Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-Love · chunk 43 of 66
Jonson, Ben · published 1616 · first performed or written 1600 [1600-1601] (Annals) satire · Children of the Chapel (second) unassigned nearest T9 Theatre talk: prologues, poets and playe · 500 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T9: play, stage, poet, prologue, author, wit, plays, muse, scene, players.
The revels would have been most sumptuous tonight, if they had gone forward. They must needs, when all the choicest singularities of the court were up in pantofles; ne'er a one of them, but was able to make a whole show of itself. Sirrah, a torch, a torch. O, what a call is there! I will have a canzonet made, with nothing in it, but sirrah; and the burden shall be, I come. How now, CUPID, how do you like this change? Faith, the thread of my device is cracked, I may go sleep till the reveling music awake me. And there too, CUPID, without you had prevented the Fountain. Alas, poor god, that remembers not self-love, to be proof against the violence of his quiver! Well, I have a plot upon these prizers, for which, I must presently find out CRITES, and with his assistance, pursue it to a high strain of laughter, or MERCVRIE hath lost of his metal. IT is resolved on, CRITES, you must do it. The grace divinest MERCVRIE hath done me, In this vouchsafed discovery of himself, Binds my observance in the utmost term Of satisfaction, to his godly will: Though I profess (without the affectation) Of an enforced, and formed austerity) I could be willing to enjoy no place With so unequal natures. We believe it. But for our sake, and to inflict just pains On their prodigious follies, aid us now: No man is, presently, made bad, with ill. And good men, like the sea, should still maintain Their noble taste, in midst of all fresh humours, That flow about them, to corrupt their streams, Bearing no season, much less salt of goodness. It is our purpose, CRITES, to correct, And punish, with our laughter, this night's sport Which our court-doors so heartily intend: And by that worthy scorn, to make them know How far beneath the dignity of man Their serious, and most practised actions are. ay, but though MERCVRIE can warrant out His under-takings, and make all things good, Out of the powers of his divinity, Th'offence will be returned with weight on me, That am a creature so despised, and poor; When the whole Court shall take itself abused By our ironical confederacy. You are deceived. The better race in court That have the true nobility, called virtue, Will apprehend it, as a grateful right Done to their separate merit: and approve The fit rebuke of so ridiculous heads, Who with their apish customs, and forced garbs, Would bring the name of courtier in contempt, Did it not live unblemished in some few, Whom equal JOVE hath loved, and PHOEBUS formed Of better metal, and in better mould. Well, since my leader on is MERCVRIE, I shall not fear to follow. If I fall, My proper virtue shall be my relief, That followed such a cause, and such a chief. NO more, if you love me, good master, you are incompatible to live withal: Send me for the ladies.
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)
The reuels would haue beene most sumptuous to night, if they had gone forward. They must needs, when al the choisest singularities of the court were vp in pantofles; ne're a one of them, but was able to make a whole shew of it selfe. Sirrah, a torch, a torch. O, what a call is there! I will haue a canzonet made, with nothing in it, but sirrah; and the burthen shall be, I come. How now, CVPID, how doe you like this change? Faith, the thred of my deuice is crackt, I may goe sleepe till the reuelling musique awake me. And ther too, CVPID, without you had preuented the Fountayne. Alas, poore god, that remembers not selfe-Loue, to bee proofe against the violence of his quiuer! Well, I haue a plot vpon these prizers, for which, I must presently find out CRITES, and with his assistance, pursue it to a high straine of laughter, or MERCVRIE hath lost of his mettall. IT is resolu'd on, CRITES, you must doe it. The grace diuinest MERCVRIE hath done me, In this vouchsafde discouerie of himselfe, Binds my obseruance in the vtmost terme Of satisfaction, to his godly will: Though I professe (without the affectation) Of an enforc'd, and form'd austeritie) I could be willing to enioy no place With so vnequall natures. We beleeue it. But for our sake, and to inflict iust paines On their prodigious follies, aide vs now: No man is, presently, made bad, with ill. And good men, like the sea, should still maintaine Their noble taste, in midst of all fresh humours, That flow about them, to corrupt their streames, Bearing no season, much lesse salt of goodnesse. It is our purpose, CRITES, to correct, And punish, with our laughter, this nights sport Which our court-Dors so heartily intend: And by that worthy scorne, to make them know How farre beneath the dignitie of man Their serious, and most practis'd actions are. I, but though MERCVRIE can warrant out His vnder-takings, and make all things good, Out of the powers of his diuinitie, Th'offence will be return'd with weight on me, That am a creature so despisde, and poore; When the whole Court shall take it selfe abusde By our ironicall confederacie. You are deceiu'd. The better race in court That haue the true nobilitie, call'd vertue, Will apprehend it, as a gratefull right Done to their separate merit: and approue The fit rebuke of so ridiculous heads, Who with their apish customes, and forc'd garbes, Would bring the name of courtier in contempt, Did it not liue vnblemisht in some few, Whom equall IOVE hath lou'd, and PHOEBVS form'd Of better mettall, and in better mould. Well, since my leader on is MERCVRIE, I shall not feare to follow. If I fall, My proper vertue shall be my reliefe, That follow'd such a cause, and such a chiefe. NO more, if you loue mee, good master, you are incompatible to liue withall: Send mee for the ladies.