Sharpham, Edward · published 1607 · first performed or written 1606 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Queen's Revels · Blackfriars T39 Profit, conscience and dishonest dealing typicality 0.75 · 501 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T39: conscience, lucre, usury, lucar, fraud, dissimulation, simony, london, lady, nemo.
Faith I saw the four sons of Aymon, and they were Porters ever since there was a company made of am. Why are there a company of Porters in hell? O ay, the Devils are but our ape's man. But didst thou see more of them that were damned? Yes, I saw a Citizen damned for refusing a desperate debt, because 'twas tendered him on a Sabbath. I hope we shall have no more Citizens damned for that fault. There was a poor mercenary woman damned because she forsook her Trade, and turned Puritan. And good reason, why could not she have kept her Trade, and been a Puritan, as well as a Puritan keep her Religion, and yet be of her Trade? There was a Lady damned because she never painted: a Puritan for saying Grace without turning up the white of his eyes: A tailor for never having scabby fingers: A Vintner for making great two penniworths of Sugar. But there was a Inns of Court man damned, and I was sorry for him. Why was he damned? Alas for a small fault. I prithee what was't? For having always money in his purse. Were there no Lawyers in hell? There were none of your great Lawyers as your sergeants, and Benchers, for they take counsel of too many good Angels to come there: but your young puny Lawyers, they were in swarms like Gnats in Summer. Why are there so many of them there? Alas man they seldom converse with a good Angel scarce once in a whole Michaelmas Term, and if 'a come a stays not long with am to feed these souls, for they are feign to send am away straight to pay for the feeding of their Horses, there was a Chambermaid damned for keeping her virginity till she was married, and there were many Soldiers damned for saying their prayers when they were drunk. But what didst thou see in hell? O, I saw a Scrivener damned for procuring a Gentleman money Gratis, but I came in an excellent time. What time was't? In a gossiping time, for Proserpina was newly brought a-bed of two twins. Two twins! what were they? A Sergeant and a Yeoman, but she has put them out to nurse. I prithee where? Faith at the Counter in Woodstreet, and the slaves will suck already like little horseleeches. But when will she have am home, that she may be rid of am. Faith she's an unnatural Mother, she cares not greatly if they never come home, but the devil their Father he loves am well, he'll have am home again ere long. Which is the elder Brother? O the Sergeant, the Devil allows him the better maintenance, for he has more to the dressing of his meat. Well, Gentlemen, since by the heavens pleasure I have been appointed to save your lives, let me entreat you to keep yourselves secret till the sequel of this action shall need your presence.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: T39 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Faith I saw the foure sonnes of Aymon, and they were Porters euer since there was a companie made of am. Why are there a companie of Porters in hell? O I, the Diuels are but our Apes man. But didst thou see more of them that were damn'd▪ Yes, I sawe a Citizen damn'd for refusing a desperate debt, because t'was tendred him on a Sabboth. I hope wee shall haue no more Citizens damn'd for that fault. There was a poore mercinarie woman damn'd because shee forsooke her Trade, and turnd Puritane. And good reason, why coulde not shee haue kept her Trade, and beene a Puritane, as well as a Puritane keepe her Religion, and yet bee of her Trade? There was a Ladie damn'd because shee neuer painted: a Puritane for saying Grace without turning vppe the white of his eyes: A Tailer for neuer hauing scabbie fingers: A Vintner for making greate two pennie-woorths of Sugar. But there was a Innes of Court man damn'd, and I was sorie for him. Why was he damn'd? Alas for a small fault. I prethe what wast? For hauing alwayes money in his purse. Were there no Lawyers in hell? There were none of your great Lawyers as your Serieants, and Benchers, for they take counsaile of too manie good Angells to come there: but your young punie Lawyers, they were in swarmes like Gnats in Summer. Why are there so manie of them there? Alas man they seldom conuerse with a good Angell scarce once in a whole Michaelmasse Tearme, and if a come a stayes not long with am to feede these soules, for they are faine to sende am away strayght to pay for the feeding of their Horses, there was a Chambermaide damb'd for keeping her virginitie till shee was marryed, and there were many Soldiers damb'd for saying their prayers when they were drunke. But what didst thou see in hell? O, I sawe a Scriuener damb'd for procuring a Gentleman money Gratis, but I came in an excellent time. What time wa'st? In a gossipping time, for Proserpina was newllie brought a bed of two twins. Two twins! what were they? A Sergeant and a Yeoman, but shee has put them out to nurse. I prithee where? Faith at the Counter in Wood-street, and the slaues will sucke alreadie like little Horsleaches. But when will she haue am home, that shee may be rid of am. Faith shee's an vnnaturall Mother, shee cares not greatlie if they neuer come home, but the deuill their Father hee loues am well, heele haue am home againe ere long. Which is the elder Brother? O the Sergeant, the Deuill allowes him the better maintenance, for hee has more to the dressing of his meate. Well, Gentlemen, since by the heauens pleasure I haue bin appointed to saue your liues, let mee intreate you to keepe your selues secret till the sequell of this action shall neede your presence.