The Night Walker, or The Little Thief · chunk 33 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 T41 Household service: masters, doors and po · 503 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T41: master, house, door, iohn, old, mistress, basket, lord, gentleman, ick.
I have a message from a gentleman, Please you vouchsafe your ear more private. You shall have my absence Niece. Was the sentleman afeard to declare his matters openly, here was nobody's was not very honest, if her like not her errands the better, was witted to kept her breathes to cool her porridges, can tell her that now for aule her private hearings, and tawgings. You may, if please you, find another language, And with less pains be understood. What is her meaning? Come, pray speak your own English. Have boys lost her iots and memories? pless us aule. I must be plain then, come, I know you are Maria, this thin veil cannot obscure you: I'll tell the world you live, I have not lost ye, Since first with grief and shame to be surprised, A violent trance took away show of life; I could discover by what accident You were conveyed away at midnight, in Your coffin, could declare the place, and minute, When you revived, and what you have done since as perfectly— Alas, I am betrayed to new misfortunes. You are not for my knowledge, I'll be dumb For ever, rather than be such a traitor; Indeed I pity you, and bring no thoughts, But full of peace, call home your modest blood, Pale hath too long usurped upon your face; Think upon love again, and the possession Of full blown joys, now ready to salute you. These words undo me more than my own griefs. I see how fear would play the tyrant with you, But I'll remove suspicion; have you in Your heart an entertainment for his love, To whom your Virgin faith made the first promise? If thou mean'st Hartlove, thou dost wound me still, I have no life without his memory, Nor with it any hope to keep it long, Thou seest I walk in darkness like a thief, That fears to see the world in his own shape, My very shadow frights me, 'tis a death To live thus, and not look day in the face, Away, I know thee not. You shall hereafter know, and thank me Lady, I'll bring you a discharge at my next visit, Of all your fears, be content fair Maria, 'tis worth your wonder Impossible. Be wise and silent, Dress yourself, you shall be what you wish. Do this, and be My better Angel. All your cares on me. I Must applaud thy diligence. It had been nothing To ha' left him in the Porch; I called his Servants, With wonders they acknowledged him, I pretended It was some spice sure of the falling sickness, And that was charity to bring him home; They rubbed and chafed him, plied him with strong water, Still he was senseless, clamours could not wake him; I wished 'em then get him to bed, they did so, And almost smothered him with rugs and pillows; And cause they should have no cause to suspect me, I watched them till he waked.
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 have a message from a gentleman, Please you vouchsafe your eare more private. You shall have my absence Neece. Was the sentleman afeard to declare his matters openly, here was no bodies was not very honest, if her like not her errands the petter, was wist to keept her preathes to coole her porridges, can tell her that now for aule her private hearings, and tawgings. You may, if please you, finde another language, And with lesse paines be understood. What is her meaning? Come, pray speake your owne English. Have boyes lost her its and memories? plesse us aule. I must be plaine then, come, I know you are Maria, this thinne vaile cannot obscure you: Ile tell the world you live, I have not lost yee, Since first with griese and shame to be surpris'd, A violent trance tooke away shew of life; I could discover by what accident You were convey'd away at midnight, in Your coffin, could declare the place, and minute, When you reviv'd, and what you have done since as perfectly — Alas, I am betraid to new misfortunes. You are not for my knowledge, Ile be dumbe For ever, rather than be such a traytor; Indeede I pitty you, and bring no thoughts, But full of peace, call home your modest blood, Pale hath too long usurp'd upon your face; Thinke upon love agen, and the possession Of full blowne joyes, now ready to salute you. These words undoe me more than my owne grieses. I see how feare would play the tyrant with you, But Ile remove suspition; have you in Your heart an entertainement for his love, To whom your Virgin faith made the first promise? If thou mean'st Hartlove, thou dost wound me still, I have no life without his memory, Nor with it any hope to keepe it long, Thou seest I walke in darkenesse like a theefe, That feares to see the world in his owne shape, My very shadow frights me, tis a death To live thus, and not looke day in the face, Away, I know thee not. You shall hereafter know, and thanke me Lady, Ile bring you a discharge at my next visit, Of all your feares, be content faire Maria, Tis worth your wonder Impossible. Be wise and silent, Dresse your selfe, you shall be what you wish. Doe this, and be My better Angell. All your cares on me. I Must applaud thy diligence. It had beene nothing To ha left him in the Porch; I call'd his Servants, With wonders they acknowledg'd him, I pretended It was some spice sure of the falling sicknesse, And that was charitie to bring him home; They rub'd and chaf'd him, ply'd him with strong water, Still he was senselesse, clamors could not wake him; I wished 'em then get him to bed, they did so, And almost smothr'd him with rugges and pillowes; And cause they should have no cause to suspect me, I watch'd them till he wak'd.