The White Devil (Vittoria Corombona) · chunk 23 of 49
Webster, John · published 1612 · first performed or written 1612 [Winter 1612-1613] (Annals) tragedy · Queen Anne's Men T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.78 · 497 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
What a strange creature is a laughing fool, As if man were created to no use But only to show his teeth. I'll tell thee what, It would do well in stead of looking glasses To set one's face each morning by a saucer Of a witch's congealed blood. Precious gue. we'll never part. Never: till the beggary of Courtiers, The discontent of churchmen, want of soldiers, And all the creatures that hang manacled, Worse than strappadoed, on the lowest felly Of fortune's wheel be taught in our two lives. To scorn that world which life of means deprives. My Lord, I bring good news. The Pope on's deathbed, At th' earnest suit of the great Duke of Florence, Hath signed your pardon, and restored unto you— I thank you for your news. Look up again Flamineo, see my pardon. Why do you laugh? There was no such condition in our covenant. Why? You shall not seem a happier man than I, You know our vow sir, if you will be merry, Do it i'th' like posture, as if some great man Sat while his enemy were executed: Though it be very lechery unto thee, Do't with a crabbed politicians face. Your sister is a damnable whore. Ha? Look you; I spoke that laughing. Dost ever think to speak again? Do you hear? will't sell me forty ounces of her blood, To water a mandrake? Poor Lord; you did vow To live a lousy creature. Yes; Like one That had for ever forfeited, the daylight, By being in debt, Ha, ha? I do not greatly wonder you do break: Your Lordship learned long since. But I'll tell you, What? an't shall stick by you. I long for it. This laughter scurvily becomes your face, If you will not be melancholy, be angry. See now I laugh too. You are to blame, I'll force you hence. Unhand me: That ere I should be forced to right myself, Upon a Pandar. My Lord. H'had been as good met with his fist a thunderbolt. How this shows! Uds' death, how did my sword miss him? These rogues that are most weary of their lives, Still scape the greatest dangers, A pox upon him: all his reputation; Nay all the goodness of his family; Is not worth half this earthquake. I learned it of no fencer to shake thus; Come, I'll forget him, and go drink some wine. Come, come my Lord, untie your folded thoughts, And let them dangle loose as a bird's hair. Your sister's poisoned. Far be it from my thoughts To seek revenge. What, are you turned all marble? Shall I defy him, and impose a war Most burdensome on my poor subjects necks, Which at my will I have not power to end? You know; for all the murders, rapes, and thefts, Committed in the horrid lust of war, He that unjustly caused it first proceed, Shall find it in his grave and in his seed.
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
What a strange creature is a laughing foole, As if man were created to no vse But onely to shew his teeth. Ile tell thee what, It would doe well in stead of looking glasses To set ones face each morning by a sawcer Of a witches congealed bloud. Pretious gue. Weel neuer part. Neuer: till the beggerie of Courtiers, The discontent of church-men, want of souldiers, And all the creatures that hang manacled, Worse then strappado'd, on the lowest fellie Of fortunes wheele be taught in our two liues. To scorne that world which life of meanes depriues. My Lord, I bring good newes. The Pope on's death-bed, At th' earnest suit of the great Duke of Florence, Hath sign'd your pardon, and restor'd vnto you— I thanke you for your news. Look vp againe Flamineo, see my pardon. Why do you laugh? There was no such condition in our couenant. Why? You shall not seeme a happier man then I, You know our vow sir, if you will be merry, Do it i'th like posture, as if some great man Sate while his enemy were executed: Though it be very letchery vnto thee, Doo't with a crabbed Polititians face. Your sister is a damnable whore. Ha? Looke you; I spake that laughing. Dost euer thinke to speake againe? Do you heare? Wil't sel me fourty ounces of her bloud, To water a mandrake? Poore Lord; you did vow To liue a lowzy creature. Yes; Like one That had for euer forfaited, the day-light, By being in debt, Ha, ha? I do not greatly wonder you do breake: Your Lordship learn't long since. But Ile tell you, What? And't shall sticke by you. I long for it. This laughter scuruily becomes your face, If you will not be melancholy, be angry. See now I laugh too. You are to blame, Ile force you hence. Vnhand me: That ere I should be forc't to right my selfe, Vpon a Pandar. My Lord. H'had bene as good met with his fist a thunderbolt. How this shewes! Vds' death, how did my sword misse him? These rogues that are most weary of their liues, Still scape the greatest dangers, A pox vpon him: all his reputation; Nay all the goodnesse of his family; Is not worth halfe this earthquake. I learnt it of no fencer to shake thus; Come, I'le forget him, and go drinke some wine. Come, come my Lord, vntie your foulded thoughts, And let them dangle loose as a brid's haire. Your sister's poisoned. Farre bee it from my thoughts To seeke reuenge. What, are you turn'd all marble? Shall I defye him, and impose a warre Most burthensome on my poore subiects neckes, Which at my will I haue not power to end? You know; for all the murders, rapes, and thefts, Committed in the horred lust of warre, He that vniustly caus'd it first proceed, Shall finde it in his graue and in his seed.