Middleton, Thomas · published 1622 · first performed or written 1622 [Oct 29] (Annals) civic play; pageant unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 406 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
YOu that have eyes of judgement, and discern Things that the best of Man and Life concern, Draw near, this black is but my native die, But view me with an Intellectual eye, As Wise men shoot their beams forth, you'll then find A change in the complexion of the mind; I'm beauteous in my blackness, O ye Sons Of Fame and Honour, through my best part runs A Spring of living Waters, clear and true, Found first by Knowledge, which came first by you, By you, and your examples, blessed Commerce, That by Exchange settles such happiness, Of Gums and fragrant Spices, I confess My Climate Heaven does with abundance bless, And those you have from me, but what are they Compared with Odours whose sent ne'er decay, And those I have from you, plants of your youth, The Savour of eternal life sweet Truth, Exceeding all the odoriferous sent, That from the beds of Spices ever went: I that command, (being prosperously possessed) The Riches and the Sweetness of the East, To that famed Mountain Taurus spreading forth My balmy Arm, whose height does kiss the North, And in the Sea Eoum lave this hand, Account my blessings not in those to stand, Though they be large and fruitful, but confess All wealth cons; ists in Christian holiness, To such celestial knowledge I was led; By English Merchants first enlightened, In Honour of whose memory, only Three I instance here, all of this ' Brotherhood free, To whose Fames the great Honour of this hour Aptly belongs, but to that Man of Power The first and chiefest, to whose worth so clear, justice hath given her Sword up for a year: And as yon Sun his perfect splendour shows, Cheering the Plants; and no Clouds interpose His Radiant Comforts; so no Earthy part Which makes Eclipses in a Ruler's heart (As in that glorious Planet) must come nigh The Sun of justice, all such mists must fly; You're in an Orb of Brightness placed and fixed, And with no soil must Honour be commixed. So to your worthy Progress Zeal commends Your Lordship, with your Grave and Noble friends. Objects of Years and Reverence greet mine eye, A Sight most pleasing to Antiquity; I never could unclasp this Book of Fame Where Worthies dwell by a distinguished Name, At a more comely season; I shall tell Things sprung from Truth, near kin to Miracle;
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T16 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
YOu that haue eyes of Iudgement, and diſcerue Things that the beſt of Man and Life concerne, Draw neere, this blacke is but my natiue dye, But view me with an Intellectuall eye, As Wiſe men ſhoote their beames forth, you'le then find A change in the complexion of the mind; I'me beauteous in my blackneſſe, O yee Sonnes Of Fame and Honor, through my beſt part runnes A Spring of liuing Waters, cleere and true, Found firſt by Knowledge, which came firſt by you, By you, and your examples, bleſt Commerce, That by Exchange ſettles ſuch happineſſe, Of Gummes and fragrant Spices, I confeſſe My Climate Heauen do's with aboundance bleſſe, And thoſe you haue from me, but what are they Compar'd with Odours whoſe ſent ne're decay, And thoſe I haue from you, plants of your youth, The Sauour of eternall life ſweet Truth, Exceeding all the odoriferous ſent, That from the beds of Spices euer went: I that command, (being proſp'rouſly poſſeſt) The Riches and the Sweetneſſe of the Eaſt, To that fam'd Mountaine Taurus ſpreading forth My balmy Arme, whoſe height do's kiſſe the North, And in the Sea Eoum laue this hand, Account my bleſſings not in thoſe to ſtand, Though they be large and fruitfull, but confeſſe All wealth cons;iſts in Chriſtian holyneſſe, To ſuch caeleſtiall knowledge I was led; By Engliſh Merchants firſt enlightened, Jn Honor of whoſe memory, onely Three I inſtance here, all of this' Brotherhood free, To whoſe Fames the great Honor of this howre Aptly belongs, but to that Man of Power The firſt and chiefeſt, to whoſe worth ſo cleere, Iuſtice hath giuen her Sword vp for a yeere: And as yo'n Sunne his perfect ſplendor ſhowes, Cheering the Plants; and no Cloudes interpoſe His Radiant Comforts; ſo no Earthy part Which makes Eclipſes in a Rulers hart (As in that glorious Planet) muſt come nye The Sunne of Iuſtice, all ſuch myſts muſt flye; You're in an Orbe of Brightneſſe plac'd and fixt, And with no ſoyle muſt Honor be commixt. So to your worthy Progreſſe Zeale commends Your Lordſhip, with your Graue and Noble friends. OBiects of Yeeres and Reuerence greete mine eye, A Sight moſt pleaſing to Antiquitie; I neuer could vnclaſpe this Booke of Fame Where Worthies dwell by a diſtinguiſht Name, At a more comely ſeaſon; I ſhall tell Things ſprung from Truth, neere kin to Miracle;