Nabbes, Thomas · published 1640 · first performed or written 1640 (Annals) not in BritDrama · Unacted T11 Siblings, kin and confidants typicality 0.82 · 502 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T11: sister, brother, love, friend, heart, father, mother, woman, lord, hear.
But how Do you apply them? That unto myself I best know how to use. we'll first thank Heaven, And then we'll see some maskery. This day we'll honour with solemnities. With me sir? Brother. Forget that name; it must be lost To both our memories. Sure mine preserves not The least impression of an injury I ever did you, that might justly challenge Th' acquaintance of that Title. Others look Upon my fortune with respectful smiles; You either scorn or envy it. I do neither; But there are secrets which my knowledge cannot Yet comprehend, till time makes more discoveries: If it appear then you are not my brother, Say not it was my fault. I would you give me A fuller satisfaction. When I can I will not be reserved. I know not what Your words imply, unless you'll call me bastard; And that hath danger in't. No privilege Of nature, or respects unto the greatness Favour hath raised you to— he's here can satisfy. Will you yet wed Melissa? Never sir; I would you'd clear my doubts. Oh never sir, Till you perform that act. My ignorance And innocence shall then preserve me safe; There may be danger in the knowledge of it: Hence forth I'll not be curious. Sir, my duty That taught me humble knees, and an obedience Is somewhat staggered; something hath begot A jealousy within me, that I ought not Pay them to you: but still my virtuous reason Doth fight against that sin. What mean you Notho? My brother sir, or Spurio (for the name Of brother he refuseth) says we are not The issue of one blood. It was a folly, And inconsiderate rashness to betray Himself to so much hazard. Sir, the knowledge Would settle my disturbances, and make Again that duty perfect, which yet doubts To whom it owes itself. Those words of his Might be interpreted; and I confess My wanton youth had much unlawful issue: Of which perhaps he's one. My lawfulness Had then first privilege to take exception: I must not now own him. Yes; for my love Is equal to you both. In that you are Unjust to the deserts of my dead mother; And th' Honoured family whence she derived Her blood and virtues. It becomes not you To tax my partial humour, since yourself Is equally unlawful. You have awed me, 'Twas not my sin; and thus my duty begs The public knowledge may not be my shame. That shall not stain, thy fame stains not thy conscience: And tell me Notho, dar'st be great? be What fortune or my reason prompts me to, If warranted for lawful. Dar'st be Duke? Forbid it loyalty. 'Tis in my power To make thee justly so. If't be my right, There's no attempt that can have danger in't Enough to fright me. Shall't attempt no danger: The prosecution shall be politic And safe. But first thou must resolve to do What I command thee. Speak it. Wed Melissa.
nodes 1135–1229 (positions in the processed text, not lines of the printed book) · chunk 15 of 26 in this edition
Length
502 words · 634 tokens
Topic (seed 42)
T11 — Siblings, kin and confidantscross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · typicality 0.822 (cosine to the topic centroid)
Other seeds
seed 43: T15 · seed 44: T12 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
But how Doe you apply them? That unto my selfe I best know how to use. Wee'l first thanke Heaven, And then wee'l see some maskery. This day Wee'l honour with solemnities. With me sir? Brother. Forget that name; it must be lost To both our memories. Sure mine preserves not The least impression of an injury I ever did you, that might justly challenge Th' acquintance of that Title. Others looke Upon my fortune with respectfull smiles; You either scorne or envy it. I doe neither; But there are secrets which my knowledge cannot Yet comprehend, till time makes more discoveries: If it appeare then you are not my brother, Say not it was my fault. I would you give me A fuller satisfaction. When I can I will not be reserv'd. I know not what Your words imply, unlesse you'll call me bastard; And that hath danger in't. No priviledge Of nature, or respects unto the greatnesse Favour hath rais'd you to— Hee's here can satisfie. Will you yet wedde Melissa? Never sir; I would you'ld cleare my doubts. Oh never sir, Till you performe that act. My ignorance And innocence shall then preserve me safe▪ There may be danger in the knowledge of it: Hence forth Ile not be curious. Sir, my duty That taught me humble knees, and an obedience Is somewhat stagger'd; something hath begot A jealousie within me, that I ought not Pay them to you: but still my vertuous reason Doth fight against that sin. What meane you Notho? My brother sir, or Spurio (for the name Of brother he refuseth) sayes we are not The issue of one blood. It was a folly, And inconsiderate rashnesse to betray Himselfe to so much hazard. Sir, the knowledge Would settle my disturbances, and make Agen that duty perfect, which yet doubts To whom it owes it selfe. Those words of his Might be interpreted; and I confesse My wanton youth had much unlawfull issue: Of which perhaps he's one. My lawfulnesse Had then first priviledge to take exception: I must not now owne him. Yes; for my love Is equall to you both. In that you are Unjust to the deserts of my dead mother; And th' Honour'd family whence she deriv'd Her blood and vertues. It becomes not you To taxe my partiall humour, since your selfe Is equally unlawfull. You have aw'd me, 'Twas not my sin; and thus my duty beggs The publicke knowledge may not be my shame. That shall not staine, thy fame staines not thy conscience: And tell me Notho, dar'st be great? be What fortune o my reason promps me to, If warranted for lawfull. Dar'st be Duke? Forbid it loyalty. 'Tis in my power To make thee justly so. If't be my right, There's no attempt that can have danger in't Enough to fright me. Shall't attempt no danger: The prosecution shall be politicke And safe. But first thou must resolve to doe What I command thee. Speake it. Wed Melissa.