The Blind Beggar of Alexandria (Irus) · chunk 25 of 26
Chapman, George · published 1598 · first performed or written 1596 [Feb 12] (Annals) comedy · Admiral's (Nottingham's) Men unassigned nearest T45 Widows, wooing and remarriage · 533 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T45: widow, widows, hoord, master, gentlemen, wife, randalls, wit, mistress, married.
And I my Lord humbly entreat your grace. That where my husband Leon is deceased, And left me much in debt, his creditors Having seized all I have into their hands, And turned me with this hapless burden here, Into the streets your highness will descend, To my relief by some convenient order. Poor souls I most extremely pity them, But say is Leon dead, Men say my Lord he cast his desperate body, From th'alexandrian tower into the sea. Who saw the sight, or gave out this report, You master burgomaster. I did my gracious Lord. So I devised indeed that he should say, That none should never look for Leon more But these my widows here must not be left, unto the mercy of the needy world, Nor mine own Issue that they go withal, Have such base fortunes and there fire so great, Widows in pity of your widowhood, And untimely ends of both your husbands, The slaughter of the Count your husband madam, shallbe remitted, and yourself enjoy, The utmost of the living he possessed, So will I pay your husband Leon's debt, And both shall live fitting there wonted states, Kings in there mercy come most near the Gods, And can no better show it then in ruth, Of widows and of children fatherless, myself will therefore be to both your births, A careful father in there bringing up. The Gods for ever bless your majesty, But tell me were your husbands such bad men, That every way they did deserve such ends, Mine was a husband to my hearts content. But that he used the privilege of men. What privilege of men, To take some other love besides his wife Which men think by their custom they may do, Although their wives be strictly bound to them. With whom suspect you he was great with all. With this poor widow here the world supposeth. So thinks the world my husband was with you. Fair dames what will you say to me, If I can tell you where your husbands be. What can you sir. Nay nothing sir I did but jest with you, I feared him I faith but I'll be secret that's flat. Well master burgomaster see that you restore, The goods and lands you ceased. Both of the countesse and rich Leon's wife, Not pity of their widowhoods alone, But their rare beauties move me to this good. Oh Master Burgomaster see here's your wife come to welcome you home from war. Oh husband husband will you go to war, and leave me in this taking. This taking why this is a very good taking how say you is it not and like your Majesty. 'tis very well Master burgomaster. But Shall I entreat one boon of your Majesty. What's that Master burgomaster. marry even to be god father to my young burgomaster here. withal my heart sir. Come on sweet husband for my time draws near. Fear not thou shalt be a joyful mother I warrant thee. How say you my Lords is not our burgomaster a tall man every way, did you not mark how manfully he behaved himself in our late Battle,
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)
And I my Lord humbly intreate your grace. That where my husband Leon is deceast, And left me much in debt, his creditors Hauing seased all I haue into their handes, And turnd me with this haplesse burthen heere, Into the streetes your highnesse will descend, To my reliefe by some conuenient order. Poore soules I most extreamely pittie them, But say is Leon deade, Men say my Lord he cast his desperate body, From Thalexandrian tower into the sea. VVho saw the sight, or gaue out this reporte, You maister Burgomaister. I did my gratious Lord. So I deuisd indeede that he should say, That none should neuer looke for Leon more But these my widowes here must not be left, vnto the mercie of the needy world, Nor mine owne Issue that they goe withall, Haue such base fortunes and there fire so great, VVidowes in pittie of your widowhood, And vntymely endes of both your husbandes, The slaughter of the Count your husband madam, Shalbe remitted▪ and your selfe enioy, The vtmost of the liuing he possest, So will I pay your husband Leons debt, And both shall liue fitting there wonted states, Kinges in there mercie come most neare the Goddes, And can no better shew it then in ruth, Of widowes and of children fatherlesse, My selfe will therefore be to both your birthes, A carefull father in there bringing vp. The Gods for euer blesse your maiestie, But tell me were your husbandes such bad men, That euery way they did deserue such endes, Myne was a husband to my hartes content. But that he vsd the priuiledge of men. VVhat priuiledge of men, To take some other loue besides his wife VVhich men think by their custome they may do, Although their wiues be strictly bound to them. VVith whom suspectyou he was great with all. VVith this poore widow here the worlde supposeth. So thinkes the world my husband was with you. Fayre dames what will you say to me, If I can tell you where your husoandes bee. VVhat can you sir. Nay nothing sir I did but ieast with you, I feard him I yth but Ile be secret thats flat. VVell maister Burgomaister see that you restore, The goodes and landes you ceasd. Both of the countesse ad rich Leons wife, Not pie of their wido odes alone, But their rare beauties moue me to this good. Oh Maister Burgomaster see heres your wife come to welcome you home from war. Oh husband huand will you goe to re, and leaue me in this taking. This taking why this is a very good taking how say you is it not and like your Maiestie. Tis very wel Maister Burgster. But Shall I intreat one boone of your Maiestie. VVhats that Maister Burgomaister. Mary euen to be god father to my young Burgomaister here. VVithall my hart sir. Come on sweete husband fot my time drawes neare. Feare not thou shalt be a ioyfull mother I warrant thee. How say you my Lordes is not our Burgomaister a tall man euery way, did you not marke how manfully he be haued himselfe in our late Battayle,