Shakespeare, William · published 1600 · first performed or written 1598 (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men T30 Constables, justices and the watch typicality 0.87 · 469 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T30: constable, squire, tub, clay, worship, justice, turf, mr, hun, valentine.
If I see any thing to night, why I should not marry her to morrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there will I shame her. And as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join with thee, to disgrace her. I will disparaged her no farther, till you are my witnesses, bear it coldly but till midnight, and let the issue show itself. O day untowardly turned! O mischief strangely thwarting! O plague right well prevented! so will you say, when you have seen the sequel. Are you good men and true? Yea, or else it were pity but they should suffer salvation body and soul. Nay, that were a punishment too good for them, if they should have any allegiance in them, being chosen for the Prince's watch. Well, give them their charge, neighbour Dogbery. First, who think you the most desertless man to be Constable? I Hugh Ote-cake sir, or George seacoal, for they can write and read. Come hither neighbour seacoal, God hath blessed you with a good name: to be a well-favoured man, is the gift of Fortune, but to write and read, comes by nature. Both which master Constable. You have: I knew it would be your answer: well, for your favour sir, why give God thanks, and make no boast of it, and for your writing and reading, let that appear when there is no need of such vanity, you are thought here to be the most senseless and fit man for the Constable of the watch: therefore bear you the lantern: this is your charge, You shall comprehend all vagrom men; you are to bid any man stand, in the Prince's name. How if a will not stand? Why then take no note of him, but let him go, and presently call the rest of the watch together, and thank god you are rid of a knave. If he will not stand when he is bidden, he is none of the Prince's subjects. True, and they are to meddle with none but the Prince's subjects: you shall also make no noise in the streets: for, for the watch to babble and to talk, is most tolerable, and not to be endured. We will rather sleep than talk, we know what belongs to a watch. Why you speak like an ancient and most quiet watchman, for I cannot see how sleeping should offend: only have a care that your bills be not stolen: well, you are to call at all the alehouses, and bid those that are drunk get them to bed. How if they will not? Why then let them alone till they are sober, if they make you not then the better answer, you may say, they are not the men you took them for. Well sir.
seed 43: T36 · seed 44: T35 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
If I see anie thing to night, why I should not marry her to morrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there will I shame her. And as I wooed for thee to obtaine her, I wil ioyne with thee, to disgrace her. I will disparage her no farther, till you are my witnesses, beare it coldely but till midnight, and let the issue shew it selfe. O day vntowardly turned! O mischiefe strangely thwarting! O plague right well preuented! so will you say, when you haue seene the sequele. Are you good men and true? Yea, or else it were pitty but they should suffer saluation body and soule. Nay, that were a punishment too good for them, if they should haue any allegeance in them, being chosen for the Princes watch. Well, giue them their charge, neighbour Dogbery. First, who thinke you the most desartlesse man to be Constable? I Hugh Ote-cake sir, or George Sea-cole, for they can write and reade. Come hither neighbor Sea-cole, God hath blest you with a good name: to be a welfauoured man, is the gift of Fortune, but to write and reade, comes by nature. Both which maister Constable. You haue: I knew it would be your answer: wel, for your fauour sir, why giue God thanks, and make no boast of it, and for your writing and reading, let that appeere when there is no neede of such vanity, you are thought heere to be the most senslesse and fit man for the Constable of the watch: therefore beare you the lanthorne: this is your charge, You shall comprehend all vagrom men; you are to bidde any man stand, in the Princes name. How if a will not stand? Why then take no note of him, but let him goe, and presently call the rest of the watch together, and thanke god you are ridde of a knaue. If he wil not stand when he is bidden, he is none of the Princes subiects. True, and they are to meddle with none but the Princes subiects: you shall also make no noise in the streetes: for, for the watch to babble and to talke, is most tollerable, and not to be indured. We will rather sleepe than talke, we know what belongs to a watch. Why you speake like an antient and most quiet watchman, for I cannot see how sleeping should offend: onely haue a care that your billes bee not stolne: well, you are to cal at al the alehouses, and bid those that are drunke get them to bed. How if they will not? Why then let them alone til they are sober, if they make you not then the better answer, you may say, they are not the men you tooke them for. Well sir.