Terence (Publius Terentius Afer)Kyffin, Maurice · published 1588 · first performed or written 1588 (Annals) comedy T33 Fathers, daughters and marriage negotiat typicality 0.89 · 506 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T33: daughter, marriage, father, love, davus, matter, son, chremes, wife, mother.
IS this a point of good nature, or a kindly deed? Is this the part of a Father? What might that be? O the faith of God and man, what can be greater spite than this? he had purposed with himself to marry me to a wife today: ought not I have known so much before hand? had it not been meet to have made me privy to it long ere this? Woe is me (silly wench that I am,) what news do I hear? What means Chremes, who having once denied to give me his daughter to wife, doth he now change his mind in that, because he seeth me still one manner of man? Doth he deal so overthwartly, to th'end to part me from Glycerie, forlorn man that I am? which, if it come to pass, I am clean cast away. Alas, alas, is there any man living so rest of all grace and good fortune as myself? O Lord God, shall I by no means be able to avoid the Alliance of Chremes? How many ways am I despised and set at nought? All things were done and passed, and so, I that was refused am sought for again, and wherefore, without it be as I suspect, they cloak some secret fault in her, and because she cannot be shifted to any other, they would thrust her on me. These words do astony me for fear, (silly wench that I am) But what should I now say of my father? is it fit he go so carelessly to work about so great a matter? who passing by me erewhile at the market place, spoke to me in this sort: Pamphilus; thou must be married today: Get the home and make thee ready. It seemed to me he said, Get thee away quickly and hang thyself. I was utterly amazed: Think ye that I could bring forth one word, or make any excuse for myself, were it wrong, falls, or never so foolish? I became quite dumb. But had I wist so much before, if one should now ask me, what would I then have done, surely somewhat I would have done, rather than do as I did. But now whereto shall I first betake me? I am cumbered with so many cares, which diversly hale my mind to & fro, what with love & pity toward this woman, The grief I conceive of this marriage, and the shame I incur with my father, who hitherto so gently suffered me to do what I would, (and shall I now gainsay him?) That woe is me, I wot not what to do. I fear me wretch whereto this doubtful pang will break in the end, so as now it is very needful that either he come and speak with my Mistress himself, or else that I say somewhat to him as touching her. For while his mind hangs thus in doubt, it is carried here, and there, with the least thing in the world.
seed 43: T6 · seed 44: T7 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
IS this a point of good nature, or a kindely déede? Is this the part of a Father? What might that be? O the faith of God and man, what can be greater ſpite than this? he had purpoſed with himſelfe to marry me to a wife to day: ought not I haue knowen ſo much before hand? had it not bin méete to haue made me priuie to it long ere this? Wo is me (ſilly wench that I am,) what newes doo I heare? What meanes Chremes, who hauing once denyed to giue me his daughter to wife, doth he now change his minde in that, becauſe he ſéeth me ſtill one manner of man? Dooth he deale ſo ouerthwartly, to thend to part me from Glycerie, forlorne man that I am? which, if it come to paſſe, I am cleane caſt away. Alas, alas, is there any man lyuing ſo reſt of all grace and good fortune as my ſelfe? O Lord God, ſhall I by no meanes be able to auoyd the Aliance of Chremes? How many waies am I deſpiſed and ſet at naught? All things were done and paſt, and ſo, I that was refuſed am ſought for againe, and wherefore, without it be as I ſuſpect, they cloake ſome ſecret fault in her, and becauſe ſhe cannot be ſhifted to any other, they would thruſt her on me. Theſe wordes do aſtony me for feare, (ſillie wench that I am) But what ſhould I now ſay of my father? is it fit he go ſo careleſlie to woork about ſo great a matter? who paſſing by me crewhile at the market place, ſpake to me in this ſorte: Pamphilus; thou muſt be married to day: Get the home and make thée ready. It ſéemed to me he ſaid, Get thee away quicklie and hang thy ſelfe. I was vtterlie amazed: Think ye that I could bring furth one woord, or make any excuſe for my ſelfe, were it wrong, fals, or neuer ſo fooliſh? I became quite dumbe. But had I wiſt ſo much before, if one ſhould now aſke me, what would I then haue don, ſurely ſomwhat I would haue don, rather than doo as I dyd. But now whereto ſhall I firſt betake me? I am cumbred with ſo many cares, which diuerſlie hale my minde to & fro, what with loue & pitie toward this woman, The griefe I conceiue of this marriage, and the ſhame I incurre with my father, who hitherto ſo gently ſuffred me to do what I would, (and ſhall I now gaineſay him?) That wo is me, I wot not what to do. I feare me wretch whereto this doubtfull pang will breake in the end, ſo as now it is very needfull that either he come and ſpeake with my Miſtres himſelfe, or els that I ſay ſomewhat to him as touching her. For while his minde hangs thus in doubt, it is carryed héere, and there, with the leaſt thing in the world.