Middleton, Thomas · published 1608 · first performed or written 1606 [1605-1608] (Annals) tragedy · King's Men · Globe T52 Prodigals, portions and poor kin typicality 0.84 · 542 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T52: brother, father, uncle, cousin, son, poor, bread, old, given, master.
Out on thee filth, over and overjoyed. When I'm in torments? Thou politic whore, subtler than nine Devils, was this thy journey to Nuncke, to set down the history of me, of my state and fortunes: Shall I that Dedicated myself to pleasure, be now confined in service to crouch and stand like an old man i'th' hams, my hat off, I that never could abide to uncover my head i'th' Church, base slut, this fruit bears thy complaints. Oh heaven knows, That my complaints were praises, and best words of you, and your estate: only my friends, Knew of your mortgaged Lands, and were possessed Of every accident before I came. If thou suspect it but a plot in me To keep my dowry, or for mine own good or my poor children's: (though it suits a mother To show a natural care in their reliefs), Yet i'll forget myself to calm your blood: Consume it, as your pleasure counsel you, And all I wish, e'en Clemency affords: give me but comely looks and modest words. Money whore, money, or I'll- What the devil? how now? thy hasty news? may it please you sir. What? may I not look upon my dagger? Speak villain, or I will execute the point on thee: quick, short. Why sir a gentleman from the University stays below to speak with you. From the University? so, University That long word runs through me. Was ever wife so wretchedly beset, Had not this news stepped in between, the point Had offered violence to my breast. That which some women call great misery Would show but little here: would scarce be seen Amongst my miseries: I may Compare For wretched fortunes with all wives that are, Nothing will please him; until all be nothing. He calls it slavery to be preferred. A place of credit, a base servitude. What shall become of me, and my poor children, Two here, and one at nurse, my pretty beggars, I see how ruin with a palsy hand Begins to shake the ancient seat to dust: the heavy weight of sorrow, draws my lids Over my dankish eyes: I can scarce see, Thus grief will last, it wakes and sleeps with me. Please you draw neer sir, you're exceeding welcome. That's my doubt, I fear, I come not to be welcome. yes howsoever. 'tis not my fashion Sir to dwell in long circumstance, but to be plain, and effectual, therefore to the purpose. The cause of my setting forth was piteous and lamentable, that hopeful young gentleman your brother, whose virtues we all love dearly through your default, and unnatural negligence lies in bond executed for your debt, a prisoner, all his studies amazed his hope struck dead, and the pride of his youth muffled in these dark clouds of oppression. Hum. um um. Oh, you have killed the towardest hope of all our university: wherefore without repentance and amends, expect pandorus and sudden judgements to fall grievously upon you, your brother a man who profited in his divine Employments might have made ten thousand souls fit for heaven, now by your careless courses cast in prison which you must answer for, and assure your spirit it will come home at length.
seed 43: T52 · seed 44: T52 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Out on thee filth, ouer and ouerioyd. When Ime in torments? Thou pollitick whore, subtiller then nine Deuils, was this thy iourney to Nuncke, to set downe the historie of me, of my state and fortunes: Shall I that Dedicated my selfe to pleasure, be nowe confind in seruice to crouch and stand like an old man ith hams, my hat off, I that neuer could abide to vncover my head ith Church, base slut, this fruite beares thy complaints. Oh heauen knowes, That my complaintes were praises, and best wordes of you, and your estate: onely my friends, Knew of your morgagde Landes, and were possest Of euery accident before I came. If thou suspect it but a plot in me To keepe my dowrie, or for mine owne good or my poore childrens: (though it sutes a mother To show a naturall care in their reliefs, Yet ile forget my selfe to calme your blood: Consume it, as your pleasure counsels you, And all I wishe, eene Clemency affoords: giue mee but comely looks and modest wordes. Money whore, money, or Ile- What the deuel? how now? thy hasty news? Maie it please you sir. What? maie I not looke vpon my dagger? Speake villaine, or I will execute the pointe on thee: quick, short. Why sir a gentlemā from the Vniuersity staies below to speake with you. From the Vniuersity? so, Vniuersity That long word runs through mee. Was euer wife so wretchedlie beset, Had not this newes stept in between, the point Had offered violence to my brest. That which some women call greate misery Would show but little heere: would scarce be seene Amongst my miseries: I maie Compare For wretched fortunes with all wiues that are, Nothing will please him; vntill all benothing. He calls it slauery to be preferd. A place of credit, a base seruitude. What shall become of me, and my poore children, Two here, and one at nurse, my prettie beggers, I see how ruine with a palsie hand Begins to shake the auncient seat to dust: the heauy weight of sorrow, drawes my liddes Ouer my dankishe eies: I can scarce see, Thus griefe will laste, it wakes and sleeps with mee. Please you draw neer sir, y'are exceeding welcome. Thats my doubt, I fear, I come not to be welcome. yes howsoeuer. Tis not my fashion Sir to dwell in long circū stance, but to be plain, and effectuall, therefore to the purpose. The cause of my setting forth was pittious and la:+mentable, that hopefull young gentleman your brother, whose vertues we all loue deerelie through your default, and vnnaturall negligence lies in bond executed for your debt, a prisoner all, his studies amazed his hope strook dead, and the pride of his youth muffled in theis dark clowds of oppression. Hum, vm vm. Oh, you haue kild the towardest hope of all our vniuesitie: wherefore without repentance and amends, expect pandorus and suddain Iudgements to fall grieuosly vpon you, your brother a man who profited in his diuine Imployments mighte haue made ten thousand soules fit for heauen, now by your carelesse courses caste in prison which you must answere for, and assure your spirit it wil come home at length.