Daniel, Samuel · published 1594 · first performed or written 1593 [revised 1607] (Annals) tragedy unassigned nearest T22 Shepherds, flocks and Pan · 510 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T22: shepherd, pan, shepherds, love, sheep, flocks, fair, shepherdess, swain, away.
Yet as she sat, the doubt of my good speed, Detracts much from the sweetness of her look: Cheer-marrer Care, did then such passions breed, That made her eye bewray the care she took. But she no sooner sees me in the place, But straight her sorrow-clouded brow she clears, Lightning a smile from out a stormy face, Which all her tempest-beaten senses cheers. Look how a strayed perplexed travailer, When chased by thieves, and even at point of taking, Descrying suddenly some town not far, Or some unlooked-for aid to himward making; Cheers up his tired spirits, thrusts forth his strength To meet that good, that comes in so good hour: Such was her joy, perceiving now at length, Her honour was t'escape so proud a power. forth from her seat she hastes to meet the present, And as one overjoyed, she caught it straight. And with a smiling cheer in action pleasant, Looking among the figs, finds the deceit. And seeing there the ugly venomous beast, Nothing dismayed, she stays and views it well. At length, th'extremest of her passion ceased, When she began with words her joy to tell. O rarest Beast (sayth she) that Afrique breeds, How dearly welcome art thou unto me? The fairest creature that fair Nilus feeds methinks I see, in now beholding thee. What though the ever-erring world doth deem That angered Nature framed thee but in spite: Little they know what they so light esteem, That never learned the wonder of thy might. Better then Death, deaths office thou dischargest, That with one gentle touch canst free our breath: And in a pleasing sleep our soul enlargest, Making ourselves not privy to our death. If Nature erred, o then how happy error, Thinking to make thee worst, she made thee best: Sith thou best freest us from our lives worst terror, In sweetly bringing souls to quiet rest. When that inexorable Monster Death That follows Fortune, flies the poor distressed, Tortures our bodies ere he takes our breath, And loads with pains th'already weak oppressed. How oft have I begged, prayed, entreated him To take my life, and yet could never get him? And when he comes, he comes so ugly grim, That who is he (if he could choose) would let him? Therefore come thou, of wonders wonder chief, That open canst with such an easy key The door of life, come gentle cunning thief, That from ourselves so stealest ourselves away. Well did our Priests discern something divine Shadowed in thee, and therefore first they did Offerings and worships due to thee assign, In whom they found such mysteries were hid. Comparing thy sweet motion to the Sun, That movest without the instruments that move: And never waxing old, but always one, Dost sure thy strange divinity approve. And therefore to, the rather unto thee In zeal I make the offering of my blood, Calamity confirming now in me A sure belief that piety makes good. Which happy men neglect, or hold ambiguous, And only the afflicted are religious.
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)
Yet as shee sate, the doubt of my good speed, Detracts much from the sweetnes of her looke: Cheere-marrer Care, did then such passions breed, That made her eye bewray the care shee tooke. But shee no sooner sees mee in the place, But straight her sorrow-clowded brow shee cleeres, Lightning a smile from out a stormy face, Which all her tempest-beaten sences cheeres. Looke how a stray'd perplexed trauailer, When chas'd by thieues, and euen at poynt of taking, Discrying suddainly some towne not far, Or some vnlookt-for ayde to him-ward making; Cheeres vp his tired sp'rits, thrusts forth his strength To meete that good, that comes in so good houre: Such was her ioy, perceiuing now at length, Her honor was t'escape so proude a powre. Foorth from her seate shee hastes to meet the present, And as one ouer-ioyd, shee caught it straight. And with a smyling cheere in action pleasant, Looking among the figges, findes the deceite. And seeing there the vgly venemous beast, Nothing dismayde, shee stayes and viewes it well. At length, th'extreamest of her passion ceast, VVhen shee began with words her ioy to tell. O rarest Beast (sayth shee) that Affrick breedes, How deerely welcome art thou vnto mee? The fayrest creature that faire Nylus feedes Mee thinks I see, in now beholding thee. VVhat though the euer-erring world doth deeme That angred Nature fram'd thee but in spight: Little they know what they so light esteeme, That neuer learn'd the wonder of thy might. Better then Death, Deathes office thou dischargest, That with one gentle touch canst free our breath: And in a pleasing sleepe our soule inlargest, Making our selues not priuie to our death. If Nature err'd, ô then how happy error, Thinking to make thee worst, shee made thee best: Sith thou best freest vs from our liues worst terror, In sweetly bringing soules to quiet rest. VVhen that inexorable Monster Death That followes Fortune, flyes the poore distressed, Tortures our bodies ere hee takes our breath, And loades with paines th'already weake oppressed. How oft haue I begg'd, prayd, intreated him To take my life, and yet could neuer get him? And when he comes, he comes so vgly grim, That who is he (if he could chuse) would let him? Therefore come thou, of wonders wonder chiefe, That open canst with such an easie key The dore of life, come gentle cunning thiefe, That from our selues so steal'st our selues away. VVell did our Priests discerne something diuine Shadow'd in thee, and therefore first they did Offrings and worshyps due to thee assigne, In whom they found such misteries were hid. Comparing thy sweet motion to the Sunne, That mou'st without the instruments that moue: And neuer waxing old, but alwaies one, Doost sure thy strange diuinitie approue. And therefore to, the rather vnto thee In zeale I make the offring of my blood, Calamitie confirming now in mee A sure beliefe that pietie makes good. Which happy men neglect, or hold ambiguous, And onely the afflicted are religious.