Lyly, John · published 1592 · first performed or written 1589 (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) · before the Court T24 Apollo, Phoebus and the Muses typicality 0.84 · 481 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T24: apollo, phoebus, midas, muses, ears, play, hedone, gods, siren, time.
What hast thou done Apollo? the ears of an Ass upon the head of a King? And well worthy, when the dullness of an ass is in the ears of a King. Help Pan, or Midas perisheth. I cannot undo what Apollo hath done, nor give thee any amends, unless to those ears thou wilt have added these horns. It were very well, that it might be hard to judge whether he were more Ox or Ass. Farewell Midas. Midas farewell. I warrant they be dainty ears, nothing can please them but Pan's pipe. He hath the advantage of all ears, except the mouse; for else there's none so sharp of hearing, as the Ass. Farewell Midas. Midas farewell. Farewell Midas. Ah Midas, why was not thy whole body metamorphosed, that there might have been no part left of Midas? Where shall I shroud this shame? or how may I be restored to mine old shape? Apollo is angry: blame not Apollo, whom being God of music thou didst both dislike and dishonour; preferring the barbarous noise of Pan's pipe, before the sweet melody of Apollo's lute. If I return to Phrygia, I shall be pointed at; if live in these woods, savage beasts must be my companions: & what other companions should Midas hope for than beasts, being of all beasts himself the dullest? Had it not been better for thee to have perished by a golden death, than now to lead a beastly life? Unfortunate in thy wish, unwise in thy judgement; first a golden fool, now a leaden ass. What will they say in Lesbos (if happily these news come to Lesbos?) If they come Midas? yes, report flies as swift as thoughts, gathering wings in the air, & doubling rumours by her own running, insomuch as having here the ears of an ass, it will there be told, all my hairs are ass's ears. Then will this be the byword; Is Midas that sought to be Monarch of the world, become the mock of the world? are his golden mines turned into water, as free for every one that will fetch, as for himself, that possessed them by wish? Ah poor Midas, are his conceits become blockish, his counsels unfortunate, his judgements unskilful? Ah foolish Midas, a just reward, for thy pride to wax poor, for thy overweening to wax dull, for thy ambition to wax humble, for thy cruelty to say, Sisque miser semper, nec sis miserabilis ulli. But I must seek to cover my shame by art, least being once discovered to these petty Kings of Mysia, Pisidia and Galatia, they all join to add to mine ass's ears, of all the beasts the dullest, a sheeps heart, of all the beasts the fearfullest: and so cast lots for those Kingdoms, that I have won with so many lives, & kept with so many envies.
seed 43: T29 · seed 44: T27 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
What hast thou done Apollo? the eares of an Asse vpon the head of a King? And well worthie, when the dulnes of an asse is in the eares of a King. Helpe Pan, or Mydas perisheth. I cannot vndoo what Apollo hath done, nor giue thee anie amends, vnlesse to those eares thou wilt haue added these hornes. It were verie well, that it might bee hard to iudge whether he were more Ox or Asse. Farewell Mydas. Mydas farewell. I warrant they bee daintie eares, nothing can please them but Pans pipe. He hath the aduantage of all eares, except the mouse; for els theres none so sharpe of hearing, as the Asse. Farewell Mydas. Mydas farewell. Farewell Mydas. Ah Mydas, why was not thy whole bodie metamorphosed, that there might haue been no parte left of Mydas? Where shall I shrowd this shame? or how may I bee restored to mine olde shape? Apollo is angrie: blame not Apollo, whom being God of musick thou didst both dislike and dishonour; preferring the barbarous noyse of Pans pipe, before the sweete melolodie of Apolloes lute. If I returne to Phrygia, I shall bee pointed at; if liue in these woods, fauage beasts must be my cōpanions: & what other companions should Mydas hope for than beasts, being of all beasts himselfe the dullest? Had it not bin better for thee to haue perished by a golden death, than now to lead a beastly life? Vnfortunat in thy wish, vnwise in thy iudgmēt; first a golden foole, now a leaden asse. What wil they say in Lesbos (if happely these newes come to Lesbos?) If they come Mydas? yes, report flies as swift as thoghts, gathering wings in the aire, & dubling rumors by her owne running, insomuch as hauing here the eares of an asse, it wil there be told, all my haires are asseseares. Then will this bee the by-word; Is Mydas that sought to bee Monarch of the world, become the mock of the world? are his goldē mynes turnd into water, as free for euery one that wil fetch, as for himself, that possessed thē by wish? Ah poore Mydas, are his conceipts become blockish, his counsells vnfortunate, his iudgements vnskilfull? Ah foolish Mydas, aiust reward, for thy pride to wexe poore, for thy ouerweening to wexe dull, for thy ambition to wexe humble, for thy crueltie to say, Sis que miser semper, nec sis miserabilis vlli. But I must seeke to couer my shame by arte, least beeing once discouered to these pettie Kings of Mysia, Pisidia and Galatia, they all ioyne to adde to mine Asses eares, of all the beasts the dullest, a sheepes heart, of all the beasts the fearfullest: and so cast lots for those Kingdomes, that I haue won with so manie liues, & kept with so manie enuies.