Lyly, John · published 1594 · first performed or written 1591 [1587-1591] (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (first) T33 Fathers, daughters and marriage negotiat typicality 0.81 · 538 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T33: daughter, marriage, father, love, davus, matter, son, chremes, wife, mother.
I'll take the tale by the end; then we four met, which argued we were no mountains, and in a tavern we met, which argued we were mortal, and every one in his wine told his days work, which was a sign we forgot not our business, and seeing all our masters troubled with devices, we determined a little to trouble the water before they drunk, so that in the attire of your children our master's wise children bewrayed their good natures, and in the garments of our master's children yours made a marriage; this all stood upon us poor children and your young children, to show that old folks may be overtaken by children. Here's a children in deed, I'll never forget it. I will, Accius come forth. I forgive all, Silena come forth. Neighbour, these things cannot be recalled, therefore as good consent, seeing in all our purposes also we missed the mark, for they two will match their children. Well of that more anon, not so suddenly lest our ungracious youths think we dare do no other, but in truth their loves stirs up nature in me. Come Accius thou must be married to Silena. How art thou minded? What for ever & Mem. ay Accius, what else? I shall never be able to abide it, it will be so tedious. Silena thou must be betrothed to Accius, & love him for thy husband. I had as lief have one of clouts. Why Silena? Why look how he looks. If you will not another will. I thank you for mine old cap. And if you be so lusty lend me two shillings. We are happy, we missed the foolish match. Come you shall presently be contracted. Contract their wits no more, they be shrunk close already. Well father here's my hand, strike the bargain. Must he lie with me? No Silena, lie by thee. I shall give her the humble bees kiss. I forbid the banes. What dost thou think them rats, and fearest they shall be poisoned? You Vicinia, wherefore? Hearken, about eighteen years ago I must thee a son Memphio, and thee a daughter Stellio. True. True. I had at that time two children of mine own, and being poor, thought it better to change them than kill them, I imagined if by device I could thrust my children into your houses, they should be well brought up in their youth, and wisely provided for in their age, nature wrought with me, and when they were weaned I sent home mine in stead of yours, which hitherto you have kept tenderly as yours: growing in years I found the children I kept at home to love dearly, at first like brother and sister, which I rejoiced at, but at length too forward in affection, which although inwardly I could not mislike, yet openly I seemed to disallow: they increased in their loving humours, I ceased not to chastise them for their loose demeanours, at last it came to my ears, that my son that was out with Memphio was a fool, that my daughter with Stellio was also unwise, and yet being brother and sister, there was a match in hammering betwixt them.
seed 43: T6 · seed 44: T7 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Ile take the tale by the end; then wee foure met, which argued we were no mountaines, and in a tauern we met, which argued we were mortall, and euery one in his wine told his dayes worke, which was a signe we forgot not our busines, and seeing all our masters troubled with deuises, we determined a little to trouble the water before they dronke, so that in the attire of your children our masters wise children bewrayed theyr good natures, and in the garments of our masters children yours made a marriage; this all stoode vppon vs poore children and your yong children, to shewe that olde folkes may be ouertaken by children. Heres a children in deed, Ile neuer forget it. I will, Accius come forth. I forgiue all, Silena come forth. Neighbor, these things cannot be recald, therefore as good consent, seeing in all our purposes also we mist the marke, for they two will match their children. Well of that more anone, not so sodainely least our vngratious youths thinke we dare do no other, but in truth their loues stirres vp nature in me. Come Accius thou must be marryed to Silenena. How art thou minded? What for euer & Mem. Accius, what els? I shall neuer be able to abide it, it will be so tedious. Silena thou must be betrothed to Accius, & loue him for thy husband. I had as liefe haue one of clouts. Why Silena? Why looke how he lookes. If you will not another will. I thanke you for mine olde cap. And if you be so lustie lend me two shillings. We are happie, we mist the foolish match. Come you shall presently be contracted. Contract their wits no more, they bee shronke close already. Well father heeres my hande, strike the bargaine. Must he lie with me? No Silena, lie by thee. I shall giue her the humble bees kisse. I forbid the banes. What doest thou thinke them rattes, and fearest they shall be poisoned? You Vicinia, wherefore? Hearken, about eighteene yeeres agoe I must thee a sonne Memphio, and thee a daughter Stellio. True. True. I had at that time two children of mine owne, and being poore, thought it better to change them than kill them, I imagined if by deuice I coulde thrust my children into your houses, they should be wel brought vp in their youth, and wisely prouided for in their age, nature wrought with me, and when they were weaned I sent home mine in sted of yours, which hetherto you haue kept tenderly as yours: growing in yeres I founde the children I kept at home to loue dearely, at first lyke brother and sister, which I reioyced at, but at length too forward in affection, which although inwardly I could not mislike, yet openly I seemed to disallowe: they increased in their louing humours, I ceased not to chastise them for theyr loose demeanors, at last it came to my eares, that my sonne that was out with Memphio was a foole, that my daughter with Stellio was also vnwise, and yet beeing brother and sister, there was a match in hammering betwixt them.