Middleton, Thomas · published 1622 · first performed or written 1622 [Oct 29] (Annals) civic play; pageant T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions typicality 0.84 · 407 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
As if he sought to have His splendours mixed With these of mine, which makes Authority meek, And I'm so sicke of Love to those that seek I cannot choose but yield; nor does it wrong Great Power to come to Virtue to be strong, Being but a Woman, merciful and mild, Therein is Heaven with greater glory styled That makes weak things, as Clemency, and Right, Sway Power, which would else rule all by Might: It maybe said you did but late pass by Some part of Triumph that spoke Virtuously, And one such Speech suffices; 'tis not so In taking of your office, there you go From Court to Court, before You be confirmed In this high place, which Praetorship is termed; From Virtue, if to Virtue you resort, It is but the same course you have in Court In settling of your Honour; which should be Redoubled rather, that I hope to see: So Power and Virtue when they fill one Seat, The City's blessed, the Magistrate complete. BY Virtue you came last, and who brings home True Honour, must by Virtue always come, The right Path you have took then, still proceed, For 'tis Continuance crowns each worthy Deeds: Behold this Globe of Honour; every Part It is composed of, to a Noble heart Applies Instruction; when 'tis closed and round It represents the World, and all that's found Within the labouring Circle of Man's Days, Adventures, Dangers, Cares, and steepy Ways; Which when a Wiseman thinks on, straight he mounts To Heavenly Cogitations, and accounts The vexing Spirit of Care and Labour vain: Lifting himself to his full height again: And as this Engine does in eight Parts rise Discovering eight Bright Figures, so the Wise From this Life's slumber roused, (which Time deludes,) Opens his Heart to eight Beatitudes: And as I (Honour) overtopping All, Here fix my Foot on this Orbicular Ball, Over the World expressing my Command As I in this Contemptuous Posture stand: So every good and understanding Spirit Makes but Use only of this Life, t'inherit An everlasting Living; making Friends Of Mammon's Heaps, got by unrighteous Ends, Which happy Thou stand'st free from, the more white Sits Honour on thee, and the Cost more bright Thy Noble Brotherhood this Day bestows; Expense is graced when Substance follow Shows, Now to no higher Pitch of Praise I'll come, Love brought thee forth, and Honour brings thee home.
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)
As if he ſought to haue His ſplendors mixt With theſe of mine, which makes Authoritie meeke, And I'me ſo ficke of Loue to thoſe that ſeeke I cannot chooſe but yeeld; nor do's it wrong Great Power to come to Vertue to be ſtrong, Being but a Woman, mercifull and milde, Therein is Heauen with greater glory ſtilde That makes weake things, as Clemencie, and Right, Sway Power, which would elſe rule all by Might: It maybe ſaid you did but late paſſe by Some part of Triumph that ſpake Vertuouſly, And one ſuch Speech ſuffices; 'tis not ſo In taking of your office, there you goe From Court to Court, before You be confirm'd In this high place, which Praetorſhip is term'd; From Vertue, if to Vertue you resort, It is but the ſame courſe you haue in Court In ſetling of your Honor; which ſhould bee Redoubled rather, that I hope to ſee: So Power and Vertue when they fill one Seate, The City's bleſt, the Magiſtrate compleate. BY Vertue you came laſt, and who brings home True Honor, muſt by Vertue alwayes come, The right Path you haue tooke then, ſtill proceede, For t'is Continuance crownes each worthy Deeds: Behold this Globe of Honor; euery Part It is compos'd of, to a Noble Hart Applyes Inſtruction; when t'is clos'd and round It repreſents the World, and all that's found Within the labouring Circle of Mans Dayes, Aduentures, Dangers, Cares, and ſteepie Wayes; Which when a Wiſe-man thinkes on, ſtrait he mounts To Heauenly Cogitations, and accounts The vexing Spirite of Care and Labour vaine: Lifting himſelfe to his full height againe: And as this Engine do's in eight Parts riſe Diſcouering eight Bright Figures, ſo the Wiſe From this Lifes ſlumber rowz'd, (which Time deludes,) Opens his Heart to eight Beatitudes: And as I (Honor) ouertopping All, Here fixe my Foote on this Orbicular Ball, Ouer the World expreſsing my Command As I in this Contemptuous Poſture ſtand: So euery good and vnderſtanding Spirit Makes but Vſe onely of this Life, t'inherit An euerlaſting Liuing; making Frends Of Mammons Heapes, got by vnrighteous Ends, Which happy Thou ſtandſt free from, the more white Sits Honor on thee, and the Coſt more bright Thy Noble Brotherhood this Day beſtowes; Expence is grac'd when Subſtance follow Showes, Now to no higher Pitch of Praiſe I'le come, Loue brought thee forth, and Honor brings thee home.