The Bird in a Cage (The Beauties) · chunk 31 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 0.80 · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
And if I had any interest in myself, Produce your witness, when I gave it you, I have possession yet, ere I deliver it, You must show stronger evidence. Are we not Contracted? Contracted? when? where?— Good Prince I pity your abuse. 'Tis firm between our Fathers. Mine cannot give away my heart. Cannot? Shall not Prince, your travail and your trouble With this Conceit to boot, were it your own Invention, withal your Birds about you That can take me. Is it my person Madam You hold unworthy? For my birth and Fortune Cannot deserve your scorn. It takes not from The greatness of your State, or blood my Lord To say I cannot Love you, since Affection Flows uncompelled, and rests in the clear object, Nor do I rob your person of just value, If to me other seem as fair, and comely, Form may apparel, and become what we Affect, not cause true Love, you have enough To promise you a happier choice, attempt A Nobler Fate, and leave me to myself And humble Destiny, for know Florentine I have but one Faith, one Love, and though my Father Lock up my person, 'tis beyond his Will To make me false to him I gave my faith to. And y'are not Noble now if you proceed, Be then what you were borne, and do not tempt A woman to commit a Sacrilege: For when I give my heart to any other Than my Philenzo, I commit that sin. If you'll not pardon, I'll deliver up. Philenzo to be punished for this trial— See Lady. My dear banished Philenzo! O let not such a glorious building stoop It is my duty, I will make it mine. I have a double duty, for I owe Your Constancy as much respect and Reverence, As your most Princely person. What for our safety? Oh with what willingness could I be lost In this distracted Wilderness of joy. Tomorrow Madam, I go to my Arraignment. How? Spend no fear upon't Your Story shall be pleasing:— I ha' much To tell you— for your Ladies. They are mine, what should our innocence Fear in their knowledge, I desire to hear The Circumstance of this wonder It attends, The Story past; we must some Counsel find, The puzzle of our Fate, is still behind. WE are sorry, we gave thee distaste, come let's be friends, you did apprehend too nicely. Nicely? it might ha' been your own case. Come, you were unkind to rub us before the Duke so. Be wise hereafter, and make the Fool your friend, 'tis many an honest man's case at Court. It is safer to displease the Duke than his jester, every sentence the one speaks, flatterers make an Oracle, but let the impudent fool bark never so absurdly, other men ha' the wit to make a jest on't, 'tis policy in State, to maintain a Fool at Court, to reach great men discretion.
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
And if I had any interest in my selfe, Produce your witnesse, when I gave it you, I have possession yet, ere I deliver it, You must shew stronger evidence. Are we not Contracted? Contracted? when? where?—Good Prince I pitty your abuse. 'Tis firme betweene our Fathers. Mine cannot give away my heart. Cannot? Shall not Prince, your travaile and your trouble With this Conceipt to boote, were it your owne Invention, withall your Birds about you That can take me. Is it my person Madam You hold unworthy? For my birth and Fortune Cannot deserve your scorne. It takes not from The greatnesse of your State, or bloud my Lord To say I cannot Love you, since Affection Flowes uncompel'd, and rests in the cleere obiect, Nor doe I rob your person of iust valew, If to me other seeme as faire, and comely▪ Fore may apparell, and become what we Affect, not cause true Love, you have enough To promise you a happyer choyce, attempt A Nobler Fate, and leave me to my selfe And humble Destiny, for know Florentine I have but one Faith, one Love, and though my Father Locke up my person, 'tis beyond his Will To make me false to him I gave my faith to. And y'are not Noble now if you proceed, Be then what you were borne, and doe not tempt A woman to commit a Sacriledge: For when I give my heart to any other Then my Philenzo, I commit that sin. If you'll not pardon, Ile deliver up. Philenzo to be punish'd for this tryall—See Lady. My deere banisht Philenzo! O let not such a glorious building stoope It is my duty, I will make it mine. I have a double duty, for I owe Your Constancy as much respect and Reverence▪ As your most Princely person. What for our safety? Oh with what willingnesse could I be lost In this distracted Wildernesse of Ioy. To morrow Madam, I goe to my Arraignment. How? Spend no feare upon't Your Story shall be pleasing:—I ha' much To tell you—for your Ladyes. They are mine, what should our innocence Feare in their knowledge, I desire to heare The Circumstance of this wonder It attends, The Story past; we must some Counsell find, The puzzle of our Fate, is still behind. VVE are sorry, we gave thee distaste, come let's be friends, you did apprehend too nicely. Nicely? it might ha beene your owne case. Come, you were unkind to rub us before the Duke so. Be wise hereafter, and make the Foole your friend, 'tis many an honest mans case at Court. It is safer to displease the Duke then his Iester, every sentence the one speakes, make an , but let the impudent foole barke never so absurdly, other men ha the wit to make a Ieast on't, 'tis policie in State, to maintaine a Foole at Court, to reach great men discretion.