Dekker, Thomas · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 [c.1606-1607] (Annals) history; allegory · Prince Henry's Men T55 Fairies, fairy queens and enchanted desi typicality 0.81 · 497 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T55: fairy, fairies, oberon, mopsus, queen, land, grace, babylon, mab, thestylis.
Nobly resolved: But listen to us, and observe our counsel: Back must we send you to the Fairy Land, Danger goes with you; here's your-safetie: listen. Choose winds to sail by; if the way ward seas Grow stormy, hover, keep aloof: if fears, Shipwrecks, and death lie tumbling on the waves, And will not off, then on: be venturous, Conquests hard got are sweet and glorious. Being landed, if suspicion cast on you Her narrow eyes, turn yourselves then to Moles, Work under ground, and undermine your country, though you cast earth up but a hand full high, To make her stumble: if that bloodhound hunt you, (That long-eared Inquisition) take the thickets, Climb up to Hay-mowes, live like birds, and eat The undeflowred corn: in hollow trees Take such provision as the Ant can make: Fly with the Bat under the eves of night, And shift your nests: or like to Ancresses, Close up yourselves in artificial walls: Or if you walk abroad, be wrapped in clouds, Have change of hairs, of cie-brows, halt with soldiers, Be shaven and be old women, take all shapes To escape taking: But if the air be clear, Fly to the Court, and underneath the wings Of the Eagle, Falcon, or some great bird hover, Oaks and large Beech-trees many beasts do cover. He that first sings a Dirge tun de to the death Of that my only foe the Fairy Queen, shallbe my love, and (clad in purple) ride Upon that scarlet-coloured beast that bears Seven Kingdoms on seven heads. If all the Spells. That wit, or eloquence, or arts can set: If all the sleights that bookmen use in schools Be powerful in such happiness, 'tis mine. What physic can I dare only to grow (But as I merit shall) up in your eye. we'll erect ladders for you strong and high, That you shall climb to starry dignity. We take our leave dread Empress. Fare you well: Our benediction go along with you— Our malediction and your soul's confusion Like shivered towers fall on your hickelesse heads, And wedge you into earth low as the deep Where are the damned, if our world you fire, Since desperately you'll ride and dare aspire. But is this all? shall we thus bend our sinews Only to empty quivers, and to shoot Whole sheaves of forked arrows at the Sun, Yet never hit him? And the mark so fair! Nay, which is more, suppose that all these torrents Which from your sea of Greatness, you (for your part) And all those straggling floods which we have driven With full and stiff winds to the Fairy Strands, Should all break in at once, and in a deluge Of Innovation, rough rebellion, factions, Of massacres, and pale destruction Swallow the kingdom up, and that the blood Even of Titania's heart should in deep crimson die all these waters: what of this? what share Is yours? what land shall you recover? All. All!
seed 43: T50 · seed 44: T47 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Nobly resolu'de: But listen to vs, and obserue our counsell: Backe must we send you to the Fairie Land, Danger goes with you; here's your-safetie: listen. Chuse winds to sayle by; if the way ward seas Grow stormie, houer, keepe aloofe: if feares, Shipwracks, and death lie tumbling on the waues, And will not off, then on: be venturous, Conquests hard got are sweet and glorious. Being landed, if suspition cast on you Her narrow eyes, turne your selues then to Moles, Worke vnder ground, and vndermine your countrey, Tho you cast earth vp but a hand full high, To make her stumble: if that bloud-hound hunt you, (That long-ear'd Inquisition) take the thickets, Climbe vp to Hay-mowes, liue like birds, and eate The vndeflowred corne: in hollow trees Take such prouision as the Ant can make: Flie with the Batt vnder the eeues of night, And shift your neasts: or like to Ancresses, Close vp your selues in artificiall wals: Or if you walke abroad, be wrapt in clouds, Haue change of haires, of cie-brows, halt with soldiers, Be shauen and be old women, take all shapes To escape taking: But if the ayre be cleere, Flie to the Court, and vnderneath the wings Of the Eagle, Faulcon, or some great bird houer, Oakes and large Beech-trees many beasts doe couer. He that first sings a Dirge tun de to the death Of that my onely foe the Fairie Queene, Shalbe my loue, and (clad in purple) ride Vpon that scarlet-coloured beast that beares Seuen Kingdomes on seuen heads. If all the Spels. That wit, or eloquenee, or arts can set: If all the sleights that bookemen vse in schooles Be powefull in such happinesse, 'tis mine. What physicke can I dare onely to grow (But as I merit shall) vp in your eye. Weele erect ladders for you strong and high, That you shall climbe to starrie dignitie. We take our leaue dread Empresse. Fare you well: Our benediction goe along with you— Our malediction and your soules confusion Like shiuer'd towers fall on your hickelesse heads, And wedge you into earth low as the deepe Where are the damned, if our world you fire, Since desperately you'le ride and dare aspire. But is this all? shall we thus bend our sinews Onely to emptie quiuers, and to shoot Whole sheafes of forked arrowes at the Sunne, Yet neuer hit him? And the marke so faire! Nay, which is more, suppose that al these torrēts Which from your sea of Greatnesse, you (for your part) And all those stragling flouds which we haue driuen VVith full and stiffe winds to the Fairie Stronds, Should all breake in at once, and in a deluge Of Innouation, rough rebellion, factions, Of massacres, and pale destruction Swallow the kingdome vp, and that the bloud Euen of Titania's heart should in deepe crimson Dye all these waters: what of this? what share Is yours? what land shall you recouer? All. All!