The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is Full of Business) · chunk 3 of 45
Webster, John · published 1623 · first performed or written 1619 [1617-1621] (Annals) tragicomedy · Queen Anne's Men unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 493 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
You have been strange a long time, you are weary Of our unseasonable time of feeding: Indeed th' Exchange Bell makes us dine so late; I think the Ladies of the Court from us Learn to lie so long a-bed. They have a kind, of Exchange among them too, Marry unless, it be to hear of news, I take it, Theirs, is like the New Burse, thinly furnished With Tyers and new Fashions. I have a suit to you. I would not have you value it the less, If I say, 'tis granted already. You are all Bounty, 'tis to bestow your Picture on me. Oh sir, shadows, are coveted in Summer, And with me, 'tis Fall o'th' Leaf. You enjoy the best of Time; This latter Spring of yours, shows in my eye, More fruitful and more temperate withal, Then that whose date is only limited By the music of the Cuckoo. Indeed Sir, I dare tell you, My looking-glass is a true one, and as yet It does not terrify me. Must you have my Picture? So please you Lady, and I shall preserve it As a most choice Object. You will enjoin me to a strange punishment: With what a compelled face a woman sits While she is drawing? I have noted diverse, Either to feign smiles, or suck in the lips, To have a little mouth; ruffle the cheeks, To have the dimple seen, and so disorder The face with affectation, at next sitting It has not been the same; I have known others Have lost the entire fashion of their face, In half an hour's sitting. How? In hot weather, The painting on their face has been so mellow, They have left the poor man harder work by half, To mend the Copy he wrought by; but indeed, If ever I would have mine drawn toth' life, I would have a Painter steal it, at such a time, I were devoutly kneeling at my prayers, There is then a heavenly beauty in't, the Soul Moons in the Superficies. Excellent Lady, Now you teach Beauty a preservative, More than 'gainst fading Colours; and your judgement Is perfect in all things. Indeed Sir, I am a Widow, And want the addition to make it so: For man's Experience has still been held Woman's best eyesight. I pray sir tell me, You are about to sell a piece of Land To my son, I hear. 'tis truth. Now I could rather wish, That Noble men would ever live i'th' Country, Rather than make their visits up toth' City About such business: Oh Sir, Noble Houses Have no such goodly Prospects any way, As into their own Land: the decay of that, Next to their begging Churchland, is a ruin Worth all men's pity. Sir, I have forty thousand crowns Sleep in my Chest, shall waken when you please, And sly to your commands, Will you stay supper? I cannot, worthy Lady.
seed 43: T5 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
You haue bin strange a long time, you are weary Of our vnseasonable time of feeding: Indeed th' Exchange Bell makes vs dine so late; I thinke the Ladies of the Court from vs Learne to lye so long a bed. They haue a kind, of Exchange among them too, Marry vnlesse, it be to heare of newes, I take it, Theirs, is like the New Burse, thinly furnisht With Tyers and new Fashions. I haue a suite to you. I would not haue you value it the lesse, If I say, Tis granted already. You are all Bounty, tis to bestow your Picture on me. Oh sir, shaddowes, are coueted in Summer, And with me, tis Fall o'th Leafe. You enioy the best of Time; This latter Spring of yours, shewes in my eye, More fruitfull and more temperate withall, Then that whose date is onely limitted By the musicke of the Cuckow. Indeed Sir, I dare tell you, My Looking-glasse is a true one, and as yet It does not terrifie me. Must you haue my Picture? So please you Lady, and I shall preserue it As a most choyce Obiect. You will enioyne me to a strange punishment: With what a compeld face a woman sits While shee is drawing? I haue noted diuers, Either to faine smiles, or sucke in the lippes, To haue a little mouth; ruffle the cheekes, To haue the dimple seene, and so disorder The face with affectation, at next sitting It has not been the same; I haue knowne others Haue lost the intire fashion of their face, In halfe an houres sitting. How? In hote weather, The painting on their face has been so mellow, They haue left the poore man harder worke by halfe, To mend the Copie h wrought by▪ but indeed, If euer I would haue mine drawen to'th life, I would haue a Paynter steale it, at such a time, I were deuoutly kneeling at my prayers, There is then a heauenly beautie in't, the Soule Moones in the Superficies. Excellent Lady, Now you teach Beautie a preseruatiue, More then 'gainst fading Colours; and your iudgement Is perfect in all things. Indeed Sir, I am a Widdow, And want the addition to make it so: For mans Experience has still been held Womans best eyesight. I pray sir tell mee, You are about to sell a piece of Land To my sonne, I heare. Tis truth. Now I could rather wish, That Noble men would euer liue ith Countrey, Rather then make their visit's vp to'th Citie About such businesse: Oh Sir, Noble Houses Haue no such goodly Prospects any way, As into their owne Land: the decay of that, Next to their begging Churchland, is a ruine Worth all mens pitie. Sir, I haue forty thousand crownes Sleepe in my Chest, shall waken when you please, And slie to your commands, Will you stay supper? I cannot, worthy Lady.