The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice) · chunk 5 of 42
Shakespeare, William · published 1623 · first performed or written 1596 [1596-1598] (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour · 505 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
What say you then to Fauconbridge, the young Baron of England? You know I say nothing to him, for he understands not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latin, French, nor Italian, and you will come into the Court & 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 other Lord his neighbour? That he hath a neighbourly 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, and 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 Reinish-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 then your Father's imposition, depending on the Caskets. If I live to be as old as Sibilla, I will dye 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: and I wish them a fair departure. Do you not remember Lady in your Father's time, a Venetian, a Scholar and a Soldier that came hither in company of the marquis 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. The four Strangers seek you Madam to take their leave: and there is a forerunner come from a fift, 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)
What ſay you then to Fauconbridge, the yong Baron of England? You know I ſay nothing to him, for hee vnderſtands not me, nor I him: he hath neither Latine, French, nor Italian, and you will come into the Court & ſweare that I haue a poore pennie-worth in the Engliſh: hee is a proper mans picture, but alas who can conuerſe with a dumbe ſhow? how odly he is ſuited, I thinke he bought his doublet in Italie, his round hoſe in France, his bonnet in Germanie, and his behauiour euery where. What thinke you of the other Lord his neighbour? That he hath a neighbourly charitie in him, for he borrowed a boxe of the eare of the Engliſhman, and ſwore he would pay him againe when hee was able: I thinke the Frenchman became his ſuretie, and ſeald vnder for another. How like you the yong Germaine, the Duke of Saxonies Nephew? Very vildely in the morning when hee is ſober, and moſt vildely in the afternoone when hee is drunke: when he is beſt, he is a little worſe then a man, and 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. If he ſhould 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 Reiniſh-wine on the contrary Casket, for if the diuell be within, and that temptation without, I know he will chooſe it. I will doe any thing Nerriſſa ere I will be married to a ſpunge. You neede not feare Lady the hauing any of theſe Lords, they haue acquainted me with their determinations, which is indeede to returne to their home, and to trouble you with no more ſuite, vnleſſe you may be won by ſome other ſort then your Fathers impoſition, depending on the Caskets. If I liue to be as olde as Sibilla, I will dye as chaſte as Diana: vnleſſe I be obtained by the manner 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 verie abſence: and I wiſh them a faire departure. Doe you not remember Ladie in your Fathers time, a Venecian, a Scholler and a Souldior that came hither in companie of the Marqueſſe of Mountferrat? Yes, yes, it was Baſſanio, as I thinke, ſo was hee call'd. True Madam, hee of all the men that euer my fooliſh eyes look'd vpon, was the beſt deſeruing a faire Lady. I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praiſe. The foure Strangers ſeeke you Madam to take their leaue: and there is a fore-runner come from a fift, the Prince of Moroco, who brings word the Prince his Maiſter will be here to night.