Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-Love · chunk 41 of 66
Jonson, Ben · published 1616 · first performed or written 1600 [1600-1601] (Annals) satire · Children of the Chapel (second) unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 490 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
Let her go, I pray you, good lady Sobriety, I am glad we are rid of her. What a set face the gentlewoman has, as she were still going to a sacrifice? O, she is the extraction of a dozen of Puritans, for a look. Of all Nymphs i' the court, I cannot away with her; 'tis the coarsest thing— I wonder, how CYNTHIA can affect her so above the rest! Here be they are every way as fair as she, and a thought fairer, I trow. I, and as ingenious, and conceited as she. I, and as politic as she, for all she sets such a forehead on't. Would I were dead, if I would change to be CYNTHIA. Or I. Or I. And there's her minion CRITES! why his advice more than AMORPHUS? have not I invention, afore him? Learning, to better that invention, above him? and infanted, with pleasant travail— Death, what talk you of his learning? he understands no more than a schoolboy; I have put him down myself a thousand times (by this air) and yet I never talked with him but twice, in my life: you never saw his like. I could never get him to argue with me, but once, and then, because I could not construe an Author I quoted at first sight, he went away, and laughed at me. By HERCULES, I scorn him, as I do the sod den Nymph, that was here e'en now, his mistress ARETE: And I love myself for nothing else. I wonder the fellow does not hang himself, being thus scorned, and contemned of us that are held the most accomplished society of gallants! By yourselves, none else. I protest, if I had no music in me, no courtship, that I were not a reveller and could dance, or had not those excellent qualities that give a man life, and perfection, but a mere poor scholar as he is, I think I should make some desperate way with myself, whereas now (would I might never breath more) if I do know that creature in the kingdom, with whom I would change. This is excellent: well, I must alter all this soon. Look you do, CUPID. The bottles have wrought, it seems. O, I am sorry the revels are crossed. I should ha' tickled it soon. I did never appear till then. 'Slid, I am the neatlyest-made gallant i' the company, and have the best presence; and my dancing— well, I know what our usher said to me, lasst time I was at the school: would I might have lead PHILAUTIA in the measures, and it had been the gods will. I am most worthy, I am sure. Master, I can tell you news, the lady kissed me yonder, and played with me, and says she loved you once, as well as she does me, but that you cast her off. Peace, my most esteemed page.
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)
Let her goe, I pray you, good ladie Sobrietie, I am glad wee are rid of her. What a set face the gentlewoman has, as shee were still going to a sacrifice? O, shee is the extraction of a dozen of Puritans, for a looke. Of all Nymphs i' the court, I cannot away with her; 'tis the coursest thing— I wonder, how CYNTHIA can affect her so aboue the rest! Here be they are euery way as faire as shee, and a thought fairer, I trow. I, and as ingenious, and conceited as shee. I, and as politique as shee, for all shee sets such a fore-head on't. Would I were dead, if I would change to be CYNTHIA. Or I. Or I. And there's her minion CRITES! why his aduice more then AMORPHVS? haue not I inuention, afore him? Learning, to better that this page keyed by pfs inuention, aboue him? and infanted, with pleasant trauaile— Death, what talke you of his learning? he vnderstands no more then a schoole-boy; I haue put him downe my selfe a thousand times (by this aire) and yet I neuer talkt with him but twice, in my life: you neuer saw his like. I could neuer get him to argue with me, but once, and then, because I could not construe an Author I quoted at first sight, hee went away, and laught at me. By HERCVLES, I scorne him, as I doe the sodden Nymph, that was here e'en now, his mistris ARETE: And I loue my selfe for nothing else. I wonder the fellow do's not hang himselfe, being thus scorn'd, and contemn'd of vs that are held the most accomplisht societie of gallants! By your selues, none else. I protest, if I had no musique in me, no courtship, that I were not a reueller and could dance, or had not those excellent qualities that giue a man life, and perfection, but a meere poore scholer as he is, I thinke I should make ſome desperate way with my selfe, whereas now (would I might neuer breathe more) if I doe know that creature in the kingdome, with whom I would change. This is excellent: well, I must alter all this soone. Looke you doe, CVPID. The bottles haue wrought, it seemes. O, I am sorry the reuels are crost. I should ha' tickled it soone. I did neuer appeare till then. S'lid, I am the neatlyest-made gallant i' the companie, and haue the best presence; and my dancing—well, I know what our vsher said to me, lasst time I was at the schoole: would I might haue lead PHILAVTIA in the measures, and it had beene the gods will. I am most worthy, I am sure. Master, I can tell you newes, the ladie kist mee yonder, and plaid with me, and sayes shee lou'd you once, as well as shee do's me, but that you cast her off. Peace, my most esteemed page.