods, and see what fortune we may haue before they be made shippes: as for our Maister hee is drownd. I will this way. I this. I this, & this day twelue-month let vs all meete heere againe: it may be we shall eyther beg together, or hang together.