Daniel, Samuel · published 1615 · first performed or written 1614 [Feb 2] (Annals) pastoral; tragicomedy · before the Court unassigned nearest T4 Love-longing and the lover's complaint · 496 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T4: love, heart, sweet, loves, fair, phillis, eyes, beauty, amyntas, lovers.
End sure it must Palamon, but with me: For so I by the Oracle was told That very day wherein I lost the day And light of comfort that can never rise Again to me: when I the saddest man That ever breathed before those Altars fell, And there besought to know what was become Of my dear Silvia, whether dead, or how rest from the world: but that I could not learn. Yet thus much did that voice divine return: Go youth, reserve thyself, the day will come Thou shalt be happy, and return again. But when shall be that day demanded I, The day thou diest, replied the Oracle. So that you see, it will not be in these But in th'elysian fields, where I shall joy, The day of death must bring me happiness. You may mistake the meaning of those words Which is not known before it be fulfilled. Yield you to what the gods command, if not Unto your friends desires: reserve yourself For better days, and think the Oracle Is not untrue, although not understood. But howsoever, let it not be said That Thirsis being a man of so rare parts, So understanding and discreet, should pine in love And languish for a silly woman thus: To be the fable of the vulgar, made ascorn, and laughed at, by inferior wits. In love Palaemon? know you what you say? Do you esteem it light to be in love? How have I been mistaken in the choice Of such a friend, as I held you to be, That seems not, or else doth not understand The noblest portion of humanity, The worthiest piece of nature set in man? Ah know that when you mention love, you name A sacred mystery, a Deity, Not understood of creatures built of mud, But of the purest and refined clay Whereto th'eternal fires their spirits convey. And for a woman, which you prize so low, Like men that do forget whence they are men; Know her to be th'especial creature, made By the Creator of the complement Of this great Architect the world; to hold The same together, which would otherwise Fall all asunder: and is nature's chief Vicegerent upon earth, supplies her state. And do you hold it weakness then to love? And love so excellent a miracle As is a worthy woman, ah then let me Still be so weak, still let me love and pine In contemplation of that clean, clear soul, That made mine see that nothing in the world Is so supremely beautiful as it. Think not it was those colours white and red Laid but on flesh, that could affect me so. But something else, which thought holds under lock And hath no key of words to open it. They are the smallest pieces of the mind That pass this narrow organ of the voice. The great remain behind in that vast orb Ofth apprehension, and are neuer borne.
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)
End sure it must Palaeman, but with me: For so I by the Oracle was told That very day wherein I lost the day And light of comfort that can neuer rise Againe to mee: when I the faddest man That euer breath'd before those Altars fell, And there besought to know what was become Of my deare Siluta, whether dead, or how Reast from the world: but that I could not learne. Yet thus much did that voice diuine returne: Goe youth, reserue thy selfe, the day will come Thou shalt be happy, and returne againe. But when shall be that day demanded I, The day thou dyest, replide the Oracle. So that you see, it will not be in these But in th'Elizian fields, where I shall ioy, The day of death must bring me happinesse. You may mistake the meaning of those words Which is not knowne before it be fulfill'd. Yeeld you to what the gods command, if not Vnto your friends desires: reserue your selfe For better daies, and thinke the Oracle Is not vntrue, although not vnderstood. But howsoeuer, let it not be said That Thirsis being a man of so rare parts, So vnderstanding and discreete, should pine in loue And languish for a silly woman thus: To be the fable of the vulgar, made Ascorne, and laught at, by inferiour wits. In loue Palaemon? know you what you say? Doe you esteeme it light to be in loue? How haue I beene mistaken in the choice Of such a friend, as I held you to be, That seemes not, or else doth not vnderstand The noblest portion of humanity, The worthiest peece of nature set in man? Ah know that when you mention loue, you name A sacred mistery, a Deity, Not vnderstood of creatures built of mudde, But of the purest and refined clay Whereto th'eternall fires their spirits conuey. And for a woman, which you prize so low, Like men that doe forget whence they are men; Know her to be th'especiall creature, made By the Creator of the complement Of this great Architect the world; to hold The same together, which would otherwise Fall all asunder: and is natures chiefe Vicegerent vpon earth, supplies her state. And doe you hold it weakenesse then to loue? And loue so excellent a miracle As is a worthy woman, ah then let mee Still be so weake, still let me loue and pine In contemplation of that cleane, cleare soule, That made mine see that nothing in the world Is so supreamely beautifull as it. Thinke not it was those colours white and red Laid but on flesh, that could affect me so. But something else, which thought holds vnder locke And hath no key of words to open it. They are the smallest peeces of the minde That passe this narrow organ of the voice. The great remaine behinde in that vast orbe Ofth apprehension, and are neuer borne.