Beaumont, Francis / Fletcher, John · published 1619 · first performed or written 1611 (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men · Globe unassigned nearest T46 Swords, quarrels and valour · 480 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T46: rapier, sword, fight, gentlemen, gentleman, kicked, kill, dagger, signor, valour.
I warrant ye. They talk of fame, I have gotten it in the wars, and will afford any man a reasonable pennyworth: some will say they could be content to have it, but that it is to be achieved with danger; but my opinion is otherwise: for if I might stand still in Canon proof, and have fame fall upon me, I would refuse it: My reputation came principally by thinking to run away, which nobody knows but Mardonius, and I think he conceals it to anger me. Before I went to the wars, I came to the Town a young fellow without means, or parts, to deserve friends; and my empty guts persuaded me to lie, and abuse people for my meat, which I did, and they beat me: then would I fast two days, till my hunger cried out on me, rail still; then methought I had a monstrous stomach to abuse them again, and did it. In this state I continued till they hung me up by th'heels and beat me with hazel sticks, as if they would have baked me, and have cozened somebody with me for Venison: After this I railed, and sat quietly: for the whole Kingdom took notice of me for a baffled whipped fellow, and what I said, was remembered in mirth, but never in anger; of which I was glad, I would it were at that pass again: After this, God called an aunt of mine, that left two hundred pounds in a cousin's hand for me, who taking me to be a gallant young spirit, raised a company for me with the money, and sent me into Armenia with 'em: Away I would have run from them, but that I could get no company, and alone I durst not run. I was never at battle but once, and there I was running, but Mardonius cudgeled me; yet I got loose at last, but was so afraid, that I saw no more than my shoulders do, but fled with my whole company amongst my enemies, and overthrew 'em: Now the report of my valour is come over before me, and they say I was a raw young fellow, but now I am improved. A plague of their eloquence, 'twill cost me many a beating: And Mardonius might help this to if he would; for now they think to get honour of me, and all the men I have abused, call me freshly to account, worthily as they call it, by the way of challenge. Good morrow Captain Bessus. Good morrow Sir. I come to speak with you. You are very welcome. From one that holds himself wronged by you some three years since: your worth he says is famed, & he nothing doubts but you will do him right, as beseems a Soldier. A pox on 'em, so they cry all.
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)
I warrant ye. They talke of fame, I haue gotten it in the warres, and will affoord any man a reaſonable penny-worth: ſome will ſay they could be content to haue it, but that it is to be atchieued with danger; but my opinion is otherwiſe: for if I might ſtand ſtill in Canon proofe, and haue fame fall vpon me, I would refuſe it: My reputation came principally by thinking to runne away, which no bodie knowes but Mardonius▪ and I think he conceales it to anger me. Before I went to the warres, I came to the Towne a young fellow without meanes, or parts, to deſeue friends; and my emptie guts perſwaded me to lie, and abuſe people for my meate, which I did, and they beate me: then would I faſt two dayes, till my hunger cride out on me, raile ſtill; then me thought I had a monſtrous ſtomacke to abuſe them againe, and did it. In this ſtate I continued till they hung me vp by th'heeles and beate me with haſle ſticks, as if they would haue baked mee, and haue coſen'd ſome bodie with mee for Veniſon: After this I rail'd, and ate quietlie: for the whole Kingdome tooke notice of me for a baffel'd whipt fellow, and what I ſaid, was remembred in mirth, but neuer in anger; of which I was glad, I would it were at that paſſe againe: After this, God cald an Ant of mine, that left two hundred pounds in a Coſens hand for me, who taking me to be a gallant young ſpirit, raiſ'd a company for mee with the money, and ſent me into Armenia with vm: Away I would haue runne from them, but that I could get no company, and alone I durſt not run. I was neuer at battle but once, and there I was running, but Mardonius cudgel'd me; yet I got looſe at laſt, but was ſo afraid, that I ſaw no more then my ſhoulders doe, but fled with my whole company amongſt my enemies, and ouerthrew vm: Now the report of my valor is come ouer before mee, and they ſay I was a raw young fellow, but now I am improu'd. A plague of their eloquence, twill coſt me many a beating: And Mardonius might helpe this to if he would; for now they thinke to get honour of me, and all the men I haue abuſ'd, call me freſhly to account, worthily as they call it, by the way of challenge. Good morrow Captaine Beſſus. Good morrow Sir. I come to ſpeake with you. You are very welcome. From one that holds himſelfe wronged by you ſome three yeers ſince: your worth he ſayes is fam'd, & he nothing doubts but you will doe him right, as beſeemes a Souldier. A pox on vm, ſo they crie all.