Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-Love · chunk 58 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 · 457 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T21: cupid, venus, love, ceres, diana, fair, nymphs, goddess, bow, damon.
Most true, most sacred Goddess; for the heavens Receive no good of all the good they do. Nor JOVE, nor you, nor other heavenly power, Are fed with fumes, which do from incense rise, Or sacrifices reeking in their gore, Yet, for the care which you of mortals have, (Whose proper good it is, that they be so) You well are pleased with odours redolent: But ignorant is all the race of men, Which still complains, not knowing why, or when. Else, noble ARETE, they would not blame, And tax, for or unjust, or for as proud, Thy CYNTHIA, in the things which are indeed The greatest glories in our starry crown; Such is our chastity: which safely scorns (Not Love; for who more fervently doth love Immortal honour, and divine renown? But) giddy CUPID, Venus' frantic son. Yet ARETE, if by this veiled light, we but discovered (what we not discern) Any the least of imputations stand Ready to sprinkle our unspotted fame, With note of lightness, from these revels near: Not, for the empire of the universe, Should night, or court, this whatsoever shine, Or grace of ours unhappily enjoy. Place, and occasion are two privy thieves; And from poor innocent ladies often steal (The best of things) an honourable name: To stay with follies, or where faults may be, Infers a crime, although the party free. How Cynthian-ly (that is, how worthily And like herself) the matchless CYNTHIA speaks! Infinite jealousies, infinite regards, Do watch about the true virginity: But PHoeBE lives from all, not only fault, But as from thought, so from suspicion free. Thy presence broadseals our delights for pure, What's done in Cynthia's sight, is done secure. That then so answered (dearest ARETE) What th' argument or of what sort our sports Are like to be this night, I not demand. Nothing which duty, and desire to please Bears written in the forehead, comes amiss. But unto whose invention, must we owe, The complement of this night's furniture? Excellent Goddess, to a man's, whose worth, (Without hyperbole,) I thus may praise; One (at least) studious of deserving well, And (to speak truth) indeed deserving well: Potential merit stands for actual, Where only opportunity doth want, Not will, nor power: both which in him abound. One, whom the MUSES, and MINERVA love. For whom should they, than CRITES, more esteem, Whom PHOEBUS (though not Fortune) holdeth dear? And (which convinceth excellence in him,) A principal admirer of yourself. even, through th' ungentle injuries of fate, And difficulties, which do virtue choke, Thus much of him appears. What other things Of farther note, do lie unborn in him, Them I do leave for cherishment to show, And for a Goddess graciously to judge.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T24 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Most true, most sacred Goddesse; for the heauens Receiue no good of all the good they doe. Nor IOVE, nor you, nor other heauenly power, Are fed with fumes, which doe from incense rise, Or sacrifices reeking in their gore, Yet, for the care which you of mortalls haue, (Whose proper good it is, that they be so) You well are pleas'd with odours redolent: But ignorant is all the race of men, Which still complaines, not knowing why, or when. Else, noble ARETE, they would not blame, And taxe, for or vnjust, or for as proud, Thy CYNTHIA, in the things which are indeed The greatest glories in our starrie crowne; Such is our chastitie: which safely scornes (Not Loue; for who more feruently doth loue Immortall honour, and diuine renowne? But) giddie CVPID, VENVS franticke sonne. Yet ARETE, if by this vailed light, Wee but discouer'd (what we not discerne) Any the least of imputations stand Readie to sprinkle our vnspotted fame, With note of lightnesse, from these reuels neere: Not, for the empire of the vniuerse, Should night, or court, this whatsoeuer shine, Or grace of ours vnhappily enjoy. "Place, and occasion are two priuie theeues; "And from poore innocent ladies often steale "(The best of things) an honourable name: "To stay with follies, or where faults may be, "Infers a crime, although the partie free. How Cynthian-ly (that is, how worthily And like herselfe) the matchlesse CYNTHIA speakes! Infinite iealousies, infinite regards, Doe watch about the true virginitie: But PHoeBE liues from all, not onely fault, But as from thought, so from suspicion free. "Thy presence broad-seales our delights for pure, "What's done in CYNTHIAS sight, is done secure. That then so answer'd (dearest ARETE) What th' argument or of what sort our sports Are like to be this night, I not demaund. Nothing which dutie, and desire to please Beares written in the forehead, comes amisse. But vnto whose inuention, must we owe, The complement of this nights furniture? Excellent Goddesse, to a mans, whose worth, (Without hyperbole,) I thus may praise; One (at least) studious of deseruing well, And (to speake truth) indeed deseruing well: "Potentiall merit stands for actuall, "Where onely oportunitie doth want, "Not will, nor power: both which in him abound. One, whom the MVSES, and MINERVA loue. For whom should they, then CRITES, more esteeme, Whom PHOEBVS (though not Fortune) holdeth deare? And (which conuinceth excellence in him▪) A principall admirer of your selfe. Euen, through th' vngentle injuries of fate, And difficulties, which doe vertue choake, Thus much of him appeares. What other things Of farther note, doe lye vnborne in him, Them I doe leaue for cherishment to shew, And for a Goddesse graciously to judge.