The Two Merry Milkmaids, or The Best Words Wear the Garland · chunk 31 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 T1 Death, grief and revenge · 456 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
Speak Lady, free and fearless, what can you say? Nothing but that I do desire to die, For it is sin enough that the Duke thinks I am guilty of the fact, all the Clemency That you can, show me or I do desire, Is to condemn me quickly. That I must speak it grieves me in a cause, Which I cud wish never had presidence, As it hath had too often, alas that I Who do bleed inward, to behold this woman fall'n by a sin equal to Lucifer. From her cleere Heauen where she stood a sta, Moving in his arms as her proper Orb, That I should see this woman as I say. Who had she been a fixed one, had never Shot from her sphere, but as an exhalation, Drawn by the attractive virtue of the Sun, Appears a glorious star yet wanting matter. To maintain his lustre, shoots forth his flame: And drops from whence it came unto a Dunghill, So was this woman raised and so she fell: That so much Beauty which was given for Honour, And did advance her to it, should cause shame, Who can tell whether this be the first man, That she hath sinned withal, since usually, Many faults are committed ere one found, She promised the fellow of her lust, Upon condition to make that: And what was it? A Garland: A Garland of all flowers, Of what effect who knows, or to what purpose, Both being as certain as the thing itself, How or from whence it came nay more than this; She was so impudent to tell the Duke, And tell him she had sworn, which the immodests, And most professed Strumpet never would: What name of shame is to be given this woman, That would thus lewdly suffer the wild tongue, Prcoclaim performance of so vild a deed, And unto him she knew did love her so, She might perhaps by her beauty and her tears, Or both together stir compassion, In many here, and in the Duke himself, But when her crime shall be remembered, A crime so beyond mercy being done, Unto a Prince; and such a Prince as he is, What can I less inspire me all ye powers? That thought me worthy of authority Then without pity to condemn this woman. The case is too apparent. Is it not grave Fathers. Yes indeed it is, I was almost asleep. Ye all do know, all ye that know the Law, Who pardoneth the offender doth commit, An offence equal with him that doth punish, The harmless innocent than she must die, I grieve to speak't and am so charitable, To wish that her reproach may die with her.
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)
Speake Lady, free and fearelesse, what can you say? Nothing but that I do desire to die, For it is sin enough that the Duke thinks I am guilty of the fact, all the Clemency That you can, shew me or I do desire, Is to condemne me quickly. That I must speake it grieues me in a cause, Which I cud wish neuet had presidence, As it hath had too often, alas that I Who do bleede inward, to behold this woman Falne by a sin equall to Lucifer. From her cleere Heauen where she stood a sta, Mouing in his armes as her proper Orbe, That I shud see this woman as I say. Who had she bin a fixed one, had neuer Shot from her sphere, but as an exhalation, Drawne by the attractiue vertue of the Sun, Appeares a glorious star yet wanting matter. To maintaine his lustre, shoots forth his flame: And drops from whence it came vnto a Dunghill, So was this woman rais'd and so she fell: That so much Beauty which was giuen for Honour, And did aduance her to it, shud cause shame, Who can tell whether this be the first man, That she hath sind withall, since vsually, Many faults are committed ere one found, She promised the fellow of her lust, Vpon condition to make that: And what was it? A Garland: A Garland of all flowers, Of what effect who knowes, or to what purpose, Both being as certaine as the thing it selfe, How or from whence it came nay more then this; She was so impudent to tell the Duke, And tell him she had sworne, which the immodests, And most professed Strumpet neuer wud: What name of shame is to be giuen this woman, That wud thus lewdly suffer the wild tongue, Proclay me performance of so vild a deede, And vnto him she knew did loue her so, She might perhaps by her beauty and her teares, Or both together stir compassion, In many here, and in the Duke himselfe, Bt when her crime shall be remembred, A crime so beyond mercy being done, Vnto a Prince; and such a Prince as he is, What can I lesse inspire me all ye powers? That thought me worthy of authority Then without pitty to condemne this woman. The case is too apparant. Is it not graue Fathers. Yes indeede it is, I was almost asleepe. Ye all do know, all ye that know the Law, VVho pardoneth the offender doth commit, An offence equall with him that doth punish, The harmelesse innocent then she must dye, I grieue to speak't and am so charitable, To wish that her reproach may dye with her.