Massinger, Philip · published 1623 · first performed or written 1621 [1621-1623] (Annals) tragedy · King's Men · Blackfriars T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.81 · 493 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
'Tis a Character I will not part with. I may live to reward it. How? left the Court? Without guard or retinue Fitting a Prince. No enemy near, to force him? To leave his own strengths, yet deliver up Himself, as 'twere in bonds to the discretion Of him that hates him? 'Tis beyond example: You never heard the motives that induced him, To this strange course? No, those are Cabinet counsels, And not to be communicated, but To such as are his own, and sure; Alas, We fill up empty places, and in public, Are taught to give our suffrages to that, Which was before determined: And are safe so; signior Francisco (upon whom alone His absolute power is with all strength conferred, During his absence) can with ease resolve you. To me, they are Riddles. Well, he shall not be, My Oedipus, I'll rather dwell in darkness. But my good Lord Tiberio, This Francisco, Is, on the sudden, strangely raised. O Sir, He took the thriving course: He had a Sister, A fair one too; With whom (as it is rumoured; The Duke was too familiar; But she cast off, (What promises soever passed between them) Upon the sight of this, forsook the Court, And since was never seen; To smother this, (As Honours never fail to purchase silence) Francisco first was graced, and step by step, Is raised up to this height. But how is his absence borne? Sadly, it seems By the Duchess: For since he left the Court, For the most part, she hath kept her private Chamber, No visitants admitted; In the Church, She hath been seen to pay her pure devotions, Seasoned with tears: And sure her sorrow's true, Or deeply counterfeited; Pomp, and State, And bravery cast off: And she that lately rivaled Poppaea in her varied shapes, Or the Egyptian Queen: Now, widow-like, In Sable colours (as, her husband's dangers, Strangled in her, the use of any pleasure) Mourns for his absence. It becomes her Virtue, And does confirm, what was reported of her. You take it right; But on the other side, The darling of his Mother, Mariana, As there were an Antipathy, between Her, and the Duchess passions: And as she'd no dependence on her brother's fortune, She ne'er appeared so full of mirth. 'Tis strange. But see, her favourite: & accompanied, To your report. You shall scrape, and I'll sing, A scurvy Ditty, to a scurvy tune, Repine who dares. But if we should offend, The Duchess having silenced us: & these Lords, Stand by to hear us. They, in Name are Lords, But I am one in Power: And for the Duchess, But yesterday we were merry for her pleasure, We now'll be for my Ladies. signior Graccho. A poor Man, Sir, a Servant to the Princes: But you, great Lords, and Councillors of State, Whom I stand bound to reverence. Come, we know You are a Man in grace.
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)
'Tis a Character I will not part with. I may liue to reward it. How? left the Court? Without guard or retinue Fitting a Prince. No enemy neere, to force him? To leave his owne strengths, yet deliuer vp Himselfe, as 'twere in bonds to the discretion Of him that hates him? 'Tis beyond example: You neuer heard the motiues that induc't him, To this strange course? No, those are Cabinet councels, And not to be communicated, but To such as are his owne, and sure; Alas, We fill vp emptie places, and in publique, Are taught to giue our suffrages to that, Which was before determin'd: And are safe so; Signiour Francisco (vpon whom alone His absolute power is with alstrength confer'd, During his absence) can with ease resolue you. To me, they are Riddles. Well, he shall not be, My Oedipus, Ile rather dwell in darkenesse. But my good Lord Tiberio, This Francisco, Is, on the suddaine, stran ely rays'd. O Sir, He tooke the thryuing course: He had a Sister, A faire one too; With whom (as it is rumor'd; The Duke was too familiar; But she cast off, (What promises socuer past betweene them) Vpon the sight of this, forsooke the Court, And since was neuer seene; To smother this, (As Honors neuer faile to purchase silence) Francisco first was grac'd, and step by step, Is rais'd vp to this height. But how is his absence borne? Sadly, it seemes By the Dutches: For since he left the Court, For the most part, she hath kept her priuate Chamber, No visitants admitted; In the Church, She hath been seene to pay her pure deuotions, Season'd with teares: And sure her sorrow's ttue, Or deepely counterfeited; Pompe, and State, And brauerie cast off: And she that lately Riuald Poppaea in her varied shapes, Or the AEgyptian Queene: Now, widow-like, In Sable coluors (as, her Husbands dangers, Strangled in her, the vse of any pleasure) Mournes for his absence. It becomes her Vertue, And does confirme, what was reported of her. You take it right; But on the other side, The darling of his Mother, Mariana, As there were an Antipathy, betweene Her, and the Dutches passions: And as Sh'ad no dependance on her brothers fortune, She ne're appear'd so full of mirth. 'Tis strange. But see, her fauorite: & accompani'd, To your report. You shall scrape, and Ile sing, A scuruie Dittie, to a scuruie tune, Repine who dares. But if we should offend, The Dutches hauing silenc't vs: & these Lords, Stand by to heare vs. They, in Name are Lords, But I am one in Power: And for the Dutches, But yester-day we were merrie for her pleasure, We now'l be for my Ladies. Signiour Graccho. A poore Man, Sir, a Seruant to the Princes: But you, great Lords, and Councellors of State, Whom I stand bound to reuerence. Come, we know You are a Man in grace.