Chapman, George · published 1605 · first performed or written 1601 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Queen's Revels · before the Court unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 572 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
THe course of the world (like the life of man) is said to be divided into several ages: As we into Infancy, Childhood, Youth, and so forward to Old-age: So the World into the Golden age, the Silver, the Brass, the Iron, the Leaden, the Wooden; and now into this present age, which we term the Horned age: not that but former ages have enjoyed this benefit as well as our times; but that in ours it is more common, and nevertheless precious. It is said, that in the Golden age of the world, the use of Gold was not then known: an argument of the simplicity of that age, lest therefore succeeding ages should hereafter impute the same fault to us, which we lay upon the first age; that we living in the Horned age of the world, should not understand the use, the virtue, the honour, and the very royalty of the Horn; I will in brief sound the praises thereof, that they who are already in possession of it, may bear their heads aloft, as being proud of such lofty accoutrements: And they that are but in possibility, may be ravished with a desire to be in possession. A Trophy so honourable, and unmatchably powerful, that it is able to raise any man from a Beggar to an emperors fellow, a Duke's fellow, a Nobleman's fellow, Alderman's fellow; so glorious, that it deserves to be worn (by most opinions) in the most conspicuous place about a man: For what worthier Crest can you bear then the Horn? which if it might be seen with our mortal eyes, what a wonderful spectacle would there be? and how highly they would ravish the beholders? But their substance is incorporal, not falling under sense, nor mixed of the gross concretion of Elements, but a quintessence beyond them; a spiritual essence invisible, and everlasting. And this hath been the cause that many men have called their being in question, whether there be such a thing in verum natura, or not; because they are not to be seen: as though nothing were that were not to be seen? whoever saw the Wind? yet what wonderful effects are seen of it? It drives the clouds, yet no man sees it: It rocks the House, bears down Trees, Castles, Steeples, yet who sees it? In like sort does your Horn, it swells the Forehead, yet none sees it: it rocks the Cradle, yet none sees it: so that you plainly perceive Sense, is no judge of Essence. The Moon to any man's sense, seems to be Horned; yet who knows not the Moon to be ever perfectly round: So likewise your Heads seem ever to be round, when in deed they are oftentimes Horned: for their original, it is unsearchable: Natural they are not; for there is Beast borne with Horns, more than with Teeth: Created they were not, for Ex nihilo nihil sit; Then will you ask me, How came they into the world? I know not; but I am sure Women brought them into this part of the world, howsoever some Doctors are of opinion that they came in with the Devil: and not unlike; for, as the Devil brought Sin into the world; but the Woman brought it to the Man: so it may very well be that the Devil brought Horns into the world; but the Woman brought them to the man,
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 course of the world (like the life of man) is said to be deuided into seuerall ages: As wee into Infancie, Childhood, Youth, and so forward to Old-age: So the World into the Golden age, the Siluer, the Brasse, the Iron, the Leaden, the Wooden; and now into this present age, which wee tearme the Hornedage: not that but former ages haue inioyde this benite as well as our times; but that in ours it is more common, and neuerthelesse pretious. It is said, that in the Golden age of the world, the vse of Gold was not then knowne: an argument of the simplicitie of that age, least therefore succeeding ages should hereafter impute the same fault to vs, which wee lay vpon the irst age; that wee liuing in the Horned age of the world, should not vnderstand the vse, the vertue, the honour, and the very royaltie of the Horne; I will in briefe sound the prayses thereof, that they who are alreadie in possession of it, may beare their heades alost, as beeing proud of such loftie a cowtrementes: And they that are but in possibilitie, may be rauisht with a desire to bein possession. A Trophey so honorable, and vnmatchably powerfull, that it is able to raise any man from a Beggar to an Emperours fellow, a Dukes fellow, a Noble-mans fellow, Aldermans fellow; so glorious, that it deserues to be worne (by most opinions) in the most conspicuous place about a man: For what worthier Crest can you beare then the Horne? which if it might be seene with our mortall eyes, what a wonderfull spectacle would there be? and how highly they would rauish the beholders? But their substaunce is incorporall, not falling vnder sence, nor mixt of the grosse concretion of Elementes, but a quintessence beyond them; a spirituall essence inuisible, and euerlasting. And this hath been the cause that many men haue called their beeing in question, whether there be such a thing in verum naura, or not; because they are not to be seene: as though nothing were that were not to be seene? Who euer saw the Winde? yet what wonderfull ffectes are seene of it? It driues the cloudes, yet no man sees it: It rockes the House, beares downe Trees, Castles, Steeples, yet who sees it? In like sort does your Horne, it swelles the Forehead, yet none sees it: it rockes the Cradle, yet none sees it: so that you plainely perceiue Sence, is no Iudge of Essence. The Moone to any mans sence, seemes to be Horned; yet who knowes not the Moone to be euer perfectly round: So likewise your Heades seeme euer to be round, when in deed they are oftentimes Horned: for their originall, it is vnsearchable: Naturall they are not; for there is Beast borne with Hornes, more then with Teeth: Created they were not, for Ex nihilo nihil sit; Then will you aske mee, How came they into the world? I know not; but I am sure Women brought them into this part of the world, howsoeuer some Doctors are of opinion that they came in with the Diuell: and not vnlike; for, as the Diuell brought Sinne into the worlde; but the Woman brought it to the Man: so it may very well be that the Diuell brought Hornes into the world; but the Woman brought them to the man,