Lyly, John · published 1591 · first performed or written 1588 [Feb 2(?)] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) · before the Court unassigned nearest T45 Widows, wooing and remarriage · 520 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T45: widow, widows, hoord, master, gentlemen, wife, randalls, wit, mistress, married.
Stately in every joint, which the common people term stiffness. Doth Dipsas stoop? will she yield? will she bend? O sir as much as you would wish, for her chin almost toucheth her knees. Master, she is bent I warrant you. What conditions doth she ask? She hath vowed she will never love any that hath not a tooth in his head less than she. How many hath she? One. That goeth hard Master, for then you must have none. A small request, and agreeable to the gravity of her years. What should a wise man do with his mouth full of bones like a channel house. The Turtle true hath near a tooth. Thy Master is in a notable vain, that will lose his teeth to be like a Turtle. Let him lose his tongue to, I care not. Nay you must also have no nails, for she long since hath cast hers. That I yield to, what a quiet life shall Dipsas and I lead, when we can neither bite nor scratch? You may see youths, how age provides for peace. How shall we do to make him leave his love, for we never spoke to her? Let me alone. she is a notable Witch, and hath turned her maid Bagoa to an Aspen tree, for bewraying her secrets. I honour her for her cunning, for now when I am weary of walking on two legs, what a pleasure may she do me to turn me to some goodly Ass, and help me to four. Nay then I must tell you the troth, her husband Geron is come home, who this fifty years hath had her to wife. What do I hear? Hath she an husband? Go to the sixteen, and tell him desire is dead, and will him to dig his grave. O heavens, an husband? What death is agreeable to my fortune? Be not desperate, and we will help you to find a young Lady, I love no grissels they are so brittle, they will crack like glass, or so dainty, that if they be touched, they are straight of the fashion of wax: Animus maioribus instat. I desire old Matrons. What a sight would it be to embrace one whose hair were as orient as the pearl? whose teeth shall be so pure a watchet, that they shall stain the truest Turquis? whose nose shall throw more beams from it then the fiery Carbuncle? whose eyes shall be environed about with redness, exceeding the deepest Coral? And whose lips might compare with silver for the paleness? Such a one if you can help me to, I will by piece-meal curtal my affections towards Dipsas, and walk my swelling thoughts till they be cold. Wisely provided. How say you my friends, will you angle for my masters cause? Most willingly. If we speed him not shortly, I will burn my cap, we will serve him of the spades, and dig an old wife out of the grave, that shall be answerable to his gravity. Youths adieu; he that bringeth me first news, shall possess mine inheritance.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Statelie in euery ioynt, which the common people terme stifnes. Doth Dipsas stoope? vvyll shee yeeld? will she bende? O sir as much as you would wish, for her chin almost toucheth her knees. Maister, she is bent I warrant you. VVhat conditions doth she aske? Shee hath vowed shee will neuer loue anie that hath not a tooth in his head lesse then she. How manie hath shee? One. That goeth harde Maister, for then you must haue none. A small request, and agreeable to the grauitie of her yeeres. What shoulde a wise man doe with his mouth full of bones like a channel house. The Turtle true hath nere a tooth. Thy Maister is in a notable vaine, that will loose his teeth to be like a Turtle. Let him loose his tongue to, I care not. Nay you must also haue no nayles, for shee long since hath cast hers. That I yeelde to, what a quiet life shal Dipsas and I leade, when wee can neither byte nor scratch? You may see youthes, how age prouides for peace. How shal we doe to make him leaue his loue, for we neuer spake to her? Let me alone. Shee is a notable Witch, and hath turnde her maide Bagoa to an Aspen tree, for bewraying her secretes. I honor her for her cunning, for now when I am wearie of walking on two legges, what a pleasure may she doe mee to turne me to some goodly Asse, and help mee to foure. Nay then I must tell you the troth, her husband Geron is come home, who this fifty yeeres hath had her to wife. What doe I heare? Hath she an husbande? Goe to the Sexteene, and tell him desire is deade, and will him to digge his graue. O heauens, an husbande? What death is agreeable to my fortune? Be not desperate, and we will helpe you to find a young Ladie, I loue no grissels they are so brittle, they will cracke like glasse, or so dainty, that if they bee touched, they are straight of the fashion of waxe: Animus maioribus instat. I desire olde Matrons. What a sight would it be to embrace one whose hayre were as orient as the pearle? whose teeth shal be so pure a watchet, that they shall staine the truest Turkis? whose nose shall throwe more beames from it then the fierie Carbuncle? whose eyes shall be enuirond about with rednesse, exceeding the deepest Corall? And whose lippes might compare with siluer for the palenesse? Such a one if you can help me to, I will by peece-meale curtoll my affections towardes Dipsas, and vvalke my swelling thoughts till they be cold. VVisely prouided. How say you my freendes, will you angle for my Maisters cause? Most willingly. If wee speede him not shortly, I will burne my cappe, we will serue him of the spades, and digge an old wife out of the graue, that shall be answerable to his grauitie. Youthes adiew; hee that bringeth mee first newes, shall possesse mine inheritance.