Carlell, Lodowick · published 1629 · first performed or written 1629 [c.1622-1629] (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men · before the Court unassigned nearest T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour · 566 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
What a dull Slave was I; had not I last night overheard their loving parley, I never once should have suspected that they had been in love: she always seemed an enemy to love, yet hath been long most desperate in love with this young Lord, which quite will spoil my hopes at Court; yet when I better think, it will be for my advantage, as I may handle it and further my revenge; for I will insinuate myself into the Duke's good opinion, by making a discovery of their loves: and then advise him that there is no way to gain Clarinda's heart, till first Lysander be removed by some employment; for out of sight with women out of mind; or if he impatient of delays; I will advise him to use some bloody means; which if he want an Instrument to do, I will effect it myself, pretending that it is out of love to him when it is indeed the satisfaction of mine own revenge; and when the Duke is once a partner of my villainy, I will be richly paid for what I do, or else for all his greatness I will affright him. For though great men for bloody deeds Give money to a Knave; Yet if he be a witty one like me, he'll make that Lord his Slave. Come, let us sit down, for I am tired With walking; and than I will tell you How I am resolved to free us from this torment. I fear there is no remedy, but we must part. Yes, if you will give consent to what I shall propound. First let me hear it. My Father, though he have his liberty, Is not yet restored to his Lands: when next The Duke doth visit me, which I believe will Be today; I'll seem as if I did mistrust his love To be but feigned; he then will strive by some strong Testimony, to prove he truly loves: Then will I urge my Father's restoration To his Lands, which he being once possessed of, Will not be hard for me, the world knowing How well he loves me, to get some coin and jewels In my power, sufficient to maintain us In some other Country, where we like shepherds Or some Country folks may pass our time with joy: And that we may without distrust effect this, I to the Duke will promise, that when a month Is expired, if he will come and lead me to the Church, I'll not refuse to go, do you approve Of this Lysander? No, dear Clarinda, Though most men hold deceit in love for lawful, Lysander doth not; Ere you for me shall spot Your yet pure self with such a stain, as to be A deceiver, this sword shall pierce my heart: The debt I owe you is too great already, And till I clear some part, I shall unto myself Appear a most ungrateful man. When first I saw you, The height of all my aims was only to have leave To love you, so excellent I then esteemed you: But you in time, out of your bounty, Not for my desert; for no desert can reach Your height of merit, gave love for love, For which I owe my life saved by that mercy From despair, and lent me for to serve you.
seed 43: T0 · seed 44: T0 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
What a dull Slaue was I; had not I laſt night ouerheard their louing parley, I neuer once ſhould haue ſuſpected that they had beene in loue: ſhee alwaies ſeem'd an enemie to loue, yet hath been long moſt deſperate in loue with this young Lord, which quite will ſpoyle my hopes at Court; yet when I better thinke, it will be for my aduantage, as I may handle it and further my reuenge; for I will inſinuate my ſelfe into the Dukes good opinion, by making a diſcouery of their loues: and then aduiſe him that there is no way to gaine Clarinda's heart, till firſt Lyſander be remou'd by ſome employment; for out of ſight with women out of minde; or if hee impatient of delayes; I will aduiſe him to vſe ſome bloudy meanes; which if he want an Inſtrument to do, I will effect it my ſelfe, pretending that it is out of loue to him when it is indeed the ſatisfaction of mine owne reuenge; and when the Duke is once a partner of my villany, I will be richly paid for what I do, or elſe for all his greatneſſe I will affright him. For though great men for bloudy deeds Giue money to a Knaue; Yet if hee bee a witty one like mee, Hee'l make that Lord his Slaue. Come, let vs ſit downe, for I am tyr'd With walking; and then I will tell you How I am reſolu'd to free vs from this torment. I feare there is no remedy, but we muſt part. Yes, if you will giue conſent to what I ſhall propound. Firſt let me heare it. My Father, though he haue his liberty, Is not yet reſtor'd to his Lands: when next The Duke doth viſit me, which I beleeue will Be to day; Ile ſeeme as if I did miſtruſt his loue To be but fain'd; he then will ſtriue by ſome ſtrong Teſtimony, to proue hee truly loues: Then will I vrge my Fathers reſtoration To his Lands, which he being once poſſeſt of, Will not be hard for me, the world knowing How well he loues me, to get ſome coine and Iewels In my power, ſufficient to maintaine vs In ſome other Country, where we like ſhepheards Or ſome Country folkes may paſſe our time with ioy: And that we may without diſtruſt effect this, I to the Duke will promiſe, that when a moneth Is expir'd, if he will come and lead me to the Church, I'le not refuſe to goe, doe you approue Of this Lyſander? No, deare Clarinda, Though moſt men hold deceit in loue for lawfull, Lyſander doth not; Ere you for me ſhall ſpot Your yet pure ſelfe with ſuch a ſtaine, as to be A deceiuer, this ſword ſhall pierce my heart: The debt I owe you is too great already, And till I cleere ſome part, I ſhall vnto my ſelfe Appeare a moſt vngratefull man. When firſt I ſaw you, The height of all my aymes was onely to haue leaue To loue you, ſo excellent I then eſteem'd you: But you in time, out of your bounty, Not for my deſert; for no deſert can reach Your height of merit, gaue loue for loue, For which I owe my life ſau'd by that mercy From deſpaire, and lent me for to ſerue you.