The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice) · chunk 4 of 39
Shakespeare, William · published 1600 · first performed or written 1596 [1596-1598] (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T41 Household service: masters, doors and po · 502 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T41: master, house, door, iohn, old, mistress, basket, lord, gentleman, ick.
You know I say nothing to him, for he understands not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latin, French, nor Italian, & you will come into the Court and swear that I have a poor pennie-worth in the English: he is a proper man's picture, but alas who can converse with a dumb show? how oddly he is suited, I think he bought his doublet in Italy, his round hose in France, his bonnet in Germany, and his behaviour every where. What think you of the Scottish Lord his neighbour: That he hath a neyghbourlie charity in him, for he borrowed a box of the ear of the Englishman, and swore he would pay him again when he was able: I think the Frenchman became his surety, and sealed under for another. How like you the young German, the Duke of Saxonies' nephew? Very vildly in the morning when he is sober, and most vildly in the afternoon when he is drunk: when he is best, he is a little worse than a man, & when he is worst he is little better than a beast, and the worst fall that ever fell, I hope I shall make shift to go without him. If he should offer to choose, and choose the right Casket, you should refuse to perform your Father's will, if you should refuse to accept him. Therefore for fear of the worst, I pray thee set a deep glass of Reynishe wine on the contrary Casket, for if the devil be within, and that temptation without, I know he will choose it. I will do any thing Nerrissa ere I will be married to a sponge. You need not fear Lady the having any of these Lords, they have acquainted me with their determinations, which is indeed to return to their home, and to trouble you with no more suit, unless you may be won by some other sort than your Father's imposition, depending on the Caskets. If I live to be as old as Sibilla, I will die as chaste as Diana, unless I be obtained by the manner of my Father's will: I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence: & I pray God grant them a fair departure. Doc you not remember Lady in your Father's time, a Venetian a Scholar & a Soldier that came hither in company of the marquess of Mountferrat? Yes, yes, it was Bassanio, as I think so was he called. True madam, he of all the men that ever my foolish eyes looked upon, was the best deserving a fair Lady. I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise. How now, what news? The four strangers seek for you madam to take their leave: and there is a forerunner come from a fifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings word the Prince his Master will be here to night.
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)
You know I ſay nothing to him, for hee vnderſtands not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latine, French, nor Italian, & you will come into the Court and ſweare that I haue a poore pennieworth in the Engliſh: hee is a proper mans picture, but alas vvho can conuerſe with a dumbe ſhow? how odly hee is ſuted, I thinke he bought his doublet in Italie, his round hoſe in Fraunce, his bonnet in Germanie, and his behauiour euery where. What thinke you of the Scottiſh Lorde his neighbour: That hee hath a neyghbourlie charitie in him, for hee borrowed a boxe of the eare of the Engliſhman, and ſwore hee would pay him againe when he was able: I think the Frenchman became his ſuretie, and ſeald vnder for another. How like you the young Germaine, the Duke of Saxonies nephew? Very vildlie in the morning when hee is ſober, and moſt vildly in the afternoone when he is drunke: when he is beſt, he is a little worſe then a man, & when he is worſt he is little better then a beaſt, and the worſt fall that euer fell, I hope I ſhall make ſhift to goe without him. Yf hee ſhoulde offer to chooſe, and chooſe the right Caſket, you ſhould refuſe to performe your Fathers will, if you ſhould refuſe to accept him. Therefore for feare of the worſt, I pray thee ſet a deepe glaſſe of Reyniſhe vvine on the contrarie Casket, for if the deuill be within, and that temptation without, I knowe hee will chooſe it. I will doe any thing Nerriſſa ere I will be married to a ſpunge. You neede not feare Ladie the hauing anie of theſe Lords, they haue acquainted me with theyr determinations, which is indeede to returne to theyr home, and to trouble you with no more ſute, vnleſſe you may be wonne by ſome other ſort thē your Fathers impoſition, depending on the Caskets. Yf I liue to be as old as Sibilla, I will die as chaſt as Diana, vnleſſe I be obtained by the maner of my Fathers will: I am glad this parcell of wooers are ſo reaſonable, for there is not one among them but I doate on his very abſence: & I pray God graunt them a faire departure. Doc you not remember Lady in your Fathers time, a Venecian a Scholler & a Souldiour that came hether in companie of the Marqueſſe of Mountferrat? Yes, yes, it was Baſſanio, as I thinke ſo was he calld. True maddam, hee of all the men that euer my fooliſh eyes look'd vpon, was the beſt deſeruing a faire Ladie. I remember him well, and I remember him worthie of thy prayſe. How nowe, vvhat newes? The foure ſtrangers ſeeke for you maddam to take theyr leaue: and there is a fore-runner come from a fift, the Prince of Moroco, who brings word the Prince his Maiſter will be heere to night.