Massinger, Philip · published 1636 · first performed or written 1627 [licensed for stage, Jul 5] (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.74 · 528 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
Nor stopped you there, But they must unattended walk into The silent Groves, and hear the amorous birds Warbling their wanton notes, here a sure shade Of barren sycamores: (which the all-seeing Sun Could not pierce through) near that an arbour hung With spreading Eglantine, there a bubbling spring Watering a bank of Hyacinths, and Lilies, With all allurements, that could move to lust. And could this, Charomonte, (should I grant They had been equals both in birth and fortune) Become your gravity? Nay, 'tis clear as air That your ambitious hopes to match your daughter Into our family, gave connivance to it; And this, though not in act, in the intent I call high treason. Hear my just defence Sir, And though you are my Prince, it will not take from Your Greatness to acknowledge with a blush, In this my accusation you have been More swayed by spleen, and jealous suppositions, Then certain grounds of reason. You had a Father (Blessed be his memory) that made frequent proofs Of my loyalty, and faith, and (would I boast The dangers I have broke through in his service) I could say more. Nay, you yourself, dread Sir, When ever I was put unto the test, Found me true gold, and not adulterate metal, And am I doubted now? This is from the purpose. I will come to it Sir, your Grace well knew Before the PRINCE's happy presence made My poor house rich, the chiefest blessings which I gloried in, (though now it prove a curse) Was an only daughter. Nor did you command me, As a security to your future fears, To cast her off: which had you done, howe'er She was the light of my eyes, and comfort of My feeble age; so far I prized my duty Above affection, she now had been A stranger to my care. But she is fair. Is that her fault, or mine? Did ever Father Hold beauty in his issue for a blemish? Her education and her manners tempt to. If these offend, they are easily removed, You may, if you think fit, before my face, In recompense of all my watchings for you, With burning corrasives transform her to An ugly Leper; and this done to taint Her sweetness, prostitute her to a loathsome brothel. This I will rather suffer Sir, and more, Then live suspected by you. Let not passion Carry you beyond your reason. I am calm Sir, Yet you must give me leave to grieve, I find My actions misinterpreted. Alas Sir, Was Lydia's desire to serve the Prince Called an offence? or did she practise to Seduce his youth, because with her best zeal And fervour she endeavoured to attend him? 'Tis a hard construction: though she be my daughter I may thus far speak her. From her infancy She was ever civil, her behaviour nearer Simplicity than craft; and malice dares not Affirm in one loose gesture, or light language, She gave a sign she was in thought unchaste: I'll fetch her to you Sir, and but look on her With equal eyes, you must in justice grant That your suspicion wrongs her.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Nor stop'd you there, But they must unattended walke into The silent Groves, and heare the amorous birds Warbling their wanton notes, here a sure shade Of barren Sicamours: (which the all-seeing Sunne Could not pierce through) neere that an arbor hung With spreading Eglantine, there a bubling spring Watring a banke of Hyacinths, and Lillies, With all allurements, that could move to lust. And could this, Charomonte, (should I grant They had beene equalls both in birth and fortune) Become your gravity? Nay, 'tis cleare as ayre That your ambitious hopes to match your daughter Into our family, gave connivence to it; And this, though not in act, in the intent I call high treason. Heare my just defence Sir, And though you are my Prince, it wil not take from Your Greatnesse to acknowledge with a blush, In this my accusation you have beene More sway'd by spleene, and jealous suppositions, Then certaine grounds of reason. You had a Father (Blest be his memory) that made frequent proofes Of my loyalty, and faith, and (would I boast The dangers I have broke through in his service) I could say more. Nay, you your selfe, dread Sir, VVhen ever I was put unto the test, Found me true gold, and not adulterate metall, And am I doubted now? This is from the purpose. I wil come to it Sir, your Grace wel knew Before the Princes happy presence made My poore house rich, the chiefest blessings which I gloried in, (though now it prove a curse) Was an onely daughter. Nor did you command me, As a security to your future feares, To cast her off: which had you done, how e're She was the light of my eyes, and comfort of My feeble age; so farre I priz'd my duty Above affection, she now had beene A stranger to my care. But she is faire. Is that her fault, or mine? Did ever Father Hold beauty in his issue for a blemish? Her education and her manners tempt to. If these offend, they are easily remov'd, You may, if you think fit, before my face, In recompence of all my watchings for you, VVith burning corrafives transforme her to An ugly Leper; and this done to taint Her sweetnes, prostitute her to a loathsom brothel. This I will rather suffer Sir, and more, Then live suspected by you. Let not passion Carie you beyond your reason. I am calme Sir, Yet you must give me leave to grieve, I finde My actions misinterpreted. Alas Sir, VVas Lidias desire to serve the Prince Call'd an offence? or did she practise to Seduce his youth, because with her best zeale And fervour she endevoured to attend him? 'Tis a hard construction: though she be my daughter I may thus farre speake her. From her infancy She was ever civill, her behaviour neerer Simplicity then craft; and malice dares not Affirme in one loose gesture, or light language, She gave a signe she was in thought unchast: I'll fetch her to you Sir, and but looke on her VVith equall eyes, you must in justice grant That your suspition wrongs her.