Marmion, Shackerley · published 1633 · first performed or written 1633 [1632-1633] (Annals) comedy · Prince Charles's Men (second) · before the Court unassigned nearest T23 Husbands, wives and jealousy · 492 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T23: wife, husband, cuckold, jealousy, woman, jealous, mistress, love, house, honest.
What have you there? I have here a Syngraphus, a writing with articles, that must be drawn between us, before there can be any copulation. Wherefore, did you so? Look you sir, I was in a little suspense of her behaviour, and therefore in relation of that, which I thought she objected, yet has since proved to be otherwise: notwithstanding these rules, which may so much conduce to my happiness, and have been so much advised upon with deliberation, I would have established. Pray let's hear them. They are only some sew propositions, and exceptions to be observed on her behalf, for the better security of my quiet, when I shall be married to her. Now I conceive you, read them out. First, that after Hymen has once joined us together, she shall admit of no man whatsoever, to entitle him with any suspicious name of friend, or servant: do you mark me. Well proceed. Next, if any of her old acquaintance come to visit her, as Nurses, midwives, and the like, creatures of secrecy, she shall return them word, she is not within, or otherwise accommodated. Very good. I'll have it written so upon the doors. You may perceive by her silence, she will consent to any thing. Then to avoid all occasions of writing Epistles, she shall receive none, nor have any Paper, Pen, Ink, or Wax in her closet. That's somewhat hard. She shall not have any masculine bawdy Picture hang in her Chamber, but shall take it down, and sell it away as a thing unprofitable, and an enticement of fantasy. That in my conceit is very reasonable. She shall bid no man to dinner, but I will invite them, and when they are set, she shall not cast amorous glances upon them, nor drink to them, nor lick her lips at them, nor show her teeth when she laughs, nor her tongue when she sneezes. For all these, i'll engage myself. Besides, she shall not take upon her, to contrary me in any thing, nor seem more or less wise than myself. That's not much amiss neither. She shall send no hieroglyphics, nor meat cut in Characters, nor tread upon any man's foot under the Table, nor when they are risen, give them her hand to kiss, or open her palm to have her fortune told her, nor yet show them her ring, or receive any of theirs, and read the poesies. Is this all? She shall know no language but her own, nor speak any equivocating word. In my mind now these laws are very consonant to a good disposition, and if I were to marry myself, I'd propose the like. And for her religion, she may pray to any innocent goddess, as Diana and the graces, but if she have any thing to say to Mars, Mercury, or Apollo, she shall acquaint me with it, and I will present her devotions. Have you done now?
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)
What haue you there? I haue here a Syngraphus, a writing with articles, that muſt be drawn between us, before there can be any copulation. Wherefore, did you ſo? Looke you ſir, I was in a little ſuſpenſe of her behaviour, and therefore in relation of that, which I thought ſhe objected, yet has ſince proved to be otherwiſe: notwithſtanding theſe rules, which may ſo much conduce to my happineſſe, and haue beene ſo much advis'd upon with deliberation, I would haue eſtabliſh't. Pray lets heare them. They are onely ſome ſew propoſitions, and exceptions to bee obſerved on her behalfe, for the better ſecurity of my quiet, when I ſhall be married to her. Now I conceiue you, reade them out. Firſt, that after Hymen has once joyned us together, ſhe ſhall admit of no man whatſoever, to intitle him with any ſuſpitious name of friend, or ſervant: doe you marke me. Well proceed. Next▪ if any of her old acquaintance come to viſit her, as Nurſes, Midwifes, and the like, creatures of ſecreſie, ſhe ſhall returne them word, ſhe is not within, or otherwiſe accommodated. Very good. Ile haue it written ſo upon the doores. You may perceiue by her ſilence, ſhee will conſent to any thing. Then to avoyd alloccaſions of writing Epiſtles, ſhe ſhall receiue none, nor haue any Paper, Pen, Inke, or Waxe in her cloſet. That's ſomewhat hard. Shee ſhall not haue any maſculine bawdy Picture hang in her Chamber, but ſhall take it downe, and ſell it away as a thing unprofitable, and an inticement of phantaſie. That in my conceit is very reaſonable. She ſhall bid no man to dinner, but I will invite them, and when they are ſet, ſhee ſhall not caſt amorous glances upon them, nor drinke to them, nor licke her lips at them, nor ſhew her teeth when ſhe laughs, nor her tongue when ſhee ſneezes. For all theſe, ile engage my ſelfe. Beſides, ſhe ſhall not take upon her, to contrary me in any thing, nor ſeeme more or leſſe wiſe then my ſelfe. That's not much amiſſe neither. Shee ſhall ſend no Hierogliphicks, nor meate cut in Characters, nor tread upon any mans foote under the Table, nor when they are riſen, giue them her hand to kiſſe, or open her palme to haue her fortune told her, nor yet ſhew them her ring, or receiue any of theirs, and read the poeſies. Is this all? She ſhall know no language but her owne, nor ſpeake any equivocating word. In my mind now theſe lawes are very conſonant to a good diſpoſition, and if I were to marry my ſelfe, I'de propoſe the like. And for her religion, ſhe may pray to any innocent goddeſſe, as Diana and the graces, but if ſhe haue any thing to ſay to Mars, Mercury, or Apollo, ſhe ſhall acquaint mee with it, and I will preſent her devotions. Haue you done now?