Shakespeare, William / Wilkins, George · published 1609 · first performed or written 1608 [1606-1608] (Annals) romance · King's Men · Globe unassigned nearest T36 Hell, Furies and the language of punishm · 470 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T36: hell, earth, gods, death, ghosts, blood, bloody, heaven, night, ghost.
Before thee stands this fair Hesperides, With golden fruit, but dangerous to be touched: For Death like Dragons here affright thee hard: Her face like Heaven, enticeth thee to view Her countless glory; which desert must gain: And which without desert, because thine eye Presumes to reach, all the whole heap must die: Yon sometimes famous Princes, like thyself, Drawn by report, adventurous by desire, Tell thee with speechless tongues, and semblance pale, That without covering, save yond field of Stars, here they stand Martyrs slain in Cupid's Wars: And with dead cheeks, advise thee to desist, For going on death's net, whom none resist. Antiochus, I thank thee, who hath taught, My frail mortality to know itself; And by those fearful objects, to prepare This body, like to them, to what I must: For Death remembered should be like a mirror, Who tells us, life's but breath, to trust it error: I'll make my Will then, and as sick men do, Who know the World, see Heaven, but feeling woe, Gripe not at earthly joys as erst they did; So I bequeath a happy peace to you, And all good men, as every Prince should do; My riches to the earth, from whence they came; But my unspotted fire of Love, to you: Thus ready for the way of life or death, I wait the sharpest blow (Antiochus) Scorning advice; read the conclusion then: Which read and not expounded, 'tis decreed, As these before thee, thou thyself shalt bleed. Of all said yet, mayst thou prove prosperous, Of all said yet, I wish thee happiness. Like a bold Champion I assume the Lists, Nor ask advise of any other thought, But faithfulness and courage. I am no Viper, yet I feed On mother's flesh which did me breed: I sought a Husband, in which labour, I found that kindness in a Father; he's Father, Son, and Husband mild; I, Mother, Wife; and yet his Child: How they may be, and yet in two, As you will live resolve it you. Sharp Physic is the last: But o you powers! That gives heaven countless eyes to view men's acts. Why cloud they not their sights perpetually, If this be true, which makes me pale to read it? Fair Glass of light, I loved you, and could still, Were not this glorious Casket stored with ill: But I must tell you, now my thoughts revolt, For he's no man on whom perfections wait, That knowing sin within, will touch the gate. You are a fair Viol, and your sense, the strings; Who fingered to make man his lawful music, Would draw Heaven down, and all the Gods to hearken: But being played upon before your time, Hell only danceth at so harsh a chime: Good sooth, I care not for you.
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)
Before thee standes this faire Hesperides, With golden fruite, but dangerous to be toucht: For Death like Dragons heere affright thee hard: Her face like Heauen, inticeth thee to view Her countlesse glory; which desert must gaine: And which without desert, because thine eye Presumes to reach, all the whole heape must die: Yo sometimes famous Princes, like thy selfe, Drawne by report, aduentrous by desire, Tell thee with speachlesse tongues, and semblance pale, That without couering, saue yon field of Starres, Heere they stand Martyrs slaine in Cupids Warres: And with dead cheekes, aduise thee to desist, For going on deaths net, whom none resist. Antiochus, I thanke thee, who hath taught, My frayle mortalitie to know it selfe; And by those fearefull obiectes, to prepare This body, like to them, to what I must: For Death remembered should be like a myrrour, Who tels vs, life's but breath, to trust it errour: Ile make my Will then, and as sicke men doe, Who know the World, see Heauen, but feeling woe, Gripe not at earthly ioyes as arst they did; So I bequeath a happy peace to you, And all good men, as eury Prince should doe; My ritches to the earth, from whence they came; But my vnspotted fire of Loue, to you: Thus ready for the way of lie or death, I wayte the sharpest blow (Antiochus) Scorning aduice; read the conclusion then: Which read and not expounded, tis decreed, As these before thee, thou thy selfe shalt bleed. Of all sayd yet, mayst thou prooue prospero, Of all sayd yet, I wish thee happinesse. Like a bold Champion I assume the Listes, Nor aske aduise of any other thought, But faythfulnesse and courage. I am no Viper, yet I feed On mothers flesh which did me breed: I sought a Husband, in which labour, I found that kindness in a Father; Hee's Father, Sonne, and Husband mild; I, Mother, Wife; and yet his Child: How they may be, and yet in two, As you will liue resolue it you. Sharpe Phisicke is the last: But ô you powers! That giues heauen countlesse eyes to view mens actes▪ Why cloude they not their sights perpetually, If this be true, which makes me pale to read it? Faire Glasse of light, I lou'd you, and could still, Were not this glorious Casket stor'd with ill: But I must tell you, now my thoughts reuolt, For hee's no man on whom perfections waite, That knowing sinne within, will touch the gate. You are a faire Violl, and your sense, the stringes; Who finger'd to make man his lawfull musicke, Would draw Heauen downe, and all the Gods to haken: But being playd vpon before your time, Hell onely daunceth at so harsh a chime: Good sooth, I care not for you.