Middleton, Thomas · published 1608 · first performed or written 1605 (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (second) · before the Court T27 Uncles, nephews and cousins: kinship and typicality 0.83 · 483 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T27: uncle, niece, nephew, gentlemen, faith, cousin, wife, house, gentleman, money.
ALL's gone! still thou'rt a Gentleman, that's all; but a poor one, that's nothing: What Milk brings thy Meadows forth now? where are thy goodly Uplands and thy Down-lands, all sunk into that little pit Lechery? why should a Gallant pay but two shillings for his ordinary that nourishes him, and twenty times two for his Brothel that consumes him? but where's Long-acre? in my uncles conscience, which is 3. years voyage about; he that sets out upon his conscience, near finds the way home again, he is either swallowed in the quicksands of Law-quillets, or splits upon the Piles of a Praemunire; yet these old fox-brained— and ox-browed uncles, have still defences for their Avarice, and Apologies for their practises, and will thus greet our follies. He that doth his youth expose, To Brothel, drink, and danger, Let him that is his nearest Kin, Cheat him before a stranger. And that's his Uncle, 'tis a principle in Usury; I dare not visit the City, there I should be too soon visited, by that horrible plague my Debts, and by that means I lose a virgin's love, her portion and her Virtues, well, how should a man live now, that has no living; hum? why are there not a million of men in the world, that only sojourn upon their brain, and make their wits their Mercers; and am I but one amongst that Million and cannot thrive upon't; any Trick out of the compass of Law now, would come happily to me. My love. My loathing; hast thou been the secret consumption of my purse? and now comest to undo my last means, my wits? wilt leave no virtue in me and yet thou near the better? hence Courtesan, round webbed Tarantula. That dryest the Roses in the cheeks of youth. I have been true unto your pleasure, and all your lands thrice racked, was never worth the jewel which I prodigally gave you, my virginity; Lands mortgaged may return and more esteemed, But honesty once pawned, is near redeemed. For give I do thee wrong, To make thee sin, and then to chid thee for't. I know I am your loathing now, farewell. Stay best invention,— stay. I that have been the secret consumption of your purse shall I stay now to undo your last means, your wits? hence Courtesan away. I prithee, make me not mad at my own weapon, stay, (a thing few women can do I know that, and therefore they had need wear stays;) be not contrary, dost love me? Fate has so cast it that all my means I must derive from thee. From me! be happy then, What lies within the power of my performance, Shall be commanded of thee. Spoke like an honest drab i'faith, it may prove something what Trick is not an embryon at first, until a perfect shape come over it.
seed 43: T39 · seed 44: T37 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
ALL's gone! ſtill thou'rt a Gentleman, that's all; but a poore one, that's nothing: What Milke brings thy Meadowes forth now? where are thy goodly Vp-lands and thy Downe-lands, all ſunck into that little pitte Lecherie? why ſhould a Gallant pay but two ſhillings for his Ordnary that nouriſhes him, and twenty times two for his Brothell that conſumes him? but where's Long-acre? in my Vncles conſcience, which is 3. yeares voyage about; he that ſetts out vpon his conſcience, nere finds the way home againe, he is either ſwallowed in the quick-ſands of Law-quillits, or ſplits vpō the Piles of a Praemunire; yet theſe old Foxe-braind—and oxe-browde Vncles, haue ſtill defences for their Auarice, and Apologies for their practiſes, and will thus greete our follyes. Hee that doth his youth expoſe, To Brothell, drinke, and danger, Let him that is his neereſt Kinne, Cheate him before a ſtranger. And that's his Vncle, 'tis a principle in Vſury; I dare not viſit the Cittie, there I ſhould bee too ſoone viſited, by that horrible plague my Debts, and by that meanes I looſe a Virgins loue, her portion and her Vertues, well, how ſhould a man liue now, that ha's no liuing; hum? why are there not a million of men in the world, that onely ſoiourne vpon their braine, and make their wittes their Mercers; and am I but one amongſt that Million and cannot thriue vpon't; any Trick out of the compaſſe of Lawe now, would come happily to me. My loue. My lothing; haſt thou beene the ſecret conſumption of my purſe? and now comſt to vndo my laſt meanes, my wits? wilt leaue no vertue in me and yet thou nere the better? hence Curtizan, round webd Tarantula. That dryeſt the Roſes in the cheekes of youth. I haue beene true vnto your pleaſure, and all your lands thrice rackt, was neuer worth the Iewell which I prodigally gaue you, my virginity; Lands morgag'd may returne and more eſteemde, But honeſty once pawnd, is nere redeemd. For giue I do thee wrong, To make thee ſinne, and then to chid thee fort. I know I am your loathing now, farewell. Stay beſt inuention,—ſtay. I that haue beene the ſecret conſumption of your purſe ſhall I ſtay now to vndo your laſt meanes, your witts? hence Currizan away. I prethee, make me not mad at my owne weapon, ſtay, (a thing few women can do I know that, and therefore they had need weare ſtayes;) be not contrary, doſt loue me? Fate has ſo caſt it that all my meanes I muſt deriue from thee. From me! be happy then, What lies within the power of my performance, Shall be commanded of thee. Spoke like an honeſt drab ifaith, it may proue ſom-thing what Trick is not an Embrion at firſt, vntil a perfect ſhape come ouer it.