Shakespeare, William / Middleton, Thomas · published 1623 · first performed or written 1604 (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men T40 Sin, guilt and violent loss within famil typicality 0.84 · 505 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T40: brother, death, life, die, heaven, sin, live, father, blood, soul.
Ha'? fie, these filthy vices: It were as good To pardon him, that hath from nature stolen A man already made, as to remit Their saucy sweetness, that do coin heaven's Image In stamps that are forbid: 'tis all as easy, Falsely to take away a life true made, As to put mettle in restrained means To make a false one. 'Tis set down so in heaven, but not in earth. Say you so: then I shall pose you quickly. Which had you rather, that the most just Law Now took your brother's life, and to redeem him Give up your body to such sweet uncleanness As she that he hath stained? Sir, believe this. I had rather give my body, than my soul. I talk not of your soul: our compelled sins Stand more for number, then for account. How say you? Nay I'll not warrant that: for I can speak Against the thing I say: Answer to this, I (now the voice of the recorded Law) Pronounce a sentence on your Brother's life, Might there not be a charity in sin, To save this Brother's life? Please you to do't, I'll take it as a peril to my soul, It is no sin at all, but charity. Pleased you to do't, at peril of your soul Were equal poise of sin, and charity. That I do beg his life, if it be sin Heaven let me bear it: you granting of my suit, If that be sin, I'll make it my Morne-praier, To have it added to the faults of mine, And nothing of your answer. Nay, but hear me. Your sense pursues not mine: either you are ignorant, Or seem so crafty; and that's not good. Let be ignorant, and in nothing good, But graciously to know I am no better. Thus wisdom wishes to appear most bright, When it doth tax itself: As these black Masques Proclaim an en-shield beauty ten times louder Than beauty could displayed: But mark me, To be received plain, I'll speak more gross: Your Brother is to dye. So. And his offence is so, as it appears, Accountant to the Law, upon that pain. True. Admit no other way to save his life (As I subscribe not that, nor any other, But in the less of question) that you, his Sister, Finding yourself desired of such a person, Whose credit with the judge, or own great place, Can fetch your Brother from the Manacles Of the all-building-Law: and that there were No earthly mean to save him, but that either You must lay down the treasures of your body, To this supposed, or else to let him suffer: What would you do? As much for my poor Brother, as myself; That is: were I under the terms of death, Th' impression of keen whips, I'd wear as Rubies, And strip myself to death, as to a bed, That longing have been sick for, ere I'd yield My body up to shame. Then must your brother die.
seed 43: T37 · seed 44: T36 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Ha? fie, theſe filthy vices: It were as good To pardon him, that hath from nature ſtolne A man already made, as to remit Their ſawcie ſweetnes, that do coyne heauens Image In ſtamps that are forbid: 'tis all as eaſie, Falſely to take away a life true made, As to put mettle in reſtrained meanes To make a falſe one. 'Tis ſet downe ſo in heauen, but not in earth. Say you ſo: then I ſhall poze you quickly. Which had you rather, that the moſt iuſt Law Now tooke your brothers life, and to redeeme him Giue vp your body to ſuch ſweet vncleanneſſe As ſhe that he hath ſtaind? Sir, beleeue this. I had rather giue my body, then my ſoule. I talke not of your ſoule: our compel'd ſins Stand more for number, then for accompt. How ſay you? Nay Ile not warrant that: for I can ſpeake Againſt the thing I ſay: Anſwere to this, I (now the voyce of the recorded Law) Pronounce a ſentence on your Brothers life, Might there not be a charitie in ſinne, To ſaue this Brothers life? Pleaſe you to doo't, Ile take it as a perill to my ſoule, It is no ſinne at all, but charitie. Pleaſ'd you to doo't, at perill of your ſoule Were equall poize of ſinne, and charitie. That I do beg his life, if it be ſinne Heauen let me beare it: you granting of my ſuit, If that be ſin, Ile make it my Morne-praier, To haue it added to the faults of mine, And nothing of your anſwere. Nay, but heare me. Your ſence purſues not mine: either you are ignorant, Or ſeeme ſo crafty; and that's not good. Let be ignorant, and in nothing good, But graciouſly to know I am no better. Thus wiſdome wiſhes to appeare moſt bright, When it doth taxe it ſelfe: As theſe blacke Maſques Proclaime an en-ſhield beauty ten times louder Then beauty could diſplaied: But marke me, To be receiued plaine, Ile ſpeake more groſſe: Your Brother is to dye. So. And his offence is ſo, as it appeares, Accountant to the Law, vpon that paine. True. Admit no other way to ſaue his life (As I ſubſcribe not that, nor any other, But in the leſſe of queſtion) that you, his Siſter, Finding your ſelfe deſir'd of ſuch a perſon, Whoſe creadit with the Iudge, or owne great place, Could fetch your Brother from the Manacles Of the all-building-Law: and that there were No earthly meane to ſaue him, but that either You muſt lay downe the treaſures of your body, To this ſuppoſed, or elſe to let him ſuffer: What would you doe? As much for my poore Brother, as my ſelfe; That is: were I vnder the tearmes of death, Th' impreſſion of keene whips, I'ld weare as Rubies, And ſtrip my ſelfe to death, as to a bed, That longing haue bin ſicke for, ere I'ld yeeld My body vp to ſhame. Then muſt your brother die.