Middleton, Thomas · published 1621 · first performed or written 1621 [Oct 29] (Annals) civic play; pageant unassigned nearest T50 Fleets, armies and generals: war by sea · 475 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T50: sea, honour, general, soldiers, men, ship, fight, soldier, king, vittori.
BE favourable Fates! and a fair Sky Smile on this Expedition, Phoebus' Eye Look cheerfully,— the Bark is under Sail For a Years voyage, and a blessed Gale Be ever with it; 'Tis for justice bound, A Coast, that's not by every Compass found; And goes for Honour, Life's most precious Trading, May it return with most Illustrious Lading; A thing both wished and hop'te for;— I am He To all Adventurous Voyages, a free And bountiful wellwisher, by my Name High Iason, first Adventurer for Fame, which now rewards my danger, and o're-tops The Memory of all Peril, or her stops; Assisted by the noble Hopes of Greece, 'Twas I from Colchis fetched the Golden Fleece; Am One of the first Brothers (on Record) Of Honour got by Danger: So, great Lord! There is no Voyage set forth to Renown, That does not sometimes meet with Skies that frown, With Gusts of Envy, Billows of despite, Which makes the Purchase once achieved, more bright: State is a Sea; he must be wise indeed That sounds Its Depth, or can the Quick sands heed, And Honour is so nice and rare a Prize, 'Tis watched by Dragons, Venamous Enemies; Then no small care belongs to't,— but as I With my assisting Argonauts, did try The utmost of Adventure, and with bold And constant Courage, brought the Fleece of Gold; Whose Illustration decks my Memory Through all Posterities, naming but Me: So, Man of Merit, never faint or fear, Thou hast th' Assistance of Grave Senators, here, Thy Worthy Brethren; some of which have past All dangerous Gulfs, and in their bright Fames placed, They can Instruct and guide thee; and each one That must adventure, and are coming on To this great Expedition, They will be Cheerful and forward to Encourage Thee; And Blessings fall in a most infinite Sum Both on those past, Thyself, and those to come. WElcome to Virtue's Fortress, strong, and clear, Thou art not only safe, but glorious, here; It is a Tower of Brightness; such his Truth, Whose Strength and Grace feels a perpetual Youth; The walls are Brass, the Pyramids fine Gold; Which shows, 'tis Safeties and Prosperities Hold; Clear Conscience, is Lieutenant; Providence, there, Watchfulness, Wisdom, Constancy, Zeal, Care, Are the six Warders; keep the Watch-Tower sure, That nothing enters but what's just and pure, For which effect, both to affright and shame All slothful Bloods, that blush to look on Fame, An Ensign of good Actions Each displays, That worthy Works may justly own their Praise; And which is cleareliest to be understood, Thine, shines amidst thy Glorious Brotherhood, Circled with Arms of Honour, by those, past, As now with Love's Arms, by the Present, graced, And how thy Word does thy true Worth display; Fortunae Mater, Diligentia, Fair Fortune's Mother (all may read, and see)
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)
BE fauourable Fates! and a faire Skie Smile on this Expedition, Phoebus Eye Looke cheerefully,—the Barke is vnder Sayle For a Yeares voyage, and a bleſſed Gale Be euer with it; 'Tis for Iuſtice bound, A Coaſt, that's not by euery Compaſſe found; And goes for Honour, Lifes moſt precious Trading, May it returne with moſt Illustrious Lading; A thing both wiſht and hop'te for;—I am Hee To all Aduenturous Voyages, a free And bountifull well-wiſher, by my Name High Iaſon, firſt Aduenturer for Fame, which now rewards my danger, and o're-tops The Memory of all Perill, or her ſtops; Aſsiſted by the noble Hopes of Greece, 'Twas I from Colchis fetcht the Golden Fleece; Am One of the firſt Brothers (on Record) Of Honour got by Danger: So, great Lord! There is no Voyage ſet forth to Renowne, That do's not ſometimes meete with Skies that frowne, With Guſts of Enuie, Billowes of deſpight, Which makes the Purchaſe once atchieu'd, more bright: "State is a Sea; he muſt be wiſe indeede "That ſounds It's Depth, or can the Quick ſands heede, And Honour is ſo nice and rare a Prize, 'Tis watcht by Dragons, Venamous Enemies; Then no ſmall care belongs too't,—but as I With my aſsiſting Argonautes, did try The Vtmoſt of Aduenture, and with bold And conſtant Courage, brought the Fleece of Gold; Whoſe Illuſtration decks my Memory Through all Poſterities, naming but Mee: So, Man of Merit, neuer faint or feare, Thou haſt th' Aſsiſtance of Graue Senators, here, Thy Worthy Brethren; ſome of which haue paſt All dangerous Gulfes, and in their bright Fames plac't, They can Inſtruct and guide thee; and each one That muſt aduenture, and are comming on To this great Expedition, They will bee Cheerefull and forward to Encourage Thee; And Bleſsings fall in a moſt infinite Summe Both on thoſe paſt, Thy Selfe, and thoſe to come. VVElcome to Vertues Fortreſſe, ſtrong, and cleere, Thou art not onely ſafe, but glorious, heere; It is a Tower of Brightnes; ſuch his Truth, Whoſe Strength and Grace feeles a perpetuall Youth; The walls are Braſſe, the Pyramid's fine Gold; Which ſhowes, 'tis Safeties and Proſperities Hold; Cleare Conſcience, is Lieutenant; Prouidence, there, Watchfulnes, Wiſedome, Conſtancy, Zeale, Care, Are the ſixe Warders; keepe the Watch-Tower ſure, That nothing enters but what's iuſt and pure, For which effect, both to affright and ſhame All ſlothfull Blouds, that bluſh to looke on Fame, An Enſigne of good Actions Each diſplayes, That worthy Workes may iuſtly owne their Praiſe; And which is clearelieſt to be vnderſtood, Thine, ſhines amidſt thy Glorious Brotherhood, Circled with Armes of Honour, by thoſe, paſt, As now with Loues Armes, by the Preſent, grac't, And how thy Word do's thy true Worth diſplay; Fortunae Mater, Diligentia, Faire Fortunes Mother (all may reade, and ſee)