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 · 526 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T12: iupiter, saturn, iuno, venus, gods, mars, earth, titan, love, fair.
Are you prating? I will bridle thy tongue & thy power, and in spite of mine own thoughts, I will set thee a task every day, which if thou finish not, thou shalt feel the smart. Thou shalt be used as Diana's slave, not Venus' son. All the world shall see that I will use thee like a captive, and show myself a Conqueror. Come have him in, that we may devise apt punishments for his proud presumptions. We will plague ye for a little God. We will never pity thee though thou be a God. Nor I. Nor I. THis is the day wherein you must satisfy Neptune and save yourselves, call together your fair Daughters, and for a Sacrifice take the fairest, for better it is to offer a Virgin then suffer ruin. If you think it against nature to sacrifice your children, think it also against sense to destroy your Country. If you imagine Neptune pitiless to desire such a prey, confess yourselves perverse to deserve such a punishment. You see this tree, this fatal Tree, whose leaves though they glister like gold, yet it threateneth to fair virgin's grief. To this Tree must the beautifullest be bound do until the Monster Agar carry her away, and if the Monster come not, then assure yourselves that the fairest is concealed, and then your country shall be destroyed, therefore consult with yourselves, not as fathers of children, but as favourers of your Country. Let Neptune have his right if you will have your quiet; thus have I warned you to be careful, and would wish you to be wise, knowing that who so hath the fairest daughter, hath the greatest fortune, in losing one to save all, and so I depart to provide ceremonies for the Sacrifice, and command you to bring the Sacrifice. They say Tityrus that you have a fair daughter, if it be so, dissemble not, for you shall be a fortunate father. It is a thing holy to preserve one's Country, and honourable to be the cause. In deed Melebeus I have heard you boast that you had a fair daughter, than the which none was more beautiful. I hope you are not so careful of a child, that you will be careless of your Country, or add so much to nature, that you will detract from wisdom. I must confess that I had a daughter, and I know you have, but alas my Child's cradle was her grave, and her swath-clout her winding sheet. I would she had lived till now, she should willingly have died now; for what could have happened to poor Melebeus more comfortable, then to be the father of a fair child and sweet Country. O Mellebeus, dissemble you may with men, deceive the Gods you cannot, did not I see, (and very lately see) your daughter in your arms, whenas you gave her infinite kisses, with affection I fear me more than fatherly. You have conveyed her away, that you might cast us all away, bereaving her the honour of her beauty, and us the benefit, preferring a common inconvenience, before a private mischief.
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)
Are you prating? I will bridle thy tongue & thy power, and in spight of mine owne thoughts, I will sette thee a taske euery day, which if thou finish not, thou shalt feele the smart. Thou shalt be vsed as Dianaes slaue, not Venus sonne. All the worlde shall see that I will vse thee like a captiue, and shew my selfe a Conquerer. Come haue him in, that wee may deuise apt punishments for his proude presumptions. We will plague yee for a little God. We wyll neuer pittie thee though thou be a God. Nor I. Nor I. THis is the day wherein you must satis-fie Neptune and saue your selues, call together your fayre Daughters, and for a Sacrifice take the fayrest, for better it is to offer a Virgine then suffer ruine. If you think it against nature to sacrifice your children, thinke it also against sence to destroy your Countrey. If you imagine Neptune pittilesse to desire such a pray, confesse your selues peruerse to deserue such a punishment. You see this tree, this fatall Tree, whose leaues though they glister like golde, yet it threatneth to fayre virgins griefe. To this Tree must the beautifullest be bound do vntil the Monster Agar carry her awaie, and if the Monster come not, then assure your selues that the fairest is concealed, and then your countrey shall be destroyed, therefore consult with your selues, not as fathers of children, but as fauourers of your Countrey. Let Neptune haue his right if you will haue your quiet; thus haue I warned you to be carefull, and would wish you to be wise, knowing that who so hath the fairest daughter, hath the greatest fortune, in loosing one to saue all, and so I depart to provide ceremonies for the Sacrifice, and commaund you to bring the Sacrifice. They say Tyterus that you haue a faire daughter, if it be so, dissemble not, for you shall be a fortunate father. It is a thing holy to preserue ones Country, and honorable to be the cause. In deede Melebeus I haue heard you boast that you had a faire daughter, then the which none was more beautiful. I hope you are not so careful of a child, that you will be carelesse of your Countrey, or adde so much to nature, that you will detract from wisedome. I must confesse that I had a daughter, and I knowe you haue, but alas my Childes cradle was her graue, and her swath-clowte her winding sheete. I would she had liued til now, she should willingly haue died now; for what could haue happened to pore Melebeus more comfortable, then to bee the father of a fayre child and sweet Countrey. O Mellebeus, dissemble you may with mē, deceiue the Gods you cannot, dyd not I see, (and very lately see) your daughter in your armes, when as you gaue her infinite kisses, with affection I feare mee more then fatherly. You haue conueyed her away, that you might cast vs all away, bereauing her the honour of her beauty, and vs the benefite, preferring a common inconuenience, before a priuate mischiefe.