The Inner-Temple Masque, or The Masque of Heroes · chunk 2 of 5
Middleton, Thomas · published 1619 · first performed or written 1619 [Jan 6-Feb 2] (Annals) masque T52 Prodigals, portions and poor kin typicality 0.66 · 457 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T52: brother, father, uncle, cousin, son, poor, bread, old, given, master.
On, thereby hangs a tale, my M. Kersmasses. It is his water, sir, he's drawing on. Kersmas? why let me see, I saw him very lusty a twelve-night. ay, that's true, sir, but then he took his bane, With choosing King and Queen; Has made his Will already, here's the Copy. And what has he given away, let me see, Plumbroth. He could not give away much, sir, his children have so consumed him before hand. IN primis I give and bequeath to my second Son In, and In; his perpetual Lodging i'the king's-bench, and his ordinary out of the Basket. A sweet allowance for a second brother. Item, I give to my youngest Sons Gleek and Priministe, the full consuming of Nights and Days, and Wives and Children, together with one secret gift, that is, never to give over, while they have a penny. And if e'er they do, I'll be hanged. For the possession of all my Lands, Manors, Manor-houses, I leave them full and wholly to my eldest Son, Noddy, whom during his minority, I commit to the custody of a pair of Knaves and one and thirty? There's Knaves enough a conscience to cozen one Fool. Item, I give to my eldest Daughter, Tickle me quickly, and to her sister my lady's Hole, free leave to shift for themselves, either in Court, City, or Country. We thank him heartily. Item, I leave to their old Aunt, my Sow h'as pigged, a Litter of Courtesans to breed up for Shrovetide. They will be good ware in Lent, when flesh is forbid by Proclamation. Item, I give to my Nephew Gambols, commonly called by the name of Kersmas Gambols, all my Cattle, Horse and Mare, but let him shoe 'em himself. I ha' seen him shoe the Mare forty times over. Also, I bequeath to my cousin-germane wassail-bowl, borne of Dutch Parents, the Privilege of a free Denizen, that is, to be drunk with Scotch-Ale, or english-beer: and lastly, I have given by word of mouth, to poor Blind man Buff, a flap with a Foxtail. ay, so h'as given 'em all for aught I see. But now what think you of his Water, sir? Well he may linger out till Candlemas: But ne'er recover it. Would he were gone once, I should be more respected. Here's New-Year? I have ne'er a gift to give him, I'll be gone. Mirth & a healthful time fill all your days. Look freshly, Sir. I cannot, Master Doctor. My father's death sets the Spring backward i'm. For joy and comfort yet, I'm now between Sorrow and joy, the Winter and the Spring. And as Time gathers freshness in its season, No doubt Affects will be subdued with reason.
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)
On, thereby hangs a tale, my M. Kerſmaſſes. It is his water, ſir, hee's drawing on. Kerſmas? why let me ſee, I ſaw him very luſtie a Twelfe-night. I, that's true, ſir, but then he tooke his bane, With chuſing King and Queene; Ha's made his Will already, here's the Copie. And what ha's he giuen away, let mee ſee, Plumbroth. He could not giue away much, ſir, his children haue ſo conſumed him before hand. IN primis I giue and bequeath to my ſecond Sonne In, and In; his perpetuall Lodging i'the Kingſbench, and his Ordinarie out of the Basket. A ſweete allowance for a ſecond brother. Item, I giue to my yongeſt Sonnes Gleeke and Priminiſte, the full conſuming of Nights and Dayes, and Wiues and Children, together with one ſecret gift, that is, neuer to giue ouer, while they haue a pennie. And if e're they doe, Ile be hanged. For the poſſeſſion of all my Lands, Mannors, Mannor-houſes, I leaue them full and wholly to my eldeſt Sonne, Noddie, whom during his minoritie, I commit to the cuſtodie of a paire of Knaues and one and thirtie? There's Knaues enow a conſcience to coozen one Foole. Item, I giue to my eldeſt Daughter, Tickle mee quickly, and to her ſiſter my Ladies Hole, free leaue to ſhift for themſelues, either in Court, City, or Country. We thanke him heartily. Item, I leaue to their old Aunt, my Sow h'as Pigd, a Litter of Curtizans to breede vp for Shroue-tide. They wil be good ware in Lent, when fleſh is forbid by Proclamation. Item, I giue to my Nephew Gambols, commonly cald by the name of Kerſmas Gambols, all my Cattle, Horſe and Mare, but let him ſhooe 'em himſelfe. I ha' ſeene him ſhooe the Mare fortie times ouer. Alſo, I bequeath to my Coozen-Germane Waſſel-Bowle, borne of Dutch Parents, the Priuiledge of a free Denizen, that is, to be drunke with Scotch-Ale, or Engliſh-Beere: and laſtly, I haue giuen by word of mouth, to poore Blind man Buffe, a flap with a Foxetayle. I, ſo h'as giuen 'em all for ought I ſee. But now what thinke you of his Water, ſir? Well he may linger out till Candlemas: But ne're recouer it. Would he were gone once, I ſhould be more reſpected. Here's New-yeere? I haue ne're a gift to giue him, Ile be gone. Mirth & a healthful time fil all your dayes. Looke freſhly, Sir. I cannot, Maſter Doctor. My fathers death ſets the Spring backward i'me. For ioy and comfort yet, I'me now betweene Sorrow and ioy, the Winter and the Spring. And as Time gathers freſhneſſe in it's ſeaſon, No doubt Affects will be ſubdued with reaſon.