Cynthia's Revels, or The Fountain of Self-Love · chunk 64 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 · 498 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T21: cupid, venus, love, ceres, diana, fair, nymphs, goddess, bow, damon.
And not at all to censure powers divine. To men, this argument should stand for firm, A Goddess did it, therefore it was good: We are not cruel, nor delight in blood. But what have serious repetitions To do with revels, and the sports of court We not intend to sour your late delights With harsh expostulation. Let 't suffice, That we take notice, and can take revenge Of these calumnious, and lewd blasphemies. For we are no less CYNTHIA, than we were, Nor is our power (but as ourself) the same: Though we have now put on no tire of shine, But mortal eyes undazzled may endure. Years are beneath the spheres: and time makes weak Things under heaven, not powers which govern heaven. And though ourself be, in ourself, secure, Yet let not mortals challenge to themselves Immunity from thence. Lo, this is all: Honour hath store of spleen, but wanteth gall. Once more, we cast the slumber of our thanks On your ta'en toil, which here let take an end. And that we not mistake your several worths, Nor you our favour, from yourselves remove What makes you not yourselves, those clouds of mask: Particular pains, particular thanks do ask. How! let me view you! ha? Are we contemned? Is there so little awe of our disdain, That any (under trust of their disguise) Should mix themselves with others of the court? And (without forehead) boldly press so far, As farther none? How apt is lenity To be abused? severity to be loathed? And yet, how much more doth the seeming face Of neighbour-virtues, and their borrowed names, Add of lewd boldness, to lose vanities? Who would have thought that PHILAUTIA durst Or have usurped noble STORGES name? Or with that theft have ventured, on our eyes? Who would have thought, that all of them should hope So much of our connivence, as to come To grace themselves, with titles not their own? In stead of medicines, have we maladies? And such impostumes, as PHANTASTE is, Grow in our palace? we must lance these sores, Or all will putrefy. Nor are these all, For we suspect a farther fraud than this: Take off our vail, that shadows may depart, And shapes appear, beloved ARETE— So. Another face of things presents itself, Then did of late: What! feathered CUPID masked? And masked like ANTEROS? And, stay! more strange! Dear MERCVRIE, our brother like a page, To countenance the ambush of the boy? Nor endeth our discovery as yet: GELAIA, like a Nymph, that but erewhile (In male attire) did serve ANAIDES? CUPID came hither to find sport and game, Who, heretofore hath been too conversant Among our train; but never felt revenge: And MERCVRIE bore CUPID company. CUPID, we must confess this time of mirth (Proclaimed by us) gave opportunity, To thy attempts, although no privilege; Tempt us no farther, we cannot endure Thy presence longer: vanish hence, away. You, MERCVRIE, we must entreat to stay,
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)
And not at all to censure powers diuine. To men, this argument should stand for firme, "A Goddesse did it, therefore it was good: "We are not cruell, nor delight in bloud. But what haue serious repetitions To doe with reuels, and the sports of court We not intend to sowre your late delights With harsh expostulation. Let 't suffice, That we take notice, and can take reuenge Of these calumnious, and lewd blasphemies. For we are no lesse CYNTHIA, then we were, Nor is our power (but as our selfe) the same: Though we haue now put on no tyre of shine, But mortall eyes vndaz'led may indure. "Yeeres are beneath the spheres: and time makes weake "Things vnder heauen, not powers which gouerne heauen. And though our selfe be, in our selfe, secure, Yet let not mortals challenge to themselues Immunitie from thence. Loe, this is all: "Honour hath store of spleene, but wanteth gall. Once more, we cast the slumber of our thankes On your ta'ne toile, which here let take an end. And that we not mis-take your seuerall worths, Nor you our fauour, from your selues remooue What makes you not your selues, those cloudes of masque: "Particular paines, particular thankes doe aske. How! let me view you! ha? Are we contemn'd? Is there so little awe of our disdaine, That any (vnder trust of their disguise) Should mixe themselues with others of the court? And (without forehead) boldly presse so far, As farther none? How apt is lenitie To be abusde? seueritie to be loth'd? And yet, how much more doth the seeming face Of neighbour-vertues, and their borrowed names, Adde of lewd boldnesse, to loose vanities? Who would haue thought that PHILAVTIA durst Or haue vsurped noble STORGES name? Or with that theft haue ventred, on our eyes? Who would haue thought, that all of them should hope So much of our conniuence, as to come To grace themselues, with titles not their owne? In stead of med'cines, haue we maladies? And such impostumes, as PHANTASTE is, Grow in our palace? we must lance these sores, Or all will putrifie. Nor are these all, For we suspect a farder fraud then this: Take off our vaile, that shadowes may depart, And shapes appeare, beloued ARETE—So. Another face of things presents it selfe, Then did of late: What! featherd CVPID mask'd? And mask'd like ANTEROS? And, stay! more strange! Deare MERCVRIE, our brother like a page, To countenance the ambush of the boy? Nor endeth our discouerie as yet: GELAIA, like a Nymph, that but ere-while (In male attire) did serue ANAIDES? CVPID came hither to find sport and game, Who, heretofore hath beene too conuersant Among our traine; but neuer felt reuenge: And MERCVRIE bare CVPID companie. CVPID, we must confesse this time of mirth (Proclaim'd by vs) gaue opportunitie, To thy attempts, although no priuiledge; Tempt vs no farther, we cannot indure Thy presence longer: vanish hence, away. You, MERCVRIE, we must intreate to stay,