Middleton, Thomas · published 1608 · first performed or written 1605 (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (second) · before the Court unassigned nearest T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens · 504 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
No doubt your worship might do much then, but she's fairly promised to a bachelor already. Ah what is he I prithee? A Country Gentleman too, one whom your worship knows not I'm sure: has spent some few follies in his youth, but marriage by my faith begins to call him home, my Mistress loves him sir, and love covers faults you know, one master Wit-good if ever you have heard of the Gentleman: Ha? Wit-good sayst thou? That's his name indeed sir; my Mistress is like to bring him to a goodly seat yonder, four hundred a year by my faith, But I pray take me with you. ay sir? What Countryman might this young Wit-good be? A Leicestershire gentleman sir. My Nephew, by th' mass my Nephew, I'll fetch out more of this i'faith, a simple Country fellow, I'll workte out of him, and is that Gentleman sayst thou presently to marry her? Faith he brought her up to town sir, has the best card in all the bunch for't, her heart: and I know my Mistress will be married, ere she go down, nay I'll swear that, for she's none of those widows that will go down first, and be married after, she hates that I can tell you sir. By my faith sir, she is like to have a proper Gentleman and a comely, I'll give her that gift? Why does your worship know him sir? I know him! does not all the world know him, can a man of such exquisite qualities be hid under a bushel? Then your worship may save me a labour, for I had charge given me to inquire after him. inquire of him? if I might counsel thee, thou shouldst near trouble thyself further, inquire of him of no more but of me, I'll fit thee? I grant he has been youthful, but is he not now reclaimed; mark you that sir, has not your Mistress think you been wanton in her youth? if men be wags, are there not women wagtails? No doubt sir: does not he return wisest, that comes home whipped with his own follies. Why very true sir. The worst report you can hear of him I can tell you is that he has been a kind Gentleman, a liberal and a worthy, who but lusty Wit-good, thrice Noble Wit-good. Since your worship has so much knowledge in him, can you resolve me Sir what his living might be, my duty binds me sir to have a care of my mistress estate, she has been ever a good mistress to me though I say it, many wealthy Suitors has she nonsuited for his sake, yet though her Love be so fixed, a man cannot tell whether his Non-performance may help to remove it sir; he makes us believe he has lands and living. Who young master Wit-good! why believe it he has as goodly a fine living out yonder, what do you call the place? Nay I know not i'faith.
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)
No doubt your worſhip might do much then, but ſhe's fayrely promiſt to a bachiler already. Ah what is he I prethee? A Country Gentleman too, one whome your worſhip knowes not Ime ſure: has ſpent ſome fewe follies in his youth, but marriage by my fayth begins to call him home, my Miſtris loues him ſir, and loue couers faults you know, one maiſter VVit-good if euer you haue heard of the Gentleman: Ha? Wit-good ſayſt thou? Thats his name indeede ſir; my Miſtris is like to bring him to a goodly ſeate yonder, foure hundred a yeare by my faith, But I pray take me with you. I ſir▪ What Countryman might this yong Wit-good be? A Leſterſhire gentleman ſir. My Nephew, by th▪ maſſe my Nephew, Ile fetch out more of this yfaith, a ſimple Country fellow, Ile workte out of him, and is that Gentleman ſayſt thou preſently to marrie her? Fayth he brought her vp to towne ſir, has the beſt card in all the bunch fort, her heart: and I know my Miſtris will bee married, ere ſhe goe downe, nay Ile ſweare that, for ſhe's none of thoſe widdowes that will goe downe firſt, and bee married after, ſhe hates that I can tell you ſir. By my faith ſir, ſhee is like to haue a proper Gentleman and a comelie, Ile giue her that gift? Why do's your worſhip know him ſir? I know him! dos not all the world knowe him, can a man of ſuch exquiſite qualities be hid vnder a buſhell? Then your worſhippe may ſaue mee a labour, for I had charge giuen me to enquire after him. Enquire of him? if I might counſell thee, thou ſhouldſt nere trouble thy ſelfe furder, enquire of him of no more but of mee, Ile fit thee? I grant he has beene youthfull, but is he not now reclaimde; marke you that ſir, has not your Miſtris thinke you beene wanton in her youth? if men bee wagges, are there not women wagtayles? No doubt ſir: Do's not he returne wiſeſt, that comes home whipt with his owne follies. Why very true ſir. The worſt report you can heare of him I can tell you is that hee has beene a kinde Gentleman, a liberall and a worthie, who but luſtie Wit-good, thrice Noble Wit-good. Since your worſhippe has ſo much knowledge in him, can you reſolue me Sir what his liuing might bee, my duty bindes me ſir to haue a care of my miſtris eſtate, ſhe has beene euer a good miſtris to me though I ſay it, many welthy Suiters has ſhee Nonſuted for his ſake, yet tho her Loue bee ſo fixt, a man cannot tell whether his Non-performance may helpe to remoue it ſir; hee makes vs beleeue hee has lands and liuing. Who young maiſter Wit-good! why beleeue it he has as goodly a fine liuing out yonder, what do you call the place? Nay I know not ifaith.