Randolph, Thomas · published 1638 · first performed or written 1630 [licensed for stage, Nov 26] (Annals) pastoral · King's Revels Company · before the Court unassigned nearest T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens · 507 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
I'll speak the Prologue. Then you do me wrong. Why, dare your Sex compare with ours for Tongue? A Female Prologue! Yes, as well as Male. That's a new trick; And t'other is as stale. Men are more eloquent than women made▪ But women are more powerful to persuade. It seems so; for I dare no more contend. Then best give o'er the strife, and make an end. I will not yield. Shall we divide it then? You to the Women speak. You to the Men. Gentlemen, look not from us Rural swains For polished speech, high lines, or Courtly strains: Expect not we should bring a laboured Scene, Or compliments; we ken not what they mean. And Ladies, we poor Country Girls do come With such behaviour as we learned at home. How shall we talk to Nymphs so trim and gay, That ne'er saw Lady yet but at a May? His Muse is very bashful, should you throw A Snake into her Cradle, I do know She is no Hercules to outlive your Ire: One Hiss would make the fearful fool expire, Without a sting. Gentlemen do but you Like this, no matter what the Women do. It was a saucy Swain thus to conclude! Ladies, the Gentlemen are not so rude, If they were ever schooled by powerful love, As to dislike the things you shall approve. If you but like him 'twill be greater praise Then if each Muse of Nine had fetched him bays. 'tIs news Laurinda that will ravish you! How, ravish me? if't be such desperate news I pray conceal it▪ So I will. Nay Dorylas, Pray tell it though. 'tis desperate news, But prithee do. I must conceal it. Do not. Mistress, you have prevailed: I will relate it. No matter though whether you do or no. No? then I will not tell you. Yet I care not Much if I hear it. And I care not much Whether I tell't or no. What is it? Nothing. Sweet Dorylas let me know. What pretty weathercocks These women are? I serve a Mistress here Fit to have made a Planet: she'll wax and wane Twice in a minute. But good Dorylas Your news. Why excellent News! But what? Rare news! News fit, For what? To be concealed: why Mistress The Rivals, those on whom this Powerful face Doth play the tyra●…t.— Dorylas what of them? Now, now she wanes: O for a dainty Husband To make her a full Moon. The amorous couple! Your brace of sweet hearts Damon and Alexis Desire your audience. Is this all your news? You may conceal it. Now you have heard it told I may conceal it! well I thank thee Nature Thou didst create me Man, for I want wit Enough to make up woman: but good Mistress What do you think of Damon? As a man Worthy the best of Nymphs: What of Alexis? As one that may deserve the fairest Virgin In Sicily. What Virgin? Proserpina, Were she yet Ceres' daughter.
seed 43: T2 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
ILe speak the Prologue. Then you doe mee wrong. Why, dare your Sexe compare with ours for Tongue? A Female Prologue! Yes, as well as Male. That's a new trick; And t'other is as stale. Men are more eloquent then women made▪ But women are more powrfull to perswade. It seemes so; for I dare no more contend. Then best give ore the strife, and make an end. I will not yeeld. Shall we divide it then? You to the Woemen speak. You to the Men. Gentlemen, looke not from us Rurall swains For polish'd speech, high lines, or Courtly straines: Expect not we should bring a labour'd Scene, Or complements; we ken not what they meane. And Ladies, we poore Country Girles doe come With such behaviour as we learn'd at home. How shall we talke to Nymphs so trim and gay, That nere saw Lady yet but at a May? His Muse is very bashfull, should you throw A Snake into her Cradle, I doe know Shee is no Hercules to outlive your Ire: One Hisse would make the fearfull foole expire, Without a sting. Gentlemen doe but you Like this, no matter what the Woemen doe. It was a sawcy Swaine thus to conclude! Ladies, the Gentlemen are not so rude, If they were ever school'd by powrefull love, As to dislike the things you shall approve. If you but like him 'twill be greater praise Then if each Muse of Nine had fetch'd him Baies. TIs newes Laurinda that will ravish you! How, ravish mee? if't be such desperat newes I pray conceale it▪ So I will. Nay Dorylas, Pray tell it though. Tis desperat newes, But prithee doe. I must conceale it. Doe not. Mistresse, you have prevail'd: I will relate it. No matter though whether you doe or no. No? then I will not tell you. Yet I care not Much if I heare it. And I care not much Whether I tell't or no. What is it? Nothing. Sweet Dorylas let me know. What pretty weather-cocks These women are? I serve a Mistresse here Fit to have made a Planet: sheele waxe and wane Twice in a minute. But good Dorylas Your newes. Why excellent Newes! But what? Rare newes! Newes fit, For what? To be conceal'd: why Mistresse The Rivalls, those on whom this Powerfull face Doth play the tyrat.— Dorylas what of them? Now, now shee wanes: O for a dainty Husband To make her a full Moone. The amorous couple! Your brace of sweet hearts Damon and Alexis Desire your audience. Is this all your newes? You may conceale it. Now you have heard it told I may conceale it! well I thanke thee Nature Thou didst create mee Man, for I want wit Enough to make up woman: but good Mistresse What doe you think of Damon? As a man Worthy the best of Nymphs: What of Alexis? As one that may deserve the fairest Virgin In Sicilie. What Virgin? Proserpine, Were shee yet Ceres daughter.