Shirley, James · published 1638 · first performed or written 1637 [licensed for stage, Apr 23, 1638] (Annals) not in BritDrama · St. Werburgh Street, Dublin T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.80 · 480 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
Truth is my witness I did mean No ceremonious love, until I found Her heart was given from me, though your power Contract our bodies. Stay and be advised, And if your doubts by some malicious tongue Framed to abuse my sister, and yourself, Have raised this mutiny in your thoughts, I have A power to cure all. Sir you cannot. Not to court thee for her husband, wert possessed Of all, o'er which our Eagle shakes his wings, But to set right her honour; and ere I challenge Thee by thy birth, by all thy hopes and right To fame, to tell me what seditious breath Has poisoned her; hear what my sister sends By me so late, time is not old in minutes, The word's yet warm with her own breath; pray tell The Duke says she, although I know not from What root his discontents grow, to devote him To Domitilla. How does she know that? Whose beauty has more spell upon his fancy, I did contract my heart, when I thought his Had been no stronger to his tongue, and can Not find within it since, what should divert His princely thoughts from my first innocence; Yet such is my stern fate I must still love him; And though he frame his heart to unkind distance, It hath embracing virtue upon mine, And with his own remove, draws my soul after him; If he forget I am a Princess, pray Let Naples do so too; for my revenge Shall be in prayers, that he may find my wrong But teach him soft repentance, and more faith. All this must not betray my freedom Sir. You'll not accuse our sister of dishonour. I would not grieve you Sir to hear what I Could say; and press me not for your own peace; Fame's must be gently touched. As thou art Florence speak. I Shall displease; Yet I but tell her brother that doth press me; Lucrece was chaste after the rape; but where The blood consents, there needs no ravisher. I do grow faint with wonder; here's enough To blast an apprehension, and shoot A quaking through the valiant soul of man; My sister's blood accused, and her fair name Late chaste as trembling snow, whose fleeces clothe Our Alpine hills, sweet as the Roses spirit Or Violets cheek, on which the morning leaves A tear at parting, now begins to wither, As it would haste to death, and be forgotten; This Florence is a Prince that does accuse her; And such men give not faith to every murmur Or slight intelligence that wounds a Lady In her dear honour; but she is my sister; Think of that too; credit not all, but ask Of thy own veins what guilty flowings there May tempt thee to believe this accusation. 'tis she; thouart come Theodosia to my wishes.
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Truth is my witnesse I did mane No ceremonious love, untill I found Her heart was given from me, though your power Contract our bodies. Stay and be advis'd, And if your doubts by some malitious tongue Framed to abuse my sister, and your selfe, Have rais'd this muteny in your thoughts, I have A power to cure all. Sir you cannot. Not to court thee for her husband, wert possest Of all, ore which our Eagle shakes his wings, But to set right her honour; and ere I challenge Thee by thy birth, by all thy hopes and right To fame, to tell me what seditious breath Has poyson'd her; heare what my sister sends By me so late, time is not old in minuts, The word's yet warme with her owne breath; pray tell The Duke saies she, although I know not from What roote his discontents grow, to devote him To Domitilla. How does shee know that? Whose beauty has more spell upon his fancy, I did contract my heart, when I thought his Had beene no stronger to his tongue, and can Not finde within it since, what should divert His princely thoughts from my first innocence; Yet such is my sterne fate I must still love him; And though he frame his heart to unkinde distance, It hath imbracing vertue upon mine, And with his owne remove, drawes my soule after him; If he forget I am a Princesse, pray Let Naples doe so too; for my revenge Shall be in prayers, that he may finde my wrong But teach him soft repentance, and more faith. All this must not betray my freedome Sir. Youle not accuse our sister of dishonour. I would not grieve you Sir to heare what I Could say; and presse me not for your owne peace; Fames must be gently toucht. As thou art Florence speake. I Shall displease; Yet I but tell her brother that doth presse me; Lucrece was chast after the rape; but where The blood consents, there needs no ravisher. I doe grow faint with wonder here's enough To blast an appehension, and shoote A quaking through the valiant soule of man; My sisters blood accus'd, and her faire name Late chast as trembling snow, whose fleeces clothe▪ Our Alpine hills, sweet as the Roses spirit Or Violets cheeke, on which the morning leaves A teare at parting, now begins to wither, As it would haste to death, and be forgotten; This Florence is a Prince that does accuse her; And such men give not faith to every murmur Or sight intelligence that wounds a Lady In her deare hnour; but shee is my sister; Thinke of that too; credit not all, but aske Of thy owne veines what guilty flowings there May tempt thee to beleeve this accusation. Tis shee; Th'art come Theodosia to my wishes.