Heywood, Thomas · published 1633 · first performed or written c.1627 (Annals) tragicomedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T33 Fathers, daughters and marriage negotiat · 512 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T33: daughter, marriage, father, love, davus, matter, son, chremes, wife, mother.
Sir, my Husband Hath took much pleasure in your strange discourse About Ierusalem and the Holy Land; How the new City differs from the old, What ruins of the Temple yet remain, And whether Zion, and those hills about, With these Adjacent Towns and Villages, Keep that proportioned distance as we read; And then in Rome, of that great pyramis Reared in the Front, on four lions Mounted, How many of those Idol Temples stand, First dedicated to their Heathen gods, Which ruined, which to better use repaired, Of their Pantheon, and their Capitol, What Structures are demolished, what remain. And what more pleasure to an old man's ear, That never drew, save his own country's air, Then hear such things related. I do exceed him In years, I must confess, Yet he much older Than I in his experience. Master Geraldine, May I be bold to ask you but one question. The which I'd be resolved in. Any thing, that lies within my knowledge. Put him to't, Do Sister, you shall find him (make no doubt) Most pregnant in his answer. In your travels Through France, through Savoy, and through Italy, Spain, and the Empire, Greece and Palestine, Which breeds the choicest beauties. Intruth Lady, I never cast on any in those parts A curious eye of censure, since my Travel Was only aimed at Language, and to know; These past me but as common objects did, Seen, but not much regarded. Oh you strive To express a most unheard of modesty, And seldom found in any traveler, Especially of our Country, thereby seeking To make yourself peculiar. I should be loath Profess in outward show to be one Man, And prove myself another. One thing more, Were you to marry, You that know these climbs, Their states and their conditions, out of which Of all these countries would you choose your wife. I'll answer you in brief, (as I observe) Each several clime for object, fare, or use, Affords within itself, for all of these What is most pleasing to the man there borne; Spain, that yields scant of food, affords the Nation A parsimonious stomach, where our appetites Are not content but with the large excess Of a full table; where the pleasing'st fruits Are found most frequent, there they best content; Where plenty flows, it asks abundant Feasts; For so hath provident Nature dealt with all; So in the choice of Women, the Greek wantoness compelled beneath the Turkish slavery, Vassal themselves to all men, and such best Please the voluptuous, that delight in change; The French is of one humour, Spain another, The hot Italian he's a strain from both, All pleased with their own nations even the Moore, He thinks the blackest the most beautiful; And Lady, since you so far tax my choice, I'll thus resolve you; Being an English man, 'mongst all these Nations I have seen or tried, To please me best, here would I choose my bride. And happy were that Lady, in my thoughts, Whom you would deign that grace too.
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)
Sir, my Husband Hath tooke much pleasure in your strange discourse About Ierusalem and the Holy Land; How the new Citie differs from the old, What ruines of the Temple yet remayne, And whether Sion, and those hills about, With these Adiacent Townes and Villages, Keepe that proportioned distance as wee read; And then in Rome, of that great Piramis Reared in the Front, on foure Lyons Mounted, How many of those Idoll Temples stand, First dedicated to their Heathen gods, Which ruined, which to better vse repayred, Of their Panthaeon, and their Capitoll, What Structures are demolish't, what remaine. And what more pleasure to an old mans eare, That neuer drew, saue his owne Countries aire, Then heare such things related. I doe exceed him In yeeres, I must confesse, Yet he much older Then I in his experience. Master Geraldine, May I bee bould to aske you but one question. The which I'de be resolued in. Any thing, that lies within my knowledge. Put him too't, Doe Sister, you shall finde him (make no doubt) Most pregnant in his answere. In your trauells Through France, through Sauoye, and through Italy, Spaine, and the Empire, Greece and Palestine, Which breedes the choycest beauties. Introath Lady I neuer cast on any in those parts A curious eye of censure, since my Trauell Was onely aymed at Language, and to know; These past me but as common objects did, Seene, but not much regarded. Oh you striue To expresse a most vnheard of modestie, And seldome found in any Traueller, Especially of our Courtrey, thereby seeking To make your selfe peculiar. I should be loath Professe in outward shew to be one Man, And prooue my selfe another. One thing more, Were you to marry, You that know these clymes, Their states and their conditions, out of which Of all these countries would you chuse your wife. Ile answere you in briefe, (as I obserue) Each seuerall clime for obiect, fare, or vse, Affords within it selfe, for all of these What is most pleasing to the man there borne; Spaine, that yeelds scant of food, affords the Nation A parsimonious stomach, where our appetites Are not content but with the large excesse Of a full table; where the pleasing'st fruits Are found most frequent, there they best content; Where plenty flowes, it askes abundant Feasts; For so hath proudent Nature dealt with all; So in the choyce of Women, the Greeke wantons Comple'd beneath the Turkish slauery, Vassaile themselues to all men, and such best Please the voluptious, that delight in change; The French is of one humor, Spaine another, The hot Italian hee's a straine from both, All pleased with their owne nations euen the Moore, Hee thinks the blackest the most beautifull; And Lady, since you so farre taxe my choyce, Ile thus resolue you; Being an English man, Mong'st all these Nations I haue seene or tri'd, To please me best, heere would I chuse my bride. And happy were that Lady, in my thoughts, Whom you id deine that grace too.