Lower, William · published 1639 · first performed or written 1639 [c.1622-1639] (Annals) not in BritDrama unassigned nearest T14 Royal love, favour and dynastic relation · 455 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T14: prince, princess, love, king, lord, queen, madam, grace, lady, life.
My humblest thanks for this high privilege Bright goddess that you deign me, let my lips Pay duteous tribute to your lily hands I do beseech you Sir I now leave you, For fear I should be missed, and so fell under The censure of black tongues, which take delight To spot the reputation of a maid; I should be loath to give the world occasion Even of the least suspicion, yet I must Dispense with my return a little longer To do one friendly office in behalf Of a distressed Princess, you may guess The scope of my intent in these few words. Who do you mean, the fair Lucinda Madam? Whose angry stars made so unfortunate, As to bestow her love on me unworthy, Whose state is such, as that I cannot make Reciprocal return of her affection. I must impute that to your cruel nature, (Pardon me Sir) and to no other cause, Else what should make the Princess so contemned? Is beauty wanting? no, the envious't wretch That breathes this air, must be enforced to say, Her portion's large that way, the curious't eye Can see no blemish in her beauteous face. Is youth decayed then? no, 'twere sin to think it, For flowers and Roses spring up in her cheeks, Half white, half red, most purely intermixed. Is virtue banished? O methinks my tongue Profaned is for asking such a question So much improbable! will you allege She is not great enough in birth or fortune? That will not stand in law, for 'twill be proved She is the greatest Princess of the world; If beauty, youth, virtue, and high descent Accompany her greatness: what is more To be required in a princely Bride? I grant it Madam, that she comes not short Of what you speak her, but abounds in all Perfections of the body and the mind, But yet this cannot bind me to become Disloyal to the Saint, whose temple was Long since erected in this heart of mine, Before I saw Lucinda, I'll adore No other goddess in my thoughts but she, To whom I sacrifice my heart and soul; I know your virtue's such, as not to urge (My reasons thus revealed) a thing unlawful: O no, you hate to further such a suit, Fair Princess, so unjust. Would I were she He loves with such devotion, but alas I do despair my fortune. I have done. Far be it from my thoughts to make a breach Of love and loyalty between two hearts, United in themselves; but since I have Made this discovery, I beseech to know, (Pardon a woman's curiosity) The Mistress of your thoughts, I must not be The second time denied.
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)
My humblest thankee for this high priviledg Bright goddesse that you daign me, let my lips Pay dutious tribute to your lilly hands I doe besech you Sir I now leave you, For feare I should be miss'd, and so fll der The censure of black tonges, which take delight To spot the reputation of a maide; I should be loath to give the world occasion Even of the least suspition, yet I must Dispence with my returne a little longer To doe one friendly office in behalfe Of a distressed Princesse, you may guesse The scope of my intent in these few words. Who doe you meane, the faire Lucinda Madam? Whose angry stars made so unfortunate, As to bestow her love on me unworthy, Whose state is such, as that I cannot make Reciprocall returne of her affection. I must impute that to your cruell nature, (Pardon me Sir) and to no other cause, Else what should make the Princess so contemn'd? Is beauty wanting? no, the envious't wretch That breathes this ayre, must be inforc'd to say, Her portion's large that way, the curious't eye Can see no blemish in her beanteous face. Is youth decay'd then? no, 'twere sinne to thinke it, For flowers and Roses spring up in her cheeks, Halfe white, halfe red, most purely intermixt. Is vertue banish'd? O me thinks my tongue Profaned is for asking such a question So much improbable! will you alledge She is not great enough in birth or fortune? That will not stand in w, for 'twill be prov'd She is the greatest Princesse of the world; If beauty, youth, vertue, and high descent Accompany her greatnesse: what is more To be required in a princely Bride? I grant it Madam, that she comes not short Of what you speake her, but abounds in all Perfections of the body and the minde, But yet this cannot binde me to become Disloyall to the Saint, whose temple was Long since erected in this heart of mine, Before I saw Lucinda, I'le adore No other goddesse in my thoughts but she, To whom I sacrifice my heart and soule; I know your vertue's such, as not to urge (My reasons thus reveal'd) a thing unlawfull: O no, you hate to further such a suit, Faire Princesse, so unjust. Would I were she He loves with such devotion, but alas I doe despaire my fortune. I have done. Farre be it from my thoughts to make a breach Of love and loyalty between two hearts, Vnited in themselves; but since I have Made this discovery, I beseech to know, (Pardon a womans curiosity) The Mistresse of your thoughts, I must not be The second time deny'd.