The Bird in a Cage (The Beauties) · chunk 15 of 37
Shirley, James · published 1633 · first performed or written 1633 [licensed for stage, Jun 21] [incorrect] (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.81 · 502 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
I heard a pound of flesh, a Jews demand once 'twas gravely now remembered of your Lordship— released? Fortune, and courtesy of opinion Gives many men Nobility of Birth, That never durst do nobly, nor attempt Any design, but fell below their Honours. Cased up in Chambers, scarcely air themselves But at a Horse-race, or i'th' Park with Puppets, That for which I'm your laughter, I speak to You flattering tribe of Courtiers, to you Glowworms Is my chief glory, that perhaps being sprung From humble Parentage, dare yet attempt A deed so far above me, that sets all Your Wisdoms in Combustion, you may think I've made a sorry bargain for my life, Let Scorners know in aiming at her only My memory after death, receives more honour Than all your marble Pinnacles can raise you, Or alabaster figures, whiter far Then ere your souls were, and that hour I die If you dare look upon me, without fainting (Which I much fear) you shall see death so scorned, I mean for any terror, you shall think him My slave to take my upper Garment off. I told your highness— How you should find him. A brave Resolution. Be this the Prologue to the mirth, my Lord Attends to entertain you; set on, we'll leave him. Ha, ha, ha. Sir, I observed you Noble, and not apt To throw derision on me with the rest, Which does encourage me, to ask you a question. Name it Sir. Pray what stranger's that walked with the Duke? 'Tis an Ambassador from Florence Sir. An Ambassador, his design I pray? To treat of Marriage betwixt our Princess And the great Duke's son, desired much by our'Master Who has some hope, 't willbe effected too. Has brought rich presents to her. This is all. You have it freely. Y'ave honoured me, married to Tuscany? so, if my ambition had been fortunate, I might have been his taster, but my stars want influence, they are too dull, and weary of my fate, Rolliardo then must forfeit, why that's the worst on't, I will make a glorious blaze in death, and while I live, make the Duke's treasure pay for't, nor shall he accuse me, I exhaust him poorly, i'll study out some noble way to build me a remembrance. ha.— a Church or College? Tedious, my glass has but few sands, I must do some thing I may live to finish: I ha''t, I will send to all the prisons i'th' City, and pay the poor men's debts for 'em: the world wants such a precedent: I ha' money enough since I fail in my other ends, I will do some good deeds before I die, so shall I be more sure of Prayers, then if I built a Church, for they are not certain to continue their foundation, fate I despise thee, I sink under no cheap and common action, but sell my life too Fame, in catching my death by so brave an aspiring.
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
I heard a pound of flesh, a Iewes demand once Twas gravely now remembred of your Lordship—releast? Fortune, and courtesie of opinion Gives many men Nobility of Birth, That never durst doe nobly, nor attempt Any designe, but fell below their Honors. Cas'd up in Chambers, scarcely ayre themselves But at a Horse-race, or i'th Parke with Puppets, That for which I'm your laughter, I speake to You flattering tribe of Courtiers, to you Glowormes Is my chiefe glory, that perhaps being sprung From humble Parentage, dare yet attempt A deed so farre above me, that sets all Your Wisedomes in Combustion, you may thinke I've made a sorry bargaine for my life, Let Scorners know in ayming at her onely My memory after death, receives more honour Then all your marble Pinnacles can raise you, Or alablaster figures, whiter farre Then ere your soules were, and that houre I dye If you dare looke vpon me, without fainting (Which I much feare) you shall see death so scorn'd, I meane for any terrour, you shall thinke him My slave to take my upper Garment off. I told your Hignesse—How you shud find him. A brave Resolution. Be this the Prologue to the mirth, my Lord Attends to entertaine you; set on, we'll leave him. Ha, ha, ha. Sir, I observ'd you Noble, and not apt To throw derision on me with the rest, Which does encourage me, to aske you a question. Name it Sir. Pray what strange'rs that walk'd with the Duke? 'Tis an Embassador from Florence Sir. An Embassador, his designe I pray? To treate of Marriage betwixt our Princesse And the great Dukes sonne, desired much by our'Master Who has some hope,,t'wilbe effected too. Has brought rich presents to her. This is all. You haue it freely. Y'aue honored me, married to Tuscany? so, if my ambition had beene fortunate, I might haue beene his taster, but my starres want influence, they are too dull, and weary of my fate, Rolliardo then must forfeit, why that's the worst on't, I will make a glorious blaze in death, and while I liue, make the Dukes treasure pay for't, nor shall he accuse me, I exhaust him poorely, i'le study out some noble way to build me a remembrance. ha.—a Church or Colledge? Tedious, my glasse has but few sandes, I must doe some thing I may liue to finish: I ha't, I will send to all the prisons ith Citty, and pay the poore mens debts for 'em: the world wants such a President: I ha mony enough since I faile in my other ends, I will doe some good deedes before I dye, so shall I be more sure of Prayers, then if I built a Church, for they are not certaine to continue their foundation, fate I despise thee, I sinke vnder no cheape and common action, but sell my life too Fame, in catching my death by so braue an aspiring.