How a Man May Choose a Good Wife from a Bad · chunk 38 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 · 489 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
Doth no man follow me? O how suspicious guilty murder is, I starve for hunger, and I die for thirst: Had I a kingdom I would sell my Crown For a small bit of bread: I shame to beg, And yet perforce I must or beg or starve. This house belike longs to some gentlewoman, And here's a woman, I will beg of her: Good mistress look upon a poor man's wants. Whom do I see? tush Arthur she is dead: But that I saw her dead and buried, I would have sworn it had been Arthur's wife: But I will leave her, shame forbids me beg On one so much resembles her. Come hither fellow, wherefore dost thou turn Thy guilty looks and blushing face aside? It seems thou hast not been brought up to this. You say true mistress: then for charity, And for her sake whom you resemble most, Pity my present want and misery. It seems thou hast been in some better plight, Sit down I prithee, men though they be poor, Should not be scorned: to ease thy hunger, first Eat these Conserves: and now I prithee tell me, What thou hast been, thy fortunes, thy estate, And what she was that I resemble most? First look that no man see, or overhear us, I think that shape was borne to do me good. Hast thou known one that did resemble me? I Mistress, I cannot choose but weep To call to mind the fortunes of her youth. Tell me, of what estate or birth was she? Born of good parents, & as well brought up. Most fair, but not so fair as virtuous, Happy in all things but her marriage. Her riotous husband, which I weep to think, By his lewd life made them both miscarry. Why dost thou grieve at their adversities? O blame me not, that man my kinsman was, Nearer to me a kinsman could not be, As near allied was that chaste woman too, Nearer was never husband to his wife: He whom I termed my friend, no friend of mine, Proving both mine and his own enemy, Poisoned his wife, o the time he did so, joyed at her death, inhuman slave to do so, Exchanged her love for a base strumpet's lust; Foul wretch, accursed villain, to exchange so. You are wise, and blessed, and happy to repent so, But what became of him and his new wife? O hear the justice of the highest heaven, This strumpet in reward of all his love, Pursues him for the death of his first wife, And now the woeful husband languisheth, Flies upon pursued by her fierce hate, And now too late he doth repent her sin, Ready to perish in his own despair, Having no means but death to rid his care. I can endure no more but I must weep, My blabbing tears cannot my counsel keep.
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)
Doth no man follow me? O how suspicious guiltie murder is, I starue for hunger, and I die for thirst: Had I a kingdome I would sell my Crowne For a small bit of bread: I shame to beg, And yet perforce I must or beg or starue. This house belike longs to some gentlewoman, And heres a woman, I will beg of her: Good mistris looke vpon a proore mans wants. Whom do I see? tush Arthur she is dead: But that I saw her dead and buried, I would haue sworne it had bene Arthurs wife: But I will leaue her, shame forbids me beg On one so much resembles her. Come hither fellow, wherfore dost thou turn Thy guiltie lookes and blushing face aside? It seemes thou hast not bene brought vp to this. You say true mistris: then for charitie, And for her sake whom you resemble most, Pittie my present want and miserie. It seems thou hast bene in some better plight, Sit downe I prithee, men though they be poore, Should not be scorn'd: to ease thy hunger, first Eate these Conserues: and now I prithee tell me, What thou hast bene, thy fortunes, thy estate, And what she was that I resemble most? First looke that no man see, or ouerheare vs, I thinke that shape was borne to do me good. Hast thou knowne one that did resemble me? I Mistris, I cannot chuse but weepe To call to minde the fortunes of her youth. Tell me, of what estate or birth was she? Borne of good parents, & as well brought vp. Most faire, but not so faire as vertuous, Happie in all things but her marriage. Her riotous husband, which I weepe to thinke, By his leaud life made them both miscarrie. Why dost thou grieue at their aduersities? O blame me not, that man my kinsman was, Nearer to me a kinsman could not be, As neare allied was that chaste woman too, Nearer was neuer husband to his wife: He whom I term'd my friend, no friend of mine, Prouing both mine and his owne enemie, Poysoned his wife, ô the time he did so, Ioyed at her death, inhumane slaue to do so, Exchang'd her loue for a base strumpets lust; Foule wretch, accursed villaine, to exchange so. You are wise, and blest, and happie to repent so, But what became of him and his new wife? O heare the iustice of the highest heauen, This strumpet in reward of all his loue, Pursues him for the death of his first wife, And now the wofull husband languisheth, Flies vpon pursu'd by her fierce hate, And now too late he doth repent her sinne, Readie to perish in his owne dispaire, Hauing no meanes but death to rid his care. I can indure no more but I must weepe, My blabbing teares cannot my counsell keepe.