Jonson, Ben · published 1631 · first performed or written 1629 [licensed for stage, Jan 19] (Annals) comedy · King's Men unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 484 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
Servant, what have you there? A meditation, Or rather a vision, Madam, and of Beauty Our former subject. Pray you let us hear it. It was a beauty that I saw So pure, so perfect, as the frame Of all the universe was lame, To that one figure, could I draw, Or give least line of it a law! A skein of silk without a knot! A fair march made without a halt! A curious form without a fault! A printed book without a blot. All beauty, and without a spot. They are gentle words, and would deserve a note, Set to 'em, as gentle. I have tried my skill. To close the second hour, if you will hear them, My boy by that time will have got it perfect. Yes, gentle servant. In what calm he speaks, After this noise, and tumult, so unmoved, With that serenity of countenance, As if his thoughts did acquiesce in that Which is the object of the second hour, And nothing else. Well then summon the Court. I have a suit to the Sovereign of love, If it may stand with the honour of the Court, To change the question but from love, to valour, To hear, it said, but, what true valour is, Which oft begets true love. It is a question Fit for the Court, to take true knowledge of, And hath my just assent. Content. Content. Content. I am content, give him his oath. Herebert Lovel, Thou shalt swear upon the testament of love, To make answer to this question propounded to thee by the Court, What true valour is. And therein to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help thee love, and thy bright sword at need. So help me love and my good sword at need. It is the greatest virtue, and the safety Of all mankind, the object of it is danger. A certain mean twixt fear, and confidence: No inconsiderate rashness, or vain appetite Of false encountering formidable things; But a true science of distinguishing What's good or evil. It springs out of reason, And tends to perfect honesty, the scope Is always honour, and the public good: It is no valour for a private cause. No? not for reputation? That's man's Idol, Set up 'gainst God, the maker of all laws, Who hath commanded us we should not kill; And yet we say, we must for reputation. What honest man can either fear his own, Or else will hurt another's reputation? Fear to do base, unworthy things, is valour, If they be done to us, to suffer them, Is valour too. The office of a man That's truly valiant, is considerable Three ways: The first is in respect of matter, Which still is danger; in respect of form, Wherein he must preserve his dignity; And in the end, which must be ever lawful.
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)
Seruant, what haue you there? A meditation, Or rather a vision, Madam, and of Beauty Our former subiect. Pray you let vs heare it. It was a beauty that I saw So pure, so perfect, as the frame Of all the vniuerse was lame, To that one figure, could I draw, Or giue least line of it a law! A skeine of silke without a knot! A faire march made without a halt! A curious forme without a fault! A printed booke without a blot. All beauty, and without a spot. They are gentle words, and would deserue a note, Set to 'hem, as gentle. I haue tri'd my skill. To close the second houre, if you will heare them, My boy by that time will haue got it perfect. Yes, gentle seruant. In what calme he speakes, After this noise, and tumult, so vnmou'd, With that serenity of cuntenance, As i his thoughts did acquiese in that Which is the obiect of the second houre, And nothing else. Well then summon the Court. I haue a sute to the Soueraigne of loue, If it may stand with the honour of the Court, To change the qustion but from loue, to valour, To heare, it said, but, what true valour is, Which oft begets true loue. It is a question Fit for the Court, to take true knowledge of, And hath my iust assent. Content. Content. Content. I am content, giue him his oath. Herebert Lovel, Thou shalt sweare vpon the testament of loue, To make answer to this question propounded to thee by the Court, What true valour is. And therein to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help thee loue, and thy bright sword at need. So help me loue and my good sword at need. It is the greatest vertue, and the safety Of all mankinde, the obiect of it is danger. A certaine meane 'twixt feare, and confidence: No inconsiderate rashnesse, or vaine appetite Of false encountring formidable thing; But a true science of distinguishing What's good or euill. It springs out of reason, And tends to perfect honesty, the scope Is alwayes honour, and the publique good: It is no valour for a priuate cause. No? not sor reputation? That's mans Idoll, Set vp 'gainst God, the maker of all lawes, Who hath commanded vs we should not kill; And yet we say, we must for reputation. What honest man can either feare his owne, Or else will hurt anothers reputation? Feare to doe base, vnworthy things, is valour, If they be done to vs, to suffer them, Is valour too. The office of a man Thats truly valiant, is considerable Three wayes: The first is in respect of matter, Which still is danger; in respect of forme, Wherein he must preserue his dignity; And in the end, which must be euer lawfull.