Massinger, Philip · published 1624 · first performed or written 1623 [licensed for stage, Dec 3] (Annals) tragicomedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 475 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
My deserts, Sir, (If without arrogance I may style them such) Arm me from doubt, and fear. 'Tis nobly spoken, Nor be thou daunted (howsoe'er the fortune Has marked thee out a slave) to speak thy merits; For virtue though in rags may challenge more, Than vice set off with all the trim of greatness. I had rather fall under so just a judge, Then be acquitted by a man corrupt And partial in his censure. Note his language, It relishes of better breeding then His present state dares promise. I observe it. Place the fair Lady in the midst, that both Looking with covetous eyes upon the prize They are to plead for, may from the fair object, Teach Hermes eloquence. Am I fallen so low My birth, my honour, and what's dearest to me, My love, and witness of my love, my service, So undervalued, that I must contend With one, where my excess of glory must Make his o'erthrow a conquest? shall my fullness supply defects in such a thing, that never Knew any thing but want and emptiness? Give him a name, and keep it such from this Unequal competition? if my pride Or any bold assurance of my worth, Has plucked this mountain of disgrace upon me, I am justly punished, and submit; but if I have been modest, and esteemed myself More injured in the tribute of the praise, Which no desert of mine prized by self-love Ever exacted; may this cause, and minute For ever be forgotten. I dwell long Upon mine anger, and now turn to you Ingrateful fair one; and since you are such, 'Tis lawful for me to proclaim myself, And what I have deserved. Neglect, and scorn From me for this proud vaunt. You nourish, Lady Your own dishonour in this harsh reply, And almost prove what some hold of your sex. You are all made up of passion. For if reason Or judgement could find entertainment with you, Or that you would distinguish of the objects You look on in a true glass, not seduced By the false light of your too violent will, I should not need to plead for that, which you With joy should offer. Is my high birth a blemish? Or does my wealth, which all the vain expense Of women cannot waste, breed loathing in you? The honours I can call mine own thought scandals? Am I deformed, or for my Father's sins Mulcted by nature? if you interpret these As crimes, 'tis fit I should yield up myself Most miserably guilty. But perhaps (Which yet I would not credit) you have seen This gallant, pitch the bar, or bear a burden Would crack the shoulders of a weaker bondman; Or any other boisterous exercise, Assuring a strong back to satisfy Your loose desires, insatiate as the grave.
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)
My deserts, Sir, (If without arrogance I may stile them such) Arme me from doubt, and feare. 'Tis nobly spoken, Nor be thou daunted (howsoe're the fortune Has mark'd thee out a slaue) to speake thy merits; For vertue though in raggs may challenge more, Then vice set off with all the trimme of greatnesse. I had rather fall vnder so iust a iudge, Then be acquitted by a man corrupt And partiall in his censure. Note his language, It relishes of better breeding then His present state dares promise. I obserue it. Place the faire Lady in the midst, that both Looking with couetous eies vpon the prize They are to plead for, may from the faire obiect, Teach Hermes eloquence. Am I fall'n so lowe My birth, my honour, and what's dearest to me, My loue, and witnesse of my loue, my seruice, So vnder-valewd, that I must contend With one, where my excesse of glory must Make his o'rethrow a conquest? shall my fulnesse supply defects in such a thing, that neuer Knew any thing but want and emptinesse? Giue him a name, and keepe it such from this Vnequall competition? if my pride Or any bold assurance of my worth, Has pluck'd this mountaine of disgrace vpon me, I am iustly punish'd, and submit; but if I haue beene modest, and esteem'd my selfe More iniur'd in the tribute of the praise, Which no desert of mine priz'd by selfe-loue Euer exacted; may this cause, and minute For euer be forgotten. I dwell long Vpon mine anger, and now turne to you Ingratefull faire one; and since you are such, 'Tis lawfull for me to proclaime my selfe, And what I haue deseru'd. Neglect, and scorne From me for this proud vaunt. You nourish, Lady Your owne dishonour in this harsh replie, And almost proue what some hold of your sex. You are all made vp of passion. For if reason Or iudgement could finde entertainment with you, Or that you would distinguish of the obiects You looke on in a true glasse, not feduc'd By the false light of your too violent will, I should not need to plead for that, which you With ioy should offer. Is my high birth a blemish? Or does my wealth, which all the vaine expence Of women cannot waste, breed loathing in you? The honours I can call mine owne thought scandals? Am I deform'd, or for my Fathers sinnes Mulcted by nature? if you interpret these As crimes, 'tis fit I should yeeld vp my selfe Most miserably guiltie. But perhaps (Which yet I would not credit) you haue seene This gallant, pitch the barre, or beare a burthen Would cracke the shoulders of a weaker bond-man; Or any other boistrous exercise, Assuring a strong backe to satisfie Your loose desires, insatiate as the graue.