Shirley, James · published 1637 · first performed or written 1634 [licensed for stage, Jun 24] (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens typicality 0.81 · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
be brief. Most noble Lady. I have no time to enlarge myself; your fat's In danger, if discretion sit not at The Helm, with love; the Gentlemen, that next Present themselves, are not to be admitted Guests to your bosom, in the yet dark book Of destiny, there is a name reserved, To make you happy, your Stars guide you to A husband, worthy of this blood, and beauty: Think on the Prophet. Now we may come in. Bright Lady, make your humble servants proud To kiss your white hand. Not to fast, Gentlemen, You do not mean to marry me; some air, Or I'll go take't abroad: two to one woman? The lot gave me priority, you know, Therefore obey your chance, I must first court her. These are the guests he talked on sure. What shall I do now? Fall in with the chamber-woman, that is a way To know the ebb, and flowing of her Mistress, Sail by that wind I say. The truth is, Lady, I love you in the noble way of Marriage. I am sorry for it. Why my pretty Mistress? I cannot love that way. Are you in earnest? Do you take me for a Jester? Do but name The way you have the most mind to be loved in; The high way, or the by way, any way, I am at your service. What is that Gentleman? One that would be in love too, If he had an apprehension You'd favour him, a thing has neither wit Nor honesty, he would needs come along, I could not shake him off, without a quarrel, You'll quickly find his barrenness, and dismiss him: He has been practising this fortnight, how To make a leg, that learned Gentleman Knows the inside of his soul, for my own part— Methinks he is a very handsome man. Should he but hear you, Lady, he would think You jeered him fearfully. And he may have a generous mind. What's his estate? How's this? If you do love me, give him opportunity t'o tell me his poor mind a little. I obey. she's taken with him, and the worst come To the worst, there will be a thousand pound good yet. So resolute? That man must have a powerful tongue must charm her, Into consent of marriage, her estate Is worth ten thousand pound. A glorious sum, Able to whet ambition, now the others Turn is, to show himself ridiculous. I tell you in three syllables, I love you. That gentleman professes the same language, Your friend. My friend? he's none of mine, true we have been Acquainted, met, fell into conference of you, And came together, Lady, he is no man Of that clear fame, to engage my serious friendship, A very puff-fist. What's that I pray? A Phantom, a mere Phantom. Phantom, what's that? A mental typhoon, a windy caprice, I do grace him, Or so, but he is the impudentest fellow—
seed 43: T56 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Bee breife. Most noble Ladie. I have no time to enlarge my selfe; your fat's In danger, if discretion sit not at The Helme, with love; the Gentlemen, that next Present themselves, are not to bee admitted Guests to your bosome, in the yet darke booke Of destinie, there is a name reseru'd, To make you happie, your Starrs guide you to A husband, worthy of this blood, and beautie: Thinke on the Prophet. Now wee may come in. Bright Ladie, make your humble servants proud To kisse your white hand. Not to fast, Gentlemen, You doe not meane to marrie mee; some aire, Or i'le goe tak't abroad: two to one woman? The lot gave mee prioritie, you know, Therefore obey your chance, I must first court her. These are the guests hee talk'd on sure. What shall I doe now? Fall in with the chamber-woman, that is a way To know the ebbe, and flowing of her Mistresse, Saile by that winde I say. The truth is, Ladie, I love you in the noble way of Marriage. I am sorry for it. Why my prittie Mistresse? I cannot love that way. Are you in earnest? Doe you take mee for a Jester? Doe but name The way you have the most minde to bee loved in; The high way, or the by way, any way, I am at your service. What is that Gentleman? One that would be in love too, If he had an apprehension You'd favour him, a thing has neither witt Nor honestie, he would needs come along, I could not shake him off, without a quarrell, You'le quickelie finde his barrennesse, and dismisse him: He has bin practising this fortnight, how To make a legge, that learned Gentleman Knowes the inside of his soule, for my owne part— Methinks he is a very handsome man. Should he but heare you, Ladie, he would thinke You jeer'd him fearefullie. And he may have a generous minde. What's his estate? How's this? If you doe love me, give him opportunitie To-tell me his poore minde alitle. I obey. Shees taken with him, and the worst come To the worst, there will be a thousand pound good yet. So resolute? That man must have a powerfull tongue must charme her, Into consent of marriage, her estate Is worth ten thousand pound. A glorious summe, Able to whet ambition, now the others Turne is, to shew himselfe ridiculous. I tell you in three syllables, I love you. That gentleman professes the same language, Your friend. My friend? hee's none of mine, true wee have bin Acquainted, met, fell into conference of you, And came together, Ladie, he is no man Of that cleere fame, to ingage my serious friend-ship, A verie puff-fist. What's that I praie? A Phantome, a meere Phantome. Phantome, what's that? A mentall Tiphon, a windie capruch, I doe grace him, Or so, but he is the impudent'st fellow—