Davenant, William · published 1630 · first performed or written 1627 [licensed for stage, Jan 12] (Annals) tragedy · King's Men · Blackfriars T0 Court life: dukes, favour and honour typicality 0.85 · 485 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T0: duke, lord, duchess, love, court, madam, prince, honour, grace, lady.
I must not be so rude as to believe That you (my Lord) can your affections set; Upon a Maid, so humble in her birth As she you name, for regard of honour Do not mock the sister of your servant. This way to madness leads, teach not my heart Such modern Heraldry. Let it dispose Of charitable thoughts, with natural eyes, Unlimited by customary form, Which gain, and nicety have made an Art, Virtue, not blood ennobles us, and ernes Her attribute, without hereditary help From ancestors. O my dear forest? Thy sister with such noble wealth is fraught, That to be covetous for her, appears, A holy sin. But thou art cruel grown Thy memory is sick. The old effects That witness how I love thy learned soul, Are quite forgot. Young Lord, disclaim that thought! Hear I Promulgate, you my Patron are; You found me in estate so poor, so low, That you were fain to stoop to lift me up, You are the Duke's Creature! who dotes by Art, Who in his love, and kindness, Method keeps: He holdeth thus his Arms, in fearful care Not to bruise you with his dear embracements, And what is she whose Virgin blood disdains To quench your lawful fire? or whom the Duke Would not procure to climb your Marriage be Upon her Knees? And shall I then (Like to the treacherous Moon) strive to eclipse The Sun that gives me light? Shall I consent That she, that tumbled in a Womb with me, Shall give your Issue birth? The royal Duke Would thank me for such charity. My Lord Though you are wise, you are but young. Heart of Viper! Sure Time hath lost his feathers from his Heels, Mark how slow he goes? Shall I ne'er be old That my designs may repute have, And credit in the World. I do not ask Thy Sister for my Whore; but for my Wife. Sir 'tis already joined unto my Creed; For I would eat your Heart, should it contrive A way in thought, how to cheat my Sister Of her pure Chastity. I love you so That I with care suppose; She not deserves To be your Wife, and so esteem of her That she is much too good, to be your Whore. In this new Argument, I am too bold, You know my duty well. The Dukes abroad Though but the birth of day. Go Sir! My glorious Boy, you are too vigilant: The Sun, and you, do visit me at once. This courtship is not safe. You must not meet Your Lover, with a Rival, glorious As yourself. forest! welcome from Genoa, How fares our Brother Cardinal? In health, and ease. He bad me tell your Grace It was a deed of charity to think Him worthy of this same great employment. And this letter he humbly recommends To your perusal.
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)
I muſt not be ſo rude as to beleeue That you (my Lord) can your affections ſet; Vpon a Mayde, ſo humble in her birth As ſhe you name, for regard of honour Doe not mock the ſiſter of your ſeruant. This way to madneſſe leads, teach not my heart Such modern Heraldry. Let it diſpoſe Of charitable thoughts, with naturall eies, Vnlimmited by cuſtomary forme, Which gaine, and nicetie haue made an Art, Virtue, not blood enobles vs, and ernes Her atribute, without hereditary helpe From anceſtors. O my deere Foreſte? Thy ſiſter with ſuch noble wealth is fraught, That to be couetous for her, appeares, A holy ſinne. But thou art cruell growne Thy memory is ſick. The old effects That witneſſe how I loue thy learned ſoule, Are quite forgot. Young Lord, diſclaime that thought! Heare I Promulgate, you my Patron are; You found me in eſtate ſo poore, ſo lowe, That you were faine to ſtoope to lift me vp, You are the Dukes Creature! who doates by Art, Who in his loue, and kindneſſe, Method keepes: He holdeth thus his Armes, in fearefull care Not to bruſe you with his deere embracements, And what is ſhe whoſe Virgin blood diſdaines To quench your lawfull fire? or whom the Duk Would not procure to climbe your Marriage be Vpon her Knees? And ſhall I then (Like to the treacherous Moone) ſtriue to eclip The Sunne that giues me light? Shall I conſent That ſhe, that tumbled in a Wombe with me, Shall giue your Iſſue birth? The royall Duke Would thanke me for ſuch charitie. My Lord Though you are wiſe, you are but young. Heart of Viper! Sure Time hath loſt his feathers from his Heeles, Marke how ſlow he goes? Shall I neere be olde That my deſignes may repute haue, And credit in the World. I doe not aske Thy Siſter for my Whore; but for my Wife. Sir t'is already ioynd vnto my Creede▪ For I would eate your Heart, ſhould it contriue A way in thought, how to cheate my Siſter Of her pure Chaſtitie. I loue you ſo That I with care ſuppoſe; She not deſerues To be your Wife, and ſo eſteeme of her That ſhe is much too good, to be your Whore. In this new Argument, I am too bolde, You know my duty well. The Dukes abroad Though but the birth of day. Goe Sir! My glorious Boy, you are too vigilant: The Sunne, and you, doe viſite me at once. This courtſhip is not ſafe. You muſt not meete Your Louer, with a Riuall, glorious As your ſelfe. Foreſte! welcome from Genoa, How fares our Brother Cardinall? In health, and eaſe. He badde me tell your Grace It was a deed of charitie to thinke Him worthy of this ſame great imployment. And this letter he humbly recommends To your peruſall.