The Sophister (Fallacy, or The Troubles of Great Hermenia) · chunk 7 of 32
Zouche, Richard · published 1639 · first performed or written 1614 [c.1614-1620] (Annals) comedy unassigned nearest T6 Money, debt and credit · 510 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T6: money, master, pound, law, lawyer, chain, gentleman, gold, pay, pray.
I Would the number of things in the world had been less, or the names more, I might not have been thus troubled. There is nothing spoken or written but is subject to so many interpretations, that without Distinction, giveth occasion of an hundred evasions. An Obligation cannot be made for ten Groats, but the attorney will have half a Crown for Parchment: no less will hold the Addition of the party's names, of younger and elder, Butcher and Tanner of Witam and Wolvercoat; that if the unskilful Painter was fain to write under his well resembled Pictures, this is a Dog, this is an Hare, I had need to come after and tell what Dog, what Hare he meaneth. But yesterday an Herald was with me, who, as I loved to save bloodshed, entreated me to help him to pacify two incensed Citizens, who since the year 1610, when all Artificers and Tradesmen became Gentlemen, fortuned to light both upon the same Coat-armour, and now were ready to fight, who should have it most proper, if I lent him not some difference to put betwixt them: I asking what the Coat was, he told me a bull's head, whereupon I advised him to call his, that was the younger, an ox-head, and make the horns a little longer; and I hope by this they are contented. And indeed I cannot wonder that so often many things have but one name, when sometimes one thing engrosseth many names, like the Spanish Nobility, which require whole sheets for a Superscription. You may inquire for a Broker, meet with a Bawd, and fall into the hands of an Usurer, yet all but one Citizen. You may there see a Scholar troubled with the Rheum, a Gentleman ill at ease, a Servingman stark drunk, all sick of one disease; I would some would reduce these things to a parity, and relieve the nullity of some by the plurality of others; or some good Cyrus would adventure a jerking, by taking away from short things those Titles which are too long for them, and giving to those who are too short, and so fit them both. If Division would come once, I would speak to him myself, to make a more equal distribution; and I wonder he stays so long; but now here he comes with the rest. Come, come, my Lord, it is time we were about this business. Good my Lord Definition, you must pardon me, you know I am troubled with two shrewd impediments, Age and weakness; and besides Dichotomy hath let me blood, and charged me I should neither use Horse nor Coach, but trust to mine own two legs; nay he will fierce permit me a staff to lean upon. My Lord Division, it were best that you fate down if you are weary. Distinction have you brought the rolls? they be the Records which preserve things done from swallowing up in oblivion. If you mean the rolls you bid me, I have; if any other, I have not.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
I Would the number of things in the world had been lesse, or the names more, I might not have beene thus troubled. There is nothing spoken or written but is subject to so many interpretations, that without Distinction▪ giveth occasion of an hundred evasions. An Obligation cannot be made for tenne Groats, but the Attourney will have halfe a Crowne for Parchment: no lesse will hold the Addition of the parties names, of younger and elder, Butcher and Tanner of Witam and Wolvercoate; that if the unskilfull Painter was faine to write under his well resembled Pictures, this is a Dogge, this is an Hare, I had need to come after and tell what Dogge, what Hare he meaneth. But yesterday an Herauld was with me, who▪ as I lov'd to save blood-shed, intreated me to helpe him to pacifie two incensed Citizens, who since the yeare 1610, when all Artificers and Tradesmen became Gentlemen, fortuned to light both upon the same Coate-armour, and now were ready to fight, who should have it most proper, if I lent him not some difference to put betwixt them: I asking what the Coate was, he told me a Bulls head, whereupon I advised him to call his, that was the yonger, an Oxe-head, and make the hornes a little longer; and I hope by this they are contented. And indeed I cannot wonder that so often many things have but one name, when sometimes one thing engrosseth many names, like the Spanish Nobility, which require whole sheets for a Superscription. You may enquire for a Broker, meete with a Bawd, and fall into the hands of an Vsurer, yet all but one Citizen. You may there see a Schollr troubled with the Rheume, a Gentleman ill at ease, a Servingman starke drunke, all sicke of one disease; I would some would reduce these things to a parity, and relieve the nullity of some by the plurality of others; or som good Cyrus would adventure a jerking, by taking away from short things those Titles which are too long for them, and giving to those who are too short, and so fit them both. If Division would come once, I would speake to him my selfe, to make a more equall distribution; and I wonder hee staies so long; but now heere hee comes with the rest. Come, come, my Lord, it is time we were about this businesse. Good my Lord Difinition, you must pardon me, you know I am troubled with two shrewd impediments, Age and weakenesse; and besides Dichotomy hath let mee bloud, and charged me I should neither use Horse nor Coach, but trust to mine owne two legges; nay hee will fearce permit me a staffe to Ieane upon. My Lord Division, it were best that you fate downe if you are weary. Distinction have you brought the rolles? they bee the Records which preserve things done from swallowing up in oblivion. If you meane the rolles you bid me, I have; if any other, I have not.