The Night Walker, or The Little Thief · chunk 30 of 39
Fletcher, John / Shirley, James · published 1640 · first performed or written c.1611(?) [revised by Shirley and re-licensed for stage, May 11, 1633] (Annals) comedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit T5 Christian faith, sin and salvation typicality 0.79 · 503 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T5: god, christ, david, sin, holy, israel, lord, mercy, sins, faith.
Be my good Angel, here I promise thee, To become honest, and renounce all villainy; Enjoin me any penance, i'll build Churches; A whole city of Hospitals. Take heed, There is no dallying, nor are these imposed. Name any thing within my power, sweet Angel; And if I do not faithfully perform it, Then whip me every day, burn me each minute, Whole years together, let me freeze to icicles. I'th' number of thy soul oppressions; Thou hast undone a faithful gentleman, By taking forfeit of his land. Young Lurcher, I do confess. He lives most miserable, And in despair may hang or drown himself; Prevent his ruin, or his blood will be More sin in thy account: hast thou forgotten He had a sister? I do well remember it. Couldst thou for Mammon break thy solemn vow. Made once to that unhappy maid, that weeps A thousand tears a day for thy unkindness, Was not thy faith contracted, and thy heart? And couldst thou marry another? But she's dead, And I will make true satisfaction. What do I instance these, that hast been false To all the world. I know it, and will henceforth Practise repentance, do not frown sweet Angel; I will restore all mortgages, forswear Abominable Usury, live chaste; For I have been wanton in my shroud, my age; And if that poor innocent maid, I so abused Be living, I will marry her, and spend My days to come religiously. I was commanded but a messenger To tell thee this, and rescue thee from those, Whose malice would have dradged thee quick to hell, If thou abuse this mercy and repent not, Double damnation will expect thee for it; But if thy life be virtuous hereafter, A blessedness shall reward thy good example, Thy fright hath much distracted thy weak senses, Drink of this viol, and renew thy spirits, I ha' done my office, think on't and be happy. So, so, He gapes already, now he's fast; Thou hast acted rarely; but this is not all; First, help to convey him out o'th' vault. You will dispense with me now, as you promised sir. We will make shift without thee, thou'st done well, By our device this bandog may scape hell. Didst think Maria, this poor outside, and Dissembling of thy voice could hide thee from A mother's searching eye, though too much fear, Lest thou wert not the same, might blind a lover That thought thee dead too; oh my dear Maria, I hardly kept my joys in from betraying thee: Welcome again to life, we shall find out The mystery of thy absence; conceal Thy person still, for Algripe must not know thee: And exercise this pretty dialect; If there be any course in Law to free thee, Thou shalt not be so miserable; be silent Good Nurse. You shall not need to fear me Madam, I do not love the usuring Iew so well; Beside, 'twas my trick to disguise her so. Be not dejected Mall.
seed 43: T4 · seed 44: T5 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Be my good Angell, here I promise thee, To become honest, and renounce all villany; Enjoyne me any pennance, ile build Churches; A whole city of Hospitalls. Take heede, There is no dallying, nor are these impos'd. Name any thing within my power, sweet Angell; And if I doe not faithfully performe it, Then whip me every day, burne me each minute, Whole yeares together, let me freeze to Isicles. I'th number of thy soule oppressions; Thou hast undone a faithfull gentleman, By taking forfeit of his land. Young Lurcher, I doe confesse. He lives most miserable, And in despaire may hang or drowne himselfe; Prevent his ruine, or his blood will be More sinne in thy account: hast thou forgotten He had a sister? I doe well remember it. Couldst thou for Mammon breake thy solemne vow. Made once to that unhappy maide, that weepes A thousand teares a day for thy unkindnesse, Was not thy faith contracted, and thy heart? And couldst thou marry another? But she's dead, And I will make true satisfaction. What doe I instance these, that hast beene false To all the world. I know it, and will henceforth Practise repentance, doe not frowne sweete Angell; I will restore all morgages, forsweare Abominable Usury, live chaste; For I have beene wanton in my shroud, my age; And if that poore innocent maide, I so abus'd Be living, I will marry her, and spend My dayes to come religiously. I was commanded but a messenger To tell thee this, and rescue thee from those, Whose malice would have dradg'd thee quicke to hell, If thou abuse this mercy and repent not, Double damnation will expect thee for it; But if thy life be vertuous hereafter, A blessednesse shall reward thy good example, Thy fright hath much diftracted thy weake senses, Drinke of this violl, and renew thy spirits, I ha done my office, thinke on't and be happy. So, so, He gapes already, now he's fast; Thou hast acted rarely; but this is not all; First, helpe to convey him out o'th vault. You will dispense with me now, as you promis'd sir. We will make shift without thee, tha'st done well, By our device this bandoge may scape hell. Didst thinke Maria, this poore outside, and Dissembling of thy voyce could hide thee from A mothers searching eye, though too much feare, Lest thou we'rt not the same, might blind a lover That thought thee dead too; oh my deare Maria, I hardly kept my joyes in from betraying thee: Welcome againe to life, we shall find out The mystery of thy absence; conceale Thy person still, for Algripe must not know thee: And exercise this pretty dialect; If there be any course in Law to free thee, Thou shalt not be so miserable; be silent Good Nurse. You shall not neede to feare me Madam, I doe not love the usuring Iew so well; Beside, 'twas my tricke to disguise her so. Be not dejected Mall.