S., S. · published 1616 · first performed or written 1615 [c.1614-1615] (Annals) comedy · Queen Anne's Men T52 Prodigals, portions and poor kin typicality 0.86 · 474 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T52: brother, father, uncle, cousin, son, poor, bread, old, given, master.
Hold. Here take your kindness back: Though we are poor, My sister was not bred to be a whore. Forbear to touch her. Fond Youth, thy rage is vain. thouart young: thy error doth thy virtue stain. I love her as a wife. Oh do not mock me. How can I think, you to such fortunes borne. Will look upon a Maid, so poor, forlorn? Alas! that poverty should virtue smother. Not in my breast. No, I'll still honest be: Virtue in rags are gold's all one to me. Censure me both, as you shall find me true, I'll be your father, and your brother too. So, let me down, till I have seen my new mortgage. How now son Benjamin, ha' you taken possession? Of that you cannot dispossess me, Sir. No knave? what wilt thou take my lands before I'm dead? You are a brave son indeed. But this is the world. If the father be poor, the son would be rid of him, to save charges. If rich, he must have his lands ere his bones be cold. They may be cold, for they ha' been rotten these dozen years. I am very hungry. I am very thirsty. But dare not eat, because I was dreamed tonight of choking. Now brother w' are, undone. The damned father will pervert the son. Gout, dropsy, lameness, rotten legs can hasten T'undo the poor. usurers that sit Bound to their chairs with charms, & cannot move But by their porters, can to ill bestir them. He needs make haste, that is at hell before them. Ha? for 3. months? Indeed Sir, by that power you put me in, In charity to their miserable state, Orphaned of Parents, and of means to live, I gave them 3. months profit of the lands. Out Villain, charity's a beggar, as thou wilt be. 3. months! three weeks, 3. days, 3. hours had been more charity, then ever I showed, or will show to such beggars. Come Nice, Thirsty, list me: I'll take possession myself. I hope Sir, you'll not nullify my deed. Deed me no deeds: I'll nullify thee from being mine heir. Come, help me I say. Indeed Sir, I dare not lift you against the poor. Where's my man Thirsty? He's gone in to drink Sir. Oh he's a good knave: he has got possession o'th' house. Of nothing master but the Buttery, I. As lame as I am, I'll in myself. Sit still you lethargy: y' had better drop— Contain yourself, young friend. He is my father, Let not the warm nest of my love to you, Hatch up encouragement to my father's wrongs. You are my stern Sir, at your pleasure guide This tempest-beaten vessel. Good Sir confirm This work of piety, which I presumed, On faith of your good nature to afford.
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)
Hold. Here take your kindnes back: Though we are poore, My ſiſter was not bred to be a whore. Forbeare to touch her. Fond Youth, thy rage is vaine. Th'art young: thy errour doth thy vertue ſtaine. I loue her as a wife. Oh doe not mock me. How can I thinke, you to ſuch fortunes borne. Will looke vpon a Mayd, ſo poore, forlorne? Alas! that pouerty ſhould vertue ſmother. Not in my breſt. No, Ile ſtill honeſt be: Vertue in rags are gold's all one to me. Cenſure me both, as you ſhall finde me true, Ile be your father, and your brother too. So, let me downe, till I haue ſeene my new morgage. How now ſon Beniamin, ha' you taken poſſeſsion? Of that you cannot diſpoſſeſſe me, Sir. No knaue? what wilt thou take my lands before I'm dead? You are a braue ſon indeed. But this is the world. If the father be poore, the ſonne would be ridde of him, to ſaue charges. If rich, he muſt haue his lands ere his bones be cold. They may be cold, for they ha' been rotten theſe dozen yeeres. I am very hungry. I am very thirſty. But dare not eate, becauſe I was dream'd to night of choking. Now brother w' are, vndone. The damned father will peruert the ſon. Gowt, dropſie, lameneſſe, rotten legges can haſten T'vndoe the poore. Vſurers that ſit Bound to their chaires with charms, & cannot moue But by their porters, can to ill beſtirre them. He needs make haſte, that is at hell before them. Ha? for 3. Moneths? Indeed Sir, by that power you put me in, In charity to their miſerable ſtate, Orphan'd of Parents, and of meanes to liue, I gaue them 3. moneths profite of the lands. Out Villaine, Charitie's a begger, as thou wut be. 3. moneths! three weekes, 3. dayes, 3. houres had been more charity, then euer I ſhew'd, or will ſhew to ſuch beggers. Come Nice, Thirſty, liſt me: Ile take poſſeſsion my ſelfe. I hope Sir, you'l not nullifie my deed. Deed mee no deedes: Ile nullifie thee from being mine heire. Come, helpe me I ſay. Indeed Sir, I dare not lift you againſt the poore. Where's my man Thirsty? He's gone in to drinke Sir. Oh he's a good knaue: he has got poſſeſsion ot'h houſe. Of nothing maſter but the Buttry, I. As lame as I am, Ile in my ſelfe. Sit ſtill you lethargie: y' had better drop— Containe your ſelfe, young friend. He is my father, Let not the warme neſt of my loue to you, Hatch vp encouragement to my fathers wrongs. You are my ſterne Sir, at your pleaſure guide This tempeſt-beaten veſſell. Good Sir confirme This worke of pietie, which I preſum'd, On faith of your good nature to affoord.