Lyly, John · published 1601 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1588-1590] (Annals) pastoral; comedy · Children of Paul's (first) T21 Cupid, Venus and the nymphs typicality 0.78 · 486 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T21: cupid, venus, love, ceres, diana, fair, nymphs, goddess, bow, damon.
I have heard too, that hearts of men stiffer than steel, have by love been made softer than wool, and then they cry, Men have often feigned sighs. And women forged tears. Suppose I love not. Suppose I care not. If men swear and lie, how will you try their loves? If women swear they love, how will you try their dissembling? The gods put wit into women. And nature deceit into men. I did this but to try your patience. Nor I, but to prove your faith. But see, Petulius, what miraculous punishments here are for deserts in love; this Rock was a Nymph to Ceres, so was this Rose, so that Bird. All changed from their shapes? All changed by Cupid, because they disdained love, or dissembled in it. A fair warning to Protea; I hope she will love without dissembling. An Item for Petulius, that he delude not those that love him; for Cupid can also change men. Let us in. This goeth luckily, that Cupid hath promised to restore our mistresses, and Ceres, that they shall accept our loves. I did ever imagine, that true love would end with sweet joys, though so was begun with deep sighs. But how shall we look on them when we shall see them smile? We must, and perchance they will frown. Push, let us endure the bending of their fair brows, and the scorching of their sparkling eyes, so that we may possess at last the depth of their affections. Possess? Never doubt it, for Ceres hath restored Erisychthon, and therefore will persuade with them, nay, command them. If it come by commandment of Ceres, not their own motions, I rather they should hate: for what joy can there be in our lives, or in our loves sweetness, when every kiss shall be sealed with a curse, and every kind word proceed of fear, not affection? enforcement is worse than enchantment. Art thou so superstitious in love, that wast wont to be most careless? Let them curse all day, so I may have but one kiss at night. Thou art worse than Silvestris, he not content without absolute love, thou with indifferent. But here cometh Ceres with Erisychthon: let us look demurely, for in her heart she hates us deeply. I will hallow thy woods with solemn feasts, and honour all thy Nymphs with due regard. Well, do so, and thank Cupid that commands, nay, thank my foolish Nymphs, that know not how to obey; here be the lovers ready at receipt: How now Gentlemen, what seek you? Nothing but what Ceres would find. Ceres hath found those, that I would she had lost, vain lovers. Ceres may lose that, that Cupid would save, true lovers. You think so one of another. Cupid knoweth so of us all. You might have made me a counsel of your loves. I madame, if love would admit counsel.
nodes 341–373 (positions in the processed text, not lines of the printed book) · chunk 18 of 21 in this edition
Length
486 words · 647 tokens
Topic (seed 42)
T21 — Cupid, Venus and the nymphscross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · typicality 0.780 (cosine to the topic centroid)
Other seeds
seed 43: T21 · seed 44: T24 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
I haue heard too, that hearts of men stiffer then steele, haue by loue beene made softer then wooll, and then they crie, Men haue often fained sighs. And women forged teares. Suppose I loue not. Suppose I care not. If men sweare and lie, howe will you trie their loues? If women sweare they loue, how will you trie their dissembling? The gods put wit into women. And nature deceite into men. I did this but to trie your patience. Nor I, but to prooue your faith. But see, Petulius, what miraculous punishments here are for deserts in loue; this Rocke was a Nymph to Ceres, so was this Rose, so that Bird. All chaung'd from their shapes? All chaung'd by Cupid, because they disdain'd loue, or dissembl'd in it. A faire warning to Protea; I hope shee will loue without dissembling. An Item for Petulius, that hee delude not those that loue him; for Cupid can also chaunge men. Let . This goeth luckily, that Cupid hath promised to restore our mistresses, and Ceres, that they shall accept our loues. I did euer imagine, that true loue would end with sweete ioyes, though o was begun with deepe sighs. But how shall we looke on them when we shal see them smile? We must, and perchaunce they will frowne. Push, let vs indure the bending of their faire browes, and the scorching of their sparkling eyes, so that we may possesse at last the depth of their affections. Possesse? Neuer doubt it, for Ceres hath restored Erisicthon, and therefore will perswade with them, nay, commaund them. If it come by commaundement of Ceres, not their owne motions, I rather they should hate: for what ioye can there be in our liues, or in our loues sweetnesse, when euerie kisse shall bee sealed with a curse, and euerie kind word proceed of feare, not affection? enforcement is worse then enchantment. Art thou so superstitious in loue, that wast wont to be most carelesse? Let them curse all day, so I may haue but one kisse at night. Thou art worse then Siluestris, hee not content without absolute loue, thou with indifferent. But here commeth Ceres with Erisicthon: let vs looke demurely, for in her heart shee hates vs deepely. I will hallow thy woods with solemne feastes, and honour all thy Nymphes with due regard. Well, doe so, and thanke Cupid that commands, nay, thanke my foolish Nymphes, that know not how to obey; here be the louers ready at receipt: How now Gentlemen, what seeke you? Nothing but what Ceres would find. Ceres hath found those, that I would shee had lost, vaine louers. Ceres may lose that, that Cupid would saue, true louers. You thinke so one of another. Cupid knoweth so of vs all. You might haue made me a counsell of your loues. I madame, if loue would admit counsell.