The Night Walker, or The Little Thief · chunk 32 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 unassigned nearest T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens · 508 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
Part of this truth I know, but prithee boy Proceed to that thou cam'st for; thou didst promise Something, thy language cannot hitherto Encourage me to hope for. That I come to, My Mistress thus unkindly dealt with all, You may imagine, wanted no affliction; And had ere this, wept herself dry as marble, Had not your fortune come to her relief, And twin to her own sorrow brought her comfort. Could the condition of my fate so equal, Lessen her sufferings? I know not how Companions in grief sometimes diminish, And make the pressure easy, by degrees: She threw her troubles off, remembering yours, And from her pity of your wrongs, there grew Affection to your person thus increased, And with it, confidence, that those whom Nature Had made so even in their weight of sorrow, Could not but love as equally one another, Were things but well prepared, this gave her boldness To employ me thus far. A strange message boy. If you incline to meet my Mistress love, It may beget your comforts; besides that, 'tis some revenge, that you above their scorn And pride, can laugh at them, whose perjury Hath made you happy, and undone themselves. Have you done boy. Only this little more; When you but see, and know my Mistress well, You will forgive my tediousness, she's fair, Fair as Maria was. I'll hear no more, Go foolish boy, and tell thy fonder Mistress She has no second faith to give away; And mine; was given to Maria, though her death, Allow me freedom, see the Picture of her, I would give ten thousand Empires for the substance; Yet for Maria's sake, whose divine Figure That rude frame carries, I will love this counterfeit Above all the world, and had thy Mistress all The grace and blossom of her sex; now she Is gone, that was a walking Spring of beauty, I would not look upon her. Sir, your pardon, I have but done a message; as becomes A servant, nor did she on whose commands I gladly waited, bid me urge her love To your disquiet, she would chide my diligence If I should make you angry. Pretty Boy. Indeed I fear I have offended you: Pray if I have, enjoin me any penance for it; I have performed one duty, and could as willingly To purge my fault, and show I suffer with you, Plead your cause to another. And I'll take thee At thy word boy, thou hast a moving language, That pretty innocent, Copy of Maria Is all I love, I know not how to speak, Win her to think well of me, and I will Reward thee to thy wishes. I undertake Nothing for gain, but since you have resolved To love no other, I'll be faithful to you, And my prophetic thoughts bid me already Say I shall prosper. Thou wert sent to bless me. Pray give us opportunity. Be happy. he's gone. With your fair leave Mistress Have you pusiness with her pray you?
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)
Part of this truth I know, but prethee boy Proceede to that thou cam'st for; thou didst promise Something, thy language cannot hitherto Encourage me to hope for. That I come to, My Mistresse thus unkindly dealt with all, You may imagine, wanted no affliction; And had ere this, wept her selfe drie as marble, Had not your fortune come to her reliefe, And twinne to her owne sorrow brought her comfort. Could the condition of my fate so equall, Lessen her sufferings? I know not how Companions in griefe sometimes diminish, And make the pressure easie, by degrees: She threw her troubles off, remembring yours, And from her pitty of your wrongs, there grew Affection to your person thus increas'd, And with it, confidence, that those whom Nature Had made so even in their weight of sorrow, Could not but love as equally one another, Were things but well prepar'd, this gave her boldnesse To employ me thus farre. A strange message boy. If you incline to meete my Mistresse love, It may beget your comforts; besides that, Tis some revenge, that you above their scorne And pride, can laugh at them, whose perjurie Hath made you happy, and undone themselves. Have you done boy. Onely this little more; When you but see, and know my Mistresse well, You will forgive my tediousnesse, shee's faire, Faire as Maria was. Ile heare no more, Goe foolish boy, and tell thy fonder Mistresse She has no second faith to give away; And mine; was given to Maria, though her death, Allow me freedome, see the Picture of her, I would give ten thousand Empires for the substance; Yet for Marias sake, whose divine Figure That rude frame carries, I will love this counterfeit Above all the world, and had thy Mistresse all The grace and blossome of her sexe; now she Is gone, that was a walking Spring of beauty, I would not looke upon her. Sir, your pardon, I have but done a message; as becomes A servant, nor did she on whose commands I gladly waited, bid me urge her love To your disquiet, she would chide my deligence If I should make you angry. Pretty Boy. Indeede I feare I have offended you: Pray if I have, enjoyne me any penhance for it; I have perform'd one duty, and could as willingly To purge my fault, and shew I suffer with you, Plead your cause to another. And Ile take thee At thy word boy, thou hast a moving language, That pretty innocent, Coppie of Maria Is all I love, I know not how to speake, Winne her to thinke well of me, and I will Reward thee to thy wishes. I undertake Nothing for gaine, but since you have resolv'd To love no other, Ile be faithfull to you, And my propheticke thoughts bid me already Say I shall prosper. Thou wert sent to blesse me. Pray give us opportunity. Be happy. Hee's gone. With your faire leave Mistresse Have you pusinesse with her pray you?