A Looking Glass for London and England · chunk 37 of 39
Lodge, Thomas / Greene, Robert · published 1594 · first performed or written 1588 [1587-1588] (Annals) biblical play; moral · Derby's (Strange's) Men unassigned nearest T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation · 532 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
I go my God to finish thy command, Oh who can tell the wonders of my God, Or talk his praises with a fervent tongue. He bringeth down to hell, and lifts to heaven. He draws the yoke of bondage from the just, And looks upon the Heathen with piteous eyes: To him all praise and honour be ascribed. Oh who can tell the wonders of my God, He makes the infant to proclaim his truth, The Ass to speak, so save the Prophet's life. The earth and sea to yield increase for man. Who can describe the compass of his power? Or testify in terms his endless might? My ravished sprite, oh whither dost thou wend? Go and proclaim the mercy of my God. Relieve the careful hearted Ninivites. And as thou wert the messenger of death, Go bring glad tidings of recovered grace. Well goodman Ionas, I would you had never come from jury to this Country, you have made me look like a lean rib of roast beef, or like the picture of lent, painted upon a read-hering cob. Alas masters, we are commanded by the proclamation to fast and pray, by my troth I could prettely so, so, away with praying, but for fasting, why 'tis so contrary to my nature, that I had rather suffer a short hanging, than a long fasting. Mark me, the words be these. Thou shalt take no manner of food for so many days. I had as lief he should have said, thou shalt hang thyself for so many days. And yet in faith I need not find fault with the proclamation, for I have a buttery, and a pantry, and a kitchen, about me, for proof, Ecce signum, this right slop is my pantry, behold a manchet, this place is my kitchen, for lo a piece of beef. Oh let me repeat that sweet word again: For lo a piece of beef. This is my buttery, for see, see, my friends, to my great joy, a bottle of beer. Thus alas I make shift to wear out this fasting, I drive away the time, but there go Searchers about to seek if any man breaks the King's command. Oh here they be, in with your victuals Adam. How duly the men of Niniveh keep the proclamation, how are they armed to repentance? we have searched through the whole City & have not as yet found one that breaks the fast. The sign of the more grace, but stay, here sits one mée-thinkes at his prayers, let us see who it is. 'tis Adam, the Smiths man, how now Adam? Trouble me not, thou shalt take no manner of food, but fast and pray. How devoutly he sits at his orisons, but stay, mée-thinkes I feel a smell of some meat or bread about him. So thinks me too, you sirrah, what victuals have you about you? Uictuals! Oh horrible blasphemy! Hinder me not of my prayer, nor drive me not into a choler, victuals! why heardst thou not the sentence, thou shalt take no food but fast and pray? Truth so it should be, but methinks I smell meat about thee.
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)
I go my God to finish thy command, Oh who can tell the wonders of my God, Or talke his praises with a feruent toong. He bringeth downe to hell, and lifts to heauen. He drawes the yoake of bondage from the iust, And lookes vpon the Heathen with pitious eyes: To him all praise and honour be ascribed. Oh who can tell the wonders of my God, He makes the infant to proclaime his truth, The Asse to speake, so saue the Prophets life. The earth and sea to yéeld increase for man. Who can describe the compasse of his power? Or testifie in termes his endlesse might? My rauisht spright, oh whither doest thou wend? Go and proclaime the mercy of my God. Relieue the carefull hearted Niniuites. And as thou weart the messenger of death, Go bring glad tydings of recouered grace. Well good-man Ionas, I would you had neuer come from Iury to this Country, you haue made me looke like a leane rib of roast béefe, or like the picture of lent, painted vpon a read-herings cob. Alasse maisters, we are commanded by the proclamation to fast and pray, by my troth I could prettely so, so, away with praying, but for fasting, why tis so contrary to my nature, that I had rather suffer a short hanging, then a long fasting. Marke me, the words be these. Thou shalt take no maner of foode for so many daies. I had as léeue he should haue said, thou shalt hang thy selfe for so many daies. And yet in faith I néed not finde fault with the proclamation, for I haue a buttry, and a pantry, and a kitchen, about me, for proofe, Ecce signum, this right slop is my pantry, behold a manchet, this place is my kitchin, for loe a péece of béefe. Oh let me repeat that swéet word againe: For loe a péece of béef. This is my buttry, for sée, sée, my friends, to my great ioy, a bottle of béere. Thus alasse I make shift to weare out this fasting, I driue away the time, but there go Searchers about to séeke if any man breakes the Kings command. Oh here they be, in with your victuals Adam. How duly the men of Niniuie kéep the proclamation, how are they armde to repentance? we haue searcht through the whole Citie & haue not as yet found one that breaks the fast. The signe of the more grace, but staie, here sits one mée-thinkes at his praiers, let vs see who it is. Tis Adam, the Smithes man, how now Adam? Trouble me not, thou shalt take no maner of foode, but fast and pray. How deuoutly he sits at his orysons, but staie, méethinkes I féele a smell of some meate or bread about him. So thinkes me too, you sirrha, what victuals haue you about you? Uictuals! Oh horrible blasphemie! Hinder me not of my praier, nor driue me not into a chollor, victailes! why hardst thou not the sentence, thou shalt take no foode but fast and pray? Truth so it should be, but me-thinkes I smell meate about thée.