Nabbes, Thomas · published 1638 · first performed or written 1633 (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men T46 Swords, quarrels and valour typicality 0.86 · 507 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T46: rapier, sword, fight, gentlemen, gentleman, kicked, kill, dagger, signor, valour.
What then? What then! why, I would not stay to take them up. Who are these? observe. Give me an armour of Sack; I am shot-free. Whilst my Master pays the reckoning. Mistress Dorothy, I have fastened on a design for rare sport. My friends. Will you talk to strangers in the street? What say you pretty pair of Wagtails? do you want Play-mates? Will you do a courtesy for a Gentleman? Within doors, or without? You seem to be valiant. They that try us shall find our metal. Perceive you not two men yonder in several places? we see something, but they may as well be flocks. For any manhood that's in them. If you will but beat them a little, besides a Gentleman's thanks, some other reward shall attend it. How are we sure they are Cowards? You may trust the word of a Gentleman. Come, come, thou standest doubting like a cowardly fool, These may be Gentlewomen of good fashion, and apt to take fire at valour. Who knows what preferment's near us? We have persons. Why then forwards: call upon sack, Dobson, sack. Who are these come towards me? my courage begins to have an ague. Who may these be? my wish (I hope) some good fellows to rob him. What was our Commission Ralph? to beat them, and not kill them. To kill them and not hurt them? Call upon Sack, Dobson: I begin to be afraid. I can perceive his sword; he shakes it fearfully. Draw thine then; and sack, sack the walls of Troy. The rogue Spruce hath sent them to beat me. 'Tis so. I must shift for myself. Sirrah, thou man of fear and trembling. Call upon Sack, Dobson. Alas, what mean you Gentlemen? Not so gentle neither. we are fiery furious, and command thee in the name of Sack, resign thy weapon, and submit to be corrected by our valour. Kind Gentlemen, I hope you'll not kill me. I'll do any thing, rather than be killed. A handsome beating shall assuage our fury. Sweet Gentlemen, I'll do any thing rather than be beaten. 'Tis so; they are robbing him, and I scorn to aid him. Teach the rogue to be such a coward: he might have come to me. Are you prepared Sir? Merciful Gentlemen; I have some money, a Cloak and a good Beaver: I'll give you all, and forgive you too, so you'll not beat me. This was beyond our expectation. Our mercy may be brought to a composition. But should we be pitiful, could you be content, since you cannot fight in your own defence, to lie in our defence. I'll say or swear any thing, rather than be killed or beaten. That we did beat you? That you left me dead. I'll lie at a surgeon's these two months; and pretend that my skull was broken in twelve places: that half my brains were putrified and taken out. I'll be mad all my life after to confirm people in the belief of it.
nodes 648–686 (positions in the processed text, not lines of the printed book) · chunk 17 of 35 in this edition
Length
507 words · 676 tokens
Topic (seed 42)
T46 — Swords, quarrels and valourcross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · typicality 0.856 (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)
What then? What then! why, I would not stay to take them up. Who are these? observe. Give me an armour of Sack; I am shot-free. Whilst my Master paye's the reckoning. Mistris Dorothy, I have fasten'd on a designe for rare sport. My friends. Will you talke to strangers in the street? What say you pretty paire of Wag-tailes? doe you want Play-mates? Will you doe a courtesie for a Gentleuman? Within dores, or without? You seeme to be valiant. They that trie us shall finde our mettall. Perceive you not two men yonder in severall places? Wee see somthing, but they may as well be flockes. For any manhood that's in them. If you will but beat them a little, besides a Gentleumans thankes, some other reward shall attend it. How are we sure they are Cowards? You may trust the word of a Genteuman. Come, come, thou standest doubting like a cowardly fooe, These may bee Gentlewoemen of good fashion, and apt to take fire at valour. Who knowes what preferment's neere us? We have persons. Why then forwards: call upon sack, Dobson, sack. Who are these come towards me? my courage begins to have an ague. Who may these be? my wish (I hope) some good fellowes to rob him. What was our Commission Ralph? to beat them, and not kill them. To kill them and not hurt them? Call upon Sacke, Dobson: I begin to be affraid. I can perceive his sword; he shakes it fearefully. Draw thine-then; and sack, sack the walles of Troy. The rogue Spruce hath sent them to beate mee. 'Tis so. I must shift for my selfe. Sirrah, thou man of feare and trembling. Call upon Sacke, Dobson. Alas, what meane you Gentlemen? Not so gentle neither. Wee are fiery furious, and command thee in the name of Sack, resigne thy weapon, and submit to be corrected by our valour. Kinde Gentlemen, I hope you'l not kill me. I'le doe any thing, rather then be kill'd. A handsome beating shall asswage our fury. Sweet Gentlemen, I'le doe any thing rather then be beaten. 'Tis so; they are robbing him, and I scorne to aid him. Teach the rogue to be such a coward: he might have come to me. Are you prepar'd Sir? Mercifull Gentlemen; I have some money, a Cloake and a good Beaver: I'le give you all, and forgive you too, so you'l not beat me. This was beyond our expectation. Our mercy may bee brought to a composition. But should we be pittifull, could you be content, since you cannot fight in your owne defence, to lye in our defence. I'le say or sweare any thing, rather then be kill'd or beaten. That we did beat you? That you left mee dead. I'le lye at a Surgeons these two moneths; and pretend that my skull was broken in twelve places: that halfe my braines were putrified and taken out. I'le be mad all my life after to confirme people in the beliefe of it.