The Constant Maid (Love Will Find Out the Way) · chunk 23 of 32
Shirley, James · published 1640 · first performed or written 1638 [1630(?)-1640] (Annals) not in BritDrama unassigned nearest T33 Fathers, daughters and marriage negotiat · 500 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T33: daughter, marriage, father, love, davus, matter, son, chremes, wife, mother.
I had no other thought, At first; but wisely to distinguish whether His heart was fixed on thee, or my estate; With resolution, if I found him more A Courtier of thy fortune than thy person, To punish him with loss of both: But Love Hath changed both scene and title in our Comedy, And what I meant should shipwreck all his hopes, Hath ruined us, his modest and calm answer: To accept my tender, with such force and reason Directed to my fancy, turned my purpose, And made me his indeed, his perfect Lover: But now we ha' both lost him. All the piety That ever taught children to love their mother, Will but suffice to keep my heart obedient. Was ever Maid so miserable? Was there No other, in my fate, to rival me I live too long; oh break, break my poor heart; For she that gave me life, hath took it from me. Why do you weep? I do not weep, or if I do, I know not why. Now I perceive Thy duty was but counterfeit, you love him, Upon my life you love him still; Have my Commands no more respect? My care and love So ill rewarded, that my heart desiring One comfort in the world, and shall my child Rise up to take it from me? Alas I knew not You loved him too, indeed I had rather die Than you should call me rebel. Now I see The cause of his departure in this fashion, Pray heaven he have not made away himself: Did ever child deceive a mother so? I have a sad presage, you may to bed, And rise without my blessing, yet You may stay, wherefore should I despair Of his return? You say you could not tell That I affected him. Indeed not I, And do believe it now against my will; But I am your daughter. Show it, in confirming yourself to my desires, and what is past, I can forgive you, if he come again: Will you be ruled, and show no favour to him? For 'tis in you, I see, to make me happy; I will not tie you to affect the other, Choose any for your husband but this man, My love and prayers shall go along with you; Answer. Indeed I dare not, yet could I Put off the knowledge that you are a mother— What then? Though in imagination I allow you The greatest woman in the earth, whose frown Could kill, and eyes at pleasure make alive Again; I could say— Pray let's hear. I durst tell you, In confidence of my cause, that you betray Two innocents to sorrow; and though heaven Look on, and seem to smile upon your cruelty, Yet there is punishment for divorcing those Whose hearts that hath conjoined: I durst tell you, Though all your terrors were prepared to punish My bold defence; you were a tyrant. How? A most unjust, a sacrilegious tyrant.
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)
I had no other thought, At first; but wisely to distinguish whether His heart was fixt on thee, or my estate; With resolution, if I found him more A Courtier of thy fortune than thy person, To punish him with losse of both: But Love Hath chang'd both scene and title in our Comedy, And what I meant should shipwrack all his hopes, Hath ruin'd us, his modest and calme answer: To accept my tender, with such force and reason Directed to my fancie, turn'd my purpose, And made me his indeed, his perfect Lover: But now we ha' both lost him. All the pietie That ever taught childen to love their mother, Will but suffice to keep my heart obedient. Was ever Maid so miserable? Was there No other, in my fate, to rivall me I live too long; oh breake, breake my poore heart; For she that gave me life, hath took it from me. Why do you weep? I do not weep, or if I do, I know not why. Now I perceive Thy duty was but counterfeit, you love him, Upon my life you love him still; Have my Commands no more respect? My care and love So ill rewarded, that my heart desiring One comfort in the world, and shall my childe Rise up to take it from me? Alas I knew not You loved him too, indeed I had rather die Than you should call me rebell. Now I see The cause of his departure in this fashion, Pray heaven he have not made away himselfe: Did ever childe deceive a mother so? I have a sad presage, you may to bed, And rise without my blessing, yet You may stay, wherefore should I despaire Of his returne? You say you could not tell That I affected him. Indeed not I, And do believe it now against my will; But I am your daughter. Shew it, in confirming Your selfe to my desires, and what is past, I can forgive you, if he come againe: Will you be rul'd, and shew no favour to him? For 'tis in you, I see, to make me happy; I will not tye you to affect the other, Choose any for your husband but this man, My love and prayers shall go along with you; Answer. Indeed I dare not, yet could I Put off the knowledge that you are a mother— What then? Though in imagination I allow you The greatest woman in the earth, whose frowne Could kill, and eyes at pleasure make alive Agen; I could say— Pray let's heare. I durst tell you, In confidence of my cause, that you betray Two innocents to sorrow; and though heaven Looke on, and seem to smile upon your cruelty, Yet there is punishment for divorcing those Whose hearts that hath conjoyned: I durst tell you, Though all your terrours were prepared to punish My bold defence; you were a tyrant. How? A most unjust, a sacrilegious tyrant.