The Three Lords and Three Ladies of London · chunk 16 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 0.91 · 499 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T39: conscience, lucre, usury, lucar, fraud, dissimulation, simony, london, lady, nemo.
No, I am one more than is in the deck, but you'll be smelled as soon as ye begin to speak, I'll see what they'll say to me: hear ye you women, wives, widows, maids, men's daughters, What shall I call ye? these four fellows (hark ye, shall I call ye crafty knaves) make me believe that you are the three that were the three fair Ladies of London. Gentle Simplicity we are unhappy they. Now ye bad fellows, which of ye had such a word as gentle fire? Bad fellows ye Rascal? If ere you bring me pawn I'll pinch ye for that word. I cry you mercy M. Injury, M. usury I meant not you, If you mean us, we may be even with ye too. Tut, I knew you an Ostler, and a thief beside, you have rubbed my horse heels ere now for all your pride: but Ladies, if ye be the three ladies, which of ye dwelled in Kent street? one of ye did, but I know not which is she, ye look all so like broom-wenches, I was once her servant, I'll near be ashamed of her though I be rich, & I she be poor, yet if she that hath been my dame, or he that hath been my master come in place, I'll speak to them sure, I'll do my duty, which is Lady Consc? even I am she Simplicity. I am glad ye are out of prison, I thought ye had forgot me, I went a-begging from you till the beadles snapped me up, now I am free and keep a stall of Ballads, I may buy and sell, I would you had as good a gown now as I carried once of yours to pawn to Usury here. Gramercy good Simp wilt thou be with me now? No I thank you heartily, I'll beg no more, I can not be with ye though I would for I am married to painful penury: Look now my proud stately masters, I may if I will, & you would if ye might. No, not dwell with such a beggar as Conscience. No, Fraud near loved Conscience since he was an Ostler. Who cares for Conscience but dies a beggar? That will not Usury do, he will first take 3. score pound in the hundred. love, look on me and I will give thee clothes. I will no more by thee be so disguised. Ye do the wiser, for his face looks like a cloakback: In thy affections I had once a place: Those fond affections wrought me foule disgrace, I'll make amends, if aught amiss were done: Who once are burned, the fire will ever shun. And yet once burned to warm again may prove: Not at thy fire, I will be perfect love? I promise you the wenches have learned to answer wittily, Her's many fair proffers to Lucre, and love, But who clothes poor Conscience, she may sit long enough.
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)
No, I am one more than is in the deck, but you'il bee smeld as soone as ye begin to speake, Ile see what they'il say to me: hear ye you women, wiues, widdowes, maides, mens daughters, What shall I cal ye? these four fellowes (hark ye, shal I cal ye afty knaues) make me beléeue that you are the three that were the three faire Ladies of London. Gentle Simplicity we are vnhappy they. Now ye bad fellowes, which of ye had such a word as gentle fir ▪ Bad fellowes yee Rascall? If ere you bring me pawne Ile pinch yee for that word. I cry you mercie M. Iniurie, M. vsurie I meant not you, If you meane vs, we may be euen with yee too. Tut, I knew you an Ostler, and a theefe beside, you haue rub'd my horse heels er now for al your prie: but Ladies, if ye be the thrée ladies, which of ye dwelt in Kent street? one of ye did, but I know not which is she, ye looke all so like broom-wenches, I was once her seruāt, Ile nere be ashamed of her though I be rich, & I she be poore, yet if she that hath bene my dame, or he that hath bin my mister come in place, Ile speak to thē sure, Ile do my duty, which is Lady Consc? Euen I am she Simplicity. I am glad ye are out of prison, I thought ye had forgot me, I went a begging from you til he bedles snapt me vp, now I am free and keepe a stall of Balades, I may buy and sell, I would you had as good a gown now as I caried once of yours to pawn to Vsury here. Gramercy good imp wilt thou be with me now? No I thank you hartily, Ile beg no more, I can not be with ye though I would for I am maried to painful penury: Looke now my proud stately maisters, I may if I wil, & you would if ye might. No, not dwel with such a beggar as Conscience. No, Fraud nere loued Conscience since he was an Ostler. Who cares for Conscience but dies a begger? That wil not Vsury do, he wil first take 3. score pound in the hundred. loue, looke on me and I will giue thee cloathes. I will no more by thee be so disguised. Ye doe the wiser, for his face looks like a cloakbacke: In thy affctions I had once a place: Those fond affections wrought me soule disgrace, Ile make amends, if ought amisse were done: Who once are burn'd, the fire will euer shun. And yet once burn'd to warme againe may prooue: Not at thy fire, I will be perfect loue? I promise you the wenches haue learn'd to answer wittily, Her's many faire proffers to Lucre, and loue, But who cloaths poore Conscience, she may sit long inough.