Lyly, John · published 1592 · first performed or written 1589 (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) · before the Court unassigned nearest T25 Kings, power and law: political sententi · 532 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T25: feare, kings, power, princes, lawes, loue, state, downe, honor, men.
Mellacrites, I cannot tell whether I should more mislike thy council, or Midas consent, but the covetous humour of you both I contemn and wonder at, being unfit for a king, whose honour should consist in liberality, not greediness; and unworthy the calling of Mellacrites, whose fame should rise by the soldiers god, Mars, not by the merchant's god, Gold. Madam, things past cannot be recalled, but repented; and therefore are rather to be pitied than punished. It now behoveth us how to redress the miserable estate of our king, not to dispute of the occasion. Your highness sees, and without grief you cannot see, that his meat turneth to massy gold in his mouth, and his wine slideth down his throat like liquid gold: if he touch his robes they are turned to gold, and what is not that toucheth him, but becometh gold? I Mellacrites, if thy tongue had been turned to gold before thou gavest our king such council, Midas heart had been full of ease, and thy mouth of gold. If my advise had taken place, Midas that now sitteth over head and ears in crowns, had worn upon his head many kings crowns, and been conqueror of the world, that now is commander of dross. That greediness of Mellacrites, whose heartstrings are made of Plutus purse-strings, hath made Midas a lump of earth, that should be a god on earth; and thy effeminate mind Eristus, whose eyes are stitched on Celia's face, and thoughts guide to her beauty, hath bred in all the court such a tender wantonness, that nothing is thought of but love, a passion proceeding of beastly lust, and coloured with a courtly name of love. Thus whilst we follow the nature of things, we forget the names. Since this unsatiable thirst of gold, and untemperate humour of lust crept into the king's court, Soldiers have begged alms of Artificers, and with their helmet on their head been glad to follow a Lover with a glove in his hat, which so much abateth the courage of true Captains, that they must account it more honourable, in the court to be a coward so rich and amorous, than in a camp to be valiant, if poor and maimed. He is more favoured that pricks his finger with his mistress needle, than he that breaks his lance on his enemy's face: and he that hath his mouth full of fair words, than he that hath his body full of deep scars. If one be old, & have silver hairs on his beard, so he have golden ruddocks in his bags, he must be wise and honourable. If young and have curled locks on his head, amorous glances with his eyes, smooth speeches in his mouth, every lady's lap shallbe his pillow, every lady's face his glass, every lady's ear a sheath for his flatteries; only Soldiers, if they be old, must beg in their own countries; if young, try the fortune of wars in another. He is the man; that being let blood carries his arm in a scarf of his mistress favour, not he that bears his leg on a stilt for his country's safety.
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)
Mellacrites, I cannot tell whether I should more mislike thy councell, or Mydas consent, but the couetous humor of you both I contemne and wonder at, being vnfit for a king, whose honor should consiste in liberalitie, not greedines; and vnworthy the calling of Mellacrites, whose fame should rise by the Souldiers god, Mars, not by the merchants god, Gold. Madam, things past cannot be recalled, but repented; and therefore are rather to be pittied than punished. It now behoueth vs how to redresse the miserable estate of our king, not to dispute of the occasion. Your highnes sees, and without griefe you cannot see, that his meat turneth to massie gold in his mouth, and his wine slideth downe his throte like liquide golde: if he touch his roabes they are turned to gold, and what is not that toucheth him, but becommeth golde? I Mellacrites, if thy tongue had been turned to gold before thou gauest our king such councel, Mydas heart had been ful of ease, and thy mouth of gold. If my aduise had taken place, Mydas that now sitteth ouer head and eares in crownes, had worn vpon his head many kings crownes, and been conquerour of the world, that now is commaunder of drosse. That greedines of Mellacrites, whose heart-stringes are made of Plutus purse-stringes, hath made Mydas a lumpe of earth, that should be a god on earth; and thy effeminate minde Eristus, whose eyes are stitcht on Caelias face, and thoughts gyude to her beautie, hath bredde in all the court such a tender wantonnes, that nothing is thoght of but loue, a passion proceeding of beastly lust, and coloured with a courtlie name of loue. Thus whilest we follow the nature of things, we forget the names. Since this vnsatiable thirst of gold, and vntemperat humor of lust crept into the kings court, Souldiers haue begged almes of Artificers, and with their helmet on their head been glad to follow a Louer with a gloue in his hatte, which so much abateth the courage of true Captaines, that they must account it more honorable, in the court to be a cowarde so rich and amorus, than in a campe to be valiant, if poore and maimed. He is more fauoured that pricks his finger with his mistres needle, then hee that breakes his launce on his enemies face: and he that hath his mouth full of fair words, than he that hath his bodie ful of deep scarres. If one be olde, & haue siluer haires on his beard, so he haue golden ruddocks in his bagges, he must be wise and honourable. If young and haue curled locks on his head, amarous glaunces with his eyes, smooth speeches in his mouth, euerie Ladies lap shalbe his pillow, euery Ladies face his glasse, euery Ladies eare a sheath for his flatteries; only Souldiers, if they be old, must beg in their owne countries; if yong, trie the fortune of warres in another. Hee is the man; that being let bloud caries his arme in a scarfe of his mistres fauour, not he that beares his legge on a stilt for his Countries safetie.