Ford, John · published 1639 · first performed or written 1638 [licensed for stage, May 3] (Annals) not in BritDrama · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T11 Siblings, kin and confidants · 499 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T11: sister, brother, love, friend, heart, father, mother, woman, lord, hear.
Listen to a strange tale, which thus the author sighed, A kinsman of Spinella (so it runs) Her father's sisters son, some time before Auria the fortunate possessed her beauties, Became enamoured of such rare perfections, As she was stored with, fed his idle hopes With possibilities of lawful conquest, Proposed each difficulty in pursuit Of what his vain supposal styled his own, Found in the argument one only flaw Of conscience, by the nearness of their bloods, Unhappy scruple, easily dispensed with, Had any friends advice resolved the doubt. Still on a' loved, and loved, and wished, and wished, Eftsoon began to speak, yet soon broke off, And still the fondling durst not, cause o' durst not. 'twas wonderful, Exceeding wonderful, Beyond all wonder, yet 'tis known for truth, After her marriage, when remained not aught Of expectation to such fruitless dotage. His reason then, now, then could not reduce The violence of passion, though avowed Never to unlock that secret, scarce to her Herself, Spinella, and withal resolved, Not to come near her presence, but to avoid All opportunities however proffered. An understanding dulled by th'infelicity Of constant sorrow, is not apprehensive In pregnant novelty, my ears receive The words you utter, cousin, but my thoughts Are fastened on another subject. Can you embrace, so like a darling, your own woes, And play the tyrant with a partner in them? Then I am thankful for advantage, urged By fatal and enjoined necessity, To stand up in defence of injured virtue, Will against any, I except no quality, Maintain all supposition misapplied, Unhonest, false, and villainous. Dear cousin, as y'are a gentleman, I'll bless that hand, Whose honourable pity seals the passport For my incessant turmoils, to their rest. If I prevail, (which heaven forbid) these ages Which shall inherit ours, may tell posterity Spinella and Malfato for a kinsman, By noble love made jealous of her fame. No more, I dare not hear it. All is said: Henceforth shall never syllable proceed, From my unpleasant voice, of amorous folly— Your summons warned me hither, I am come Sister, my sister 'twas an unkind part, Not to take me along w'ee. Chide her for it, Castanna, this house is as freely yours, As ever was your fathers. we conceive so, Though your late strangeness hath bred marvel in us, But wherefore, sister, keeps your silence distance? Am I not welcome t'ee? Lives Auria safe? Oh prithee do not hear me call him husband, before thou canst resolve what kind of wife His fury terms the run away, speak quickly, Yet do not stay Castanna, I am lost, His friend hath set before him a bad woman, And he, good man, believes it. Now in truth— Hold, my heart trembles, I perceive thy tongue Is great with ills and hastes to be delivered, I should not use Castanna so, first tell me, Shortly and truly tell me how he does. In perfect health. For that my thanks to heaven.
seed 43: T15 · seed 44: T12 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Liſten to a ſtrange tale, which thus the authour ſigh'd, A kinſman of Spinella (ſo it runnes) Her fathers ſiſters ſoune, ſome time before Auria the fortunate poſſeſt her beauties, Became inamor'd of ſuch rare perfections, As ſhe was ſtor'd with, fed his idle hopes With poſſibilities of lawfull conqueſt, Propoſ'd each difficultie in purſuit Of what his vaine ſuppoſall ſtil'd his owne, Found in the argument one onely flaw Of conſcience, by the nearneſſe of their blouds, Unhappy ſcruple, eaſily diſpenc'd with, Had any friends advice reſolv'd the doubt▪ Still on a' lov'd, and lov'd, and wiſht, and wiſht, Eft-ſoone began to ſpeake, yet ſoone broke off, And ſtill the fondling durſt not, cauſe a' durſt not. Twas wonderfull, Exceeding wonderfull, Beyond all wonder, yet tis knowne for truth, After her marriage, when remaind not ought Of expectation to ſuch fruitleſſe dotage. His reaſon then, now, then could not reduce The violence of paſſion, tho a'vowd Never to unlock that ſecret, ſcarce to her Herſelfe, Spinella, and withall reſolv'd, Not to come neare her preſence, but to avoyd All opportunities how ever proffered. An underſtanding duld by th'infelicitie Of conſtant ſorrow, is not apprehenſive In pregnant noveltie, my eares receive The words you utter, couſin, but my thoughts Are faſtned on another ſubject. Can you embrace, ſo like a darling, your owne woes, And play the tyrant with a partner in them? Then I am thankfull for advantage, urg'd By fatall and enjoynd neceſſitie, To ſtand up in defence of injur'd vertue, Will againſt any, I except no qualitie, Maintaine all ſuppoſition miſapplied, Unhoneſt, falſe, and villanous. Deare couſin, as y'are a gentleman, Ile bleſſe that hand, Whoſe honourable pittie ſeales the paſport For my inceſſant turmoyles, to their reſt. If I prevaile, (which heaven forbid) theſe ages VVhich ſhall inherit ours, may tell poſtericie Spinella and Malfato for a kinſman, By noble love made jealons of her fame. No I dare not heare it. All is ſayd: Henceforth ſhall never ſyllable proceed, From my unpleaſant voyce, of amorous folly— Your ſummons warn'd me hither, I am come Siſter, my ſiſter twas an unkinde part, Not to take me along w'ee. Chide her for it, Caſtanna, this houſe is as freely yours, As ever was your fathers. we conceave ſo, Tho your late ſtrangeneſſe hath bred mervalle in us, But wherefore, ſiſter, keepes your ſilence diſtance? Am I not welcome t'ee? Lives Auria ſafe? Oh prithee doe not heare me call him husband, before thou canſt reſolve what kinde of wife His fury termes the runne away, ſpeake quickely, Yet doe not ſtay Caſtanna, I am loſt, His friend hath ſet before him a bad woman, And hee, good man, believes it. Now in truth— Hold, my heart trembles, I perceive thy tongue Is great with ills and haſtes to be delivered, I ſhould not uſe Caſtanna ſo, firſt tell me, Shortly and truely tell me▪ how he does. In perfect health. For that my thankes to heaven.