The Gentleman Usher (Vincentio and Margaret) · chunk 24 of 42
Chapman, George · published 1606 · first performed or written 1606 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Chapel (second) or Children of Paul’s (second) T48 Addressing a lady: love, desire and inti typicality 0.77 · 507 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T48: lady, love, heart, fair, eyes, la, lord, tears, fie, face.
Well, I must say nothing, love is blind you know, and can find no fault in his beloved. Nay, that's most certain. gi't me: I'll have this letter. No good Vince, 'tis not worth it. I'll ha''t i'faith, here's enough in it to serve for my letters as long as I live; I'll keep it to breed on as 'twere: But I much wonder you could make her write. Indeed there were some words belonged to that. How strong an influence works in well placed words, And yet there must be a prepared love, To give those words so mighty a command, Or 'twere impossible they should move so much: And will you tell me true? In any thing. Does not this Lady love you? Love me? why yes; I think she does not hate me. Nay but i'faith, does she not love you dearly? No I protest. Nor have you never kissed her? Kissed her, that's nothing. But you know my meaning: Have you not been, as one would say, afore me? Not I, I swear. O, you're too true to tell. Nay be my troth, she has, I must confess, Used me with good respect, and nobly still, But for such matters. Very little more, Would make him take her maidenhead upon him: Well friend, I rest yet in a little doubt, This was not hers. 'twas by that light that shines, And I'll go fetch her to you to confirm it. O passing friend. But when she comes, in any case be bold, And come upon her with some pleasing thing, To show you're pleased: however she behaves her, As for example; if she turn her back, Use you that action you would do before, And court her thus; Lady, your back part is as fair to me, as is your forepart. 'twill be most pleasing. ay, for if you love One part above another, 'tis a sign You like not all alike, and the worst part About your Mistress, you must think as fair, As sweet, and dainty, as the very best, So much, for so much, and considering too, Each several limb and member in his kind. As a man should. True, will you think of this? I hope I shall. But if she chance to laugh, You must not lose your countenance, but devise Some speech to show you pleased, even being laughed at. ay, but what speech? God's precious man! do something of yourself? But I'll devise a speech. Inspire him folly. Or 'tis no matter, be but bold enough, And laugh when she laughs, and it is enough: I'll fetch her to you. Now was there ever such a demi-lance, To bear a man so clear through thick and thin? Or hark you sir, if she should steal a laughter Under her fan, thus you may say, sweet Lady, If you will laugh and lie down, I am pleased. And so I were by heaven; how know you that? 'slid man, I'll hit your very thoughts in these things.
seed 43: T31 · seed 44: T44 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Well, I must say nothing, loue is blind you know, and can finde no fault in his beloued. Nay, thats most certaine. me: Ile haue this letter. No good Vince, tis not worth it. Ile ha't , heeres enough in it for my letters as long as I liue; Ile it to breede on as twere: But I much wonder you could make her write. Indeede there were some words belongd to that. How strong an influence works in plac'd words, And yet there must be a prepared loue, To giue those words so mighty a command, Or twere impossible they should moue so much: And will you tell me true? In any thing. Does not this Lady loue you? Loue me? why yes; I thinke does not hate me. Nay but ifaith, does she not loue you dearely? No I protest. Nor haue you neuer her? her, thats nothing. But you know my meaning: Haue you not beene, as one would say, afore me? Not I, I sweare. O, y'are too true to tell. Nay be my troth, she haz, I must confesse, Vsde me with good respect, and nobly still, But for such matters. Verie little more, Would make him take her maidenhead vpon him: Well friend, I rest yet in a little doubt, This was not hers. T'was by that light that shines, And Ile goe fetch her to you to confirme it. O passing friend. But when she comes, in any case be bold, And come vpon her with some pleasing thing, To shew y'are pleasde: how euer she behaues , As for example; if she turne her backe, Vse you that action you would doe before, And court her thus; Lady, your backe part is as faire to me, as is your fore part. T'will be most pleasing. I, for if you loue One part aboue another, tis a signe You like not all alike, and the worst part About your Mistris, you must thinke as faire, As sweete, and daintie, as the very best, So much, for so much, and considering too, Each seuerall limbe and member in his kinde. As a man should. True, will you thinke of this? I hope I shall. But if she chance to laugh, You must not lose your countenance, but deuise Some speech to shew you pleasde, euen being laugh'd at. I, but what speech? Gods pretious man! do something of your selfe? But Ile deuise a speech. Inspire him folly. Or no matter, be but bold enough, And laugh when she laughs, and it is enough: Ile fetch her to you. Now was there euer such a demilance, To beare a man so cleare through thicke and thinne? Or harke you sir, if she should steale a laughter Vnder her fanne, thus you may say, sweete Lady, If you will laugh and lie downe, I am pleasde. And so I were by heauen; how know you that? Slid man▪ Ile hit your very thoughts in these things.