Jonson, Ben · published 1620 · first performed or written 1609 (Annals) comedy · Children of the Queen's Revels unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 479 words · other edition — not in the analysis
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
O, but a man must beware of force. It is to them an acceptable violence, and has ofttimes the place of the greatest courtesy. She that might have been forced, and you let her go free without touching though she then seem to thank you, will ever hate you after: and glad i' the face, is assuredly sad at the heart. But all women are not to be taken always. 'Tis true. No more than all Birds, or all Fishes. If you appear learned to an ignorant Wench, or jocund to a sad, or witty to a foolish, why she presently begins to mistrust herself. You must approach them i' their own height, their own line: for the contrary makes many that fear to commit themselves to noble and worthy fellows, run into the embraces of a Rascal. If she love Wit, give Verses, though you borrow 'em of a friend, or buy 'em, to have good. If Valour, talk of your Sword, and be frequent in the mention of Quarrels, though you be staunch in fighting. If activity be seen o'your Barbary often, or leaping over stools, for the credit of your back. If she love good clothes or dressing have your learned Counsel about you every morning, your French tailor, Barber, linener, &c. Let your powder, your Glass, and your Comb, be your dearest acquaintance. Take more care for the ornament of your head, than the safety: and wish the Commonwealth rather troubled, than a hair about you. That will take her. Then if she be covetous and craving, do you promise any thing, and perform sparingly: so shall you keep her in appetite still. Seem as you would give, but be like a barren field that yields little, or unlucky Dice, to foolish, and hoping Gamesters. Let your gifts be flight, and dainty, ra her then precious. Let cunning be above cost. Give Cherries at time of year, or Apricots; and say they were sent you out of the Country, though you bought 'em in Cheapside. Admire her tires; like her in all fashions; compare her in every habit to some Deity; invent excellent Dreams to flatter her, and Riddles; or, if she be a great one, perform always the second parts to her: like what she likes, praise whom she praises, and fail not to make the Household and Servants yours, yea the whole Family, and salute 'em by their names: ('tis but light cost if you can purchase 'em so) and make her Physician your Pensioner, and her chief woman. Nor will it be out of your gain to make love to her too, so she follow, not usher, her lady's pleasure. All blabbing is taken away, when she comes to be a part of the crime. On what Courtly lap hast thou late slept, to come forth so sudden and absolute a Courtling?
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)
O, but a man muſt beware of force. It is to them an acceptable violence, and has ofttimes the place of the greateſt courteſie. Shee that might haue beene forc'd, and you let her goe free without touching though ſhe then ſeeme to thanke you, will euer hate you after: and glad i' the face, is aſſuredly ſad at the heart. But all women are not to be taken alwayes. 'Tis true. No more then all Birds, or all Fiſhes. If you appeare learned to an ignorant Wench, or iocund to a ſad, or witty to a fooliſh, why ſhee preſently beginnes to miſtruſt herſelfe. You muſt approch them i' their owne height, their owne line: for the contrary makes many that feare to commit themſelues to noble and worthy fellowes, runne into the imbraces of a Raſcall. If ſhe loue Wit, giue Verſes, though you borrow 'hem of a friend, or buy 'hem, to haue good. If Valour, talke of your Sword, and be frequent in the mention of Quarrels, though you be ſtaunch in fighting. If actiuity be ſeen o'your Barbary often, or leaping ouer ſtooles, for the credit of your back. If ſhe loue good clothes or dreſſing haue your learned Counſel about you euery morning, your French Taylor, Barber, Linnener, &c. Let your Poulder, your Glaſſe, and your Combe, be your deareſt acquaintance. Take more care for the ornament of your head, then the ſafetie: and wiſh the Common-wealth rather troubled, then a haire about you. That will take her. Then if ſhee bee couetous and crauing, doe you promiſe any thing, and performe ſparingly: ſo ſhall you keepe her in appetite ſtill. Seeme as you would giue, but be like a barren field that yeelds little, or vnlucky Dice, to fooliſh, and hoping Gameſters. Let your gifts be flight, and daintie, ra her then precious. Let cunning be aboue coſt. Giue Cherries at time of yeere, or Apricots; and ſay they were ſent you out of the Countrey, though you bought 'hem in Cheap-ſiae. Admire her Tyres; like her in all faſhions; compare her in euery habit to ſome Deitie; inuent excellent Dreames to flatter her, and Riddles; or, if ſhee bee a great one, performe alwayes the ſecond parts to her: like what ſhe likes, prayſe whom ſhee prayſes, and faile not to make the Houſhold and Seruants yours, yea the whole Family, and ſalute 'hem by their names: ('tis but light coſt if you can purchaſe' hem ſo) and make her Phyſician your Penſioner, and her chiefe woman. Nor will it bee out of your gaine to make loue to her too, ſo ſhe follow, not vſher, her Ladies pleaſure. All blabbing is taken away, when ſhe comes to be a part of the crime. On what Courtly lap haſt thou late ſlept, to come forth ſo ſudden and abſolute a Courtling?