Shakespeare, William · published 1623 · first performed or written 1598 (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T30 Constables, justices and the watch · 473 words · other edition — not in the analysis
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 lastlie 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 Signior Leonato of the matter: and masters, do not forget to specify when time & place shall serve, that I am an Ass. Here, here comes master Signior 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 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, ye 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, thirdlie I aske thee vvhat's their offence, ſixt and laſtlie why they are committed, and to conclude, what you lay to their charge. Rightlie reaſoned, and in his owne diuiſion, and by my troth there's one meaning vvell ſuted. Who haue you offended maſters, that you are thus bound to your anſwer? this learned Conſtable is too cunning to be vnderſtood, vvhat's your offence? Sweete Prince, let me go no farther to mine anſwere: do you heare me, and let this Count kill mee: I haue deceiued euen your verie eies: vvhat your wiſedomes could not diſcouer, theſe ſhallow fooles haue brought to light, vvho in the night ouerheard me confeſſing to this man, how Don Iohn your brother incenſed me to ſlander the Ladie Hero, how you were brought into the Orchard, and ſaw me court Margaret in Heroes garments, how you diſgrac'd her vvhen you ſhould marrie her: my villanie they haue vpon record, vvhich I had rather ſeale vvith my death, then repeate ouer to my ſhame: the Ladie is dead vpon mine and my maſters falſe accuſation: and briefelie, I deſire nothing but the reward of a villaine. Runs not this ſpeech like yron through your bloud? I haue drunke poiſon whiles he vtter'd it. But did my Brother ſet thee on to this? Yea, and paid me richly for the practiſe of it. He is compos'd and fram'd 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 & place ſhall 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: vvhich of theſe is he? If you vvould know your wronger, looke on me. Art thou thou the ſlaue that with thy breath haſt kild mine innocent childe? Yea, euen I alone. No, not ſo villaine, thou belieft 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 worthie deedes, 'Twas brauely done, if you bethinke you of it. I know not how to pray your patience, Yet I muſt ſpeake, chooſe your reuenge your ſelfe, Impoſe me to what penance your inuention Can lay vpon my ſinne, yee ſinn'd I not, But in miſtaking. By my ſoule nor I, And yet to ſatisfie this good old man, I vvould bend vnder anie heauie vvaight, That heele enioyne me to.