Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-Love · chunk 2 of 66
Jonson, Ben · published 1616 · first performed or written 1600 [1600-1601] (Annals) satire · Children of the Chapel (second) unassigned nearest T21 Cupid, Venus and the nymphs · 538 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T21: cupid, venus, love, ceres, diana, fair, nymphs, goddess, bow, damon.
Pray thee no more. There CUPID strikes money in love with the prodigal, makes her dote upon him, give him jewels, bracelets, carcanets, etc. all which (he most ingeniously departs withal) to be made known to the other ladies and gallants; and in the heat of this, increases his train with the fool to follow him, as well as the beggar.— By this time, your beggar begins to wait close, who is returned with the rest of his fellow bottle-men.— There they all drink, save ARGURION, who is fallen into a sudden apoplexy.— Stop his mouth. And then, there's a retired scholar there, you would not wish a thing to be better contemned of a society of gallants, than it is: and he applies his service (good gentleman) to the lady ARETE, or virtue, a poor Nymph of Cynthia's train, that's scarce able to buy herself a gown, you shall see her play in a black rob anon: A creature, that (I assure you) is no less scorned, than himself. Where am I now? at a stand? Come, leave at last, yet. O, the night is come, ('twas somewhat dark, methought) and CYNTHIA intends to come forth: (That helps it a little yet.) All the courtiers must provide for revels; they conclude upon a mask, the device of which, is— (what, will you ravish me?) that each of these vices, being to appear before CYNTHIA, would seem other than indeed they are: and therefore assume the most neighbouring virtues as their masking habits.— (I'd cry, a rape, but that you are children.) Come, we'll have no more of this anticipation: to give them the inventory of their cates aforehand, were the discipline of a tavern, and not fitting this presence. Tut, this was but to show us the happiness of his memory. I thought at first, he would have played the ignorant critic with every thing, along as he had gone, I expected some such device. O, you shall see me do that, rarely, lend me thy cloak. Soft, sir, you'll speak my Prologue in it. No, would I might never stir then. Lend it him, lend it him. Well, you have sworn. I have. Now, sir, suppose I am one of your gentile auditors, that an come in (having paid my money at the door, with much ado) and here I take my place, and sit down: I have my three sorts of tobacco in my pocket, my sight by me, and thus I begin. By this light, I wonder that any man is so mad, to come to see these rascally Tits play here— They do act like so many wrens, or pismires— not the fift part of a good face amongst them all— And then their music is abominable— able to stretch a man's ears worse than ten— pillories, and their ditties— most lamentable things, like the pitiful fellows that make them— Poets. By this vapour, and 'twere not for tobacco— I think— the very stench of 'em would poison me, I should not dare to come in at their gates— A man were better visit fifteen jails,— or a dozen or two of hospitals— then once adventure to come near them. How is't? Well?
seed 43: T2 · seed 44: T3 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Pray thee no more. There CVPID strikes monie in loue with the prodigall, makes her dote vpon him, giue him iewels, bracelets, carkenets, &c. all which (hee most ingeniously departs withall) to be made knowne to the other ladies and gallants; and in the heat of this, increases his traine with the foole to follow him, aswell as the begger.— By this time, your begger begins to waite close, who is return'd with the rest of his fellow bottle-men.— There they all drinke, saue ARGVRION, who is falne into a sodaine apoplexie.— Stop his mouth. And then, there's a retired scholler there, you would not wish a thing to be better contemn'd of a societie of gallants, then it is: and hee applies his seruice (good gentleman) to the ladie ARETE, or vertue, a poore Nymph of CYNTHIAS traine, that's scarce able to buy her selfe a gowne, you shall see her play in a blacke robe anon: A creature, that (I assure you) is no lesse scorn'd, then himselfe. Where am I now? at a stand? Come, leaue at last, yet. O, the night is come, (t'was somewhat darke, mee thought) and CYNTHIA intends to come forth: (That helps it a little yet.) All the courtiers must prouide for reuels; they conclude vpon a Masque, the deuice of which, is—(what, will you rauish mee?) that each of these vices, being to appeare before CYNTHIA, would seeme other then indeed they are: and therefore assume the most neighbouring vertues as their masking habites.— (I'lde crie, a rape, but that you are children.) Come, wee'le haue no more of this anticipation: to giue them the inuentorie of their cates aforehand, were the discipline of a tauerne, and not fitting this presence. Tut, this was but to shew vs the happinesse of his memorie. I thought at first, he would haue plaid the ignorant critique with euerie thing, along as he had gone, I expected some such deuice. O, you shall see me doe that, rarely, lend me thy cloake. Soft, sir, you'le speake my Prologue in it. No, would I might neuer stirre then. Lend it him, lend it him. Well, you haue sworne. I haue. Now, sir, suppose I am one of your gentile auditors, that an come in (hauing paid my monie at the doore, with much adoe) and here I take my place, and sit downe: I haue my three sorts of tabacco in my pocket, my sight by me, and thus I beginne. By this light, I wonder that any man is so mad, to come to see these rascally Tits play here— They doe act like so manie wrens, or pismires—not the fift part of a good face amongst them all—And then their musicke is abominable—able to stretch a mans eares worse then tenne— pillories, and their ditties—most lamentable things, like the pittifull fellowes that make them—Poets. By this vapour, and 'twere not for tabacco—I thinke—the verie stench of 'hem would poison mee, I should not dare to come in at their gates—A man were better visit fifteene jailes,—or a dozen or two of hospitals—then once aduenture to come neere them. How is't? Well?