The Ladies' Privilege (The Lady's Privilege) · chunk 25 of 31
Glapthorne, Henry · published 1640 · first performed or written 1637 [1637-1640] (Annals) not in BritDrama · before the Court unassigned nearest T1 Death, grief and revenge · 510 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
Gentle maid Your piety does prompt you to an act That shall engage your country to erect A statue to your memory, though I could not Dispense with justice, yet since there's a means Without the law's infringement, to preserve him, I do rejoice as much as if my son Had scaped apparent danger: go on and prosper In your design. Do you think because I pleaded For my honour's life, I dote so much upon this idle breath, As to preserv't with infamy, dispose This womanish privilege to submissive slaves, Know that I hate a being that depends Upon another's bounty more than death, At which my soul does, like an Eagle stretch its Silver wines, and o'er the monster's head Will make flight at heaven; pray sit proceed To judgement suddenly, delay begets More tortures in me then your sentence. What do you mean sir, pray let me understand you Better, look upon me, I am no woman to be slighted. She's not ashamed to show her face, marry her Uncle, that I may call you so. To wed this figure, is a far greater punishment than Death. ne'er stand on terms, but marry her, and free your self, and trust to me, you shall not want a mistress has better colours in her face. Corimba, I'm much engaged to your officious haste, And pay you many thanks, conceive not that I do contemn your person or dislike The meanness of your match, for were your beauty Created for a miracle, and adorned With the addition of a fortune ampler, Than that perfection, I should crave a licence To tell your modesty I am prepared Rather for death than Nuptials, and no strength Of prayers and beauty, shall have power to tempt me From my fixed resolution. This is madness not courage Doria. Sir I must tell you, you know not how to use a woman rightly, Perhaps 'tis bashfulness, take courage sir, I have reserved my dear virginity This fifty years for such a pious purpose, And should you slight me now, I should forswear Good purposes hereafter: gentlemen persuade him, Sure he cannot choose but melt At your entreaties. Will you then pull your ruin on; that seeks Thus easily to fly from you; justice calls On me to give your sentence— new interruptions It is the voice of music, and presages An Omen as harmonious as its notes, Approach fair troops of Virgins, here's subject, Fit for your maiden pity. 'tis time for me to take my farewell, these may be beauties, perhaps my Lady may be one, adieu sir; you may be offered worse. My honoured Lord, The charity I owe my native country, That in the ruin of this brave young man, Would suffer infinitely, has forced us strive With early zeal first to present our duties For his redemption, 'mong ten thousand Virgins That would attempt it, and my true affection Has won this favour from my fellows, that To me they yield their interest, which I claim As my desired prerogative.
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)
Gentle mayd Your piety does prompt you to an act That shall engage your country to erect A statue to your memory, though I could not Dispence with justice, yet since there's a meanes Without the lawes infringement, to preserve him, I doe rejoyce as much as if my sonne Had scap'd apparant danger: goe on and prosper In your designe. Doe you thinke because I pleaded For my honours life, I doate so much upon this idle breath, As to preserv't with infamy, dispose This womanish priviledge to submissive slaves, Know that I hate a being that depends Upon anothers bounty more then death, At which my soule does, like an Eagle stretch its Silver wines, and ore the monsters head Will make flight at heaven; pray sit proceed To judgement suddenly, delay begets More tortors in me then your sentence. What doe you meane sir, pray let me understand you Better, looke upon me, I am no woman to be slighted. She's not asham'd to shew her face, marry her Uncle, that I may call you so. To wed this figure, is a farre greater punishment then Death. Nere stand on tearmes, but marry her, and free your selfe, and trust to me, you shall not want a mistresse has better colours in her face. Corimba, I'me much engag'd to your officious haste, And pay you many thankes, conceive not that I doe contemne your person or dislike The meannesse of your match, for were your beauty Created for a miracle, and adon'd With the addition of a fortune ampler, Then that perfection, I should crave a licence To tell your modesty I am prepar'd Rather for death then Nuptialls, and no strength Of prayers and beauty, shall have power to tempt me From my fixt resolution. This is madnesse not courage Doria. Sir I must tell you, you know not how to use a woman rightly, Perhaps tis bashfulnesse, take courage sir, I have reserv'd my deere virginity This fifty yeares for such a pious purpose, And should you slight me now, I should forswear Good purposes hereafter: gentlemen perswade him, Sure he cannot chuse but melt At your entreaties. Will you then pull your ruine on; that seeks Thus easily to flye from you; Iustice calls On me to give your sentence—new interruptions It is the voyce of musicke, and presages An Omen as harmonious as its notes, Approach faire troops of Virgins, here's subject, Fit for your maiden pity. Tis time for mee to take my farewell, these may bee beauties, perhaps my Lady may bee one, adiew sir; you may be offer'd worse. My honour'd Lord, The charity I owe my native country, That in the ruine of this brave young man, Would suffer infinitly, has forc'd us strive With earely zeale first to presentour duties For his redemption, 'mong ten thousand Virgins That would attempt it, and my true affection Has wonne this favour from my fellowes, that To me they yield their interest, which I claime As my desir'd prerogative.