The Entertainment at Bunhill on the Shooting Day (The Archer) · chunk 1 of 1
Middleton, Thomas · published 1621 · first performed or written 1621 [1620-1621] (Annals) entertainment; civic play unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 469 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
WHy this is nobly done, to come to grace A Sport, so well becomes the Time & Place, Old Time made much on't, & it thought no praise Too dear for't, nor no honour in those days, Not only Kings ordained Laws to defend it, But shined the first Examples to commend it, In their own Persons honoured it so far, A Land of Peace showed like a field of War; But chiefly Henry, (Memories Fame) the Eight, And the sixth Edward; gave it worth and weight, By Act and favour, (not without desert) It being the comeliest and the Manliest Art, And whereas meaner Crafts took their first form From humble Things, as Twisting from a worm, And Weaving from the spider's limber frame; Music and Archery from Apollo came: He calls himself great Master of this Sport, In whose bright name fair Wisdom keeps her Court: Well may this Instrument be first in Fame, Above all others that have got a Name, In war or peace; when Heaven itself doth show, The Covenant of Mercy, by a Bow: And as each Creature, nay, each senseless Thing, Is made a Glass to see heaven's goodness in; So though this be a mere delight, a Game, justice may see here something she may claim, (Without wrong done to State) and call't her own, Since the greatest power is oft through weakness known. What are Reproofs? with them I first begin, But Arrows shot against the Breast of Sin; Who hits Vice home, & cleaves a wrong in twain, So that it never comes to close again, Shows not he noble Archery? I'll pray ever, He may be followed, mended he can never: And as a cunning Bowman marks his ground, And from light things (which being tossed up) is found Where the wind sits (for his advantage best) Before he let his Arrow pass his Breast; So the grave Magistrate, discreetly wise, Makes use of light occasions that arise, To lead him on to weightier, winds a Cause, From things but weakly told, much substance draws And will the state of Truth exactly try, Before he let the Shaft of judgement fly: Then in this Art, there's Virtue still expressed, For every man desires here to be Best, Their Aim is still Perfection, to outreach, And go beyond each other; which does teach A Noble Strife in our more serious Deeds, Assuring Glory to him best exceeds: And where some sports seek corners for their shame Daylight and open Place, commends this Game; Much like an Honest Cause, it appears Bold In public Court, for all Eyes to behold; On then, Apollo's Scholars, You ne'er found Nobler Spectators compassed in this Ground; To whom I wish (worthy their Virtuous Ways) Peace to their Hearts, long Health, & Blessed days.
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)
WHy this is nobly done, to come to grace A Sport, ſo wel becomes the Time & Place, Old Time made much on't, & it thought no praiſe Too deere for't, nor no honour in thoſe dayes, Not only Kings ordaind Lawes to defend it, But ſhinde the firſt Examples to commend it, In their owne Perſons honord it ſo farre, A Land of Peace ſhow'd like a field of Warre; But chiefly Henry, (Memories Fame) the Eight, And the Sixt Edward; gaue it worth and weight, By Act and fauour, (not without deſert) It being the comlieſt and the Manlieſt Art, And whereas meaner Crafts took their firſt forme From humble Things, as Twiſting from a worme, And Weauing from the Spiders limber frame; Muſicke and Archery from Apollo came: He cals himſelf great Maiſter of this Sport, In whoſe bright name faire Wiſedome keepes her Court: Well may this Inſtrument be firſt in Fame, Aboue all others that haue got a Name, In war or peace; when Heauen it ſelfe doth ſhow, ``The Couenant of Mercy, by a Bow: And as each Creature, nay, each ſenceleſſe Thing▪ Is made a Glaſſe to ſee Heauens goodneſſe in; So though this be a meere delight, a Game, Iuſtice may ſee heere ſomthing ſhe may claime, (Without wrong done to State) and cal't her own, Since the greatſt power is oft through weakeneſſe known. What are Reproofs? with thē I firſt begin, But Arrowes ſhot againſt the Breſt of Sin; Who hits Vice home, & cleaues a wrong in twaine, So that it neuer comes to cloſe againe, Shewes not he noble Archery? Ile pray euer, He may be followed, mended he can neuer: And as a cunning Bowman markes his ground, And frō light things (which being toſt vp) is found Where the winde ſits (for his aduantage beſt) Before he let his Arrow paſſe his Breſt; So the graue Magiſtrate, diſcreetly wiſe, Makes vſe of light occaſions that ariſe, To lead him on to weightier, windes a Cauſe, Frō things but weakly told, much ſubſtance draws And will the ſtate of Truth exactly trye, Before he let the Shaft of Iudgement flie: Then in this Art, there's Vertue ſtill expreſt, For euery man deſires heere to be Beſt, Their Ayme is ſtill Perfection, to outreach, And goe beyond each other; which do's teach A Noble Strife in our more ſerious Deeds, Aſſuring Glory to him beſt exceeds: And where ſome ſports ſeek corners for their ſhame Day-light and open Place, commends this Game; Much like an Honeſt Cauſe, it appeares Bold In publicke Court, for all Eyes to behold; On then, Apolloes Scholers, You ne're found Nobler Spectators compaſt in this Ground; To whom I wiſh (worthy their Vertuous Wayes) Peace to their Hearts, long Health, & Bleſſed daies.