Massinger, Philip · published 1624 · first performed or written 1623 [licensed for stage, Dec 3] (Annals) tragicomedy · Lady Elizabeth's Men · Phoenix/Cockpit unassigned nearest T49 Wooing a mistress: suitors, go-betweens · 448 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T49: mistress, gentleman, love, lady, woman, pray, gentlewoman, hear, honest, way.
You are foul mouthed. Ill mannered too. I speak In the way of supposition, and entreat you With all the fervour of a constant lover, That you would free yourself from these aspersions, Or any imputation black tongued Slander Could throw on your unspotted virgin-whiteness; To which there is no easier way, then by Vouchsafing him your favour; him, to whom Next to the General, and the gods, and fautors, The country owes her safety. Are you stupid? 'Slight leap into his arms, and there ask pardon. O, you expect your slave's reply, no doubt We shall have a fine oration; I will teach My Spaniel to howl in sweeter language, And keep a better method. You forget The dignity of the place. Silence. Speak boldly. 'Tis your authority gives me a tongue, I should be dumb else; and I am secure, I cannot clothe my thoughts, and just defence In such an abject phrase, but 'twill appear Equal, if not above my low condition. I need no bombast language, stolen from such, As make Nobility from prodigious terms The hearers understand not; I bring with me No wealth to boast of, neither can I number Uncertain fortune's favours, with my merits; I dare not force affection, or presume To censure her discretion, that looks on me As a weak man, and not her fancy's Idol. How I have loved, and how much I have suffered, And with what pleasure undergone the burden Of my ambitious hopes (in aiming at The glad possession of a happiness, The abstract of all goodness in mankind Can at no part deserve) with my confession Of mine own wants, is all that can plead for me. But if that pure desires, not blended with Foul thoughts, that like a River keeps his course, Retaining still the clearness of the spring, From whence it took beginning, may be thought Worthy acceptance; then I dare rise up And tell this gay man to his teeth, I never Durst doubt her constancy, that like a rock Beats off temptations, as that mocks the fury Of the proud waves; nor from my jealous fears Question that goodness, to which as an Altar Of all perfection, he that truly loved, Should rather bring a sacrifice of service, Then raze it with the engines of suspicion; Of which when he can wash an Aethiop white, Leosthenes may hope to free himself; But till then never. Bold presumptuous villain. I will go farther, and make good upon him In the pride of all his honours, birth, and fortunes, he's more unworthy, than myself. Thou liest. Confute him with a whip, and the doubt decided, Punish him with a halter.
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)
You are foule mouth'd. Ill manner'd too. I speake In the way of supposition, and intreate you With all the feruor of a constant louer, That you would free your selfe from these aspersions, Or any imputation blacke tongu'd Slaunder Could throwe on your vnspotted virgin-whitenesse; To which there is no easier way, then by Vouchsafing him your fauour; him, to whom Next to the Generall, and the gods, and fautors, The countrie owes her safetie. Are you stupid? 'Slight leape into his armes, and there aske pardon. O, you expect your slaues reply, no doubt We shall haue a fine oration; I will teach My Spaniell to howle in sweeter language, And keepe a better method. You forget The dignitie of the place. Silence. Speake boldly. 'Tis your authority giues me a tongue, I should be dumbe else; and I am secure, I cannot cloathe my thoughts, and iust defence In such an abiect phrase, but 'twill appeare Equall, if not aboue my lowe condition. I need no bombast language, stolne from such, As make Nobilitie from prodigious termes The hearers vnderstand not; I bring with me No wealth to boast of, neither can I number Vncertaine fortunes fauours, with my merits; I dare not force affection, or presume To censure her discretion, that lookes on mee As a weake man, and not her fancies Idoll. How I haue lou'd, and how much I haue suffer'd, And with what pleasure vndergone the burthen Of my ambitious hopes (in ayming at The glad possession of a happinesse, The abstract of all goodnesse in mankinde Can at no part deserue) with my confession Of mine owne wants, is all that can plead for me. But if that pure desires, not blended with Foule thoughts, that like a Riuer keepes his course, Retaining still the cleerenesse of the spring, From whence it tooke beginning, may be thought Worthy acceptance; then I dare rise vp And tell this gay man to his teeth, I neuer Durst doubt her constancie, that like a rocke Beats off temptations, as that mocks the fury Of the proud waues; nor from my iealous feares Question that goodnesse, to which as an Altar Of all perfection, he that truly lou'd, Should rather bring a sacrifice of seruice, Then raze it with the engines of suspition; Of which when he can wash an AEthiope white, Leosthenes may hope to free himselfe; But till then neuer. Bold presumptuous villaine. I will go farther, and make good vpon him In the pride of all his honours, birth, and fortunes, Hee's more vnworthy, then my selfe. Thou lyest. Confute him with a whippe, and the doubt decided, Punish him with a halter.