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 · 479 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
I have employment for you. What's your will Sir? madam, you are so large a theme to treat of, And every Grace about you offers to me Such copiousness of language, that I stand Doubtful which first to touch at. If I err, As in my choice I may, let me entreat you Before I do offend, to sign my pardon, Let this the Emblem of your innocence Give me assurance. My hand joined to yours Without this superstition confirms it. Nor need I fear you will dwell long upon me, The barrenness of the subject yielding nothing That Rhetoric with all her tropes and figures Can amplify. Yet since you are resolved To prove yourself a Courtier in my praise, As I am a woman (and you men affirm Our sex loves to be flattered) I'll endure it. Now when you please begin. Such Leda's paps were, Down pillows styled by Jove. And their pure whiteness Shames the Swans Down, or snow. No heat of lust Swells up her Azure veins. And yet I feel That this chaste Ice but touched fans fire in me. You need not noble Sir be thus transported, Or trouble your invention to express Your thought of me: the plainest phrase and language That you can use, will be too high a strain For such an humble Theme. If the great Duke Made this his end to try my constant temper, Though I am vanquished, 'tis his fault, not mine. For I am flesh and blood, and have affections Like other men. Who can behold the Temples, Or holy Altars, but the Objects work Devotion in him? And I may as well Walk over burning iron with bare feet And be unscorched, as look upon this beauty Without desire, and that desire pursued to, Till it be quenched with the enjoying those Delights, which to achieve danger is nothing, And loyalty but a word. I ne'er was proud, Nor can find I am guilty of a thought Deserving this neglect, and strangeness from you, Nor am I amorous. Suppose his Greatness Loves her himself, why makes he choice of me To be his agent? it is tyranny To call one pinched with hunger to a feast, And at that instant cruelly deny him To taste of what he sees. Allegiance Tempted too far, is like the trial of A good sword on an Anvil; as that often Flies in pieces without service to the owner; So trust enforced too far proves treachery, And is too late repented. Pray you Sir, Or licence me to leave you, or deliver The reasons which invite you to command My tedious waiting on you. As I live I know not what to think on't. Is't his pride, Or his simplicity? Whither have my thoughts Carried me from myself? in this my dulness, I have lost an opportunity.
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)
I have imployment for you. What's your will Sir? Madame, you are so large a theame to treat of, And every Grace about you offers to me Such copiousnesse of language, that I stand Doubtfull which first to touch at. If I erre, As in my choyce I may, let me entreat you Before I doe offend, to signe my pardon, Let this the Emblem of your innocence Give me assurance. My hand joyn'd to yours Without this superstition confirmes it. Nor neede I feare you will dwell long upon me, The barrennesse of the subject yeelding nothing That Rhetorick with all her tropes and figures Can amplifie. Yet since you are resolv'd To prove your selfe a Courtier in my praise, As I am a woman (and you men affirme Our sex loves to be flatter'd) I'll endure it. Now when you please begin. Such Laedas paps were, Down pillowes styl'd by Jove. And their pure whitenesse Shames the Swans Down, or snow. No heat of lust Swells up her Azure veines. And yet I feele That this chast Ice but touch'd fans fire in me. You neede not noble Sir be thus transported, Or trouble your invention to expresse Your thought of me: the plainest phrase and language That you can use, will be too high a straine For such an humble Theme. If the great Duke Made this his end to try my constant temper, Though I am vanquish'd, 'tis his fault, not mine. For I am flesh and blood, and have affections Like other men. Who can behold the Temples, Or holy Altars, but the Objects worke Devotion in him? And I may as well Walke over burning iron with bare feet And be unscorch'd, as looke upon this beauty Without desire, and that desire pursu'd to, Till it be quench'd with the enjoying those Delights, which to atchieve danger is nothing, And loyalty but a word. I ne're was proud, Nor can finde I am guilty of a thought Deserving this neglect, and strangenesse from you, Nor am I amorous. Suppose his Greatnesse Loves her himselfe, why makes he choyce of me To be his agent? it is tyrannie To call one pinch'd with hunger to a feast, And at that instant cruelly deny him To taste of what he sees. Alleageance Tempted too farre, is like the triall of A good sword on an Anvill; as that often Flies in peeces without service to the owner; So trust enforc'd too farre prooves treachery, And is too late repented. Pray you Sir, Or licence me to leave you, or deliver The reasons which invite you to command My tedious wayting on you. As I live I know not what to think on't. Is't his pride, Or his simplicity? Whither have my thoughts Carried me from my selfe? in this my dulnesse, I have lost an oportunity.