The Three Lords and Three Ladies of London · chunk 23 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 0.76 · 485 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T39: conscience, lucre, usury, lucar, fraud, dissimulation, simony, london, lady, nemo.
No less accomplished in perfection Is Conscience, than this Lady I protest, But on this Dame hath pleasure fixed his heart, And this or death the period of his love. Lucre with pomp most aptly might combine Lucre, or Love if case thou wilt be mine, Let pass thy name, thyself do I desire, Thee will I have except thyself deny, With thee to live or else for thee to die. What if I deny? Then will I have her. If we deny? So much the rather. The rather in despite of us? Not so. My Lords, no quarrel, let this Lady go, And if ye trust me. I'll content ye both, pleasure, this is not lucre: She's Lucre unto me: but be she Love or Conscience, this is she. Whom you will, have? Spite of the Devil, I will. Must it not be my Lord if I agree? Agree. Some further proof it fits of you to see: Receive a pawn, my heart, my hand, and oath, To be thy own in love, in faith, and troth. Thus you are fast, and yet myself am free: I know in ruth thou wilt me not refuse: I know not that, but other I'll not choose. It is enough, Lord pleasure, do not fear, Conscience will use you as becomes her best. And art thou Conscience? welcomer to me than either love or Lucre, God send grace I be, My Lords be pleased, ere long shall you be sped, As much to your contents as pleasure is, Say but the word, myself shall soon present Lucre and love, well worthy such as you. Right thankfully those favours we'll receive, My Lords, if your affairs in present be not great Greater than any, save regard of life, Yea even the greatest of the common wealth, Prepare ye to withstand a stratagem, Such as this Land nor London ever knew. The Spanish forces Lordings are prepared, In bravery and boast, beyond all bounds T'invade, to win, to conquer all this land. They chiefly aim at London's stately pomp, At London's pleasure, wealth and policy. Intending to despoil her of them all, And over all those lovely Ladies three. Love, lucre, Conscience, peerless of the rarest price. to tyrannize and carry hardest hand. From Spain they come with Engine and intent to slay, subdue, to triumph and torment: myself (so heaven would) espial of them had, And Diligence, dear Lords, they call my name. If you vouchsafe to credit my report, You do me right, and to yourselves no wrong, Provided, that you arm you, being warned. Diligence, thy service shall be known, and well rewarded: Nemo, for a time Conceal this Dame, and live secure unseen, Let us alone whom most it doth concern, to meet and match our ever weening foes. Nemo keep close, and Conscience pray for us. be gone and recommend us to our God.
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 lesse accomplisht in perfction Is Conscience, then this Ladie I protest, But on this Dame hath pleasure fixt his hart, And this or death the period of his loue. Lucre with pompe most aptly might combine Lucre, or Loue if case thou wilt be mine, Let passe thy name, thy selfe doe I desire, Thee will I haue except thy selfe denie, With thee to liue▪ or els for thee to die. What if I denie? Then wil I haue her. If we denie? So much the rather. The rather in dspight of vs? Not so. My Lords, no quarrell, let tis Lady goe, And if ye trust me. Ile content ye both, pleasure, this is not lucre: She's Luce vnto me: but be she Loue or Consciēce, this is she. Whom you wil, haue? Spight of the Deuil, I wil. Must it not be my Lord if I agrée? Agree. Some further prooe it fits of you to sée: Receiue a pawn, my hart, my hand, and oth, To be thy owne in loue, in faith, and troth. Thus you are fast, and yet my selfe am frée: I know in ruth thou wilt me not refuse: I know not that, but other Ile not choose. It is inough, Lord pleasure, do not feare, Conscience will vse you as becomes her best. And art thou Conscience? welcommer to me than either loue or Lucre, God send grace I be, My Lords be pleasde, ere long shal you be sped, As much to your contents as pleasure is, Say but the word▪ my selfe shall soone present Lucre and loue, wel worthy such as you. Right thankfully those fauors we'il receiue, My Lords, if your affaires in present be not great Greater than any, saue regard of life, Yea euen the greatest of the common wealth, Prepare ye to withstand a stratagem, Such as this Land nor London euer knew. The Spanish forces Lordings are prepar'd, In brauerie and boast, beyond all boundes T'inuade, to win, to conquer all this land. They chieflie aime at Londons stately pompe, At Londons pleasure, wealth and pollicy. Intending to dispoile her of them all, And ouer all those louelie Ladies three. Loue, lucre, Conscience, peerlesse of the rarest price. to tyrannize and carie hardest hand. From Spain they come with Engine and intent to slay, subdue, to triumph and torment: My selfe (so heauen would) spiall of them had, And Diligence, deere Lords, they call my name. If you vouchsafe to credit my report, You do me right, and to your selues no wrong, Prouided, that you arme you, being warn'd. Diligence, thy seruice shall be knowen, and well rewarded: Nemo, for a time Conceale this Dame, and liue secure vnséene, Let vs alone whom most it dooth concerne, to meete and match our euer wéening foes. Nemo keepe cloase, and Conscience pray for vs. Bée gone and recommend vs to our God.