Nabbes, Thomas · published 1640 · first performed or written 1640 (Annals) not in BritDrama · Unacted T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.82 · 501 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
THis preparation of your high resolves I must allow with wonder: sure you had Some revelation of the weighty secret; Or else instinct hath taught your knowledge more Than a weak judgement could conclude from doubts; And those bare circumstances I have used T' instruct you by. But if Ferrara must Own me her Duke, what progress yet is ordered For my establishment? great actions ought not Want equal means: and sure my single force May not encounter such an opposition As I shall meet. To challenge it my right And not maintain it, renders me the laws: I would not pay my life for a distracted Unwarrantable action. If it may Be pleaded or with force, or testimony, I am above all fears. I have a faction Which with your party will make up a power Of strength enough: but there is no such need. Melissa joined unto you will be more Than any numerous Army of resolved And faithful spirits: she alone shall clear All that is yet in mists. If you'll take from me The scruples that I have about its lawfulness, I'll court her to prevail. You may command her, Confirm it with an Oath as you're a Prince; And as I hope the ends of my ambition Will meet success, you shall be satisfied. By all the virtual powers that make an Oath Sacred, I vow only to wed Melissa; Provided it be lawful. Then accept My duty sir, that owes subjection Duly to none but you. It is your birthright That shall prefer you 'fore this young usurper; And thus his knee to whom yours oft hath bended Humbles itself for pardon, that my breast So long concealed what should make many happy. I then am elder son to the late Duke! And only yours supposed: I must acknowledge A large debt to you for my education, Which answered my high birth. But can this have Clear confirmation? As the brightest air The Sun illumines. I am then a Prince, And you my only Subject: For I know not Who else will pay obedience to me. All Will follow my example; for the rumour As it grows bigger will incense the multitude: From whom your fortunes and deserts have won Both love and admiration. Fury then Runs them into a lump, or monstrous form With many heads, that carry their mad body Reelingly forward, where they find resistance Growing more violent: when to prevent The mischievous effects of such an uproar: The cause is asked and known; expostulated: And your right proved by me, the general voice Salutes you Duke. And shortly after you May call Melissa Duchess. I have heard She doth affect Fidelio, And unless She be diverted—. By this time Fidelio Hath not his being, Have you killed him then? Both politicly 'tis and safely ordered, Cardente poisons both him and herself. Could you have such a conscience? Nice religion Awes not a Politician. They both stood Betwixt me and my ends.
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)
THis preparation of your high resolves I must allow with wonder: sure you had Some revelation of the weighty secret; Or else instinct hath taught your knowledge more Then a weake judgement could conclude from doubts; And those bare circumstances I have us'd T' instruct you by. But if Ferrara must Owne me her Duke, what progresse yet is order'd For my establishment? great actions ought not Want equall meanes: and sure my single force May not encounter such an opposition As I shall meet. To challenge it my right And not mainetaine it, renders me the lawes: I would not pay my life for a distracted Unwarrantable action. If it may Be pleaded or with force, or testimony, I am above all feares. I have a faction Which with your party will make up a power Of strength enough: but there is no such need. Melissa joyn'd unto you will be more Than any numerous Army of resolv'd And faithfull spirits: she alone shall cleere All that is yet in mists. If you'l take from me The scruples that I have about its lawfulnesse, Ile court her to prevaile. You may command her, Confirme it with an Oath as y'are a Prince; And as I hope the ends of my ambition Will meet successe, you shall be satisfi'd. By all the vertuall powers that make an Oath Sacred, I vow onely to wedde Melissa; Provided it be lawfull. Then accept My duty sir, that owes subjection Duely to none but you. It is your birth-right That shall preferre you 'fore this yong usurper; And thus his knee to whom yours oft hath bended Humbles it selfe for pardon, that my brest So long conceal'd what should make many happy. I then am elder sonne to the late Duke! And onely yours suppos'd: I must acknowledge A large debt to you for my education, Which answer'd my high birth. But can this have Cleere confirmation? As the brightest ayre The Sun illumines. I am then a Prince, And you my onely Subject: For I know not Who else will pay obedience to me. All Will follow my example; for the rumour As it growes bigger will incense the multitude: From whom your fortunes and deserts have won Both love and admiration. Fury then Runnes them into a lumpe, or monstrous forme With many heads, that carry their mad body Reelingly forward, where they find resistance Growing more violent: when to prevent The mischievous effects of such an uproare: The cause is askt and knowne; expostulated: And your right prov'd by me, the generall voyce Salutes you Duke. And shortly after you May call Melissa Dutches. I have heard She doth affect Fidelio, And unlesse She be diverted—. By this time Fidelio Hath not his being, Have you kild him then? Both politickly 'tis and safely order'd, Cardente poisons both him and her selfe. Could you have such a conscience? Nice religion Awes not a Politician. They both stood Betwixt me and my ends.