Lyly, John · published 1592 · first performed or written 1585 [1583-1585] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) (?) · before the Court unassigned nearest T56 Magic, spells and conjuring · 470 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T56: magic, faustus, charms, charm, conjure, spirits, skill, ho, power, spells.
That's a stinking Spirit, I thought there was some spirit in it because it burned so blue. For my Mother would often tell me that when the candle burned blue, there was some ill Spirit in the house, and now I perceive it was the spirit Brimstone. Thou cast remember these four spirits. Let me alone to conjure them. Now are there also seven bodies, but here cometh my Master. This is a beggar. No, such cunning men must disguise themselves, as though there were nothing in them for otherwise they shall be compelled to work for Princes, and so be constrained to bewray their secrets. I like not his attire, but am enamoured of his Art. An ounce of Silver limed, as much of crude Mercury, of Spirits four, being tempered with the bodies seven, by multiplying of it ten times, comes for one pound, eight thousand pounds, so that I may have only Beechen coals. Is it possible? It is more certain than certainty. I'll tell thee one secret, I stole a silver thimble; dost thou think that he will make it a pottle pot? A pottle pot, nay I dare warrant it a whole Cupboard of plate: why of the quintessence of a leaden plummet, he hath framed xx, dozen of silver Spoons. Look how he studies, I durst venture my life he is now casting about, how of his breath he may make golden bracelets, for oftentimes of smoke he hath made silver drops. What do I hear? Didst thou never hear how Iupiter came in a golden shower to Danae? I remember that tale. That shower did my Master make of a spoonful of tartar-alum, but with the fire of blood, & the corrosive of the air, he is able to make nothing infinite, but whist he espieth us. What Peter do you loiter, knowing that every minute increaseth our Mine? I was glad to take air, for the mettle came so fast, that I feared my face would have been turned to silver. But what stripling is this? One that is desirous to learn your craft. Craft sir boy, you must call it mystery. All is one, a crafty mystery, and a mystical craft. Canst thou take pains? Infinite. But thou must be sworn to be secret, and then I will entertain thee. I can swear though I be a poor fellow as well as the best man in the Shire. But Sir I much marvel that you being so cunning, should be so ragged. O my child, Gryphs make their nests of gold though their coats are feathers, and we feather our nests with Diamonds, though our garments be but freeze. If thou knewest the secret of this Science, the cunning would make thee so proud that thou wouldest disdain the outward pomp.
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)
Thats a stincking Spirit, I thought there was some spirit in it because it burnt so blew. For my Mother would often tell mee that when the candle burnt blew, there was some ill Spirit in the house, and now I perceiue it was the spirit Brimstone. Thou cast remember these foure spirits. Let me alone to coniure them. Now are there also seauen bodies, but heere commeth my Maister. This is a begger. No, such cunning men must disguise themselues, as though there were nothing in them for otherwise they shall be compelled to worke for Princes, and so be constrained to bewray their secrets. I like not his attire, but am enamored of hys Arte. An ounce of Siluer limde, as much of crude Mercury, of Spirits foure, beeing tempered with the bodies seauen, by multiplying of it ten times, comes for one pound, eyght thousand pounds, so that I may haue onely Beechen coales. Is it possible? It is more certaine then certainty. Ile tell thee one secrete, I stole a siluer thimble; dost thou thinke that he will make it a pottle pot? A pottle pot, nay I dare warrant it a whole Cupbord of plate: why of the quintessence of a leaden plummet, he hath framed xx, dozen of siluer Spoones. Looke howe hee studies, I durst venture my life hee is nowe casting about, howe of his breath hee may make golden braselets, for often-times of smoke hee hath made siluer drops. What doe I heare? Dydst thou neuer heare howe Iupiter came in a golden shower to Danae? I remember that tale. That shower did my Master make of a spoonefull of Tartar-alom, but with the fire of blood, & the corasiue of the ayre, he is able to make nothing infinit, but whist he espieth vs. What Peter doe you loyter, knowing that euerie minute increaseth our Mine? I was glad to take ayre, for the mettle came so fast, that I feared my face would haue beene turned to siluer. But what stripling is this? One that is desirous to learne your craft. Craft sir boy, you must call it misterie. All is one, a craftie misterie, and a mysticall craft. Canst thou take paynes? Infinite. But thou must be sworne to be secret, and then I wyll entertaine thee. I can sweare though I be a poore fellow as wel as the best man in the Shyre. But Sir I much maruaile that you beeing so cunning, should be so ragged. O my childe, Gryphes make theyr nestes of gold though their coates are fethers, and we fether our nestes with Diamonds, though our garments be but frize. Yf thou knewest the secret of this Science, the cunning woulde make thee so proude that thou wouldest disdaine the outward pompe.