Middleton, Thomas · published 1623 · first performed or written 1623 [Oct 20] (Annals) civic play; pageant T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions typicality 0.74 · 393 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
I sum up twenty four Lord Majors in one, For He by free election and consent Filled all those years with virtuous Government; Custom and Time requiring now but one, How ought that year to be well dwelled upon, It should appear an Abstract of that worth, Which former Times in many years brought forth, Through all the life of Man, this is the year, Which many wish, and never can come near, Think and give thanks; to whom this year does come, The Greatest Subjects made in Christendom; This is the year for whom some long prepared, And others have their glorious Fortune shared, But serious in thanksgiving, 'tis a year, To which all Virtues like the people here Should throng and cleave together, for the Place Is a fit Match for the whole Stock of Grace; And as men gather wealth, 'gainst the Year comes, So should they gather Goodness with their Sums, For 'tis not shows, Pomp, nor a House of State Curiously decked, that makes a Magistrate, 'Tis his fair Noble soul, his Wisdom, Care, His upright justness to the Oath he swore Gives him complete; when such a Man to me, Spreads his Arms open, there my Palace be, He's both an Honour to the Day so graced, And to his Brotherhoods love that sees him placest, And in his fair Deportment there revives, The Ancient Fame of all his Brother's Lives. Have you a mind thick Multitude to see A Virtue, near concerns Magistracy, Here on my Temple throw your greedy eyes, See me, and learn to know me, than y' are wise; Look, and look through me, I no favour crave, Nor keep I hid the Goodness you should have, 'tis all transparent what I think or do, And with one look your Eye may pierce me through, There's no disguise, or hypocriticke veil, (Used by adulterous Beauty set to sale) Spread o'er my actions, for respect or fear, Only a Crystal which approves me clear; Would you desire my Name? Integrity, One that is over what she seems to be, So manifest, perspicuous, plain, and clear You may e'en see my thoughts as they sit here, I think upon fair Equity and Truth, And there they sit crowned with eternal Youth, I fix my Cogitations upon Love, Peace, Meekness, and those thoughts come from above,
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)
I ſumme vp twenty foure Lord Maiors in one, For He by free election and conſent Fild all thoſe yeares with vertuous Gouerment; Cuſtome and Time requiring now but one, How ought that yeare to be well dwelt vpon, It ſhould appeare an Abſtract of that worth, Which former Times in many yeares brought forth, Through all the life of Man, this is the yeare, Which many wiſh, and neuer can come neare, Thinke and giue thanks; to whom this yeare do's come, The Greateſt Subject's made in Chriſtendome; This is the yeare for whom ſome long preparde, And others haue their glorious Fortune ſharde, But ſerious in thankſgiuing, 'tis a yeare, To which all Vertues like the people heere Should throng and cleaue together, for the Place Is a fit Match for the whole Stocke of Grace; And as men gather wealth, 'gainſt the Yeare comes, So ſhould they gather Goodneſſe with their Summes, For 'tis not ſhowes, Pompe, nor a Houſe of State Curiouſly deckt, that makes a Magiſtrate, 'Tis his faire Noble ſoule, his Wiſedome, Care, His vpright Iuſtnes to the Oath he ſware Giues him compleate; when ſuch a Man to mee, Spreads his Armes open, there my Pallace bee, He's both an Honor to the Day ſo grac'ſt, And to his Brother-hoods loue that ſees him plac'ſt, And in his faire Deportment there reuiues, The Antient Fame of all his Brothers Liues. HAue you a minde thicke Multitude to ſee A Vertue, neere concernes Magiſtracy, Here on my Temple throw your greedy eyes, See me, and learne to know me, then y' are wiſe; Looke, and looke through me, I no fauour craue, Nor keepe I hid the Goodneſſe you ſhould haue, Tis all tranſparent what I thinke or do, And with one looke your Eye may pierce me through, There's no diſguiſe, or hypocriticke vaile, (Vſde by adulterous Beauty ſet to ſale) Spread o're my actions, for reſpect or feare, Onely a Criſtall which approues me cleare; Would you deſire my Name? Integritie, One that is ouer what ſhe ſeemes to be, So manifeſt, perſpicuous, plaine, and cleere You may ee'n ſee my thoughts as they ſit here, I thinke vpon faire Equity and Truth, And there they ſit crownde with eternall Youth, I fixe my Cogitations vpon Loue, Peace, Meeknes, and thoſe thoughts come from aboue,