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 T14 Royal love, favour and dynastic relation · 479 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T14: prince, princess, love, king, lord, queen, madam, grace, lady, life.
With what fervour She pleads against herself! For me poor Maid, I know the Prince to be so far above me, That my wishes cannot reach him. Yet I am So much his creature, that to fix him in Your wonted grace and favour, I'll abjure His sight for ever, and betake myself To a religious life (where in my prayers I may remember him) and ne'er see man more But my ghostly father. Will you trust me Sir? In truth I'll keep my word? or if this fail, A little more of fear what may befall him, Will stop my breath for ever. Had you thus argued As you were yourself, and brought as advocates Your health and beauty, to make way for you. No crime of his could put on such a shape, But I should look with the eyes of mercy on it. What would I give to see this diamond In her perfect lustre, as she was before The clouds of sickness dimmed it! yet take comfort, And as you would obtain remission for His treachery to me, cheer your drooping spirits, And call the blood again into your cheeks, And then plead for him. And in such a habit As in your highest hopes you would put on, If we were to receive you for our Bride. I'll do my best Sir. And that best will be A crown of all felicity to me. 'tIs proved in me, the curse of humane frailty (Adding to our afflictions) makes us know What's good, and yet our violent passions force us To follow what is ill. Reason assured me It was not safe to shave a lion's skin, And that to trifle with a Sovereign, was To play with lightning: yet imperious beauty Treading upon the neck of understanding, Compelled me to put off my natural shape Of loyal duty, to disguise myself In the adulterate, and cobweb mask Of disobedient treachery. Where is now My borrowed Greatness? or the promised lives Of following Courtiers echoing my will? In a moment vanished? Power that stands not on Its proper base, which is peculiar only To absolute Princes, falls, or rises, with Their frown, or favour. The great Duke my Master (Who almost changed me to his other self) No sooner takes his beams of comfort from me, But I as one unknown, or unregarded, Unpitied suffer! who makes intercession To his mercy for me now? who does remember The service I have done him? not a man; And such as spoke no language, but my Lord, The favourite of Tuscany's grand Duke Deride my madness. Ha! What noise of horses? A goodly troop! This backpart of my prison Allows me liberty to see and know them. Contarino! Yes, 'tis he, and Lodovico; And the Duchess Fiorinda; Urbin's heir, A Princess I have slighted; yet I wear
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)
With what fervour She pleades against her selfe! For me poore Mayde, I know the Prince to be so farre above me, That my wishes cannot reach him. Yet I am So much his creature, that to fix him in Your wonted grace and favour, I'll abjure His sight for ever, and betake my selfe To a religious life (where in my prayers I may remember him) and ne're see man more But my ghostly father. Will you trust me Sir? In truth I'll keepe my word? or if this faile, A little more of feare what may befall him, Will stop my breath for ever. Had you thus argu'd As you were your selfe, and brought as advocates Your health and beauty, to make way for you. No crime of his could put on such a shape, But I should looke with the eyes of mercy on it. What would I give to see this diamond In her perfect lustre, as she was before The clouds of sicknesse dimm'd it! yet take comfort, And as you would obtaine remission for His trecherie to me, cheere your drooping spirits, And call the blood againe into your cheekes, And then pleade for him. And in such a habit As in your highest hopes you would put on, If we were to receive you for our Bride. I'll doe my best Sir. And that best will be A crowne of all felicity to me. TIs prov'd in me, the curse of humane frailty (Adding to our afflictions) makes us know What's good, and yet our violent passions force us To follow what is ill. Reason assur'd me It was not safe to shave a Lyons skinne, And that to trifle with a Soveraigne, was To play with lightning: yet imperious beauty Treading upon the neck of understanding, Compell'd me to put off my naturall shape Of loyall duty, to disguise my selfe In the adulterate, and cobweb masque Of disobedient trecherie. Where is now My borrowed Greatnesse? or the promis'd lives Of following Courtiers ecchoing my will? In a moment vanish'd? Power that stands not on Its proper base, which is peculiar onely To absolute Princes, falls, or rises, with Their frowne, or favour. The great Duke my Master (Who almost chang'd me to his other selfe) No sooner takes his beames of comfort from me, But I as one unknowne, or unregarded, Unpittied suffer! who makes intercession To his mercy for me now? who does remember The service I have done him? not a man; And such as spake no language, but my Lord, The favorite of Tuskanies grand Duke Deride my madnesse. Ha! What noise of horses? A goodly troope! This back-part of my prison Allowes me liberty to see and know them. Contarino! Yes, 'tis he, and Lodovico; And the Dutchesse Fiorinda; Urbins heire, A Princesse I have slighted; yet I weare