The Sophister (Fallacy, or The Troubles of Great Hermenia) · chunk 22 of 32
Zouche, Richard · published 1639 · first performed or written 1614 [c.1614-1620] (Annals) comedy unassigned nearest T56 Magic, spells and conjuring · 485 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T56: magic, faustus, charms, charm, conjure, spirits, skill, ho, power, spells.
Nay, but hear a word: Let me entreat your faithful secrecy, And above all things, see you keep it close From Contradiction, lest he second you. I ear not, we men of action use few words. Well, I perceive that you have vowed to make Hermenia's Lord your vassal. Is he gone? Now I could break with laughter. What his hare-brained son? I'll send to meet him, oh 'twill do me good, To see the villains tap each other's blood. Now will I blow up this fellow like a soap bubble. It is necessary for great men to keep some fools as well as many knaves, They will never dispute their business. And must I frame inditements. Yes, 'tis that I should have told thee sooner. 'tis well I must play the screech-owl and proclaim misfortunes, whilst you become the Mercury of more pleasing messages, employed in tuning the strings of love. Sir you must do it, like it as you think fit. I'll think upon it if it be but to sharpen my wits. And prithee noble Ignoratio Sirnam'd Elenchi; wilt thou prove Pander and procurer to any man, thy person promiseth more grace, stain not thy worthiness with so base employments. I never meant it. So I think verily, and therefore thou didst undertake it, Thy brave spirits scorn such service. Yes I do scorn it. Thou dost know thyself. I think I do, and admire myself as much as another. Methinks thine own idea should be thy only Mistress. I must confess I know not that shape that I could ever affect so well. Why then should not these parts raise thee, Nature and Fortune have conspired about thee. Take but this opportunity, and triumph over the world. I doubt not that but I have a farther reach, 'tis here, 'tis here will do it. I warrant 'tis some admirable plot. I'll to the cunning man for some enchantments. Out upon it, work by witchcraft, 'twill never prosper. Then I will use some other means. What's that. Why any thou wilt council me. Then be ruled by me. Thou know'st our master now is called the great Sophism. Yes. And thou art Ignoratio Elenchi. I am so. Now thou art employed upon an honourable message. Well. Proclaim thyself Ambassador. You say true; turn Ambassador, but I am no good speaker. We will help that too; Thou hast his letters, open them, learn to pronounce them, take his person, frame his posture, speak as if thou wert the man thou seemest, she will not choose but answer expectation. Be sure thou act this before good company, a contract is nothing worth without witness. Wouldst thou be there I should speed much the better. I will not fail thee, go and make thyself most richly fine. I warrant you, you seldom see a man of my wits want good clothes. I'll about it straight.
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)
Nay, but heare a word: Let me entreat your faithfull secresie, And above all things, see you keepe it close From Contradiion, lest he second you. I eare not, we men of action use few words. Well, I perceive that you have vow'd to make Hermenia's Lord your vassall. Is he gone? Now I could breake with laughter. What his hare-brain'd sonne? Ile send to meet him, oh twill doe me good, To see the villains tap each others bloud. Now will I blow up this fellow like a soap bubble. It is necessary for great men to keep some fools as well as many knavs, They will never dispute their businesse. And must I frame inditements. Yes, tis that I should have told thee sooner. Tis well I must play the Scrich-owle and proclaime misfortunes, whilst you become the Mercury of more pleasing messages, imploy'd in tuning the strings of love. Sir you must doe it, like it as you thinke fit. Ile thinke upon it if it be but to sharpen my wits. And prethee noble Ignoratio Sirnam'd Elenchi; wilt thou prove Pander and procurer to any man, thy person promiseth more grace, stayne not thy worthinesse with so base imployments. I never meant it. So I thinke verily, and therefore thou didst undertake it, Thy brave spirits scorne such service. Yes I doe scorne it. Thou dost know thy selfe. I thinke I doe, and admire my selfe as much as another. Methinks thine owne Idaea should be thy only Mistris. I must confesse I know not that shape that I could ever affect so well. Why then should not these parts raise thee, Nature and Fortune have conspir'd about thee. Take but this opportunity, and triumph over the world. I doubt not that but I have a farther reach, tis heere, tis heere will doe it. I warrant tis some admirable plot. Ile to the cunning man for some inchantments. Out upon it, worke by witchcraft, 'twill never prosper. Then I will use some other meanes. Whats that. Why any thou wilt councell me. Then be ruled by me. Thou know'st our master now is call'd the great Sophisme. Yes. And thou art Ignoratio Elenchi. I am so. Now thou art employd upon an honourable message. Well. Proclaim thy self Ambassadour. You say true; turne Ambassadour, but I am no good speaker. We will help that too; Thou hast his letters, open them, learn to pronounce them, take his person, frame his posture, speak as if thou wert the man thou seemest, she will not chuse but answere expectation. Besure thou act this before good company, a contract is nothing worth without witnesse. Wouldst thou be there I should speed much the better. I will not faile thee, goe and make thy selfe most richly fine. I warrant you, you seldome see a man of my wits want good cloaths. Ile about it straight.