Chapman, George · published 1607 · first performed or written 1607 (Annals) tragedy · Children of Paul's (second) · Paul's unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 451 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
FOrtune, not Reason, rules the state of things, Reward goes backwards, Honour on his head; Who is not poor, is monstrous; only Need Gives form & worth to every human seed. As Cedars beaten with incessant storms, So great men flourish; and do imitate Unskilful statuaries, who suppose (In forging a Colossus) if they make him straddle enough, strut, and look big, and gape, Their work is goodly: so our tympanous statists (In their affected gravity of voice, Sourness of countenance, manners cruelty, Authority, wealth, and all the spawn of Fortune) Think they bear all the kingdoms worth before them; Yet differ not from those colossic Statues, Which with Heroic forms, without o'erspread, Within are nought but mortar, flint and lead. Man is a Torch borne in the wind; a Dream But of a shadow, summed with all his substance; And as great Seamen using all their powers And skills in Neptune's deep invisible paths, In tall ships richly built and ribbed with brass, To put a Girdle round about the world, When they have done it (coming near their Haven) Are glad to give a warning piece, and call A poor staid fisherman, that never passed His countries sight, to waft and guide them in: So when we wander furthest through the waves Of Glassy Glory and the Gulfs of State, Topped with all Titles, spreading all our reaches, As if each private Arm would sphere the world; we must to virtue for her guide resort, Or we shall shipwreck in our safest Port. There is no second place in Numerous State That holds more than a cipher: In a King All places are contained. His words and looks Are like the flashes and the bolts of Ioue, His deeds inimitable, like the Sea That shuts still as it opes, and leaves no tracts, Nor prints of precedent for poor men's facts: There's but a Thread betwixt me and a Crown; I would not wish it cut, unless by nature; Yet to prepare me for that likely Fortune, 'tis fit I get resolved spirits about me. I followed D'Ambois to this green Retreat; A man of spirit beyond the reach of fear, Who (discontent with his neglected worth) Neglects the light, and loves obscure Abodes; But he is young and haughty, apt to take Fire at advancement, to bear state and flourish; In his Rise therefore shall my bounties shine: None loathes the world so much, nor loves to scoff it, But gold and grace will make him surfeit of it. What, D'Ambois? He sir. Turned to Earth, alive? Up man, the Sun shines on thee. Let it shine. I am no more to play in't, as great men are.
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)
FOrtune, not Reason, rules the state of things, Reward goes backwards, Honor on his head; Who is not poore, is monstrous; only Need Giues forme & worth to euery humane seed. As Cedars beaten with incessant stormes, So great men flourish; and doe imitate Vnskilfull statuaries, who suppose (In forging a Colossus) if they make him Stroddle enough, stroote, and looke big, and gape, Their worke is goodly: so our Tympanouse statists (In their affected grauitie of voice, Sowernesse of countenance, maners crueltie, Authoritie, wealth, and all the spawne of Fortune) Thinke they beare all the kingdomes worth before them; Yet differ not from those Colossicke Statues, Which with Heroique formes, without o'respread, Within are nought but morter, flint and lead. Man is a Torch borne in the winde; a Dreame But of a shadow, summ'd with all his substance; And as great Seamen vsing all their powers And skils in Neptunes deepe inuisible pathes, In tall ships richly built and ribd with brasse, To put a Girdle round about the world, When they haue done it (comming neere their Hauen) Are glad to giue a warning peece, and call A poore staid fisher-man, that neuer past His Contries sight, to waft and guide them in: So when we wander furthest through the waues Of Glassie Glorie and the Gulfes of State, Topt with all Titles, spreading all our reaches, As if each priuate Arme would sphere the world; Wee must to vertue for her guide resort, Or wee shall shipwracke in our safest Port. There is no second place in Numerous State That holds more than a Cypher: In a King All places are contain'd. His words and lookes Are like the flashes and the bolts of Ioue, His deedes inimitable, like the Sea That shuts still as it opes, and leaues no tracts, Nor prints of President for poore mens facts: There's but a Thred betwixt me and a Croune; I would not wish it cut, vnlesse by nature; Yet to prepare mee for that likely Fortune, Tis fit I get resolued spirits about mee. I followd D'Ambois to this greene Retreat; A man of spirit beyond the reach of feare, Who (discontent with his neglected worth) Neglects the light, and loues obscure Abodes; But he is yoong and haughtie, apt to take Fire at aduancement, to beare state and flourish; In his Rise therefore shall my bounties shine: None lothes the world so much, nor loues to scoffe it, But gold and grace will make him surfet of it. What, D'Ambois? He sir. Turn'd to Earth, aliue? Vp man, the Sunne shines on thee. Let it shine. I am no mote to play in't, as great men are.