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 0.85 · 511 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T24: apollo, phoebus, midas, muses, ears, play, hedone, gods, siren, time.
Nothing, but that Apollo must determine all, or Midas see ruin of all. To Apollo will I offer an ivory lute for his sweet harmony, and berries of bay as black as jet, for his love Daphne, pure simples for his physic, and continual incense for his prophesying. Apollo may discover some odd riddle, but not give the redress, for yet did I never hear that his oracles were without doubtfulness, nor his remedies without impossibilities. This superstition of yours is able to bring errors among the common sort, not ease to your discontented mind. Dost thou not know Martius, that when Bacchus commanded me to bathe myself in Pactolus, thou thoughtedst it a mere mockery, before with thine eyes thou sawest the remedy. ay, Bacchus gave the wish, and therefore was like also to give the remedy. And who knows whether Apollo gave me these ears, and therefore may release the punishment. Well, reply not, for I will to Delphos: in the mean time let it be proclaimed, that if there be any so cunning, that can tell the reason of these reeds creaking, he shall have my daughter to his wife, or if she refuse it, a Dukedom for his pains: and withal, that whosoever is so bold as to say that Midas hath asses ears, shall presently lose his. Dear father then go forwards, prepare for the sacrifice, and dispose of Sophronia as it best pleaseth you. Come let us in. WHat a rascal was Motto to cozen us, and say there were thirty men in a room that would undo us, and when all came to all, they were but table-men. I and then to give us an inventory of all his goods, only to redeem the beard, but we will be even with him; and I'll be forsworn but I'll be revenged. And here I vow by my concealed beard, if ever it chance to be discovered to the world, that it may make a pike devant, I will have it so sharp pointed, that it shall stab Motto like a poynado. And I protest by these hairs on my head, which are but casualties, for alas who knows not how soon they are lost, Autumn shaves like a razor: if these locks be rooted against wind and weather, spring and fall, I swear they shall not be lopped, till Motto by my knavery be so bald, that I may write verses on his scalp. In witness whereof I eat this hair: now must thou Petulus kiss thy beard, for that was the book thou sworest by. Nay I would I could come but to kiss my chin, which is as yet the cover of my book, but my word shall stand. Now let us read the inventory, we'll share it equally. What else? An inventory of all Mottoes movable bads and goods, as also of such debts as are owing him, with such household stuff as cannot be removed. Inprimis, in the bedchamber, one fowl wife, & five small children. I'll not share in that.
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)
Nothing, but that Apollo must determineal, or Mydas see ruine of al. To Apollo wil I offer an Iuory lute for his sweet harmonie, and berries of baies as blacke as icat, for his loue Daphne, pure simples for his physicke, and continuall incense for his prophecying. Apollo may discouer some odde riddle, but not geue the redresse, for yet did I neuer heare that his oracles were without doubtfulnes, nor his remedies with out impossibilities. This superstition of yours is able to bring errors among the common sort, not ease to your discontented mind. Dost thou not know Martius, that when Bacchus commaunded mee to bathe my selfe in Pactolus, thou thoughtedst it a meere mockerie, before with thine eyes thou sawest the remedie. I, Bacchus gaue the wish, and therefore was like also to geue the remedie. And who knowes whether Apollo gaue me these eares, and therefore may release the punishment. Wel, replie not, for I wil to Delphos: in the meane time let it be proclaimed, that if there be any so cunning, that can tell the reason of these reedes creaking, he shal haue my daughter to his wife, or if she refuse it, a Dukedome for his paines: and withal, that whosoeuer is so bolde as to say that Mydas hath asses eares, shal presently lose his. Deare father then go forwards, prepare for the sacrifice, and dispose of Sophronia as it beste pleaseth you. Come let vs in. WHat a rascall was Motto to cosen vs, and say there were thirtie men in a roome that would vndoe vs, and when all came to all, they were but table-men. I and then to geeue vs an inuentorie of all his goods, only to redeeme the beard, but we will be euen with him; and Ile be forsworne but Ile be reuenged. And here I vow by my conceald beard, if euer it chaunce to be discouered to the worlde, that it maye make a pike deuant, I wil haue it so sharp poynted, that it shall stab Motto like a poynado. And I protest by these haires on my head, which are but casualties, for alas who knowes not how soone they are lost, Autumne shaues like a razor: if these locks be rooted against winde and weather, spring and fall, I sweare they shal not be lopped, till Motto by my knauerie be so bauld, that I may write verses on his scalpe. In witnesse whereof I eate this haire: now must thou Petulus kisse thy beard, for that was the book thou swarest by. Nay I woulde I coulde come but to kisse my chinne, which is as yet the couer of my booke, but my word shall stand. Now let vs read the inuentorie, weele share it equally. What els? An inuentorie of all Mottoes moueable baddes and goods, as also of such debts as are owing him, with such houshold stuffe as cannot be remoued. Inprimis, in the bed-chamber, one fowl wife, & fiue smal children. Ile not share in that.