The Two Merry Milkmaids, or The Best Words Wear the Garland · chunk 7 of 54
Cumber, John · published 1620 · first performed or written 1619 [1619-1620] (Annals) comedy · Red Bull (Revels) Company (first) · before the Court T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.85 · 495 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
Foolish Wench I tell thee he is a Lord, and I am little less myself, if I were in place where: what dost thou know, but I may be the Duke? Marry God forbid, Sir. Why, it had been all one to thee, thou hadst called me Ass. Ass unawares may prove a wise man, better considered of. Ah, she begins to balance me. I do indeed Sir. And how do you find me now? Full weight Sir. O, in good time, we shall agree anon.— The Duke— Through the general love our subjects bear to We find my Lord your loyalty to us: (you, Which relisheth more sweeter to our ears, In their Applauses told, then by your own. And Gentlemen I thank you every one; You have took much pains t'see a growing Prince, Not seasoned yet with Time to your desires: But crowned with your loves in the Diadem, I steadily shall hold the Sceptre out, While justice shall stand by me, and direct it. I hope you will not look that I shall reign In my first year, as your last Duke my Father In his last: but give my Youth some liberty To play the wanton Prince, though not the wild one. I have I know possessed all you that know it, With that Conceit, when I gave command, Upon the first sight of a pair of Lasses, That have Looks like the place where they were bred, Cheerful and innocent to be brought to me, That I may see their pleasing eyes again; For methought on the sudden they were fair ones. I wonot cross your Grace, but if my counsel— I prithee keep it, I have no need of it, do not confine me, though I be your guest: I know it may breed laughter, perhaps sorrow Unto some grave ones, but I shall deceive 'em; I will see 'em, and have parley with 'em: There's no hurt meant if you mean not any, Nor shall this wrong your House; therefore produce them. They are here my Lord. udfoot, what will the young Duke do trow? Shall we have it set down in our Chronicles, Inprimis, a brace of Milkmaids? very good. Where are our Ladies now? they are to seek, And must begin again to learn short Curtsies, And dance after the Country Hornpipe. Can there be any loss of Royalty, To bid these welcome? If here be any Rudeness, Let me be tasked with it, that like such Rudeness? If Blood or Beauty ever made a Lady, Why are not these so? I profess that man A Traitor, does not think it: yet they are still Themselves, and so am I. Are you not Sisters? In Quality, an't shall please you; Yet there may be a doubt the other way, For our Fathers were next Neighbours. That's a plaguy Wench; she has not milked so many Kine for nothing, she knows the danger of the Horn.
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)
Foolish Wench I tell thee he is a Lord, and I am little lesse my selfe, if I were in place where: what do'st thou know, but I may be the Duke? Marry God forbid, Sir. Why, it had bin all one to thee, thou hadst cal'd me Asse. Asse vnawares may prooue a wise man, better considered of. Ah, she begins to ballance me. I doe indeed Sir. And how doe you find me now? Full weight Sir. O, in good time, wee shall agree anone.— The Duke— Through the generall loue our subiects beare to We find my Lord your loyaltie to vs: (you, Which rellisheth more sweeter to our eares, In their Applauses told, then by your owne. And Gentlemen I thanke you euery one; You haue tooke much paines t'see a growing Prince, Not season'd yet with Time to your desires: But crown'd with your loues in the Diademe, I steadily shall hold the Scepter out, While lustice shall stand by me, and direct it. I hope you will not looke that I shall raigne In my first yeere, as your last Duke my Father In his last: but giue my Youth some libertie To play the wanton Prince, though not the wild one. I haue I know possest all you that know it, With that Conceit, when I gaue command, Vpon the first sight of a payre of Lasses, That haue Lookes like the place where they were bred, Chearefull and innocent to be brought to me, That I may see their pleasing eyes againe; For me thought on the sudden they were faire ones. I wonnot crosse your Grace, but if my counsell— I prythee keepe it, I haue no need of it, Donnot confine me, though I be your guest: I know it may breed laughter, perhaps sorrow Vnto some graue ones, but I shall deceiue 'hem; I will see 'hem, and haue parley with 'hem: There's no hurt mea if you meane not any, Nor shal this wrong your House; therfore produce thē. They are here my Lord. Vdfoot, what will the young Duke doe trow? Shall we haue it set downe in our Chronicles, Inprimis, a brace of Milkemaids? very good. Where are our Ladies now? they are to seeke, And must begin againe to learne short Curt'sies, And dance after the Countrey Horne-pipe▪ Can there be any losse of Royaltie, To bid these welcome? If here be any Rudenesse, Let me be taskt with it, that like such Rudenesse? If Bloud or Beautie euer made a Lady, Why are not these so? I professe that man A Traytor, does not thinke it: yet they are still Themselues, and so am I. Are you not Sisters? In Qualitie, and't shall please you; Yet there may be a doubt the tother way, For our Fathers were next Neighbors. That's a plaguie Wench; she has not milk'd so many Kine for nothing, she knowes the danger of the Horne.