Middleton, Thomas · published 1621 · first performed or written 1621 [Oct 29] (Annals) civic play; pageant T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions typicality 0.78 · 504 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Bright Thoughts, joy and Alacrity of Heart Bless thy great undertakings, 'tis the part And property of Phoebus, with his Rays, To cheer and to Illumine Goodmen's Ways; Eagle-Eyde Actions, that dare behold His Sparkling Globe, depart, tried all like Gold; 'Tis Bribery and Injustice, Deeds of Night That fly the Sunbeam, which makes good Works bright Thine look upon't, Vndazled, as one Beam Faces another, as we match a gem With her Refulgent fellow; from Thy Worth Example Sparkles, as a Star shoots forth: This Mount, the Type of Eminence and place, Resembles Magistracies Seat, and Grace; The Sun, the Magistrate himself, Implies; These woolly Creatures, all that Part which Lies Under His charge and office, (not unfit) Since Kings and Rulers are (in holy Writ) With Shepherds paralleled, nay from Shepherds Reared, And People and the Flock as oft cohaerd; Now, as it is the Bounty of the Sun To spread his Splendours, and make Gladness run Over the drooping Creatures; it ought so To be His proper Virtue, that does owe To justice his life's Flame, (shot from Above) To cheer oppressed Right with looks of Love, Which nothing doubted; Truths reward light on you, The Beams of all clear Comforts shine upon You. I Cannot better the Comparison Of thy fair Brotherhoods Love, then to the Sun After a great Eclipse; for as the Sphere Of that Celestial Motion, shines more cheer After the Interposing Part is spent, Then to the Eye before the Darkness went Over the bright Orb; so Their Love is shown With a Content past Expectation▪ A Care that has been comely, and a Cost That has been Decent; cheerful, which is most; Fit for the Service of so great a State, So famed a City, and a Magistrate. So worthy of it all, has been bestowed Upon thy Triumph, which has clearly shorrde The Loves of thy Fraternity, as great; For thy first Welcome to thy honoured Seat: And happily is Cost requited then, When Men Grace Triumphs, more than Triumphs, Men; Diamonds will shine though set in Lead, True worth Stands always in least need of setting forth: What makes Less Noise than Merit? or Less Show Then Virtue? 'tis the Undeservers, owe All to Vainglory, and to Rumour, still; Building their Praises on the Vulgar Will; All their Good, is without 'em, not their own, When wise men to their Virtues are best Known: Behold you ' Fountain with the Tripled Crown, And through a Cloud the Sunbeam piercing down, So is the worthy Magistrate made up; The Triple Crown, is Charity, Faith, and Hope, Those three Celestial Sisters, the Cloud too That's Care, and yet you see the Beam strikes through; A Care discharged with Honour, it presages, And may it so continue, to all Ages; It is thy Brotherhoods Arms, how well it fits Both Thee, and All, that for Truths Honour sits: The Time of Rest draws near; Triumph must cease joy to thy Heart, to all a Blessed peace.
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)
Bright Thoughts, Ioy and Alacrity of Heart Bleſſe thy great Vndertakings, 'tis the part And property of Phoebus, with his Rayes, To cheere and to Illumine Good-mens Wayes; Eagle-Eyde Actions, that dare behold His Sparkling Globe, depart, tryed all like Gold; 'Tis Bribery and Iniuſtice, Deedes of Night That flye the Sunne-beame, which makes good Works bright Thine looke vppon't, Vndazled, as one Beame Faces another, as wee match a Iem With her Refulgent fellow; from Thy Worth Example Sparkles, as a Starre ſhootes forth: This Mount, the Type of Eminence and place, Reſembles Magiſtracies Seate, and Grace; The Sunne, the Magiſtrate himſelfe, Implyes; Theſe woolly Creatures, all that Part which Lyes Vnder His charge and office, (not vnfit) Since Kings and Rulers are (inholy Writ) With Shepheards paraleld, nay from Shepheards Rear'd, And People and the Flock as oft cohaerd; Now, as it is the Bounty of the Sunne To ſpread his Splendors, and make Gladnes runne Ouer the drooping Creatures; it ought ſo To be His proper Vertue, that do's owe To Iuſtice his lifes Flame, (ſhot from Aboue) To cheere oppreſſed Right with lookes of Loue, Which nothing doubted; Truths reward light on you, The Beames of all cleare Comforts ſhine vpon You. I Cannot better the Compariſon Of thy faire Brotherhoods Loue, then to the Sunne After a great Ecclipſe; for as the Sphaere Of that Caeleſtiall Motion, ſhines more cheere After the Interpoſing Part is ſpent, Then to the Eye before the Darknes went Ouer the bright Orbe; ſo Their Loue is ſhowne With a Content paſt Expectation▪ A Care that ha's beene comely, and a Coſt That ha's beene Decent; cheerefull, which is moſt; Fit for the Seruice of ſo great a State, So fam'd a Cittie, and a Magiſtrate. So worthy of it all, ha's beene beſtowde Vpon thy Triumph, which ha's clearely ſhorrde The Loues of thy Fraternity, as great; For thy firſt Welcome to thy honour'd Seate: And happily is Coſt requited then, "When Men Grace Triumphs, more then Triumphs, Men; "Diamonds will ſhine though ſet in Lead, True worth "Stands alwayes in leaſt neede of ſetting forth: What makes Leſſe Noyſe then Merit? or Leſſe Showe Then Vertue? 'tis the Vndeſeruers, owe All to Vaine-glory, and to Rumour, ſtill; Building their Praiſes on the Vulgar Will; All their Good, is without e'm, not their owne, When wiſe men to their Vertues are beſt Knowne: Behold you' Fountaine with the Tripled Crowne, And through a Cloude the Sunne-beame piercing downe, So is the worthy Magiſtrate made vp; The Triple Crowne, is Charity, Faith, and Hope, Thoſe three Caeleſtiall Siſters, the Cloude too That's Care, and yet you ſee the Beame ſtrikes through; A Care diſcharg'd with Honour, it preſages, And may it ſo continue, to all Ages; It is thy Brotherhoods Armes, how well it fits Both Thee, and All, that for Truthes Honour ſits: The Time of Reſt drawes neere; Triumph muſt ceaſe Ioy to thy Heart, to all a Bleſſed peace.