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 0.64 · 460 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T24: apollo, phoebus, midas, muses, ears, play, hedone, gods, siren, time.
I Muse what the Nymphs meant, that so sang in the groves, Midas of Phrygia hath Asses ears. I marvel not, for one of them plainly told me he had Asses ears. ay, but it is not safe to say it: he is a great King, & his hands are longer than his ears: therefore forus that keep sheep, it is wisdom enough to tell sheep. 'tis true, yet since Midas grew so mischievous, as to blur his diadem with blood, which should glister with nothing but pity; and so miserable, that he made gold his god, that was framed to be his slave, many broad speeches have flown abroad: in his own Country they stick not to call him Tyrant, and else where usurper. They flatly say, that he eateth into other dominions, as the sea doth into the land, not knowing, that in swallowing a poor Island as big as Lesbos, he may cast up three territories thrice as big as Phrygia: for what the sea winneth in the marsh, it loseth in the sand. Take me with you, but speak softly, for these reeds may have ears, and hear us. Suppose they have, yet they may be without tongues, to bewray us. Nay let them have tongues too, we have eyes to see that they have none, and therefore if they hear, & speak, they know not from whence it comes. Well, than this I say, when a Lion doth so much degenerate from Princely kind, that he will borrow of the beasts, I say he is no Lion, but a monster; pieced with the craftiness of the fox, the cruelty of the tiger, the ravening of the wolf, the dissembling of Hyena, he is worthy also to have the ears of an ass. He seeks to conquer Lesbos, and like a foolish gamester, having a bagful of his own, ventures it all to win a groat of another. He that fishes for Lesbos, must have such a wooden net, as all the trees in Phrygia will not serve to make the cod, nor all the woods in Pisidia provide the corks. Nay, he means to angle for it with an hook of gold, and a bait of gold, and so to strike the fish with a pleasing bait, that will slide out of an open net. Tush, tush, those islanders are too subtle to nibble at craft, and too richet to swallow treasure: if that be his hope, he may as well dive to the bottom of the sea, and bring up an Anchor of a thousand weight, as plod with his gold to corrupt a people so wise. And beside, a Nation (as I have heard) so valiant, that are readier to strike than ward.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T27 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
IMuse what the Nymphs ment, that so sang in the groues, Mydas of Phrygia hath Asses eares. I maruel not, for one of them plainly told me he had Asses eares. I, but it is not safe to say it: he is a great King, & his hands are longer than his eares: therfore forvs that keep sheepe, it is wisedome enough to tell sheepe. Tis true, yet since Mydas grew so mischeuous, as to blurre his diademe with blood, which should glister with nothing but pittie; and so miserable, that hee made gold his god, that was framde to be his slaue, manie broad speeches haue flowen abroad: in his owne Countrey they sticke not to call him Tyrant, and else where vsurper. They flatly say, that he eateth into other dominions, as the sea doth into the land, not knowing, that in swallowing a poore Iland as big as Lesbos, he may cast vp three territories thrice as big as Phrygia: for what the sea winneth in the marshe, it looseth in the sand. Take me with you, but speak softlie, for these reedes may haue eares, and heare vs. Suppose they haue, yet they may be without tongues, to bewray vs. Nay let them haue tongues too, wee haue eyes to see that they haue none, and therfore if they heare, & speak, they know not from whence it comes. Well, then this I say, when a Lion doeth so much degenerat from Princely kind, that he wil borow of the beasts, I say he is no Lion, but a monster; peec'd with the craftines of the fox, the crueltie of the tyger, the rauening of the woolfe, the dissembling of Hyena, he is worthie also to haue the eares of an asse. He seekes to conquere Lesbos, and like a foolish gamester, hauing a bagfull of his owne, ventures it all to winne a groat of another. Hee that fishes for Lesbos, muste haue such a woodden net, as all the trees in Phrygia wil not serue to make the cod, nor all the woods in Pisidia prouide the corks. Nay, he meanes to angle for it with an hook of gold, and a bait of gold, and so to strike the fish with a pleasing bait, that wil slide out of an open net. Tush, tush, those Ilanders are too subtil to nibble at craft, and too richet to swallowe treasure: if that be his hope, he may as wel diue to the bottome of the sea, and bring vp an Anchor of a thousand weight, as plod with his gold to corrupt a people so wise. And besides, a Nation (as I haue heard) so valiant, that are redier to strike than ward.