Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John · published 1615 · first performed or written 1608 [c.1607-1608] (Annals) tragedy · Children of the Queen's Revels T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.84 · 522 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
TRust me my Lord Dorialus, I had missed of this if you had not called me, I thought the princess's birth day had been tomorrow. Why, did your Lordship sleep out the day? I marvel what the Duke meant to make such an idle vow. Idle, why? Is't not idle, to swear to grant his Daughter any thing she shall ask on her birth day? she may ask an impossible thing: and I pray heaven she do not ask an unfit thing at one time or other; 'tis dangerous trusting a man's vow upon the discretion on's daughter. I wonder most at the marquis her brother, who is always vehemently forward to have her desires granted. he's acquainted with 'em before. she's doubtless very chaste and virtuous. So is Leucippus her Brother. she's twenty year old, I wonder She ask not a Husband. That were a folly in her, having refused all the Great Princes in one part of the world: she'll die a Maid. She may ask but one, may she? A hundred times this day if she will; And indeed, every day is such a day, for though The Duke has vowed it only on this day, He keeps it every day: he can deny Her nothing. Come fair Hidaspes, thou art Duchess today, Art thou prepared to ask, thou knowest My oath will force performance. And Leucippus, if she now ask aught that shall, Or would have performance After my death, when by the help of heaven, This Land is thine, accursed be thy race, May every one forget thou art my son, And so their own obedience. Mighty Sir, I do not wish to know that fatal hour, That is to make me King, but if I do, I shall most hastily (and like a son) Perform your grants to all, chiefly to her: Remember that you ask what we Agreed upon. Are you prepared? then speak. Most Royal Sir, I am prepared, Nor shall my will exceed a virgin's bounds, What I request shall both at once bring Me a full content. So it ever does: Thou only comfort of my feeble age, Make known thy good desire, For I dare swear thou lov'st me. This is it I beg, And on my knees. The people of your Land, The Lycians, are through all the Nations That know their name, noted to have in use A vain and fruitless Superstition; So much more hateful, that it bears the show Of true Religion, and is nothing else But a self-pleasing bold lasciviousness. What is it? Many Ages before this, When every man got to himself a Trade, And was laborious in that chosen course, Hating an idle life, far worse than death: Some one that gave himself to wine and sloth, Which breed lascivious thoughts; And found himself conjoined For that by every painful man, To take his stain away, framed to himself A god, whom he pretended to obey, In being thus dishonest, for a name He called him Cupid. This created god, Man's nature being ever credulous Of any vice that takes part with his blood,
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Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
TRust me my Lord Dorialus, I had mist of this if you had not call'd me, I thought the Princesses birth day had beene to morrow. Why, did your Lordship sleepe out the day? I maruell what the Duke meant to make such an idle vow. Idle, why? Is't not idle, to sweare to graunt his Daughter any thing she shall aske on her byrth day? she may aske an impossible thing: and I pray heauen she doe not aske an vnfit thing at one time or other; tis dangerous trusting a mans vow vpon the discretion on's daughter. I wonder most at the Marquesse her brother, who is alwaies vehemently forward to haue her desires graunted. Hee's acquainted with 'em before. Shee's doubtlesse very chaste and vertuous. So is Leucippus her Brother. Shee's twenty yeere old, I wonder She aske not a Husband. That were a folly in her, hauing refus'd all the Great Princes in one part of the world: Sheele dye a Maide. Shee may aske but one, may she? A hundred times this day if shee will; And indeed, euery day is such a day, for though The Duke has vow'd it onely on this day, He keepes it euery day: he can deny Her nothing. Come fayre Hidaspes, thou art Dutchesse to day, Art thou prepard to aske, thou knowest My oath will force performance. And Leucippus, if she now aske ought that shall, Or would haue performance After my death, when by the helpe of heauen, This Land is thine, accursed be thy race, May cuery one forget thou art my sonne, And so their owne obedience. Mightie Sir, I doe not wish to know that fatall houre, That is to make me King, but if I doe, I shall most hastily (and like a sonne) Performe your graunts to all, chiefely to her: Remember that you aske what wee Agreed vpon. Are you prepard? then speake. Most Royall Sir, I am prepard, Nor shall my will exceede a Virgins bounds, What I request shall both at once bring Me a full content. So it euer does: Thou onely comfort of my feeble age, Make knowne thy good desire, For I dare sweare thou lou'st me. This is it I begge, And on my knees. The people of your Land, The Lycians, are through all the Nations That know their name, noted to haue in vse A vaine and fruitlesse Superstition; So much more hatefull, that it beares the shew Of true Religion, and is nothing else But a selfe-pleasing bold lasciuiousnes. What is it? Many Ages before this, When euery man got to himselfe a Trade, And was laborious in that chosen course, Hating an idle life, farre worse then death: Some one that gaue himselfe to wine and sloth, Which breed lasciuious thoughts; And found himselfe conioynd For that by euery painefull man, To take his staine away, framde to himselfe A god, whom he pretented to obey, In being thus dishonest, for a name He call'd him Cupid. This created god, Mans nature being euer credulous Of any vice that takes part with his blood,