Ford, John · published 1633 · first performed or written 1632 [1632-1633] (Annals) tragedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.83 · 497 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
Yet, methought, I heard you and the Duchess, two nights since, Discoursing of an Island thereabouts Called— let me think— 'twas— England. That, pray Sir, You have been there, methought I heard you praise it. I'll tell you what I found there; men as neat, As Courtly as the French, but in Condition Quite opposite: Put case that you (my Lord) Could be more rare on horseback than you are, If there (as there are many) one excelled You in your Art, as much as you do others, Yet will the English think, their own is nothing Compared with you a stranger; in their habits They are not more fantastic than uncertain: In short, their fare abundance; manhood, beauty, No Nation can disparage but itself. My Lord, you have much cased me, I resolve. And whither are you bent? My Lord for travel, To speed for England. No, my Lord, you must not; I have yet some private Conference To impart unto you for your good: at night I'll meet you at my Lord Petruchio's house, Till then be secret. Dares my cousin trust me? Dare I, my Lord! yes, 'less your fact were greater Than a bold woman's spleen. The Duke's at hand, And I must hence, my service to your Lordships. Now Nephew, as I told you, since the Duke Hath held the reins of state in his own hand, Much altered from the man he was before, (As if he were transformed in his mind) To soothe him in his pleasures, amongst whom Is fond Ferentes; one whose pride takes pride In nothing more than to delight his lust; And he (with grief I speak it) hath, I fear, Too much besotted my unhappy daughter, My poor Colona; whom, for kindred's sake, As you are noble, as you honour virtue, Persuade to love herself: a word from you May win her more than my entreaties or frowns. Uncle, I'll do my best; mean time pray tell me Whose mediation wrought the Marriage Betwixt the Duke and Duchess? who was agent? His roving eye, and her enchanting face, The only dower Nature had ordained T'advance her to her Bridebed: She was daughter Unto a Gentleman of Milan, no better; Preferred to serve in the Duke of Millaine's Court: Where, for her beauty, she was greatly famed: And passing late from thence to Monacho, To visit there her Uncle, Paul Baglione, The Abbot; Fortune (Queen to such blind matches) Presents her to the Duke's eye, on the way As he pursues the deer: in short, my Lord, He saw her, loved her, wooed her, won her, matched her, No counsel could divert him. She is fair. She is; and to speak truth, I think right Noble In her Conditions. If when I should choose, Beauty and Virtue were the Fee proposed, I should not pass for parentage. The Duke doth come. Let's break off talk: if ever, now Good Angel of my soul protect my truth.
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Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Yet, me thought, I heard you and the Dutchesse, two nights since, Discoursing of an Iland thereabouts Call'd—let me thinke—'twas— England. That, pray Sir, You haue beene there, me thought I heard you praise it. I'le tell you what I found there; men as neat, As Courtly as the French, but in Condition Quite opposite: Put case that you (my Lord) Could be more rare on horse-backe than you are, If there (as there are many) one excell'd You in your Art, as much as you doe others, Yet will the English thinke, their owne is nothing Compar'd with you a stranger; in their habits They are not more fantasticke than vncertaine: In short, their fare abundance; manhood, beauty, No Nation can disparage but it selfe. My Lord, ou haue much cas'd me, I resolue. And whither are you bent? My Lord for trauell, To speed for England. No, my Lord, you must not; I haue yet some priuate Conference To impart vnto you for your good: at night I'le meet you at my Lord Petruchio's house, Till then be secret. Dares my Cozen trust me? Dare I, my Lord! yes, 'lesse your fact were greater Than a bold womans spleene. The Duke's at hand, And I must hence, my seruice to your Lordships. Now Nephew, as I told you, since the Duke Hath held the reines of state in his owne hand, Much altered from the man he was before, (As if he were transformed in his mind) To sooth him in his pleasures, amongst whom Is fond Ferentes; one whose pride takes pride In nothing more then to delight his lust; And he (with griefe I speake it) hath, I feare, Too much besotted my vnhappy daughter, My poore Colona; whom, for kinreds sake, As you are noble, as you honour vertue, Perswade to loue her selfe: a word from you May win her more then my entreaties or frownes. Vnckle, I'le doe my best; meane time pray tell me Whose mediation wrought the Marriage Betwixt the Duke and Dutchesse? who was agent? His rouing eye, and her inchanting face, The onely dower Nature had ordained T'aduance her to her Bride-bed: She was daughter Vnto a Gentleman of Millaine, no better; Prefer'd to serue in the Duke of Millaine's Court: Where, for her beauty, she was greatly fam'd: And passing late from thence to Monacho, To visit there her Vncle, Paul Bagloone, The Abbot; Fortune (Queene to such blind matches) Presents her to the Dukes eye, on the way As he pursues the Deere: in short, my Lord, He saw her, lou'd her, woo'd her, won her, match'd her, No counsell could diuert him. She is faire. She is; and to speake truth, I thinke right Noble In her Conditions. If when I should choose, Beauty and Vertue were the Fee propos'd, I should not passe for parentage. The Duke doth come. Let's breake off talke: if euer, now Good Angell of my soule protect my truth.