Heywood, Thomas · published 1600 · first performed or written 1599 [1592-1599] (Annals) history · Derby's (Strange's) Men T14 Royal love, favour and dynastic relation typicality 0.89 · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T14: prince, princess, love, king, lord, queen, madam, grace, lady, life.
Trust me, nor sick, nor well, but troubled still with the disease I told ye: here is another letter from the King, was never poor soul so importuned. But will no answer serve? No mistris Blage, no answere will sustize, He, he it is, that with a violent siege Labours to break into my plighted faith, Oh what am I, he should so much forget His royal State, and his high majesty? Still doth he come disguised to my house, And in most humble terms bewrays his love, My husband grieves, alas how can he choose, Fearing the dispossessment of his Iane? And when he cannot come (for him) he writes, Offering beside incomparable gifts, And all to win me to his princely will. Believe me M. Shore, a dangerous case, And every way repeat with doubtful fear, If you should yield, your virtuous name were foiled And your beloved husband made a scorn, And if not yield, it's likely that his love, Which now admires ye, will convert to hate, And who knows not a PRINCE's hate is death? Yet I will not be she shall counsel ye, Good mistress Shore do what ye will for me. Then counsel me what I were best to do. You know his greatness ran dispense with ill, Making the sin seem lesser by his worth, And you yourself, your children & your friends, Be all advanced to worldly dignity, And this world's pomp you know is a goodly thing, Yet I will not be she shall counsel ye, Good mistress Shore do what ye will for me. Alas I know that I was bound by oath, To keep the promise that I made at first, And virtue lives, when pomp consumes to dust. So we do say, dishonour is no shame, When slander does not touch th'offenders name, You shall be folded in a prince's arms, Whose beck disperseth even the greatest harms, Many that sit themselves in high degree, Will then be glad to stoop, and bend the knee, And who is't, having plenty in the hand, Never commanded, but doth still command, That cannot work in such excess of things, To quit the guilt one small transgression brings? Yet I will not be she shall counsel ye, Good mistress Shore do what ye will for me. Here do I live, although in mean estate, Yet with a conscience free from all debate, Where higher footing may in time procure, A sudden fall, and mix my sweet with sour. True, I confess a private life is good, Nor would I otherwise be understood, To be a goldsmith's wife is some content, But days in court more pleasantly are spent, A household's government deserves renown, But what is a companion to a crown? The name of mistress is a pretty thing, But Madam at each word doth glory bring. Yet I will not be she shall counsel ye, Good mistress Shore do what ye will for nice.
seed 43: T14 · seed 44: T9 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Trust me, nor sicke, nor well, but troubled still with the disease I told yée: heere is another leer from the King, was neuer poore soule so importuned. But will no answere serue? No mistris Blage, no answere will sustize, He, he it is, that with a violent siedge Labours to breake into my plighted faith, Oh what am I, he should so much forget His royall State, and his high maiestie? Still doth he come disguised to my house, And in most humble termes be wraies his loue, My husband gréeues, alas how can he choose, Fearing the dispossessement of his Iane? And when he cannot come (for him) he writes, Offering beside incomparable gifts, And all to winne me to his princely will. Beléeue me M. Shoare, a dangerous case, And euery way repeat with doubtfull feare, If you should yéeld, your vertuous name were foild And your beloued husband made a scorne, And if not yéeld, its likely that his loue, Which now admires ye, will conuert to hate, And who knowes not a princes hate is death? Yet I will not be she shall counsaile yée, Good mistresse Shoare do what ye will for me. Then counsaile me what I were best to do. You know his greatnes rā dispense with il, Making the sinne séeme lesser by his worth, And you your selfe, your children & your friends, Be all adnnced to worldly dignitie, And this worlds pompe you know is a goodly thing, Yet I will not be shee shall connsaile ye, Good mistresse Shoare doe what ye will for mee. Alas I know that I was bound by oath, To kéepe the promise that I made at first, And vertue liues, when pompe consumes to dust. So we do say, dishonour is no shame, When slaunder does not touch th'offenders name, You shall be folded in a princes armes, Whose becke disperseth euen the greatest harmes, Many that sit themselues in high degree, Will then be glad to stoope, and bende the knee, And who ist, hauing plentie in the hand, Neuer commaunded, but doth still commaund, That cannot worke in such excesse of things, To quit the guilt one small transgression brings? Yet I will not be shée shall counsaile ye, Good mistresse Shoare do what ye will for mée. Here do I liue, although in meane estate, Yet with a conscience free from all debate, Where higher footing may in time procure, A sudden fall, and mixe my swéete with sowre. True, I confesse a priuate life is good, Nor would I otherwise be vnderstood, To be a Goldsmiths wife is some content, But daes in court more pleasantly are spent, A households gouernment deserues renowne, But what is a companion to a crowne? The name of mistresse is a prettie thing, But Madam at each word doth glory bring. Yet I will not be shee shal counsel yée, Good mistresse Shoare do what ye will for nice.