Massinger, Philip · published 1636 · first performed or written 1627 [licensed for stage, Jul 5] (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 456 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
Have a better Opinion of Court-Ladies, and take care Of your own stake. For my stake 'tis past caring, I would not have a bird of unclean feathers Handsel his lime-twig, and so much for him. There's something else that troubles me. What's that? Why how to behave myself in Court, & tytely I have been told the very place transforms men, And that not one of a thousand, that before Lived honestly in the Country, on plain Salads, But bring him thither, mark me that, and feed him But a month or two with Custards and Court Cakebread, And he turns Knave immediately. I would be honest; But I must follow the fashion, or die a beggar. And if I ever reach my hopes, believe it We will share fortunes. This acknowledgement Binds me your debtor ever. Here comes one In whose sad looks you easily may read What her heart suffers, in that she is forced To take her last leave of you. As I live A beauty without parallel Must you go then So suddenly? There's no evasion, Lydia, To gain the least delay, though I would buy it At any rate. Greatness with private men Esteemed a blessing, is to me a curse. And we, whom for our high births, they conclude The only free men, are the only slaves: Happy the golden mean I had I been borne In a poor sordid Cottage; not nursed up With expectation to command a Court: I might, like such of your condition (Sweetest) Have took a safe and middle course, and not As I am now against my choice compelled Or to lie grovelling on the earth, or raised So high upon the pinnacles of State, That I must either keep my height with danger, Or fall with certain ruin. Your own goodness Will be your faithful guard. O Lidia. So passionate! For had I been your equal I might have seen and liked with mine own eyes, And not as now with others; I might still, And without observation, or envy, As I have done, continued my delights With you, that are alone in my esteem The abstract of Society; we might walk In solitary Groves, or in choice Gardens; From the variety of curious flowers Contemplate nature's workmanship, and wonders. And then for change, near to the murmur of Some bubbling fountain, I might hear you sing, And from the well-tuned accents of your tongue In my imagination conceive With what melodious harmony a Choir Of Angels sing above, their maker's praises. And then with chaste discourse, as we returned, Imp feathers to the broken wings of Time, And all this I must part from. You forget The hast imposed upon us.
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)
Have a better Opinion of Court-Ladies, and take care Of your owne stake. For my stake 'tis past caring, I would not have a bird of uncleane feathers Hansell his Limetwig, and so much for him. There's something else that troubles me. What's that? Why how to behave my self in Court, & tytely I have beene told the very place transformes men, And that not one of a thousand, that before Liv'd honestly in the Country, on plaine Sallads, But bring him thither, marke me that, and feed him But a moneth or two with Custards and Court Cakebread, And he turnes Knave immediately. I would be honest; But I must follow the fashion, or die a beggar. And if I ever reach my hopes, beleeve it We will share fortunes. This acknowledgement Bindes me your debtor ever. Here comes one In whose sad lookes you easily may reade What her heart suffers, in that she is forc'd To take her last leave of you. As I live A beauty without parallel Must you goo then So suddenly? There's no evasion, Lydia, To gaine the least delay, though I would buy it At any rate. Greatnesse with private men Esteem'd a blessing, is to me a curse. And we, whom for our high births, they conclude The onely free men, are the onely slaves: Happy the golden meane I had I beene borne In a poore sordid Cottage; not nurs'd up With expectation to command a Court: I might, like such of your condition (Sweetest) Have tooke a safe and middle course, and not As I am now against my choyse compell'd Or to lye groveling on the earth, or rais'd So high upon the pinnacles of State, That I must either keepe my height with danger, Or fall with certaine ruine. Your owne goodnesse Will be your faithfull guard. O Lidia. So passionate! For had I beene your equall I might have seene and lik'd with mine own eyes, And not as now with others; I might still, And without observation, or envie, As I have done, continued my delights With you, that are alone in my esteeme The abstract of Society; we might walke In solitary Groves, or in choyce Gardens; From the variety of curious flowers Contemplate natures workmanship, and wonders. And then for change, neare to the murmur of Some bubling fountaine, I might heare you sing, And from the well-tun'd accents of your tongue In my imagination conceive With what mellodious harmony a Quire Of Angells sing above, their Makers praises. And then with chast discourse, as we return'd, Impe feathers to the broken wings of Time, And all this I must part from. You forget The hast impoi'd upon us.