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 0.82 · 517 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T45: widow, widows, hoord, master, gentlemen, wife, randalls, wit, mistress, married.
In regard of those two 'tis hard but you shall sir. I shall rest grateful, 'tis not full 3. hours sir, since the happy rumour of a rich Country widow came to my hearing. How a rich Country widow? four hundred a year landed. Yea? Most firm sir, and I have learned her lodging, here my suit begins sir, if I might but entreat your worship to be a countenance for me, and speak a good word: for your words will pass, I nothing doubt, but I might set fair for the widow, nor shall your labour sir end altogether in thanks, two hundred Angels— So, so, what suitors has she? There lies the comfort sir, the report of her is yet but a whisper, and only solicited by young Riotous Wit-good, Nephew to your mortal adversary. Ha? art certain he's her suitor? Most certain sir, and his Uncle very industrious to beguile the widow, and make up the match! So? very good? Now sir you know this young Wit-good is a spendthrift— dissolute fellow. A very Rascal: A midnight surfeiter. The spume of a brothelhouse. True sir? which being well told in your worships phrase, may both heave him out of her mind, and drive a fair way for me to the widows affections. Attend me about 5. With my best care sir. Fool thou hast left thy treasure with a thief, to trust a widower with a suit in love, happy revenge I hug thee, I have not only the means laid before me, extremely to cross my adversary, and confound the last hopes of his Nephew, but thereby to enrich my state; augment my revenues, and build mine own fortunes greater, ha, ha. I'll mar your phrase, o'erturn your flatteries, Undo your windings, policies, and plots, Fall like a secret and dispatchful plague on your secured comforts, why I am able to buy 3. of Lucer, thrice outbid him, let my out-monies be reckoned and all. I am glad of this news. So are we by my faith. Young Wit-good will be a gallant again now. Peace? I promise you Master Cockpit she's a mighty rich widow. Why have you ever heard of her. Who widow Medler, she lies open too much rumour. four hundred a year they say in very good land. Nay take't of my word if you believe that, you believe the least. And to see how close he keeps it. Oh sir there's policy in that to prevent better suitors. He owes me a hundred pound, and I protest I near looked for a penny. He little dreams of our coming, he'll wonder to see his creditors upon him. Good, his creditors, i'll follow, this makes for me, all know the widows wealth & 'tis well known, I can estate her fairly, I and will. In this one chance shines a twice happy Fate, I both deject my foe, and raise my state. Why alas, my Creditors? could you find no other time to undo me but now, rather your malice appears in this then the justness of the debt.
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)
In regard of thoſe two tis hard but you ſhall ſir. I ſhall reſt gratefull, tis not full 3. houres ſir, ſince the happy rumour of a rich Country widdow came to my hearing. How a rich Country widdow? Foure hundred a yeare landed. Yea? Moſt firme ſir, and I haue learnt her lodging, here my ſuite begins ſir, if I might but entreate your worſhip to bee a countenance for mee, and ſpeake a good word: for your words will paſſe, I nothing doubt, but I might ſet faire for the widdowe, nor ſhall your labour ſir end altogither in thankes, two hundred Angells— So, ſo, what ſuiters has ſhee? There lies the comfort ſir, the report of her is yet but a whiſper, and onely ſollicited by young Riotous Wit-good, Nephew to your mortall aduerſary. Ha? art certaine he's her ſuiter? Moſt certaine ſir, and his Vncle very induſtrious to beguile the widdow, and make vp the match! So? very good? Now ſir you know this yong Wit-good is a ſpend-thrift— diſſolute fellow. A very Raſkall: A mid-night ſurfetter. The ſpume of a Brothel-houſe. True ſir? which beeing well told in your worſhippes phraze, may both heaue him out of her minde, and driue a faire way for me to the widdowes affections. Attend me about 5. With my beſt care ſir. Foole thou haſt left thy treaſure with a theefe, to truſt a widdower with a ſuite in loue, happy reuenge I hug thee, I haue not onely the meanes layde before me, extreamely to croſſe my aduerſary, and confound the laſt hopes of his Nephew, but therby to enrich my ſtate; augment my reuennewes, and build mine owne fortunes greater, ha, ha. Ile marre your phraze, ore-turne your flatteries, Vndo your windings, policies, and plots, Fall like a ſecret and diſpatchfull plauge on your ſecured comforts, why I am able to buy 3. of Lucer, thrice out-bid him, let my out-monies be reckond and all. I am glad of this newes. So are we by my faith. Yong Wit-good will be a gallant agen now. Peace? I promiſe you Maiſter Cock-pit ſhe's a mighty rich widdow. Why haue you euer heard of her. Who widdow Medler, ſhee lies open to much rumour. Foure hundred a yeare they ſay in very good land. Nay tak't of my word if you beleeue that, you beleeue the leaſt. And to ſee how cloſſe hee keepes it. Oh ſir there's policy in that to preuent better ſuiters. Hee owes me a hundred pound, and I proteſt I neere lookte for a pennie. He little dreames of our comming, heele wonder to ſee his creditors vpon him. Good, his creditors, ile follow, this makes for mee, all know the widdowes wealth & tis well knowne, I can eſtate her fairely, I and will. In this one chance ſhines a twice happy Fate, I both deiect my foe, and raiſe my ſtate. Why alaſſe, my Creditors? could you finde no other time to vndo mee but now, rather your malice appeares in this then the iuſtneſſe of the debt.