The Triumphs of Health and Prosperity · chunk 1 of 2
Middleton, Thomas · published 1626 · first performed or written 1626 [Oct 30] (Annals) civic play; pageant unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 400 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
A Cloud of grief hath showrde upon the face Of this sad City, and usurped the place Of joy and Cheerfulness, wearing the form, Of a long black Eclipse in a rough storm, With flowers of Tears this garden was oreflowne, Till mercy was like the blessed Rainbow shown. Behold what figure now the City bears, Like gems unvalued, her best joys she wears; Glad as a faithful Handmaid to obey, And wait upon the Honour of this Day; Fixed in the King's great Substitute, Delight, Triumph, and Pomp had almost lost their right: The Garden springs again, the Violet Beds, The lofty Flowers bear up their fragrant heads; Fruit over-lade their Trees, Barnes crack with store, And yet how much the Heavens wept before: Threatening a second mourning, who so dull, But must acknowledge Mercy was at full. In these two mighty blessings; what's required? That which in conscience ought to be desired; Care and Uprightness in the Magistrate's place, And in all men Obedience, Truth and Grace. IF Iason with the noble hopes of Greece, Who did from Colchis fetch the Golden Fleece, Deserve a Story of immortal fame, That both the Asia's celebrate his name, What Honour, Celebration and Renown, In Virtue's right, ought justly to be shown, To the fair memory of Sir Francis Drake; England's true Iason, who did boldly make So many rare Adventures, which were held For worth, unmatched, danger, unparalleled, Never returning to his Country's Eye, Without the Golden Fleece of Victory. The World's a Sea, and every Magistrate Takes a year's Voyage, when he takes this state, Nor on these Seas, are there less dangers found, Then those, on which the bold Adventurer's bound: For Rocks, gulfs, quick sands, here is 〈◊〉 spite, Envy, Detraction of all Noble Right▪ Vessels of Honour, those do threaten more, Th any Ruine betweene Sea and Shore. sail then by th'compass of a Virtuous name, And spite of Spite's, thou bringst the Fleece of fame. With just propriety does this City stand, As fixed by fate, i'th' middle of the Land, It has as in the body the Hearts place, Fit for her works of Piety and Grace: The Head her Sovereign, unto whom she sends All duties that just service comprehends; The Eyes may be compared (at wisdom's rate) To the illustrious Councillors of State, Set in that Orb of Royalty, to give light
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)
A Cloude of griefe hath ſhowrde vpon the face Of this ſad City, and vſurpt the place Of Ioy and Cheerfulneſſe, wearing the forme, Of a long blacke Ecclipſe in a rough ſtorme, With flowers of Teares this garden was oreflowne, Till mercy was like the blest Rain-bow ſhowne. Behold what figure now the City beares, Like Iems vnvalued, her beſt joyes ſhe weares; Glad as a faithfull Hand-mayde to obay, And waite vpon the Honour of this Day; Fixt in the Kings great Subſtitute, Delight, Triumph, and Pompe had almoſt loſt their right: The Garden ſprings agen, the Violet Beds, The lofty Flowers beare vp their fragrant heads; Fruit ouer-lade their Trees, Barnes cracke with ſtore, And yet how much the Heavens wept before: Threatning a ſecond mourning, who ſo dull, But must acknowledge Mercie was at full. In theſe two mighty bleſsings; what's requir'd? That which in conſcience ought to be deſir'd; Care and Vprightneſſe in the Magistrates place, And in all men Obedience, Truth and Grace. IF Iaſon with the noble hopes of Greece, Who did from Colchis fetch the Golden Fleece, Deſerue a Story of immortall fame, That both the Aſaes celebrate his name, What Honor, Celebration and Renowne, In Vertues right, ought juſtly to be ſhowne, To the faire memory of Sir Francis Drake; Englands true Iaſon, who did boldly make So many rare Adventures, which were held For worth, vnmatcht, danger, vnparaleld, Neuer returning to his Countries Eye, Without the Golden Fleece of Victory. The World's a Sea, and euery Magiſtrate Takes a yeares Voyage, when he takes this state, Nor on theſe Seas, are there leſſe dangers found, Then thoſe, on which the bold Adventurer's bound: For Rockes, gulfes, quicke ſands, here is ſpite, Enuy, Detraction of all Noble Right▪ Veſſels of Honor, thoſe doe threaten more, Th any Ruine betweene Sea and Shore. Sayle then by th'Compaſse of a Vertuous name, And ſpite of Spites, thou bringſt the Fleece of fame. VVith juſt propriety dos this City ſtand, As fixt by fate, ith' middle of the Land, It ha's as in the body the Heartes place, Fit for her workes of Piety and Grace: The Head her Soueraigne, vnto whom ſhe ſends All duties that juſt ſeruice comprehends; The Eyes may be compar'd (at wiſedomes rate) To the illustrious Councellors of State, Set in that Orbe of Royalty, to giue light