Shirley, James · published 1633 · first performed or written 1634 [Feb 3] (Annals) masque · before the Court unassigned nearest T23 Husbands, wives and jealousy · 544 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T23: wife, husband, cuckold, jealousy, woman, jealous, mistress, love, house, honest.
My husband is somewhere in the works; I'm sure I helped to make him an Owl and a hobby-horse, and I see no reason but his Wife may be admitted in Forma paperis, to see as good a Mask as this. I never saw one afore, I am one of the Guard, though of another complexion, and I will see't now I am here, though I be turned out of the Kitchen tomorrow for't. ay, come, be resolute, we know the worst, and let us challenge a privilege, those stairs were of my painting. And that Timber I set up: somebody is my witness. I am sure my husband sold 'em most of the Feathers; somebody promised me a fall too if I came to Court, but let that pass. And mine embroidered two of the best habits, what though we be no Ladies, we are Christians in these clothes, and the king's subjects God bless us. Nay, now I am in, I will see a dance, though my shop-windows be shut up for't, tell us?— hum? d'ee hear? do not they laugh at us? what were we best to do, the Masquers will do no feats as long we are here, be ruled by me, hark every one, 'tis our best course to dance a fegary ourselves, and then they'll think it a piece of the Plot, and we may go off again with the more credit, we may else kiss the Porters-lodge for't, let's put a trick upon 'em in revenge, 'twill seem a new device too. Content. And the Musicians knew but our mind now. Hark they are at it, now for a lively frisk. now, let us go off cleanly, and somebody will think, this was meant for an Antimasque. Why do you dwell so long in clouds And smother your best graces, 'Tis time to cast away those shrouds And clear your manly faces. Do not behave yourselves like Spies, Upon the Ladies here, On even terms got meet their eyes, Beauty and love shine there. You tread dull measures thus alone, Not satisfy delight, Go kiss their hands, and make your own With every touch more white. In envy to the night, That keeps such Revels here, With my unwelcome light, Thus I invade her sphere. Proclaiming mars To Cinthia, and all her Stars, That like proud Spangles dress her azure Tress. Because I cannot be a guest, I rise To shame the Moon, and put out all her eyes. Come away, away, away See the dawning of the day, Risen from the murmuring streams, Some stars show with sickly beams, What stock of flame they are allowed, Each retiring to a Cloud, Bid your active sports adieu, The morning else will blush for you. Ye feathered-footed hours run To dress the Chariot of the Sun, Harness the Steeds, it quickly will Be time to mount the Eastern hill. The lights grow pale with modest fears, lest you offend their sacred ears, And eyes, that lent you all this grace, Retire, retire to your own place. And as you move from that blessed Pair, Let each heart kneel, and think a prayer, That all, that can make up the glory, Of good, and great, may fill their story.
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)
My husband is ſomewhere in the workes; I'me ſure I helpt to make him an Owle and a Hobbihorſe, and I ſee no reaſon but his Wife may bee admitted in Forma paperis, to ſee as good a Maske as this. I never ſaw one afore, I am one of the Guard, though of another complexion, and I will ſee't now I am here, though I be turn'd out of the Kitchin to morrow for't. I, come, be reſolute, we know the worſt, and let us challenge a priviledge, thoſe ſtaires were of my painting. And that Timber I ſet vp: ſome body is my witneſſe. I am ſure my husband ſold 'em moſt of the Feathers; ſome body promis'd me a fall too if I came to Court, but let that paſſe. And mine embroyder'd two of the beſt habits, what though we be no Ladies, we are Chriſtians in theſe cloathes, and the Kings ſubiects God bleſſe us. Nay, now I am in, I will ſee a dance, though my ſhop-windowes be ſhut vp for't, tell us? — hum? dee heare? doo not they laugh at us? what were wee beſt to doe, the Maſquers will doe no feates as long we are here, be rul'd by me, harke euery one, 'tis our beſt courſe to dance a figary our ſelues, and then they'l thinke it a peece of the Plot, and we may goe off agen with the more credite, we may elſe kiſſe the Porters-lodge for't, let's put a tricke vpon 'em in renenge, 'twill ſeeme a new device too. Content. And the Muſitians knew but our mind now▪ Harke they are at it, now for a lively friske. now, let vs goe off cleanely, and ſome body will thinke, this was meant for an Antimaſque. Why doe you dwell ſo long in clouds And ſmother your beſt graces, 'Tis time to caſt away thoſe ſhrouds And cleere your manly faces. Doe not behave your ſelues like Spies, Vpon the Ladies here, On even termes got meete their eyes, Beauty and love ſhine there. You tread dull meaſures thus alone, Not ſatisfie delight, Goe kiſſe their hands, and make your owne With every touch more white. In envy to the night, That keepes ſuch Revels here, With my vnwelcome light, Thus I invade her ſpheare. Proclaiming marres To Cinthia, and all her Starres, That like provd Spangles dreſſe her azure Treſſe. Becauſe I cannot be a gueſt, I riſe To ſhame the Moone, and put out all her eyes. Come away, away, away See the dawning of the day, Riſen from the murmuring ſtreames, Some ſtarres ſhew with ſickly beames, What ſtocke of flame they are allow'd, Each retiring to a Cloud, Bid your active ſports adiew, The morning elſe will bluſh for you. Yee featherd-footed howers runne To dreſſe the Chariot of the Sunne, Harneſſe the Steeds, it quickly will Be time to mount the Eaſterne hill. The lights grow pale with modeſt feares, Leaſt you offend their ſacred eares, And eyes, that lent you all this grace, Retire, retire to your owne place. And as you move from that bleſt Paire, Let each heart kneele, and thinke a prayer, That all, that can make vp the glory, Of good, and great, may fill their ſtory.