Gascoigne, George / Ariosto, Ludovico · published 1573 · first performed or written 1566 (Annals) comedy T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.73 · 496 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
I answered him in this sort: Gentleman, because I have heretofore found very courteous entertainment in your country, being a student there, I account myself as it were bound to a Siennese, and therefore if I knew of any mishap towards any of that country, God forbid but I should disclose it: and I marvel that you know not of the injury that your countrymen offered this other day to the Ambassadors of County Hercule. What tales he telleth me: what appertain these to me? If you will hearken a while, you shall find them no tales, but that they appertain to you more than you think for. forth. I told him further, these Ambassadors of County Hercule had divers Mules, wagons, and Charettes, laden with divers costly jewels, gorgeous furniture, & other things which they carried as presents, passing that way to the king of Naples, the which were not only stayed in Sienna by the officers whom you call Customers, but searched, ransacked, tossed & turned, & in the end exacted for tribute, as if they had been the goods of a mean merchant. Whither the devil will he? is it possible that this gear appertaineth any thing to my cause? I find neither head nor foot in it. O how impatient you are: I pray you stay a while. Go to yet a while then. I proceeded, that upon these causes the Duke sent his Chancellor to declare the case unto the Senate there, of whom he had the most uncourteous answer that ever was heard, whereupon he was so enraged with all of that country, that for revenge he had sworn to spoil as many of them as ever should come to Ferrara, and to send them home in their doublet and their hose. And I pray thee how couldst thou upon the sudden device or imagine such a lie? and to what purpose? You shall hear by and by a thing as fit for our purpose, as any could have happened. I would fain hear you conclude. You would fain leap over the style, before you come at the hedge: I would you had heard me, and seen the gestures that I enforced to make him believe this. I believe you, for I know you can counterfeit well. Further I said, the duke had charged upon great penalties, that the Inholders and vittlers should bring word daily of as many Sceneses as came to their houses: the gentleman being (as I guessed at the first) a man of small sapientia, when he heard these news, would have turned his horse another way. By likelihood he was not very wise when he would believe that of his country, which if it had been true, every man must needs have known it. Why not? when he had not been in his country for a month paste, and I told him this had happened within these seven days. Belike he was of small experience.
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Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
I answered him in this sorte: Gentleman, bicause I haue heretofore founde very curteous entertaynement in your countrey, béeing a student there, I accompt my selfe as it were bounde to a Scenese, and therefore if I knewe of any mishappe towards any of that countrey, God forbid but I should disclose it: and I maruell that you knowe not of the iniurie that your countreymen offered this other day to the Embassadours of Countie Hercule. What tales he telleth me: what appertayne these to me? If you will harken a whyle, you shall finde them no tales, but that they appertayne to you more than you thinke for. Foorth. I tolde him further, these Ambassadoures of Countie Hercule had dyuers Mules, Waggons, and Charettes, laden with diuers costly iewels, gorgious furniture, & other things which they caried as presents, passing that way to the king of Naples▪ the which were not only stayd in Sciene by the officers whō you cal Customers, but serched, ransacked, tossed & turned, & in the end exacted for tribute, as if they had bene the goods of a meane marchaunt. Whither the diuell will he? is it possible that this geare appertaineth any thing to my cause? I finde neither head nor foote in it. O how impaciēt you are: I pray you stay a while. Go to yet a while then. I procéeded, that vpon these causes the Duke sent his Chauncelor to declare the case vnto the Senate there, of whom he had the moste vncurteous answere that euer was heard, whervpon he was so enraged with all of that countrey, that for reuēge he had sworne to spoyle as many of them as euer should come to Ferrara, and to sende them home in their dublet and their hose. And I pray thée how couldest thou vpon the sudden deuise or imagine suche a lye? and to what purpose? You shall heare by and by a thing as fitte for our purpose, as any could haue happened. I would fayne heare you conclude. You would fayne leape ouer the stile, before you come at the hedge: I woulde you had heard me, and séene the gestures that I enforced to make him beléeue this. I beléeue you, for I know you can counterfet well. Further I sayde, the duke had charged vpon great penalties, that the Inholders and vitlers shoulde bring worde dayly of as many Sceneses as came to their houses: the gentlemā béeing (as I gessed at the first) a man of smal sapientia, when he heard these newes, would haue turned his horse an other way. By likelyhoode he was not very wise when he would beléeue that of his cūntrey, which if it had bene true, euery man must néedes haue knowen it. Why not? when he had not béene in his countrey for a moneth paste, and I tolde him this had hapned within these seuen dayes. Belike he was of small experience.