The Atheist's Tragedy, or The Honest Man's Revenge · chunk 23 of 41
Tourneur, Cyril · published 1611 · first performed or written 1611 [1607-1611] (Annals) tragedy · Unknown unassigned nearest T6 Money, debt and credit · 465 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T6: money, master, pound, law, lawyer, chain, gentleman, gold, pay, pray.
A good honest fellow. What? wounded? apprehend him. Sir; is this your salutation for the courtesy I did you when we parted last? You ha'forgot I lent you a thousand Crowns. First, let him answer for this riot. When the Law is satisfied for that; an an action for his debt shall clap him up again. I took you for a Spirit; and I'll conjure you before I ha'done. No. I'll turn conjuror. Devil! within this Circle, in the midst of all thy force and malice I conjure thee do thy worst. Away with him. Sir, I have got a scratch or two here for your sake. I hope you'll give me money to pay the Surgeon. Borachio! fetch me a thousand Crowns. I am content to countenance the freedom of your spirit when 'tis worthily employed. A God's name give behaviour the full scope of generous liberty; but let it not disperse and spend itself in courses of unbounded licence. Here, pay for your hurts. I thank you sir.— Generous liberty.— that is to say, freely to bestow my abilities to honest purposes. methinks I should not follow that instruction now; if having the means to do an honest office for an honest fellow, I should neglect it. Charlemont lies in prison for a thousand Crowns. And here I have a thousand Crowns. Honesty tells me 'twere well done to release Charlemont. But discretion says I had much ado to come by this; and when this shall be gone I know not where to singer any more: especially if I employ it to this use, which is like to endanger me into my Father's perpetual displeasure. And then I may go hang myself, or be forced to do that, will make another save me the labour. No matter. Charlemont! Thou gav'st me my life and that's somewhat of a purer earth than gold as fine as it is. 'tis no courtesy I do thee but thankfulness. I owe thee it and I'll pay it. He sought bravely, but the Officers dragged him villainously. Arrant knaves! for using him so discourteously; may the sins o'the poor people be so few, that you sha'not be able to spare so much out o'your gettings, as will pay for the hire of a lame starved hackney to ride to an execution. But go a foot to the gallows, and be hanged. May elder brothers turn good husbands, and younger brothers get good wives; that there be no need of debt-books, nor use of sergeants. May there be all peace but i'the war, and all charity but i'the Devil; so that prisons may be turned to Hospitals, though the Officers live oath benevolence. If this curse might come to pass, the world would say, Blessed be he that curseth.
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)
A good honest fellow. What? wounded? apprehend him. Sir; is this your salutation for the courtesie I did you when wee parted last? You ha'forgot I lent you a thousand Crownes. First, let him aunswere for this riot. When the Law is satisfied for that; an an action for his debt shall clap him vp againe. I tooke you for a Spirit; and Ile coniure you before I ha'done. No. Ile turne Coniurer. Diuell! within this Circle, in the midst of all thy force and malice I coniure thee doe thy worst. Away with him. Sir, I haue got a scratch or two here for your sake. I hope you'l giue mee money to pay the Surgeon. Borachio! fetch me a thousand Crownes. I am content to countenance the freedome of your spirit when t'is worthily imployed. A Gods name giue behauiour the full scope of gen'rous libertie; but let it not disperse and spend it selfe in courses of vnbounded licence. Here, pay for your hurts. I thanke you sir.—Gen'rous libertie.—that is to say, freely to bestow my habilities to honest purposes. Me thinkes I should not follow that instruction now; if hauing the meanes to doe an honest office for an honest fellow, I should neglect it. Charlemont lyes in prison for a thousand Crownes. And here I haue a thousand Crownes. Honestie tels meet'were well done to release Charlemont. But discretion sayes I had much a doe to come by this; and when this shall be gone I know not where to singer any more: especially if I employ it to this vse, which is like to endanger mee into my Fathers perpetuall displeasure. And then I may goe hang my selfe, or be forc'd to doe that, will make another saue mee the labour. No matter. Charlemont! Thou gau'st mee my life and that's somewhat of a purer earth then gold as fine as it is. T'is no courtesie I doe thee but thankefulnesse. I owe thee it and Ile pay it. Hee sought brauely, but the Officers drag'd him villanously. Arrant knaues! for vsing him so discourtcously; may the sins o'the poore people be so few, that you sha'not be able to spare so much out o'your gettings, as will pay for the hyre of a lame staru'd hackney to ride to an execution. But goe a foote to the gallowes, and be hang'd. May elder brothers turne good husbands, and younger brothers get good wiues; that there be no neede of debt-bookes, nor vse of Serieants. May there be all peace but i'the warre, and all charitie but i'the Diuell; so that prisons may be turn'd to Hospitals, though the Officers liue othe beneuolence. If this curse might come to passe, the world would say, Blessed be he that curseth.