The Two Merry Milkmaids, or The Best Words Wear the Garland · chunk 1 of 54
Cumber, John · published 1620 · first performed or written 1619 [1619-1620] (Annals) comedy · Red Bull (Revels) Company (first) · before the Court T56 Magic, spells and conjuring typicality 0.84 · 487 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T56: magic, faustus, charms, charm, conjure, spirits, skill, ho, power, spells.
THis Day we entreat All that are hither come, To expect no noise of Guns, Trumpets, nor Drum, Nor Sword and Target; but to hear Sense and Words, Fitting the Matter that the Scene affords. So that the Stage being reformed, and free From the loud Clamours it was wont to be, Turmoiled with Battles; you I hope will cease Your daily Tumults, and with us wish Peace. We stand a hazard now: yet being prepared, We hope, for your own good, you in the Yard Will lend your Ears, attentively to hear Things that shall flow so smoothly to your ear; That you returning home, t'your Friends shall say, howe'er you understand't, 'Tis a fine Play: For we have in't a Conjurer, a Devil, And a Clown too; but I fear the evil, In which perhaps unwisely we may fail, Of wanting Squibs and Crackers at their tail. But howsoever, Gentlemen I swear, You shall have Good Words for your Money here; Stuff that will last, we hope, and died in grain: And as ye liked, pray know the House again. enchantments pluck out of the Sky The Moon, though she be placed on high. Dame Circe's, with her Charms so fine. Ulysses' Mates did turn to Swine: The Snakes with Charm is burst in twain, In Meadows where she doth remain. And here again, She plucks each Star out of his seat, And turneth back the raging Waves; With Charms she makes the Earth to sweat, And raiseth Souls out of their Graves: She burns men's bones as with a fire, And pulleth down the Lights of Heaven, And makes it snow at her desire, Even in the midst of Summer season; And what is it cannot be done By art of the Magician? 'Tis true, things most incredible are to be done, And I believe thee gentle Book in it. Never before my wary Tutor did Leave this door open, which he well might call His private Study; for here Secrets lie Were worth man's labour to arrive to 'em: Here are the Names, Shapes, Powers, and Government Of every several Spirit, their Degrees, Their great Effects, particular signories; And 'mongst them I have found one, if I had But skill to raise him for my purposes, And here's the form of it set down at large: But stay, what's this? Pish, this is nought to me. ay, this. I do not care for Treasure. This, this is it: Great Asmody, thou art the Spirit whom I would converse with, And I will fetch thee, if this Charm will do it.— Now I have laid my Circle, fear assaults me: So says my grave Instructor all men do when they begin this Business; but bids me here be resolute, and dread not: for bound in this Circle, and by these words constrained, they cannot hurt me. I do conjure thee by these potent Names:
nodes 0–59 (positions in the processed text, not lines of the printed book) · chunk 1 of 54 in this edition
Length
487 words · 647 tokens
Topic (seed 42)
T56 — Magic, spells and conjuringcross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · typicality 0.843 (cosine to the topic centroid)
Other seeds
seed 43: T45 · seed 44: T51 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
THis Day we entreat All that are hither come, To expect no noyse of Guns, Trumpets, nor Drum, Nor Sword and Targuet; but to heare Sence and Words, Fitting the Matter that the Scene affords. So that the Stage being reform'd, and free From the lowd Clamors it was wont to bee, Turmoyl'd with Battailes; you I hope will cease Your dayly Tumults, and with vs wish Peace. We stand a hazard now: yet being prepar'd, We hope, for your owne good, you in the Yard Will lend your Eares, attentiuely to heare Things that shall flow so smoothly to your eare; That you returning home, t'your Friends shall say, How ere you vnderstand't, 'Tis a fine Play: For we haue in't a Coniurer, a Deuill, And a Clowne too; but I feare the euill, In which perhaps vn wisely we may faile, Of wanting Squibs and Crackers at their taile. But howsoeuer, Gentlemen I sweare, You shall haue Good Words for your Money here; Stuffe that will last, we hope, and dy'd in graine: And as yee lik't, pray know the House againe. INchantments plucke out of the Skie The Moone, though she be plac't on hie. Dame Circes, with her Charmes so fine. Vlysses Mates did turne to Swine: The Snakes with Charme is burst in twaine, In Medowes where shee doth remaine. And here againe, Shee plucks each Starre out of his seat, And turneth backe the raging Waues; With Charmes she makes the Earth to sweat, And rayseth Soules out of their Graues: She burnes mens bones as with a fire, And pulleth downe the Lights of Heauen, And makes it snow at her desire, Euen in the midst of Summer season; And what is it cannot be done By art of the Magician? 'Tis true, things most incredible are to be done, And I beleeue thee gentle Booke in it. Neuer before my warie Tutor did Leaue this doore open, which he well might call His priuate Studie; for here Secrets lye Were worth mans labour to arriue to 'hem: Here are the Names, Shapes, Powers, and Gouernment Of euery seuerall Spirit, their Degrees, Their great Effects, particular Seigniories; And 'mongst them I haue found one, if I had But skill to rayse him for my purposes, And here's the forme of it set downe at large: But stay, what's this? Pish, this is nought to me. I, this. I donnot care for Treasure. This, this is it: Great Asmody, thou art the Spirit whom I would conuerse with, And I will fetch thee, if this Charme will doe it.— Now I haue layd my Circle, feare assaults me: So sayes my graue Instructor all men doe when they begin this Businesse; but bids me here be resolute, and dread not: for bound in this Circle, and by these words constrain'd, they cannot hurt me. I doe coniure thee by these potent Names: