The Devil's Law Case (When Women Go to Law the Devil Is Full of Business) · chunk 45 of 45
Webster, John · published 1623 · first performed or written 1619 [1617-1621] (Annals) tragicomedy · Queen Anne's Men unassigned nearest T11 Siblings, kin and confidants · 488 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T11: sister, brother, love, friend, heart, father, mother, woman, lord, hear.
If I do not dream, I am happy to. How insolently has this high Court of Honour Been abused! How now, who are these? A couple of strange fowl, and I the Falconer, That have sprung them. This is a white Nun, Of the Order of Saint Clare; and this a black one, You'll take my word for't. she's a black one indeed. Like or dislike me, choose you whether, The Down upon the raven's feather, Is as gentle and as sleek, As the Mole on Venus' cheek. Hence vain show, I only care, To preserve my Soul most fair. Never mind the outward skin, But the jewel that's within: And though I want the crimson blood, Angels boast my Sisterhood. Which of us now judge you whiter, Her whose credit proves the lighter, Or this black, and Ebon hue, That unstained, keeps fresh and true: For I proclaim't without control, There's no true beauty, but i'th' Soul. Oh 'tis the fair Iolenta; to what purpose Are you thus eclipsed? Sir, I was running away From the rumour of this Combat: I fled likewise, From the untrue report my brother spread To his politic ends, that I was got with child. Cease here all further scrutiny, this paper Shall give unto the Court each circumstance, Of all these passages. No more: attend the Sentence of the Court. Rareness and difficulty give estimation To all things are i'th' world: you have met both In these several passages: now it does remain, That these so Comical events be blasted With no severity of Sentence: You Romelio, Shall first deliver to that Gentleman, Who stood your Second, all those Obligations, Wherein he stands engaged to you, Receiving only the principal. I shall my Lord. I thank you, I have an humour now to go to Sea Against the Pirates; and my only ambition, Is to have my Ship furnished with a rare consort Of Music; and when I am pleased to be mad, They shall play me Orlando. You must lay wait for the Fiddlers, They'll fly away from the press like Watermen. Next, you shall marry that Nun. Most willingly. Oh sir, you have been unkind; But I do only wish, that this my shame, May warn all honest Virgins, not to seek The way to Heaven, that is so wondrous steep, Through those vows they are too frail to keep. Contarino, and Romelio, and yourself, Shall for seven years maintain against the Turk, Six Galleys. Leonora, Iolenta, And Angiolella there the beauteous Nun, For their vows breach unto the Monastery, Shall build a Monastery. Lastly, the two Surgeons, For concealing Contarino's recovery, Shall exercise their Art at their own charge, For a twelvemonth in the Galleys: so we leave you, Wishing your future life may make good use Of these events, since that these passages, Which threatened ruin, built on rotten ground, Are with success beyond our wishes crowned.
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)
If I doe not dreame, I am happy to. How insolently has this high Court of Honor Beene abused! How now, who are these? A couple of strange Fowle, and I the Falconer, That haue sprung them. This is a white Nun, Of the Order of Saint Clare; and this a blacke one, Youle take my word for't. Shee's a blacke one indeed. Like or dislike me, choose you whether, The Downe vpon the Rauens feather, Is as gentle and as sleeke, As the Mole on Uenus cheeke. Hence vaine shew, I onely care, To preserue my Soule most faire. Neuer mind the outward skin, But the Iewell that's within: And though I want the crimson blood, Angels boast my Sister-hood. Which of vs now iudge you whiter, Her whose credit proues the lighter, Or this blacke, and Ebon hew, That vnstain'd, keeps fresh and true: For I proclaim't without controle, There's no true beauty, but ith Soule. Oh tis the faire Iolenta; to what purpose Are you thus ecclipst? Sir, I was running away From the rumour of this Combate: I fled likewise, From the vntrue report my brother spread To his politike ends, that I was got with child. Cease here all further scruteny, this paper Shall giue vnto the Court each circumstance, Of all these passages. No more: attend the Sentence of the Court. Rarenesse and difficultie giue estimation To all things are i'th world: you haue met both In these seuerall passages: now it does remaine, That these so Comicall euents be blasted With no seueritie of Sentence: You Romelio, Shall first deliuer to that Gentleman, Who stood your Second, all those Obligations, Wherein he stands engaged to you, Receiuing onely the principall. I shall my Lord. I thanke you, I haue an humour now to goe to Sea Against the Pyrats; and my onely ambition, Is to haue my Ship furnisht with a rare consort Of Musicke; and when I am pleased to be mad, They shall play me Orlando. You muft lay wait for the Fidlers, Theyle flye away from the presse like Watermen. Next, you shall marry that Nun. Most willingly. Oh sir, you haue been vnkind; But I doe onely wish, that this my shame, May warne all honest Virgins, not to seeke The way to Heauen, that is so wondrous steepe, Through those vowes they are too fraile to keepe. Contarino, and Romelio, and your selfe, Shall for seuen yeares maintaine against the Turke, Six Gallies. Leonora, Iolenta, And Angiolella there the beautious Nun, For their vowes breach vnto the Monastery, Shall build a Monastery. Lastly, the two Surgeons, For concealing Contarino s recouery, Shall exercise their Art at their owne charge, For a tweluemonth in the Gallies: so we leaue you, Wishing your future life may make good vse Of these euents, since that these passages, Which threatned ruine, built on rotten ground, Are with successe beyond our wishes crown'd.