Shakespeare, William · published 1623 · first performed or written 1609 [c.1608-1611] (Annals) romance · King's Men unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 488 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
By your pardon Sir, I was then a young traveler, rather shunned to go even with what I heard, then in my every action to be guided by others experiences: but upon my mended judgement (if I offend to say it is mended) my Quarrel was not altogether slight. Faith yes, to be put to the arbiterment of Swords, and by such two, that would by all likelihood have confounded one the other, or have fall'n both. Can we with manners, ask what was the difference? Safely, I think, 'twas a contention in public, which may (without contradiction) suffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell out last night, where each of us fell in praise of our Country-Mistresses. This Gentleman, at that time vouching (and upon warrant of bloody affirmation) his to be more Fair, Virtuous, Wise, Chaste, Constant, Qualified, and less attemptible than any, the rarest of our Ladies in France. That Lady is not now living; or this Gentleman's opinion by this, worn out. She holds her Virtue still, and I my mind. You must not so far prefer her, 'fore ours of Italy. Being so far provoked as I was in France: I would abate her nothing, though I profess myself her Adorer, not her Friend. As fair, and as good: a kind of hand in hand comparison, had been something too fair, and too good for any Lady in Brittany; if she went before others. I have seen as that Diamond of yours out-lusters many I have beheld, I could not believe she excelled many: but I have not seen the most precious Diamond that is, nor you the Lady. I praised her, as I rated her: so do I my Stone. What do you esteem it at? More than the world enjoys. Either your vnparagoned Mistress is dead, or she's out-prized by a trifle. You are mistaken: the one may be sold or given, or if there were wealth enough for the purchases, or merit for the gift. The other is not a thing for sale, and only the gift of the Gods. Which the Gods have given you? Which by their Graces I will keep. You may wear her in title yours: but you know strange Fowl light upon neighbouring Ponds. Your Ring may be stolen too, so your brace of unprizeable Estimations, the one is but frail, and the other Casual;. A cunning Thief, or a (that way) accomplished Courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and last. Your Italy, contains none so accomplished a Courtier to convince the Honour of my Mistress: if in the holding or loss of that, you term her frail, I do nothing doubt you have store of thieves, notwithstanding I fear not my Ring. Let us leave here, Gentlemen? Sir, with all my heart. This worthy Signior I thank him, makes no stranger of me, we are familiar at first.
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)
By your pardon Sir, I was then a young Traueller, rather ſhun'd to go euen with what I heard, then in my euery action to be guided by others experiences: but vpon my mended iudgement (if I offend to ſay it is mended) my Quarrell was not altogether ſlight. Faith yes, to be put to the arbiterment of Swords, and by ſuch two, that would by all likelyhood haue confounded one the other, or haue falne both. Can we with manners, aske what was the difference? Safely, I thinke, 'twas a contention in publicke, which may (without contradiction) ſuffer the report. It was much like an argument that fell out laſt night, where each of vs fell in praiſe of our Country-Miſtreſſes. This Gentleman, at that time vouching (and vpon warrant of bloody affirmation) his to be more Faire, Vertuous, Wiſe, Chaſte, Conſtant, Qualified, and leſſe attemptible then any, the rareſt of our Ladies in Fraunce. That Lady is not now liuing; or this Gentlemans opinion by this, worne out. She holds her Vertue ſtill, and I my mind. You muſt not ſo farre preferre her, 'fore ours of Italy. Being ſo farre prouok'd as I was in France: I would abate her nothing, though I profeſſe my ſelfe her Adorer, not her Friend. As faire, and as good: a kind of hand in hand compariſon, had beene ſomething too faire, and too good for any Lady in Britanie; if ſhe went before others. I haue ſeene as that Diamond of yours out-luſters many I haue beheld, I could not beleeue ſhe excelled many: but I haue not ſeene the moſt pretious Diamond that is, nor you the Lady. I prais'd her, as I rated her: ſo do I my Stone. What do you eſteeme it at? More then the world enioyes. Either your vnparagon'd Miſtirs is dead, or ſhe's out-priz'd by a trifle. You are miſtaken: the one may be ſolde or giuen, or if there were wealth enough for the purchaſes, or merite for the guift. The other is not a thing for ſale, and onely the guift of the Gods. Which the Gods haue giuen you? Which by their Graces I will keepe. You may weare her in title yours: but you know ſtrange Fowle light vpon neighbouring Ponds. Your Ring may be ſtolne too, ſo your brace of vnprizeable Eſtimations, the one is but fraile, and the other Caſuall;. A cunning Thiefe, or a (that way) accompliſh'd Courtier, would hazzard the winning both of firſt and laſt. Your Italy, containes none ſo accompliſh'd a Courtier to conuince the Honour of my Miſtris: if in the holding or loſſe of that, you terme her fraile, I do nothing doubt you haue ſtore of Theeues, notwithſtanding I feare not my Ring. Let vs leaue heere, Gentlemen? Sir, with all my heart. This worthy Signior I thanke him, makes no ſtranger of me, we are familiar at firſt.