Ford, John · published 1629 · first performed or written 1628 [licensed for stage, Nov 24] (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men · Globe T48 Addressing a lady: love, desire and inti typicality 0.89 · 509 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T48: lady, love, heart, fair, eyes, la, lord, tears, fie, face.
Great Lady, 'twere a dulness must exceed The grossest and most sottish kind of ignorance, Not to be sensible of your intents: I clearly understand them. Yet so much The difference between that height and lowness, Which doth distinguish our unequal fortunes, Dissuades me from ambition; that I am Humbler in my desires, then Loves own power Can any way raise up. I am a Princess, And know no law of slavery, to sue, Yet be denied? I am so much a subject To every law of Noble honesty, That to transgress the vows of perfect friendship, I hold a sacrilege as foul, and cursed, As if some holy Temple had been robbed, And I the thief. Thou art unwise, young man, To enrage a Lioness. It were unjust To falsify a faith, and ever after Disrobed of that fair ornament, live naked, A scorn to time and truth. Remember well who I am, and what thou art. That remembrance Prompts me to worthy duty, O great Lady. If some few days have tempted your free heart, To cast away affection on a stranger: If that affection have so overswayed Your judgement, that it in a manner hath Declined your sovereignty of birth and spirit: How can ye turn your eyes off from that glass, Wherein you may new Trim, and settle right A memorable name? The Youth is idle. days, months and years are past, since Menaphon Hath loved and served you truly: Menaphon; A man of no large distance in his blood, From yours; in qualities desertful, graced With Youth, Experience; every happy gift That can by nature, or by Education Improve a Gentleman: for him (great Lady) Let me prevail, that you will yet at last, Unlock the bounty, which your love and care Have wisely treasured up, t'enrich his life. Thou hast a moving eloquence; Parthenophill, Parthenophill, in vain we strive to cross The destiny that guides us. My great heart Is stooped so much beneath that wonted pride That first disguised it, that I now prefer A miserable life with thee, before All other earthly comforts. Menaphon, by me, repeats the selfsame words to you: You are too cruel, if you can distrust His truth, or my report. Go where thou wilt, I'll be an exile with thee, I will learn To bear all change of fortunes. For my friend, I plead with grounds of reason. For thy love, Hard-hearted youth, I here renounce all thoughts Of other hopes, of other entertainments,— Stay, as you honour Virtue. When the proffers of other greatness— Lady. When entreats of friends;— I'll ease your grief. Respect of kindred; Pray give me hearing. Loss of Fame; I crave but some few minutes. Shall infringe my vows, let Heaven— My love speak t'ee; hear then, go on. Thy love, why 'tis a Charm to stop a vow In its most violent course. Cupid has broke His Arrows here; and like a child unarmed, Comes to make sport between us with no weapon, But feathers stolen from his mother's Doves.
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)
Great Lady, 'twere a dulnesse must exceed The grossest and most sottish kind of ignorance, Not to be sensible of your intents: I clearely vnderstand them. Yet so much The difference betweene that height and lownesse, Which doth distinguish our vnequall fortunes, Disswades me from ambition; that I am Humbler in my desires, then Loues owne power Can any way raise vp. I am a Princesse, And know no law of slauery, to sue, Yet be denied? I am so much a subiect To euery law of Noble honesty, That to transgresse the vowes of perfect friendship, I hold a sacriledge as foule, and curs'd, As if some holy Temple had bin robd, And I the thiefe. Thou art vnwise, young man, To inrage a Lyonesse. It were vniust To falsifie a faith, and euer after Disroab'd of that faire ornament, liue naked, A scorne to time and truth. Remember well who I am, and what thou art. That remembrance Prompts me to worthy duty, O great Lady. If some few dayes haue tempted your free heart, To cast away affection on a stranger: If that affection haue so ouersway'd Your Iudgement, that it in a manner hath Declyn'd your soueraignty of birth and spirit: How can yee turne your eyes off from that glasse, Wherein you may new Trim, and settle right A memorable name? The Youth is idle. Dayes, months and yeeres are past, since Menaphon Hath lou'd and seru'd you truly: Menaphon; A man of no large distance in his bloud, From yours; in qualities desertfull, grac't With Youth, Experience; euery happy gift That can by nature, or by Education Improue a Gentleman: for him (great Lady) Let me preuaile, that you will yet at last, Vnlocke the bounty, which your loue and care Haue wisely treasur'd vp, t'inrich his life. Thou hast a moouing eloquence; Parthenophill, Parthenophill, in vaine we striue to crosse The destiny that guides vs. My great heart Is stoopt so much beneath that wonted pride That first disguiz'd it, that I now preferre A miserable life with thee, before All other earthly comforts. Menaphon, by me, repeates the selfe-same words to you: You are too cruell, if you can distrust His truth, or my report. Goe where thou wilt, Ile be an exile with thee, I will learne To beare all change of fortunes. For my friend, I pleade with grounds of reason. For thy loue, Hard-hearted youth, I here renounce all thoughts Of other hopes, of other intertainements,— Stay, as you honour Vertue. When the proffers of other greatnesse— Lady. When intreats of friends;— Ile ease your griefe. Respect of kindred; Pray giue me hearing. Losse of Fame; I craue but some few minutes. Shall infringe my vowes, let Heauen— My loue speake t'ee; heare then, goe on. Thy loue, why tis a Charme to stop a vow In its most violent course. Cupid has broke His Arrowes here; and like a child vnarm'd, Comes to make sport betweene vs with no weapon, But feathers stolne from his mothers Doues.