Ford, John · published 1629 · first performed or written 1628 [licensed for stage, Nov 24] (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men · Globe unassigned nearest T16 Gallantry: ladies, lordships and complim · 512 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T16: lady, madam, gentleman, lordship, ladies, honour, mistress, sweet, court, servant.
My Menaphon, excuse me, I grow wild, And would not willingly believe the truth Of my dishonour: She shall know how much I am a debtor to thy noble goodness, By checking the contempt, her poor desires Have sunk her fame in. Prithee tell me (friend) How did the Youth receive her? With a coldness, As modest and as hopeless, as the trust I did repose in him, could wish, or merit. I will esteem him dearly. Sir, your Sister. Servant, I have employment for ye. Hark ye: The mask of your ambition is fallen off, Your pride hath stooped to such an abject lowness, That you have now discovered to report Your nakedness in virtue, honours, shame— You are turned Satire. All the flatteries Of greatness have exposed ye to contempt. This is mere railing. You have sold your birth, for lust. Lust? Yes, and at a dear expense Purchased the only glories of a Wanton. A Wanton? Let repentance stop your mouth. Learn to redeem your fault. I hope your tongue has not betrayed my honesty. Fear nothing. If (Menaphon,) I hitherto have strove; To keep a wary guard about my fame; If I have used a woman's skill to sift The constancy of your protested love; You cannot in the justice of your judgement, Impute that to a Coyness, or neglect, Which my discretion and your service aimed For noble purposes. Great Mistress, no: I rather quarrel with mine own ambition, That durst to soar so high, as to feed hope Of any least desert, that might entitle My duty, to a pension from your favours. And therefore Lady (pray observe him well) He henceforth covets plain equality; Endeavouring to rank his fortunes low, With some fit partner, whom without presumption, Without offence, or danger, he may cherish; Yes and command too, as a Wife; a Wife; A Wife, my most great Lady all will out. Now I perceive the league of Amity, Which you have long between ye, vowed and kept, sacred and inviolable, secrets Of every nature are in common t'ee: I have trespassed, and I have been faulty: Let not too rude a Censure doom me guilty, Or judge my error wilful without pardon. Gracious and virtuous Mistress. 'tis a trick, There is no trust in female cunning (friend) Let her first purge her follies past, and clear The wrongs done to her honour, by some sure Apparent testimony of her constancy: Or we will not believe these childish plots; As you respect my friendship, lend no ear To a reply. Think on't. Pray love your fame. Gone! I am sure awaked. Kala I find, You have not been so trusty as the duty You owed, required. Not I? I do protest, I have been, Madam. Be no matter what. I'm paid in mine own Coin; something I must, And speedily— so,— seek out Cuculus Bid him attend me instantly. That Antic! The trim old Youth shall wait ye. Wounds may be mortal, which are wounds indeed: " But no wounds deadly, till our Honours bleed.
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 Menaphon, excuse me, I grow wilde, And would not willingly beleeue the truth Of my dishonour: She shall know how much I am a debtor to thy noble goodnesse, By checking the contempt, her poore desires Haue sunke her fame in. Prethee tell me (friend) How did the Youth receiue her? With a coldnesse, As modest and as hopelesse, as the trust I did repose in him, coo'd wish, or merit. I will esteeme him dearely. Sir, your Sister. Seruant, I haue imployment for yee. Harke yee: The maske of your ambition is fallen off, Your pride hath stoop't to such an abiect lownesse, That you haue now discouer'd to report Your nakednesse in vertue, honors, shame— You are turn'd Satyre. All the flatteries Of greatnesse haue expos'd yee to contempt. This is meere rayling. You haue sold your birth, for lust. Lust? Yes, and at a deare expence Purchast the onely glories of a Wanton. A Wanton? Let repentance stop your mouth. Learne to redeeme your fault. I hope your tongue ha's not betrayd my honesty. Feare nothing. If (Menaphon,) I hitherto haue stroue; To keepe a wary guard about my fame; If I haue vsed a womans skill to sift The constancy of your protested loue; You cannot in the Iustice of your iudgment, Impute that to a Coynesse, or neglect, Which my discretion and your seruice aym'd For noble purposes. Great Mistris, no: I rather quarrell with mine owne ambition, That durst to soare so high, as to feed hope Of any least desert, that might intitle My duty, to a pension from your fauours. And therefore Lady (pray obserue him well) He henceforth couets playne equality; Indeuouring to rancke his fortunes low, With some fit partner, whom without presumption, Without offence, or danger, he may cherish; Yes and command too, as a Wife; a Wife; A Wife, my most great Lady all will out. Now I perceiue the league of Amitye, Which you haue long betweene yee, vow'd and kept, I scred and inuiolable, secrets Of eery nature are in common t'ee: I haue trespass'd, and I haue been faulty: Let not too rude a Censure doome me guilty, Or iudge my errour wilfull without pardon. Gracious and vertuous Mistris. Tis a tricke, There is no trust in female cunning (friend) Let her first purge her follies past, and cleere The wrongs done to her honor, by some sure Apparant testimony of her constancy: Or wee will not beleeue these childish plots; As you respect my friendship, lend no eare To a reply. Thinke on't. Pray loue your fame. Gon! I am sure awakt. Kala I finde, You haue not been so trusty as the duty You ow'd, requir'd. Not I? I doe protest, I haue been, Madam. Bee no matter what. I'me pay'd in mine owne Coyne; something I must, And speedily—so,—seeke out Cuculus Bid him attend me instantly. That Anticke! The trim old Youth shall wait yee. Wounds may be mortall, which are wounds indeed: " But no wounds deadly, till our Honors bleed.