Jonson, Ben · published 1600 · first performed or written 1599 (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men T41 Household service: masters, doors and po typicality 0.84 · 499 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T41: master, house, door, iohn, old, mistress, basket, lord, gentleman, ick.
To Supper sir? now come up to Supper I beseech you: as though there were no difference between Supper time when folks should be merry, and this time when they would be Melancholy? I would never take upon me to take a wife, if I had no more judgement to please her. Be pleased sweet wife, and they shall ha' done: & would to Christ my life were done, if I can never please thee. God save you Lady; where is Master Deliro? Here, Master Macilente: you're welcome from the Court Sir; no doubt you have been graced exceedingly of Master Briske's Mistress, and the rest of the Ladies for his sake? Alas, the poor Fantastic, he's scarce known To any Lady there: and those that know him, Know him the simplest man of all they know: Deride, and play upon his amorous Humours, Though he but Apishly doth imitate The gallant Courtiers, kissing lady's Pumps, Holding the Cloth for them, praising their Wits, And servilely observing every one, May do them pleasure: Fearful to be seen With any man (though he be ne'er so worthy) That's not in grace with some that are the greatest. Thus Courtiers do, and these he counterfeits, But sets not such a sightly carriage Upon their vanities, as they themselves; And therefore they despise him: for indeed he's like a zany to a Tumbler, That tries tricks after him to make men laugh. Here's an unthankful spiteful wretch: the good Gentleman vouchsafed to make him his companion (because my husband put him into a few Rags) and now see how the unrude Rascal backbites him. Is he no more graced amongst'em than? say you? Faith like a pawn at Chess, fills up a room, that's all. O monster of men! can the Earth bear such an envious Caitiff? Well, I repent me I e'er credited him so much: but (now I see what he is, and that his masking viz or is of) I'll forbear him no longer: all his lands are mortgaged to me, and forfeited: beside, I have Bonds of his in my hand for the receipt of now xx pound, now thirty, now xxv: still as he has had a Fan but wagged at him, he would be in a new Suit. Well, I'll salute him by a Sergeant, the next time I see him i'faith, I'll Suit him. Why, you may soon see him Sir, for he is to meet signor Puntarvolo at a notary's by the Exchange presently, where he means to take up upon return. Now out upon thee Iudas; canst thou not be content to backbite thy friend, but thou must betray him? wilt thou seek the undoing of any man? and of such a man too? and will you Sir get your living by the counsel of Traitors? Dear wife, have patience. The house will fall, the ground will open, and swallow us: I'll not bide here for all the Gold an Silver in Heaven.
seed 43: T5 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
To Supper sir? now come vp to Supper I beseech you: as though there were no difference betweene Supper time when folkes should be merrie, and this time when they would be Melancholly? I would neuer take vpon me to take a wife, if I had no more Iudgement to please her. Be pleas'd sweet wife, and they shall ha' done: & would to Christ my life were done, if I can neuer please thee. God saue you Ladie; where is Master Deliro? Here, Master Macilente: you'r welcome from the Court Sir; no doubt you haue been grac't exceedingly of Master Briskes Mistresse, and the rest of the Ladies for his sake? Alas, the poore Phantasticke, hee's scarse knowne To any Ladie there: and those that know him, Know him the simplest man of all they know: Deride, and play vpon his amorous Humors, Though he but Apishly doth imitate The gallan't Courtiers, kissing ladies Pumps, Holding the Cloth for them, praising their VVits, And seruilely obseruing euery one, May doe them pleasure: Fearefull to be seene VVith any man (though he be ne're so worthy) That's not in grace with some that are the greatest. Thus Courtiers doe, and these he counterfeits, But sets not such a sightly carriage Vpon their vanities, as they themselues; And therefore they despise him: for indeed Hee's like a Zani to a Tumbler, That tries trickes after him to make men laugh. Here's an vnthankfull spitefull wretch: the good Gentleman vouchsaft to make him his companion (because my husband put him into a few Rags) and now see how the vnrude Rascall backbites him. Is he no more grac't amongst'hem then? say you? Faith like a pawne at Chesse, fills vp a roume, that's all. O monster of men! can the Earth beare such an enuious Caitiffe? VVell, I repent mee I e're credited him so much: but (now I see what he is, and that his masking viz or is of) I'le forbear him no longer: all his lands are morgag'd to me, and forfeited: besides, I haue Bonds of his in my hand for the receit of now xx pound, now xxx, now xxv: still as hee has had a Fan but wagg'd at him, he would be in a new Sute. VVel, I'le salute him by a Sergeant, the next time I see him yfaith, I'le Suit him. VVhy, you may soone see him Sir, for hee is to meet Signior Puntarvolo at a Notaries by the Exchange presently, where he meanes to take vp vpon returne. Now out vpon thee Iudas; canst thou not be content to backbite thy friend, but thou must betray him? wilt thou seeke the vndoing of any man? and of such a man too? and will you Sir get your liuing by the counsell of Traitors? Deare wife, haue patience. The house wilfal, the ground wil open, and swallow vs: I'le not bide here for all the Gold an Siluer in Heauen.