Shakespeare, William · published 1600 · first performed or written 1598 (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T30 Constables, justices and the watch · 472 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T30: constable, squire, tub, clay, worship, justice, turf, mr, hun, valentine.
First I ask thee what they have done, thirdly I ask thee what's their offence, sixth and lastly why they are committed, and to conclude, what you lay to their charge. Rightly reasoned, and in his own division, and by my troth there's one meaning well suited. Who have you offended masters, that you are thus bound to your answer? this learned Constable is too cunning to be understood, what's your offence? Sweet prince, let me go no farther to mine answer: do you hear me, and let this Count kill me: I have deceived even your very eyes: what your wisdoms could not discover, these shallow fools have brought to light, who in the night overheard me confessing to this man, how Don Iohn your brother incensed me to slander the Lady Hero, how you were brought into the orchard, and saw me court Margaret in Heroes garments, how you disgraced her when you should marry her: my villainy they have upon record, which I had rather seal with my death, then repeat over to my shame: the lady is dead upon mine and my masters false accusation: and briefly, I desire nothing but the reward of a villain. Runs not this speech like iron through your blood? I have drunk poison whiles he uttered it. But did my brother set thee on to this? Yea, and paid me richly for the practice of it. He is composed and framed of treachery, And fled he is upon this villainy. Sweet Hero, now thy image doth appear In the rare semblance that I loved it first. Come, bring away the plaintiffs, by this time our sexton hath reform signor Leonato of the matter: and masters, do not forget to specify when time and place shall serve, that I am an ass. Here, here comes master signor Leonato, and the sexton too. Which is the villain? let me see his eyes, That when I note another man like him, I may avoid him: which of these is he? If you would know your wronger, look on me. Art thou the slave that with thy breath hast killed Mine innocent child? Yea, even I alone. No, not so villain, thou beliest thyself, Here stand a pair of honourable men, A third is fled that had a hand in it: I thank you Princes for my daughter's death, Record it with your high and worthy deeds, 'twas bravely done, if you bethink you of it. I know not how to pray your patience, Yet I must speak, choose your revenge yourself, Impose me to what penance your invention Can lay upon my sin, yet sinned I not, But in mistaking. By my soul nor I, And yet to satisfy this good old man, I would bend under any heavy weight, That he'll enjoin me to.
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)
First I aske thee what they haue done, thirdly I ask thee whats their offence, sixt and lastly why they are committed, and to conclude, what you lay to their charge. Rightly reasoned, and in his owne diuision, and by my troth theres one meaning wel suted. Who haue you offended maisters, that you are thus bound to your answere? this learned Constable is too cunning to be vnderstood, whats your offence? Sweete prince, let me goe no farther to mine answere: do you heare me, and let this Counte kill me: I haue deceiued euen your very eyes: what your wisedoms could not discouer, these shallowe fooles haue broght to light, who in the night oerheard me confessing to this man, how Don Iohn your broher incensed me to slaunder the Lady Hero, howe you were brought into the orchard, and saw me court Margaret in Heroes garments, how you disgracde hir when you should marry hir: my villany they haue vpon record, which I had rather seale with my death, then repeate ouer to my shame: the lady is dead vpon mine and my masters false accusation: and briefely, I desire nothing but the reward of a villaine. Runnes not this speech like yron through your bloud? I haue dronke poison whiles he vtterd it. But did my brother set thee on to this? Yea, and paid me richly for the practise of it. He is composde and framde of treacherie, And fled he is vpon this villanie. Sweet Hero, now thy image doth appeare In the rare semblance that I lou'd it first. Come, bring away the plaintiffes, by this time our sexton hath reformed Signior Leonato of the matter: and masters, do not forget to specifie when time and place shal serue, that I am an asse. Here, here comes master Signior Leonato, and the sexton too. Which is the villaine? let me see his eies, That when I note another man like him, I may auoide him: which of these is he? If you would know your wronger, looke on me. Art thou the slaue that with thy breath hast killd Mine innocent child? Yea, euen I alone. No, not so villaine, thou beliest thy selfe, Here stand a paire of honourable men, A third is fled that had a hand in it: I thanke you Princes for my daughters death, Record it with your high and worthy deeds, Twas brauely done, if you bethinke you of it. I know not how to pray your pacience, Yet I must speake, choose your reuenge your selfe, Impose me to what penance your inuention Can lay vpon my sinne, yet sinnd I not, But in mistaking. By my soule nor I, And yet to satisfie this good old man, I would bend vnder any heauy waight, That heele enioyne me to.