The Two Merry Milkmaids, or The Best Words Wear the Garland · chunk 48 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 T41 Household service: masters, doors and po · 515 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T41: master, house, door, iohn, old, mistress, basket, lord, gentleman, ick.
I do not know how it comes about that I should be lost thus; villainous witchcraft will never be left, I am fain to give over my shop, but I had broke; howsoever my painting cloth was so rotten, it could not hold together, but the best is, I shall live like a Gentleman, because I walk invisible, nay I am not only invisible to other men, but to myself: I went this morning to a looking-glass, to be acquainted with this comely countenance, the devil of countenance there was to be acquainted with; the Glass seemed to me like a deep water, that I began to feel with my hands for fear I might ha' been drowned: But finding myself above ground, and hunger tumbling like a Porpin in my Maw, and doing the Somerset in my Guts, I smelled a sirloin of Beef hot from the Spit followed the train close, set in my foot, drew my knife, sliced me off a Collop, clapped it upon a penny loaf, went me to a side Table, consumed it without anybody saying much good do you, or the Devil choke you. Set my lips to a Flagon of Beer, drunk twice with a breath, set it down again, took it up again, and drunk it as dry as a Biscuit: so that I perceive I cannot starve. And for clothes, 'tis no matter how I go, nobody sees me. Pray give 'em great charge at the outward doors They admit none but such as are Courtiers, The Hall must not be pestered. where's Ferdinand? Here my Lord. Pray have a care those lights be not offensive unto the Ladies, they hang suspiciously, and let the hangings be removed. They shall my Lord, where's Pedro? Here Sir. Look to those lights I pray, my Lord is very angry, fearing they might do trespass, and those hangings must be removed. They shall sir,— where's any of the Grooms? Here Sir. Pray look to these lights, and let the hangings be removed, the Gentleman Usher has commanded it. They shall sir, where's the fellow here should look unto these lights, things are done so untowardly. nobody sees me, I come in like the air, when Lords and Ladies stand waiting for this officer and other officer, country gentlemen their pates broke, & citizens wives thrust up and down in every corner, their husbands kept out with flame and Torch, glad to fetch a nap i'th' Cloisters. Bear back there, bear back, room for my Lord Lodwick. Here madam you shall face the Duke and duchess, 'tis the best place to see in all the Hall. I thank your honour. Have a little patience, the Revels will begin immediately. Room for my Lord, bear back, swoons whither would you? Well said, thou dost more good with thy oaths then all they with their Truncheons. The Duke is coming. Sports are intending which I will have crossed. Add clouds tonight, that pleasure may be lost. Envy thou wound'st thyself in spite of thee, This I break forth, out of obscurity.
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 donnot know how it comes about that I shud bee lost thus; villanous witchcraft will neuer bee left, I am faine to giue ouer my shop, but I had broke; howsoeuer my painting cloath was so rotten, it could not hold together, but the best is, I shall liue like a Gentleman, because I walke inuisible, nay I am not only inuisible to other men, but to my selfe: I went this morning to a looking-Glasse, to be acquainted with this comely countenance, the diuel of countenance there was to be acquainted with; the Glasse seem'd to me like a deepe water, that I began to feele with my hands for feare I might a beene drown'd: But finding my selfe aboue ground, and hunger tumbling like a Porpin in my Maw, and doing the Somerset in my Guts, I smelt a Surloine of Beese hot from the Spit followed the traine close, set in my foote, drew my knife, slic'd me off a Collop, clapt it vpon a penny loafe, went me to a side Table, consum'd it without any body saying much good do you, or the Diuell choake you. Set my lips to a Flagon of Beere, drunke twice with a breath, set it downe againe, tooke it vp againe, and drunke it as dry as a Bisket: so that I perceiue I cannot starue. And for cloathes, 'tis no matter how I go, no body sees me. Pray giue 'hem great charge at the outward dores They admit none but such as are Courtiers, The Hall must not be pestred. Wher's Ferdinand? Here my Lord. Pray haue a care those lights be not offensiue vnto the Ladies, they hang suspiciously, and let the hangings be remou'd. They shall my Lord, wher's Pedro? Here Sir. Looke to those lights I pray, my Lord is very angry, fearing they might do trespasse, and those hangings must be remoued. They shall sir,—where's any of the Groomes? Heere Sir. Pray looke to these lights, and let the hangings be remoued, the Gentleman Vsher has commanded it. They shall sir, where's the fellow heere shud looke vnto these lights, things are done so vntowardly. No body sees me, I come in like the aire, when Lords and Ladies stand waiting for this officer and tother officer, country gentlemen their pates broke, & citizens wiues thrust vp and downe in euery corner, their husbands kept out with flame and Torch, glad to fetch a nap i'th Cloysters. Beare backe there, beare backe, roome for my Lord Lodwicke. Here Madame you shall face the Duke and Duchesse, 'tis the best place to see in all the Hall. I thanke your honour. Haue a little patience, the Reuels will beginne immediatly. Roome for my Lord, beare backe, swoones whither wud you? Well said, thou dost more good with thy oaths then all they with their Trunchions. The Duke is comming. Sports are intending which I will haue crost. Add clouds to night, that pleasure may be lost. Enuy thou wound'st thy selfe in spight of thee, This I breake foorth, out of obscuritie.