Middleton, Thomas · published 1608 · first performed or written 1605 (Annals) comedy · Children of Paul's (second) · before the Court T45 Widows, wooing and remarriage typicality 0.87 · 510 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T45: widow, widows, hoord, master, gentlemen, wife, randalls, wit, mistress, married.
Troth I'll near be friends with you while you live and you do. Nay and you say so Uncle, here's my hand, I will not dov— Why well said, there's some hope in thee when thou wilt be ruled, i'll make it up fifty faith, because I see thee so reclaimed; peace, here comes my wife with Sam. other husband's Son. Good Aunt— Cozen Wit-good? I rejoice in my salute, your most welcome to this Noble City governed with the sword in the Scabbard, And the wit in the pommel, good Master Sam. I return the salute. By the mass she's coming wife, let me see now how thou wilt entertain her. I hope I am not to learn sir, to entertain a widow, 'tis not so long ago since I was one myself? Uncle? she's come indeed? My Uncle was desirous to see you widow, and I presumed to invite you. The presumption was nothing Master Wit-good, is this yours Uncle sir? Marry am I sweet widow, and his good Uncle he shall find me, I by this smack that I give thee, thou'rt welcome, wife, bid the widow welcome the same way again. I am a Gentleman now too, by my father's occupation, and I see no reason but I may kiss a widow by my Father's Copy, truly I think the Charter is not against it, surely these are the words, the Son once a Gentleman, may revel it, though his father were a dauber, 'tis about the 15 page,— I'll to her— You're not very busy now, a word with thee sweet widow— coads-nigs, I was never so disgraced, since the hour my mother whipped me. Beside, I have no child of mine own to care for, she's my second wife, old, past bearing, clap sure to him widow, he's like to be my heir I can tell you? Is he so sir? He knows it already and the knaves proud on't, jolly rich widows have been offered him here i'th' City, great merchants wives, and do you think he would once look upon 'em? forsooth he'll none, you are beholding to him i'th' Country then; ere we could be, nay, i'll hold a wager widow if he were once known to be in town, he would be presently sought after, nay and happy were they, that could catch him first. I think so? Oh, there would be such running to and fro widow, he should not pass the streets for 'em: he'd be took up in one great house or other presently, fah, they know he has it & must have it; you see this house here widow, this house and all comes to him, goodly Rooms ready furnished, seeled with plaster of paris, and all hung above with cloth of arras. Nephew! Sir— Show the widow your house, carry her into all the Rooms, and bid her welcome,— you shall see widow— Nephew?— strike all sure above and thou be'st a good boy— ah— Alas sir, I know not how she would take it:
seed 43: T40 · seed 44: T40 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Troth Ile nere bee friends with you while you liue and you doe. Nay and you ſay ſo Vncle, here's my hand, I will not doote — Why well ſayde, there's ſome hope in thee when thou wilt bee rulde, ile make it vp fifty fayth, becauſe I ſee thee ſo reclaimde; peace, here comes my wife with Sam her tother huſbands Sonne. Good Aunt— Couzē Wit-good? I reioyce in my ſalute, your moſt welcome to this Noble Citty gouern'd with the ſword in the Scabbard, And the wit in the pommell, good Maiſter Sam fredome I returne the ſalute. By the maſſe ſhe's comming wife, let mee ſee now how thou wilt entertaine her. I hope I am not to learne ſir, to entertaine a widdowe, tis not ſo long ago ſince I was one my ſelfe? Vncle? Shee's come indeed? My Vncle was deſirous to ſee you widdow, and I praeſum'd to enuite you. The praeſumption was nothing Maiſter Wit-good, is this yours Vncle ſir? Marry am I ſweete widdow, and his good Vncle he ſhal finde me, I by this ſmack that I giue thee, thou'rt welcome, wife, bid the widdow welcome the ſame way agen. I am a Gentleman now too, by my fathers occupation, and I ſee no reaſon but I may kiſſe a widdowe by my Fathers Coppy, truely I thinke the Charter is not againſt it, ſurely theſe are the wordes, the Sonne once a Gentleman, may reuell it, tho his father were a dauber, tis about the 15 page,—ile to her— Y'are not very buſie now, a worde with thee ſweete widdow— Coades-Nigs, I was neuer ſo diſgrac'ſt, ſince the houre my mother whipt me. Beſide, I haue no childe of mine owne to care for, ſhee's my ſecond wife, old, paſt bearing, clap ſure to him widdow, he's like to be my heire I can tell you? Is he ſo ſir? Hee knowes it already and the knaues proud on't, iolly rich widdowes haue beene offerd him here ith Citty, great marchants wiues, and do you thinke he would once looke vpon e'm? forſooth heele none, you are beholding to him ith Coūtry then; ere we could be, nay, ile hold a wager widdow if hee were once knowne to bee in towne, hee would bee preſently ſought after, nay and happie were they, that could catch him firſt. I thinke ſo? Oh, there would be ſuch running to and fro widdow, hee ſhould not paſſe the ſtreetes for e'm: he'ed bee tooke vp in one great houſe or other preſently, fah, they know he has it & muſt haue it; you ſee this houſe here widdowe, this houſe and all comes to him, goodly Roomes ready furniſht, ſeeld with plaſter of paris, and all hung aboue with cloth of arras. Nephew! Sir — Shew the widdowe your houſe, carry her into all the Roomes, and bid her welcome,—you ſhall ſee widdow—Nephew?—ſtrike all ſure aboue and thou bee'ſt a good boye—ah— Alaſſe ſir, I know not how ſhee would take it: