Middleton, Thomas · published 1619 · first performed or written 1619 [Oct 29] (Annals) civic play; pageant T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions typicality 0.62 · 466 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Behold yon Bird of state, the vigilant Cock, The Morning's Herald, and the Ploughman's Clock, At whose shrill Crow the very Lion trembles, The sturdiest Prey-taker that here assembles; How fitly d'os it match your Name, and power Fixed in that Name now by this glorious Hour, At your just Voice to shake the boldest offence And sturdiest sin, that ere had residence Insecure man, Yet with an equal Eye, Matching grave justice with fair Clemency; It being the property He chiefly shower, To give Wing-warning, still before he Crows, To Crow before he strike, by his clapped Wing, To stir himself up first (which needful thing Is every man's first duty) by his Crow A gentle call, or warning, which should flow From every Magistrate, before he extend The Stroke of justice, he should reprehend, And try the virtue of a powerful word, If that prevail not, than the Spur, the Sword. See, herein honours to his Majesty Are not forgotten, when I turn, and see, The sever all Countries, in those faces, plain, Allowing Fealty to one Sovereign, The Noble English, the fair Thriving Scot, Plain hearted Welsh, the Frenchman bold and hot, The civilly instructed Irish man, And that kind Savage, the Virginian; All lovingly assembled, ●●n by Fate; This thy Days Honour to congratulate. On then; and as your service fills this place, So through the City do his Lordship Grace. FRom that rough Wilderness, which did late present The perplexed State, and cares of Government, Which every painful Magistrate must meet; Here the Reward stands for thee, a chief Seat In Fame's fair Sanctuary, where some of old Crowned with their Troubles now, are here enrolled In Memories sacred sweetness, to all ages; And so much the World's Voice of Thee presages. And these that sit for many, with their graces Fresh as the Buds of Roses, though they sleep, In thy Society had once high places, Which in their good Works they for ever keep; Life called 'em in their Time, Honour's fair Stars, Large Benefactors, and sweet Governors. If here were not sufficient Grace for Merit, Next Object, I presume, will raise thy Spirit. Grave City Governor! so much honour do me, Vouchsafe thy presence and thy patience to me, And I'll Reward that Virtue with a Story, That shall to thy Fraternity add Glory, Then to thy Worth no mean part will arise, That art ordained Chief for that glorious Prize. 'tis I, that keep all the Records of Fame, Mother of Truths, Antiquity, my Name; No Year, month, Day, or Hour, that brings in place Good Works and Noble, for the City's Grace, But I Record; that After Times may see What Former, were, and how they ought to be, Fruitful, and Thankful, in fair Actions flowing,
seed 43: T13 · seed 44: T16 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Behold yon' Bird of ſtate, the vigilant Cocke, The Mornings Herald, and the Plow-mans Clocke, At whoſe ſhrill Crow the very Lyon trembles, The ſturdieſt Prey-taker that here aſſembles; How fitly d'os it match your Name, and power Fixt in that Name now by this glorious Houre, At your iuſt Voyce to ſhak the bold'ſt offence And ſturdieſt ſinne, that ere had reſidence Inſecure man, Yet with an equall Eie, Matching graue Iuſtice with faire Clemency; It being the property Hee chiefly ſhower, To giue Wing-warning, ſtill before he Crowes, To Crow before he ſtrike, by his clapt Wing, To ſtir himſelfe vp firſt (which needfull thing Is euery mans firſt duty) by his Crow A gentle call, or warning, which ſhould flow From euery Magiſtrate, before he extend The Stroake of Iuſtice, he ſhould reprehend, And trie the vertue of a powerfull word, If that preuaile not, then the Spurre, the Sword. See, herein honors to his Maieſtie Are not forgotten, when I turne, and ſee, The ſeuer all Countries, in thoſe faces, plaine, Allowing Fealty to one Soueraigne, The Noble Engliſh, the faire Thriuing Scot, Plaine hearted Welch, the Frenchman bold and hot, The ciuilly inſtructed Iriſh man, And that kind Sauage, the Virginian; All louingly aſſembled, n by Fate; This thy Daies Honour to congratulate. On then; and as your ſeruice fills this place, So through the Citie doe his Lorſhip Grace. FRom that rough Wildernes, which did late preſent The perplext State, and cares of Gouernment, Which euery painfull Magiſtrate muſt meete; Here the Reward ſtands for thee, a chiefe Seate In Fames faire Sanctuary, where ſome of old Crownde with their Troubles now, are here enrolde In Memories ſacred ſweetneſſe, to all ages; And ſo much the Worlds Voyce of Thee preſages. And theſe that ſit for many, with their graces Freſh as the Buds of Roſes, though they ſleepe, In thy Society had once high places, Which in their good Workes they for euer keepe; Life cald 'em in their Time, Honours faire Stars, Large Benefactors, and ſweet Gouernors. If here were not ſufficient Grace for Merit, Next Obiect, I presume, will raiſe thy Spirit. GRaue Citie Gouernor! ſo much honour doe me, Vouchſafe thy preſence and thy patience to me, And I'le Reward that Vertue with a Story, That ſhall to thy Fraternity add Glory, Then to thy Worth no meane part will ariſe, That art ordaynde Chiefe for that glorious Prize. Tis I, that keepe all the Records of Fame, Mother of Truths, Antiquity, my Name; No Yeare, Moneth, Day, or Houre, that brings in place Good Workes and Noble, for the Cities Grace, But I Record; that After Times may ſee What Former, were, and how they ought to be, Fruitfull, and Thankfull, in faire Actions flowing,