Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-Love · chunk 59 of 66
Jonson, Ben · published 1616 · first performed or written 1600 [1600-1601] (Annals) satire · Children of the Chapel (second) unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 531 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
We have already judged him, ARETE: Nor are we ignorant, how noble minds Suffer too much through those indignities, Which times, and vicious persons cast on them: ourself have ever vowed to esteem, (As virtue, for itself, so) fortune base; Who's first in worth, the same be first in place. Nor farther notice (ARETE) we crave Then thine approvals sovereign warranty: Let be thy care, to make us known to him, CYNTHIA shall brighten, what the world made dim. Clear pearl of heaven, and, not to be farther ambitious in titles, CYNTHIA. The fame of this illustrious night, among others, hath also drawn these four fair virgins from the palace of their Queen Perfection (a word, which makes no sufficient difference, twixt hers, and thine) to visit thy imperial court: for she, their sovereign, not finding where to dwell among men, before her return to heaven, advised them wholly to consecrate themselves to thy celestial service, as in whose clear spirit (the proper element, and sphere of virtues) they should behold not her alone, (their ever honoured mistress) but themselves (more truly themselves) to live enthronized. herself would have commended them unto thy favour more particularly, but that she knows no commendation is more available with them, than that of proper virtue. Nevertheless, she willed them to present this crystal mound, a note of monarchy, and symbol of perfection, to thy more worthy deity; which, as here by me they most humbly do, so amongst the rarities thereof, that is the chief, to show whatsoever the world hath excellent, howsoever remote and various. But your irradiate judgement will soon discover the secrets of this little crystal world. Themselves (to appear more plainly) because they know nothing more odious, then false pretexts, have chosen to express their several qualities, thus, in several colours. The first, in citron colour, is natural Affection, which given us to procure our good, is sometime called STORGE, & as every one is nearest to himself, so this handmaid of reason, allowable self-love, as it is without harm, so are none without it: Her place in the court of Perfection was to quicken minds in the pursuit of honour. Her device is a perpendicular Level, upon a Cube, or Square. The word, SEE SVO MODULO. Alluding to that true measure of one's self, which as every one ought to make, so is it most conspicuous in thy divine example. The second, in green, is AGLAIA, delectable and pleasant Conversation, whose property is to move a kindly delight, and sometime not without laughter: Her office, to entertain assemblies, and keep societies together with fair familiarity. Her device within a Ring of clouds, a Heart with shine about it. The word, CURARUM NVEILA PELLO. An allegory of Cynthia's light, which no less clears the sky, than her fair mirth the heart. The third, in the discoloured mantle spangled all over, is EUPHANTASTE, a well conceited Wittiness, and employed in honouring the court with the riches of her pure invention. Her device, upon a Petasus, or Mercurial hat, a Crescent. The word, SIC LAUS INGENII. Inferring, that the praise and glory of wit, doth ever increase, as doth thy growing moon.
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)
We haue alreadie judg'd him, ARETE: Nor are we ignorant, how noble minds Suffer too much through those indignities, Which times, and vicious persons cast on them: Our selfe haue euer vowed to esteeme▪ (As vertue, for it selfe, so) fortune base; Who's first in worth, the same be first in place. Nor farther notice (ARETE) we craue Then thine approuals soueraigne warrantie: Let 'be thy care, to make vs knowne to him, " CYNTHIA shall brighten, what the world made dimme. CLeare pearle of heauen, and, not to bee farther ambitious in titles, CYNTHIA. The same of this illustrous night, among others, hath also drawne these foure faire virgins from the palace of their Queene Perfection (a word▪ which makes no sufficient difference, twixt hers, and thine) to visit thy imperiall court: for she, their soueraigne, not finding where to dwell among men, before her returne to heauen, aduised them wholy to consecrate themselues to thy celestiall seruice, as in whose cleere spirit (the proper element, and sphere of vertues) they should behold not her alone, (their euer honour'd mistris) but themselues (more truly themselues) to liue inthroniz'd. Her selfe would haue commended them vnto thy fauour more particularly, but that shee knowes no commendation is more auaileable with them, then that of proper vertue. Neuerthelesse, she will'd them to present this christall mound, a note of monarchie, and symbole of perfection, to thy more worthie deitie; which, as heere by me they most humbly doe, so amongst the rarities thereof, that is the chiefe, to shew whatsoeuer the world hath excellent, howsoeuer remote and various. But your irradiate iudgement will soone discouer the secrets of this little cristall world. Themselues (to appeare more plainely) because they know nothing more odious, then false pretexts, haue chosen to expresse their seuerall qualities, thus, in seuerall colours. The first, in citron colour, is naturall Affection, which giuen vs to procure our good, is somtime called STORGE, & as euery one is neerest to himselfe, so this hand-maid of reason, allowable selfe-loue, as it is without harme, so are none without it: Her place in the court of Perfection was to quicken mindes in the pursuit of honour. Her deuice is a perpendicular Leuell, vpon a Cube, or Square. The word, SE SVO MODVLO. Alluding to that true measure of ones selfe, which as euerie one ought to make, so is it most conspicuous in thy diuine example. The second, in greene, is AGLAIA, delectable and pleasant Conuersation, whose propertie is to moue a kindly delight, and sometime not without laughter: Her office, to entertaine assemblies, and keepe societies together with faire familiaritie. Her deuice within a Ring of clouds, a Heart with shine about it. The word, CVRARVM NVEILA PELLO. An allegorie of CYNTHIAES light, which no lesse cleares the skie, then her faire mirth the heart. The third, in the discolour'd mantle spangled all ouer, is EVPHANTASTE, a well conceited Wittinesse, and imployd in honouring the court with the riches of her pure inuention. Her deuice, vpon a Petasus, or Mercuriall hat, a Crescent. The word, SIC LAVS INGENII. Inferring, that the praise and glorie of wit, doth euer increase, as doth thy growing moone.