Berkeley, William · published 1638 · first performed or written 1637 [1637-1638] (Annals) not in BritDrama T48 Addressing a lady: love, desire and inti typicality 0.91 · 509 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T48: lady, love, heart, fair, eyes, la, lord, tears, fie, face.
First, dearest Lady, do not think my power Greater as my will to serve you, 'tis so weak That if you should rely on't, I shall seem Cold in your service, when it does not answer What is expected from it, all I know, Is but conjectured, for our Stars incline, Not force us in our actions. Let me observe your face. Do, and if yet you are not perfect in your Mysteries, Observe mine well, and when you meet a face Branded with such a line, conclude it miserable: When an eye that doth resemble this, Teach it to weep betimes, that so being lost, It may not see those miseries must be his only object. Are my misfortunes of that horrid shape, That the mere speculation doth affright Those whose compassion only it concerns? I that must stand the strokes then, what defence Shall I prepare against them? yet a hope That they be ripened now to fall on me, Lightens a desperate joy to my dark soul. For the last dart shall be embraced As remedy, to cure my former wounds. 'Tis not that, I was surprised in considering I must Partake of all your fortunes, for our ascendants Threaten like danger to us both. Are then my miseries grown infections too, Must that be added? pardon me gentle Lady this sad crime. I must account amongst my secret faults: I meant no more but to communicate, Not part my sorrows with you. Would you could, with what great willingness Should I embrace a share of what afflicts you. I'd haste to meet and ease you of your fears. Now if to one whose interest do force her To advance your hopes, you dare deliver The cause of your disquiet, you shall find A closet, if not a fort, to vindicate your fears. You shall know all. I have exchanged my heart With a young Gentleman's now banished His Country and my hopes, his rival labours To make me his, my Father resolute, I should consent, till Fortune changed, but Lessened not my sufferings; for our Prince LYSICLES ruins me with the honour of his search. Does EUGENIO know you love him? No. Why does he doubt it? A womanish scorn to have my love revealed, Made me receive his declaration of it, As an affront unto my honour. And when he came to take his leave, I left him in the opinion I would obey my Father. I've heard as much; but contradictions In the PRINCE's actions do amaze me: They say he loves your friend, and labours now For to recall him, and that every Night He courts his former flame, hid in the ashes Of his lost Mistress. By this judge how miserable I am? That my malignant Stars force them to change Nature and Virtue too, that else would shine, Unmoved like the Star, that does direct The wandering Seamen: must then Nature change, And will not Fortune cease to persecute? Good gods; I will submit to all but breach of faith.
seed 43: T31 · seed 44: T44 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
First, dearest Lady, doe not thinke my power Greater as my will to serve you, 'tis so weake That if you should reley on't, I shall seeme Cold in your service, when it does not answer What is expected from it, all I know, Is but conjectured, for our Stars encline, Not force us in our actions. Let me observe your face. Doe, and if yet you are not perfit in your Mysteries, Observe mine well, and when you meet a face Branded with such a line, conclude it miserable: When an eye that doth resemble this, Teach it to weepe betimes, that so being lost, It may not see those miseries must be his onely object. Are my misfortunes of that horrid shape, That the meere speculation doth affright Those whose compassion onely it concernes? I that must stand the stroakes then, what defence Shall I prepare against them? yet a hope That they be ripen'd now to fall on me, Lightens a desperate joy to my darke soule. For the last dart shall be embraced As remedy, to cure my former wounds. 'Tis not that, I was surpriz'd in considering I must Partake of all your fortunes, for our ascendants Threaten like danger to us both. Are then my miseries growne infections too, Must that be added? pardon me gentle Lady this sad crime. I must account amongst my secret faults: I me ant no more but to communicate, Not part my sorrowes with you. Would you could, with what great willingnesse Should I embrace a share of what afflicts you. I'de hast to meet and ease you of your feares. Now if to one whose interest doe force her To advance your hopes, you dare deliver The cause of your disquiet, you shall find A closet, if not a fort, to vindicate your feares. You shall know all. I have exchang'd my heart With a yong Gentleman's now banished His Country and my hopes, his rivall labours To make me his, my Father resolute, I should consent, till Fortune changed, but Lessened not my sufferings; for our Prince LYSICLES ruines me with the honour of his search. Does EVGENIO know you love him? No. Why does he doubt it? A womanish scorne to have my love reveal'd, Made me receive his declaration of it, As an affront unto my honour. And when he came to take his leave, I left him in the opinion I would obey my Father. I've heard as much; but contradictions In the Princes actions doe amaze me: They say he loves your friend, and labours now For to recall him, and that every Night He courts his former flame, hid in the ashes Of his lost Mistresse. By this judge how miserable I am? That my malignant Starres force them to change Nature and Vertue too, that else would shine, Unmoved like the Starre, that does direct The wandering Sea-men: must then Nature change, And will not Fortune cease to persecute? Good gods; I will submit to all but breach of faith.