The Two Merry Milkmaids, or The Best Words Wear the Garland · chunk 23 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 0.89 · 519 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
How many ways do you desire to kill me? Why Dorilus? You say the Duke's acquainted— With our Loves, 'tis true: But there's no harm in that, for he'll be secret, As I have Life, he will. Why do you abuse me thus? I do not: for as I have a Soul, I'm serious, He bid me keep my Vow; and said, the Man That did bestow this Garland, did deserve— What? to enjoy you? ay, to enjoy me. He did it then to give us leave to sin, That he might punish. O no; he did it for my quiet: he will sooner Strike his own eye, to offend it, nay, his heart, Rather than mine. What do we then contriving Lust together? That Rebel Blood, which rageth against him, Had better been bestowed upon rude Beasts, Wilder than Wolves or Tigers; we are worse: They that would wrong this truly Royal Prince, This Prince of his own Passions, as of Men, Deserve to see no day, to taste no food, No clothes to shield him from the rage of winter, But live more wretched than the last of Beggars, Die without tears or prayers, and want a grave. Take your vows back again, and place 'em better, For here I make a general release Of all debts 'twixt us, be a free woman, And set up anew, with caution, that you never Prove bankrupt again, deal not so largely, Nor trust so prodigally, lest you do meet With such as will take the full forfeiture; So Virtue guard you and your goodness Crown, Your thoughts and actions with true chastity. This is not as I look for, nor do wish. O stay, let me not be so wretched, but to pay The alms of a true heart, thanks for your bounty, Which hath been greater than I can requite. Now I do love thee Dorilus as dear As thy own mistress virtue. And I beseech thee Deprive us not thy presence at the Court, For I will live to study a requital, And the Duke with me, that shall know thy worth, And find it in thy deeds, shall entertain thee, And in his bosom fix thee a true friend: Thou shalt not go unless thou promise me, I may receive and welcome thee at Court, Since you command me, I'll not fail to offer, My service to my Sovereign and you. With tears of joy I love thee. What blood have these two creatures? Cold as I am My aged head wrapped like the Alps in Snow, Yet if the Devil lust, had warmed me on, Respects should never quench the heat in me. There is a spark already in my bosom, And I do feel it working towards my heart, Which when it once hath reached, and kindled Into a flame, no premeditation Of the offence, shall blow it out again. The Duke has entertained a jealousy, And employs me in the discovery, Which makes effectual to my purposes. Mischief is brooding in my brains, and the event Shall work my pleasures or their discontent.
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)
How many wayes doe you desire to kill me? Why Dorilus? You say the Duke's acquainted— With our Loues, 'tis true: But there's no harme in that, for heele be secret, As I haue Life, he will. Why doe you abuse me thus? I donnot: for as I haue a Soule, I'm serious, He bid me keepe my Vow; and said, the Man That did bestow this Garland, did deserue— What? to enioy you? I, to enioy me. He did it then to giue vs leaue to sinne, That he might punish. O no; he did it for my quiet: he will sooner Strike his owne eye, to offend it, nay, his heart, Rather then mine. VVhat doe we then contriuing Lust together? That Rebell Bloud, which rageth against him, Had better bin bestow'd vpon rude Beasts, Wilder then VVolues or Tygres; we are worse: They that wud wrong this truly Royall Prince, This Prince of his owne Passions, as of Men, Deserue to see no day, to tast no foode, No cloathes to shield him from the rage of winter, But liue more wretched then the last of Beggers, Die without teares or prayers, and want a graue. Take your vowes backe againe, and place 'hem better, For here I make a generall release Of all debts twixt vs, be a free woman, And set vp anew, with caution, that you neuer Proue banker-out againe, deale not so largely, Nor trust so prodigally, lest you do meete VVith such as will take the full forfeiture; So Vertue guard you and your goodnesse Crowne, Your thoughts and actions with true chastitie. This is not as I looke for, nor do wish. O stay, let me not be so wretched, but to pay The almes of a true heart, thankes for your bountie, Which hath beene greater then I can requite. Now I do loue thee Dorilus as deere As thy owne mistresse vertue. And I beseech thee Depriue vs not thy presence at the Court, For I will liue to studie a reqitall, And the Duke with me, that shall know thy worth, And finde it in thy deeds, shall entertaine thee, And in his bosome fixe thee a true friend: Thou shalt not go vnlesse thou promise me, I may receiue and welcome thee at Court, Since you command me, Ile not faile to offer, My seruice to my Soueraigne and you. With teares of ioy I loue thee. What blood haue these two creatures? Cold as I am My aged head wrapt like the Alpes in Snow, Yet if the Diuell lust, had warm'd me on, Respects shud neuer quench the heate in me. There is a sparke alreadie in my bosome, And I do feele it working towards my heart, Which when it once hath reacht, and kindled Into a flame, no premeditation Of the offence, shall blow it out againe. The Duke has entertaind a iealosie, And imployes me in the discouerie, Which makes effectuall to my purposes. Mischiefe is brooding in my braines, and the euent Shall worke my pleasures or their discontent.