Lyly, John · published 1601 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1588-1590] (Annals) pastoral; comedy · Children of Paul's (first) unassigned nearest T4 Love-longing and the lover's complaint · 480 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T4: love, heart, sweet, loves, fair, phillis, eyes, beauty, amyntas, lovers.
Accursed men, whose loves have no other mean than extremities, nor hates end but mischief. Unnatural monster, no maid that accuseth men, whose loves are built on truth, and whose hearts are removed by courtesy: I will hear the depth of her malice. Of all creatures most unkind, most cunning, by whose subtleties I am half fish, half flesh, themselves being neither fish nor flesh, in love lukewarm, in cruelty red hot, if they praise, they flatter; if flatter, deceive; if deceive, destroy. she rails at men, but seeks to entangle them, this slight is prepared for my sweet Petulius, I will withdraw myself close, for Petulius followeth, he will without doubt be enamoured of her, enchanted he shall not be, my charms shall countervail hers, it is he hath saved my Father's life with money, and must prolong mine with love. I marvel, Protea is so far before me, if she run, i'll fly: sweet Protea, where art thou? it is Petulius calleth Protea. Here cometh a brave youth, Now Syren, leave out nothing that may allure, thy golden locks, thy enticing looks, thy tuned voice, thy subtle speech, thy fair promises, which never misled the heart of any but Ulysses. What divine goddess is this? What sweet harmony? My heart is ravished with such tickling thoughts, and mine eyes stayed with such a bewitching beauty, that I can neither find the means to remove my affection, nor to turn aside my looks. I yield to death, but with such delight, that I would not wish to live, unless it were to hear thy sweet lays. Live still so thou love me: why standest thou amazed at the word Love? It is high time to prevent this mischief: Now Neptune, stand to thy promise, and let me take suddenly the shape of an old man; so shall I mar what she makes. Not yet come to myself, or if I be, I dare not credit mine ears. Love thee divine goddess? Vouchsafe I may honour thee, and live by the imagination I have of thy words and worthiness. I am a goddess, but a Lady and a virgin, whose love if thou embrace, thou shalt live no less happy, than the gods in heaven. Believe not this enchantress (sweet youth) who retaineth the face of a Virgin, but the heart of a Fiend, whose sweet tongue sheddeth more drops of blood, than it uttereth syllables. Out dotterel, whose dim eyes cannot discern beauty, nor doting age judge of love. If thou listen to her words, thou shalt not live to repent: for her malice is as sudden, as her joys are sweet. Thy silver hairs are not so precious, as her golden locks, nor thy crooked age of that estimation, as her flowering youth. That old man measureth the hot assault of love, with the cold skirmishes of age.
seed 43: T2 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Accursed men, whose loues haue no other meane then extremities, nor hates end but mischiefe. Vnnaturall monster, no maide that accuseth men, whose loues are built on truth, and whose hearts are remoued by curtesie: I will heare the depth of her malice. Of all creatures most vnkind, most cunning, by whose subtilties I am halfe fish, halfe flesh, themselues being neither fish nor flesh, in loue luke warme, in crueltie red hot, if they praise, they flatter; if flatter, deceiue; if deceiue, destroy. Shee rayles at men, but seekes to intangle them, this slight is prepared for my sweete Petulius, I will withdraw my selfe close, for Petulius followeth, hee will without doubt be enamored of her, enchaunted hee shall not be, my charmes shall counteruaile hers, it is he hath saued my Fathers life with money, and must prolong mine with loue. I maruaile, Protea is so farre before me, if shee runne, ile flie: sweete Protea, where art thou it is Petulius calleth Protea. Here commeth a braue youth, Now Syren, leaue out nothing that may allure, thy golden lockes, thy entising lookes, thy tuned voice, thy subtile speeche, thy faire promises, which neuer misled the heart of any but Vlisses. What diuine goddesse is this? What sweete harmonie? My heart is raished with such tickling thoughts, and mine eyes stayed with such a bewitching beautie, that I can neither find the meanes to remoue my affection, nor to turne aside my lookes. I yeeld to death, but with such delight, that I would not wish to liue, vnlesse it were to heare thy sweete layes. Liue still so thou loue me: why standest thou amazed at the word Loue? It is high time to preuent this mischiefe: Nowe Neptune, stand to thy promise, and let me take suddenly the shape of an olde man; so shall I marre what shee makes. Not yet come to my selfe, or if I bee, I dare not credit mine eares. Loue thee diuine goddesse? Vouchsafe I may honour thee, and liue by the imagination I haue of thy words and worthinesse. I am a goddesse, but a Ladie and a virgine, whose loue if thou embrace, thou shalt liue no lesse happie, then the gods in heauen. Beleeue not this Inchauntresse (sweete youth) who retaineth the face of a Virgine, but the heart of a Fend, whose sweet tongue sheadeth more drops of bloud, then it vttereth sillables. Out dottrell, whose dimme eyes cannot discerne beautie, nor doting age iudge of loue. If thou listen to her words, thou shalt not liue to repent: for her malice is as suddaine, as her ioyes are sweete. Thy siluer haires are not so precious, as her golden lockes, nor thy crooked age of that estimation, as her flowring youth. That old man measureth the hot assault of loue, with the cold skirhes of age.