Nabbes, Thomas · published 1640 · first performed or written 1640 (Annals) not in BritDrama · Unacted T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.85 · 483 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
You are in love. I have desires, I must confess, but temper them With a discreet respect to their best end: Nor do I suffer any to flame out In violent passions. But they are directed To one peculiar object; that's the Duchess, Is it not so? My breeding and Religion Permit me not to lie: sir 'tis a truth; And you may call it virtuous if you please: But duty which you challenge from me checks it. I neither dare nor will plead any right Where you are interested. I assign it all, She hath o'er thrown my cause with such a scorn As burns me into rage; witness ye powers That guide our not to be resisted fates, How far she's banished from my thoughts. You have sir Breathed a new soul of comfort into me; I'll freely now solicit for myself, And try success. 'Twill show of youthful rashness, Can you ground any hopes? From circumstance I can; but none with which I will be flattered: The honours which she hath conferred upon me Are Arguments she loves me; her salutes Are always dear or dearest. Yet you must not. Marry this Duchess. How, will you oppose it? You then are swollen with an unnatural envy. No more, I must dispose you. I'll obey. But yet I beg you sir temper your power With mild command, and deep consideration: Think on the Duchess. Think upon Melissa. What of my sister sir? She is a beauty That might invite desire, and crown the bed Of any Prince with happiness. Look on her, And make her thy election. Mine! for what? A Wife. Defend ye better influences, No such incestuous dream could e'er possess My wantonest, slumber. 'Tis not so incestuous As that thy inconsiderateness attempted: Resolve to take her, and by all my hopes Of blessed eternity, I will not only Justify that for lawful, but salute thee Ferrara's lawful Duke. What riddle's this? Give it solution. First resolve to be What I have promised. Good sir leave me not Confounded with amazement: are not you My Father sir? or who must own me? Sister, Is there ought in your knowledge that may satisfy My doubtful thoughts? must I not call you sister? Or what's that greater incest I would have Committed? Can the Duchess be my mother? An Aunt's less than a sister? Dearest brother, My knowledge owns no secret which I would not As freely make you master of as wish myself a happiness: I must confess My mother oft hath told me that you were not The issue of her Womb. There's half the riddle Unfolded yet. My Lord your valiant brother This instant is arrived, t'enrich the Court With his full glories: all men court his victory With such a praise, it stains his manly cheeks With modest blushes. He expects your visit. I know no brother.
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
You are in love. I have desires, I must confesse, but temper them With a discreet respect to their best end: Nor doe I suffer any to flame out In violent passions. But they are directed To one peculiar object; that's the Dutchesse, Is it not so? My breeding and Religion Permit me not to lye: sir 'tis a truth; And you may call it vertuous if you please: But duty which you challenge from me checks it. I neither dare nor will plead any right Where you are interested. I assigne it all, She hath o're throwne my cause with such a scorne As burnes me into rage; witnesse ye powers That guide our not to be resisted fates, How farre she's banisht from my thoughts. You have sir Breath'd a new soule of comfort into me; Ile freely now solicite for my selfe, And try successe. 'Twill show of youthfull rashnesse, Can you ground any hopes? From circumstance I can; but none with which I will be flatter'd: The honours which she hath confert'd upon me Are Arguments she loves me; her salutes Are alwaies deare or dearest. Yet you must not. Marry this Dutches. How, will you oppose it? You then are swolne with an unnaturall envy. No more, I must dispose you. I'le obey. But yet I beg you sir temper your power With mild command, and deepe consideration: Thinke on the Dutchesse. Thinke upon Melissa. What of my sister sir? She is a beauty That might invite desire, and crowne the bed Of any Prince with happinesse. Looke on her, And make her thy election. Mine! for what? A Wife. Defend yee better influences, No such incestuous dreame could e're possesse My wanton'st, slumber. 'Tis not so incestuous As that thy inconsideratnesse attempted: Resolve to take her, and by all my hopes Of blest eternity, I will not onely Justifie that for lawfull, but salute thee Ferrara's lawfull Duke. What riddle's this? Give it solution. First resolve to be What I have promis'd. Good sir leave me not Confounded with amazement: are not you My Father sir? or who must owne me? Sister, Is there ought in your knowledge that may satisfie My doubtfull thrughts? must I not call you sister? Or what's that greater ineest I would have Committed? Can the Dutchesse be my mother? An Aunt's lesse then a sister? Dearest brother, My knowledge ownes no secret which I would not As freely make you master of as wish My selfe a happinesse: I must confesse My mother oft hath told me that you were not The issue of her Wombe. There's halfe the riddle Unfoulded yet. My Lord your valiant brother This instant is arriv'd, t'enrich the Court With his full glories: all men court his victory With such a praise, it staines his manly cheekes With modest blushes. He expects your visit. I know no brother.