Marmion, Shackerley · published 1633 · first performed or written 1633 [1632-1633] (Annals) comedy · Prince Charles's Men (second) · before the Court unassigned nearest T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
You shall swear to be silent then. As close as that covering. Then look you, I will participate the mystery; this petty fogging box promises that I have great suits in law, this is to delude the world now: But I must tell you I am a kind of a Solicitor, an earnest suitor to every wench I see. Very pretty, proceed. What do you think I have in this box then? I know not. A bundle of blank love letters, ready penned with as much vehemency of affection, as I could get for money, only wanting the superscription of their names, to whom they shall be directed, which I can instantly, and with ease endorse upon acquaintance. And so send them to your Mistress? You understand me. I no sooner fall into discourse with any Lady, but I profess myself ardently in love with her, and being departed, return my Boy with one of these Letters, to second it, as I said passionately deciphering how much I languish for her. Which she can not but deeply apprehend, together with the quickness and promptitude of my ingenuity in the dispatch of it. I'll practise this device. Prithee let me see one of them, what's here? To the fair hands of— I there wants a name, they fit any degree or person whatsoever. Let me see this then. To the Lady and Mistress of his thoughts, and service. There wants a name too. They are general things. I'll open it by your favour sir, what's here? Most resplendent Lady, that may justly be styled, the accomplishment of beauty, the Seat and mansion of all delight, and virtue, in whom meet the joy, and desires of the happy. Some man here perhaps might fear, in praising your worth, to heighten your disdain, but I am forced though to the peril of my neglect, to acknowledge it: For to this hour my curious thoughts, and wandering, in the Sphere of feminine perfection, could never yet find out a subject like yourself, that could so detain and command my affection. And so it goes on: How do you like it? Admirable good, put them up again. Nay I have so strange a wit, few men do jump with it. All my delights are steeped in Elegancy, And censured by an Arbitration, Before I do approve them; I have searched The dust of antiquity to find out The rare inventions that I am versed in, My several Garbs and Postures of the body, My rules for banqueting, and entertainment: And for the titillation of my laughter, Buffoons and Parasites, for I must tell you, I still affect a learned luxury. You have a very complete suit on too methinks. 'tis as fresh as the morning, and that's the grace on't, a new Play, and a Gentleman in a new suit, claim the same privilege, at their first presentment their estimation is double. And whither now do your employments direct you?
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)
You ſhall ſweare to be ſilent then. As cloſe as that covering. Then looke you, I will participate the myſtery; this petty fogging boxe promiſes that I have great ſuits in law, this is to delude the world now: But I muſt tell you I am a kind of a Sollicitor, an earneſt ſuitor to every wench I ſee. Very pretty, proceed. What doe you thinke I have in this boxe then? I know not. A bundle of blanke loue letters, ready pend with as much vehemency of affection, as I could get for money, only wanting the ſuperſcription of their names, to whom they ſhall be directed, which I can inſtantly, and with eaſe indorſe vpon acquaintance. And ſo ſend them to your Miſtreſſe? You vnderſtand mee. I no ſooner fall into diſcourſe with any Lady, but I profeſſe my ſelfe ardently in lone with her, and being departed, returne my Boy with one of theſe Letters, to ſecond it, as I ſaid paſſionately deciphering how much I languiſh for her. Which ſhee can not but deepely apprehend, together with the quickneſſe and promptitude of my ingenuitie in the diſpatch of it. Ile practiſe this device. Prethee let mee ſee one of them, what's heere? To the fayre hands of— I there wants a name, they fit any degree or perſon whatſoever. Let mee ſee this then. To the Lady and Miſtreſſe of his thoughts, and ſervice. There wants a name too. They are generall things. Ile open it by your favour ſir, whats heere? Moſt reſplondent Lady, that may juſtly bee ſtiled, the accompliſhment of beautie, the Seat and manſion of all delight, and vertue, in whom meete the joy, and deſires of the happie. Some man heere perhapps might feare, in prayſing your worth, to heighthen your diſdayne, but I am forc'd though to the perill of my neglect, to acknowledge it: For to this houre my curious thoughts, and wandering, in the Spheare of feminine perfection, could never yet finde out a ſubiect like your ſelfe, that could ſo detaine and commaund my affection. And ſo it goes on: How doe you like it? Admirable good, put them up againe. Nay I haue ſo ſtrange a wit, few men do jumpe with it. All my delights are ſteept in Elegancie, And cenſur'd by an Arbitration, Before I doe approoue them; I haue ſearcht The duſt of antiquity to find out The rare inventions that I am verſt in, My ſeverall Garbes and Poſtures of the body, My rules for banquetting, and entertainment: And for the titillation of my laughter, Buffoones and Paraſites, for I muſt tell you, I ſtill affect a learned luxury. You haue a very compleat ſuit on too me thinkes. Tis as freſh as the morning, and thats the grace on't, a new Play, and a Gentleman in a new ſuit, claime the ſame priviledge, at their firſt preſentment their eſtimation is double. And whither now doe your employments direct you?