Shirley, James · published 1640 · first performed or written 1634 [licensed for stage, Nov 29] (Annals) comedy · Queen Henrietta Maria's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 486 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
It does concern my honour, 'tis done instantly, She may be cold ere morning, I'll not lose This opportunity, I am made for ever. He has an odd way of Courtship, sure my brother, Unless he know him better than this wildness Can promise, will be sparing to contract Our hearts too fast, he has but a rough outside, But my strange thoughts within me are corrected, And I possess myself again thank providence, Ursini. Madam I am bold to press On your retirement, but when you remember I bring no mutinous thoughts, but such as are Devoted to your service, you will think it A trespass that may soon invite a pardon. You must first practise to offend my Lord, This is favour to me. Still such goodness Flows from your language to me at the first Encounter; but when I take boldness to Have some assurance from you alone, Which I have hoped and served for, with the truth Of your best honourer, you decline the subject, Or fly the sweet conclusion. My Lord, That you have loved, at least professed so much, May easily be granted, but let me Beseech you Sir, did you upon the first Motion that wrought upon your mind to think Me worthy of your love acquaint me with it. No Madam, I long cherished the soft fire That tried the pureness of it, and the object That shot so bright a flame into my bosom, And had suppressed it still, but that your virtue Grew up too powerful against it, than I took leave to express how much I wished To be your votary. Give me equal licence My Lord in the same cause to try myself, I have thoughts too would be composed of something In you to be examined. I submit, And shall obey your censure, life and death Hang on your lip, I come to be determined Your servant or your sacrifice, for to languish At distance thus. Then you expect an answer Presently, I much fear my Lord I sha'not, In that particular, satisfy your Lordship. You want no knowledge of me, there is nothing In my past fate but may appear to you, My nature needs no gloss, my blood, my fortune Clear to your view, my person not much withered; If these together want a charm, I can Deserve you may love, for I know best The extent of my devotions, and the heart That though you should despise it must still serve you. But good my Lord what answer you to this? Is it becoming the discretion Of a noble servant to pursue his mistress By unruly ways, and interpose commands And power of great ones to enforce the heart Of any Lady: though I must confess Her grace may challenge my obedience To her law and person, it has been yet a rule, And love and religion cannot be compelled
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)
It does concerne my honour, tis done instantly, She may be cold e're morning, Ile not lose This opportunitie, I am made for ever. He has an odde way of Courtship, sure my brother, Vnlesse he know him better then this wildnesse Can promise, will be sparing to contract Our hearts too fast, he has but a rough outside, But my strange thoughts within me are corrected, And I possesse my selfe againe thanke providence, Ursini. Madam I am bold to presse On your retirement, but when you remember I bring no mutinous thoughts, but such as are Devoted to your service, you will thinke it A trespasse that may soone invite a pardon. You must first practise to offend my Lord, This is favour to me. Still such goodnesse Flowes from your language to me at the first Encounter; but when I take▪ boldnesse to Have some assurance from you alone, Which I have hop'd and serv'd for, with the truth Of your best honorer, you decline the subject, Or flie the sweet conclusion. My Lord, That you have lov'd, at least profess'd so much, May easily be granted, but let me Beseech you Sir, did you upon the first Motion that wrought upon your minde to thinke Me worthy of your love acquaint me with it. No Madam, I long cherish'd the soft fire That tryed the purenesse of it, and the object That shot so bright a flame into my bosome, And had supprest it still, but that your vertue Grew up too powerfull against it, then I tooke leave to expresse how much I wish'd To be your votary. Give me equall licence My Lord in the same cause to try my selfe, I have thoughts too would be compos'd of something In you to be examin'd. I submit, And shall obey your censure, life and death Hange on your lippe, I come to be determin'd Your servant or your sacrifice, for to languish At distance thus. Then you expect an answer Presently, I much feare my Lord I shannot, In that particular, satisfie your Lordship. You want no knowledge of me, there is nothing In my past fate but may appeare to you, My nature needs no glosse, my blood, my fortune Cleare to your view, my person not much witherd; If these together want a charme, I can Deserve you may love, for I know best The extent of my devotions, and the heart That tho you should despise it must still serve you. But good my Lord what answer you to this? Is it becomming the discretion Of a noble servant to persue his mistris By unruly wayes, and interpose commands And power of great ones to enforce the heart Of any Lady: though I must confesse Her grace may challenge my obedience To her law and person, it has beene yet a rule, And love and religion cannot be compel'd