The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is Full of Business) · chunk 36 of 45
Webster, John · published 1623 · first performed or written 1619 [1617-1621] (Annals) tragicomedy · Queen Anne's Men unassigned nearest T59 Spanish courts: war, honour and courtshi · 497 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T59: andrea, spain, portugal, tribute, horatio, king, bellimperia, prince, lord, lorenzo.
Well come off again. An old hunted Hare, she has all her doubles. For your own gravities, And the reverence of the Court, I do beseech you, Rip up the cause no further, but proceed to Sentence. One question more and I have done: Might not this Crispiano, this Spaniard, Lie with your Mistress at some other time, Either afore or after, then i'th' absence of her husband? Never. Are you certain of that? On my soul, never. That's well he never lay with her, But in anno seventy one, let that be remembered. Stand you aside a while. Mistress, the truth is, I knew this Crispiano, lived in Naples At the same time, and loved the Gentleman As my bosom friend; and as I do remember, The Gentleman did leave his Picture with you, If age or neglect have not in so long time ruined it. I preserve it still my Lord. I pray let me see't, let me see the face I then loved so much to look on. Fetch it. I shall, my Lord. No, no, Gentlewoman, I have other business for you. Now were the time to cut Romelio's throat, And accuse him for your murder. By no means. Will you not let us be men of fashion, And down with him now he's going? Peace let's attend the sequel. I commend you Lady, There was a main matter of Conscience, How many ills spring from Adultery! First, the supreme Law that is violated, Nobility oft stained with bastardy, Inheritance of Land falsely possessed, The husband! corned, wife shamed, and babes unblessed, So, hang it up i'th' Court; you have heard, What has been urged 'gainst Romelio. Now my definitive sentence in this cause, Is, I will give no sentence at all. No? No, I cannot, for I am made a party. How a party? here are fine cross tricks, What the devil will he do now? Signior Ariosto, his Majesty of Spain, Confers my Place upon you by this Patent, Which till this urgent hour I have kept From your knowledge: may you thrive in't, noble sir, And do that which but few in our place do, Go to their grave uncurst. This Law business Will leave me so small leisure to serve God, I shall serve the King the worse. Is he a judge? We must then look for all Conscience, and no Law, he'll beggar all his followers. Sir, I am of your Counsel, for the cause in hand Was begun at such a time, 'fore you could speak; You had need therefore have one speak for you. Stay, I do here first make protestation, I ne'er took fee of this Romelio, For being of his Council, which may free me, Being now his judge, for the imputation Of taking a Bribe. Now sir, speak your mind. I do first entreat, that the eyes of all here present, May be sixth upon this Oh, I am confounded. this is Crispiano.
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)
Well come off agen. An old hunted Hare, she has all her doubles. For your owne grauities, And the reuerence of the Court, I doe beseech you, Rip vp the cause no further, but proceed to Sentence. One question more and I haue done: Might not this Crispiano, this Spanyard, Lye with your Mistris at some other time, Either afore or after, then ith absence of her husband? Neuer. Are you certaine of that? On my soule, neuer. That's well he neuer lay with her, But in anno seuenty one, let that be remembred. Stand you aside a while. Mistris, the truth is, I knew this Crispiano, liued in Naples At the same time, and loued the Gentleman As my bosome friend; and as I doe remember, The Gentleman did leaue his Picture with you, If age or neglect haue not in so long time ruin'd it. I preserue it still my Lord. I pray let me see't, let me see the face I then loued so much to looke on. Fetch it. I shall, my Lord. No, no, Gentlewoman, I haue other businesse for you. Now were the time to cut Romelio's throat, And accuse him for your murder. By no meanes. Will you not let vs be men of fashion, And downe with him now hee's going? Peace lets attend the sequell. I commend you Lady, There was a maine matter of Conscience, How many ills spring from Adultery! First, the supreame Law that is violated, Nobilitie oft stain'd with bastardy, Inheritance of Land falsly possest, The husband! corn'd, wife sham'd, and babes vnblest, So, hang it vp i'th Court; you haue heard, What has been vrged gainst Romelio. Now my definitiue sentence in this cause, Is, I will giue no sentence at all. No? No, I cannot, for I am made a partie. How a party? here are fine crosse trickes, What the deuill will he doe now? Signior Ariosto, his Maiestie of Spaine, Conferres my Place vpon you by this Patent, Which till this vrgent houre I haue kept From your knowledge: may you thriue in't, noble sir, And doe that which but few in our place doe, Goe to their graue vncurst. This Law businesse Will leaue me so small leasure to serue God, I shall serue the King the worse. Is hee a Iudge? We must then looke for all Conscience, and no Law, Heele begger all his followers. Sir, I am of your Counsell, for the cause in hand Was begun at such a time, fore you could speake; You had need therefore haue one speake for you. Stay, I doe here first make protestation, I nere tooke fee of this Romelio, For being of his Councell, which may free me, Being now his Iudge, for the imputation Of taking a Bribe. Now sir, speake your mind. I do first intrear, that the eyes of all here present, May be sixt vpon this Oh, I am confounded. this is Crispiano.