Shirley, James · published 1637 · first performed or written 1633 [licensed for stage, Nov 11] (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T46 Swords, quarrels and valour typicality 0.84 · 503 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T46: rapier, sword, fight, gentlemen, gentleman, kicked, kill, dagger, signor, valour.
He has slain a gentleman. They say he is not dead, the wounds not mortal. And will you make one past cure? How dost mean? Upon yourselves, cool your hot bloods a little, No mutiny my country men, remember, If he recover that is hurt, the tother Will come off well enough, without your valour: Breath, breathe a while, you may if you have a mind to't Instead of rescuing, betray a gentleman, And yourselves too, to a danger. He says right. 'tis scurvy wearing hemp, if you scape killing, There be more butchers than sell flesh; and Citizens Have no mercy in their Clubs, especially When gentlemen have so little wit, to bring There heads toth' knocking down, 'tis a revenge They owe you for their wives, oh take heed mainly Of these left handed Halberdiers. Confound 'em. How many will you kill with your birdspit? You have more legs and arms at home, which makes You valiant, i'll not pare my nails today, And yet I love my friend, as the best on you; You know I dare fight too, but in this cause You must needs pardon me, I believe the stoutest That now would seem all fire, and sword, will go With as ill will to hanging, as another, And will become't as scurvily, take your courses. I think 'tis better: O'th' two, to go to the Tavern, and be drunk In your own defence, a wench is not so dangerous Nor the Disease that waits upon her. What if the gentleman that's hurt should die? Then there's no hope for tother. Less for you, You would be guilty of his murder too, And snatch him from the Law, why you may do't: 'tis pity but the government should thank you, And if you scape the halter for't, it may be Another man in time, may cut your throat, And there's one for another, paid in the blood. Come be yourselves, these are not acts of gentlemen, Where shame, not honour must reward your daring, Though we be wild, it follows not we should Be mad outright. I was ever of his mind. Come let's to Tavern. I am for that coast, now I think upon't I'll meet you at the new rendezvous within This half-hour, I expect a gentleman That has engaged my promise; i'll come t'ee Ere you be half drunk. Do not fail. Drink Sack and think not on't, what should be The business that old Barnacle has desired My conference? 'tis not to lend me money sure, he's here. Master Hazard. I was coming to you, sir. I am fortunate to prevent so great a trouble, There is a business, sir, wherein I must desire your favour. Mine? command it, sir. Nay i'll be thankful too, I know you are A gentleman. That should incline, you think I am not mercenary I beseech you, sir, Mistake me not, rewards are due to virtues, And honour must be cherished. What's your purpose? Pray clear my understanding.
nodes 249–320 (positions in the processed text, not lines of the printed book) · chunk 5 of 39 in this edition
Length
503 words · 665 tokens
Topic (seed 42)
T46 — Swords, quarrels and valourcross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · typicality 0.840 (cosine to the topic centroid)
Other seeds
seed 43: T42 · seed 44: T42 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
He has slaine a gentleman. They say he is not dead, the wounds not mortall. And will you make one past cure? How do'st meane? Upon your selves, coole your hot bloods a little, No mutuny my country men, remember, If he recover that is hurt, the tother Will come off well enough, without your volour: Breath, breath a while, you may if you have a minde too't Instead of reskuing, betray a gentleman, And your selves too, to a danger. He sayes right. Tis scurvey wearing hempe, if you scape killing, There be more butchers then sell flesh; and Citizens Have no mercy in their Clubs, especially When gentlemen have so litle wit, to bring There heads to'th knocking downe, 'tis a revenge They owe you for their wives, oh take heede mainely Of these left handed Halberdiers. Confound 'em. How many will you kill with your bird-spit? You have more leggs and armes at home, which makes You valiant, i'le not pare my nailes to day, And yet I love my friend, as the best on you; You know I dare fight too, but in this cause You must needs pardon me, I beleeve the stoutest That now would seeme all fire, and sword, will goe With as ill will to hanging, as another, And will becom't as scurvily, take your courses. I thinke 'tis better: O'th two, to go to the Taverne, and be drunke In your owne defence, a wench is not so dangerous Nor the Disease that waites upon her. What if the gentleman that's hurt should die? Then ther's no hope for tother. Lesse for you, You would be guilty of his murther too, And snatch him from the Law, why you may doo't: Tis pity but the government should thanke you, And if you scape the halter for't, it may be Another man in time, may cut your throate, And ther's one for another, paid in the blood. Come be your selves, these are not acts of gentlemen, Where shame, not honor must reward your daring, Though we be wild, it followes not we should Be mad out-right. I was ever of his minde. Come lett's to Taverne. I am for that coast, now I thinke upon't I'le meete you at the new randevow within This halfe-houre, I expect a gentleman That has engaged my promise; i'le come t'ee Ere you be halfe drunke. Doe not faile. Drinke Sack and thinke not on't, what should be The busines that old Barnacle has desired My conference? 'tis not to lend me money sure, Hee's here. Master Hazard. I was comming to you, sir. I am fortunate to prevent so great a trouble, There is a busines, sir, wherein I must desire your favour. Mine? command it, sir. Nay i'le be thankefull too, I know you are A gentleman. That should incline, you thinke I am not mercenarie I beseech you, sir, Mistake me not, rewards are due to vertues, And honor must be cherish'd. What's your purpose? Pray cleere my understanding.