The Triumphs of Health and Prosperity · chunk 2 of 2
Middleton, Thomas · published 1626 · first performed or written 1626 [Oct 30] (Annals) civic play; pageant T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions typicality 0.72 · 373 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
To noble actions, Stars of truth and right: The Lips, the Reverend Clergy, judges, all That pronounce Laws Divine, or Temporal; The Arms to the defensive part of men, So I descend unto the Heart again: The place where now you are, witness the love, True Brotherhoods cost and Triumph, all which move In this most grave Solemnity, and in this The Cities general love abstracted is: And as the Heart in its meridian seat, Is still▪ d the Fountain of the body's heat: The first thing receives life, the last that dies, Those properties experience well applies To this most loyal City, that hath been In former ages as in these times seen; The Fountain of Affection, Duty, Zeal, And taught all Cities through the Common weal, The first that receives quickening life and spirit, From the King's grace, which still she strives to inherit And like the Heart will be the last that dies, In any duty toward good supplies: What can express affections nobler fruit, Both to the King, and You, his Substitute. MErcies fair Object, the Celestial Bow, As in the morning it began to show, It closes up this great Triumphal day, And by example shows the Year, the Way, Which if Power worthily, and rightly spend, It must with Mercy both begin and end; It is a year that crowns the life of man, Brings him to Peace with Honour and what can Be more desired, 'tis virtue's harvest time, When Gravity and judgements in their prime, To speak more happily, 'tis a time given To treasure up good Actions fit for Heaven, To a Brother hood of Honour thou art fixed That has stood long fair in just Virtue's eye; For within twelve years' space, thou art the Sixt, That has been Lord Major of this Company: This is no usual grace, being now the last, Close the Work Nobly up, that what is past, And known to be good in the former Five: May in thy present Care be kept alive; Then is thy Brotherhood for their Love and Cost, Requited amply; but thy own Soul most. Health and a happy Peace fill all thy days, When thy Year ends, may then begin thy praise.
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)
To noble actions, Starres of truth and right: The Lips, the Reuerend Cleargy, Iudges, all That pronounce Lawes Diuine, or Temporall; The Armes to the defenſiue part of men, So I deſcend vnto the Heart agen: The place where now you are, witneſſe the loue, True Brother-hoods coſt and Tryumph, all which moue In this moſt graue Solemnity, and in this The Cities generall loue abſtracted is: And as the Heart in it's meridian ſeate, Is ſtil▪d the Fountayne of the bodies heate: The firſt thing receiues life, the laſt that dyes, Thoſe properties experience well applies To this moſt loyall City, that hath beene In former ages as in theſe times ſeene; The Fountayne of Affection, Duty, Zeale, And taught all Cities through the Common weale, The first that receiues quickning life and ſpirit, From the Kings grace, which ſtil ſhe ſtriues to inherit And like the Heart will be the laſt that dyes, In any duty toward good ſupplies: What can expreſſe affections nobler fruite, Both to the King, and You, his Subſtitute. MErcies faire Object, the Caeleſtiall Bow, As in the morning it began to ſhow, It cloſes vp this great Tryumphall day, And by example ſhowes the Yeare, the Way, Which if Power worthily, and rightly ſpend, It muſt with Mercy both begin and end; It is a yeare that crownes the life of man, Brings him to Peace with Honor and what can Be more deſir'd, 'tis vertues harveſt time, When Grauity and Iudgements in their prime, To ſpeake more happily, 'tis a time giuen To treaſure vp good Actions fit for Heauen, To a Brother hood of Honor thou art fixt That has ſtood long faire in juſt Vertues eye; For within twelue yeares ſpace, thou art the Sixt, That has bin Lord Major of this Company: This is no vsuall grace, being now the laſt, Cloſe the Worke Nobly vp, that what is paſt, And knowne to be good in the former Fiue: May in thy preſent Care be kept aliue; Then is thy Brotherhood for their Loue and Coſt, Requited amply; but thy owne Soule moſt. Health and a happy Peace fill all thy dayes, VVhen thy Yeare ends, may then begin thy prayſe.