The Magnetic Lady, or Humors Reconciled · chunk 27 of 45
Jonson, Ben · published 1640 · first performed or written 1632 [licensed for stage, Oct 12] (Annals) comedy · King's Men unassigned nearest T19 Virtue, Fortune and Vice as abstractions · 499 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T19: virtue, fortune, virtues, honour, fame, vice, envy, world, pride, great.
I should be glad to hear of any valours, Differing in kind; who have known hitherto, Only one virtue, they call Fortitude, Worthy the name of valour. Which, who hath not, Is justly thought a Coward: And he is such. O, you ha' read the Play there, the New Inn, Of Ionsons, that decries all other valour But what is for the public. I do that too, But did not learn it there; I think no valour Lies for a private cause. Sir, I'll redargue you, By disputation. O let's hear this! I long to hear a man dispute in his shirt Of valour, and his sword drawn in his hand. His valour will take cold; put on your doublet. His valour will keep cold, you are deceived; And relish much the sweeter in our ears: It may be too, i' the ordinance of nature. Their valours are not yet so combatant, Or truly antagonistick, as to fight; But may admit to hear of some divisions, Of Fortitude, may put 'em of their Quarrel. I would have no man think me so ungoverned, Or subject to my passion, but I can Read him a Lecture 'twixt my undertake, And executions: I do know all kinds Of doing the business, which the Town calls valour. Yes, he has read the Town, Towne-top's his Author! Your first? Is a rash headlong unexperience. Which is in Children, Fools, or your street Gallants O' the first head. A pretty kind of valour! Commend him, he will spin it out in's shirt, Fine, as that thread. The next, an indiscreet Presumption, grounded upon often escapes. Or th' insufficiency of Adversaries, And this is in your common fight Brothers. Your old Perdus, who (after a time) do think, The one, that they are shot free; the other, sword free. Your third? Is naught but an excess of choler, That reigns in resty old men—. Noble men's Porters, And self conceited Poets. And is rather A peevishness, than any part of valour. He but reherses, he concludes no valour. A history of distempers, as they are practised, His Harangue undertaketh, and no more. Your next? Is a dull desperate resolving. In case of some necessitous misery, or Incumbent mischief. Narrowness of mind, Or ignorance being the root of it. Which show shall found in Gamesters, quite blown up. Bankrupt Merchants, undiscovered Traitors. Or your exemplified Malefactors, That have survived their infamy, and punishment. One that hath lost his ears, by a just sentence O' the Star-chamber, a right valiant Knave— And is a Histrionical Contempt, Of what a man fears most; it being a mischief In his own apprehension unavoidable. Which is in Cowards wounded mortally, Or thieves adjudged to die. This is a valour, I should desire much to see encouraged: As being a special entertainment For our rogue People; and make often good sport Unto 'em, from the Gallows to the ground. But mine is a Judicial resolving, Or liberal undertaking of a danger—.
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 ſhould be glad to heare of any valours, Differing in kind; who have knowne hitherto, Only one vertue, they call Fortitude, Worthy the name of valour. Which, who hath not, Is juſtly thought a Coward: And he is ſuch. O, you ha' read the Play there, the New Inne, Of Ionſons, that decries all other valour But what is for the publike. I doe that too, But did not learne it there; I thinke no valour Lies for a private cauſe. Sir, Ile redargue you, By diſputation. O let's heare this! I long to heare a man diſpute in his ſhirt Of valour, and his ſword drawne in his hand. His valour will take cold; put on your doublet. His valour will keepe cold, you are deceiv'd; And reliſh much the ſweter in our eares: It may be too, i' the ordinance of nature. Their valours are not yet ſo combatant, Or truly antagoniſtick, as to fight; But may admit to heare of ſome diviſions, Of Fortitude, may put 'hem off their Quarrell. I would have no man thinke me ſo ungovern'd, Or ſubject to my paſſion, but I can Reade him a Lecture 'twixt my undertakings, And executions: I doe know all kinds Of doing the buſines, which the Towne cals valour. Yes, he has read the Towne, Towne-top's his Author! Your firſt? Is a raſh head-long unexperience. Which is in Children, Fooles, or your ſtreet Gallants O' the firſt head. A pretty kind of valour! Commend him, he will ſpin it out in's ſhirt, Fine, as that thred. The next, an indiſcreet Preſumption, grounded upon often ſcapes. Or th' inſufficiencie of Adverſaries, And this is in your common fighting Brothers. Your old Perdu's, who (after a time) doe thinke, The one, that they are ſhot free; the other, ſword free. Your third? Is nought but an exceſſe of choller, That raignes in reſty old men—. Noble mens Porters, And ſelfe conceited Poëts. And is rather A peeviſhneſſe, then any part of valour. He but reherſes, he concludes no valour. A hiſtory of diſtempers, as they are practiz'd, His Harangue undertaketh, and no more. Your next? Is a dull deſperate reſolving. In caſe of ſome neceſſitous miſery, or Incumbent miſchiefe. Narrowneſſe of mind, Or ignorance being the root of it. Which ſhou ſhall find in Gameſters, quite blowne up. Banckrupt Merchants, undiſcovered Traytors. Or your exemplified Malefactors, That have ſurviv'd their infamy, and puniſhment. One that hath loſt his eares, by a juſt ſentence O' the Starre-Chamber, a right valiant Knave— And is a Hiſtrionicall Contempt, Of what a man feares moſt; it being a miſchiefe In his owne apprehenſion unavoidable. Which is in Cowards wounded mortally, Or Theeves adjudg'd to die. This is a valour, I ſhould deſire much to ſee incourag'd: As being a ſpeciall entertainment For our rogue People; and make oft good ſport Vnto 'hem, from the Gallowes to the ground. But mine is a Judiciall reſolving, Or liberall undertaking of a danger—.