Massinger, Philip · published 1624 · first performed or written 1623 [licensed for stage, Dec 3] (Annals) tragicomedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T35 Fools, wit and railing · 487 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T35: fool, wit, aristippus, achilles, wise, fools, patroclus, thersites, master, men.
Equal nature fashioned us All in one mould: The Bear serves not the Bear, Nor the Wolf, the Wolf; 'twas odds of strength in tyrants, That plucked the first link from the Golden chain With which that thing of things bound in the world. Why then, since we are taught, by their examples, To love our Liberty, if not Command, Should the strong serve the weak, the fair deformed ones? Or such as know the cause of things, pay tribute To ignorant fools? All's but the outward gloss And politic form, that does distinguish us. Cymbrio, thou art a strong man; if in place Of carrying burdens, thou hadst been trained up In Martial discipline, thou mightst have proved A General, fit to lead and fight for Sicilie, As fortunate as Timoleon. A little fighting Will serve a general's turn. Thou, Gracculo, Hast fluency of Language, quick conceit, And I think, covered with a senator's robe, Formally set on the Bench, thou wouldst appear As brave a Senator. Would I had Lands, Or money to buy a place; and if I did not Sleep on the Bench, with the drowsiest of'em, play with my Chain, Look on my Watch, when my guts chimed twelve, and wear A state Beard, with my barber's help, rank with 'em, In their most choice peculiar gifts; degrade me And put me to drink Water again, which (now I have tasted Wine) were poison. 'Tis spoke nobly, And like a Gown-man, none of these, I think too, But would prove good Burghers. Hum. the fools are modest, I know their insides: Here's an ill-faced fellow, (But that will not be seen in a dark Shop,) If he did not in a month, learn to outswear, In the selling of his Wares, the cunningest Tradesman In Syracusa, I have no skill; Here's another, Observe but what a cozening look he has, (Hold up thy head, man) if for drawing Gallants Into mortgages for Commodities, cheating Heirs With your new counterfeit Gold thread, and gummed Velvets, He does not transcend all that went before him, Call in his patent; pass the rest, they'll all make Sufficient Becos, and with their brow-antlers Bear up the Cap of maintenance. Is 't not pity then, Men of such eminent virtues, should be Slaves? Our fortune. 'tis your folly, daring men Command, and make their fates. Say, at this instant, I marked you out a way to Liberty; Possessed you of those blessings, our proud Lords So long have surfeited in; and what is sweetest, Arm you with power, by strong hand to revenge Your stripes, your unregarded toil, the pride, The insolency, of such as tread upon Your patient sufferings; fill your famished mouths, With the fat and plenty of the Land; redeem you From the dark vale of Servitude, and seat you Upon a hill of happiness; what would you do To purchase this and more?
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)
Equall nature fashion'd vs All in one molde: The Beare serues not the Beare, Nor the Wolfe, the Wolfe; 'twas ods of strength in tyrants, That pluck'd the first linke from the Golden chayne With which that thing of things bound in the world. Why then, since we are taught, by their examples, To loue our Libertie, if not Command, Should the strong serue the weake, the faire deform'd ones? Or such as know the cause of thinges, pay tribute To ignorant fooles? All's but the outward glosse And politicke forme, that does distinguish vs. Cymbrio, thou art a strong man; if in place Of carrying burthens, thou hadst beene trayn'd vp In Martiall discipline, thou mightst haue prou'd A Generall, fit to lead and fight for Sicilie, As fortunate as Timolcon. A little fighting Will serue a Generals turne. Thou, Gracculo, Hast fluencie of Language, quicke conceite, And I thinke, couer'd with a Senators robe, Formally set on the Bench, thou wouldst appeare As braue a Senator. Would I had Lands, Or money to buy a place; and if I did not Sleepe on the Bench, with the drowsiest of'em, play with my Chayne, Looke on my Watch, when my guts chym'd twelue, and weare A state Beard, with my Barbers helpe, rancke with 'em, In their most choyce peculiar guifts; degrade me And put me to drinke Water againe, which (now I haue tasted Wine) were poyson. 'Tis spoke nobly, And like a Gown-man, none of these, I thinke too, But would proue good Burgers. Hum: the fooles are modest, I know their insides: Here's an ill-fac'd fellow, (But that will not be seene in a darke Shop,) If he did not in a moneth, learne to out-sweare, In the selling of his Wares, the cunningest Tradesman In Syracusa, I haue no skill; Here's another, Obserue but what a cousening looke he has, (Hold vp thy head, man) if for drawing Gallants Into mortgages for Commodities, cheating Heyres With your new counterfeit Gold thred, and gumm'd Veluets, He does not transcend all that went before him, Call in his patent; passe the rest, they'l all make Sufficient Becos, and with their brow-antlets Beare vp the Cap of maintenance. Is 't not pitty then, Men of such eminent vertues, should be Slaues? Our fortune. Tis your folly, daring men Commaund, and make their fates. Say, at this instant, I mark'd you out a way to Libertie; Possest you of those blessings, our proud Lords So long haue surfetted in; and what is sweetest, Arme you with power, by strong hand to reuenge Your stripes, your vnregarded toyle, the pride, The insolencie, of such as tread vpon Your patient suffrings; fill your famish'd mouthes, With the fat and plentie of the Land; redeeme you From the darke vale of Seruitude, and seate you Vpon a hill of happinesse; what would you doe To purchase this and more?