The Woman Hater (The Hungry Courtier) · chunk 21 of 46
Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (second) T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.84 · 496 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
The Duke doubt mine honour? a may judge 'Twill not be long, before i'll be enlarged again. A day or two. Mine own servants shall attend me. Your ladyships command is good. Look you be true. else let me lose the hopes my soul aspires to: I will be a scourge to all females in my life, and after my death, the name of Gondarino shall be terrible to the mighty women of the earth; they shall shake at my name, and at the sound of it, their knees shall knock together; and they shall run into Nunneries, for they and I are beyond all hope irreconcilable: for if I could endure an ear with a hole in't, or a pleated lock, or a bareheaded Coachman, that sits like a sign, where great Ladies are to be sold within; agreement betwixt us, were not to be despaired of; if I could be but brought to endure to see women, I would have them come all once a week and kiss me, where Witches do the devil in token of homage: I must not live here, I will to the Court, and there pursue my plot; when it hath took, women shall stand in awe, but of my look. There take your standing, be close and vigilant, here will I set myself, and let him look to his language, a shall know the Duke has more ears in Court than two. I'll quote him to a tittle, let him speak wisely, and plainly, and as hidden as a can, or I shall crush him, a shall not scape characters, though a speak Babel, I shall crush him: we have a Fortune by this service hanging over us, that within this year or two, I hope we shall be called to be examiners, wear politic gowns guarded with copper lace, making great faces full of fear and office, our labours may deserve this. I hope it shall: why has not many men been raised from this worming trade, first to gain good access to great men, than to have commissions out for search, and lastly, to be worthily named at a great Arraignment: yes, & why not we? they that endeavour well deserve their Fee. Close, close, 'a comes: mark well, and all goes well. Farewell my hopes, my Anchor now is broken, Farewell my quondam joys, of which no token Is now remaining, such is the sad mischance, Where Lady Fortune leads the slippery dance. Yet at the length, let me this favour have, Give me my wishes, or a wished grave. The gods defend so brave and valiant maw, Should slip into the never satiate jaw Of black Despair; no, thou shalt live and know Thy full desires, hunger thy ancient foe, Shall be subdued, those guts that daily tumble Through air and appetite, shall cease to rumble: And thou shalt now at length obtain thy dish, That noble part, the sweet head of a fish.
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
The Duke doubt mine honour? a may iudge 'Twill not be long, before ile be enlarg'd againe. A day or two. Mine own seruants shall attend me. Your Ladiships commaund is good. Looke you be true. EIse let me lose the hopes my soule aspires to: I will be a scourge to all females in my life, and after my death, the name of Gondarino shall be terrible to the mighty women of the earth; they shall shake at my name, and at the sound of it, their knees shall knocke together; and they shall runne into Nunneries, for they and I are beyond all hope irreconcilable: for if I could endure an eare with a hole in't, or a pleated locke, or a bare-headed Coachman, that sits like a signe, where great Ladies are to bee sold within; agreement betwixt vs, were not to bee despaired of; if I could bee but brought to endure to see women, I would haue them come all once a weeke and kisse mee, where Witches doe the diuell in token of homage: I must not liue here, I wil to the Court, and there pursue my plot; when it hath tooke, women shall stand in awe, but of my looke. There take your standing, be close and vigilāt, here will I set my selfe, and let him looke to his language, a shal know the Duke ha's more eares in Court than two. Ile quote him to a tittle, let him speake wisely, and plainely, and as hidden as a can, or I shall crush him, a shall not scape charracters, though a speake Babel, I shall crush him: we haue a Fortune by this seruice hanging ouer vs, that within this yeare or two, I hope we shall be called to be examiners, weare politicke gownes garded with copper lace, making great faces full of feare and office, our labours may deserue this. I hope it shall: why ha's not many men bin raised from this worming trade, first to gaine good accesse to great men, then to haue commissions out for search, and lastly, to be worthily nam'd at a great Arraignment: yes, & why not we? they that indeauour well deserue their Fee. Close, close, a comes: marke well, and all goes well. Farewell my hopes, my Anchor now is broken, Farewell my quondam ioyes, of which no token Is now remaining, such is the sad mischance, Where Lady Fortune leades the slippry daunce. Yet at the length, let me this fauour haue, Giue me my wishes, or a wished graue. The gods defend so braue and valiant mawe, Should slip into the neuer satiate jawe Of blacke Despaire; no, thou shalt liue and know Thy full desires, hunger thy auntient foe, Shall be subdued, those guts that daily tumble Through ayre and appetite, shall cease to rumble: And thou shalt now at length obtaine thy dish, That noble part, the sweet head of a fish.