Carlell, Lodowick · published 1629 · first performed or written 1629 [c.1622-1629] (Annals) tragicomedy · King's Men · before the Court T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.86 · 470 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
Lysander, she hath reason, were I your Mistress, I think I should love you better than myself: But tell me Lysander, what was the quarrel, Betwixt the Duke and you. madam, I cannot tell you without discovering That which I would gladly keep concealed; Yet why I should deny you the knowledge of any Secret my heart holds. I cannot see, except I should Be most ungrateful, you being the only cause That I have now a heart to keep a secret in. What was it, speak; I long, yet fear to know it. The Duke and I were rivals, Clarinda was the mark at which both aimed. Which of you loved she best? madam, she loved me best. we being brought up together, Which was her great misfortune; For had she known the Duke before me, Her judgement would have taught her To love the worthier, And one indeed that loved her better, At least, with greater passion. But did not half so well deserve to beloved By her as you, since he did go about To force love, or at the least to take from her The loved, that which she most delighted in, her servant. Having once removed me, he hoped she Would accept of him, who would have made A worthier servant far, since he had power To raise her to that glorious height of fortune, Which well would have become her merits: But on the other side, he knew the means Of my Fortune, must needs obscure and darken Her perfections, so that he out of love To her rather then to himself, desired To make her his. He could not choose but know that if he killed The man beloved by her she needs must hate him, If she were worthily constant; if not, Than he with danger of his life had purchased, Her too dearly; for I should still believe, If once she changed, she always would become The victor's Prize. madam, there was some unlucky mistaking Betwixt us, or else we had not fought. Would it had pleased heaven you had not fought Or that the Duke had scaped with life; but since Your quarrel was not to be reconciled, though I Do blush to say so. I am glad 'twas he that perished, For I have ever wished you well; I would not have you think I am now in love With you; yet by my life I cannot say, but I may be Hereafter, though I know you have a Mistress, Whose perfections darken mine, give me those Things to dress his wounds with. The wounds sure were given to me to make me happy, In being touched by your soft hands, my wounds Can never heal, my prayers are against it; Because being well I cannot have this blessing.
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)
Lyſander, ſhe hath reaſon, were I your Miſtris, I thinke I ſhould loue you better then my ſelfe: But tell me Lyſander, what was the quarrell, Betwixt the Duke and you. Madame, I cannot tel you without diſcouering That which I would gladly keepe conceald; Yet why I ſhould deny you the knowledge of any Secret my heart holds. I cannot ſee, except I ſhould Be moſt vngratefull, you being the only cauſe That I haue now a heart to keepe a ſecret in. What was it, ſpeake; I long, yet feare to know it. The Duke and I were riuals, Clarinda was the marke at which both aym'd. Which of you loued ſhe beſt? Madame, ſhe loued me beſt. Wee being brought vp together, Which was her great misfortune; For had ſhe knowne the Duke before me, Her iudgement would haue taught her To loue the worthier, And one indeed that loued her better, At leaſt, with greater paſſion. But did not halfe ſo wel deſerue to belou'd By her as you, ſince hee did goe about To force loue, or at the leaſt to take from her The loued, that which ſhe moſt delighted in, her ſeruant. Hauing once remou'd me, he hoped ſhe Would accept of him, who would haue made A worthier ſeruant farre, ſince he had power To raiſe her to that glorious height of fortune, Which well would haue become her merits: But on the other ſide, he knew the meanes Of my Fortune, muſt needs obſcure and darken Her perfections, ſo that he out of loue To her rather then to himſelfe, deſir'd To make her his. He could not chuſe but know that if he kild The man belou'd by her ſhe needs muſt hate him, If ſhe were worthily conſtant; if not, Then he with danger of his life had purchas'd, Her too dearly; for I ſhould ſtill belieue, If once ſhe changd, ſhe alwayes would become The victors Prize. Madame, there was ſome vnlucky miſtaking Betwixt vs, or elſe we had not fought. Would it had pleas'd heauen you had not fought Or that the Duke had ſcaped with life; but ſince Your quarrell was not to be reconcild, though I Doe bluſh to ſay ſo. I am glad t'was he that periſht, For I haue euer wiſht you well; I would not haue you thinke I am now in loue With you; yet by my life I cannot ſay, but I may be Hereafter, tho I know you haue a Miſtris, Whoſe perfections darken mine, giue me thoſe Things to dreſſe his wounds with. The wounds ſure were giuen to me to make me happie, In being toucht by your ſoft hands, my wounds Can neuer heale, my prayers are againſt it; Becauſe being well I cannot haue this bleſſing.