The Miseries of Enforced Marriage · chunk 15 of 47
Wilkins, George · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 [1605-1606] (Annals) tragedy · King's Men unassigned nearest T28 Marriage-making: weddings, brides and ma · 501 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T28: married, marriage, wedding, day, bride, father, wife, luce, love, husband.
He was contracted mine, yet he unjust Hath married to another: what's my estate then? A wretched maid, not fit for any man, For being united his with plighted faiths, whoever sues to me commits a sin, Besiegeth me, and who shall marry me: Is like myself, lives in Adultery, (O God) That such hard Fortune, should betide my youth. I am Young, Fair, Rich, Honest, Virtuous, yet for all this, who ere shall marry me I am but his where, live in Adultery. I cannot step into the path of pleasure For which I was created, borne unto, Let me live near so honest, rich or poor, If I once wed, yet I must live a whore. I must be made a strumpet 'gainst my will, A name I have abhorred, a shameful Ill I have eschewed, and now cannot withstand it In myself. I am my father's only child, In me he hath a hope, though not his name Can be increased, yet by my Issue His land shall be possessed, his age delighted. And though that I should vow a single life To keep my soul unspotted, yet will he Enforce me to a marriage: So that my grief doth of that weight consist, It helps me not to yield, nor to resist: And was I then created for a Whore? A whore, Bad name, bad act, Bad man makes me a scorn: Then live a Strumpet? Better be unborn. Sister, Pray you will you come, Your father and the whole meeting stays for you. I come, I come, I pray return: I come. I must not go without you. Be thou my Usher, sooth I'll follow you He writes here to forgive him, he is married: False Gentleman: I do forgive thee with my heart, Yet will I send an answer to thy letter, And in so short words thou shalt weep to read them, And hears my agent ready: Forgive me, I am dead. 'tis writ, and I will act it: Be judge you Maids Have trusted the false promises of men. Be judge you wives, the which have been enforced From the white sheets you loved, to them ye loathed: Whether this Axiom may not be assured, Better one sin, than many be endured. My arms embracings, Kisses, Chastity, Were his possessions: and whilst I live He doth but steal those pleasures he enjoys, Is an Adulterer in his married arms, And never goes to his defiled bed, But God writes sin upon the Tasters head. I'll be a Wife now, help to save his soul Though I have lost his body, give a slake To his iniquities, and with one sin Done by this hand, end many done by him. Farewell the world, then farewell the wedded joys Till this I have hoped for, from that Gentleman, Scarborrow, forgive me: thus thou hast lost thy wife, Yet record would, though by an act too foul, A wife thus did to cleanse her husband's soul.
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)
He was contracted mine, yet he vniust Hath married to another: whats my estate then? A wretched maid, not fit for any man, For being vnited his with plighted faiths, Who euer sues to me commits a sinne, Besiedgeth me, and who shal marry me: Is like my selfe, liues in Adultery, (O God) That such hard Fortune, should betide my youth. I am Young, Fayre, Rich, Honest, Virtuous, yet for all this, who ere shall marry mee I am but his where, liue in Adultery. I cannot step into the path of pleasure For which I was created, borne vnto, Let me liue nere so honest, rich or poore, If I once wed, yet I must liue a whore. I must be made a strumpet gainst my will, A name I haue abhord, a shamefull Ill I haue eschewed, and now cannot withstand it In my selfe. I am my fathers onely child, In me he hath a hope, tho not his name Can be increast, yet by my Issue His land shall be possest, his age delighted. And tho that I should vow a single life To keepe my soule vnspotted, yet will he Inforce me to a marriage: So that my griefe doth of that waight consist, It helpes me not to yeeld, nor to resist: And was I then created for a Whore? A whore, Bad name, bad act, Bad man makes me a scorn: Then liue a Strumpet? Better be vnborne. Sister, Pray you will you come, Your father and the whole meeting stayes for you. I come, I come, I pray returne: I come. I must not goe without you. Be thou my Vsher, sooth Ile follow you He writes here to forgiue him, he is marryed: False Gentleman: I do forgiue thee with my hart, Yet will I send an answere to thy letter, And in so short words thou shalt weep to read them, And hears my agent ready: Forgiue me, I am dead. Tis writ, and I will act it: Be iudge you Mayds Haue trusted the false promises of men. Be iudge you wiues, the which haue been inforst From the white sheets you lou'd, to them ye loathed: Whether this Axiome may not be assured, Better one sinne, then many be endured. My armes imbracings, Kisses, Chastity, Were his possessions: and whilst I liue He doth but steale those pleasures he enioyes, Is an Adulterer in his married armes, And neuer goes to his defiled bed, But God writes sin vpon the Teasters hed. Ile be a Wife now, helpe to saue his soule Tho I haue lost his body, giue a slake To his iniquities, and with one sinne Done by this hand, ende many done by him. Farwell the world, then farewell the wedded ioyes Till this I haue hop't for, from that Gentleman, Scarborrow, forgiue me: thus thou hast lost thy wife, Yet record would, though by an act too foule, A wife thus did to cleanse her husbands soule.