The Miseries of Enforced Marriage · chunk 24 of 47
Wilkins, George · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 [1605-1606] (Annals) tragedy · King's Men T52 Prodigals, portions and poor kin typicality 0.84 · 506 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T52: brother, father, uncle, cousin, son, poor, bread, old, given, master.
Excuse him not, he is more degenerate, Then greedy Vipers that devour their mother, They eat on her but to preserve themselves, And he consumes himself, and beggars us. A Tavern is his Inn, where amongst Slaves, He kills his substance, making pots the graves To bury that which our forefathers gave. I asked him for our portions, told him that you Were brought to London, and we were in want, Humbly we craved our own, when his Reply Was, he knew none we had, beg, starve, or die. Alas what course is left for us to live by then? In troth sister, we two to beg in the fields, And you to betake yourself to the old trade, Filling of small Cans in the suburbs. Shall I be left then like a common road, That every beast that can but pay his toll May travel over, and like to camomile, Flourish the better being trodden on. Well I will not curse him: he seedes now upon Sack & anchovies with a pox to him: but if he be not fain before he dies to eat Acorns, let me live with nothing but pollarded, and my mouth be made a Cooking stool for every scold to set her tail on. How now Butler, what's the meaning of this? Your brother means to lame as many as he can, that is a beggar himself, many live with him in the Hospital. His wife sent me out of Yorkshire, to tell him, that God had blessed him with two sons, he bids a plague of them, a vengeance of her, crosses me o'er the pate, and sends me to the Surgeons to seek salve: I looked at least he should have given me a brace of Angels for my pains. Thou hast not lost all thy longing, I am sure he hath given thee a cracked crown. A plague on his fingers, I cannot tell, he is your Brother & my master, I would be loath to Prophesy of him, but whosoe'er doth curse his Children being Infants, ban his wife lying in childbed, and beats his man brings him news of it, they may be borne rich, but they shall live Slaves, be Knaves, and die Beggars. Did he do so. Guess you, he bid a plague of them, a vengeance on her, & sent me to the Surgeons. Why then I see there is no hope of him. Some husbands are respectless of their wives, During the time that they are useless, But none with Infants blessed, can nourish hate, But love the mother for the children's sake. But he that is given over unto sin, Leprosed therewith without, and so within, O Butler, we were issue to one father? And he was an honest Gentleman. Whose hopes were better than the sun he left, Should set so soon, unto his house's shame. He lives in Taverns, spending of his wealth, And here his Brothers and distressed Sister, Not having any means to help us with.
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)
Excuse him not, he is more degenerate, Then greedy Vipers that deuoure their mother, They eat on her but to preserue themselues, And he consumes himselfe, and Beggers vs. A Tauerne is his Inne, where amongst Slaues, He kils his substance, making pots the graues To bury that which our forefathers gaue. I askt him for our portions, told him that you Were brought to London, and we were in want, Humbly we crau'd our owne, when his Reply Was, he knew none we had, beg, starue, or de. Alas what course is left for vs to liue by then? In troth sister, we two to beg in the fields, And you to betake your selfe to the old trade, Filling of smal Cans in the suburbes. Shall I be left then like a common road, That euery beast that can but pay his tole May trauel ouer, and like to Cammomil, Flourish the better being trodden on. Well I will not curse him: he seedes now vppon Sacke & Anchoues with a pox to him: but if he be not faine before he dies to eate Acornes, let me liue with nothing but pollerd, and my mouth be made a Cooking stoole for euery scolde to set her tayle on. How now Butler, whats the meaning of this? Your brother meanes to lame as many as he can, that is a begger himselfe, many liue with him in the Hospital. His wise sent me out of Yorkshire, to tell him, that God had blest him with two sonnes, he bids a plague of them, a vengeance of her, crosses mee ore the pate, and sendes mee to the Surgeons to seeke salue: I lookt at least he should haue giuen me a brace of Angels for my paines. Thou hast not lost all thy longing, I am sure he hath giuen thee a crackt crowne. A plague on his fingers, I cannot tel, he is your Brother & my maister, I would be loath to Prophesie of him, but who soere doth cursse his Children being Infants, ban his wife lying in childbed, and beats his man brings him newes of it, they may bee borne rich, but they shall liue Slaues, be Knaues, and die Beggers. Did he do so. Gesse you, he bid a plague of them, a vengeance on her, & sent me to the Surgeons. Why then I see there is no hope of him. Some husbandes are respectles of their wiues, During the time that they are yssulesse, But none with Infants blest, can nourish hate, But loue the mother for the childrens sake. But hee that is giuen ouer vnto sin, Leprosed therewith without, and so within, O Butler, we were yssue to one father? And he was an honest Gentleman. Whose hopes were better then the sunne he left, Should set so soon, vnto his houses shame. He liues in Tauernes, spending of his wealth, And heere his Brothers and distressed Sister, Not hauing any meanes to helpe vs with.