The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is Full of Business) · chunk 40 of 45
Webster, John · published 1623 · first performed or written 1619 [1617-1621] (Annals) tragicomedy · Queen Anne's Men unassigned nearest T33 Fathers, daughters and marriage negotiat · 497 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T33: daughter, marriage, father, love, davus, matter, son, chremes, wife, mother.
O you mean to go to Rome then. Within there. Bear this Letter To the Lord Ercole. Now wench, I am for thee All the world over. I like your shade pursue you. Well, I do not think but to see you as pretty a piece of Law-flesh. In time I may, Marry I am resolved to take a new way for't. You have Lawyers take their Clients fees, & their backs are no sooner turned, but they call them fools, and laugh at them. That's ill done of them. There's one thing too that has a vild abuse in't. What's that? Marry this, That no Proctor in the Term time be tolerated to go to the Tavern above six times i'th' forenoon. Why man? Oh sir, it makes their Clients overtaken, And become friends sooner than they would be. Leave the Room, Gentlemen. Wherefore should I with such an obstinacy, Conceal myself any longer. I am taught, That all the blood which will be shed tomorrow, Must fall upon my head; one question Shall fix it or untie it: Noble brother, I would fain know how it is possible, When it appears you love the fair Iolenta With such a height of fervour, you were ready To father another's child, and marry her, You would so suddenly engage yourself, To kill her brother, one that ever stood, Your loyal and firm friend? Sir, I'll tell you, My love, as I have formerly protested To Contarino, whose unfortunate end, The traitor wrought: and here is one thing more, Deads all good thoughts of him, which I now received From Iolenta. In a Letter? Yes, in this Letter: For having sent to her to be resolved Most truly, who was father of the child, She writes back, that the shame she goes withal, Was begot by her brother. O most incestuous villain. I protest, before I thought 'twas Contarino's Issue, And for that would have veiled her dishonour. No more. Has the Armourer brought the weapons? Yes sir. I will no more think of her. Of whom? Of my mother, I was thinking of my mother. Call the Armourer. You do love me sir, you say? O most entirely. And you will marry me? Nay, I'll do more than that. The fashion of the world is many times, To make a woman nought, and afterwards To marry her: but I a'th' contrary, Will make you honest first, and afterwards Proceed to the wedlock. Honest, what mean you by that? I mean, that your suborning the late Lawsuit, Has got you a filthy report: now there's no way, But to do some excellent piece of honesty, To recover your good name. How sir? You shall straight go, and reveal to your old Mistress, for certain truth, Contarino is alive. How, living? Yes, he is living. No, I must not tell her of it. No, why? For she did bind me yesterday by oath, Never more to speak of him.
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)
O you meane to goe to Rome then. Within there. Beare this Letter To the Lord Ercole. Now wench, I am for thee All the world ouer. I like your shade pursue you. Well, I do not thinke but to see you as pretty a piece of Law-flesh. In time I may, Marry I am resolued to take a new way for't. You haue Lawyers take their Clients fees, & their backs are no sooner turn'd, but they call them fooles, and laugh at them. That's ill done of them. There's one thing too that has a vild abuse in't. What's that? Marry this, That no Proctor in the Terme time be tollerated to go to the Tauerne aboue six times i'th forenoone. Why man? Oh sir, it makes their Clients ouertaken, And become friends sooner then they would be. Leaue the Roome, Gentlemen. Wherefore should I with such an obstinacy, Conceale my selfe any longer. I am taught, That all the blood which wil be shed to morrow, Must fall vpon my head; one question Shall fix it or vntie it: Noble brother, I would faine know how it is possible, When it appeares you loue the faire Iolenta With such a height of feruor, you were ready To father anothers child, and marry her, You would so suddenly ingage your selfe, To kill her brother, one that euer stood, Your loyall and firme friend? Sir, Ile tell you, My loue, as I haue formerly protested To Contarino, whose vnfortunate end, The traytor wrought: and here is one thing more, Deads all good thoughts of him, which I now receiu'd From Iolenta. In a Letter? Yes, in this Letter: For hauing sent to her to be resolued Most truely, who was father of the child, Shee writes backe, that the shame she goes withall, Was begot by her brother. O most incestious villaine. I protest, before I thought 'twas Contarinos Issue, And for that would haue vail'd her dishonour. No more. Has the Armorer brought the weapons? Yes sir. I will no more thinke of her. Of whom? Of my mother, I was thinking of my mother. Call the Armorer. You doe loue me sir, you say? O most intirely. And you will marry me? Nay, Ile doe more then that. The fashion of the world is many times, To make a woman naught, and afterwards To marry her: but I a'th contrary, Will make you honest first, and afterwards Proceed to the wedlocke. Honest, what meane you by that? I meane, that your suborning the late Law-suite, Has got you a filthy report: now there's no way, But to doe some excellent piece of honesty, To recouer your good name. How sir? You shall straight goe, and reueale to your old Mistris, for certaine truth, Contarino is aliue. How, liuing? Yes, he is liuing. No, I must not tell her of it. No, why? For shee did bind me yesterday by oath, Neuer more to speake of him.