Greene, Robert · published 1599 · first performed or written 1587 [1587-1588] (Annals) romance · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T21 Cupid, Venus and the nymphs · 501 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T21: cupid, venus, love, ceres, diana, fair, nymphs, goddess, bow, damon.
How now Alphonsus, you which have so long been trained up in bloody broils of Mars, What know you not, that Castles are not won At first assault, and women are not wooed When first their suitors proffer love to them: As for my part, I should account that maid A wanton wench, unconstant lewd and light, That yields the field, before she venture fight. Especially unto her mortal foe, As you were then unto Iphigina. But for because I see you fitter are To enter Lists and combat with your foes, Then court fair Ladies in God Cupid's tents, Carinus means, your spokesman for to be, And if that she consent, you shall agree. What you command, Alphonsus must not fly: Though otherwise perhaps he would deny. Then dainty damsel stint these trickling tears, Cease sighs and sobs, yea make a merry cheer, Your pardon is already purchased: So that you be not over curious In granting to Alphonsus just demand. Thanks mighty Prince, no curiouser I'll be, Then doth become a maid of my degree. The Gods forbid that ere Carinus' tongue Should go about to make a maid consent Unto the thing which modesty denies: That which I ask, is neither hurt to thee, Danger to parents, nor disgrace to friends, But good and honest, and will profit bring, To thee and those which lean unto that thing. And that is this, since first Alphonsus eyes, Did hap to glance upon your heavenly hue, And saw the rare perfection of the same, He hath desired to become your spouse. Now if you will unto the same agree, I dare assure you, that you shall be free. Pardon dear Lord, the world goes very hard, When women kind are forced for to woo, If that your son had loved me so well, Why did he not inform me of the same? Why did he not? what have you clean forgot What ample proffers he did make to you, When hand to hand he did encounter you? No worthy sir, I have not it forgot, But Cupid cannot enter in the breast, Where Mars before had took possession: That was no time to talk of Venus' games, When all our fellows were pressed in the wars. Well, let that pass, now canst thou be content To love Alphonsus, and become his spouse? I if the high Alphonsus could vouchsafe To entertain me as his wedded spouse. If that he could? what dost thou doubt of that Iason did jet whenas he had obtained, The golden fleece by wise Medea's art, The Greeks rejoiced when they had subdued The famous bulwarks of most stately Troy, But all their mirth was nothing in respect Of this my joy, since that I now have got, That which I long desired in my heart. But what says Fausta to her daughter's choice? Fausta doth say, the Gods have been her friends To let her live to see Iphigina Bestowed so unto her heart's content.
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)
How now Alphonsus, you which haue so lōg Bene trained vp in bloudie broyles of Mars, What know you not, that Castles are not wonne At first assault, and women are not wooed When first their suters profer loue to them: As for my part, I should account that maide A wanton wench, vnconstant lewde and light, That yeelds the field, before she venture fight. Especially vnto her mortall foe, As you were then vnto Iphigina. But for because I see you fitter are To enter Lists and combat with your foes, Then court faire Ladyes in God Cupids tents, Carinus meanes, your spokesman for to bee, And if that she consent, you shall agree. What you commaund, Alphonsus must not flie: Though otherwise perhaps he would denie. Then daintie damsell stint these trickling teares, Cease sighes and sobs, yea make a merrie cheare, Your pardon is already purchased: So that you be not ouer curious In granting to Alphonsus iust demand. Thankes mightie Prince, no curioser ile bee, Then doth become a maide of my degree. The Gods forbid that ere Carinus tongue Should go about to make a mayd consent Vnto the thing which modestie denies: That which I aske, is neither hurt to thee, Danger to parents, nor disgrace to friends, But good and honest, and will profit bring, To thee and those which leane vnto that thing. And that is this, since first Alphonsus eyes, Did hap to glaunce vpon your heauenly hew, And saw the rare perfection of the same, He hath desired to become your spowse. Now if you will vnto the same agree, I dare assure you, that you shall be free. Pardon deare Lord, the world goes very hard, When women kinde are forced for to wooe, If that your sonne had loued me so well, Why did he not informe me of the same? Why did he not? what haue you clean forgot What ample profers he did make to you, When hand to hand he did encounter you? No worthy sir, I haue not it forgot, But Cupid cannot enter in the brest, Where Mars before had tooke possession: That was no time to talke of Venus games, When all our fellowes were pressed in the warres. Well, let that passe, now canst thou be content To loue Alphonsus, and become his spowse? I if the high Alphonsus could vouchsafe To entertaine me as his wedded spowse. If that he could? what dost thou doubt of that Iason did iet when as he had obtaind, The golden fleece by wise Medeas art, The Greekes reioyced when they had subdued The famous bulwarkes of most stately Troy, But all their mirth was nothing in respect Of this my ioy, since that I now haue got, That which I long desired in my heart. But what sayes Fausta to her daughters choice? Fausta doth say, the Gods haue bin her friends To let her liue to see Iphigina Bestowed so vnto her hearts content.