Lyly, John · published 1592 · first performed or written 1585 [1583-1585] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) (?) · before the Court unassigned nearest T52 Prodigals, portions and poor kin · 519 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T52: brother, father, uncle, cousin, son, poor, bread, old, given, master.
Would I had been with him, for I have had almost no meat, but spital since I came to the woods. How then didst thou live? Why man I served a fortune-teller, who said I should live to see my Father hanged, and both my brothers beg. So I conclude the Mill shall be mine, and I live by imagination still. Thy Master was an Ass, and looked on the lines of thy hands, but my other Master was an Astronomer, which could pick my nativity out of the stars. I should have half a dozen stars in my pocket if I have not lost them, but here they be. Sol, Saturn, Iupiter, Mars, Venus. Why these be but names. ay, but by these he gathereth, that I was a jovalist, borne of a Thursday, & that I should be a brave Venerean, and get all my good luck on a Friday. 'tis strange that a fish day should be a flesh-day. O Robin, Venus orta mari, Venus was borne of the Sea, the Sea will have fish, fish must have wine, wine will have flesh, for Caro carnis genus est muliebre: but soft, here cometh that notable villain, that once preferred me to the alchemist. So I had a Master, I would not care what became of me. Robin thou shalt see me fit him. So I had a servant, I care neither for his conditions, his qualities, nor his person. What Rafe? well met. No doubt you had a warm service of my Master the alchemist. 'twas warm indeed, for the fire had almost burnt out mine eyes, and yet my teeth still watered with hunger: so that my service was both too hot & too cold. I melted all my meat, and made only my slumber thoughts, and so had a full head and an empty belly. But where hast thou been since? With a brother of thine I think, for he hath such a coat, and two brothers (as he saith) seeking of fortunes. 'tis my brother Dick, I prithee let's go to him. sirrah, what was he doing that he came not with thee? He hath gotten a Master now, that will teach him to make you both his younger brothers. ay, thou passest for devising impossibilities, that's as true as thy Master could make silver pots of tags of points. Nay he will teach him to cozen you both, & so get the Mill to himself. Nay if he be both our cousins, I will be his great Grandfather, and Robin shall be his Uncle, but I pray thee bring us to him quickly, for I am great bellied with conceit till I see him. Come then and go with me, and I will bring ye to him straight. Bring forth the virgin, the fatal virgin, the fairest virgin, if you mean to appease Neptune, and preserve your Country. Here she cometh, accompanied only with men, because it is a sight unseemly (as all virgins say) to see the misfortune of a maiden, and terrible to behold the fierceness of Agar that Monster.
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)
Would I had beene with him, for I haue had almost no meate, but spittle since I came to the woods. How then didst thou liue? Why man I serued a fortune-teller, who saide I should liue to see my Father hangd, and both my brothers beg. So I conclude the Mill shall be mine, and I liue by imagination still. Thy Maister was an Asse, and lookt on the lines of thy hands, but my other Maister was an Astronomer, which could picke my natiuitie out of the stars. I shoulde haue halfe a dozen starres in my pocket if I haue not lost them, but heere they be. Sol, Saturne, Iupiter, Mars, Venus. Why these be but names. I, but by these he gathereth, that I was a Ioualist, borne of a Thursday, & that I should be a braue Venerian, and gette all my good lucke on a Fryday. Tis strange that a fishe day should be a flesh-day. O Robin, Venus orta mari, Venus was borne of the Sea, the Sea will haue fishe, fishe must haue wine, wine will haue flesh, for Caro carnis genus est muliebre: but soft, heere commeth that notable villaine, that once preferd me to the Alcumist. So I had a Maister, I would not care what became of me. Robin thou shalt see me fitte him. So I had a seruaunt, I care neither for his conditions, his qualilities, nor his person. What Rafe? well mette. No doubt you had a warme seruice of my Maister the Alcumist. Twas warme indeede, for the fire had almost burnt out mine eyes, and yet my teeth still watred with hungar: so that my seruice was both too whote & too cold. I melted all my meate, and made onely my slumber thoughts, and so had a full head and an empty bellie. But where hast thou beene since? With a brother of thine I thinke, for hee hath such a coate, and two brothers (as hee saith) seeking of fortunes. Tys my brother Dicke, I prie-thee lets goe to him. Syrra, what was he dooing that hee came not with thee? Hee hath gotten a Maister nowe, that will teach him to make you both his younger brothers. I, thou passest for deuising impossibilities, thats as true as thy Maister could make siluer pottes of tagges of poynts. Nay he will teach him to cozen you both, & so gette the Mill to himselfe. Nay if he be both our cozens, I will bee hys great Grand-father, and Robin shall be his Vncle, but I pray thee bring vs to him quickly, for I am great bellied with conceite till I see him. Come then and goe with me, and I will bring ye to him straight. Bring forth the virgine, the fatall virgin, the fairest virgine, if you meane to appease Neptune, and preserue your Countrey. Heere shee commeth, accompanied onelie with men, because it is a sight vnseemely (as all virgins say) to see the mis-fortune of a mayden, and terrible to behold the fiercenes of Agar that Monster.