Fedele and Fortunia (Two Italian Gentlemen) · chunk 23 of 30
Pasqualigo, Luigi / Munday, Anthony · published 1585 · first performed or written 1584 [1579-1584] (Annals) comedy · Children of the Chapel (first) (Oxford's Boys) · before the Court unassigned nearest T46 Swords, quarrels and valour · 502 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T46: rapier, sword, fight, gentlemen, gentleman, kicked, kill, dagger, signor, valour.
We will. Ah, Sirrah, I perceive we shall go a batfowling this night, I would the Captain would come, that of this pretty sport I might have a sight. Whist, not a word, for he is at hand, Come let us both privily in ambush stand. Now shall my valourosity appear unto all, How I can kill men, and serve a woman at her call. My greatest grief is, that in doing this feat, I am sure my honour will not be so great. As when I give a charger to my foes in the open field, Or put Cities into sacks, and make thousands to yield. To bring Fedele to the Counter, is but to fight with a fly, There is neither praise, pride, nor providence in the victory. Therefore take heed Crack-stone what you do, You hazard your good name, your honour stands on tip toe. To kill a Gentleman that never ought me malice, is more than cruelty, And to kill him for a woman, will bring me utterly to infancy. Shall I kill him then? peradventure yea: shall I let him go? Peradventure I may, peradventure no. Oh single device, here is a brain I believe, Able to shoot birdbolts of inventions, from my head into my sleeve. I will make a great noise before Victoria's door in the street, As though at this present with Fedele I did meet. Then will I run to her house amain, And make her believe that Fedele is slain. Then before that she hear any news of his life, I'll have her to the Priest, and make her my wife. Have even at it as well as I can, Ah Villains, thus many of you set upon a naked man. Draw on my good fellows and spare not, strike home, Ah cowardly dastards, so soon be you gone? Arm, Arm, Arm. Kill, kill, kill. Down with Crack-stone. Give me a Bill. Follow, follow. Out alas where am I now? Fast enough by this time I trow. Is this my lusty kill Cow, that will eat up so many men at a bit, And when he deals with a shadow will not stand to it? BE still my mates, that keep the gates, When every watch is set: Your luck is nought, your friends have caught, Your Captain in a net. Heigh ho Crack-stone, heigh ho Crack-stone. A Nodie, a Nodie, a Nodie, we have, Heigh hoe, Crack-stone, lusty and brave. Now soldiers all, forsake the wall, Your foes have got the town, Manhood is fled, God Mars is dead, Your Captain is a clown. Heigh ho Crack-stone, Heigh ho Crack-stone, A Nodie, a Nodie, a Nodie, we have, Heigh ho Crack-stone, lusty and brave. Attilia, come hither straight, some stir is in the street, methinks I hear the noise of men, and trampling of their feet. Ah Sir, you meant to kill me you, to please Victoria, But now I trust to make of thee a poor Crack-stone, if I may.
seed 43: T42 · seed 44: T42 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
¶We will. ¶Ah, Sirra, I perceiue we shall goe a batfowling this night, I would ye Captaine would come, that of this pretie sport I might haue a sight. ¶Whiste, not a worde, for he is at hande, Come let vs both priuily in ambush stande. ¶Now shall my valerositie appeare vnto all, How I can kill men, and serue a woman at her call. My greatest griefe is, that in dooing this feate, I am sure my honour will not be so greate. As when I giue a charger to my foes in the open féelde, Or put Citties into sackes, and make thousandes to yéelde. To bring Fedele to the Counter, is but to fight with a flie, There is neither praise, pride, nor prouidence in the victorie. Therefore take héede Crack-stone what you doe, You hazarde your good name, your honour standes on tip toe. To kill a Gentlemā yt neuer ought me malice, is more thē crueltie, And to kill him for a woman, will bring me vtterly to infancie. Shall I kill him then? peraduenture yea: shall I let him go? Peraduenture I may, peraduenture no. Oh single deuise, here is a braine I beléeue, Able to shoote birdboltes of inuentiōs, from my head into my sléeue. I will make a great noyse before Victoriaes doore in the stréete, As though at this present with Fedele I did méete. Then will I runne to her house amayne, And make her beléeue that Fedele is slayne. Then before that she heare any newes of his life, I'le haue her to the Priest, and make her my wife. Haue euen at it as well as I can, Ah Uillaines, thus many of you set vpon a naked man. Drawe on my good fellowes and spare not, strike home, Ah cowardly Dastardes, so sone be you gone? ¶Arme, Arme, Arme. ¶Kill, kill, kill. ¶Downe with Crack-stone. ¶Giue me a Bill. ¶Followe, followe. ¶Out alas where am I now? ¶Faste ynough by this time I trow. Is this my lusty kill Cow, that will eate vp so many men at a bit, And when he deales with a shadowe will not stand to it? BE still my mates, that keepe the gates, When euery watch is set: Your lucke is naught, your freendes haue caught, Your Captaine in a net. Heigh ho Crack-stone, heigh ho Crack-stone. A Nodie, a Nodie, a Nodie, we haue, Heigh hoe, Crack-stone, lustie and braue. ‡ Now souldiers all, forsake the wall, Your foes haue got the towne, Manhood is fled, God Mars is dead, Your Captaine is a clowne. Heigh ho Crack-stone, Heigh ho Crack-stone, A Nodie, a Nodie, a Nodie, we haue, Heigh ho Crack-stone, lusty and braue. Attilia, come hither streight, some sturre is in the stréete, Me thinkes I heare the noise of men, and trampling of their féete. ¶Ah Sir, you meant to kill me you, to please Victoria, But now I trust to make of thée a poore Crack-stone, if I may.