Wilson, Robert · published 1594 · first performed or written 1590 [c.1589-1593] (Annals) moral · Queen Elizabeth's Men (?) unassigned nearest T47 Knaves, thieves and bawds · 516 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T47: knave, rogue, money, knaves, thief, rogues, pray, whore, nichol, book.
I must charm him asleep, or he will still be prating. I'll please thee well, I pray thee Raph sit down. Now I am set, would I had a pot of ale. We will have twain, but first attend my tale. Not far hence standeth Mars his Court, to whom thus see thou say, Mars though thou be a Cock of the game, that wontst to crow by day, And with thy sharpened spurs the craven cocks didst kill and slay: Sith now thou dost but prune thy wings, and make thy feathers gay: A dunghill Cock that crows by night, shall slily thee betray, And tread thy Hen, and for a time shall carry her away. And she by him shall hatch a Chick, this Country to decay. And for this pretty pullet's name thou shalt the better learn: When thou shalt only letters five within one name discern, Three vowels and two consonants, which vowels if thou scan, Doth sound that which to euerie pa conducteth every man. Then call to mind this Prophecy, for that's the Bastard's name: Then rouse thyself, then reach thy sword, and win thy wonted fame. Now Raph awake, for I have done the task for which I came. Heigh ho, wake quoth you, I think 'tis time, for I have slept soundly: And methought in my sleep this was God Markedy, that had chanted my wife mad for good cause why. Above methought I saw God Shebiter, that mar'lously did frown, With a dart of fire in his hand ready to throw it down. Below methought there were false knaves walking like honest men very craftily: And few or none could be plainly seen to thrive in the world by honesty. methought I saw one that was wondrous fat, Pick two men's purses while they were striving for a gnat. And some that dwelled in streets were large and fair, Kept back shops to utter their baddest ware. What meddle I with trades? Men masters and maids, Yea and wives too and all are too too bad, Be judged by my wife, that was never well till she ran mad. But O the Baker, how he played false with the balance, And ran away from the takers talons. The Brewer was as bad, the Butcher as ill, For it's their trick to blow up lean meat with a quill. And with the stroke a Butcher gave an ox that loud bellowing did make, I lost sight of all the other tricks, and so suddenly did wake. But now must Raph trudge about his prophetation, Faith ye shall hear me troll it out after my fashion. Thus have I served in my PRINCE's wars, Against the Persian and the Asian Powers: The coal-black Moore that revels in the straits Have I repelled with my loss of blood. My scars are witness of my hard escapes: My wrinkles in my face (made old by care, When yet my years are in their chiefest prime) Are glasses of my grief, lights of my languor, That live disgraced, and have deserved honour.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T41 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
I must charme him asleepe, or he will still be prating. Ile please thee well, I pre thee Raph sit downe. Now I am set, would I had a pot of ale. We will haue twaine, but first attend my tale. Not farre hence standeth Mars his Court, to whom thus see thou say, Mars though thou be a Cocke of the game, that wontst to croe by day, And with thy sharpned spurres the crauen Cockes didst kill and slay: Sith now thou dost but prune thy wings, and make thy fethers gay: A dunghill Cocke that croes by night, shall slilie thee betray, And tread thy Hen, and for a time shall carrie her away. And she by him shall hatch a Chicke, this Countrey to decay. And for this pretie Pullets name thou shalt the better learne: When thou shalt onelie letters fiue within one name discerne, Three vowels and two consonants, vvhich vovvels if thou scan, Doth sound that vvhich to euerie pa conducteth euerie man. Then call to minde this Prophecie, for thats the bastards name: Then rouse thy selfe, then reach thy sword, and win thy wonted fame. Now Raph awake, for I haue done the taske for which I came. Heigh ho, wake quoth you, I thinke tis time, for I haue slept soundly: And me thought in my sleep this was God Markedy, that had chaunted my wife mad for good cause why. Aboue me thought I saw God Shebiter, that marlously did frowne, VVith a dart of fier in his hand readie to throw it downe. Below me thought there were false knaues walking like honest men verie craftely: And few or none could be plainly seene to thriue in the world by honestie. Me thought I saw one that was wondrous fat, Picke two mens purses while they were striuing for a gnat. And some that dwelt in streetes were large and faire, Kept backe shops to vtter their baddest ware. VVhat meddle I with trades? Men masters and maids, Yea and wiues too and all are too too bad, Be iudgd by my wife, that was neuer well till she ran mad. But O the Baker, how he plaid false with the ballance, And ran away from the takers tallants. The Bruer was as bad, the Butcher as ill, For its their tricke to blow vp leane meate with a quill▪ And with the stroke a Butcher gaue an oxe that lowd bellowing did make, I lost sight of all the other trickes, and so sodainly did wake. But now must Raph trudge about his prophetation, Faith ye shall heare me troll it out after my fashion. Thus haue I serued in my Princes warres, Against the Persian and the Asian Powers: The cole-blacke Moore that reuels in the Straights Haue I repelled with my losse of blood. My scarres are witnes of my hard escapes: My wrinckles in my face (made old by care, VVhen yet my yeres are in their chiefest prime) Are glasses of my griefe, lights of my languor, That liue disgracde, and haue deserued honor.