Nabbes, Thomas · published 1637 · first performed or written 1637 (Annals) masque · King's Revels Company (?) · Salisbury Court T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim typicality 0.81 · 507 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
My Lady's ape, that imitated all her fashions; falling as she did, and running the same course of folly: the difference only, that what was hers first was mine in reversion; except her gentleman usher. Hell I fear not, for I have prevented leading apes. Besides the whips of furies are not half so terrible as a blue coat, and the shrieks of tormented ghosts nothing to the noise of hemphammers. Proceed quickly with the rest. I would excuse myself; but I despair of being heard, now my Lady's decayed and housekeeping broke up. I fear nothing so much as to be torn in pieces by the revengeful beggars. That punishment must I share. For I was an honest huntsman, and provided burial for many a scavingers horse in my dogs bellies; but finding it troublesome and unsavoury, took an easier course, and converted the remains of dinner and supper that should have fed the poor, into my dog's breakfast. For which I expect to be pursued by the common hunt, till I come to hell; and there the quest will be so hot, I shall not possibly scape it. Thou seem'st to have been a good fellow: shall I speak a word in thy behalf? No: Fear's an ill orator; he'll be out. I have been the most notorious thief, that ever robbed by privilege of his office. I have converted more butter into kitchen-stuff, then would have victualled a flemish garrison. I have cheated butchers; gone on their scores, and paid them with horns: helping to undo my Lady with the greatness of mine own credit. I have coney-catcht many a poulterers wife, and she hath plucked my feathers: what I got by the back I spent on the belly. But now short commons serve, licking my fingers and the halfe-cold dripping pan. Since my Lady's decay I am degraded from a cook, and I fear the devil himself will entertain me but for one of his black guard; and he shall be sure to have his roast burnt. Stand by. You shall be sentenced presently. I was a spruce observer of formality; wore good clothes at the second hand, and paid for them quarterly. Together with my Ladies my fortune tell, and of her gentleman usher I became her applesquire, to hold the door, and keep sentinel at taverns. I can play the Bravo where my affronting is upon sure advantage: otherwise I can be kicked with as much patience, as a hungry fiddler, when he expects the reversion of a gallants oysters. I may yet be serviceable to the Succubi in hell, but other preferment I despair of. Custom in ills that do affect the sense Makes reason useless, when it should direct The ills reforming. Men habituate In any evil, 'tis their greatest curse, Advise doth seldom mend, but makes them worse. He's come Now use your utmost skill in plea, For fear our cause miscarry. Who is this? Her's his accuser that prefers th'indictment. Let it be read. Stand out Physander.
seed 43: T5 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
My Ladyes ape, that imitated all her fashions; falling as she did, and running the same course of folly: the difference onely, that what was hers first was mine in reversion; except her gentleman usher. Hell I feare not, for I have prevented leading apes. Besides the whips of furies are not halfe so terrible as a blew coate, and the shreeks of tormented ghosts nothing to the noyse of hemphammers. Proceed quickly with the rest. I would excuse my selfe; but I despaire of being heard, now my Lady's decayd and housekeeping broke up. I feare nothing so much as to be torne in pieces by the revengefull beggars. That punishment must I share. For I was an honest huntsman, and provided buriall for many a scavingers horse in my dogs bellies; but finding it troublesome and unsavouy, tooke an easier course, and converted the remaines of dinner and supper that should have fed the poore, into my dogs breakfast. For which I expect to be pursu'd by the common hunt, till I come to hell; and there the qust will be so hot, I shall not possibly scape it. Thou seem'st to have been a good fellow: shall I speake a word in thy behalfe? No: Fear's an ill orator; hee'l be out. I have been the most notorious theef, that ever rob'd by privilege of his office. I have converted more butter into kitchin-stuffe, then would have victualled a flemish garrison. I have cheated butchers; gone on their scores, and payd them with hornes: helping to undo my Lady with the greatnesse of mine own credit. I have coney-catcht many a poulterers wife, and she hath pluckt my feathers: what I got by the back I spent on the belly. But now short commons serve, licking my fingers and the halfe-cold dripping pan. Since my Ladyes decay I am degraded from a cooke, and I feare the divell himself will entertaine me but for one of his black guard; and he shall be sure to have his roast burnt. Stand by. You shall be sentenc'd presently. I was a spruce observer of formality; wore good cloathes at the second hand, and payd for them quarterly. Together with my Ladyes my fortune ell, and of her gentleman usher I became her applesquire, to hold the doore, and keepe centinell at taverns. I can play the Bravo where my affronting is upon sure advantage▪ otherwise I can be kick't with as much patience, as a hungry fidler, when he expects the reversion of a gallants oysters. I may yet be serviceable to the Suubi in hell, but other preferment I despaire of. Custome in ill that doe affect the sense Makes reason uselesse, when it should direct The ills reforming. Men habituate In any evill, 'tis their greatest curse, Advise doth seldome mend, but makes them worse. He's come Now use your utmost skill in plea, For feare our cause miscarry. Who is this? Her's his accuser that prefers th'indictment. Let it be read. Stand out Physander.