Nabbes, Thomas · published 1640 · first performed or written 1640 (Annals) not in BritDrama · Unacted T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.84 · 511 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
I my Lord Think you so far from being vicious, Your scruples scarce allow those virtues in you A merit, which to us might be examples. I meant you no such privilege. Believe it, I will not flatter you; for sure you have Some easy faults, that will admit th' excuse Of frailty: such as love. Is Love a sin then? Yes, when it burns with a corrupted flame; And lights desire to what is sensual only, Without regard of aught that makes our difference The most refined and perfect in its nature: Beasts have their lust. I almost understand you, But sure you dare not think me forward that way; Your error were not friendly: neither is there A Lady so neglected: she would court My shallow worth, or yield if she were courted. There is that Magic in your masculine graces, Th'have charmed the beauty of the Court to love you: And 'tis arrived my knowledge. What's that beauty? Instruct my ignorance. Amanda sir, And though she be my sister, I do give her No attribute, fame and the general voice Confirm? not to her. With that name thou hast Charmed me Fidelio throughly, and recalled My apoplexied thoughts to their first life. Mine eyes were blinded with the Duchess so, I could not see that happiness which now I wish next to my eternity. But give me Assurance good Fidelio. That were vainness; And now I must confess you had great cause To be disturbed: profess love to the Duchess, When you had given Amanda such deep earnest. What earnest mean you? yet I ne'er saluted Her ears with a request; or urged the grant Of what you say, her inclination Would freely give me. Why should you express This nice unwillingness to be discovered? The knowledge of't as yet is limited To a small number, and the memory Of her dishonour will be quickly lost In a fair recompense. There's nothing clear To me in this dark mystery, but that The beauty you call sister is a Whore: Is it not so? yourself can best interpret, And yet methinks another name would sound More Courtlike; and not have half so much offensive: For though she have the stain, I know she holds That nobleness of spirit, none but such a one As your full self could ever win her to it; And a fair satisfaction vowed withal: Which sure you will perform. Thou art a villain; Did my election from a world of men Single thee out to be so much myself; The union of our souls would not admit Of a division, but that interchange And custom taught us read each others thoughts? And can that soul of thine express itself Subject, so easily to be corrupted With jealousy and error? Then let Moralists Fable hence forth no empty name of friendship, Nor boast there's such a secret: I shall never Wear thee more here. This is no satisfaction, I dare believe your innocence; if you Dare urge it solemnly, and thereby give it A confirmation.
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)
I my Lord Thinke you so farre from being vitious, Your scruples scarce allow those vertues in you A merit, which to us might be examples. I meant you no such priviledge. Beleeve it, I will not flatter you; for sure you have Some easie faults, that will admit th' excuse Of frailty: such as love. Is Love a sinne then? Yes, when it burnes with a corrupted flame; And lights desire to what is sensuall onely, Without regard of ought that makes our difference The most refin'd and perfect in its nature: Beasts have their lust. I almost understand you, But sure you dare not thinke me forward that way; Your errour were not friendly: neither is there A Lady so neglected: she would court My shallow worth, or yeeld if she were courted. There is that Magick in your masculine graces, Th'have charm'd the beauty of the Court to love you: And 'tis arriv'd my knowledge. What's that beauty? Instruct my ignorance. Amanda sir, And though she be my sister, I doe give her No attribute, fame and the generall voyce Confirme? not to her. With that name thou hast Charm'd me Fidelio throughly, and recall'd My apoplexi'd thoughts to their first life. Mine eyes were blinded with the Dutchesse so, I could not see that happinesse which now I wish next to my eternity. But give me Assurance good Fidelio. That were vainenesse; And now I must confesse you had great cause To be disturb'd: professe love to the Dutchesse, When you had given Amanda such deepe earnest. What earnest meane you? yet I ne're saluted Her eares with a request; or urg'd the grant Of what you say, her inclination Would freely give me. Why should you expresse This nice unwillingnesse to be discover'd? The knowledge of't as yet is limited To a small number, and the memory Of her dishonour will be quickly lost In a faire recompence. There's nothing cleere To me in this darke mistery, but that The beauty you call sister is a Whore: Is it not so? Your selfe can best interpret, And yet me thinks another name would sound More Court-like; and not have halfe so much offensive: For though she have the staine, I know she holds That noblenesse of spirit, none but such a one As your full selfe could ever win her to it; And a faire satisfaction vow'd withall: Which sure you will performe. Thou art a villaine; Did my election from a world of men Single thee out to be so much my selfe; The union of our soules would not admit Of a division, but that interchange And custome taught us read each others thoughts? And can that soule of thine expresse it selfe Subject, so easily to be corrupted With jealousie and errour? Then let Moralifts Fable hence forth no empty name of friendship, Nor boast there's such a secret: I shall never Weare thee more here. This is no satisfaction, I dare beleeve your innocence; if you Dare urge it solemnly, and thereby give it A confirmation.