Jonson, Ben · published 1616 · first performed or written 1598 (Annals) comedy · Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men unassigned nearest T46 Swords, quarrels and valour · 504 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T46: rapier, sword, fight, gentlemen, gentleman, kicked, kill, dagger, signor, valour.
Believe me, I am taken with some wonder, To think, a fellow of thy outward presence Should (in the frame, and fashion of his mind) Be so degenerate, and sordid-base! Art thou a man? and sham'st thou not to beg? To practice such a servile kind of life? Why, were thy education ne'er so mean, Having thy limbs, a thousand fairer courses Offer themselves, to thy election. Either the wars might still supply thy wants, Or service of some virtuous gentleman, Or honest labour: nay, what can I name, But would become thee better than to beg? But men of thy condition feed on sloth, As doth the beetle, on the dung she breeds in, Not caring how the metal of your minds Is eaten with the rust of idleness. Now, afore me, whate'er he be, that should Relieve a person of thy quality, While thou insist's in this loose desperate course, I would esteem the sin, not thine, but his. Faith sir, I would gladly find some other course, if so— ay, you'd gladly find it, but you will not seek it. Alas sir, where should a man seek? in the wars, there's no ascent by desert in these days, but— and for service, would it were as soon purchased, as wished for (the air's my comfort) I know, what I would say— What's thy name? Please you, FITZ-SWORD, sir. FITZ-SWORD? Say, that a man should entertain thee now, Wouldst thou be honest, humble, just, and true? Sir, by the place, and honour of a soldier— Nay, nay, I like not those affected oaths; Speak plainly man: what think'st thou of my words? Nothing, sir, but wish my fortunes were as happy, as my service should be honest. Well, follow me, I'll prove thee, if thy deeds Will carry a proportion to thy words. Yes sir, straight, I'll but garter my hose. Oh that my belly were hooped now, for I am ready to burst with laughing! never was bottle, or bagpipe fuller. 'Slid, was there ever seen a fox in years to betray himself thus? now shall I be possessed of all his counsels: and, by that conduit, my young master. Well, he is resolved to prove my honesty; faith, and I am resolved to prove his patience: oh I shall abuse him intolerably. This small piece of service, will bring him clean out of love with the soldier, for ever. He will never come within the sign of it, the sight of a cassock, or a musket-rest again. He will hate the musters at Mile-end for it, to his dying day. It's no matter, let the world think me a bad counterfeit, If I cannot give him the slip, at an instant: why, this is better than to have stayed his journey! well, I'll follow him: oh, how I long to be employed. YEs faith, sir, we were at your lodging to seek you, too. Oh, I came not there tonight. Your brother delivered us as much. Who? my brother DOWNRIGHT?
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)
Beleeue me, I am taken with some wonder, To thinke, a fellow of thy outward presence Should (in the frame, and fashion of his mind) Be so degenerate, and sordid-base! Art thou a man? and sham'st thou not to beg? To practise such a seruile kind of life? Why, were thy education ne're so meane, Hauing thy limbs, a thousand fairer courses Offer themselues, to thy election. Either the warres might still supply thy wants, Or seruice of some vertuous gentleman, Or honest labour: nay, what can I name, But would become thee better then to beg? But men of thy condition feed on sloth, As doth the beetle, on the dung shee breeds in, Not caring how the mettall of your minds Is eaten with the rust of idlenesse▪ Now, afore me, what e're he be, that should Relieue a person of thy qualitie, While thou insist's in this loose desperate course, I would esteeme the sinne, not thine, but his. Faith sir, I would gladly finde some other course, if so— I, you'ld gladly inde it, but you will not seeke it. Alas sir, where should a man seeke? in the warres, there's no ascent by desert in these dayes, but—and for seruice, would it were as soone purchast, as wisht for (the ayre's my comfort) I know, what I would say— What's thy name? Please you, FITZ-SWORD, sir. FITZ-SWORD? Say, that a man should entertayne thee now, Would'st thou be honest, humble, iust, and true? Sir, by the place, and honor of a souldier— Nay, nay, I like not those affected othes; Speake plainely man: what think'st thou of my wordes? Nothing, sir, but wish my fortunes were as happy, as my seruice should be honest. Well, follow me, Ile proue thee, if thy deedes Will carry a proportion to thy words. Yes sir, straight, Ile but garter my hose. Oh that my belly were hoopt now, for I am readie to burst with laughing! neuer was bottle, or bag-pipe fuller. S'lid, was there euer seene a foxe in yeeres to betray himselfe thus? now shall I be possest of all his counsells: and, by that conduit, my yong master. Well, hee is resolu'd to proue my honestie; faith, and I am resolu'd to proue his patience: oh I shall abuse him intollerably. This small piece of seruice, will bring him cleane out of loue with the souldier, for euer. He will neuer come within the signe of it, the sight of a cassock, or a musket-rest againe. Hee will hate the musters at Mile-end for it, to his dying day. It's no matter, let the world thinke me a bad counterfeit, If I cannot giue him the slip, at an instant: why, this is better then to haue staid his iourney! well, Ile follow him: oh, how I long to bee imployed. YEs faith, sir, we were at your lodging to seeke you, too. Oh, I came not there to night. Your brother deliuered vs as much. Who? my brother DOWNE-RIGHT?