Jonson, Ben · published 1600 · first performed or written 1599 (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 505 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
O ay, I pray you good Uncle: God send me good luck; Lord (an't be thy will) prosper it: O Iesu; now, now, if it take (O Christ) I am made for ever. Shall I tell you sir: by this air I am the most beholding to that Lord, of any Gentleman living; he does use me the most honourably, and with the greatest respect, more indeed, than can be uttered with any opinion of truth. Then have you, the Count Gratiato? As true noble a Gentleman too as any breaths; I am exceedingly endeared to his love: by Iesu, (I protest to you signor, I speak it not gloriously, nor out of affectation, but) there's he, and the Count Frugal, signor Illustre, signor Luculento, and a sort of 'em; that (when I am at the Court) they do share me amongst 'em. Happy is he can enjoy me most private; I do wish myself sometime an Ubiquitary for their love, in good faith. There's ne'er a one of these but might lie a week on the rack, ere they could bring forth his name; and yet he powers them out as familiarly as if he had seen 'em stand by the fire i'the Presence, or ta'en Tobacco with them over the stage i'the Lords room. Then you must of necessity know our Court-star there? that Planet of wit, Madonna Saviolina? O Lord Sir! my mistress. Is she your mistress? Faith, here be some slight favours of hers sir, that do speak it, She is; as this Scarf sir, or this Ribbon in mine ear, or so; this Feather grew in her sweet Fan sometimes, though now it be my poor fortunes to wear it as you see sir; slight, slight; a foolish toy. Well, she is the Lady of a most exalted, and ingenious spirit. Did you ever hear any woman speak like her? or enriched with a more plentiful discourse? O vilanous! nothing but Sound, Sound, a mere Echo; she speaks as she goes tired, in Cobweb lawn, light, thin: good enough to catch flies withal. O, manage your affections. Well, if thou be'st not plagued for this blasphemy one day:— Come, regard not a jester; it is in the power of my purse to make him speak well or ill of me. Sir, I affirm it to you (upon my Credit and judgement) she has the most Harmonious and Musical strain of Wit, that ever tempted a true ear; and yet to see, a rude tongue will profane Heaven. I am not ignorant of it sir. Oh, it flows from her like Nectar, and she doth give it, that sweet, quick grace, and exornation in the composure, that (By this good Heaven) she does observe as pure a Phrase, and use as choice Figures in her ordinary conferences, as any be i'the Arcadia. Or rather in Greene's works, whence she may steal with more security. Well, if ten pound will fetch 'em, you shall have it, but I'll part with no more.
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)
O I, I pray you good Vncle: God send me good luck; Lord (and't be thy will) prosper it: O Iesu; now, now, if it take (O Christ) I am made for euer. Shall I tell you sir: by this aire I am the most beholding to that Lord, of any Gentleman liuing; hee does vse me the most honourably, and with the greatest respect, more indeed, than can be vtter'd with any opinion of truth. Then haue you, the Count Gratiato? As true noble a Gentleman too as any breaths; I am exceedingly endear'd to his loue: by Iesu, (I protest to you Signior, I speake it not gloriously, nor out of affectation, but) there's he, and the Count Frugale, Signior Illustre, Signior Luculento, and a sort of 'hem; that (when I am at the Court) they doe share me amongst 'hem. Happie is he can enjoy me most priuat; I doe wish my selfe sometime an Vbiquitarie for their loue, in good faith. There's ne're a one of these but might lie a weeke on the racke, ere they could bring foorth his name; and yet hee powres them out as familiarly as if hee had seene 'hem stand by the firc i'the Presence, or ta'ne Tabacco with them ouer the stage i'the Lords roome. Then you must of necessitie know our Court-starre there? that Planet of wit, Maddona Saviolina? O Lord Sir! my mistresse. Is shee your mistresse? Faith, here be some slight fauours of hers sir, that doe speak it, Shee is; as this Scarfe sir, or this Ribband in mine eare, or so; this Fether grew in her sweet Fanne sometimes, though now it be my poore fortunes to weare it as you see sir; slight, slight; a foolish toy. VVell, shee is the Ladie of a most exalted, and ingenous spirit. Did you euer heare any woman speake like her? or enricht with a more plentifull discourse? O vilanous! nothing but Sound, Sound, a meere Eccho; shee speaks as shee goes tir'd, in Cobweb lawne, light, thinne: good enough to catch flies withall. O, manage your affections. VVell, if thou beest not plagu'd for this blasphemie one day:— Come, regard not a jeaster; it is in the power of my purse to make him speake well or ill of me. Sir, I affirme it to you (vpon my Credit and Iudgement) shee has the most Harmonious and Musicall straine of VVit, that euer tempted a true eare; and yet to see, a rude tongue will profane Heauen. I am not ignorant of it sir. Oh, it flowes from her like Nectar, and shee doth giue it, that sweet, quicke grace, and exornation in the composure, that (By this good Heauen) she does obserue as pure a Phrase, and vse as choise Figures in her ordinarie conferences, as any be i'the Arcadia. Or rather in Greenes works, whence she may steale with more securitie. VVell, if ten pound will fetch 'hem, you shall haue it, but I'le part with no more.