Lyly, John · published 1594 · first performed or written 1591 [1587-1591] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) unassigned nearest T33 Fathers, daughters and marriage negotiat · 490 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T33: daughter, marriage, father, love, davus, matter, son, chremes, wife, mother.
I have penned her up in a chamber, having only a window to look out, that youths seeing her fair cheeks, may be enamoured before they hear her fond speech. How likest thou this head? There is very good workmanship in it, but the matter is but base, if the stuff had been as good as the mould, your daughter had been as wise as she is beautiful Dost thou think she took her foolishness of me? ay, & so cunningly, that she took it not from you. Well, Quod natura dedit tollere nemo potest. A good evidence to prove the feesimple of your daughter's folly. Why? It came by nature, and if none can take it away, it is perpetual. Nay Riscio, she is no natural fool, but in this consisteth her simplicity, that she thinketh herself self subtle in this her rudeness, that she imagines she is courtly, in this the overshooting of herself, that she overweeneth of herself. Well, what follows? Risio this is my plot, Memphio hath a pretty stripling to his son, whom with cockering he hath made wanton, his girdle must be warmed, the air must not breathe on him, he must lie a-bed till noon, and yet in his bed break his fast, that which I do to conceal the folly of my daughter, that doth he in too much cockering of his son. Now Risio how shall I compass a match between my girl and his boy? Why with a pair of compasses, and bring them both into the circle, He warrant they'll match themselves. Tush, plot it for me, that never speaking one to another, they be in love one with another, I like not solemn wooing, it is for courtiers, let country folks believe others' reports as much as their own opinions. O then, so it be a match you care not. Not I, nor for a match neither, were it not I thirst after my neighbours farm. A very good nature. Well, if by flat wit I bring this to pass, what's my reward? Whatsoever thou wilt ask. I'll ask no more than by my wit I can get in the bargain. Then about it. If I come not about you never trust me, I'll seek out Dromio, the counsellor of my conceit. It is unneighbourly done to suffer your son since he came from school to spend his time in love, and unwisely done to let him hover over my daughter, who hath nothing to her dowry but her needle, & must prove a Sempster, nor he any thing to take to but a Grammar, and cannot at the best be but a schoolmaster. Prisius, you bite and whine, wring me on the withers, and yet winch yourself, it is you that go about to match my girl with my boy, she being more fit for seams than for marriage, and he for a rod than a wife.
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)
I haue penned her vp in a chamber, hauing onely a windowe to looke out, that youthes seeing her fayre cheekes, may be enamoured before they heare her fond speech. How likest thou this head? There is verie good workmanship in it, but the matter is but base, if the stuffe had bene as good as the mold, your daughter had bene as wise as she is beautifull Doest thou thinke she tooke her foolishnes of mee? I, & so cunningly, that she toke it not frō you. Well, Quod natura dedit tollere nemo potest. A good euidence to proue the fee-simple of your daughters folly. Why? It came by nature, and if none can take it awaie, it is perpetuall. Nay Riscio, she is no natural foole, but in this consisteth her simplicitie, that she thinketh herselfe selfe subtile in this her rudenesse, that she imagines she is courtly, in this the ouershooting of her selfe, that she ouerweeneth of her selfe. Well, what followes? Risio this is my plot, Memphio hath a pretie stripling to his sonne, whom with cockring he hath made wanton, his girdle must be warmde, the ayre must not breath on him, he must lie a bed til noon, and yet in his bed breake his fast, that which I doe to conceale the folly of my daughter, that doth hee in too much cockering of his sonne. Now Risio how shall I compasse a match betweene my girle and his boy? Why with a payre of compasses, and bring them both into the circle, He warrant the'il match themselues. Tush, plot it for me, that neuer speaking one to another, they be in loue one with another, I like not solemne woing, it is for courtiers, let countrie folkes beleeue others reports as much as their own opinions. O then, so it be a match you care not. Not I, nor for a match neither, were it not I thirst after my neighbors farme. A verie good nature. Well, if by flat wit I bring this to passe, whats my rewerd? Whatsoeuer thou wilt aske. Ile aske no more than by my wit I can get in the bargaine. Then about it. If I come not about you neuer trust mee, Ile seeke out Dromio, the counseller of my conceit. It is vnneighbourly done to suffer your son since hee came from schoole to spende his time in loue, and vnwisely done to let him houer ouer my daughter, who hath nothing to her dowrie but her needle, & must proue a Sempster, nor he any thing to take to but a Grammer, and cannot at the best be but a schoolemaster. Prisius, you bite and whine, wring me on the withers, and yet winch your selfe, it is you that goe about to match my girle with my boy, shee beeing more fit for seames than for marriage, and hee for a rod than a wife.