Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-Love · chunk 19 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 · 573 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T21: cupid, venus, love, ceres, diana, fair, nymphs, goddess, bow, damon.
CRITES. A creature of a most perfect and divine temper. One, in whom the humours and elements are peaceably met, without emulation of precedency: he is neither to phantasticly melancholy, too slowly phlegmatic, too lightly sanguine, or too rashly choleric, but in all, so composed & ordered, as it is clear, Nature went about some full work, she did more than make a man, when she made him. His discourse is like his behaviour, uncommon, but not unpleasing; he is prodigal of neither. He strives rather to be that which men call judicious, then to be thought so: and is so truly learned, that he affects not to show it. He will think, and speak his thought, both freely: but as distant from depraving another man's merit, as proclaiming his own. For his valour, 'tis such, that he dares as little to offer an injury, as receive one. In sum, he hath a most ingenuous and sweet spirit, a sharp and seasoned wit, a straight judgement, and a strong mind. Fortune could never break him, nor make him less. He counts it his pleasure, to despise pleasures, and is more delighted with good deeds, than goods. It is a competency to him that he can be virtuous. He doth neither covet nor fear; he hath too much reason to do either: and that commends all things to him. Not better than MERCURY commends him. O, CUPID, 'tis beyond my deity to give him his due praises: I could leave my place in heaven, to live among mortals, so I were sure to be no other than he. 'Slight, I believe he is your minion, you seem to be so ravished with him. He's one, I would not have a wry thought darted against, willingly. No, but a straight shaft in his bosom, I'll promise him, if I am Citherea's son. Shall we go, CUPID? Stay, and see the ladies now: they'll come presently. I'll help to paint them. What! lay colour upon colour? that affords but an ill blazon. Here comes metal to help it, the lady ARGURION. Money, money. The same. A Nymph of a most wandering and giddy disposition, humorous as the air, she'll run from gallant to gallant (as they sit at primero in the presence) most strangely, and seldom stays with any. she spreads as she goes. Today you shall have her look as clear and fresh as the morning, and tomorrow as melancholic as midnight. she takes special pleasure in a close obscure lodging, and, for that cause, visits the city so often, where she has many secret true-concealing favourites. When she comes abroad, she's more loose and scattering then dust, and will fly from place to place, as she were rapt with a whirlwind. Your young student (for the most part) she affects not, only salutes him, and away: a poet, nor a philosopher, she is hardly brought to take any notice of; no, though he be some part of an alchemist. she loves a player well, and a lawyer infinitely: but your fool above all. She can do much in court for the obtaining of any suit whatsoever, no door but flies open to her, her presence is above a charm. The worst in her is want of keeping state, and too much descending into inferior and base offices, she's for any course employment you will put upon her, as to be your procurer, or pandar.
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)
CRITES. A creature of a most perfect and diuine temper. One, in whom the humours and elements are peaceably met, without emulation of precedencie: he is neyther to phantastikely melancholy, too slowly phlegmaticke, too lightly sanguine, or too rashly cholericke, but in all, so composde & order'd, as it is cleare, Nature went about some ful worke, she did more then make a man, when she made him. His discourse is like his behauiour, vncommon, but not vnpleasing; hee is prodigall of neyther. Hee striues rather to bee that which men call iudicious, then to bee thought so: and is so truly learned, that he affects not to shew it. Hee will thinke, and speake his thought, both freely: but as distant from deprauing another mans merit, as proclaiming his owne. For his valour, tis such, that he dares as little to offer an iniurie, as receiue one. In summe, he hath a most ingenuous and sweet spirit, a sharp and season'd wit, a straight iudgment, and a strong mind. Fortune could neuer breake him, nor make him lesse. He counts it his pleasure, to despise pleasures, and is more delighted with good deeds, then goods. It is a competencie to him that hee can bee vertuous. He doth neyther couet nor feare; hee hath too much reason to doe eyther: and that commends all things to him. Not better then MERCVRY commends him. O, CVPID, tis beyond my deitie to giue him his due prayses: I could leaue my place in heauen, to liue among mortals, so I were sure to be no other then he. S'light, I beleeue he is your minion, you seeme to be so rauisht with him. He's one, I would not haue a wry thought darted against, willingly. No, but a straight shaft in his bosome, Ile promise him, if I am CITHEREAS sonne. Shall we goe, CVPID? Stay, and see the ladies now: they'll come presently. Ile helpe to paint them. What! lay colour vpon colour? that affords but an ill blazon. Here comes mettall to helpe it, the ladie ARGVRION. Monie, monie. The same. A Nymph of a most wandring and giddy disposition, humorous as the aire, shee'le runne from gallant to gallant (as they sit at primero in the presence) most strangely, and seldome stayes with any. Shee spreads as shee goes. To day you shall haue her looke as cleere and fresh as the morning, and to morrow as melancholike as mid-night. Shee takes speciall pleasure in a close obscure lodging, and, for that cause, visites the city so often, where shee has many secret true-concealing fauourites. When shee comes abroad, shee's more loose and scattering then dust, and will flie from place to place, as shee were rapt with a whirle-winde. Your yong student (for the most part) shee affects not, only salutes him, and away: a poet, nor a philosopher, shee is hardly brought to take any notice of; no, though he be some part of an alchemist. Shee loues a player well, and a lawyer infinitely: but your foole aboue all. Shee can doe much in court for the obtayning of any sute whatsoeuer, no doore but flies open to her, her presence is aboue a charme. The worst in her is want of keeping state, and too much descending into inferior and base offices, she's for any coorse imployment you will put vpon her, as to be your procurer, or pandar.