Heywood, Thomas · published 1633 · first performed or written c.1627 (Annals) tragicomedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T51 Parents and children: blessing, birthrig · 484 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T51: esau, iacob, father, son, isaac, god, love, birthright, parents, thing.
Nay, since my Master begun it, I'll see't go round To all three. Now give us leave. Talk you by yourselves, whilst I find something to say to this: I have a tale no tell him shall make his stony heart relent. Now, first Sir your attention I entreat; Next, your belief that what I speak is just, Maugre all contradiction. Both are granted. Then I proceed; With due acknowledgement Of all your more than many courtesies: Y'ave been my second father, and your wife, My noble and chaste Mistress; All your servants At my command; And this your bounteous Table, As free and common as my Father's house; Neither 'gainst any, or the least of these, Can I commence just quarrel. What might then be The cause of this constraint, in thus absenting yourself from such as love you? Out of many, I will propose some few: The care I have Of your (as yet unblemished) renown; The untouched honour of your virtuous wife; And (which I value least, yet dearly too) My own fair reputation. How can these, in any way be questioned? Oh dear Sir, Bad tongues have been too busy with us all; Of which I never yet had time to think, But with sad thoughts and griefs unspeakable: It hath been whispered by some wicked ones, But loudly thundered in my father's ears, By some that have maligned our happiness; (heaven, if it can brook slander, pardon them) That this my customary coming hither, Hath been to base and sordid purposes: To wrong your bed; Injure her chastity; And be mine own undoer: Which, how false? As Heaven is true, I know't. Now this Calumny Arriving first unto my father's ears, His easy nature was induced to think, That these things might perhaps be possible: I answered him, as I would do to Heaven: And cleared myself in his suspicious thoughts, As truly, as the high all-knowing judge Shall of these stains acquit me; which are merely Aspersions and untruths: The good old man Possessed with my sincerity, and yet careful Of your renown, her honour, and my fame; To stop th'-worst that scandal could inflict; And to prevent false rumours charges me, The cause removed, to take away the effect; Which only could be, to forbear your house; And this upon his blessing: You hear all. And I of all acquit you: This your absence, With which my love most cauclled; Orators In your behalf. Had such things passed betwixt you, Not threats nor chidings could have driven you hence: It pleads in your behalf, and speaks in hers; And arms me with a double confidence, Both of your friendship, and her loyalty: I am happy in you both, and only doubtful Which of you two doth most impart my love: You shall not hence tonight. Pray pardon Sir. You are in your lodging. But my father's charge.
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)
Nay, since my Master begun it, I'le see't goe round To all three. Now giue vs leaue. Talke you by your selues, whilest I find something to say to this: I haue a tale no tell him shall make his stony heart relent. Now, first Sir your attention I intreat; Next, your beliefe that what I speake is iust, Maugre all contradiction. Both are granted. Then I ; With due acknowledgement Of all your more then many curtesies: Y'aue bin my second father, and your wife, My noble and chaste Mistris; All your seruanes At my command; And this your bounteous Table, As free and common as my Fathers house; Neither 'gainst any, or the least of these, Can I commence iust quarrell. What might then be The cause of this constraint, in thus absenting Your selfe from such as loue you? Out of many, I will propose some few: The care I haue Of your (as yet unblemisht) renowne; The vntoucht honour of your vertuous wife; And (which I value least, yet dearely too) My owne faire reputation. How can these, in any way be questioned? Oh deare Sir, Bad tongues haue bin too busie with vs all; Of which I neuer yet had time to thinke, But with sad thoughts and griefes vnspeakeable: It hath bin whisper'd by some wicked ones, But loudly thunder'd in my fathers eares, By some that haue malign'd our happinesse; (Heaunen, if it can brooke slander, pardon them) That this my customary comming hither, Hath bin to base and sorded purposes: To wrong your bed; Iniure her chastity; And be mine owne vndoer: Which, how false? As Heauen is true, I know't. Now this Calumny Ariuing first vnto my fathers eares, His easie nature was induc'd to thinke, That these things might perhaps be possible: I answer'd him, as I would doe to Heauen: And cleer'd my selfe in his suspitious thoughts, As truely, as the high all-knowing Iudge Shall of these staines acquit me; which are meerely Aspersions and vntruthes: The good old man Possest with my sincerity, and yet carefull Of your renowne, her honour, and my fame; To stop the-worst that scandall could inflict; And to preuent false rumours charges me, The cause remoou'd, to take away the effect; Which onely could be, to forbeare your house; And this vpon his blessing: You heare all. And I of all acquit you: This your absence, With which my loue most caucll'd; Orators In your behalfe. Had such things past betwixt you, Not threats nor chidings could haue driuen you hence: It pleads in your behalfe, and speakes in hers; And armes me with a double confidence, Both of your friendship, and her loyalty: I am happy in you both, and onely doubtfull Which of you two doth most impart my loue: You shall not hence to night. Pray pardon Sir. You are in your lodging. But my fathers charge.