The Three Lords and Three Ladies of London · chunk 10 of 41
Wilson, Robert · published 1590 · first performed or written 1588 [1588-1590] (Annals) moral · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) T39 Profit, conscience and dishonest dealing typicality 0.73 · 503 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T39: conscience, lucre, usury, lucar, fraud, dissimulation, simony, london, lady, nemo.
Renowned Nemo, the most only one That draws no breath but of th'eternal air, That knowest our suit before we bound to speak For thou art the very Oracle of thoughts: Whose virtues do encompass thee about, As th'air surrounds this massy globe of earth. Who hast in power whatever pleaseth thee, And canst bestow much more than we may crave, To thee we seek, to thee on knees we sue, That thou wilt deign from thraldom to release, Those lovely Dames, that London Ladies are. What, those three caitiffs long ago condemned? Love, Lucre, Conscience, well deserving death, Being corrupt with all contagion: The spotted Ladies of that stately town. Love, Lucre, Conscience we of thee desire, Which in thyself hast all perfection, Accomplished with all integrity: And needest no help so do what pleaseth thee, Who holdest Fame and Fortune both thy slaves, And dost compel the Destinies draw the coach: To thee we sue, sith power thou hast thereto, To set those Ladies at their liberty. At liberty, thou spotless Magistrate, That of the cause dost carry all regard, Careless of bribes, of birth and parentage, Because thyself art only borne to bliss, Bless us so much that Lords of London are, That those three Ladies borne and bred with us May by our suites, release of thraldome nd. Release my Lords? why seek ye their release? That have perpetual prison for their doom. But Nemo can from thence redeem them all. Their deeds were cause, not Nemo of their thrall. Yet Nemo was the judge that sentence gave. But Nemo never spilled, whom he could save: Thou from perpetual prison mayst revoke. Death hath no power 'gainst him to strike a stroke Thou only mild and courteous sir, vouchsafe To grant our suit, and set those Ladies free. What's your purpose in this earnest suit? To marie them, and make them honest wives. But may it be that men of your regard, Lords of such fortune, and so famous place, Will link yourselves with Ladies so forlorn, And so distained with more than common crimes? Marriage doth make amends for many amiss. And love doth cover hears of cumbrous evils. And doth forget the faults that were before. Mean as you say, ye need to say no more. In token that we mean what we have said, Lo here our shields the prizes of our love: To challenge all except thyself that dare Deny those Ladies to be ours by right. Woo them & win them, win them & wear them too, I shall both comfort and discourage you my Lords, The comfort's this, of all those former crimes Wherewith the world was wont those dames to charge I have them cleared and made them all as free As they were borne: no blemish left to see. But the discourage (gentle Lords) is this, The time of their endurance hath been long, Whereby their clothes of cost and curious stuff Are worn to rags, and give them much disgrace.
seed 43: T41 · seed 44: T39 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Renowmed Nemo, the most onelie one That drawes no breath but of th'eternal aire, That knowest our suit before we bound to speak For thou art the very Oacle of thoughts: Whose vertues doo encompasse thee about, As th'aire surroundes this mssie globe of earth. Who hast in power what euer pleaseth thee, And canst bestow much more than we may craue, To thee we seeke, to thée on knées we sue, That thou wilt deigne from thraldom to release, Those louely Dames, that London Ladies are. What, those thrée caitiefs long agoe condemn'd? Loue, Lucre, Conscience, wel deseruing death, Being corrupt with all contagion: The spotted Ladies of that stately towne. Loue, Lucre, Conscience we of thée desire, Which in thy self hast all perfection, Accomplished with all integritie: And needest no helpe so doe what pleaseth thee, Who holdest Fame and Fortune both thy slaues, And doest compell the Destinies draw the coatch: To thée we sue, sith power thou hast thereto, To set those Ladies at their libertie. At libertie, thou spotlesse Magistrat, That of the cause doost carie all regard, Carelesse of bribes, of birth and parentage, Because thy selfe art onely borne to blisse, Blesse vs so much that Lordes of London are, That those thrée Ladies borne and bred with vs May by our suites, release of thraldome nd. Release my Lords? why seeke ye their relase? That haue perpetuall prison for their doome. But Nemo can from thence redéeme them all. Their deeds were cause, not Nemo of their thral. Yet Nemo was the Iudge that sentence gaue. But Nemo neuer spill'd, whom he could saue: Thou from perpetuall prison maist reuoke. Death hath no power gainst him to strike a strok Thou onlie milde and curteous sir, vouchsafe To graunt our suit, and set those Ladies free. What's your purpose in this earnest suit? To marie them, and make them honest wiues. But may it be that men of your regard, Lords of such fortune, and so famous place, Wil linke your selues with Ladies so forlorne, And so disteined with more then common crimes? Mariage doth make amends for many amisse. And loue doth couer hears of combrous euils. And doth forget the faults that were before. Meane as you say, ye neede to say no more. In token that we meane what we haue said, Lo here our shieldes the prizes of our loue: To challenge all except thy selfe that dare Denie those Ladies to be ours by right. Woo them & win them, win them & wear thē too, I shal both comfort and discourage you my Lords, The comfort's this, of all those former crimes· Wherwith the world was wont those dames to charge I haue them cléer'd and made them all as free As they were borne: no blemish left to sée. But the discourage (gentle Lords) is this, The time of their indurance hath bene long, Whereby their cloathes of cost and curious stuffe Are worne to rags, and giue them much disgrace.