Middleton, Thomas · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 [1605-1606] (Annals) tragedy · King's Men T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.82 · 503 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
You deal with truth my Lord. Lend me but your Attentions, and I'll cut Long grief into short words: last reveling night. When Torchlight made an artificial noon About the Court, some Courtiers in the mask, Putting on better faces than their own, Being full of fraud and flattery: amongst whom, The Ducheses youngest son (that moth to honour) Filled up a Room; and with long lust to eat, Into my wearing; amongst all the Ladies, Singled out that dear form; whoever lived, As cold in Lust as she is now in death; (Which that step Duchess— Monster knew to well;) And therefore in the height of all the revels, When Music was hard loudest, Courtiers busiest, And Ladies great with laughter;— O Vicious minute! Unfit but for relation to be spoke of, Then with a face more impudent than his vizard He harried her amidst a throng of Panders, That live upon damnation of both kinds, And fed the ravenous vulture of his lust, (O death to think on't) she her honour forest, Deemed it a nobler dowry for her name, To die with poison then to live with shame. A wondrous Lady; of rare fire compact, Sh'as made her name an Empress by that act, My Lord what judgement follows the offender? Faith none my Lord it cools and is deferred, Delay the doom for rape? O you must note who 'tis should die, The Duchess son, she'll look to be a saver, judgement in this age is near kin to favour. Nay then step forth thou bribeless officer; I bind you all in steel to bind you surely, here let your oaths meet, to be kept and paid, Which else will stick like rust, and shame the blade, Strengthen my vow, that if at the next sitting, judgement speak all in gold, and spare the blood Of such a serpent, e'en before their seats, To let his soul out, which long since was found, Guilty in heaven. We swear it and will act it, Kind Gentlemen, I thank you in mine Ire, 'twere pity? The ruins of so fair a Monument, sold not be dipped in the defacer's blood, Her funeral shall be wealthy, for her name, Merits a tomb of pearl; my Lord Antonio, For this time wipe your Lady from your eyes, No doubt our grief and yours may one day court it, When we are more familiar with Revenge, That is my comfort Gentlemen, and I joy, In this one happiness above the rest, Which will be called a miracle at last, That being an old— man I'd a wife so chaste. How hardly shall that maiden be beset, Whose only fortunes, are her constant thoughts, That has no other child-part but her honour, That Keeps her low; and empty in estate. Maids and their honours are like poor beginners, Were not sin rich there would be fewer sinners; Why had not virtue a revenue? well, I know the cause, 'twould have impoverished hell. How now Dondolo.
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)
You deale with truth my Lord. Lend me but your Attentions, and Ile cut Long greefe into short words: last reuelling night. When Torch-light made an artificiall noone About the Court, some Courtiers in the maske, Putting on better faces then their owne, Being full of frawde and flattery: amongst whome, The Ducheses yongest sonne (that moth to honor) Fild vp a Roome; and with long lust to eat, Into my wearing; amongst all the Ladyes, Singled out that deere forme; who euer liu'd, As cold in Lust as shee is now in death; (Which that step Duches—Monster knew to well;) And therefore in the height of all the reuells, When Musick was hard lowdest, Courtiers busiest, And Ladies great with laughter;—O Vitious minute! Vnfit but for relation to be spoke of, Then with a face more impudent then his vizard He harried her amidst a throng of Panders, That liue vppon damnation of both kindes, And fed the rauenous vulture of his lust, (O death to thinke ont) she her honor forest, Deemd it a nobler dowry for her name, To die with poyson then to liue with shame. A wondrous Lady; of rare fire compact, Sh'as made her name an Empresse by that act, My Lord what iudgement followes the offender? Faith none my Lord it cooles and is deferd, Delay the doome for rape? O you must note who tis should die, The Duchesse sonne, sheele looke to be a sauer, Iudgment in this age is nere kin to fauour. Nay then step forth thou Bribelesse officer; I bind you all in steele to bind you surely, Heer let your oths meet, to be kept and payd, Which else will sticke like rust, and shame the blade, Strengthen my vow, that if at the next sitting, Iudgment speake all in gold, and spare the bloud Of such a serpent, e'en before their seats, To let his soule out, which long since was found, Guilty in heauen. We sweare it and will act it, Kind Gentlemen, I thanke you in minelre, Twere pitty? The ruins of so faire a Monument, Sould not be dipt in the defacers bloud, Her funerall shall be wealthy, for her name, Merits a toombe of pearle; my Lord Antonio, For this time wipe your Lady from your eyes, No doubt our greefe and youres may one day court it, When we are more familiar with Reueng, That is my comfort Gentlemen, and I oy, In this one happines aboue the rest, Which will be cald a miralce at last, That being an old—man ide a wife so chast. How hardly shall that mayden be beset, Whose onely fortunes, are her constant thoughts, That has no other childes-part but her honor, That Keepes her lowe; and empty in estate. Maydes and their honors are like poore beginners, Were not sinne rich there would be fewer sinners; Why had not vertue a reuennewe? well, I know the cause, twold haue impouerish'd hell. How now Dondolo.