The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is Full of Business) · chunk 5 of 45
Webster, John · published 1623 · first performed or written 1619 [1617-1621] (Annals) tragicomedy · Queen Anne's Men T28 Marriage-making: weddings, brides and ma typicality 0.88 · 509 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T28: married, marriage, wedding, day, bride, father, wife, luce, love, husband.
Sir, you have done me The mainest wrong that ere was offered To a Gentleman of my breeding. Why sir? You have led me With a vain confidence, that I should marry Your sister, have proclaimed it to my friends, Employed the greatest Lawyers of our State To settle her a jointure, and the issue Is, that I must become ridiculous Both to my friends and enemies: I will leave you, Till I call to you for a strict account Of your unmanly dealing. Stay my Lord. Do you long to have my throat cut? Good my Lord, Stay but a little, till I have removed This Court-mist from her eyes, till I wake her From this dull sleep, wherein she'll dream herself To a deformed Beggar: you would marry The great Lord Contarino. Contarino Were you talking of? he lost last night at Dice Five thousand Ducats; and when that was gone, Set at one throw a Lordship, that twice trebled The former loss. And that flew after. And most carefully Carried the Gentleman in his caroche To a lawyer's Chamber, there most Legally To put him in possession: was this wisdom? O yes, their credit in the way of gaming Is the mayne thing they stand on, that must be paid, Though the Brewer bawl for's money; and this Lord Does she prefer i'th' way of marriage, Before our Choice. Here noble Ercole, You'll be advised I hope: Know for your sakes I married, that I might have children; And for your sakes, if you'll be ruled by me, I will never marry again. Here's a Gentleman Is noble, rich, well featured, but 'bove all, He loves you entirely; his intents are aimed For an Expedition 'gainst the Turk, Which makes the Contract cannot be delayed. Contract? you must do this without my knowledge; Give me some potion to make me mad, And happily not knowing what I speak, I may then consent to't. Come, you are mad already, And I shall never hear you speak good sense, Till you name him for Husband. Lady, I will do a manly Office for you, I will leave you, to the freedom of your own soul, May it move whither heaven and you please. Now you express yourself most nobly. Stay sir, what do you mean to do? Hear me, if thou dost marry Contarino, All the misfortune that did ever dwell. In a parent's curse, light on thee. Oh rise Lady, certainly heaven never intended Kneeling to this fearful purpose. Your Imprecation has undone me for ever. Give me your hand. No sir. giv't rue then: Oh what rare workmanship have I seen this To finish with your needle, what excellent music Have these struck upon the Viol! Now I'll teach a piece of Art. Rather a damnable cunning, To have me go about to giv't away, Without consent of my soul. Kiss her my Lord, if crying had been regarded, Maidenheads had ne'er been lost, at least some appearance Of crying, as an April shower i'th' Sunshine.
seed 43: T6 · seed 44: T7 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Sir, you haue done me The maynest wrong that ere was offred To a Gentleman of my breeding. Why sir? You haue led me With a vaine confidence, that I should marry Your sister, haue proclaim'd it to my friends, Employd the greatest Lawyers of our State To settle her a ioynture, and the issue Is, that I must become ridiculous Both to my friends and enemies: I will leaue you, Till I call to you for a strict account Of your vnmanly dealing. Stay my Lord. Doe you long to haue my throat cut? Good my Lord, Stay but a little, till I haue remooued This Court-mist from her eyes, till I wake her From this dull sleepe, wherein sheele dreame herselfe To a deformed Begger: you would marry The great Lord Contarino. Contarino Were you talking of? he lost last night at Diee Fiue thousand Duckets; and when that was gone, Set at one throw a Lordship, that twice trebled The former losse. And that flew after. And most carefully Carried the Gentleman in his Carroch To a Lawyers Chamber, there most Legally To put him in possession: was this wisedome? O yes, their credit in the way of gaming Is the mayne thing they stand on, that must be paid, Tho the Brewer bawle for's money; and this Lord Does shee preferre i'th way of marriage, Before our Choyce. Here noble Ercole, Youle be aduis'd I hope: Know for your sakes I married, that I might haue children; And for your sakes, if youle be rul'd by me, I will neuer marry agen. Here's a Gentleman Is noble, rich, well featur'd, but 'boue all, He loues you intirely; his intents are aymed For an Expedition 'gainst the Turke, Which makes the Contract cannot be delayed. Contract? you must do this without my knowledge; Giue me some potion to make me mad, And happily not knowing what I speake, I may then consent too't. Come, you are mad already, And I shall neuer heare you speake good sense, Till you name him for Husband. Lady, I will doe a manly Office for you, I will leaue you, to the freedome of your owne soule, May it moue whither heauen and you please. Now you expresse your selfe most nobly. Stay sir, what doe you meane to doe? Heare me, if thou dost marry Contarino, All the misfortune that did euer dwell. In a parents curse, light on thee. Oh rise Lady, certainly heauen neuer intended Kneeling to this fearefull purpose. Your Imprecation has vndone me for euer. Giue me your hand. No sir. Giu't rue then: Oh what rare workmanship haue I seene this To finish with your needle, what excellent musicke Haue these strucke vpon the Violl! Now Ile teach a piece of Art. Rather a damnable cunning, To haue me goe about to giu't away, Without consent of my soule. Kisse her my Lord, if crying had been regarded, Maidenheads had nere been lost, at least some appearance Of crying, as an Aprill showre i'th Sunshine.