Anonymous · published 1605 · first performed or written 1604 [1603-1605] (Annals) comedy · King's Men T52 Prodigals, portions and poor kin typicality 0.83 · 489 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T52: brother, father, uncle, cousin, son, poor, bread, old, given, master.
Brother from Venice, being thus disguised, I come to prove the humours of my son: How hath he borne himself since my departure, I leaving you his patron and his guide? i'faith brother so, as you will grieve to hear, And I almost ashamed to report it. Why how be't brother? what doth he spend Beyond the allowance I left him? How! beyond that? and far more: why, your exhibition is nothing, he hath spent that, and since hath borrowed, protested with oaths, alleged kindred to wring money from me, by the love I bore his father, by the fortunes might fall upon himself, to furnish his wants: that done, I have had since, his bond, his friend and friend's bond, although I know that he spends is yours; yet it grieves me to see the unbridled wildness that rains over him. Brother, what is the manner of his life? how is the name of his offences? if they do not relish altogether of damnation, his youth may privilege his wantonness: I myself ran an unbridled course till thirty, nay almost till forty, well, you see how I am: for vice once looked into with the eyes of discretion, and well balanced with the waits of reason, the course past, seems so abominable, that the Landlord of himself, which is the heart of his body, will rather entomb himself in the earth, or seek a new Tenant to remain in him, which once settled, how much better are they that in their youth have known all these vices, and left it, than those that knew little, and in their age runs into it? Believe me brother, they that die most virtuous, hath in their youth, lived most vicious, and none knows the danger of the fire, more than he that falls into it: But say, how is the course of his life? let's hear his particulars. Why I'll tell you brother, he is a continual swearer, And a breaker of his oaths, which is bad. I grant indeed to swear is bad, but not in keeping those oaths is better: for who will set by a bad thing? Nay by my faith, I hold this rather a virtue than a vice, Well, I pray proceed. He is a mighty brawler, and comes commonly by the worst. By my faith this is none of the worst neither, for if he Brawl and be beaten for it, it will in time make him shun it: For what brings man or child, more to virtue, than correction? What reigns over him else? He is a great drinker, and one that will forget himself. O best of all, vice should be forgotten: let him drink on, So he drink not churches. Nay and this be the worst, I hold it rather a happiness in him, Than any iniquity. Hath he any more attendants? Brother, he is one that will borrow of any man.
seed 43: T52 · seed 44: T52 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Brother from Venice, being thus disguisde, I come to proue the humours of my sonne: How hath he borne himselfe since my departure, I leauing you his patrone and his guide? I faith brother so, as you will grieue to heare, And I almost ashamde to report it. Why how ist brother? what doth he spend Beyond the allowance I left him? How! beyond that? and farre more: why, your exibition is nothing, hee hath spent that, and since hath borrowed, protested with oathes, alledged kindred to wring mony from me, by the loue I bore his father, by the fortunes might all vpon himself, to furnish his wants▪ that done, I haue had since, his bond, his friend and friends bond, altho I knowe that hee spends is yours; yet it grieues me to see the vnbridled wildnes that raines ouer him. Brother, what is the manner of his life? howe is the name of his offences? if they do not rellish altogether of damdation, his youth may piuiledge his wantonnesse: I my selfe ranne an vnbrideled course till thirtie, nay almost till fortie, well, you see how I am: for vice once looked into with the eies of discretion, and well balanced with the waites of reason, the course past, seemes so abhominable, that the Landlord of himselfe, which is the heart of his body, will rather intombe himselfe in the earth, or seek a new Tenāt to remaine in him, which once settled, how much better are they that in their youth haue knowne all these vices, and left it, then those that knewe little, and in their age runnes into it? Beleeue me brother, they that dye most vertuous, hath in their youth, liued most vicious, and none knowes the danger of the fire, more then he that falles into i: But say, how is the course of his life? lets heare his particulars. Why Ile tell you brother, hee is a continual swearer, And a breaker of his oathes, which is bad. I grant indeed to sweare is bad, but not in keeping those oathes is better: for who will set by a bad thing? Nay by my faith, I hold this rather a vertue then a vice, Well, I pray proceede. He is a mighty brawler, and comes commonly by the worst. By my faith this is none of the worst neither, for if he Brawle and be beaten for it, it wil in time make him shunne it: For what brings man or child, more to vertue, then correctiō? What raignes ouer him else? He is a great drinker, and one that will forget himselfe. O best of all, vice should be forgotten: let him drink on, So he drinke not churches. Nay and this be the worst, I hold it rather a happines in him, Then any iniquity. Hath he any more attendants? Brother, he is one that will borrow of any man.