Sharpham, Edward · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Queen's Revels · Blackfriars unassigned nearest T39 Profit, conscience and dishonest dealing · 500 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T39: conscience, lucre, usury, lucar, fraud, dissimulation, simony, london, lady, nemo.
I have not yet been seven days here, and yet I see that grieves my very soul: my Daughters, my Ladies I must say now, make lust, labour for their maintenance, & this foolish nation will sell their goods, their lands, nay their very souls for night's delights and momentary sports, which like to lightning appears, and vanisheth ere one can say 'tis come: but then repentance sticks close. There was a fellow with one of my Ladies this morning, and the poor slave has but seven shillings a week board wages, and yet he has given six on't for a bit of extraordinary flesh, well: God give him the grace to pray, for a must fast. I asked the hot slave why a did not marry since a could not bridle his lust? and a told me a had rather fall into the surgeons mercy, than the worlds beggary; well, I see it cannot be denied, mercenary women are necessary members: they pluck down the pride of the flesh, yet are not proud themselves, for they'll be as familiar with the men as with the Master: they do as many good deeds as some Friars that puts one to penance for his sins, they put twenty to pains: he out of charity sends one to the Hospital once a year, they send twenty to the Surgeons once a month. Say he bids men repent, they make 'em repent, yet for all this some will call 'em damned Punks: well, if they be damned, they'll not be damned gratis like your young country Gentlemen, nor in hugger-mugger like your Citizens wife with her Prentice. They can practise without an overseer: they scorn to have a Suburban Bawd lend am a taffeta gown, & they (like your common Players) let men come in for two pence a piece, and yet themselves to have but the tenth penny, like the tenth Pig, yet faith the trade is a good trade: They for swear not themselves, in commendation of their wares, as your common Tradesmen do, swearing they cannot afford it at the price. They are no proverb breakers: beware the buyer say they, you shall have enough for your money, if half will not serve your turn take the whole, measure by your own yard, you shall have Winchester measure. I was somewhat bold with one of their Ladyships this morning, & asked her why women went to the generating sport all the year, since beasts themselves went to't but once? And she answered me, because they were women, & had reason to know what was good for themselves, and so had not beasts: but soft, here comes signor Petoune. O Fleire, how dost Fleire? O signor, you may snuff out your smoke here signor, and save your oath too, here are no Cuckold makers. What are they Fleire? Women signor, women: I heard what a rash Gentleman you are to forswear your Mistress company in the very heat of your affection.
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)
I haue not yet bin seauen daies heere, and yet I see that grieues my very soule: my Daughters, my Ladies I must say now, make lust, labour for their maintenance, & this foolish natiō wil sel their goods, their lands, nay their very soules for nights delights and momentarie sportes, which like to lightning appeares, and vanisheth ere one can say tis come: but then repentance sticks close. There was a fellow with one of my Ladies this morning, and the poore slaue has but seauen shillings a weeke boord wages, and yet he has giuen sixe on't for a bit of extraordinarye flesh, well: God giue him the grace to pray, for a must fast. I askd the hot slaue why a did not marrie since a could not bridle his lust? and a tolde me a had rather fal into the Surgions mercy, then the worldes beggery; well, I see it cannot be denide, mercinarie women are necessarie members: they plucke downe the pride of the flesh, yet are not proud themselues, for thei'le be as familiar with the men as with the Master: they doe as many good deedes as some Fryers that puts one to pennance for his sinnes, they put twentie to paines: he out of charitie sends one to the Hospital once a yeare, they send twentie to the Surgions once a month. Say he bids men repent, they make a'm repent, yet for all this some will call a'm damn'd Puncks: well, if they bee damn'd, theile not be damn'd gratis like your yong coūtrie Gentlemen, nor in hugger mugger like your Citizens wife with her Prentise. They can practise without an ouerseer: they scorne to haue a Suburbian Baw'd lend am a Taffaty gown, & they (like your common Players) let men come in for two pence a peece, and yet themselues to haue but the tenth penny, like the tenth Pigge, yet faith the trade is a good trade: They for sweare not themselues, in commendation of their wares, as your common Tradesmen doe, swearing they cannot afford it at the price. They are no prouerb breakers: beware the buyer say they, you shall haue enough for your money, if halfe will not serue your turne take the whole, measure by your own yard, you shal haue Winchester measure. I was somewhat bold with one of their Ladiships this morning, & askt her why women went to the generating sport al the yere, since beastes themselues went too't but once? And she answered me, because they were women, & had reason to know what was good for themselues, and so had not beasts: but soft, here comes Signior Petoune. O Fleire, how doost Fleire? O Signior, you may snuffe out your smoke here Signior, and saue your oath too, heere are no Cuckold makers. What are they Fleire? Women Signior, women: I heard what a rash Gentleman you are to forsweare your Mistris companie in the verie heat of your affection.