Jonson, Ben · published 1602 · first performed or written 1601 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Chapel (second) · Blackfriars T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim typicality 0.84 · 507 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
Marry Lady, if you will entertain them most Courtly, you must do thus: as soon as ever, your maid, or your man brings you word they are come, you must say, A pox on 'em; what do they here? And yet when they come, speak them as fair, & give them the kindest welcome in words, that can be. Is that the fashion of Courtiers, Crispinus? I assure you, it is Lady, I have observed it. For your Pox Sir, it is easily hit upon; but, 'tis not so easy to speak fair after, me thinks? O Wife, the Coaches are come, on my word, a number of Coaches and Courtiers. A pox on them: what do they here? How now wife! wouldst thou not have them come? Come? come, you are a fool, you: He knows not the trick on't. Call Cytheris I pray you: and good master Crispinus, you can observe, you say; let me entreat you for all the Lady's behaviours, jewels, jests, and Attires, that you marking as well as I, we may put both our marks together, when they are gone, and confer of them. I warrant you Sweet Lady; let me alone to observe, till I turn myself to nothing but observation. God morrow cozen Cytheris. Welcome kind cozen. What, are they come? I, your friend Cornelius Gallus, Ovid, Tibullus, Propertius, with Iulia the Emperor's daughter, and the Lady Plautia are lighted at the door; and with them Hermogenes Tigellius, the excellent Musitian. Come, let us go meet them Chloë. Observe Chrispinus. At a hairs breadth Lady, I warrant you. Health to the lovely Chloë: you must pardon me Mistress, that I prefer this fair Gentlewoman. I pardon, and praise you for it, Sir; and I beseech your Excellence, receive her beauties into your Knowledge and Favour. Cytheris, she hath Favour, & behaviour, that commands as much of me; and sweet Chloë, know I do exceedingly love you, & that I will approve in any grace my father the Emperor may show you. Is this your husband? For fault. of a better, if it please your Highness. God's my life! how he shames me! Not a whit Chloë, they all think you politic, and witty; wise women choose not husbands for the Eye, Merit, or Birth; but wealth, and Sovereignty. Sir, we all come to gratulate, for the good report of you. And would be glad to deserve your love, Sir. My wife will answer you all, gentlemen; I'll come to you again presently. You have chosen you a most fair companion here, Cytheris; and a very fair house. To both which, you and all my friends, are very welcome Plautia. With all my heart, I assure your Ladyship. Thanks, sweet Mistress Chloë. You must needs come to Court Lady i'faith, and there be sure your welcome shall be as great to us. She will well deserve it Madam. I see, even in her looks, Gentry, and general worthiness. I have not seen a more certain Character of an exc'llent disposition.
seed 43: T5 · seed 44: T29 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Marry Lady, if you will entertaine them moſt Courtly, you muſt doe thus: as ſoone as euer, your maide, or your man brings you word they are come, you muſt ſay, A pox on hem; what do they here? And yet when they come, ſpeak them as faire, & giue them the kindeſt welcome in wordes, that can be. Is that the faſhion of Courtiers, Crispinus? I aſſure you, it is Ladie, I haue obſeru'd it. For your Pox Sir, it is eaſily hit vpon; but, 'tis not ſo eaſie to ſpeake faire after, me thinks? O VVife, the Coaches are come, on my word, a number of Coaches and Courtiers. A pox on them: what doe they here? How now wife! wouldſt thou not haue them come? Come? come, you are a foole, you: He knowes not the tricke on't. Cal Cytheris I pray you: and good maſter Crispinus, you can obſerue, you ſay; let me intreate you for all the Ladies behauiors, Iewels, Ieſtes, and Attyres, that you marking as well as I, we may put both our markes togither, when they are gone, and confer of them. I warrant you Sweet Ladie; let me alone to obſerue, till I turne my ſelfe to nothing but obſeruation. God morrow coſen Cytheris. Welcome kinde coſen. What, are they come? I, your friend Cornelius Gallus, Ouid, Tibullus, Propertius, with Iulia the Emperors daughter, and the Ladie Plautia are lighted at the dore; and with them Hermogenes Tigellius, the excellent Muſitian. Come, let vs goe meete them Chloë. Obſerue Chrispinus. At a haires breadth Ladie, I warrant you. Health to the louely Chloë: you muſt pardon me Miſtris, that I preferre this faire Gentlewoman. I pardon, and praiſe you for it, Sir; and I beſeech your Excellence, receiue her beauties into your Knowledge and Fauour. Cytheris, ſhe hath Fauour, & behauiour, that commands as much of mee; and ſweete Chloë, know I doe exceedingly loue you, & that I wil approue in any grace my father the Emperour may ſhewe you. Is this your huſband? For fault. of a better, if it pleaſe your Highneſſe. Gods my life! how he ſhames mee! Not a whit Chloë, they all thinke you politicke, and wittie; wiſe women chuſe not huſbands for the Eye, Merit, or Byrth; but wealth, and Soueraignty. Sir, we all come to gratulate, for the good report of you. And would be glad to deſerue your loue, Sir. My wife will anſwere you all, gentlemen; Ile come to you againe preſently. You haue choſen you a moſt faire companion here, Cytheris; and a very faire houſe. To both which, you and all my friends, are very welcome Plautia. With all my heart, I aſſure your Ladiſhippe. Thanks, ſweete Miſtreſſe Chloë. You muſt needes come to Court Ladie yfaith, and there be ſure your welcome ſhall be as great to vs. She will well deſerue it Madam. I ſee, euen in her lookes, Gentry, and generall worthineſſe. I haue not ſeene a more certaine Character of an exlent diſpoſition.