Anonymous · published 1600 · first performed or written 1600 [1599-1600] (Annals) pastoral; romance · Children of Paul's (second) T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.81 · 507 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
THe manifold great favours we have found, By you, to us poor weaklings still extended: Whereof your virtues have been only ground, And no desert in us to be so friended: Binds us some way or other to express, (Though all our all be else defeated quite Of any means) save duteous thankfulness, Which is the utmost measure of our might: Then to the boundless Ocean of your worth, This little drop of water we present: Where though it never can be singled forth, Let zeal be pleader for our good intent. Drops not diminish, but increase great floods: And mites impair not, but augment our goods. PHylander, and Orestes, what conceit Troubles your silent minds? Let me entreat Since we are come thus far, as we do walk You would devise some pretty pleasant talk: The air is cool, the evening high and fair, Why should your cloudy looks, then show despair? Believe me fair Eurimine, my skill Is simple in discourse, and utterance ill: Orestes if he were disposed to try, Can better manage such affairs than I. Why then Orestes let me crave of you Some old, or late done story to renew: Another time you shall request of me As good, if not, a greater courtesy. Trust me as now (nor can I show a reason) All mirth unto my mind comes out of season: For inward I am troubled in such sort, As all unfit I am to make report Of any thing may breed the least delight, Rather in tears, I wish the day were night: For neither can myself be merry now, Nor treat of aught that may be liked of you. That's but your melancholic old disease, That never are disposed but when ye please. Nay mistress, then since he denies the task myself will straight complish what ye ask: And though the pleasure in my tale be small, Yet may it serve to pass the time withal. Thanks good Phylander, when you please say on, Better I deem a bad discourse, than none. Sometime there lived a Duke not far from hence, Mighty in fame, and virtues excellence, Subjects he had, as ready to obey As he to rule: beloved every way, But that which most of all he gloried in, (Hope of his age, and comfort of his kin,) Was the fruition of one only son, A gallant youth, inferior unto none For virtue, shape, or excellence of wit, That after him upon his throne might sit. This youth when once he came to perfect age, The Duke would fain have linked in marriage With divers dames of honourable blood, But still his father's purpose he withstood. How, was he not of metal apt to love? Yes apt enough, as will the sequel prove. But so the stream of his affection lay, As he did lean a quite contrary way, Disproving still the choice his father made, And oftentimes the matter had delayed: Now giving hope he would at length consent, And then again, excusing his intent.
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
THe manifold great fauours we haue found, By you, to vs poore weaklings ſtill extended: Whereof your vertues haue bene only ground, And no deſert in vs to be ſo friended: Bindes vs ſome way or other to expreſſe, (Though all our all be elſe defeated quite Of any meanes) ſaue duteous thankefulnes, Which is the vtmoſt meaſure of our might: Then to the boundleſſe Ocean of your woorth, This little drop of water we preſent: Where though it neuer can be ſingled foorth, Let zeale be pleader for our good intent. Drops not diminiſh, but encreaſe great floods: And mites impaire not, but augment our goods. PHylander, and Oreſtes, what conceyt Troubles your ſilent mindes? Let me intreat Since we are come thus farre, as we do walke You would deuiſe ſome prettie pleaſant talke: The aire is coole, the euening high and faire, Why ſhould your cloudie lookes, then ſhew diſpaire? Beleeue me faire Eurimine, my skill Is ſimple in diſcourſe, and vtterance ill: Oreſtes if he were diſpoſde to trie, Can better manage ſuch affaires than I. Why then Oreſtes let me craue of you Some olde, or late done ſtory to renew: Another time you ſhall requeſt of me As good, if not, a greater curteſie. Truſt me as now (nor can I ſhew a reaſon) All mirth vnto my mind comes out of ſeaſon: For inward I am troubled in ſuch ſort, As all vnfit I am to make report Of any thing may breed the leaſt delight, Rather in teares, I wiſh the day were night: For neither can my ſelfe be merry now, Nor treat of ought that may be likte of you. Thats but your melancholike old diſeaſe, That neuer are diſpoſde but when ye pleaſe. Nay miſtreſſe, then ſince he denies the taske My ſelfe will ſtrait compliſh what ye aske: And though the pleaſure in my tale be ſmall, Yet may it ſerue to paſſe the time withall. Thanks good Phylander, when you pleaſe ſay on, Better I deeme a bad diſcourſe, then none. Sometime there liu'd a Duke not far from hence, Mightie in fame, and vertues excellence, Subiects he had, as readie to obey As he to rule: beloued euery way, But that which moſt of all he gloried in, (Hope of his age, and comfort of his kin,) Was the fruition of one onely ſonne, A gallant youth, inferior vnto none For vertue, ſhape, or excellence of wit, That after him vpon his throne might ſit. This youth when once he came to perfect age, The Duke would faine haue linckt in marriage With diuers dames of honourable blood, But ſtil his fathers purpoſe he withſtood. How, was he not of mettal apt to loue? Yes apt enough, as wil the ſequel proue. But ſo the ſtreame of his affection lay, As he did leane a quite contrary way, Diſprouing ſtill the choyce his father made, And oftentimes the matter had delaid: Now giuing hope he would at length conſent, And then again, excuſing his intent.