The Two Merry Milkmaids, or The Best Words Wear the Garland · chunk 8 of 54
Cumber, John · published 1620 · first performed or written 1619 [1619-1620] (Annals) comedy · Red Bull (Revels) Company (first) · before the Court unassigned nearest T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour · 484 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
I beseech your Majesty let us depart, these fine men flout us. Well said Innocence, thou art at home, and play'st within doors, the to there is more open. We mean no harm, an't please you: if my Lord will spare us a little of his sour Beer, we'll make you a dainty syllabub; that's our Quality. udfoot, we shallbe whipped anon for this Abuse. I warrant thee Wench, hold up, I'll take too lashes for thy one. Indeed you are better able to bear it. What's the Duke's purpose trow? how he does eye 'em. They'd be good merchandise for some of us, now we are far from our Mistresses. And may be so when he has done with 'em, That's my comfort. What was your Father? A Swineherd if it please you. What yours? A Ditcher an't shall like you. she's the better descended of the two. What'le all this come to? If thou hadst been my Sister, And thou Daughter unto some bordering Prince, As Florence, Padua, Verona, or some farther place. What Prince would not have sought and sued to you? But go and make the Habitation Where you were borne, and dwell, a Paradise, And let all Courts be wild and desolate. Excellent: my fortune's come about, And I will venture, though my life lie on't. My life lies on it too. Hold thy tongue, thou art a sharer, As I give thee example, follow. Pardon, pardon, Great Prince, If we have through our Ignorance, Or Folly, give it what name you please, Wronged this fair Presence, wronged you the Light. That came but as the Egyptians, to adore The rising Sun, and to fall down before it. What whirl's this? We are poor Gentlewomen of this Country. Neighbours unto this place, that took upon us This Habit, to be freer and more bold. And yet more harmless, fearing to be pressed With the Court Compliment, that plays so thick In a young Damsels ears, it often bears And batters down poor virgin's Chastity. We did presume upon our strength, t'withstand The Pages, Footmen, and the Scullery: But when a Lord should take us unto task, Or others of your brave embroidered Train, Alas we had been like the silly fowl Under the towering Hawk, laid flat before 'em, Upon the very shaking of their Feathers. A good Wench i'faith, she flouts them to their faces. But what is this intended for trow; a Pastoral, or a Comedy? A Comedy sure, there's so much Wit in't. 'tis your daughter— Yes: but pray be silent, let's see the effect, I dare not own her yet. I let ye kneel thus long, to hear again That most harmonious voice, And ere thou risest, Ask something of me, fit for thee to crave, And me to give, And thou art Mistress of it. I shall my gracious Lord, I crave your pardon.
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 beseech your Maiestie let vs depart, these fine men flowt vs. Well said Innocence, thou art at home, and play'st within doores, the to ther is more open. We meane no harme, and't please you: if my Lord will spare vs a little of his sowre Beere, weele make you a daintie Sillibub; that's our Qualitie. Vdfoot, we shalbe whipt anon for this Abuse. I warrant thee Wench, hold vp, Ile take too lashes for thy one. Indeed you are better able beare it. What's the Dukes purpose tro? how he does eye 'hem. They'd be good marchandise for some of vs, now we are farre from our Mistresses. And may be so when he has done with 'hem, That's my comfort. What was your Father? A Swineheard if it please you. What yours? A Ditcher and't shall like you. Shee's the better descended of the two. VVhat'le all this come to? If thou hadst bin my Sister, And thou Daughter vnto some bordering Prince, As Florence, Padua, Verona, or some farther place. VVhat Prince wud not haue sought and su'd to you? But goe and make the Habitation VVhere you were borne, and dwell, a Paradice, And let all Courts be wild and desolate. Excellent: my fortune's come about, And I will venter, though my life lye on't. My life lyes on it too. Hold thy tongue, thou art a sharer, As I giue thee example, follow. Pardon, pardon, Great Prince, If we haue through our Ignorance, Or Folly, giue it what name you please, VVrong'd this faire Presence, wrong'd you the Light. That came but as the Egyptians, to adore The rising Sunne, and to fall downe before it. VVhat whirle's this? VVe are poore Gentlewomen of this Country. Neighbors vnto this place, that tooke vpon vs This Habit, to be freer and more bold. And yet more harlesse, fearing to be prest VVith the Court Complement, that playes so thick In a young Damsels eares, it often beares And batters downe poore Virgins Chastitie. We did presume vpon our strength, t'withstand The Pages, Footmen, and the Scullerie: But when a Lord should take vs vnto taske, Or others of your braue embroydred Traine, Alas we had bin like the silly Fowle Vnder the towring Hawke, layd flat before 'hem, Vpon the very shaking of their Feathers. A good Wench yfaith, she flowts them to their faces. But what is this intended for trow; a Pastorall, or a Comedie? A Comedie sure, ther's so much Wit in't. Tis your daughter— Yes: but pray be silent, let's see the effect, I dare not owne her yet. I let yee kneele thus long, to heare againe That most harmonious voice, And ere thou risest, Aske something of me, fit for thee to craue, And me to giue, And thou art Mistresse of it. I shall my gracious Lord, I craue your pardon.