How a Man May Choose a Good Wife from a Bad · chunk 37 of 43
Anonymous · published 1602 · first performed or written 1602 [c.1601-1602] (Annals) comedy · Worcester's Men unassigned nearest T1 Death, grief and revenge · 470 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
But more than fair, was she not virtuous Endued with the beauty of the mind? Faith so they said. Hark in thine ear, I'll trust thee with my life, Than which what greater instance of my love: Thou knewest full well how suddenly she died, To enjoy thy love even then I poisoned her. How poisoned her! accursed murderer, I'll ring this fatal 'larum in all ears, Than which what greater instance of my hate. Wilt thou not keep my counsel? Villain no, thou'lt poison me as thou hast poisoned her. Dost thou reward me thus for all my love? Then Arthur fly and seek to save thy life, O difference twixt a chaste and unchaste wife. Pursue the murderer, apprehend him straight. Why what's the matter Mistress? This villain Arthur poisoned his first wife, Which he in secret hath confessed to me: Go and fetch warrants from the justices To attach the murderer, he once hanged and dead, His wealth is mine: pursue the slave that's dead. Mistress I will, he shall not pass this land But I will bring him bound with this strong hand. O what are the vain pleasures of the world, That in their actions we affect them so? Had I been borne a servant, my low life Had steady stood from all these miseries: The waving reeds stand free from every gust, When the tall oaks are rent up by the roots: What is vain beauty but an Idle breath? Why are we proud of that which so soon changes? But rather wish the beauty of the mind, Which neither time can alter, sickness change, Violence deface, nor the black hand of envy, Smudge & disgrace, or spoil, or make deformed. O had my riotous husband borne this mind, He had been happy, I had been more blessed, And peace had prought our quiet souls to rest. O whither shall I fly to save my life, When murder and despair dogs at my heels? O misery, thou never foundst a friend, All friends forsake men in adversity: My brother hath denied to succour me, Upbraiding me with name of murderer. My uncles double bar their doors against me; My father hath denied to shelter me, And cursed me worse than Adam did vile Eue. I that within these two days had more friends Than I could number with arithmetic, Have now no more than one poor Cipher is, And that poor Cipher I supply myself. All that I durst commit my fortunes too, I have tried, & find none to relieve my wants, My sudden flight, and fear of future shame, Left me unfurnished of all necessaries, And these three days I have not tasted food. It is my husband, o how just is heaven! Poorly disguised, and almost hunger-starved. How comes this change?
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)
But more then faire, was she not vertuos Endued with the beautie of the minde? Faith so they said. Harke in thine eare, Ile trust thee with my life, Then which what greater instance of my loue: Thou knewest full well how sodainly she died, To enioy thy loue euen then I poysonder her. How poysoned her! accursed murderer, Ile ring this fatall larum in all eares, Then which what greater instance of my hate. Wilt thou not keep my counsell? Villain no, thoult poison me as thou hast poisoned her. Dost thou reward me thus for all my loue? Then Arthur flie and seeke to saue thy life, O difference twixt a chast and vnchast wife. Pursue the murderer, apprehend him strait. Why whats the matter Mistris? This villain Arthur poisoned his first wife, Which he in secret hath confest to me: Goe and fetch warnts from the Iustices To attach the murderer, he once hangd and dead, His wealth is mine: pursue the slaue thats dead. Mistris I will, he shall not passe this land But I will bring him bound with this strong hand. O what are the vaine pleasures of the world, That in their actions we affect them so? Had I bene borne a seruant, my low life Had stedie stood from all these miseries: The wauing reeds stand free from euery gust, VVhen the tall okes are rent vp by the rootes: VVhat is vaine bewtie but an Idle breath? VVhy are we proud of that which so soone changes? But rather wish the bewtie of the minde, Which neither time can alter, sicknesse change, Violence deface, nor the black hand of enuie, Smudge & disgrace, or spoile, or make deformd. O had my riotous husband borne this minde, He had bene happie, I had bene more blest, And peace had prought our quiet soules to rest. O whither shall I flie to saue my life, When murther and dispaire dogs at my heeles? O miserie, thou neuer foundst a friend, All friends forsake men in aduersitie: My brother hath denied to succour me, Vpbraiding me with name of murderer. My vncles double barre their doores against me; My father hath denied to shelter me, And curst me worse then Adam did vile Eue. I that within these two daies had more friends Then I could number with Arithmatike, Haue now no more then one poore Cipher is, And that poore Cipher I supply my selfe. All that I durst commit my fortunes too, I haue tried, & finde none to relieue my wants, My sudden flight, and feare of future shame, Left me vnfurnisht of all necessaries, And these three daies I haue not tasted foode. It is my husband, ô how iust is heauen! Poorely disguis'd, and almost hunger-staru'd. How comes this change?